Page 18 of Moon Guardian

Katlyn

I ran.

My sense of direction failed me as I danced between buildings, pulling the magic from the air to rekindle the power I had captured only moments before.

It was enough to give me a boost of speed that I needed to put distance between me and the alphas who had destroyed me, utterly and completely.

And soon, they would come after me to finish the job.

When I reached a junction where four stone paths crisscrossed, I paused, my chest heaving as I forced myself to listen.

Just like Charlie had taught me, to gain a sense of my surroundings so I didn’t blindly run without a plan.

This lifeless city contrasted too sharply against the surrounding forest, not offering even a single bird’s call to guide my way.

Distant howls sounded, approaching me and filling me with a sense of dread.

If I was captured, it would not be with an intention to claim.

It would be a gruesome death.

Ignoring the fear buzzing through my senses, I focused on the sounds, recognizing the pattering of paws against stone from the transformed shifters.

The sound echoed from my left, which meant the forest would be to my right.

I turned and fled, speeding through the winding paths as I kept my focus on the moon, marking its location to guide my way.

Ironic, the very thing that I despised guided my escape.

Approaching the gates, I spotted more shredded bodies, my path clear of obstacles as I jumped over the dead guards.

Something nagged at me, insisting that this had all been too easy, but I didn’t question my good fortune.

Perhaps this goddess of theirs wished to change sides.

She would have to do more than help me survival to earn my forgiveness. I wanted her dead. I’d already crushed her heart out of instinct, my hatred knowing exactly what I had to do.

The effect of the release of magic mating me to the alpha of every wolf pack was an unforeseen consequence, one I planned on surviving.

Because I still had a job to do.

“Another boost would be nice,” I said through gritted teeth as I shimmied through the gate, bolting into the foliage as my shoes sank into the familiar soil.

I would take the power of their goddess, for now.

And I would destroy them all with it. She would regret putting her faith in me.

Branches slashed against my cheeks, leaving a stinging reprimand as I bolted in a straight line, this time not trying to avoid the moonbeams. Instead I rantowardthem, soaking up the moon’s rays as I sped up, putting more distance between myself and the rising howls from behind.

They’d left the city now, meaning they weren’t far behind.

My legs burned as I pushed my body harder, forcing air in and out of my lungs as I ran.

When I hit another strong moonbeam, something inside of me awakened.

A different sensation clawed its way through me, one that enjoyed this chase.

A separate entity inside my mind unfurled, as if she had been asleep this whole time. She stretched and yawned, delighting when she realized we were on the run.