Chapter 52
Chapter 52
I weave through the trees as the cries of battle shrink behind me. My breathing fills my ears as I try not
to fall, tripping on roots and branches. Everything around me seems to close in, threatening to crush
me, a feeling so familiar. My mind taunts me, convincing me that if I glance to the side I will see my
family slain as I did before.
I want to be home, safe and sound, no longer running through the forest, running for my life and my
child's. How can a single man cause so much terror? Does he feel nothing for the pain he has caused
my family? Then again, Richard is no man, no wolf, he is something powerful and evil, something that
torments children in their dreams. He torments me in my own dreams.
Coming to a stop, my gasping lungs force me against a tree while my legs beg for rest. I lean over,
breathing heavy, until sudden movement steals my peace.
My eyes shoot up to the man himself.
"Didn't think you could get away that easy huh?" He strives over with visible cuts and marks on his
face. "Come, before I change my mind and hurt you."
I dash behind the tree and push my legs as hard as I can to continue on my run. The sounds of paws
smack and thud on the forest floor, telling me that he has shifted into something more dangerous, more
unstoppable.
Defeat threatens to overtake me, trying to get me to give in to protect my child, but how safe will my
baby be with him? I will not let him hurt me. I will not let Richard take my life from me.
Reaching a hill, my feet slip from the wet ground as rain begins to fall down on me. Trying endlessly to
get up and to continue climbing, I fight back screams and shouts of frustration. Why is the world
working against me? Why can I not receive one break, one minute of an advantage? My fingers claw at
the dirt which is now dampening, turning into a muddy mixture.
Richards teeth clamp down on my ankle, making cries erupt from my throat like a bursting volcano. He
drags me and swings me to the side, throwing me against a tree and into forest brush. My hands reach
for my wounded ankle, but there is no time to focus on my fresh injury as Richard is stalking closer and
closer.
I want to give in, to throw my hands up in defeat. I want to tell that he won, Richard won and I have lost
my freedom and chance at happiness.
My head falls to the dirt as tears of exhaustion roll across my face and into my hair, which is now
sprawled in the weeds.
"Go away!" I cry. "Go away!"
Before his wolf can steal me away, a quick blur dashes by me, wiping him out of view.
It is Tyler.
With a sudden burst of hope, I struggle to my feet just in time to catch him in a relentlessly fight.
Wanting to help take the bastard down, I near but Tyler blocks me after taking an advantage. His eyes
dig into mine, praying that I stay away from the difficult brawl.
Jacksons wolf comes flying through the trees and dives in, helping Tyler in anyway possible, more than
I ever could.
Teeth, claws, rich, thick fur torn, I fight to look away but I cannot shift my eyes from Tyler as I back
away.
Richard is a Lycan, only another beast of his species can wipe him from existence. Tyler, Jackson, they
are not his kind, they can fight as much as they want but the only way to kill Richard without being a
Lycan would be by natural causes. The look in Tyler's eyes as they meet mine for a split second tells
me that he knows, he knows this fight will be endless unless he is the one being ended.
Something not done by a person is the only way. Drowning, heart attack, starving, burning, burning to
death. Surely if Richard dies in a fire he cannot survive.
Immediately I head off back in the direction of the building. There has to be something there I can use
to start a fire.
Coming up to the building I do not risk going inside, if I do I know something will stop me. My eyes
search frantically until they come upon a few cars cluttered off to the side. I rush towards them and
attempt to open the doors and trunks.
The second I find extra gasoline, I snatch it and take my victory happily, feeling as if the clouds are
beginning to clear.
I need matches, or a lighter, or something.
After finding nothing usable in the cars, I take a breath before nearing the building. I wanted to stay out, Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
but I cannot waste anymore time. What if Tyler is hurt? What if he needs me now?
Slipping through an open back door, I creep inside and begin to search. My mind primarily looks for a
kitchen, as I believe there to be a likelihood for a lighter or matchbox to be there. Turning a corner, I
freeze when a guard, working for Richard, appears at the other end.
I swallow. He stalks towards me. Gripping the gasoline tightly in my hand, I dash in the opposite
direction and desperately search for a room or hiding place. At the end of the next hall, as I finished
running down many, I spotted an entrance to a room. I sprint towards it and slide inside. Scanning the
area, realization quickly hits me that what I have found is indeed a kitchen. Not much scatters the area
but my hands shoot for the drawers and cabinets.
Open one, empty, open another, plates and such, open a third, cutlery, then a fourth, empty. My heart
races in my chest as if it will soon explode. In one of the few left, I find a small box of matches with a
white, cardboard exterior. Before I can cheer, I grab the matches and face the door, but my way out is
blocked. The guard stands like a brick wall.
Without thinking, I briskly take one of the knives for the almost empty block and point it towards him.
The guard seems rather amused by my amateur weapon, but with a scowl on my face I throw the knife
straight at him. The blade lodges itself into his chest, causing him to wince, but overall be distracted.
I swiftly slip past him and run the homestretch out the door with my matches and gasoline. My body
wants to give up and crash to the floor, but I am too close, too close to freedom.
Back in the forest, I follow the sounds of fighting until I come upon the battling trio. Jackson and Tyler
look beat, hurt, and tired. Without wasting another moment I grab my mates attention and go to him.
He sees what I have and he quickly shifts, leaving Jackson to hold down the beast. Tyler takes The
gasoline and drenches the restless animal, coating him fully. Knowing what is about to happen, I look
away as he lights the match.
Heat brushes against my back, whispering that the deed is done.
Soon Tyler’s arms are around me, his hand holding the back of my head, his fingers tangling in my hair.
When I look up at his face, I can see the roaring flames in his eyes. “You’re safe now, Anna. You’re
safe,” He says softly.
I bring my cheek back against his chest; his heartbeat masks the noise of the world. “Take me home,” I
say.
Together we leave and never come back. From time to time I’ll remember this day, but as long as I’m
with Tyler, and as long as I have my friends, I will be okay.
It is over. Richard is gone.
I have my chance.
THE END of The Lycan Girl and Alphas