Chapter Seventeen : Crossing Borders

In third person's POV :

"I smell blood," Dylan said. He turned back into his human form.

Zen and a few other wolves were with him, standing somewhere near the fighting scene where Claire's corpse was still lying.

Dylan was a companion of Zen when they were training at south.

Zen was standing there completely blank. He could tell whose blood it was from the smell. He was way calmer than he was supposed to be.

"It is mixed," Dylan said again looking at Zen. "They were here. They didn’t get far away."

"Maybe Claire has got them before us. What do you think? Are they dead already?" Dylan asked.

Zen was still silent. The cold breeze of the night was making it horrific.

Zen without saying a word shifted back into his wolf started running. The other wolves followed him. His companions were completely assured that Ella and Edward were dead. Claire was probably out there somewhere celebrating in their blood.

But they didn’t had to go too far. Soon they came to the place where an intense fight took place not too long ago.

Everyone stopped there. They were struck. The corpse was showered in blood, chest ripped open, eyes were open terribly. The horrifying death of Claire was as if some nightmare.

"Impossible," Dylan muttered.

He looked at Zen horrified. Zen was still calm and composed. His silence made Dylan more afraid.

Others were still looking at Claire's body in disbelief.

"Find them!" suddenly Zen shouted staring at the direction where Ella had headed.

"I want her alive," Zen said gritting his teeth.

His anger broke them in fear. They started to follow the blood traces.

Ella's pov :

I was running and running. For how long I had lost count of it a long time ago. Lexa was trying her best. Being an alpha female I had the privilege of having more developed senses than most of the wolves. I knew that I was slowing down. I could already feel the presences behind me.

I started to run even faster. All these time I didn’t notice that I was leaving traces with blood dripping from Edward's body.

I got exhausted and fall. Edward's body fell on the ground. I suddenly noticed the blood drops on the ground. I looked back.

"Damn!" I turned back into my human form. It was impossible for me to carry Edward's body any longer. I looked at my surroundings. The moon was still visible in the sky making it clearer.

I felt that the place would be good for Edward. Orchids hanging down from the trees. Beautiful flowers growing under the large trees.

But there was one thing that was not getting out of my mind. The more I was getting close to the border, the trees were lessening. I didn’t meet a single rogue in my whole journey.

I was almost near the border. But it was way calmer.

I could feel that Zen was getting closer and closer. They were way faster than me. They would be here within no time. I had no time to waste. I needed to find a perfect place to hide Edward's body and make it his grave.

Deep in the woods, within the orchids, I finally found a place to bury him. With ample pain in my heart I bid him my last goodbye.

I sat beside his grave for a few seconds. The sun was about to rise after a while. The presence was getting stronger.

I got up and shifted again. I started running towards the border. The border was now within the range. I, a lonely wolf was running towards an unknown destination, completely unware of what was awaiting for me.

Suddenly I felt a strong presence behind me.

"Ella! " Lexa called out in her mind in fear. "He is almost here," she said.

"You need to run fast, Lexa," I said.

Zen was almost catching up with me. They were right behind and the morning sky was making me visible. As I was almost near the border the woods were gradually becoming shallow.

"There she is! I see her," someone screamed behind me.

I started to run faster but it was too late. I looked back. Zen and some other wolves were following me. They were already there. And they saw me from a few yards away.

"There is no point of running, Ella," Zen connected his mind to mine through the pack link. "You won't be able to make it whatever you are planning. You are aware of our pace. Give up," he said.

"Why don't you try," I replied.

"You killed her, Ella. She is dead because of you. You killed her with brutality. I am going to make you pay, Ella. I promise," Zen said again.

He was in deep pain and agony. He was griefing. So was I. But I had my revenge. And now I only wanted a future for my child.

"I suffered too, Zen. I lost what was precious to me as well. I never wanted this outcome. She reaped what she sowed," I said. " You will never be able to stop me, Zen. I will do whatever it takes to save my child."

"Then let's see how far you can go," Zen said.

They increased their speed. It was an advantage for me that Lexa was an Alpha. Only Zen's wolf was able to match my speed. The other wolves were falling behind. But after all the exhaustions, I was slowing down.

I was almost near the border. But Zen wasn’t backing up. He instead gave his everything to stop me.

I was afraid. I knew if he would catch me, death was going to be the only option for me to get rescued.

Surprisingly there was no other wolves in that area. No rogues, no wolf from the south. Nothing. It was like an empty field.

Alex told me Zen wouldn’t cross the border. But I was getting worried. The condition is not the same. Claire is dead. Zen could change his mind and follow me by crossing the borders. I was getting more afraid thinking of what would I do after crossing the border.

I suddenly tripped. And that was it. I thought I was going to die. Zen was about to attack. They were about to catch me. I closed my eyes.

Finally my end was there. I failed. I failed to save my child.