"You? My mate is you?" I asked in disbelief as he pinned me down in the thrush. His face had worn the same look of shock only moments prior, but now it wore the heavy expression of hot, fiery hate.

"Guess so," he said, voice ice cold and menacing.

"This can't be real," I said, rather quietly and towards myself. "You can't be my mate!"

"But I am!" He cackled, "You're all mine! And I'll take you however I please! I smelled you from a mile away!"

"Get off of me, ZJ!"

"Why? You're my mate! You belong to me!"

As tempting as it was to relax my body and give in to his advances, I knew I would never forgive myself if I did. It felt like physically fighting a brick wall; not in relation to ZJ, but in trying to fight my own horny instinct to mate with him.

How could the Luna Goddess do this to me?

Was it a sign? Should I... let him take control, and just give in?

I snarled, "No! This isn't what I really want!" And kicked him in the groin. He yelped and flinched backwards just enough for me to get away. I breathed through my mouth to rid myself of his alluring scent, but I could still feel it all around me and taste it on my tongue, feel it clinging to my wolf's pelt. I felt the need to climb on top of him, to kiss him and feel his skin. He was irresistible.

I shook my head, shaking away the thoughts. What was wrong with me? I growled again as I raced. Oddly enough, I heard ZJ's paws come to a stop behind me. I tried to keep running, but was overcome with the need to be close to him, and I stopped a few metres from him and turned to face him. In the distance we could hear the howls of a triumphant pack that wasn't ours.

His dark amber eyes met mine for a moment in which the earth and the chaos stood stock still. He stared me down mercilessly with hungry dog eyes. I glared right back, hiding my temptations underneath a scowled face.

"You'll regret leaving me for all of your days. I'll make sure of that," he hissed. "I want you, and I always get what I want."

"Not this time, ZJ," I said, turning away and tensing my body, preparing to run with the last ounce of energy I had. My busy day and lack of sleep was catching up to me, and I was becoming increasingly fatigued, making my instincts difficult to fight against for much longer.

"Omega!" He growled threateningly, "We are mates! You cannot deny what the Luna Goddess wants! It is a sin to turn away from me!"

"The Luna Goddess does not want me to be your servant nor slave, ZJ!" I yowled back. "She wants us to be equal partners!"

"You will never be my equal."

"You can say that again!" And with that, I raced away, as far away as I possibly could, as far as my weak, aching legs would possibly take me. Away from that horrid, beautiful scent, and away from that disgusting yet handsome face. I hated this! The conflicting emotions swirled like a volcano preparing to erupt. My head and body ached.

I finally laid down in the crook of the roots of a large oak tree, where brown leaves and green grass made a bed for me to curl up on. I wondered in ache what had happened with the packs behind me. Had ZJ turned around? Had he followed me? Had he gone back to the packs? Had he joined the pack of alphas? Why was I still thinking about him? Better yet, why was I worried about him, especially after all he had done to me?

The scars on my backside stung, having been put there at ZJ's hands. No, I would not fall for the Luna Goddess's charms, neither for ZJ's. I was determined to create my own destiny. I had planned to run away for so long... today was the start of something new, something better. I would not let my opportunity of freedom pass me by. My body decomposed with the exhaustion, and I seemed to sink below the earth as my mind slowly turned empty and dark.

I was awoken prematurely by the sound of unfamiliar voices.

Oh, no.

The alpha's pack.

And I was a human, and completely naked! I sat up from where I had fallen asleep at the foot of the tree, brushing the dirt and leaves from my skin. I felt way too vulnerable being exposed and out in the open like this. My whole body was stiff and ached from yesterday's events. In the distance, I saw a small group - all in human form - searching the edges to their new territory.

Oh, no. I was in trouble. Feeling rather embarrassed, I morphed into my wolf, allowing my body to shift from one shape and position into another, fur growing along my body like needles in my skin, my flesh burning hot. But even with the rather quick transition, I was still too late.

"Gotcha," one said, grabbing my wolf by the scruff.

I wouldn't give up my freedom without a fight. Not by a long shot.

I flipped around and sank my teeth into his meaty thigh, where he yelled out in pain and let go of me. I ran away as fast as I could, trembling slightly from the exhaustion and pain that my muscle aches gave me.

I heard a woman shout angrily, "Well? After him! Alpha wants him specifically!"

Alpha? I thought. They don't address their alpha by his name?

Interesting.

I could suddenly hear the pursuit of many shifting wolves behind me. I could outpace them easily, but I was running low on fuel. I hadn't gotten near as much sleep as I needed. My eyesight was blurred, heart racing, and sore, nearly numb limbs pacing. I was in no condition to be running. I had over exerted myself the night before, and now, I paid the price. Eventually, I stumbled, falling forwards and rolling twice before landing flat on my stomach. Immediately, the small patrol of werewolves was upon me.

"Oh, great," I said.