Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 12 – The Miracle

“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.“– Tom Bodett

Halima

Three days had passed. Three days of living as a rogue. I survived off fish and river water. Rabbits and squirrels were available to eat, but I couldn’t catch them. They were too fast for me. My body was still weak. I couldn’t take in too much food. I could barely eat one–half of a fish before vomiting it up. It wasn’t because of the taste, although I was sure it played a part. Cooked fish beats raw fish any day. The reason was that I trained my body to survive off little food.

The days were warm, but the nights were chilly. I didn’t have a blanket to help keep me warm, but Artemis helped as much as she could by lending some of her heat. Werewolves had warmer bodies than humans, but since I was all skin and bone, I have little means of insulating body fat, to begin with. Sometimes, I slept naked with my dress covering me like a blanket.

Artemis and I moved around a lot. Sometimes, I would take walks throughout the forest, admiring the beauty Mother Nature offered before my eyes. I felt more connected with Artemis from those walks. I felt more grounded and more in tune with the earth, as I was with the moon.

After another failed breakfast, I washed my face at the river before taking a walk through the forest. I knew I was straying far from my cave, but I didn’t care. I was taking advantage of the exploration. The gentle breeze was cool, the golden sun was shining, and the many birds chirped their morning songs. Or mating calls, I couldn’t tell.

Artemis howled in delight in my mind, happy to be smelling the crisp clean air compared to the foul stench of prison back at our former home. It was a pleasant change to the dreary atmosphere we were accustomed to.

I journeyed farther, deeper into the woodlands, touching the barks of trees as I went. I remembered stories taught in my elementary school classes about how humans liked to go camping. They would bring tents, food, and other items to make their trip memorable. I never found the point of camping since I was a wolf, but now I could appreciate why humans appreciate nature after being deprived of it for so long.

Artemis was happy and so was I.

I was deep in my thoughts when a powerful smell knocked me into the present. It smelled like diesel fuel. Curious, I trotted closer to where the overwhelming scent was coming from. I stopped at the edge of the tree line and found a narrow two–way road with scattered potholes. There were no vehicles in sight, but the lingering smell of the fuel filling my nostrils told me one passed by not too long ago.

I must be farther from wolf territory than I originally thought, and I took it as a good thing. Against my better instinct, I walked onto the road. Curiosity pulled me to the other patch of forest on the other side. I crossed the asphalt in quick strides, disregarding potential dangers until my big toe dipped into a small crater. I fell onto the concrete, scraping my knees.

from the fresh wounds. There was a distant honking blaring at me from down the road, growing louder as it got closer. My head snapped in the direction to see a red car coming towards me at a great speed. I saw too many movies when I was younger to know what happens

14

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of the road, out of the car’s

of diesel slapped me across the face, making me scrunch up my nose. Goddess, it smelled so bad! I

in my ear. I looked up to see an older man wearing a deep blue buttoned–up shirt and black dress pants approaching me. “I could have hit you! What are you doing out here, anyway?” He had short and wavy black hair brushing the back of his neck, deep amber eyes, his skin a fair fawn–brown, and a five o’clock shadow. I glanced at his right hand

the ring of an

widened like plates. This man

of Alpha Jonathan and Neron festered in my mind like a disease, each instance of abuse and mistreatment becoming more vivid than the

life in the forest had ended. I was a rogue, and by my knowledge, most wolves don’t take kindly to rogues.

was soft and sweet, like liquid sugar. She approached me with great caution, stepping slowly. “What’s a lone pup like you

man warned. “She’s a rogue! She could be dangerous! Step away,

close, I could see her flawless apricot skin, long caramel brown hair brushing against her back, bright hazel eyes, and downward–turned

on a few logs

her!” Lyra growled, observing my body closer. That seemed to have got his attention. His expression went from malice to one

have one…” I murmured as my eyes burned with tears. The woman’s voice may be kind, but I knew better than to trust people. If

were part of one before.” Lyra

in sorrow. I didn’t cry for sympathy; I cried in fear. Artemis tried her best to comfort me, but I cried harder. “I–I don’t want to be a slave anymore! Don’t take me back, please! I don’t

Shh. It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.” Lyra shed the denim jacket she was wearing and gently placed it over my scarred shoulders. “Neither of us will. Nicky?” She

something. We can’t just leave

not startle me. He kneeled at my eye level, looking me up and down. His face scrunched up in disgust. “You’re right. This looks all too familiar. She’s been abused.”

fluttering close. She took a minute to compose herself

Do you want to come with us to our