I managed to leave when the moon was high and in between the security detail that occasionally monitored the streets.

I'd been watching their routine, plotting out when I would leave for months now. It was all I could do after my parents died to keep my mind off the horrible things that would happen to me if I were found.

But it was daylight now, hours upon hours after I’d initially left. I wiped at the sweat on my forehead, despite being in the thick woods with the sun partially blocked off. I’d been walking for so long that my feet ached and my legs burned.

I stopped and tipped my head back, looking at the massive trees that surrounded me. Their branches caused the light above to flicker in sporadic intervals to the forest floor.

I started moving forward, but minutes later I knew I needed to rest. I found a large boulder and sat down. Reaching into my bag, I grabbed one of the water bottles I’d filled before leaving. After taking a healthy drink from it, I shoved it back in my bag. I needed to ration my food and water, because I didn't know how long I'd be out here.

It was tranquil in the middle of nowhere, though, peaceful even. I wondered if there were others high in the mountains, hidden from the disgusting and corrupt world that we now lived in.

Although my stomach started cramping and gave a growl, I didn't grab anything to eat. I'd eaten a few hours before I left and I needed to save up as much as I could.

Slinging my backpack over my shoulders, I stood and started trekking up the mountainside. I had no destination in mind, no plans either. This was probably the stupidest idea I had ever come up with, but staying behind, trying to live where the militia were too heavy, was even stupider. I would rather take my chances out here in the wilderness, away from everyone, than chance being snagged up and sold off.

As the hours continued to move on and my stomach started cramping and growling more fiercely, I decided to search for some kind of shelter for the evening. Once I had that set up I'd get something to eat and start again in the morning.

I started climbing over the rocky terrain, gripping onto boulders and hauling myself up higher. I was almost at the top when my foot got wedged between two rocks, my shoe not allowing me to pull free.

Wiggling and twisting my foot was pretty fruitless, and when I finally reached down to try and get loose I fell backward. But with being stuck between the boulders and my body still falling, the momentum had my foot twisting in an unnatural way.

I cried out in pain just as I fell. My head cracked back and stars instantly danced in my vision. The pain was consuming, and soon darkness swept me under. I was helpless to stop it.

* * *

I had my ax strapped to my hip, a knife attached to my ankle. The bow and arrow that was slung over my back moved seamlessly as I made my way through the forest.

I was looking for food, any animals that I came across, hell, anything edible at this point.

Although I had food stocked up and rationed for when supplies were low, I always made sure I was one step ahead of the game. I always made sure to have extra in case shit hit the fan.

I came across some wild berries and started picking them and tossing them in the small bag that was attached to the other side of my hip. When the bush was picked clean I started picking edible flowers and flora.

As I continued to make my way through the forest, listening to the sounds of wildlife, focusing on my surroundings, I stopped at the top of the rock hill and just absorbed everything. The boulders stretched on for as far as I could see, a rocky terrain that was as dangerous as it was beautiful.

A hawk flew overhead, its cry wild, free. Something sounded to my left. I crouched low, looked to the side, and saw a rabbit ten feet away. Its back faced me as it scoured the forest floor for food.

Being quiet, stealthy, I reached behind and grabbed my bow. The few arrows that I’d brought were attached to a loop on my pants. I pulled one out, set it in place, and pulled back.

Focusing was key, and keeping my breathing steady and even would help my aim be accurate. I exhaled and released the arrow. The kill was swift and clean, painless for the animal.

I placed the bow on my back again and made my way toward my kill. Once I had it in the bag attached to my hip, I was about to head in the other direction when something caught my eye. A flash of dark green fabric was partially visible, the material lightly blowing in the breeze that had picked up.

I moved closer to get a better look, making sure to be quiet and slow. Chances were it was just a piece of debris, but I was high up in the mountain. So how had it gotten here?

And then, when I was just a few feet from it, the boulders not obstructing the full view anymore, my heart stopped. There, lying amongst the rocks like a broken doll, was a woman.

My woman.

That declaration came through me like a slap to my face.

I could see blood had dried on the rock her head was on, and scanned my gaze down her body to see that her foot was stuck between two boulders. Nothing else mattered in that moment except her. She was hurt and I needed to get to her.

First I worked on getting her foot loose. Once that was done I gently lifted her in my arms, her small body seeming frail, fragile in my hold. She was tiny compared to me, but I could see that she was a woman.

All woman.

Her curves spoke of that, as well as the mounds of her breasts that pressed against the material of her tattered shirt. But she was still younger, far younger than my thirty years.

Her dark hair hung over my forearm, and the dirt that was splattered across her face and body told me she'd been out here for a while. Although she was obviously still alive because I could see the rise and fall of her chest, I didn’t know how long she had been out here or how severe her injuries were. I needed to get her back to the cabin and look her over, make sure I could heal her.

I looked at her face, took in her high cheekbones, her full lips, the way the pink of her flesh could be seen under the dirt that covered her.

This possessive side rose up in me like an angry beast, demanding to be free, roaring out to claim her as mine. It was such an instant, powerful reaction that my whole body tensed. I'd never experienced such emotion. It could've brought me to my knees right then and there.

My heart was thundering a mile a minute as I continued to make my way through the woods and toward my cabin. The feel of her in my arms, the way I was already so territorial of her, made me realize one thing.

I would heal her, and then I would make her mine.