The Wanted Werewolf

Chapter 2

Elena

The Red Square was unusually quiet today. The cobblestone-clad site was normally packed with plenty of people, locals and tourists alike trying to visit the cathedral and other historical sites. But not today. It was almost as if everyone and their mother knew what we were planning. What we were hoping for. The clock chimed noon.

“You sure he got the letter?” Alexei asked quietly as he sat next to me on the bench.

“I sent it to his new address.” I flipped through my phone, scrolling through my spam emails, feigning indifference.

We were being watched, and we knew it. Ever since my father announced my betrothal, I have had a tail on me - more than one this past week. They knew I was a flight risk. Alexei had a tail on him too - ever since they saw us together one day. Either my father or my new fiancé didn’t like that I was spending time with another man. But there was never anything between Alexei and me — not even close. He was older, more like a brother than anything else. Besides, I didn’t have room for love in my life. Not now. Maybe not ever.

"You wrote it exactly like we went over?"

"Yes. He'll know where to find us." I huffed, though I still found myself looking around.

“He should have been here by now,” Alexei said, adjusting his jacket as he subtly searched the square. “You are meant to take your vows tomorrow.”

“Really? I had no idea.” I rolled my eyes, a knot forming in my stomach.

I sent the letter over two weeks ago. It was encrypted, but I knew Thorin – my older half-brother – would understand it. If I had any hope of escaping, I knew it would be because of him. He got out years ago, when I was little, I still don't know how he did it. To this day, our father won’t talk about him or what happened.

“Elena, this is serious – “

“Don’t you think I know that?!” I snapped. “This is my life we are talking about!”

“Lower your voice.” Alexei warned.

Let out a long breath. I needed to focus. Otherwise, I would end up just like her. For years, I watched my mom suffer and fade away until one day she was just gone. I couldn't - wouldn't - live like that. Bound to a monster for the rest of my life.

I looked over at Alexei, at his pale skin, his visible scars. It was hard for me to fathom why anyone would work for my father. Most who were in the game were forced into it, either by having too much blood on their hands, or a sick twist of fate. I wasn't sure what his reason was, but Alexei was one I thought would have tried to escape years ago. He hated my father just as much as I did, yet has been in it since before Thorin left with no attempts to leave.

"Why are you helping me, Alexei? My father offered you another position, didn't he? I don't understand why you would put your life at risk for me."

Alexei's face fell. He opened his mouth to speak, but someone else spoke first.

"He owes me a life debt," a familiar voice rasped.

Alexei and I jolted, our heads snapping towards the man seated on the other side of the bench. He was wearing a hat that covered most of his face, but I knew it was him – my brother. I nearly wept, my fragile scrap of hope coming back to life.

“Try not to stare,” Thorin said, reading through his newspaper. “You have unwanted guests.”

"Six –" Alexei began.

“Eight.” Thorin cut him off, shaking his head. “Two on roofs.”

“They hired snipers?!” I hissed.

“We have one chance to get out clean, understand?” Thorin said, flipping the page. “You do as I say, and we might all make it out of here alive. Elena, you will leave first. Alexei will follow on a separate path. I will leave once your tails have started after you two. I'll be janitor.”

"Rodger that." Alexei said, pretending to stretch as he stood. I grabbed my bag, slinging it over my shoulder.

"Take out whoever you can, but don't make a scene," Thorin said. His eyes met mine for a brief moment. "The next few days will be rough, but we will get you out, Elena."

I didn't nod, didn't smile. No reason to give our shadows any inclining. I held my head high as I left the square, heading in the direction of my apartment. The streets, same as the square, felt quiet today. Or maybe it was just my nerves talking. But as I meandered deeper into residential territory, I couldn't help but notice that the doors and windows were closed, and not a soul was outside.

Maybe they are all at work. I could just be paranoid, but something deep down gave me reason to pause.

My father and Vadim. Two of the most powerful pack leaders in Russia. And I was their golden ticket.

Three blocks passed before I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. At the next one, I took a better look at the man down the alley. It was Alexei. He made a sharp turn towards me at the last moment - and so did the man following him. I turned towards him, and just as I did, footsteps sounded from behind me. I steadied my breathing, Alexei and I shared a look. No turning back now.

Alexei made the first move. Pulling out his phone, he faked a call long enough to make the man behind him think he was in the clear, not noticing the blade he drew with the other. My hands shook as I pulled out my own dagger. This wasn't like any other job, this would decide my fate. With one quick move, Alexei faced his enemy and sank his blade deep inside his torso. The person behind me yelled, and I moved, stabbing him in the eye. He screamed and dropped to his knees, cursing me fiercely. Alexei finished him off while I stared wide-eyed.

It was my first failed kill.

"Focus!" Alexei yelled at me.

He and I both knew what was at stake. I couldn't afford to get lost inside my head.

"I'm sorry I-"

A flash of light and then a deafening boom sounded in the distance. The ground shook. Alexei shielded me as we dropped to our knees - ears ringing. Black smoke appeared. I could hardly hear the muffled screams, but they were there.

Then - out of the chaos came Thorin. Splatted in blood, and shooting at someone behind him, his mouth moved, but I couldn't hear him. Alexei yanked me up. My head spun - I thought I might be sick - but we were moving.

"My plane is half a mile north of here!" Thorin's voice pulled through over the gunfire.

Alexei yanked out his weapon. Shots fired. Something whirled by my head. I didn't dare look back. My feet pounded against the pavement. Half mile. We could make it half a mile.

Something sharp pierced my skin, making me stumble. Bullet or dagger, I wasn't sure. It burned, and I cried out. Thorin cursed, pushing me ahead of him. Most shots were fired.

"You okay?" Alexei asked, glancing behind. "I think we got them all."

"Just her arm!" Thorin yelled. "There - up ahead."

I could see it then - the landing strip and a small plane. We could do this, we could make it. I could get my fresh start -

"Uh, Thorin? I think we have some company..." Alexei flicked his head towards the plane.

My eyes weren't as sharp as theirs yet - after I got my wolf, they would be. But even without having such keen sight, I didn't need to guess who was waiting for us in front of the plane, in front of my freedom.

"It's Yaroslav and Vadim," Alexei bellowed, his steps faltering. "And at least ten others."

"Perfect." Thorin smiled as the men stood a bit taller - recognizing him - fearing him. My brother was a legend and a nightmare wrapped into one. "On three, we bank left - towards the water."

"The water?! Why?" I gasped.

"One..."

Thorin pulled something from his jacket pocket. My heart began to hammer.

"Two..."

He flipped a switch and a light came on. My eyes went wide.

"Three!"

He pressed the button and the plane - my salvation - went up in flames. I was thrown back by the blast - Thorin fought to keep me upright. I could hear screaming and cursing as bits of flaming metal rained down. Alexei was on my other side, helping me stand straight.

We booked it for the docks. At the end was a tiny seaplane bobbing in the water. My feet felt like they were full of lead the closer we got. Flashes of dark memories began flooding my head. I would take anything over the water.

"Can't we take another-"

"No." Thorin barked, pulling ahead. His feet pounded on the dock.

"You'll be okay," Alexei yelled, putting a hand on my back and pushing me to go faster.

With a mighty jump, Thorin landed on the seaplane. He began unhooking ropes and opening doors. The waves crashed against the shore. Salty air filled my lungs - suffocating me. My feet echoed on the dock - they sounded just like his. My steps faltered when we reached the end.

"Elena - let's go!" Thorin growled, reaching for me.

The waves moved to their own rhythm. I could feel the bitter cold sinking into my bones already. My breathing hitched, knees locked.

"I - I can't-"

"You can and you will!"

"I got her." Alexei grabbed my shoulders and tossed me to Thorin. I screamed - limbs locked - waiting for the icy plunge that never came.

"I got you." Thorin said, setting me down inside the vessel.

I was shaking as they finished boarding and started the plane. We were taking off when I saw movement on the docks - but I was too forgone - I couldn't tell who it was. Alexei wrapped a blanket around me and said something as he began to patch my arm, but my mind was reeling. Time seemed to stand still as we flew higher and higher into the sky.

Breathe, just breathe.

Counting to ten, then twenty, I focused on my breaths. I started to feel again - the turbulence, cool air. Sound - Thorin and Alexei talking - the roaring engine. Alexei finished bandaging my arm. Whatever ointment he used helped cut some of the pain. A shuddering breath escaped me.

"You did good." Alexei said softly.

"I froze. Twice."

"But you made it this far."

"Five minutes," Thorin warned from the pilot's seat.

He tossed two bags to us from where he sat. Whatever was inside was heavy. Alexei slipped his on and then began buckling the straps together.

"Until what, exactly?" I stared at my pack in horror, realizing what was inside.

"We jump," my brother said, his pack already strapped to his back. "We jump, hop train, take a new plane, then drive to a secure location. From there we will part ways. Me to my kingdom, you two to your new home."

I opened my mouth to object, but Alexei cut me off. "You know how your father is. This is the only way we stand a chance at escaping him."

My lip wobbled, but I didn't fight him. I threw on the rig that held the parachute, making sure all the straps were snug. Freedom. This was for my freedom. I could jump for that. I had to.

Thorin got up and ripped open the passenger door. "Keep your hips forward, arms and legs out. Count to five and then pull!" He yelled over the roaring wind.

Alexei nodded and did just that. My breath caught as I watched him get smaller and smaller.

"This is the worst of it," Thorin said, resting his hand on my back. "Once we get on the train, it will be smooth sailing."

"He won't stop looking for me."

Thorin gave me a tight look. And then he pushed me forward.

A powerful surge of adrenaline ripped through my veins as the wind flattened my breath and tore at my eyes. The wind was deafening - my stomach felt like it was dropping faster than the rest of me. Panic began to set in as the endless sky surrounded me. I flailed my arms and legs desperate for something to grab onto. Cold, I was so cold - and then I remembered - I was supposed to be counting.

I fumbled for the ripcord. It escaped me twice before I grabbed it with a steel grip, yanking it with all my might. My parachute deployed, and soon I was floating on air. My heart hammered in my chest as I began my slow descent. Trees and mountains surrounded us. In the distance I could see smoke - the train. If the situation were different, I might have taken the time to enjoy the view. But that was the last thing I was concerned about.

Because I had no clue how to land.

Thorin was in my peripheral vision a moment later barking commands at me. He gave me the world's fastest crash course - literally. I watched as Alexei fell beneath the trees, just like Thorin has explained to me. But I only had a minute to process before putting his directions into action.

I wish I could say that I rose to the occasion, but really I was like a baby bird trying to fly for the first time. Hesitant. Uncoordinated. Helpless. I was lucky enough to have dodged most of the trees and landed in a small clearing. I sustained a number of brush burns, cuts, and scrapes, and would probably have a few ugly bruises in the morning, but I would live.

"It's a few miles to the train. We need to get moving," Thorin said, unbuckling his parachute and then helping me out of mine.

Alexei jogged over to us with a limp. At least I wasn't the only one who f****d up.

"Okay what's the plan-"

A loud whistle sounded in the distance.

"There. We need to go catch our ride - now." Thorin said, pulling me to run.

"Wait what?!"

"We can't buy tickets here - it's too risky. We will jump into a boxcar and take it as far as we can go," Thorin explained.

"Maybe a bit of a heads-up next time buddy." Alexei sighed, his leg slowing him down.

My body screamed at me to stop, but each time we heard the whistle we pushed ourselves harder. Alexei - even with his injured leg - was still faster than me. As a werewolf, once we come of age, our strength and speed increase tenfold. My eighteenth birthday was only a few months away, and Goddess, how I wished it was sooner. Especially as the train tracks came into view.

"Elena, grab onto me. When the train comes by I'll get us on." He said - standing a foot from the rails. "Alexei?"

"I'm good, I got this." He nodded, taking up a bracing stance.

I clung to my brother as headlights came into view. The whistle was deafening this close. My hair was thrown back by the sheer speed of the train passing. I slammed my eyes shut and braced myself. Two heartbeats passed, and then Thorin moved. The wind was knocked out of me when we landed on the floor of the boxcar.

But we all made it.

From there we traveled half the night until we met the end of the tracks. We didn't speak and had nothing to eat or drink. It didn't matter. Food and decent conversation were the last things on my mind. My whole world had just changed. I could never go back - not without signing my own death certificate. It was both comforting and horrifying.

By dawn, we left the train, making our way towards a flight field. It took us a few hours, but sure enough Thorin had a plane waiting for us. He flew us to the states - and though he didn't show it, I knew he was running on fumes like the rest of us. We arrived at a safe house in the middle of the day without any hiccups.

I never had more respect for my brother up until now. He has just done the impossible - twice now. He escaped our father, this time with more bodies.

The safe house was a large home located in a busy city - perfect for getting lost in. The house was modern - but not in a way that would draw any attention. There was an older woman there sitting on the front porch - watching.

"Get inside," Thorin said, coaxing me up the front steps. Alexei was right behind us, clutching the railing with everything he had left in him. I thought we might have had to carry him towards the end there, but he pushed through.

We entered through a mud room that opened up into the main living space. It looked... normal. I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting, but plush looking furniture with fuzzy blankets draped over the backs weren't it.

"Does anyone need medical attention?" Someone asked - startling me.

A woman poked her head out of the kitchen.

"They both do." Thorin nodded.

"Third door on the left, I'll meet you there." She said, hurrying back.

"I'm fine, really -"

"You have a gunshot wound that is probably infected by now," Alexei said in passing.

"Go," Thorin said in a tone that left no room for debate.

I followed Alexei down the hall into a room that finally made some sense to me. A room completely dedicated to sterile equipment. A large table, a smaller one next to it with lots of tiny instruments. A stainless steel cabinet. A sink in the corner, a drain in the middle of the floor. Though this room was meant for healing, not torture. It was appropriate for a safe house.

The woman from the kitchen and the one from the porch came in moments later.

"What hurts?" The first asked Alexei.

"It might be easier to tell you what doesn't hurt." Alexei laughed, taking a seat on the table. "But the worst of it is my ankle."

"And you...?"

"Elena," I answered, rolling up my sleeve, revealing the bandage Alexei had placed yesterday. Yesterday. Goddess, so much had happened in that time. I cleared my throat. "Gunshot wound."

"We'll get you two taken care of," the old woman said, sympathy in her eyes.

"We have chili for dinner, Mom's secret recipe."

I saw it then, the resemblance. Same eyes, same nose and cheekbones.

"What made you two start a safe house?" Alexei asked as the daughter tended to him.

"We were in your shoes once. And after we started over, we realized it was our calling - helping others in similar situations escape." The daughter smiled softly.

It was hard not to feel envious of the two. Escaping their own horror story and starting over - together. Not me and my mom. She left without me.

"Well, we certainly appreciate it."

Alexei continued to talk as they worked. He hit on the woman working on his ankle more than once, but she gracefully dodged all his efforts. After we were taken care of they showed us to our rooms. We showered, and they gave us clean clothes and a hot meal - cornbread and chili - as promised. It was the most care I think I had ever been shown.

I was sitting on one of the two twin beds in a shared room - Alexei across from me - when Thorin knocked, his bulky form hovering in the doorway.

"What's up?" Alexei asked, sitting up.

"I have things for you," he said, handing Alexei and me each a large envelope.

I opened it, spilling the contents onto my lap. Passport, driver's license, birth certificate, burner phone. All for a girl named Ellie Walker.

My brows shot up. "Ellie? Seriously?"

"Alex Burns." Alexei nodded, his eyes meeting Thorin's. "Thank you."

"This is your chance to have a new life. To do the things you always wanted, but never could. Keep your head down and your nose clean, and you should be just fine."

"Where? Where are you sending us?" I frowned. My driver's permit had an address on it, one I didn't recognize.

"There is a pack in the southern kingdom that takes safety very seriously. I am confident that they will keep you hidden and happy."

Happy? I hardly knew what the word meant.

"Why can't we just stay with you in your kingdom?" Anger threatened to rise. I didn't want him to leave me, again.

"That will be the first place our father will search. I have enough power to keep him from attacking - but he will send spies. Our kingdom is large enough to keep him busy for a while. Hopefully long enough that his deal with Vadim goes away and he eventually stops his search."

"He will try to kill you for what you did."

"He can try." Thorin said, completely serious. We held each other's stare for a long moment. "A new life, Elena. That's what this is. Do not waste this gift."

I stared at the papers, a heaviness settling in me. A new identity, new home, new life. What if I wasn't ready to be someone new?