“He is awake, don’t forget, Ari, you need to wake her and make her reject the Pack.” Stopping just on the border, I shook Lily a bit, and she stirred in my arms.
“Come on Lily baby, I need you to wake up.” I kept repeating what I said until her eyes fluttered open. Tears sprang in my eyes seeing her look up at me.
“Ari,,” she said, her voice sounding so weak.
“Come on, Lil, I need you to wake up and repeat after me.” She was too weak to stand, her eyes fluttering closed again.
“Come on, Lil, stay awake for a few more minutes.” Her eyes opened, and she groggily repeated after me.
“I, Lily Violet Blackwood, reject the Black Moon Pack and understand by doing so I will become a rogue.” I felt her link snap just as she drifted off to sleep in my arms. Getting up, I did the same.
“I, Aria Rose Peyton, reject the Black Moon Pack and understand by doing so I will become a rogue.” I felt my teether to the Pack snap just as I heard vicious howls. He has told them to find us. Running as fast as I could with Lily in my arms, I listened to my surroundings. I could hear a car. If I could just get to the road before they found us, we might be able to escape.
Running was difficult because I felt like passing out. Seeing the brake lights up ahead through the trees, I ran faster. Branches and sticks were scratching up my legs. I could still see the brake lights when I realised the car must be stopped at the train crossing. I listened as much as I could, straining to hear over the thunder from the storm that was coming. I could just make out the sound of a train passing when I felt what felt like razors cutting through my skin.
Looking around, lantana bushes were everywhere, blocking our escape. I forced my way through the branches trying to shield Lily as much as possible. When I came out the other side, I was on the road. My clothes were in tatters. My legs were almost bare from the lantana stripping and scratching away my pants, leaving cuts everywhere they touched my skin. My blouse was only held on due to me holding Lily, and I could feel one of my bra straps hanging on my back.
I quickly looked over, and the train had passed. The ute was just waiting for the gate to lift before it could cross. Not wasting another second, I put Lily in the tray before climbing in behind her. There was an old tarp in the tray underneath a box. I quickly pulled it over us just as it started to belt down with rain. Only when I felt the ute move and start to accelerate did I let out the breath I was holding and closed my eyes.
Aria’s POV
Waking up when the ute came to a stop, I laid under the tarp, frozen. Listening carefully, I could hear music blaring loudly and lots of voices. I was not sure how long we had been in the tray because not long after our escape, I had given in to exhaustion. When I was sure the coast was clear, I stuck my head out from under the tarp, trying to find anything that might tell me where we were. We were in a parking lot. Looking out, I could tell we were at a bar, one that I had never heard of, so we were not on Black Moon territory, but where were we exactly? Feeling Lily move beside me, I clamped my hand down on her mouth. She looked up groggily at me as I motioned with my finger to my lips telling her to keep quiet. When I heard voices, I quickly stuck my head down and back under the tarp lying motionless.
The voices stopped right next to the tray. The voices sounded like they were right next to us two male voices. Focusing on what they were saying, I heard a man with a deep voice speaking to whoever was with him.
“You smell that, Mark?” I listened as they sniffed the air.
“Rogues,” the other man growled. My body tensed at his aggressive growl. Shit, we escaped only to end up on another Pack’s territory.
“They couldn’t have got far; the scent is too strong, and they are injured too, so I doubt they will put up much of a fight.” The first man laughed.
“Alert the Alpha; it’s time to go hunting.” Mark sounded like he was excited to hunt us down. Lily’s breathing started to get louder. I could tell she heard what they were saying. Lily gripped my hand tightly, and we waited until they moved away. As soon as they did, I pushed the tarp off us. I slowly climbed out, ducking behind the tray, I quietly gripped Lily from under her legs and arms, lifting her out of the tray.
Grabbing the bag, I flung it over my shoulder. I did not know where we were, but one thing I did know was we had to get off their territory before they found us. Carrying Lily, I ran down the street and behind a hardware store. Sitting behind the dumpster out of view of the street, I placed Lily on the ground, forcing her to stand.
“Lily, I need you to run. I won’t be able to carry you. Don’t stop until I tell you, and whatever you do, don’t let go of my hand.” She nodded, clutching my hand tightly. Looking above the dumpster, I tried to find a street sign to tell me where we were, but there weren’t any. The streets were pretty much deserted besides the bar around the corner, so it must be late.
Grabbing Lily’s hand, we stayed low and walked as quietly as possible to an alleyway that was behind the hardware store. I couldn’t recognise any of the streets because it was dark and my vision was already blurry. Sticking to the back streets and alleyways, we made our way to a residential area. All the house lights were off; only the dim street lights illuminated the roads. Quickly as possible, we climbed a small hill in the residential area once at the top. I looked around trying to find anything that would let me know which side of the city we were on.