Quatervois
(n.) A crossroad; a critical decision or turning point in ones life.

I waited until the crack of dawn to put my plan into action. I heard the alpha get up and shuffle before jogging down the stairs and heading out. I watched him from my window, my eyes glued to his bare muscular back before it disappeared behind the trees.

I waited a moment more to ensure everyone else had left the house for their respective duties before I made my way downstairs.

Like I had anticipated, the morning guards had yet to arrive and the night guards had tiredly left their posts. I slipped down the stairs, finding the keys hung on the wall. It was too easy.

"Wake up guys, we're leaving," I whispered, swiftly unlocking their cells. Their tired mumbles quickly turned excited and I shushed them, not wanting to risk being heard.

"Before we leave, one more thing," I pulled out the silver dagger I had strapped to my thigh. I had stolen it from one of the glass cases in the halls. It was probably a precious antique of some sort.

"What are you gonna do with that?" Erica looked at me uncertainly, eyeing the weapon in my hand. Instead of answering, I showed her, slicing my palm open. Santiago's eyes widened and he stepped forward, holding his palm out towards me.

I grabbed his hand, sliced it before placing my wounded hand on his, our blood mixing.

"So we can mindlink. It will make communicating as wolves easier. That way we can all escape in a synchronised manner," They all blinked at me and nodded, one by one mixing their blood with mine.

'We go around back and head into the forest. The border is closest there,' I spoke, my voice pushing into their minds.

I told them to follow me and we crept back upstairs. We had exactly four minutes until the guards arrived and found us missing.

The kitchen was the easiest place to leave from. It headed straight to the back garden and there were no guards.

However, that didn't mean there were no people there. The cook was giving orders in the kitchen and maids and servants were scurrying about. The old alpha would soon be arriving for his breakfast.

'Stay hidden. On my word, Santiago, you knock out the guy closest to you. Lucy, Leo, take the two on the left and Erica, take the one of the right,'

'Understood,' they replied.

'Make sure you don't kill them,' I warned.

'Yes Alpha,' I heard Leo reply jokingly. I gave him a deadpan look before I casually stepped into the kitchen.

"Oh hello Ma'am. I didn't think you'd be awake at this time, pardon me for not calling you down for breakfast," the maid bowed her head at me, her face flushed and I brushed her worry away.

"It's alright Amelia. And what did I tell you, call me Artemis," I smiled kindly. She nodded stiffly, giving me an unsure nod.

I walked around the kitchen, pretending to decide what to eat. I stepped closer to the cook, who seemed to only notice my presence when I was inches away from him. He looked at me warily, and as I gave everyone the signal to attack, I twisted his neck carefully, and let his body drop to the floor.

'What happened to no killing?' Erica asked.

'He's not dead,' I replied. While his neck was twisted at an awkward angle, he'd heal in a few hours if not less. As I heard more bodies drop to the floor, I turned around and made sure everyone was okay. They all looked to me for more instructions.

'Follow me. Once we hit the trees, shift,' I led the way outside and we quickly made our way across the snowy expanse. I scowled internally, hating how exposed we were. There was nothing covering us and we could be seen by anyone who approached the house.

Once we reached the trees, I let out a breath I hadn't known I was holding and quickly felt my body bend and morph into my golden brown wolf. After hearing bones crack, several wolves stood before me, all in varying shapes and colours.

'Run South. Once we cross the borders, we will keep running south until we reach The Green Summit. That's where my sanctuary is,' I led the way and began running as fast as I could. I could hear shouting in the distance and cringed, knowing our time was up.

I looked behind me to check everyone was with me and groaned, seeing Lucy struggle to keep up. I slowed down, letting Erica and Santiago pass me. I trailed behind and nudged Lucy with my nose, pushing her to run faster.

'Guys they're onto us. Run as fast as you can until you reach the borders. Then you can rest for a moment,' I could hear thundering footsteps closing in on us too fast for my liking.

'Celia, help Lucy,' she did as I asked, her ashy grey wolf stepping closer to Lucy's smaller dark brown one.

'I'll fight them off you guys keep running,' I ordered.

'I'll help,' Leo volunteered. We both stopped and turned around to face the wolves heading for us. They had their teeth bared and were aiming for our necks. I let them get closer to me before I dived from their attack, jumping on the back of one and biting his neck.

I was pushed off by the other wolf and I jumped back up, this time aiming low for the legs. I bit his ankle, snapping the bone and he let out a loud whine. I felt his other paw claw at my back and pulled away, his teeth managing to scrape my ear.

He tried attacking me again, but his broken paw affected his balance and I easily pushed him into a tree, letting his ribs snap. I turned to Leo and saw he had taken down the other warrior. His russet fur had blotches of red, but he otherwise looked unscathed.

Hearing more wolves approach, we continued running, catching up to the others.

'Guys there's too many of them, I have to fight them off again,' I spoke into the mind link.

'We'll help,' Erica added, the others agreeing with her.

'No, you can't risk getting captured again. They'll kill you for sure. I'll stay behind to fight them off. You guys go,' I stated. While I was heartbroken I wouldn't be able to go back home, a part of me knew deep down that I wouldn't make it.

'NO!' Conan protested.

'You don't understand, he won't stop chasing us till he gets me,' I replied.

'Who?' They all asked.

'The alpha,' I answered. My ears had picked up the sound of his footsteps as he joined the chase. I wasn't sure how I knew it was his footsteps but I did. They were quiet but I could hear the raw energy in them as he surpassed the other wolves and chased us with a speed that rivalled my own.

As if sensing my thoughts, he let out a loud feral howl that made my fur bristle and my body shiver in anticipation.

'He's crazy, he'll hurt you if he catches you again,' the worry in Conan's voice warmed me.

'No he won't. He's my mate,' I explained. I felt their confusion through the link and Conan faltered in his step before continuing. I didn't let them voice their questions, instead interrupting them.

'But the same can't be said for you guys. Run to the mountains and look for Diana. She's a witch and will help you. Tell her I sent you,' I ordered.

I felt their reluctance and I growled, baring my teeth at them. I put as much intimidation and authority in my stance and voice as I could.

'Got it?' I repeated.

'Yes,' I heard several whines as I slowed down. I watched them run ahead of me and they cast lingering looks my way over their shoulders. Conan lingered by my side and I growled at him, feeling the other wolves quickly circling us. It was like deja vu. I didn't like it.

'I'll see you again,' I assured through our link. He licked my face and rubbed his head against mine. I let him have a moment before I pushed him to leave.

'Go now,'

He let out a low whine and I heard the snarls and growls grow louder, one in particular catching my attention. Conan, no longer able to fight his instinct, took off, his smaller wolf making him faster and more agile.

A patchy grey wolf chased after Conan and I pushed myself, knocking my body into his and pushing him into a tree. Conan escaped into the trees untouched as the warrior turned to me.

I heard the others howl from the distance, calling out to me. Conan soon joined the howling as he crossed the border and I listened to the sound of their rejoicing for their new found freedom. The howls died down and turned mournful. I heard their sorrowful thoughts that I wasn't with them.

The wolves quickly surrounded me and I was knocked onto my stomach, a heavy weight pushing down on me.

The rich scent that filled my nose told me it was who I thought it was.

His claws dug into my fur as I struggled to get up, holding me in place. His pitch black wolf stood over me possessively as the warriors closed in on us. I didn't bother to move, knowing it'd irritate him further.

His snout brushed my fur, his wet nose tickling my ear. I felt rather than heard his growl and he began licking me all over like a pup. I realised he smelt Conan all over me. His warriors shuffled awkwardly in their wolf forms, looking confused at this rather possessive display.

Having enough of his behaviour, I growled and squirmed away from under him, his claws tearing more of my flesh as I broke free from his grip. I managed to dodge his jaws as he reached to bite my legs and tail.

Facing him, I let out a vicious snarl, my fur bristling as I lowered into an attack position. He let out one of his own as he stepped closer to me, a powerful aura emanating from.

It was an intimidation tactic, all of which I was used to. It didn't phase me one bit. If anything, it made me want to defy him even more so I stood up tall and puffed out my chest in response.

The wolves surrounding us stepped closer, giving me warning growls for my blatant disrespect. I was directly challenging their alpha.

To my surprise, he didn't attack me like I thought he would. Instead, he crouched and his form shrunk and his bones cracked until he was standing on two feet.

He stood in all his naked glory and although I had seen plenty of naked men, seeing him made my mouth go dry.

His alabaster skin was flawless with the exception of a few scars dotting his chest and arms, with the most prominent one slashing across his chest. He had a large tattoo across his left pec of a wolf howling to the moon, surrounded by ancient writing.

I wanted to touch it.

I was brought out of my daze when a wolf scurried forward, dropping clothes before his alpha, before scurrying back.

"Shift," he growled. It took me a moment to realise he was addressing me. I huffed at him, not liking his rude tone.

"I said shift," he repeated. The bulging vein on his neck was far scarier than his alpha voice and for the sake of the blood vessel not popping alone did I do as he said.

Once I stood before him naked, he growled again, throwing the shirt at me.

"Everyone turn around," he barked. I rolled my eyes at that.

"What's the point? The whole pack saw me naked the day your wolves dragged me in like filth," I sneered, looking at the faded band t shirt in my hands.

He growled again and stepped closer to me, his eyes dark and fierce. They roamed over my body, a look I'd rather ignore passing over his features. I sighed, but put it on, not wanting to cause a scene.

"Everyone leave," he ordered. The wolves looked hesitant but another growl from their alpha had them running off.

It left us alone in the snow and the look he was giving me made me shiver.

Maybe staying hadn't been such a great idea.