Chapter 36

A barely audible groan emanated from Aiden's throat as he dug his nails into the wooden floor of the cabin, trying to adjust his position. His wolf was weak but Aiden had always been stronger than should have been possible, especially during a shift and there was no reason, even in his weakened state, that he couldn't use that strength now.

"Thinking of feeding me to the wolf pack? Go ahead," Charlie said.

A short, broad-shouldered man entered the cabin, smirking as his eyes wandered around the room. "I reckon she will taste pretty good," he said, blowing Charlie a kiss. He let his eyes linger on Charlie's breasts, then turned to Aiden.

"So you're the hybrid who roughed up the Alpha, are you?"

Ignoring him, Aiden continued to call his wolf, while keeping eye contact with Charlie. He needed her to be ready.

"Who are you and why are you here?" Rafael asked.

"The name's Bernie. I'm the beta of this fine pack that will be cleaning up your mess. I came to see if you needed anything but I can see you have your hands full. Wish I could say the same. Wouldn't mind giving her a do in the woods."

Raphael sighed and turned to Aiden, saying, "Are you just going to sit there and let him practically drool over your mate? Of course, you are."

"Mate, huh? Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to show his mate what she's missing in a real wolf. I don't mind a bit of screaming, or blood, for that matter."

Aiden shook his head slightly as Charlie shrank back in the chair. "Almost ready," he mouthed at her, then smiled.

"I'll take you, first," Aiden said to the beta. "Then I'll have you," he told Rafael.

"Take her and do what you want, just let this clown watch," Rafael smirked.

The beta wasted no time in untying Charlie's hands from the arms of the wooden chair while leering at her and licking his lips like a hungry dog. Charlie looked at Aiden as the beta knelt to untie her feet. Dipping her head towards the beta, she raised an eyebrow in question. Aiden shook his head. He was ready. He just needed her to be able to run.

Before the beta had even finished standing, a roar burst from Aiden as he was filled with the welcoming pain of his wolf bringing its form forth. Time slowed as the beta, realising what was happening, began his own change and met with Aiden"s wolf in a tangle of teeth and claws.

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At the sound of Aiden's roar, Charlie flung her chair back and ran for the door, making it just in time to hear a clash of teeth. Ignoring the shouts of Rafael, she didn't look back as she began running through the dense forest. Her feet slipped as they snagged on tree roots and more than once she found herself face flat in the damp leaves. Pain shot through her hands and arms as she scrambled to her feet.

"You can't hide from me, Maria."

Her heart raced in her chest as she ducked behind a thick tree trunk. His voice sounded close but she saw no sign of him. Suddenly there was an almighty crash, followed by a howl of pain that sent chills up her spine and threatened to turn her legs to jelly.

"Aiden!"

Biting her lip at the exclamation that she had no control over, she took off at a run. Her heart ached with each pad of her foot against the forest floor as she ran further away from the cabin and away from Aiden. She hated the idea of leaving him but if she could find help?

More hooting howls drifted through the trees and she willed her feet to go faster. Is this what their prey feels like when they're taken for a hunt? She wondered as she found herself face flat on the floor again.

"For fuck sake you fat cow, run!"

"I hear you, Charlie. You can't escape. They will bring you back to me!"

Charlie looked around as she ran, hoping to find a sign she was close to a road or something. Her eyes fell upon a flattened trail of earth and she followed it. Her lungs were hurting with the running but she couldn't stop. If she did, they would kill her the instant they found her and nobody would know what had happened. She had to keep going.

There was a sudden rush of air from the direction she was heading, promptly followed by a thundering of paws as an army of wolves came bursting through the trees and thundering towards her. Charlie flung herself to the floor and screamed. Covering her head with her hands, she kept her face to the floor as it shuddered under the weight of the wolf army, and waited for the teeth to sink into her.

"Charlie? Oh my God, Charlie."

Charlie felt hands pulling at her arms and as she looked up, she saw Sarah's worry-filled face.

"Sarah! They have Aiden. Wolves. We need to get out of here!"

"I know. I know. I came with help. Aiden's dad is here with his pack. They will help him. Come on,"

"His dad? How?"

Charlie let Sarah help her to stand as she looked around for the army of wolves. "Where did they go?"

"To the cabin to get Aiden. I need to take you somewhere safe. Wolves are not the most pleasant things to be around when they're hungry for a fight. Nobody will get past them now so we can take our time. Ben's pack is twice the size of these lot and fuelled by anger."

Charlie's eyes suddenly widened and she winced in pain. "But Aiden? He's shifted."

"Ben knows his scent and Simon does, too. Simon is tasked with finding him and making sure he's safe. Let's worry about you, for now, and leave the wolves to take care of themselves. It's what they do best."