Chapter 27 – Grace

Holding my hand out, I watch as a Rager walks past our hiding spot, his greasy blonde hair slicked back and his dirty clothes indicating he has just returned. This wolf must have been on the night watch. The redhead and I look at each other and she points to the right side – the side this Rager came from – and mouths exit to me. I grin, turning just in time to watch the Rage disappear into a door way giving us a clear path to the exit.

“Now is our chance. Stay silent but move fast.” I whisper to the other girls. Their nervousness floats in the air like a cloud but they all nod happily. We will be out of here soon. Counting down from three, I take a deep breath and pad into the hallway, keeping an eye on the room the Rager disappeared into while the redhead helps to guide the others to the exit. Every second that ticks down I prey to the Moon Goddess that no Ragers find us. It seems my prayers are answered as the last she-wolf disappears behind me, giving me the chance to fall back and join the others at the door. I smile, realizing we are so close to our freedom, something no she-wolf has ever done after being captured by Ragers. This be ats any bet I have with the Alpha of my pack.

“Before we open this door, I need to know how many of you were marked by a Rager.” State, looking at the girls one by one. Six she-wolves raise their hands, their faces filled with shame. I smile gently at them, spying the fading mark on their neck.

“Good news is, if you or your mate was with another wolf right after the mark was placed, your mark will fade withing twenty-four hours. You all will be mateless come tomorrow morning.” My words seem to be the light of hope these girls needed as their shame turns to shock, and then happiness. It seems these are the words they needed to hear as many she-wolves that are taken by Ragers are found either dead at the end of The Run, or never to be seen again.

“Now lets push this stupid door open and get the heck away from here.” The redhead chuckles out, moving towards the heavy steel door blocking our final path to freedom. With a smile, I watch as she pushes against it, the door slowly moving forward. I move forward, joining her as we use what remaining strength we have to push our way out until a blinding light greets us.

Letting my eyes adjust to the change, I slowly walk out the door and onto soft sand. The sound of waves lapping out to us fill my ears and as my vision finally clears I stand in awe at the sight before us. Crystal blue waters surround the island we are on and dread fills me. We are on crystal paw lake, the largest lake dead center in the forest. Legends say a monster lurks in theses waters and no wolf is ever found once they go for a swim.

“Are we where I think we are?” The redhead asks and I nod, still coming to turns that we jumped out of one danger into another.

“It’s just a legend right? If we swim we should be safe.” Another she-wolf asks.

"Shift to wolf form.” I order, motioning for the redhead to take the lead once more.

“It'll be easier to swim and our fur will keep us warm. But swim fast and do not look back." I continue, the sounds of bones breaking following my words. I watch as wolves of all colours run into the water, each she-wolf swimming as fast as they can before I too shift and take the rear. Some she-wolfs lag behind, but the others help them thankfully as we swim with the setting sun behind us.

Halfway to the other side of the lake, the forest suddenly grows quiet and unease settles into me. Something is wrong. I can feel it. Shifting back to human, I shudder from the cold icy waters knowing that if I stay in this form I will freeze to death. The others continue swimming, but I can see the red wolf, my companion that helped with the escape, looking at me with concern. What if a monster truly lurks in theses waters?

Howls of furry from the island sounds and a sigh of relief escapes me. I would rather deal with Ragers in the water than a legendary monster.

"Get to the forest and find the biggest tree, there should be a tree house there and hide until help comes or I do." I say loud enough for the girls to hear, their already swift swimming becoming faster as the fear they felt from these men fuel them forward into their escape. Ragers soon pour out from the exit to their base, their furry radiating off of them like waves of the lake and reaching me. They are mad that their precious brood mares have escaped. I listen closely as they begin to dive into the lake, their clothes soon growing heavy from the water. Had they been smart, they would have shifted, but it seems anger has clouded these men’s judgement and gives me a chance to fight. I know water combat like the back of my hand thanks to my Grandfather’s pack. I will be able to beat them without a fight or escape if it becomes to much. I just need to buy the others more time.

The Ragers are close now, the first being ten feet in front of me. Turning to make sure the others have made it to safety, I smile as I see no trace of them. Shifting back to wolf form, I duck under the water and paddle smoothly towards the closest Rager. He turns around in confusion, most likely wondering where I disappeared to. Using his confusion against him, I swim up just in time for my teeth to sink into his jugular as he turns to face me. Hearing his howl of pain as I tear his throat open and swim away, I watch his final breath leave his body before he sinks into the water and his blood dyes the crystal clear water red. Something shimmering on the surface catches my attention, but I chalk it up to fish scales as I watch the other Ragers swim towards me with furry. They have just watched me kill their pack mate and were now out for revenge. Swimming to my right and away from the shores the she-wolves disappeared to, I lead the Ragers on a wild goose chase, taking out any that manage to get too close to me. Splotches of red now litter the crystal surface as five Ragers pursue me but I am growing tired and weak. Being in the cold lake has taken its toll on me and I will need to lose these five wolves soon if I want to survive. Turning my head to see the Ragers focusing on me, the shimmer returns catching my attention. Waves were being made where the shimmer appears and fear creeps inside me. There are no winds to create waves meaning the Ragers and I weren’t alone in this lake.

My momentary distraction is my down fall as a Rager clamped his jaw around the scruff of my neck, digging in deeper then necessary as I feel his canines puncture my skin and the metallic smell of my blood reaches my nose. The water begin to turn a pinkish hue from the blood tricking out of me but this is the least of my concerns. Cries of pain and fear sound behind this Rager and I and I watch as wolves disappearing into the crystal depth never to return to surface has the fear coursing through my body and making me panic. I fight against the Rager that is holding me captive, recognizing him as Alsir by his scent. His teeth hold firm and I howl, trying to get him to notice the urgency in my barks but Alsir ignores me. Suddenly the water stills and a silence spreads along the lake. Alsir stops swimming, letting go of me. He and I can both sense the imminent danger lurking in the deep lake waters as I flail to regain buoyancy from his unexpected release of me and he growls at the unknown. It is coming for us.

Suddenly the water's surface ripples and scales emerge glittering in the light. A massive tail like a mermaid’s is the first thing I see as it propels what ever beast it belongs to towards us. I turn towards the shore, doing my best to swim away as Alsir does the same, an unspoken truce between us as we fight to survive. I am ahead of him, my speed unmatchable with fear coursing through me but I have the dumb idea to look back just as large jagged teeth appear behind Alsir and I…