The White Wolf Chapter 58: Running through the Woods

Alexia gave Edmund a mocking wave as he was led away. His voice reached her ears as he tried to lighten his mother’s mood. “You look exceptionally radiant today Mother. Have you done something new? Your hair isn’t it? It just shines in the sunlight. Stunning. No, really I mean it….” His voice drifted off the further they walked away, disappearing into the wind. She pondered if his flatter would soften his mother's mood at all.

After watching her sparring partner be dragged away to face punishment for his sins, Alexia decided a run was in order. Her body was already warm and sweaty. Running always helped clear her head.

There was a trail not too far away that she set her sights on. She broke off into a jog. An easy pace that felt like a stroll in the woods.

The dead leaves crunched beneath her feet, the trees were still bare in the cold air. A squirrel scurried from tree to tree.

She realized she was not alone but that it was in fact Enzo who followed her. Her guard was never far away. Her mind was always aware of him following her and refused to relax.

Every time she would try to empty her brain, it would come back to every little movement he made.

After a bit, she decided she did not want to be followed but instead wanted to run alone. She picked up the pace. Her breaths came deeper. Enzo matched her pace.

She kept that pace for several minutes as her path had her taking turns through the woods. She crossed a stream, leaping from rock to rock fully extending her legs, barely able to make the landing. She felt like a gazelle with each leap. Enzo a few yards behind, followed seamlessly. The sound of the water flowing and bubbling became distant the further she moved from it.

Her head began to fill with thoughts of self-doubt and insecurities. Her pace increased as if she could run from her own head. With every passing thought she ran faster. What if she was not good enough to be queen? Faster she ran. What if they could not stop the attacks? Faster she ran. What if Caspian changed his mind about her and decided he did not want her? Even Faster she ran till she was in a dead sprint. Her head was so clouded that she did not even hear Enzo's cries to slow down. She ran farther and farther away from him. Away from her self-doubt.

Running from her problems was something she always wished she could do. Abandon them in her past but instead, they decided to stay with her making her have to face them sooner or later.

Running only came to a stop when she reached a clearing. Her breaths were hard and fast from her mouth, as she gasped for air. Her skin was red from the pulsing of blood throughout her body trying to provide oxygen to all of her extremities. Placing her hands on her knees they became slick with sweat till she raised up and interlocked them behind her head.

Once her breaths slowed, she took in the sight around her. A small meadow in amongst the trees. The grass was surprisingly lush and green. The trees around her swayed but the quietness grew over the meadow. A serenity. Her mind emptied into the peace she was longing for.

She did not know how long she had been standing there when she saw movement at the edge of the tree line.

In her head, she cursed herself for letting herself become isolated on her own. She did not know where Enzo was and for now, she was on her own. She readied herself for whatever lay before her. If she was to run or fight she would need to decide now. Her father would be disappointed if she died like this. All of the training going to waste. She took a step in retreat when she saw it.

Stepping out into the meadow was a hair-covered leg followed by another. Her first thought was a rogue had found her but then she looked again. It was not a wolf leg but a stag.

A large stag stepped from the shadows taking Alexia's breath away. Not by its size or stature, no she had seen many stags before in her life but by its hide. Pure snow white. Its crystal eyes locked with hers and she could not look away. Its soft pink nose let out a deep breath before shaking its head. With the movement, its large assortment of antlers went back and forth. The sun gave the animal a spotlight through the trees. It did not seem to fear her. She took a step closer wanting to get a better look and praying she did not startle the creature. Then another. As she was about to take her third step a noise came from the woods, the crunch of a stick, she turned to look. When she turned back to look at the stag it was gone, as if it had vanished into the wind.

Her eyes looked onto the spot where the stag had been as if she could will it to reappear. The day began to grow colder as the sun marched west. She knew she did not desire to be out in the dark and knew the sound of the crunching stick was indeed her guard probably looking for her. She linked Enzo where she was and he appeared in less than a minute. His face flushed and his eyes looked as if he had aged ten years in the time she had been gone.

His breathing was heavy. "Please, do not do that again."

As Alexia was coming out of her trance she said with a laugh. "It looks like you need to get your cardio up."

Enzo worried expression curved the edge of his lips into a smile but the action did not reach his eyes that refused to leave Alexia. He waited for her to lead the way back to the palace, determined to need to let her get away from him again.

She retraced her steps back the way she had come. The journey back took longer as she was no longer sprinting and as they broke through the trees the sun had begun to set. She had grown hungry and made her way to the doors leading inside the palace. However, in between the doors was the outline of a figure. Caspian, and he did not look pleased.

*Author’s Note*

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