The Howling Moon

Chapter Sixteen

Ashley.
I groaned and rubbed my throbbing head, I was over someone's shoulder and he had a rough hand clamped on the small of my back. He smelt like dry blood and dirt, he wasn't wearing a t-shirt but thankfully had shorts on.

Natasha was also on someone's shoulder, she looked like she was asleep and I called out to her.

"Nat?!" She didn't move and I panicked a little. "Nat wake up!" Her head slightly moved to the side and I had a full view of her face. Her red lipstick was smudged across her cheek, her mascara was running, her face truly was stained with tears.

Her eyes slowly fluttered open and adjusted to the dark, her eyes met mine and she let out a cry.

"Ashley? Ashley? Are yo-you okay?" Her voice broke and she was shaking, my mind was focused on that baby in her stomach. It broke me that she was about to tell Anthony she was pregnant, now she may never get the chance to. Nick, what if I never see Nick again? I left him with angry words, I don't want things to end between us like that. The thought of ending things left me devastated and furious.

"Put 'em down." An animalistic voice spoke. The two men, that were holding Natasha and me, dropped us to the floor as if we were nothing. My body made a 'thud' sound when it came in contact with the forest floor. "Finally, I have you." The voice said again, I couldn't bring myself to look up, I was too afraid. "Look at me when I speak to you." He yelled causing me to flinch.

I slowly allowed my head to rise and meet his face, everything about him was glowing with dominance giving off an evil orb. He looked back at me with malevolent eyes and an evil smile crept onto his face.

"Cade." Natasha breathed. My eyes snapped to Natasha's and I stared at her in disbelief.

"You know him?" The man, Cade, started laughing uncontrollably.

"It baffles me, that it took you idiots this long to realize it was me." Natasha's eyebrows knit together and she started murmuring words.

"How did we not guess it was you? Of course it was." She lifted her head to stare him in the face. "Nicks Father killed your mate, why did we rule you out?" She asked herself the question. His face contorted with anger and disgust.

"Exactly, Nicks fucking father, killed the one person I was meant to love." My heart sank at his words, why did Robert kill Cade's mate?

"She deserved it! She was going to expose us to the humans, she hated what we are, she toyed with your head. You were wrapped around her finger, you had no idea what she was planning. You were blind to it all." Natasha spat. "Why take Ashley and me?" The same smile came back to his face and he laughed lightly.

"Because I am going to kill her." He said simply, then looked over at me, waiting for a reaction, but I gave him nothing. I sat there on the ground, my face expressionless, but my mind crying at the idea of him killing me. That no one can stop him, no one knows where we are. "Of course I have to torture her, for Nicks sake." He laughed again.

"Why her?" Natasha asked, I stayed quiet, I didn't want to speak. My mind kept thinking of the things Cade was going to do. I know I shouldn't think about it, I should stay positive, right?

"Because killing her, will devastate Nick, he won't be able to run the pack, and your father won't be able to forgive himself. It's the perfect way to torture them both. Leave them living a life of hell." He bent down to Natasha's level. "You were just a bonus. Don't worry, I have something planned for you too." Natasha's face drained of all it's color and I finally spoke.

"No." I stood up and the two men who had carried us, stiffened, they looked ready to attack. "I'll go with you, I'll do whatever you ask, but you. Will. Not. Take. Her." My voice was firm and I held myself high with confidence, trying hard not to roll myself up into a ball and cry. "You wanted me, now you've got me, you said she's just a bonus right? You don't need her." He raised an eyebrow and looked between me and Natasha. I didn't look at her, I know if I did, she'll tell me she won't leave me, and I won't be able to convince her otherwise. I couldn't have her stay here, because we would be putting the baby in danger.

"You know what? I'm going to give you two a chance." He grabbed Natasha and hoisted her up to her feet. "You both have a minute to run, if you get away, I will forget about you the both of you and you will never see or hear of me again." He said giving us an evil glare.

"What if we don't get away?" I voiced my question. He smiled and came incredibly close to me.

"Then you, Ashley, will never see Nick again." My breathing stopped, I kept looking straight ahead, not once giving him a glance. Nicks face was now in my head and I cried for him. All I wanted was to kiss him and apologize for our argument.

"Tik tok." He sang. I ran over to Natasha and yanked her arm and we ran in the opposite direction of the men. We weaved and dodged the moving trees, we were going so fast, everything was passing in a blur.

"50 seconds." I heard Cade scream, he was amused at this situation.

One minute head start, that's all he gave us, to run and try to escape. One minute. My heart was beating uncontrollably and I was starting to panic.

So many thoughts ran through my head, I stopped running and stood in my place. Natasha noticed and also stopped, she stood right in front of me with her eyebrows furrowed.

"Come on!" She screamed in my face. "We have to keep moving, Ash!"

"You, you have to keep running. Listen to me, you have to go, I'll only slow you down, shift and run faster, you know this forest better than I do." She looked heart broken and tears fell from her eyes.

"Don't do this we can't get aw-"

"If I'm with you, they'll catch us, he wants me, not you. I'm not going to put you and that baby in danger." She protectively placed a hand on her belly and looked back at me with concern. I kissed her cheek and tears started to cascade down my face. "I love you. You're friendship was the best I could imagine. I know you'll be Ana amazing mother because of how much you care. Please..." My heart shattered into a million pieces as I told her my last request. "Tell Nick that I love him, that I'm sorry and I don't regret anything between us. Ever. Tell him I'm sorry about the argument, he's the best thing that could've happened to me." She held my hand and kissed my forehead. Our moment was cut short by Cade's ringing voice.

"Twenty seconds." He yelled and I began pushing Natasha away from me, further into the woods.

"Run, I'll hold him off as long as I could, Natasha, tell Nick, please." I cried as She ran in the other direction. I stood my ground turning to face the the three men that would be coming any second now.
...........................................................
I know, it was short :'( I just couldn't wait any longer to publish this part, I am working on the next chapters and I can't wait to publish. NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE NICKS P.O.V

I hope you enjoyed it and I hope your heart broke, the same way mine did.
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With Love,
Natalie!