I can't sense anything beyond the pain that I feel. It surrounds me. Envelopes me from everything around me. I can still feel each kick and punch as they rained down on my unsuspecting body. The pain of the memory of what happened is just as bad as the physical pain.

I just lay there, where ever I am. I don't know what I am waiting for, maybe for the pain to go away? I scoff inwardly. They did a good job of making sure I won't be able to move let alone walk.

I think it hurts more knowing the Alpha I looked up to, the pack I was loyal to are the ones responsible for my anguish.

My eyes are still closed but I know that my face is bruised considerably and the area around my eyes are swollen. I wince at the thought.

Alright let's do this.

Concentrating on my body and not the pain, I try to move my hand. Emphasis on the word TRY. It takes awhile for any sort of movement and I almost cry with happiness when I feel my hand twitch.

I spend minutes just moving my hands and fingers but soon have to stop when the pain becomes unbearable. I rest again taking in greedy gulps of air. Even though my eyes are closed I can smell the forest scent.

It looks like the Alpha stayed true to his word. If my guess is correct than I am miles away from the pack border. Sighing I try to open my eyes this time. I can't help but gasp in pain when I do get them open. I stare up at the blue sky, the trees swaying gently in the wind.

I just lie there and stare. Too tired to move. I can feel that my ribs are either fractured or possibly broken. My werewolf healing will kick in soon and any broken bones will heal wrong. I sigh in frustration.

There is only one thing I can do.

Taking a deep breath I use all my energy to heave myself into a sitting position. Groaning I clutch my chest. Yup there is definitely something broken.

I look around slowly with blurry vision trying to see if I recognise my surroundings. They really did a number on my head.

Trees. Trees everywhere.

Well that's no help.

I bring forth my wolf and sniff the air for any familiar scents. Nothing, meaning I am not on any pack territory and probably on No Man's Land.

No Man's Land is unclaimed land between pack territories. Unfortunately because it is unclaimed, rogues run free on this land. Wolves that have been rogues for so long that they become lost to their wolf and have no control.

They are the threat that I must deal with while on these unclaimed lands.

I need to get to safety. I need to get to a pack but that's not an option. When someone carries out an act of treason like what the Alpha said I did, then other surrounding packs are warned. Under no circumstances are traitors allowed into packs. Alphas will not allow anyone into their pack that they cannot trust or could cause problems for their pack.

If I went to a nearby pack then word will get out that I'm looking for sanctuary in a pack and that won't end well. They will probably laugh in my face. Even if I try to explain what happened, no matter how hard I plead, they will take the word of an Alpha before a nobody like me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It takes me hours to even move a few inches without doubling over in agony. I am able to prop myself against a tree and end up sitting there for hours until it begins to get dark.

My stomach growls loudly reminding me I haven't eaten in some time. I want to shift into my wolf but I don't know how that will end. It could speed up the healing process but it also could be very painful. But I'll be able to hunt and I am really hungry. Deciding there's more pros than cons I close my eyes and let my wolf take over.

My wolf is delighted to be free. I haven't had the chance to shift in a while so she is happy to be out. My eyes change, my claws lengthen and fur begins to sprout all over my body. I cry out in pain as my bones rearrange themselves. Doubling over I pant for breath, my hands clutching the grass underneath me.

The shift is painful like I had predicted but I hadn't predicted that it would be so painful that I would pass out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An unusual scent reaching my nose has it twitching irritably. Groaning which ends up sounding like a growl since I am in wolf form, I tiredly get to my feet. The aching in my bones and muscles are still present but I can stand so that's a start.

Sniffing I catch the scent again but it's stronger now. As if it's getting closer. It's not a werewolf, thank the Moon Goddess, but I don't recognise the scent so I can't decide if it's dangerous.

My body shivers involuntarily. I feel eyes on me. Watching me. I stand with my back to the tree so I only have to protect my front and sides. I try to think of what could be out there but there are so many possibilities. I try to tell myself that I am just over thinking and it is just an animal. So with that in mind I let out a deep warning growl so as to intimidate it and scare it away.

Nothing happens making me frown in confusion. No noise. No movement. They're still there. I gulp. So maybe it's bigger than a curious rabbit? Something tells me that they mean me no danger. If they wanted to hurt me they would have struck by now.

The night is still dark. I can't guess the time but it's late. The whole fainting fiasco, the beating, lack of food and water have made me extremely tired. I keep my eyes open refusing to fall asleep. I am not falling asleep knowing those creepy eyes, whether they want to harm me or not, are watching.

My body on the other hand doesn't seem to listen to my brain. My eyes begin to droop and too tired to care, I fall into a dreamless sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Weeks pass with no food. I find water in nearby streams but finding food is harder. It seems that there are no small animals in this forest. I know that that's impossible but with the fact that I haven't seen anything I can eat not even a rodent let alone a rabbit I am turning desperate. My hunger is the only thing I can think about.

I am still in wolf form which is dangerous in a way because it is easier for me to turn rogue and lose myself to my wolf. Despite knowing that niggling fact I stay in this form for protection and frankly I feel a hell of alot safer with canine teeth.

The eyes still watch me. They follow me where ever I go. It freaked me out at first but I just ignored them whoever they are and now I forget that they are even there. I'm just curious of the who and what.

My tongue lulls out of my mouth as I pant for breath. I sound like I have run miles but in fact I have just been walking and I'm already exhausted. My battered body does not help me in the slightest in this situation. In fact my chest hurts probably from hurting my ribs causing my breathing to turn ragged. I'm not going to get anywhere like this.

Stumbling through the undergrowth I try to ignore my stomachs plea for food. I feel my eyes closing without my permission.

No!

I shake my head to stay awake but my weak body looses balance and I find myself thrown off kilter. A yelp escapes my lips as my body rolls down a hill, hitting protruding rocks along the way. When I finally come to a stop I whine helplessly.

Why does this always happen to me?

Does the Moon Goddess hate me that much?

I feel a weird sensation making me look down at my body. My eyes widen at the sight.

Oh dear that's not good...

Blood. So much blood.

A rustling of trees has me absentmindedly looking in the direction of the sound. I shrug it off. Probably just an animal. Turning back to the problem at hand I gulp at the amount of blood.

What do I do?

The rustling gets louder but this time it's accompanied by snapping twigs. I stare at the direction again but just when I go to turn away something catches my eye.

Or should I say someone.

Someone with red eyes.

A vampire.

In my tired, bloodied state I just stare at him intently. He steps forward snapping me out of my stupor. I watch him watching me. I wouldn't have been too concerned if it wasn't for his red eyes trained on the blood slowly leaving my body.

I blink and his face is mere inches from me. I jolt in surprise and try to shuffle away from him but I'm too weak and the pain is too much.

With a grin he smiles and says "This will only hurt a little."