Are you ready to find out what Kaitlyn's up to?

Saffron

I stare at Kaitlyn suspiciously. It's on the tip of my tongue to ask her why she's helping me instead not turning me in, but I hold back. Something about this doesn't feel right. Not just that she's acting weird, but something else. The part where Beta said we shouldn't be on those stairs—not just me, both of us.

"What were you doing in the dungeon, Kaitlyn?" I ask, because even though no one actually said that's where the stairs lead, I'm almost positive I'm right.

"Same thing as you." Kaitlyn smirks, confirming that my guess was right, but not giving me much else.

"Which is what?" I ask. Because I know that whatever she thinks I was doing there is way off. I highly doubt Kaitlyn was also running from POW's interrogation, aka torture, or planning to hide out in the dungeon until nightfall. Which, come to think of it, was a horrible idea. If Kaitlyn hadn't been there to vouch for me, I'd probably be chained up and tortured as we speak.

"You want me to spell it out?" Kaitlyn rolls her eyes. "Come on, Saffron. We're on the same side."

"We are?" I frown. For one thing, I'm confused. For another, the cheer demon that's been possessing Kaitlyn until now is visibly absent. There aren't any likes or OMGs, and she actually sounds normal.

Her words also make me realize that we sort of are on the same side. She's the reason I'm no longer in the pack house. Why am I even wasting time questioning her, when POW's searching for me as we speak? What I need to do is run.

"Look," Kaitlyn says, "we need to get back to the house before anyone gets suspicious." She grabs my hand and starts pulling me toward the house, I dig my heels in.

"I can't," I tell her.

"Why not?" she frowns.

I actually consider telling her, but I'm not sure I can trust her, even without the cheer demon. "I'm going to go for a run," I tell her. "If anyone asks, can you say that I went upstairs?"

Kaitlyn hesitates for a second, then nods. "Yeah, sure. Meet me out here tonight, after sunset, okay? We can talk then."

"Sure." I nod even though I know I'll be long gone. I give her a bright smile—maybe a bit too bright—but Kaitlyn doesn't seem the least bit suspicious. With a small wave, she heads back to the house. She walks normally until she leaves the cover of trees, and then there's a sudden skip in her step. Her entire demeanor changes, like she's suddenly a different person. It's strange, but I don't have time to worry about it. Not when I should be thinking about getting away.

When Kaitlyn's halfway to the house, I spin around and sprint into the forest. I don't go far, just far enough to get some privacy, and prepare to shift. Then, I freeze. My saffron colored dress caresses my skin, and I can't bare to damage it. Not when it's by far the most beautiful thing I've ever owned. But what choice do I have? If I'm going to shift, I can only think of two ways to bring it with me. To carry it in my mouth, and risk damaging the fabric, or...

I quickly strip out of my clothes and tie the dress loosely around my waist. There's no guarantee it'll work, since I've never had to bring clothes with me before, but all I can do is hope for the best.

I shift into my wolf, listening for the sound of tearing fabric, but all I hear is the rustling of leaves, birdsong, and the small creatures scurrying on the forest floor. I glance down at my waist and wag my tail happily. The dress feels a little bit tight around my middle, but not so much so to constrict breathing or interfere when I run. Best of all, it's intact.

I take off with a wolfy grin, my paws padding lightly as I weave between the trees. At first, I pay close attention to my surroundings, making sure I'm not being followed. I keep my nose up, breathing in the different scents, and my ears perk up as I listen carefully. For the first time, my wolf joins in, helping me focus. She enhances my senses until I'm aware of every little detail in the surrounding forest. Smells and sounds barrage me from all ends, colors become more vibrant, and my vision sharpens.

I know instinctively that my wolf is looking out for me, and I let her take over. She keeps an eye on things, while I focus on putting one foot in front of the other. When we reach the clearing that Logan showed me on my first day here, my thoughts take a negative turn. I feel a pang of longing—my own, which is quickly doubled by that of my wolf. Suddenly nothing matters except being with him and I almost turn back.

POW. I remind myself. He accused me of something I didn't do, and now he plans on making me confess.

An overwhelming sense of betrayal brings me close to tears, and then anger starts to roll off my wolf in waves. It begins to overwhelm me, and I start to slow down, when my wolf suddenly lets out a growl of warning.

I know instinctively that she's spotted another wolf, but I'm actually grateful for the interruption. It pulls me out of the downward emotional spiral I'm on and forces me to focus. My wolf directs my attention to the right, and I see a flash of red fur. It eliminates Logan, whose wolf is gray, but my mind immediately cycles through a number of possibilities. Kaitlyn, since I've never seen her wolf. POW, because there's no reason his wolf's coat is the same as Logan's. Luna, for the same reason. Even Zara and Jasper, though I doubt she was faking that coma, or that he'd leave her alone while she's unconscious. It could also be a stranger, or some pack wolf I've never met, which is who I decide it is until I catch a whiff of her scent.

Hey, I call out over the link so she'll know I've spotted her.

I expect her to respond, but she just keeps running alongside me. Actually, behind me is way more accurate. Now that I've sped up, it's obvious she can't keep up, and the distance between us widens.

Why are you following me? I try again, slowing down enough so I can hear her response, but she ignores me and keeps running.

I think about saying something else, but what would be the point? I have no idea why she's come after me, but it doesn't really matter. I put on another burst of speed, this time with my wolf's help, widening the distance between us. A minute later, I can't even sense her anymore, and I start to relax.

Soon, I leave the pack's land, exit the cover of trees and reach a familiar clearing. As my paws make contact with the tall grass, memories flood back, slamming into me like a physical force field. If it weren't for my wolf, I'd probably trip over my own four paws and go flying, but she keeps me moving forward even while I can no longer see.

The field in front of me is suddenly replaced by flashes of memory. Zara's wolf, coated in blood, lying right there to my right. Jess, being carried away through a gap between two trees. Me, tearing the Rogues' throats and leaving them by that tall tree over there, so they'd stay unconscious. The little kids, spinning around and around in the middle of the field. Kaitlyn, at the edge of the trees, waving as she heads back toward school. Then Nisha and Joshie's unconscious bodies flying across the clearing. Nicki running through it to get help. Zara panicking when the Rogues start to surround us.

It all comes back to me, one memory after the other, until I'm convinced the sight before me is just another one of many. There are three wolves racing toward me. They're in triangular formation, with one in front and two bringing up the rear.

Spread out, the leader shouts.

I remember him, from the attack. He's the Rogue they called Alpha, the one responsible for everything that happened. The one POW's after. My wolf urges me to fight him—to destroy him for what he's done—but the odds are against me.

I veer away, turning left, but three more wolves enter the field, cutting me off. I skid to a stop and run the opposite way, but three more wolves show up. There's nine of them now, and only one of me. Alpha and his wolves are almost on me, and though I veer away again to run back the way I came, it's too late.

Alpha pounces, taking me down, and then dances away. I jump to my feet, but by then it's too late. The others have me surrounded, and they growl, keeping me in place while Alpha shifts back into human form. He's fully nude, but not the least bit self-conscious as he reaches for something that's taped to his waist. A syringe.

He grimaces as he peels back the duct tape, and I growl when he advances forward. I struggle to get away, but he's got an army of eight. Even with my wolf's help, I'm not strong enough, or fast enough. Several Rogues jump on top of me at once, holding me down, while something sharp pierces my flank.

I'm aware of the exact instant the needle's tip breaks flesh and a liquid is injected into my bloodstream. It might be a sleeping agent, or a poison meant to kill me, but at this point, I'm not sure which is worse. If they take me alive, I might wish I were dead; if I die, I won't be here to wish for anything at all... not for another moment in Logan's arms, or the warmth of his lips against mine, or the sound of his voice. Not for another moment spent laughing together or for those pizza dates we were supposed to have. I know I ran away, but I thought I'd see him again. Maybe after I payed back POW'd debt, or after the Rogues were caught. Now, none of that will ever happen.

I start to feel weak and my vision slowly dims. I sag against the tall grass and my head lolls to the side. Right before my eyes drift shut, I see a flash of red fur in the cover of trees. I want her to run, to get away, but I know better than to shout it over the link. They don't know she's here, and it's best to keep it that way. All I can do is hope that she's smart enough not to try to rescue me. That she stays hidden and stays safe.

1. Did you like this chapter? Do you have any idea what will happen next?

2. What was Kaitlyn up to? 

3. Has anyone figured out the Rogues were after Saf?

4. And who knows the identity of the red wolf? The one following Saf? 

5. Wolf Pack Game: Write the first word that pops into your head when you read the last word written in the comments.