Written on November 13th 2019, March 23th 2020 and November 15th 2020

C H A P T E R  8

Scrapes from the protruding branches that cut Tara's skin again and again leave their bloody mark. The once washed hair is once again tangled with leaves from the trees around the girl. Drops of sweat form on her forehead and loud panting fills the silence.

Birds fly up in fright and wild animals retreat to their holes. Leaves are making a rustling sound and footprints are being pressed into the ground. However, that is not what betrays Tara. The pounding of her heart is like a breadcrumb trail for the Alpha hunting her.

But it is in vain, no matter how fast Tara will run, it will not help her. She will never be faster than the Alpha whose territory she is on. A suspicious feeling comes over Tara, something she quickly tries to suppress. Now she can't afford to worry about anything other than gaining her freedom.

Since Tara has to rely entirely on her Human senses and powers, she has no idea how to survive this. Her sense of direction, which she once could rely on, completely abandons her. She runs criss-cross through the forest, although it could just as well be large laps.

The idea of ​​Tara feeling warm air from someone's breathing on her neck makes her use the last bit of adrenaline rush. Her legs move just a little faster and a little smoother. Her somewhat blurred vision is brought back into focus and the encouragement she needed to be convinced of the idea that she "might make it" is activated.

Climbing over fallen tree stumps, avoiding large branches and deep holes, Tara moves forward. The sense of time is completely wiped out. She thinks she has been running in the cold for hours, but it could also only take fifteen minutes.

Vidar had taken her outside to the backyard of his mansion. It borders a rich forest of dark, large trees. Tara had had no idea of ​​Alpha Vidar Thorvald's intentions: Not a word was spoken as they walked.

Outside he had placed Tara on a chair. Then he sat down opposite her. He had one leg crossed high over the other as he continued to look at Tara with piercing eyes. He looked away as he took his cigarette box from his pocket.

Without offering anything to Tara, the Alpha lit a cigarette and put the pack back. Tara didn't dare do anything. Her gaze lingered where it had been all along: Towards the ground. The smell of smoke coming from the man near her didn't bother her, her lungs were ruined by the dungeons of the Pugna Vincula.

'I am not a dishonest man,' Vidar spoke up. Acting completely normal, as if nothing had happened. 'I want to offer you an opportunity.' Without making eye contact with Tara, the man continued. The young lady had the tendency to look up and run her eyes over the man's face and body. To see his lips forming the words.

'A chance to earn your own freedom.'

Tara's ears perked up almost immediately. Her jaw clenched hard and she felt her muscles tense. Her hands gently squeezed the side of the chair. Tara wanted to ask how she could do that. What the catch was. But she did neither. She kept her mouth shut, as taught. She was quiet, looking down and listening obediently to the person in front of her.

'I'll let you go in a minute,' the Alpha explained. He pointed towards the forest. 'If you manage to get out of there, you are free to go wherever you want.' Carefully, Tara moved her head up slightly to see where Vidar Thorvald's arm was pointed.

It was quiet after this. Tara expected something to come after this statement, but there wasn't. Vidar had said what he wanted to say and left it at that. He smoked his cigarette at rest. He then tossed it forcefully into the ashtray on an outside table near him.

He stood up, looked at Tara again and then grabbed her hair. 'Walk,' was all he said. That's all the girl needed. She did as told without making a sound. Step by step, Tara tried to keep up with the pace at which Vidar Thorvald walked towards the forest.

Due to the weakening in her muscles and the man's fast pace, Tara was unable to walk in the same rhythm. This caused a painful feeling on her head, because she was still being pulled by the hair.

At the edge of the forest, the Alpha stopped walking. He let go of the girl's hair and looked down at her. The corner of his left mouth curled up slightly, creating a barely visible grin on the man's face. If Tara had dared to look up, she would have seen the little twinkle in his dark eyes.

'To keep things fair, I'll give you a head start.' Although these words sounded fair, both knew very well that there was no fairness. How could someone so weak, untrained and Wolf-less, stand a chance against an Alpha? An Alpha known for his strength?

'Get up,' the man ordered Tara. Even though Tara's body refused to get up, to move at all, she obeyed anyway. She managed to get herself back on two legs and raise her head. Her eyes scanned the adjacent forest edge, hoping for a miracle that would lead her through the forest and perhaps to her freedom.

The idea of ​​freedom was crazy. Tara didn't know how to express her feelings about this either: What should she do with her freedom? But there was still something in her, no matter how small, that made her decide that she wanted to grab this opportunity with both hands.

'You get five minutes.' The Alpha's voice pulled Tara from her thoughts. 'Starting from now.' Vidar looked at the watch on his wrist and gave a small nod. Tara's eyes widened as saucers and within seconds she moved closer to the dense forest.

* * *

Tara seems to feel the warm breathing of the Alpha on her neck. Beads of sweat run down her forehead, some of which manage to get into her eyes. She frantically tries to wipe it away to keep her vision clear. Her eyes are not working too well and this will not contribute to a better result.

'Run girl, run,' echoes the terrifying voice of Alpha Vidar. A fake smile follows. Tears of frustration arise from Tara. She also wants to run faster, faster, but her body is failing her. She wants to scream in anger. Anger that she only feels towards herself. Anger at the fact that she caused all this herself.

'I almost have you.' The words are soft, almost whispering, but it still hits Tara loud and clear. 'Run girl, run!' She gives the last bit of strength that Tara feels in her legs. Hoping that the extra two meters she travels in the forest will make a difference in how this cat-and-mouse game will end.

Tara isn't stupid, she knows it won't change anything. She knows that in a few seconds - if she's lucky, a whole minute - the man who owns her will be behind her again. She can already feel his hands wrapping around her throat.

'I got you,' it sounds. Light panting can be heard softly. Goosebumps form on Tara's limbs and her eyes close. It was in vain. Tara feels the man's muscular body pressed against her from behind. 'That was exciting,' Vidar whispers and gently bites Tara's neck. 'But now I'm done with this game.'

In one movement, the Alpha Tara turns over, chest to chest. He caresses Tara's cheek with his hands. Tara automatically tries to turn her face away from the physical touch. She bites the inside of her cheek to the point where she tastes an iron taste in her mouth.

'Girl,' comes Vidar's condescending voice, '-there is no need for that.' He grabs Tara's chin and makes her look up so they make eye contact. A shudder of horror runs through Tara's body. Right now she would like to close her eyes, put her head back down and curl up into a ball on the floor. But something inside her tells her to try to avoid looking even weaker in this man's eyes.