This is only of my imagination.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters, so please be nice and don't sue me. Thank you.

Escape

By Bri-C123

Chapter 1: First Meeting

She ran through the trees. She had to get away. She could not look back. There was too much to look back to. There would only be pain and suffering if she looked back or stopped. So she kept running. She could almost hear them breathing as they tried to catch up to her. Faster, she thought. I have to go faster. Her aching legs begged her to stop but she kept going.

Suddenly, there was no ground beneath her left foot, she tilted and fell. It wasn't long after that she started to roll. She could feel the rocks and roots digging into every part of her body. At one point, she felt a large rock make contact with her leg. She was pretty sure she felt a snap, but she could feel no pain. The adrenaline she had since her escape was still rushing through her body. She only concentrated on trying to stop.

She did stop eventually, but not in the way she wanted. Her whole body hit something hard and solid at the same time. She bounced back on her side. Her whole body was aching, the adrenaline gone. She tried to keep herself conscious, though it was a futile task. I have to go. I have to get away. But her body would not move. She heard shouting and felt hands roll her to her back. Crap, she thought, they got me now. Then there was nothing.

~Everyone's head shot up when they all heard the rather loud thud against their wall. Kenshin was the fastest, grabbing his katana and shooting towards the door. He opened it cautiously, testing for menacing ki in the area. He found nothing but a weak ki. Thinking it was an injured animal, he relaxed and stepped outside. As he took a breath, the wolf in him was suddenly alert. It was the smell of blood. He ran to the source and froze. Long ebony hair obscured the face but the blood pooling around her said a lot for her injuries. Her clothes were torn and bloody. "Megumi!" he shouted. "Megumi come out here now!" He shot to the girl and turned her over to her back. There wasn't even a whimper of pain. "Damn it Megumi! Now!"

"I'm here, I'm here! What-" there was the sound of a sharp intake of breath. "Kami. Kenshin take her inside. Sanosuke, get me water. Misao, grab the clean towels. Aoshi, hurry and set the futon. Hurry!"

Kenshin cradled the delicate creature in his arms. Aoshi quickly did what he was told and Kenshin put the girl on the futon. He brushed back her hair. There was a hiss of sympathy that echoed throughout the now filled room. Sanosuke set down the water and Misao did the same with the towels. Everyone stood there to see the injured girl.

"Out! Everyone out! I need to treat her now!" Megumi's words seemed to wake everyone up and they quickly fled the room. Kenshin was the last to go. He stared long and hard at the girl even as Megumi began to rip the clothing off. He had the urge to sit there and treat her himself but quickly let go of it. Megumi was the best healer there was. He shook his head as his wolf snarled. Stay, it insisted. Stay and protect. Kenshin ignored the wolf and closed the door, heading towards the living room. Megumi will do what we cannot, Kenshin reminded the wolf. But the wolf did not listen, only snarl in defiance.

Sanosuke sat in the chair closest to the doorway, in case Megumi should call. Misao was curled into Aoshi, as if he could protect her from the images of the stranger. Aoshi's face was stoic as usual, but his arms wrapped around Misao protectively. Kenshin's wolf shoved the image of the girl, free of injuries, wrapped in his own arms and naked as the day she was born. Kenshin blinked. The image had seemed so right…

"Shit" he cursed. Everyone looked up at him. "Shit shit shit." He began to pace as the realization hit him. "This cannot not be happening. Not now. Damn it." His pacing increased and his steps quickened.

"Alpha?" Misao asked. "You don't need to curse about things. I'm pretty sure the girl just stumbled here by accident. No one should have found us yet."

"That's not what I'm worried about Misao." He stopped pacing and took a deep breath. He could still smell her scent, even though it was overpowered by blood. He licked his lips and shut his eyes. The wolf was adamant about going back to the girl so Kenshin walked out the front door. He walked away far enough so that he wouldn't have to feel the weak ki. He breathed the clean fresh air.

"Alpha."

"Aoshi." There was silence as Kenshin calmed himself. "My wolf wants the girl" he finally said.

There wasn't a hint of surprise on his face. "I see." The two men stood there in silence. "I suppose I should make necessary arrangements to move her to your room?"

"No. I don't want to hurt her or scare her. Just make sure she is comfortable in the guest room. I can handle the rest." Aoshi nodded and disappeared. Kenshin stayed where he was. Aoshi will explain everything to Misao who would explain everything to everyone else. There was no need for him to go back until he was completely calm.

~Kaoru woke up in a strange room. There was a futon and a dresser. She had a cast on her leg and bandages all over her body. She found her torn clothes by a corner. She limped over and quickly changed into it. Wherever this was, she had to get out now. She arranged the cloth until she was decent looking and went back to sit on the bed. She smell several wolves in this room alone. And there was one human. She snarled. This was definitely a place she did not want to be in. However, her whole body was aching and she knew that she would only have a few minutes before the wolves chased her down. If they worked with the human. Her wolf snarled. Humans were no longer going to scare her. She would have to face and fight anyone if they got in her way.

The door opened and a tall man in a white coat stepped in. She could smell the wolf in him. She snarled and crouched on the bed in a defensive position. She ignored the searing pain in her leg and kept her eyes on the man in front of her. He was frozen where he was, but didn't seem at all frightened. In fact, he seemed amused. This didn't please her wolf, who clawed her way to the surface and leapt towards him.

He automatically stepped aside to avoid her blow. Her hands opened and her claws extended, managing to nick his arm. He cursed and fell to his knees. If the amount of blood she drew had any say, she would say that the nick was actually a pretty deep cut. She knew his magic would heal him soon. She jumped onto his back and pressed the pressure point by his neck. He immediately fell to the floor. Her claws extended again and she prepared to slit his throat.

As the tip of her claw drew blood, she froze. Her eyes stayed staring at where claw met skin and suddenly pulled back. Her hands turned to normal and she stared at them. No, this cannot be happening. She couldn't kill. Even if they were a threat, she couldn't kill. It was against everything she knew. She threw herself to the wall and caught sight of a mirror she hadn't noticed before. There was some blood splattered on her face and a bandage wrapped around her head. Her face was purple with some bruises, although her eyes were normal. She stared at the blood on her hands and shuddered. She almost… her wolf almost…killed. She turned to the open door and ran. She had to get away. Before she killed anyone, even if it was the human, she had to get away.

There were surprised faces that flashed past her but she ignored it and kept running. She could see a door and was pretty sure it led outside. Sure enough, the green of trees and grass met her when she stepped out. She began to run again, her wolf helped her ignore the pain in her leg and let her use her speed. She was speeding straight into the trees.

Amber eyes met blue eyes. She came to a stop as soon as they clashed. Her wolf was at attention, studying the man. He didn't seem tall, an inch taller than her at most, but she could tell he was strong. He was full of lean muscle. His ki screamed alpha. Her heart pounded when she noticed him studying her too. His eyes lingered on her cast. That's when she felt the other ki coming. She turned and began to run, panic flooding her system. She was met with amber eyes again, but much closer this time. As Kaoru moved to step back, he touched her face. Electricity seemed to shoot through her body, straight to her heart. She was frozen again. Snarls behind her made her turn, defense overriding everything else. There were two people there, looking at her with hard eyes. The girl snarled and began to stalk forward. Suddenly a lean body was in front of Kaoru. "Misao" he warned. His voice was low and menacing, the tone of an alpha exerting his control. She whimpered, memories flashing in her mind, reminding her of what she had lost. A low growl made her flinch. "They will not touch you, little one." She shivered. He was their alpha…but could she really trust him? Her wolf screamed yes. This was a man to be trusted.

But her human side disagreed. He had a human with him. He was working with a human. And they only just met him. He could not be trusted. The wolf wanted to wrap her arms around him, begging for comfort. The human wanted to run. The two fought their instincts and simply stayed frozen.

"Misao, Aoshi, go back to the cabin."

"She harmed Sano!" Kaoru whimpered at the girl's harsh accusation, but made no move to deny it.

"Misao. Go." There was another snarl but the two kis backed away and soon disappeared from her senses. The man in front of her slowly turned. "They are gone little one." His voice had gone soft, no longer exerting the harsh tone of an alpha. "I'm here to help you. Do not be afraid." His voice was lulling, comforting. She hesitantly met his gaze.

He could see the fear in her eyes. No, it wasn't fear. It was pure, undeniable terror. "Please" she whispered. "Please don't send me to the main house. I promise I'll be good." Confused, he stepped forward. She flinched back and whimpered. "Please. Don't send me back to the humans."

"Humans?"

"I won't go back!" she shouted. Her wolf let go of her restraint, making Kaoru feel the anger and hatred that burned her body. "You cannot make me go back there!" She felt something prick her hand and looked down. She took in the claws that had extended. "No. Not again..." Her hands shifted again, back to normal hands. She closed her eyes, swaying, suddenly aware of the pain in her leg. It was welcomed against the onslaught of blood lust from her wolf. A hand landed on her shoulder and she flew back, away from the contact, landing on her butt. It jarred her leg, reminding her that it was still hurt, even with the magic she had left in her body.

Both were frozen, the man standing with his arm outstretched, and the girl on the floor. "I will not hurt you or bring you back to the main house. I promise."

"Do you swear on your life?"

He paused. They may not go back on their word, the magic binds them. The situation must be important and dire to even suggest it. "I swear on my life."

This made the girl relax. "Okay." Then she fainted.

"Yahiko?"

"What busu?"

"Do you really love her?"

"… What's it to you?"

"Because if you do, then I approve. But you must remember to be careful."

"I know the rules about courting and mating, busu."

"It's not just the rules. You must never shift in front of them. They will punish you."

"Why would the wolves punish me for shifting?"

"Here, it's not the wolves I'm talking about."

"Who are you talking about then?"

"The humans."

"There shouldn't be humans that know about us."

"They work with the humans, this pack."

"But…"

"I know."

"Impossible." He whispered.

"But very, very true."

"So this pack is not yours."

"No, mine was killed. This pack took me in." her voice was strained.

"How long have you been with this pack?"

"Years."

"You know a lot, don't you?"

"But not enough."

"Do you like it here?"

"…" It was all the answer he needed.

"Why haven't you left?"

"Because I have no where to go. Here, I know the routine. Out there, I know nothing."

"Kaoru! Alpha would like to talk to you!" She jumped at the guard's voice.

"Yes sir." She turned to the young boy. "Good night Yahiko. I pray you are making the right decision."

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"She is innocent. The rest are not. You best watch your back. There is a lot you don't know about this pack. And you might not know until its too late."

Well then. Nothing like a little mystery to end a first chapter. I really shouldn't have written this, but my mind seems to think otherwise. So I have three on going stories at the same time. This should be fun…