Okay. It's 5:10 right now and I have to be at the Alpha Mansion first thing in the morning, it's 31 miles away, Haley is alive, Tiberius never killed her, and I still need to go to sleep tonight? WHAT.

Take a deep breath, Ellie.

Calming my heart rate, I let my back fall onto the bedspread as a grin slowly spread across my lips. I couldn't deny the feeling of loneliness from being away from my mate for two weeks in a row, nor the excitement of knowing I'll be with him and my best friend-practically sister-tomorrow morning. Immediately, I chastised myself because of feeling joy even when my family was kidnapped by Blade.

But, is it really that bad to feel joy over something as natural as your own inner-Wolf?

Sighing and rising from the fluffy mattress, I decided to get out of the empty house and revisit the Stands where I worked for the past 6 years of my life. Even though it was tough competing against the other sellers there, we all made do and so, grabbing a cobalt baseball cap from deep inside my brothers closet to better conceal my identity, I headed out the front door.

Everything was the same as when I left nearly two months ago-people swarming the streets looking for a good deal on coats and jewelry to give to their mates, sellers hollering out prices and jingles to catch buyer's attention, and my family's stand where..

a complete stranger was selling wooden trinkets with kitchen bowls and spoons. The place where we worked every day, 5 days a week, was currently taken over by someone selling wooden bowls.

"Excuse me!" I called out to him before I could stop myself. Walking over, the middle aged man with a graying beard on his round face looked up at me.

"Yes? You want antique mixing bowl? 10 dollars," he rushed out with a slight Chinese accent around his scarf, making 'dollars' sound like 'dollahs'.

"No. Uh, since when did you start working here? There was a young man and woman who was here before you and sold food."

"Oh, yes! Yes! They left week ago-not here anymore. Stand empty so I moved in! You want spoons? Chair?" he pointed to a children's rocking chair behind him. Shaking my head no and thanking him anyway, I turned around before getting a rough jab in the shoulder and falling to the frozen, rocky ground.

"Hey!" I shouted, coughing as the light coating of snow on the ground knocked the wind from me.

"Watch where you're goin- Luna Elenore? I-is that you?"

My body stilled.

"Oh my Goddess, Luna! I'm so sorry! Here please, let me help you-"

I cut off the young woman with pale skin and freckles with a wave of the hand as other people began gathering around and gawking at their fallen Luna. Readjusting my ball cap, I stood and tried to weave through the crowd when people pushed me back, excitedly asking about what it's like to be a Luna, how Alpha Connall is, and how much they 'love' me.

"Okay, okay," I tried to get some personal space by spreading my arms out. "Thank you all, but I need air." A few people stepped back, but more took their place. "Okay! Step back please!" When no one listened, I grew angry. Using my Alpha voice, I raised above the crowd as they all listened: "I said step BACK!"

Immediately, everyone closed their mouths and took a big step backwards. Taking a heavy, clean breath, I smiled slightly. "Thank you."

Turning and walking to my right, a small pathway formed and I passed through, stopping at a boy no older than 5 with luscious brown doe eyes and an innocent, curious expression on his face. Smiling to myself, I combed through his hair and bent down to kiss his forehead before traveling back to my house in peaceful silence, his shy grin still fresh on my mind.

After going home and taking a hot, relaxing shower under the familiar faded faucet, I gathered together a quick almost-expired turkey sandwich and bottle of water and went to bed. Eating my meal in heavy silence under the covers save for the crickets outside the house, I created scenarios in my head about what our reunion would be like tomorrow. Will Haley look or act any different? Tiberius? Would they both run up to hug me or should I reject Tiberius' for making me believe he killed Haley? Ugh. Stop overthinking this!

'Just relax and go to sleep, Ellie. Take a deep breath and close your eyes.'

Doing as my inner Wolf told me, I set aside the plate and bottle and took a deep breath, feeling blank weight pulling my eyelids closed until my mind went hazy and I couldn't stay awake any longer.

'ELENORE, WAKE UP!' Nikita howled at me. Snapping open my eyes and sitting up in a flash, I screened the room to see if anyone was threatening me, the house was on fire, or if I was still dreaming.

'Nikita!' I scolded after catching my breath. 'Don't DO that to me! What's your frigging problem?'

'It's already 8:30! You said you'd get there first thing in the morning, and the sun rose at 6:10 Elenore! Plus, Tiberius has been trying to mind link you so I've had to reach out to him on your behalf.'

'Wait, what did you tell him? What did he say?'

'Oh, you know. I told him how you were catching up on your sleep while he was waiting for HIS MATE to come back! Come ON, El! I want to see him and Mahala!'

Slightly shocked by her actions and Humanesque tone, I smiled and threw the covers back from my bare legs, jumping over my plate from last night and grabbing a pair of Joggers and a Hoodie. Rushing to the bathroom and washing my face, I stripped off my Pajamas and stuffed my new clothes into the leather bag as I stood naked in my bedoom. Brushing my teeth and lifting my hair into a messy ponytail, I went to the backdoor with the bag strapped around my midsection, shifted into my Wolf, and began my 31 mile run to my mate and best friend through the snowy woods.

~~~

'Almost there!' I squealed with glee to Nikita as the miles between my mate, Haley, and I came to a close. 14 miles ago we passed the Alpha Border, and along the way we saw Alpha Guards that looked at me with a mix of adoration and hatred, probably for leaving their Alpha.

Both Haley and Tiberius mind linked me on my trip, making sure I was safe after I rejected their offer of sending Alpha Guards for protection. Why would I need protection now?

'Only 1 more mile!'

The scents around me tingled in my nostrils and I remembered the time when I ran out on Tiberius after he told me he had a brother and kept it from me. How childish of me, I scolded myself looking back onto the situation. But then again, I did hit him with a frying pan..Should've done it with a rock!

A few yards from the treeline where I knew the Alpha Mansion could be seen from and the grass perfectly manicured, I stopped and shifted so I could change into my warm outfit. As the steam that escaped past my cherry red lips rose in quick, rolling clouds, I stepped out of the treeline.

---------

I need a book cover for The Running. 😢😢😢