28 Chapter Twenty-Five

After around eight hours, I pant lightly as we slow down.

"That's it" Azaizal suddenly states, coming to a full stop. "Ella's leg isn't doing to well with how long we've been running. We're stopping for the night."!

I stand up straight and look at Azaizal, despite my leg resting against the ground. "I'm okay I swear, let's keep going." I start walking forward slowly and realise just how much it hurts now that we've stopped. I refuse to let them know that though.

Hannah is the first to speak as she inspects my leg. "You may not know this Ella but I'm also a pack doctor, so I know when someone is lying and struggling. You aren't going to heal if you push yourself too much." Zack approaches me next and nudges my side.

"You look exhausted sis" I shake my head back and forth.

"I'm okay I promise, let's keep going." Azaizal stares at me hard, with an eyebrow raised.

"We're setting up camp and that's final Ella." He directs at me firmly. There is no power behind it but it's enough for us all to bow. I turn my head lowering it.

My lip curls a tiny bit and I pin my ears back. "Fine then." I turn around and limp away from him, despite the pain in my leg. I feel everyone burning holes in the back of my head as I disappear through the forest.

I find a small stream near by and sit next to it getting a good drink. My ears perk up at the noise from the rest of the team as they shift and set up camp for the night.

No longer trembling I lift my snout in the air to try and see if I can smell any food close by. Luckily this area hasn't had snow yet so I manage to easily catch the scent of a rabbit.

I brace myself before pouncing across the stream. I end up stumbling due to my leg and I have to hold back a yelp but I quickly get back up, tracking the rabbit.

I easily find it and pounce on it as my leg gives in under me. I end up falling on the ground with the rabbit in my mouth. It instantly dies as I snap it's neck and slowing start making my way back to the camp.

I huff at the fire they've made as it could easily give away our location. 'They are so dumb' Ally speaks. I agree with her, they are supposed to be wolves out here. Everyone is sitting on logs and they turn to look at me as I enter.

"Are you not shifting Ella?" Noah asks as he stares at the rabbit in my mouth. I shake my head in response.

"Back home we'd usually stay in wolf form and catch our own food" I state as I make my way under a tree next to a small tent.

Jax was next to speak up, "What about if there wasn't anything?"

Jack answers him as I continue to eat. "Then we'd starve."

They all continued with conversations while I half listened and ate at the same time. When I was finished eating I limped away from the camp with the rabbit and went and buried it quite a distance away.

When I came back I curled up under the same tree with my leg splayed out in front of me. I stare into the fire until Azaizal speaks up. "What do you mean you'd starve?"

I lay my head on my paws and look at the ground. "Basically one time before Zack left, I actually convinced our parents to let me go on a mission with him and I had one friend at that point, who also went on this mission. Her name was Willa, we were so close and we had a small rogue problem which was what we were going to try and end.

We ended up being on mission for over three weeks. Zack would share the food he found with us and I'd give Willa mine but she refused to eat. She eventually grew to weak and she didn't make it because a few days later we were attacked by the rogues. Willa wasn't strong enough to fight back. She made out to us all that she'd eaten, turns out she'd snuck her food onto my plate and everyone else's."

I quickly rise to my feet and begin walking away from the group. It hurt that I lost my only friend and the guilt that I didn't keep her alive, eats at me constantly.

I break into a full run, ignoring the pain in my leg. Knowing I'll live.

I run and run until I have to come to a sudden stop and dig in my claws to stop myself falling off the cliff, though it didn't sound too bad of an idea. I stare into the sky, it's almost a full moon. Guilt hits me like a tidal wave and I howl.

I howl as load as I possibly can. It's filled with pain, grief and guilt, especially when we should be celebrating turning eighteen together tomorrow. We had the same birthday, which I loved.

I knew it was risky howling when there's rogues about but I howl for the amazing life she'll never get to experience.

I howl for my best friend.