"You are keeping up well little human." Finn glanced over his shoulder as we ran his bright blue eyes glistening bright.
"I can't afford to let you out of my sight." I drew in breath the cold air aching my lungs as I secretly struggled to keep up with him. "What exactly is our plan Finn, I mean when we get there what if they see us."
"I don't know I haven't thought that far ahead all I know is I need to get my dad out of here."
"I'm sorry about your mum and your sister Finn, but going in there blindsided is not going to help anyone."
"Why did you come here, if you had just kept away then none of this would be happening." He froze to the spot as I overtook before digging my heels into the ground coming to a halt.
"Trust me I never would if I were to have known this was going to happen."
"But it has I know I've lost everything I loved."
"Finn." I felt helpless as he was right we had destroyed his whole life in a day.
"What do we have here, a stray dog and his playmate." A tall man with a shaven head appeared before us as his smile was cunning. "Your human!" He looked me up and down as Finn balled his fists ready for a battle. "Oh I wouldn't even bother little pup my pack have overturned your home, this will not end well for you, but it will be entertaining to watch."
"Shall we put that to the test?" Finn leaned forward as if he were about to lunge at any given moment.
"Stop." I grabbed his wrist trying to hold him back from any imploding action he may be about to take.
"Kai, what have you found." A thud came before us as man with blonde hair made his presence known. His eyes were grey as his hair was cropped. He looked me up and down over and over as he stepped forward his eyes gazing on mine longer than I hoped for. "I've heard about you for so long." He licked his lips as they slightly pulled back over his white teeth.
"I don't know what you mean." My attempt to stay strong was short-lived as my knees trembled in fear.
"Do you know how long I have been searching for you, and now here you are right under my nose. This evening could not get any better." His nostrils flared as he took in my aroma his eyes smiling with pure delight.
"As I said I don't know what you mean."
"Oh but I think you do Desert Rose." My throat tightened as I tried to lose his gaze. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you, see." He extended his arm as his palm lay flat. "Come don't be scared."
"You can't go with him." Finn growled as he batted his arm away angering the blonde wolf.
"I will kill you for that."
"No, please don't hurt him. I will come with you just let him go."
"Today looks like it's your lucky day little pup. She's just saved your life." He gripped my hand as the radiating heat rush through my skin making every tiny hair stand on end. "What I'm wondering is why he didn't keep you for himself."
"Who?"
"Bring him in." He placed his fingers to his mouth and whistled aloud as Jack was carried in and thrown to the floor. His face covered in blood and bruises.
"Dad." Finn cried as he was held back from rushing to his fathers side.
"I'm ok, boy."
"Tell me Jack, why did you let her out of your sight? Tonight could have gone so differently if you had just had the courage to keep her to yourself."
"She is a young girl who doesn't need to be caught up in this war Kaleb. Just let her go." He lent on all fours trying to catch his breath with every word he spoke.
"Loyalty gets you know where in this world Jack. Look at tonight you have lost your pack and not only that but your young daughter and wife lay blood spilled on your territory." He laughed softly as Finn hissed in pain.
"That is the reason you need to let her go. You can have this forest and my life if you must but no more blood needs to be shed."
"Dad no." Finn trembled as he was just a scared confused young boy.
"Oh your life Jack is a must that will just be the icing on the cake." He grabbed his hair yanking his head back as Jack moaned. "But it's not going to be me who takes it." He pulled out a blade from his black boot as he pointed it to Finn. "You will."
"What, no, no I won't do it. That's my father."
"You take his life, or I kill both of you right here right now."
"No!" Finn yelled.
"Finn, do as he says I can't bear to lose you to not now."
"What's it going to be boy?"
"I said no." He growled low his head shaking side to side.
"Fine you had your chance." In one fine swoop Kaleb took the knife and forced it toward Finn, my mind become blank as adrenaline took over my body as I throw myself in front of him the blade stabbing into my stomach as I fell to the floor in silence.
The pain was bearable as the leaves crunched all around me. I could feel the warm blood filtering to my hands as I pressed them against the wound.
"Eleanor, what were you doing." Finn ran to my side ripping his shirt pressing it to my stomach as my head felt woozy.
"I need her alive." Kaleb was angered as he knelt beside me pressing tighter as I gasped now in pain. "Why did you do that. Why would a human protect a werewolf."
"I'm sick of people dying every day. He's just a young boy he deserves to live as much as anybody." My voice shook with every breath as the adrenaline was now wearing off the pain returning as I screamed out looking down to the blood that was not subsiding.
"We need to help her!" Jack called as his eyes looked to me pitiful whilst full of regret.
"Kal what do you want me to do with these two."
"Henry, Louis." I cried as they appeared lifeless thrown to the ground. "Sasha is locked away she seems to have a soft spot for this one." He kicked Louis to the stomach as he groaned.
"Kill them both can't you see I'm a little busy right now."
"No." I mustered "you can't hurt them." I forced his hand from my wound as he looked at me confused.
"Do you have a death wish girl."
"Eleanor." Henry's head lifted as he caught a glimpse of myself. "Eleanor." He fought his way up as three wolves held him steady. "What have you done to her, I will kill you? I will kill every last one of you." He fought as hard as he could, but they were too strong for him.
"Henry it's ok, I'm ok." I sobbed as I fought hard for consciousness.
"You need to stay alive however hard you are trying to die." Kaleb forced his hooded sweatshirt to my stomach as the pressure felt good. My skin felt clammy as I shivered becoming cold.
"Elle please you need to stay alive I can't lose you not now not like this." Tears streamed from his eyes as it hurt me to watch.
"Not only the wolves fighting your corner I see." Kaleb smiled coldly as my eyes closed.
"You want to keep me alive, then I want something in return first." I shivered fighting to stay awake.
"I don't think you are in any condition to be bargaining with me girl do you."
"I'm fine to die believe me, but it's you who sounds as if you need me alive."
"Eleanor."
"It's ok Henry I know what I'm doing."
"I'm listening."
"I will tell you how to keep me alive, but first you let these go, and I mean you let them live."
"Ok fine." He responded flippantly.
"I'm not done." I gasped for air. "Finn I need you to take your father to Will and make sure he gets the Alpha blood until he does I'm not willing to show you a thing."
"How do I know I can trust you." Kaleb whispered into my ear.
"You don't."
"Even at deaths door and you still have a little spark. I like that. Go pup take him and hurry." Finn propped his father under his arm as he silently thanked me.
"Elle just stay awake for me please I'm begging you don't leave me."
"Henry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything."
"Stop it, you've got nothing to be sorry for just save your strength ok."
"A compassionate vampire never would I thought I would see the day."
"It's done, Will has the blood now let Louis help you." Henry stiffly nodded hearing from afar as i exasperated aloud.
" How can he help you, is this just a game!"
"My brothers blood will heal her bring her to him." Henry hissed.
"You keep him still." Kaleb scooped me into his arms as I screamed in agony.
"Louis, Eleanor needs your help, Louis, please." Henry remained to try to get free, but to no prevail.
"Wait."
"What now!" Kaleb was becoming unamused as my arms tightened around his neck.
"I need to hear you say it."
"Say what?"
"That once I have drunk his blood, that they get to live and go free."
"And you stay here with me." Kaleb smiled softly as he looked down upon me.
"Never!" Henry roared.
"And I will stay here with you."
"Eleanor, no, what are you doing."
"I'm saving your life for once."
"Why can't you see that is all you have ever done." His head hung in defeat.
"It's time for you to drink." He took Louis arm and made a small incision to his wrist as he placed it to my lips. "I said drink." He anticipated this would even work, but as the colour and life began to return he removed the clothing from my wound as I could feel it slowly healing as the taste of Louis blood lingered in my mouth.
"I've had enough." I turned my face to the side as I heard Louis mumble under his breath. "Henry, is he ok?"
"Yes, he will be fine."
"Good now you take your brother, and you never return to this forest do you understand." Kaleb spoke callously as Henry's eyes were black.
"I'm not leaving her."
"Then I will just kill her right in front of your very eyes then all of this would have been for nothing. It's your choice." He slapped Henry's cheeks laughing.
"Please. I will be ok, everything happens for a reason right."
"Elle you can't ask this off me. It's not fair."
"I can, and I will, now take Louis and go before they change their minds."
"Eleanor."
"Just go Henry. Please just go."