Shade's POV

My massive paws thudded against the ground as I completely made my way out of Raven's territory, there was no way they could track me down since I had washed all traces of my scent away from me.

I shook out my fur, trotting farther into the empty grass lands, my tongue hanging out of my mouth happily and carelessly with my eyes shining. The IV fluid had somehow managed to survive she shift and with my body allowed time to heal I wouldn't need it much longer.

Where to first Veana? I asked cheerfully, she was relaxed and calm for the first time since I could remember.

I don't know, wherever you want, just watch out for Rogues. She joked and I laughed, cutting the connection and continuing to walk, the afternoon sun warmed my fur and relaxed my muscles.

There wasn't another pack for miles, Blake's back was the other direction and this was unclaimed territory, even the humans had yet to touch it.

I had to be careful though, Hunters were still at large and it was hunting season, a stray bullet could hit me.

I kept walking until sunset, and the beautiful blues, pinks, purples, and dark reds lit up the sky in various different colors.

Looking behind me I smelled the air, trying to catch a glimpse to see if someone was following me.

If she hasn't found me yet then I should be in the clear from now on. I thought to myself with a sigh.

My stomach rumbled, I whimpered, remembering I hadn't eaten anything in several weeks.

What if we got a hotel room and stayed there for the night?  Veana asked shyly.

That's a good idea... Wait, dammit, Raven can track my credit card, but she can't track Blackthrone's credit... I hope.  I smiled to myself and leapt forward, running towards the closest town.

Maybe we don't have to run forever, if we get to a place far enough away, where there aren't any wolves, we can settle down for a while.  I told Veana who agreed before cutting the link.

It would take a while to find the right place of course, and I might even have to resort to leaving the country but the farther away from Raven and Xavier the better.

I felt guilty leaving, for running away, I loved Raven, but even when she had for the most part broken Veana, Ira still continued to hurt me. I knew things would never get back to the way they were, and I needed to leave.

The pack didn't need me anymore, they had all the Alphas they needed. Three would have made things complicated.

A few miles away there was a small town, and from there I could make phone calls to different people and ask for help looking for a house.

Thankfully I still remembered Blackthrone's credit card number so I could easily book a night hotel room for the night.

I shifted a few meters away from the road where the first set of houses was, the lights of the city lighting up and reflecting in my eyes.

Looking down I realized I didn't look to horrible, so I jumped the closest fence and made it to the street.

I knew that I was still to close to Raven and Xavier, and I needed to move quickly. I couldn't stay in this town.

Jogging I passed several people out walking their dogs, or out for a run themselves.

Some gave me strange looks, the community was probably pretty tight so everyone know everyone.

I made it closer to the city, and a hotel where I shyly walked in and sighed in relief when I couldn't smell any other wolves.

It was a large lobby where it was mostly quiet, the dining room sat still and, a gift shop was open but empty and only one person sat on a plush lobby couch on their phone.

"Hi miss, can I help you with something?" I heard a lady's voice ask from behind the check in desk.

"Oh, yes, thank you," I smiled and walked over to her, knitting my hands in front of me.

"I just got into town, and didn't have time to make a reservation at this hotel, I'll only be staying one night, I was wondering if you have a room open?" I asked shyly, she nodded her head and smiled back at me reassuringly.

"You're in luck, several of our room are open, people canceled their rooms this morning. I just need your credit card information and you'll be set for the night," she told me in a kind voice, relaxing me as I recited the card number to her before getting handed the key.

"Enjoy your stay!" She called to me as I stepped on the elevator, I waved, smiling slightly and biting my lip.

The room was on the top level of the hotel (level 4), it was a fairly large room but cozy.

I fell down on top of the bed, it was painful, my back wasn't used to the support and it took me a few minutes to get adjusted.

I stripped down into my underwear and bra, they were dark blue with lighter blue hems.

There was a bottle of wine on the dresser next to the TV and I happily opened it and poured myself a glass.

I pulled the curtains aside and sat down on the white sheets, swirling the liquid around in its glass. The strong smell calmed me as I took a sip of the dark red wine, staring out over the city.

It would be difficult learning to be a human but many wolves over the years had learned to do it so I wasn't too worried.

Picking up my phone - which I had grabbed from the safe room - I entered the password and made a few calls to several different agents who could help me find a house.

Setting my phone down I took another sip of wine and leaned back on my left hand, holding the glass in my right.

A few minutes later my phone buzzed again, I looked down at the text message, it was from one of the people I had called.

We exchanged several more texts before deciding I would fly out to New York to meet with her tomorrow.

I needed some different cloths, and if there was one place I knew that had a lot of that it was New York.

I booked a flight before looking at the time and making the choice of going to sleep.

I set the empty glass of wine down and snuggled under the covers, closing my eyes and trying to get some sleep.

~

I heard a scream, and the loud pops from fire burning.

Whipping around I saw a forest fire, larger than any I had ever seen. My eyes grew wide and I saw wolves frantically running away from it.

When I saw it was coming towards me I tried to run, but I was glued to the spot where I stood.

"This is your punishment Shadow," I heard two voices say behind me.

Looking over my shoulder I saw Jacob and Raven standing there, but their eyes unseeing, and voices unfeeling.

"You ran away again, you bad girl," they said again at the same time.

I started shaking as they moved towards me, looking past me into nothingness.

"You always run don't you, you can't handle when things get bad, you always run, you bad girl," they were next to me now and I stood there helpless as they started to drag me towards the fire.

"Such a bad girl, it's time for your punishment," was all I heard before I screamed, the fire burning my back and arms.

"Let me go!" I continued to scream but they only kept moving, faster now.

"Such a bad girl Shadow, such a bad girl, you shouldn't run from pain," they continued before I was thrown into the blaze.

I screamed in pain, not being able to move as I lay in the smoke and flames.

Tears streamed down my face and my voice began to get rough, I began to feel faint.

Not being able to fight it anymore, I quickly felt my eyes droop and screams silence.

~

I woke up and gasped for air, not realizing I had been holding my breath.

Sitting up I grabbed at my chest as it heaved up and down.

Tears were still wet on my face but thankfully I didn't hear any echoing of screaming.

Falling back to my bed I looking out the still open window the sky was beginning to brighten and I remembered I had a flight today.

My phone buzzed and when I looked at the name I almost choked, Raven had texted me.

Shouldn't have made those calls last night cousin of mine. The text read and I felt the air sucked out of my lungs. I had a total of 15 minutes to get dressed and get out of here.

That's very odd of her... To warn us she's coming I mean. Veana pointed out.

I don't think that was all Raven, Ira is more likely to do that than anyone else. She is to sure of herself. I explained and cut the link, jumping out of bed and running a hand through my hair before pulling on my cloths and turning off my phone, running down to the hotel lobby I dropped off the key with a quick thank you.

I picked up a paper bowl and shoved some dry cereal in it before dashing out the door.

I had five minutes left and I could feel their presence already.

I quickly called for a taxi and jumped in, telling them I needed to leave for the airport, giving him the cash I had pulled from the safe room as well and just a few dollars already in my pocket and behind my phone case.

We merged with traffic and I quickly got far enough away that I couldn't feel the pack wolves anymore.

After about a 45 minute drive we got to the airport where I made it into the terminal and to my gate, the plane leaving in an hour which meant I had time to eat and prepare.

Note to self, I'm erasing my phone when we get to the sky.  I muttered internally to myself.

Paranoia got the best of me and by the time we were loading onto the plane I had already been scared out of my wits several time that I had seen Raven.

We taxied onto the Tarmac easily and the sped down the runway, lifting up into the air.

I had gotten a first class seat and a window seat, I stared out the small piece of glass and watched the ground get smaller and smaller.

In total it was just about a three hour flight, and half way through like I said I would I erased my phone, making it practically impossible to track me.

Walking out of the airport I got into a small van which would take people into the suburbs and from there I would get another hotel room and meet with the relater over dinner tonight.

Now I felt safe, I knew Raven couldn't find me now, no "packs" resided in New York, other than the gangs of wolves that banded together.

Smiling I stretch when I stood on the sidewalks between the tall buildings, having already checked into my hotel I was making a quick run for cloths before dinner.

Maybe, I could be happy again and escape being a wolf, just for a little.