Run!

“So, you do not want to tell me who he is, is that it?” Number 39 asks as they walked.

“I do not know what you are talking about, 39, that is why I cannot answer.” Number 28 says trying her best not to let her voice show the fact that she was smiling. They were returning from their duty outside the pack house.

Turning to face her, Number 39 smiles. “Fine! It’s okay if you do not want to tell me, as long as you are happy about it. At least, for the first time in your life, you are happy, I see that every time I look at you these days.”

“I rarely take off my veil so how do you –

“Your eyes, they tell me when you are happy.” Smiling, “I have stared at them behind that veil long enough to know when you are smiling.”

They continued to walk in silence until they entered the pack and noticed an unusual atmosphere. Everywhere was busy, and Number 28 could notice some strange faces.

“I do not think I have seen her before.” Number 28 says nodding at a lady headed for where their Alpha and Luna stood. “Not that I know everyone in the pack, but she stands out. She is beautiful. Who is she?”

Smiling, she looks away from the lady Number 28 had nodded her to “That she is. I belief that is why the mating is happening after all. She is Isabella, only child of the Alpha of the West-East mountains. But asides her pretty face and body, I do not think there is more to her.”

Turning to look at Number 39. “She is getting mated?” Number 28 asks.

“In five days’ time, during the full moon. And two weeks after that, they will be married.” Number 39 sighs, “I guess that will officially make her our new Luna.”

Her brows furrow. “The Alpha is taking a new mate?”

Shaking her head, Number 39 rolls her eyes, “What hole have you been hiding, 28? No, the Alpha is not taking a new mate, we all know he loves Luna Victoria too much to ever do that, although we all know how she is just too good to have been paired to him except the mother goddess is partial, which I believe she is not.”

Her steps begin to slow of their own accord. “So, who then is she getting mated to?” Number 28 asks her eyes following the lady until she stops and hugs someone, wrapping her hands around that person. Number 28 got her answer even before Number 39 answered her.

“The Alpha Prince, 28, who else!” Number 39 says shaking her head. “I think – “she turns around and realizes that Number 28 had stopped following her. “28.” She calls but got no response. “Number 28!”

Number 28 snaps out of her stare, turning to look at number 39 briefly, before she returns her stare back to the people standing a distance away from them. She was just about to look away when their eyes met, the Alpha Prince Chan, and she looked just long enough for him to see her pains before she turned and bolted away from there, back in the path they’d just come from.

“Number 28!” she calls again, trying her best not to be loud in order not to alert any of the controllers or guards. Sighing, she picks up the things Number 28 had dumped on the ground in her rush away, and decides to head to their basement and keep them first, before going in search of her.

~

He found her! After long minutes of searching, he finally found her seated by the river bank with her legs in the edge of the water. Sarton had almost torn his way out when he had turned and saw Ianna staring at them with pain in her eyes as she watched him hug Isabella. No, as Isabella hugged him. The damn girl had gone ahead and hugged him even before he could protest. He had been standing a good long distance away from where she and one other Doulo stood, but that was not enough distance to hide the pains he had seen in her eyes as she watched them. Why in the goddess name did she have to be there at that moment? And even before he could pull away from Isabella, she had run away.

He had excused himself to leave and go after her immediately, but his father had stopped him and ordered him to stay until the discussion with Alpha John, Isabella’s father was over. Trying his best to persuade Sarton that they will find Ianna the moment the guest was gone, he had stayed until minutes ago when he could leave despite his father’s decision for him to stay more with him. Chan knew that if he spent one more minute there without finding Ianna, Sarton will tear out of his body and do so himself. And with the full moon approaching, he would rather he find Ianna than let Sarton do so. As the days pass, Sarton was becoming more needing and desiring of Ianna. Chan feared what Sarton may do if he found Ianna as himself, and in an emotional state.

He stood, watching her for some minutes as she sat on that floor, her head resting on her thighs, her feet in the water. He was short of words to say to her. How was he going to explain the fact that he was already betrothed to Isabella? He has been avoiding this situation for a long long time, but Chan doubted he would be able to do so today. Sighing, he takes his first step towards her.

“Do not come any closer!” Number 28 says, her head still resting on her knee.

“Ianna I –

“Do not!” She says finally raising her head. “You have nothing to say to me.”

“Just let me explain.” He says taking another step.

“Explain what, exactly?” She questions rising to her feet and turning to face him. Chan could see her eyes glazing either from crying, or because she was about to cry. Shaking her head, “I do not want any explanation.” She says looking down, her head bowed in despair.

He took a swift move and was standing in front of her even before she could stop him. “Iann-

She shakes her head, taking some steps backward, but even before she could go too far away, he grabbed her hands. Number 28 protests, trying to get her hands out of his grasps, and she almost did, but when Chan saw that he was losing grip of her hands, he pulls her flush against himself and wraps his hands around her in a bid to stop her from leaving.

“Am sorry, Ianna, I am sorry.” He begins to say, his hold on her tightening.

Against her wish, the tears begin to escape her eyes and roll down her face. “Is it true you two are betrothed?” She asks him.

“Yes.” He answers.

“Is it true you two are going to be mated on the full moon?”

“Yes.” He answers again, and felt as she broke more in tears. “But that was before I found you. That was before I knew you were my mate, Ianna. All of that is going to change.” He says, his hands wrapping more around her as if afraid she will disappear at any moment. “I am going to cancel it all.” He says.

At his words, Number 28 slowly begins to pull away from him, until she was looking him in the eye. “What!” she exclaims, her voice barely above a whisper.

Eyes on her, he nods. “Yes Ianna. I am going to cancel it all. I am going to introduce you to father.”

“The Alpha?” Number 28 questions.

“Yes Ianna, the Alpha, my father. I am going to introduce you to him and mother.”

Batting her lashes, “But –

He grabs her on both hands, shaking his head. “I will let them know I have found my mate, I am sure mother will love you, and then I will I will cancel my engagement to Isabella.”

“And her?” Number 28 asks.

Shaking his head, “I will explain things out to her.” He sighs, “She will not accept immediately, but eventually she will. I will make sure she does.”

Number 28 sniffs, looking down. “I am sorry I am not –

“Hey!” he stops her even before she said the word. Using his right hand, he tipped her head up until she was looking straight at him. “I should have waited or searched for you more than I did. I should not have given up so easily, I mean, you were here, in my pack, very close, yet Sarton and I took so long to find you.” He gives a slow smile, “I should be apologizing, even for every moment I spent with someone else.” He wraps his hands around her again. “And I am sorry I let her hug me back there.”

Number 28 smiles, burying her head in his chest. “And I am sorry I ran away like that. I must have worried you and Sarton.”

He pulls her even closer until their entire body was glued together. “Worried he was. He almost tore right out of me to chase you the moment you turned and ran.”

“He did?” she asks, her hands lifting timidly until they were also wrapped around him.

Chan smiles the moment he felt her hand wrap around him. It was the most wonderful feeling. “Yes.” He says smiling. “So never turn back on him like that and run ever again. He wanted to chase you, I know he would have quite enjoyed the chase, but he would have done more than just chase.”

Number 28 pulls away slowly enough to look up at him. Eyes on him, “What would he have done?” She asks.

Eyes on her. “Mark you, like he has wanted to from the moment we found you.” He watched her eyes and heard her sharp intake of breath at his words. As innocent as her actions were, they enticed and stirred him. Slowly, he raises his hand up and pulls down her veil to reveal her bare face to him. A smile seized his face as her face comes into view. “Yes Ianna, we desire you that much. Much more than you can imagine.”

She stares at him, until she could not anymore. Her cheeks turn red at his words and she had to quickly look down. But Chan would not have that, he wanted to see it all. Her desire for him too, he wanted to see it. So slowly, he uses his index to raise her head back up until she was looking him in the eyes again. Number 28 gulps, as her eyes locks with his.

Slowly, Chan finds himself leaning forward, towards her, his eyes moving back and forth from her eyes to her lips and back. Gulping, his entire body beating to the rhythm in his heart, he keeps leaning down until his lips were mere inches away from her. They could almost feel each other’s breathe. His eyes flick back up to hers and he finds her eyes fluttering close, her lips half parted. She was beautiful, more beautiful than anything or anyone he has ever seen, not even the mother goddess was to be compared. And as he stared at her in that moment, he wanted nothing but to seize her lips and take them in his, but he knew better, he knew the beast that resided inside him.

Sarton has desired her for too long that Chan knew he would never stop with just the kiss. He would probably push for more, wanting to claim everything and not just the kiss. Sarton will definitely want to claim her mind soul and body, and he would not bother about where they stood at the moment or the fact that they needed to take care of everything that would ever upset their female again first, before they claimed her. No! Sarton will claim her first, and then try to solve those problems later. And that was why despite how much he was to seize those lips that invited him so temptingly, Chan was resisting it and pulling all his will power to keep Sarton in check.

Chan lets go of her and takes some steps backwards away from her. “Damn it, Ianna!” he exclaims as he moved backwards, his eyes still on her, waiting for her to open them again, and when she did, he watched carefully how the sun made them look even more beautiful than they were already. And when those pair of eyes landed on him again, he was sure he was doomed. This female, this female whom the mother goddess has gifted him, has claimed his soul already.

Her eyes held a lot of questions. She hasn't said a word yet since she opened her eyes, but just by looking at them, he could tell the million and one questions in her mind. She had very expressive eyes, eyes that spoke more loudly than her lips did.

She gulps, "Did I ... did I do something wrong?" She questions at last, her eyes on him.

Shaking his head, he closes the space between them and was standing next to her again the very next minute. "No!" He says still shaking his head. "You did nothing wrong, it's ... me. I ..." His very hands itched to touch. Folding them, he takes a step away from her again. "You are strong." He says taking one more step backwards.

"What?" She asks confused, her brows furrowed.

"Your scent, it's getting stronger."

"My scent?" She questions, still trying to make sense of what exactly was happening.

"Sarton is restless." Chan says, his eyes turning grey instead of the black they were. He continues to take steps backwards. "I think ... I think he can sense your wolf. It's close." Chan almost yells as he bends in an arc as if about to wolf out. Sarton was fighting him, he wanted to claw his way out and claim this female, and he Chan suspected he wasn't especially happy with how Chan had pulled away just before kissing her few minutes ago. Sarton was becoming impatient.

Number 28 narrows her eyes at him, he was in pain and that much she could tell. "Is everything okay?" She asks attempting to take steps towards him, but he stops her with his raised hand.

"Don't, don't come closer." He says. It wasn't a command, it was a plea. "Stay back. Please." He adds as he suddenly falls to his knees.

"Did I do something?" She asks with a worried tone as she watched him.

Forcing on a smile in the midst of his pains that was so clear, he shakes his head. "No, no love. You did nothing wrong. It's Sarton ... ah!" He half yell as his bones begin to break. "He wants you!" Chan states as his hands dig into the ground. "He wants to claim you."

Her eyes widen in shock at his words. She was not stupid, she may just be finding her mate, but she knew what being claimed meant, it was a word even the Doulos used often. Sarton wanted to claim her. Gulping, "What do I do" She asks worry greasing her face.

"Go!" He half growled the word, his eyes now completely grey, even she could see Sarton lurking so close, ready to tear out at any chance. "Not suddenly." He adds having somehow gained a bit of his voice back. "Slowly, slowly enough not to agitate him." He explains bending his head in pain. "Don't turn your back on us, not until you are sure you are a long distance away, and the moment you turn back, you have to run fast!" He growls the last word. "Wherever you are running, make sure it has bars, iron doors, or gates." He looks up at her with his eyes completely grey now. "Don't let me catch you Ianna." It was both a plea and a promise. "Go!"

And without waiting to be told a second time, Ianna begins to take steps backwards until she finally turns around and runs. The moment she did, Sarton tears his way out of Chan and gives a chase, intent on catching his target. He was still chasing when from behind one of the trees, another wolf blocks his path. Sarton slows, growling at the wolf in front of him, and the wolf growls back. Much louder and commanding than him. The power behind that growl was enough to get Sarton back to his senses as he begins to slowly give way back to Chan.

~

"What? You were just going to chase her like the beast that you are?" The Alpha questioned when they were back at their quarters, his eyes narrowed at his son.

Gulping, "I apologize -

"You are not just some random beast, Chan!" The Alpha fires. "You are my son, and you will be Alpha of this pack some day. So what? You were just going to let your future subjects see you run around the pack in pursuit of what? A Doulo?"

"Father, Sarton -

"You control the beast boy! The beast shouldn't control you." At his words, Sarton pushed forth, but Chan had to hold him down. Eyes on his son, not oblivious of what was happening in front of him, after all, he was not Alpha for nothing.

"Maybe you should take it easy on the boy, Reuben." The Luna says as she walks into the room and heads straight for her husband giving him a long kiss, then she turns and heads for where her son stood and gave him a long kiss on the cheeks. "Cage in your wolves, boys. Both of you." She says walking away to take a seat. "Anyone from a 25 miles radius can feel the radiation off you two, and all these, for a girl." She picks up an apple from the tray on the table and takes a bite. Smiling at her son. "You didn't even tell me you have found her Chan, after all these years of searching."

"And that's clearly because she is a Doulo." The Alpha says walking away to take his own seat.

Luna Victoria gasps at her husband's words, her eyes going to her son. "Is she?"

Chan nods. "But she is -

"And today, he almost kissed the damn girl but stopped, and then he bloody asked the girl to run away, causing Sarton to take control and want to give a chase." The Alpha states.

Her eyes widens more as she stares at her husband, then she turns to face her son. "Sarton likes her that much?"

Chan sighs, and then nods. "Yes mother."

Her brows furrow. "I thought he didn't like females especially Isabella, except me?" She questions.

He shrugs. "I thought so too mother, until I met her."

Smiling, "Hmmm! Then I must meet her, don't you think so?"

"I can send -

"She is a Doulo for crying out loud Victoria, did you not hear that part?" The Alpha questions.

Luna Victoria shrugs with a smile. "Love can be found in the most unexpected of places, Reuben, I thought you more than anyone should know that." She says with an even bigger smile. Turning back to her son, "Don't hide her away from me for much longer and sneak off to spend time with her alone Chan, even I could use a break from Victoria. Thank goddess you have found what's truly yours." She stands up and begins to exit the room. "Come Chan, you must tell me all about her, I want to hear everything you know."

~

"The Alpha?" Number 28 asks as she folded her clothes later that evening.

Nodding, "Yes." Number 39 answers. "The slave serving their quarters said she overheard the Alpha scolding Alpha Prince Chan for almost chasing after a Doulo in his wolf form." She says, looking around, she moves closer to number 28 to whisper her next words. "There's a rumor going around that he has finally found his mate, and that she is a Doulo."

Number 28 begins to cough in nervously.

Eyes on number 28, "Are you okay?" Number 39 asks, her eyes on the girl.

Nodding, "Yes, yes I am fine." She says clearing her throat.

Looking away to arrange her sleeping position. "I wonder who the lucky Doulo is." Number 39 says with a smile. "Any lady would surely be happy to be the one, much more a Doulo." She turns to face number 28 again, "I wonder which room the Doulo belongs to." She moves closer again, "Do you think it could be Patricia?" She nods at the Doulo in question. "I mean, based on how cocky she has been lately."

Number 28 laughs. "You just don't like her much, do you?"

"No, I don't like her at all." Number 39 says hurriedly. "It can be any Doulo, just not her."

Smiling, "Well, I guess we'll have to wait and find out soon who it really is." Number 28 says, trying her best to hide the smile in her voice.

*