[47] The Southerners Have Arrived-II

There was time-ticking bomb inside my chest waiting to burst from the thrill.

Ten steps away, hiding behind the wooden sticks rested against a tent wall, Keira was giving me a nod of comfort.

We hadn't even run twenty steps away from Lysar's tent when a group of drunken males came outside from a different tent to goof around with three female dancers.

Keira hurriedly pushed me towards the right and signed for me to hide behind the sticks just like she hid herself behind the other tent.

Almost fifteen minutes must have passed but the males were not moving away from the front of that big tent. If any of us would move, they'd definitely feel weird.

The way the dancers were suggesting them to get inside because of the rains drops while dancing to their tunes and jokes, made me guess if the mystics were into this plan too.

Well, of course, they must be. After all, Keira and Eva entered the territory by making use of this tradition of the mystics. It was obvious that the dancers were with us too.

The thunder ran across the sky loud.

The rain drops were faint for now, not enough to drench us.

But it definitely looked like a storm was coming.

Because the Moon was not visible anywhere. The dark sky had turned grey with dark greyish clouds. The wind was getting stronger too.

"I haven't fucked under the rain yet. Must we change that tonight," said one of the male, making me gag.

I looked at the shadows that were visible because of the lanterns lit inside their tent.

"I am afraid, your Goddess Severa is not happy tonight." One of the dancers said in an attractive yet clever tone.

The males laughed and hooted out loud. "Of course, she is not. She is just an old, alone, virgin spirit, jealous of her own brothers' descendants."

The fake giggles of females followed as the males might have started taking them inside the tents.

I glanced at Keira who was already nodding her head towards the right. I checked both left and right, and ran towards her. We both grabbed the hands and ran towards the jungle that was on the far left of Amelia's house. That big group of dense trees where Karam had never let me go to.

So many times, I tried to go there but anyone would appear all of a sudden and distract me. Just like the night of the party when Karam told me about Keev.

But before we could run towards that area, we had to cross these tents without being seen.

"Come on," Keira said while glancing at the back.

We kept running in the dark and the growls that came from inside the different tents had scarred me for life. These males and females were wild.

"Hide!" Keira hissed while encouraging me to hide behind a tent. She herself hid behind a barrel of wine placed in the back of another one.

I did as she told but fearfully.

Because this time, I heard Beta Barald's voice.

"Wrap the leathers around!" He ordered at the male whoever was assisting him.

The voice sounded familiar when this male replied, "What about the quilts? They will get wet any way because of the grass and mud!"

"Do you think these desperate fools would care?" The Beta replied with a growl. "Hurry! My mate isn't good with storms."

I stared at the mud in front of me, watching the pool of water getting hit by rain drops. They were getting quicker.

"Pssss!"

I glanced at Keira immediately and nearly died when she signed for me to crawl ahead towards the right of the tent. Because Beta Barald and the guy were coming towards our tents only.

The sound of flapping the leather clothes on the tents drew while Beta Barald kept giving the guy a hard time.

"Properly! They'll catch fever if they get drenched and stayed asleep the whole night in cold. I don't have time to call their families or take them away myself."

"Yes, Beta." The boy groaned while flapping the cloth on another tent.

I tip-toed more to other wall of the tent and glanced back at the two broad figures. Although, the boy seemed not so bulky.

"Five more! Hurry!" The Beta yelled and handed him another leather cloth from his arm.

"Why can't we make tents from leather directly?" The boy asked while squinting his eyes in the rain.

The lightning struck and I finally recognised the face. It was one of the tree musketeers from the lake jungle.

The one with blonde curls.

I cupped my mouth as more lightning and the rain started getting heavier. I would be fully drenched within next two minutes.

Beta Barald hummed and nodded in thought. "Come to my house from tomorrow. I'll give you thick threads and needles. You'd stitch it."

I would have snickered if these weren't the circumstances.

The boy wanted to run away.

I couldn't recall his name and felt bad about it.

The boy didn't say a word and continued flapping another cloth for another tent. When they stopped on the one with Lysar in it, my heart started dropping in anxiety.

Beta Barald seemed to notice that the lanterns were out. He looked at the ground keenly to notice the steps too, probably thinking if I had actually came to meet him.

"Next?" The boy asked while asking for more, forwarding his arm. "Where is Scott? He doesn't come to play with us these days."

Beta Barald looked up at the way the cloth was being wrapped on the tent. "I told him to stop playing with the fools and learn the work. He is building canopies for beds."

The blonde looked like he wanted to curse at the old man. "I wonder if he wanted to have a dancer tonight. He talked about it the whole year."

Beta Barald gave the boy a hard look that made him chuckle nervously.

He scratched the back of his head with a goofy smile. "Two left," he said before forwarding his hand.

"Go, have your dancer. I'll do the rest." Beta Barald said while walking towards the next big tent.

The blonde asked, "I will do the rest. It's only two." He followed the old man.

A loud growl echoed around, followed by the words, "Leave before I break your legs and make torches out of them!"

Someone grabbed my wrist, making me jump. I glanced back at Keira who nodded towards the way ahead.

I got up immediately and started following her hurriedly.

Both Keira and I exchanged a glance and kept running towards the way.

We crossed the last tent and the next step was scary.

It was an open ground before the jungles, approximately half a kilo metre long.

Someone would definitely see us.

Thunder struck hard across the sky and it was enough to wake the whole village.

"Oh God! I am sure my mate is awake." I muttered while Keira gave me a weird look.

I was sure it sounded foreign to her.

"Don't worry," she said, giving me a confident look. "No one can find you tonight. Severa made it easy for us. See it's raining. They can't follow the scents. Everyone is too busy to look at this ground. Just don't look or make any extra sound. Okay?"

That's when it clicked me. This was how we were able to stay alive with Beta Barald patrolling around.

Keira started running while I followed.

"Let's go."

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We reached the insides of the jungles and kept running. Being all blinded by the darkness, Keira guided me by telling whenever any tree or potholes were there in the way.

But being barefoot didn't help. My feet were covered in mud, aching as if I had been walking on a sword.

"When you get tired or cold, let me know." She said while I was out of breaths.

"No! I can't risk it. On our left, these are the houses where Alpha brothers live."

Keira's eyes widened and she increased the pace. "Then, hurry! I can see the light. Someone is surely awake."

When I glanced at the left side again, the windows of Amelia's house were showing yellowish light.

"Oh God!" My heartbeats fastened.

Keira grabbed me by the shoulders and patted my back. "Don't be scared. We'll keep running," she said while I was panting hard along with feeling the urge to cry in fear.

The sound of rain had gotten too loud for them to hear anything. But it was Lycan we were bringing a War against. They'd hear us anyway. Because I couldn't underestimate them.

"Where are we going? Do you know the way?" I asked in between the coughs I got from running mercilessly.

"Just trust me," she said before turning our directions diagonally towards the north instead of the west.

My whole body ached and goosebumps were rising from the cold, thunder and horror.

I wasn't even thinking anymore. I was only following Keira's words. If I started self-pitying, I would end up crying over how much breathless and weak I already felt from all the running and literal fear in my veins.

Moments passed and our speed slowed down. Because in between we both had slipped into the mud, a thousand times. It was me who got hurt more because of not being able to stable myself before any holes or fallen branches.

"Do you want me to shift?" She said while observing me nearly dying in breathlessness.

"Can you?" I panted as she stopped and let me take a breathe. "You had your. . . first shift not long ago. . ."

She looked nervous for a second but nodded nonetheless.

My eyes squinted to observe her in the darkness.

"Okay," she said hurriedly while walking backwards and cracking her neck. "Let me remove my clothes."

I gulped while calculating the scenario. Keira had shifted just a month ago. It might not be easy for her to do this. But because of my health, she was compromising the plan. I didn't want to put any burden on whatever her and Eva had planned to take me out of here.

It won't be easy to hide in the wolf form if it came to that. Moreover, much time would be wasted in wearing and removing clothes.

I was about to say no when a big hand cupped my mouth from behind.

Keira gasped and ran towards us immediately. Before I could even understand anything, the person turned me around with him and started running faster.

The hold on my stomach was too tight for me to even squirm in his hold.

The speed was too fast that I couldn't even see the passing trees.

If that was the speed of a Lycan, then hands down-they really were superior. It was faster than how an express would go. My head was spinning already. The sound of the wind was cutting all of the noise.

He was able to take me far away from Keira with the way I couldn't even hear anyone following us or her calling out my name.

But all of a sudden, the man stumbled upon something like a tree branch and both of us fell on the muddy ground.

A scream escaped me in extreme pain as his whole weight had squeezed me to death. Moreover, my knees were scratched brutally.

I let out a painful whimper when the weight was suddenly lifted off me.

I wiped the mud off my face using the rain drops and turned my head to look at the horrifying scene.

The silhouette of two people fighting appeared in my sight. One was female and the other was not.

The flash from the thunder let me see a series of continuous kicks and punches.

I crawled back hurriedly when the female was thrown right beside me. She spat the blood out from her mouth and got up hurriedly, twisting her neck.

"It looks like a bunch of desperate females have entered the territory," the unfamiliar male said cockily. He was someone I hadn't met before, must be in the patrolling team of the borders. Otherwise, every common Lycan was at the party.

The female grunted hard and jumped on his shoulders.

That's when I recognised her. "Eva. . ." I gasped loudly.

The man chuckled mockingly while grabbing her by the arm, twirling around and letting her fall in the front, sending a kick straight into her stomach.

Eva let out a painful growl and got up immediately. She signed at the man with fingers asking him to come forward again.

The man let out an judgemental huff.

Eva ran towards him again and yelled, "Misty. Run!"

I stiffened and without a thought stood up. Even though my whole body trembled and ankles felt like they had twisted, I started running towards the way from where he had brought me.

A loud sound of punch and crack reached my ears.

"Watch out for the trees!" She yelled for me while I started to focus on the path ahead.

Eva was buying time for me to run as fast as I could to reach Keira. If a Lycan knew that the trespassing had happened, then surely the whole pack would soon be aware too.

I still couldn't understand this telepathy. It was scary.

Running and running with my chest feeling like it was jam already inside, I didn't look back.

Some growls surely echoed around and I couldn't helo but fear for my sisters' life. Of course, the Alpha family would be aware of the extra presence.

Karam might have already known that I was absent and trying to escape.

Honestly, I couldn't trust Eva and Keira's abilities to help me cross the border. I had seen Chelsea's injuries. I had heard stories. I knew these Lycans were lethal and barbaric. I couldn't let this plan fail. I had to co-operate my best to save my own life. This way, Eva would be able to escape that monster too.

The sound of footsteps sprinkling the water around reached me. The speed was too fast for me to even get ready for Keira's sudden hold on my shoulders.

"You okay?"

I nodded breathlessly and pointed towards the back. "Eva. . . She needs a hand. . . A Lycan caught. . ."

Keira didn't wait for my words and was already sprinting towards the direction I told her about.

I glanced at the back and was unable to see anything in the dark. Thus, it was only better if I'd help them by saving time and running towards the direction Eva told me.

I began the run and this time, stayed careful of the sudden trees.

But just as I gained little energy from slow speed, I'd fasten my pace. Because the rain might stop any minute and then, we won't be having much advantage.

The thoughts of Eva and Keira fighting the Lycan were filling up my head.

I was hell worried. The Lycan's physique was no joke. He was as tall as all the males I had seen here. Strong and powerful like they all were.

What if the girls were getting hurt?

I thought of stopping but soon realized that I couldn't do any best thing except for running as fast as I could.

I had pass the village on my left, the big endless ground behind Karam's room and reach the lines of trees. The dense forest where I was never allowed to reach.

The west. That's where the border to Southern Pack must be after some miles away.

Eva and Keira were prepared. I mustn't forget that the Mystic dancers were helping them too. I shouldn't be worried.

I shook my head while panting hard and almost bumped into a thick tree branch absentmindedly. But the sudden push from the left had saved me from the disaster.

I staggered towards the right from the sudden force and was about to thank Keira because it did feel like this person had saved me from breaking my skull.

The hands held my shoulders to stop me from stumbling ahead and stand properly.

"Take it easy, Misty Sisty."

The exhaustion and terror in my mind wiped off immediately by the sudden happiness that filled me by listening to that cheerful voice.

I turned around and gasped loudly. A loud sob escaped me and I threw my arms around Thomas, hearing him let out a hearty chuckle.

The hands went to pat my head and back. "Come on," he said goofily while pulling the hood of the cloak to cover my head from the rain.

I pulled myself back and was too much into crying to choke out a word.

He nodded and laughed hard at seeing my state. "Aww, you cry baby. You are supposed to be happy."

I squeezed my eyes and nodded in emotion. He wiped my eyes and held my hand, guiding me to stand behind him.

"I have found a safe place," he said while bending a little. "Get on my back."

"But you aren't shifting?" I was confused.

A manly giggle escaped him. "Heard of a piggy-back ride?"

An amused hum was thrown my way.

"Your bones got heavier. Looks like absence of junk food made you healthier." He tried to cheer me up while I laid my head on his shoulder to control another sob.

"Eva is fighting with a Lycan," I choked out worriedly.

He grunted before straightening up. Both of us looked back at the sudden flash on the ground ahead of the jungle. The thunder was loud and powerful.

"Well, her dream came true."

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"There's no sign of any recent visit or camping. No one uses this cave."

I looked around and nodded while sitting beside the little fire he had made. Instead of just settling at the front part of the cave, we walked a little ahead inside and found a curve. This way, no one would be able to see the shadows even if they would cross the cave.

The voices that were escaping me as I was shivering so hard, made Thomas put more wooden sticks into the fire.

"How did you find this?" I asked shakily.

"Ivan told me that there would be many caves on this side. He was right," he said while twisting his T-shirt to drain all the water and wore it back. His pale face was visible in the fire's light and I literally smiled at seeing the beautiful sea-green eyes.

"You missed this hair cut. Didn't you?" He joked while grinning.

I blinked and couldn't help but chuckle. "I truly did. It felt weird to see a boy without long hair."

He smiled cheekily and shrugged his shoulders. Sitting beside me, he stole a serious glance at the entrance of the cave and took a breathe.

"The girls will join us soon," he said while giving me a look of understanding. His thick lashes were all wet from the rain. The flicks were falling over his forehead, making him look sharp. "The rain has nearly stopped. We might wake up the whole village. Thus, we will hide here for some moments. The rain might not pour again. If we have to make noise, then we will do it with Eva and Keira together."

"They know," I told him fearfully. "I can't believe that they don't know. They are all so advanced."

"They don't know, Misty. The rain was too loud to create any suspicion. The dancers will be taking care of anyone who will come in our way. Have faith in our sisters. They are here with blood on their mind. If they can do that undercover dance, they can do any other thing."

I shook my head. "I can't believe you are here."

He turned quiet at my shaky and hoarse voice. Sitting beside me on a flat rock, he released a sigh. Straightening his legs, he put his hand inside the pocket of his jeans and placed something in my hand.

I opened the fist and looked down at my hand.

"I wanted to bring a burger. But mother said that we have to be optimistic. You'll be across the border having tons of burgers, pizzas and all that you eat in human world." He said, passing me a pouty smile.

I unwrapped the lollipop and chuckled to myself. Putting it in my mouth, I closed my eyes at the orange taste on my tongue.

"I had lost the hope of seeing things like this again ever in life," I mumbled while looking at the fire. "How's everyone back at the pack?"

He cheered up at the question and started slapping his fist. "I have tons of gossip to share with you," he said actively while facing me properly. "After you're gone, Mother threw Pete and Natalie out. She stayed at Axel's house, you know. Later, Pete decided to send her to. . . Gran."

I blinked calmly, trying to imagine Natalie with my Gran.

"Wow! How did he think about that?" I asked while nodding my head in agreement. "I hope, she won't kill her."

"Natalie will kill Gran?"

"Gran will kill Natalie," I replied, making him snicker. "She doesn't like tantrums."

Thomas shrugged his shoulders with a smile. "Well, they are getting along."

"Bless Gran for making that possible," I mumbled.

He agreed. "Bless Gran for letting Natalie in. Otherwise, she was losing it in the pack. Everyone was ignoring her."

I'd have to. But I didn't feel angry at her anymore. Not even on Pete. I had concluded that this was definitely all fate.

If anyone was to be blamed, it was me only. The very birth of mine began it all.

I wouldn't have been here if Mom wasn't sad about our little fight on birthday. The fight happened because I was upset with her over my father's death. I was upset that Gilbert wasn't my father. I was upset that he hated me from the beginning.

I was upset that my existence would always bring him pain and jealousy that he'd felt because of my father.

"Though, some drama is going in. Alex said that Ryan has been approaching her often."

My mouth opened in surprise. I gaped at him. "What?"

Thomas looked like he suddenly felt sad and guilt for telling me. "You liked him?"

I lowered my eyes and thought about it. "I don't know. I guess, no. It was him who liked me. Looks like he is getting over it. Lexi might not like her though."

Thomas curled his lip in no knowledge of it and added, "Pete planned it all. But Eva made it happen. She began chats with Orina and this is how, we are here. They wouldn't let me come. But I threw fits."

I couldn't help but giggle.

"I said that I am entering the territory, no matter what. Alyssa wasn't happy about it but I somehow convinced her," he said truthfully, making me smile.

It felt soothing to just listen to him talk. After a long time, it felt normal.

"How is she as a mate?" I asked curiously.

Thomas looked up and shook his head. "Ah! Don't ask me," he said while looking back at me with narrow eyes. "It is hard to manipulate your mate when him or her is elder than you. She always uses this age card."

I could relate very well.

"Though, she is pregnant with our twins now."

I gasped in shock. "Wait. What?"

Thomas burst into a laughter. "No, she's not. I not doing that to my pups so soon. Let them chill up there with Moon Goddess before getting Alyssa as their mother," he said dramatically, widening his eyes.

I chuckled while squeezing his cheeks, pulling him into an embrace. "I missed you," I said while pulling back to pass him a sad smile.

He blinked to give me comfort. His smile faded a little before asking, "Tell me about your mate."

I gulped while looking away. The heart suddenly felt heavy inside my chest.

"Among the four Alpha brothers, he is the third one," I began quietly while remembering our first meet under the bed, in Karam's room.

"How old is he?"

One hundred and eighty two years.

"Twenty seven."

Thomas turned quiet. "Woah!" He sounded worried all of a sudden. "Did he. . . hurt you?"

I blinked, recalling all the moments.

Our banters, the scene with Keev's existence, our fights over difference in opinions.

"Not much," I whispered, not being able to decide.

The good moments started to fill my sight.

Our kisses, our hugs, the bedtime conversations, the patching up after a fight, being mean to each other, being warm to each other.

The memory of him bringing the fruits for me, made my throat shake. Tears welled up in my eyes.

"Your face has gone red," whispered Thomas in extreme seriousness. He cupped my shoulder to make me look at him. "Misty?"

I gulped.

"You don't love him. Do you?"

I shook my head without a thought.

Thomas observed me keenly.

"You can't lie to save your life," he whispered, looking concerned. "Don't be embarrassed if he has grown on you. He is your mate, after all. Then, there are also concepts of Stockholm syndrome. Do you understand?"

He nodded and raised his eyebrows worriedly at me. "It's okay," he said while giving me an encouraging look. "You have every right in this world to not be ashamed or embarassed about loving a Lycan. But we have to cross the border. Right?"

I zigzagged my jaws to let his words sink in.

"You can love my father even after he killed your father, Misty. You have a golden heart. You find the good in a person before even thinking of looking for his flaws. You spread love and find love." Thomas said while letting out a chuckle. "It is your mate we are talking about. Of course, you'd feel love for him too."

It was a different kind of thing.

I couldn't admit so soon. I couldn't accept it so soon.

He shook my shoulders to gain my attention.

I was literally sulking at the topic. I felt too weak, sad and scared for what could happen within a night.

All the painful memories of what I had suffered these past weeks were breaking ny heart.

"But you want to meet Gran? Get more education? Meet Lexi and Ryan? Live in the city? Go to university? Right?" He asked while smiling cheerfully at me.

Tears slid down my cheeks while he shook his head encouragingly. "Later, you might recognise the wrong things he might have done to you which you are unable to recall or judge at the moment. You can always come back to make a deal with him if you have started to believe in our world truly and value this sacred mate-bond, Misty. Pass letters. He can't touch a hair on you if you are across the border. That's definitely a safer and happier option."

I couldn't say anything.

It was all too much to take in.

"You can't be marked. You're a human. Remember? He knows it. He can't risk it all by marking you. You'll die. That's why, he hasn't marked you yet. You won't be able to take it. It'd be too powerful for you to suffer through," he explained while wiping my cheeks and making baby sounds. "Take advantage of not being marked and don't think about him until we escape. Okay?"

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and let me cry.

"For now, we have to take you to the other side of the border. The rest will be for later. Your dreams are more important than any other thing. You take birth to fulfill them," he said while rubbing my shoulder. "Look at Eva, she wanted to show it off to everyone that she was capable of facing the Lycans. I am sure, after crossing the border, this story will pass down to her future generations."

I chuckled through the tears while he added, "Ah! You wait. Her shoulders after tonight would be four inches broader."

He started swinging us from left to right to cheer me up.

"Once you'll see your favorite pizza back in the pack and fill forms for University, you'll not regret ignoring your emotions this night. Don't tell me you don't miss the clean modern toilet seat?"

My head rested against his shoulder as I imagined all of it. But Karam's face wasn't leaving my mind.

"He'll find out earlier than we think," I said blankly. "I don't know what he'll do. He is unpredictable, Tommy." My voice cracked a little. "I am scared if he is already awake and looking for me. I can't face him. I don't want to see him anymore."

If I did, he won't let me go.

The paranoia was kicking in very well.

I was terrified of my own thoughts.

Thomas gave me an assuring pat on the shoulder. "Even if he is aware, he is too late to begin now. You are way ahead in this plan and will soon escape the territory. We are all here to protect you."

"He is taller, bigger and scarier than you think he is."

Thomas looked at me and nudged lightly. "Nothing is scarier than Eva's pissed look. We'll hide behind her."

"Right! Life-saving strategy."

Thomas passed me smirk. "Okay. Sarcasm is back. We feel okay now."

I controlled a smile.

"We should have brought Natalie. Her mere screech can make Lycans faint in cringe. Nah! Uncle Robert's dad jokes might actually kill them. Nirvan's face when he is serious would win it all. He looks like horse with all that chin going down in focus. . ."

I let out the chuckles.

But the terror of getting caught by Karam wasn't leaving my heart.

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