My Second Chance
#4 Running Away

Sapphire's P.O.V

I heard soft footsteps shuffling to my right. My ears perked up while myeyes remained closed.

I jumped up and sprang into fighting position on reflex.

"Gosh! Chill, Sapph!" Bella squealed near me. "Shh.. Bell, shut up!"Willow whispered yelled.

"Will? Bell?" I called softly, reaching for the light switch. "Don’t turn thelights on. You'll give us away." Willow voice rang out in the darkness. Ifelt her hand softly smack mine away from the switch.

I reached for my bedside lamp instead. I pulled the little string and adim and barely-there light appeared. I could make out the figures ofmy best friends near my bed. "What are you guys doing here?" I askedyawning, rubbing my sore eyes. My brain was spinning from somethoughts I had even while I was asleep.

I just had an awful dream... something about marrying the Alpha."What? Did you really think that we would actually let him marry you?Gosh Sapph.” Bella huffed.

"Wait... It... It wasn't a dream?" My voice came out shaky. Tears werestarting to well in my eyes. Suddenly, the full force of panic mixed withunwillingness slammed into my heart in full force again. Events fromthe previous night returned, replaying in my head.

"Shh... Sapph, please don't cry... Shh,Sapph..." Willow pleaded. Bellahugged me as I cried into her shoulder. She started shaking too and Irealised she was quietly sobbing along with me. Willow laid each herhands on our back. The feeling of her hand comforted me, acting as thelast string of sanity I had left.

First, my mate rejected me.

Then I'm forced to marry some one else I had nothing but dislike for."How can he do this to me? I.. I don't want want to marry him." Ihiccuped. For once, I felt powerless and scared. Gwen whimpered in myhead while Drew growled in anger. "You won't." Willow said firmly."How? He's our Alpha... I've to follow his orders, I can't deny him ofanything.” I sobbed. "You can and we will." Bella said.

"We?" I asked, rubbing my tears away with my sleeve. Willow tossed mea backpack and a hand carry luggage. I caught it with ease despite theweight. "What are these for?" I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion.What Bella said next made my heart leap in fear and excitement.

"Go. Run away to the city.”

"But how? How will I do that?" I asked, ignoring the purring Gwen. Sheseems to like the idea. "We'll cover for you. It's three in the morningnow. It's just the right time to leave.” Willow said. "Now? As in run awaynow?" I widened my eyes. Fear gripped my heart. My breath was caughtin my throat.

"No Sapph, run in the middle of all your dress fittings or after you getmarried dear." Bella said sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes at her, but not before she managed to pull a smallsmile from me.

"But- What will I do without you guys?” I asked. My thoughts weresuddenly all about the people I Ill leave. The people I love that I wouldhave to leave behind. Tears sprung in my eyes and started rolling downmy cheek.

"Sapph... You are an amazing girl. You deserve better. You can't just stayand actually mate with that man with rotting teeth.” Willow said softly. Ilightly laughed at her last comment. "She's right. He doesn't deserve anamazing girl like you. Just remember... We love you, Sapph. You are ourbest friend. You mean the world to us.” Bella stood, her hand lightlygripping my shoulder.

"You are strong willed, beautiful, confident. You are everything a girlwould want to be.” Willow continued. "You are precious just like yourname-Sapphire.” Bella finished, smiling at me with watery eyes.

“I love you guys so much. Please don't ever forget me." I said, pullingthem in for a hug.

"We love you too and we will never, ever forget you. Ever.” Willowwhispered. We hugged for a while. None of us willing to be the first toend the moment. Willow was the first to pull away.

"Okay, back to business. We don't have much time. The hand carryluggage consists of your clothes while the backpack contains bottles ofwater, snacks, money, a gun with a few extra silver bullets-" She said"Wait. How did you get money?" I raised an eyebrow. "My parents. Ikinda talked to them about it. It was their idea to run away actually.”Bella explained.

I smiled. Bella's parents have been parent figures to me since minedied. They were really fond of me. It makes sense this plan would becoming from them. "Tell them thank you and that I'll miss them.” Mysmile wavered before I added, “a lot. I'll miss them a lot.” I swallowedback a sob rising in my throat.

Bella gave me a tight smile.

"Go get changed. Preferably something black.” Willow said. I nodded. Itook a black shirt and black high waisted shorts from the hand carrybag. I went into the bathroom to change. I washed up and brushed myteeth. Trying to speed up in order to not waste time but at the sametime, my heart was heavy with unwillingness. I knew in my mind it wassomething I needed to do, and yet every part of my heart is filled withfear and sadness.

My mind was desperately fighting against my heart.

I looked into the mirror. My own reflection stared back at me. Don’tworry, Sapphire. We'll be there for you, Drew smiled. My eyes of myreflection glinted red for a mere second. Yeah, we'll forget everythingabout the past, except our old friends of course, and have a fresh start,Gwen grinned.

I smiled and took a deep breath. My helpful prep talkers soothing andgiving me confidence to go ahead. I readied myself before walking outof the bathroom with a confident grin.

Let's do this.

Three of us crept down the stairs, as quiet as mice. One little soundwould alert everyone in the pack. We masked our scent so no onecould smell us. We crept across the large lawn and finally reached theborders.

"God... They have to increase the border protection here. We did thistoo easily.” Willow mumbled and I grinned.

Typical Willow.

My feet were now a mere few inches away from the borders line. Once Istepped out, it would be too late to back out. I would be a rogue.

Free for all packs to attack or hunt.

"So... This is it." I said, turning to them with a sad smile. The cold breezeblowing through the night didn't help. I felt cold and miserable.

They returned the small sad smiles with eyes full with tears.

"I'll miss you." Bella hiccuped. "I'll miss you too." I whispered, giving herone final big hug. I squeezed, hoping she would understand thehundreds and thousands of words I wanted to tell her. She patted myback.

She understands.

"Sapphire Jackson... Never forget about us, wherever you are.” Willowsaid solemnly. I nodded before giving her a hug.

We heard a rustle a distance away. It could just be the trees but therewas too much at stake to risk anything.

Willow pushed me away, no doubt having the same thoughts.

They looked at me sadly while I did the same.

"It's time to go." Bella whispered. Tears rolled down my cheeks as Icouldn't help but think that this was our last hug. Willow pushed megently towards the direction I needed to go. "Go. Go to the city whereGraysen doesn't have power over you anymore." She said, tears rollingdown her cheeks.

"Be careful while crossing pack territories. And Sapph, stay alive please."Bella cracked a smile despite the drops of tears rolling down to theedges of her face.

"This isn't goodbye guys.” I choked out. Their faces were full of sadness,all three of us doubting it. We said nothing. I took one last look atthem. “Bye guys. I love you.”

Without waiting for an answer, I crossed the border line and ran intothe dark forest. The darkness swallowed me as I ran into their coldembrace.