I stumbled through the dim corridor, panting hard. Every breath I took burned my throat. The drugs they'd pumped into my system still clouded my mind, and every step felt like wading through water. Behind me, faint echoes of footsteps bounced off the walls, growing louder, closer.
I couldn't let them catch me.
I ducked into another passageway, my bare feet sliding against the cold tiles. The hall was empty for now, but I couldn't trust that it would stay that way. Time was running out. The entire facility seemed like a maze, endless and cold and white.
A flicker of movement in the corner of my eye made me stop dead in my tracks. Two guards had turned the corner behind me, murmuring to themselves. I pressed myself against the wall, barely breathing, and counted the seconds as they passed me.
One... two... three.....
When their footsteps faded, I bolted into the next corridor, my heart beating as if it might burst from my chest. The adrenaline was fading, replaced by a burning fatigue. My muscles screamed in pain, and the world around me blurred. I needed a place to hide. And fast.
I pushed open the door to a storage room and slipped inside, closing it behind me as quietly as I could. My fingers trembled as I locked the door, leaning back against the cold metal.
I couldn't stay here for long, but I needed time to think, to plan. I couldn't keep running blindly forever. This place was large and confusing. What if I turned up someplace where I would be found?
I took my time to look around. The room was dark and cramped, boxes stacked haphazardly against the walls. A dusty mirror was stacked in one corner. I crawled towards it and wiped against it with my arm, peering into the reflective surface.
The girl who had waited impatiently for her mate's letter in her father's mansion was gone forever. She had been replaced by this dull-eyed, lanky-haired woman. The woman who looked like she had been through hell and back.
It took me long seconds to pull my gaze away from the mirror. My eyes darted around, desperate for a solution, any way out of this nightmare. And then, through the shadows, I saw it. An old ventilation shaft in the corner. It wasn't big, but it looked just wide enough for me to crawl through. I wasn't big, anyway.
I scrambled toward it, pulling at the rusty grate that covered the opening. My fingers slipped as I yanked on it, panic swelling in my chest. If I could just—
Suddenly, the sound of heavy boots echoed outside the door. My heart stopped.
They had found me.
A shout rang out, followed by the unmistakable thud of fists pounding against the door. "She's in there!" one of the guards barked.
I didn't have time. I pulled harder at the grate, using every last ounce of strength I had. It finally came loose with a loud screech, but before I could crawl inside, the door to the storage room flew open, and the guards rushed in.
"Get her!" one of them shouted.
I leapt to my feet, but before I could move, a sharp pain hit my leg—something cold and strong. I looked down and saw a net of metallic wires wrapping around my body. Panic filled my head as I fought against it, but it was no use. They had me.
The net was some kind of machine, and it clung to my body like iron. I struggled, kicking and thrashing, but the more I fought, the tighter it became. My breath came in short gasps as I was dragged down to the floor, helpless.
The guards closed in, surrounding me. They had tranquilizer guns aimed at my chest, the barrels glinting under the cold, artificial lights. My entire body ached from the pressure of the machine, and as I lay there, pinned to the floor, one thought consumed me.
Why were they treating me like an animal?
I glanced around at the faces above me, but none of them showed any sign of recognition, any hint of mercy. Had my father done this? Did he want to silence me, to keep me from remembering Jesse?
Why? Why was he doing this?
The guards stepped closer, their guns trained on me. I saw their lips moving, but their words sounded distant in my ears. I knew I didn't have much time. The only way out of this was through them.
I couldn't outrun them in this state. But I could outfight them. If I wanted to escape, I needed to shift.
I closed my eyes, ignoring the burning pain in my body, and focused on the lessons Jesse had given me. I forced myself to remember the feeling of my wolf form—the power, the connection. My heart ached as his face flashed before me, his voice whispering in my ear. He had always believed in me.
Jesse didn't die from a rogue attack. I knew it in my heart. He was too strong, too fierce, too wily. Something darker had taken him from me, and I would find out what. But first, I had to survive.
The guards were closing in now, pointing the guns at me. I could see the tranquilizers ready to pierce my skin. My wolf fought to break free from within, and I knew I had to let her out.
I screamed, my body convulsing as I gave in to the transformation. Fur erupted from my skin, and my bones snapped and reshaped. The pain was intense, but I welcomed it. It was nothing compared to the heartache of losing Jesse. With one final roar, I shifted into my wolf form—pure white, with red eyes that blazed with fury.
The net that had trapped me tore apart like it was made of paper. I lunged forward, teeth bared, and sank them into the leg of the nearest guard. He screamed, and I tossed him aside like a rag doll. Another guard raised his tranquilizer, but I was faster. I pounced on him, slamming him into the ground. His gun clattered away.
The other two guards rushed me, but they were no match for the strength my wolf was giving me. I swiped one across the chest with my claws, sending him crashing into the wall, then whipped around to slam the last guard into the floor.
Alarms blared overhead, the shrill noise piercing my ears as red lights flooded the storage room. I had overpowered these guards, but who knew how many more were coming? I couldn't stop now. I couldn't stay here.
I burst through the door, sprinting down the hallway as the alarms echoed in my ears. The red light was almost blinding, flashing over and over, casting everything in a bloody glow.
I had to get out. I couldn't let them catch me again.
Up ahead, a large window loomed. Without hesitation, I charged toward it, leaping into the air. The glass shattered against my furry body on impact, raining shards down around me as I crashed through.
The cold night air hit my face as I tumbled through the darkness, landing hard on the ground below. Pain sliced through my limbs, but I forced myself to stand. My white fur was littered with glass shards and stained with blood.
I didn't look back.
I ran, disappearing into the shadows as I left the facility behind.