As I ran for miles, I let my mind wander like the way you would while standing in the shower, or waiting for your favorite food in the oven to get done. Aware of the changing terrain and weather from woods and snow to hills and valleys and mountains with dark red grasses, I realized how long it's been since I hunted a wild animal after picking up many Deer, Rabbit, and a few wild boar trails. It's been almost 6 months!

'The only thing I have to be careful about is not entering the Alpha Territory, right Nikita?' I asked.

Since I ran from Tiberius and spent a time away from him, the natural mate pull will be stronger, meaning that if I enter the Alpha Territory then Tiberius will be able to sense that I'm close and come after me. As long as I stay outside of the Alpha Territory, though, and stay on the fringes of other territories, he will only feel a faint sensation of me but not enough to pinpoint where I am.

'Yes. There might be some Alpha Guards or Trackers out though, so be careful about your distance from the line. Don't be a rebel today and try to test the fates, Ellie. We'll reach the Alpha border in nearly 17 miles, so hunt now if you want to.'

Smiling a wolfish smile at her knowledge of me wanting to go hunting, I slowed down to a trot and lowered my nose low to the ground, inhaling the different scents and secrets of the wild. 'Mmm..Caribou', I slobbered.

Following the smell and hoof indentations of the beast for 4 miles, I finally caught sight of the herd. Almost 40 Caribou including calves were grazing on a hilly slope peacefully, a few males keeping watch for any predators- like me.

Studying the mammals to find a weak or smaller male, I decided to raise my standards to a healthy male. I wouldn't hunt a female in fear that she had a calf and I killed her, which is something I would never do unless completely necessary. Knowing it would be a struggle between me and the healthy buck even though us Werewolves are bigger, faster, and stronger than regular wolves, I eyed a young buck standing apart from the herd. Creeping up the side of the hill stealthily, I took my time while appreciating the fact that the tans, reds, and browns of my coat blended well with the grasses, as well as the leather bag still strapped to my back. Around 30 feet away, a nearby snort of a buck alerted the herd.

Stampeding hooves and bodies gathered together and ran in the opposite direction as well as the one I was stalking, but instead of merging in with the rest he remained on the outside. Run!

Jumping from my spot and starting with a sprint, I shot past the weeds and quickly caught up with the running Caribou. Calves struggled to keep up with their mothers in the middle and back of the shifting group, but I paid no attention to them and instead charged past them to my target. With the buck directly infront of me, I took a huge step and leaped onto the beast's back, digging my claws into its thighs and bringing it down with a grunt from the both of us. The rest of the group dashed on with a few mere glaces back while I bit his throat and crushed his windpipe with ease, effectively killing him within seconds. I'm sorry..

'Ellie, don't be sorry,' Nikita consoled. 'It's the way of life and food chain for all of the animals out here. You did good taking him down! Fast and quick-the way it should be. Plus he was lagging behind the rest and most likely wouldn't have survived the whole winter anyway.'

Nodding in agreement, I proceeded to get my fill of the male over the span of a few hours. With the Sun starting to set, I trotted down the hill and howled into the wind to notify wild wolves that there was a Caribou carcass available for scavenging. Replied with howls of gratitude and excitement, I found a group of large boulders with crevices and bushy grasses between them. Nestling myself comfortably in a ball with the bag cushioning my furry spine from the granite, I gazed up at the sky.

Millions of stars shone like beacons with the black backdrop of space behind it. Unable to describe the feeling or put into words how free I felt, how right that moment was, how everything felt okay, I dozed off to the singing of crickets and the wide open sky above me.

A bright orange light shone on the opposite side of my eyelids, causing me to open them slowly and blink away the sleep and dew that gathered. Groaning and getting on all four feet, I stretched my limbs and licked my lips, tasting dried, coppery blood caked on my fur. Shaking my solid-built neck and head, I jogged down the hill and approached a wide, shallow stream. Unafraid of any humans this far out even though I was in a random territory along the way to my house, I shifted into my human form and dipped my toes into the icy water.

Goosebumps shot up my arms and legs, but despite the temperature I proceeded to wash off the flaky blood from my torso, hands, face and neck. It's a beautiful morning-why not walk a little? I asked myself even though I had no shoes. After washing off my entire body, I slipped on a pair of Cargo Pants and a tank top from Caylee's closet and pulled out 5 strips of Deer Jerkey to munch on along my hike. Pulling out a hairtie and braiding my hair quickly down the back to pull it away from my face, I began my peaceful march over hills and streams, past boulders and mountains for 13 miles until I sensed that we reached the invisible Alpha Border on the side of a woody hill.

'Okay, this is it,' Nikita told me. 'Shift into our Wolf so you can smell anyone nearby, and stay atleast 12 feet away from the line at all times while watching for guards.' Nodding, I stripped myself of the clothes I changed into before and stuffed them into my bag. Shifting into my Wolf, I sniffed the air before proceeding along the border.

The side of the Alpha Territory I was traveling along would be 19 miles long and take about an hour to get by. After that, it's a straight shot to my old home 15 miles away. Only 34 miles away!

Jogging along the border to my left, I suddenly heard something within the Alpha Territory. Quickly leaping to the right under thick foliage, I perked up my ears and listened for the sound again, my breath coming out in an icy fog from my nostrils. There!

The crunching of steps permeated the air along with the heavy breathing of an animal.

"Why do we have to keep looking, sir? Why would she just show up out of the blue?" a male's bark shouted out.

"Because we have orders from Alpha Connall you ignorant sheepdog!" another male barked back blatantly. Wolfish laughter echoed through the branches as other yaps and howls joined into the conversation, slowly moving farther and farther away deeper into the Alpha Territory. Creeping out from the cover, I checked to make sure no other wolf was around before I continued on my journey.

Finally after an hour, I completely passed the Alpha Territory and entered my old one, the Dewitt pack. With a high heart I weaved through the woods easily, the memories of each trail and tree from my entire childhood rushing back to the surface. Avoiding any other people and passing the stands, I ran up to the back porch and shifted into my human, throwing on random articles of clothing with excitement.

"Mom! Isaac!" I yelled out, pushing open the worn wooden door and running towards the living room expecting to find Isaac on the couch and Mom somewhere inbetween the kitchen and living room. What surprised me, though, was that nobody was home-and that dust, clothes, and broken plates were scattered everywhere. Confused, I called out again and went to the bedrooms to find them completely empty, both beds' covers disturbed as if once Isaac and Mom were awake, they left abruptly without having time to clean up before.

"Mom?"

Walking back out into the living room, my eyes were drawn to the front door where, taped to the back, was a large white letter folded with "Elenore" scrolled out on the front. Maybe it's from her! I thought to myself, even though I knew that wasn't her slightly boxy handwriting. Rushing to the paper, I yanked it free from it's place and tore open the glued flap, just then noticing there was a slight bulge at the bottom. Holding the envelope in my left hand and letter in my right, I began to read:

Dear Elenore,

How have you been, my dear? Good, I hope. Did you ever make it to your beloved mate? The one who murdered your best friend? If you're reading this then obviously not.

Here's the thing, Ellie. Do you remember when you set off all those bombs, knocked me out with a skillet, and on top of that let all of my horses escape? Well you've given me a new outlook on life-a goal, if you will. Instead of wanting revenge on just Tiberius, I now want it on you too-starting with your family.

As you've noticed by now, your mother and brother are missing. Where they're at, though, is a secret that only my pack and I know. Oh, doesn't it feel good to be on the opposite end of the handle? I specifically recall the note you left before running from us; how you said that you'd love to see me try and get you now. How you're still mine? Let me get this clear for you Elenore- If you ever want to see your adorable brother and mother alive again, then you'd be wise enough to come back to me without a fight. If not? Well, let's just say that what you find in the envelope is the last thing you'll ever have of your family.

With high regards,

Alpha Blade Connall

In absolute shock, I looked at the envelope in my left hand and tilted it so the object would roll out onto my right palm.

What lay infront of me was a delicate gold and diamond band with the initials A.H.B engraved on the inside, but instead of shining a glittering golden on the design, it was stained with red.

It was my mother's wedding ring with her blood splashed on the infinity symbol.