Page 1 of Consider The Lilies

Running

Stefan

“There’s no point in running!” a booming voice rips through the forest, making me frantic to run faster.

“Stefan!” my sister yells at me when I stumble. She grabs my wrist, trying to steady me, but it’s no use. I’m too tired, and I can’t breathe. My ribcage is too tight, squeezing my lungs so hard, my eyes water. My last inhaler ran out over a year ago. I’ve been living with pinpricks in my sides and a tightness in my chest ever since.

“Give it up, little omegas.” Another man chuckles, his voice like gravel.

I look over my shoulder as we start to run again, catching a glimpse of two alphas. They’re both shirtless and sweaty, chasing after us with big grins on their similar faces. They both have long black hair, the same long nose and beady eyes, but one has a tangled ponytail. They’re probably brothers.

“Don’t stop!” Mari growls, dragging my weak body down a steep hill. My ratty shoes slide across the sloped ground, skidding over rocks and roots.

“Mari,” I wheeze, trying to get her to stop, “I c-can’t—” My pace slows, and my legs begin to shake. “I can’t breathe.” I suck in a raspy breath.

“I know!” she snaps, pulling my arm even harder, forcing my feet to move. She’s not normally so harsh with me. In fact, she’s the most loving person I know, but right now she’s too scared to be kind, and I understand why.

“Mari,” I wheeze her name, needing a moment to catch my breath. “P-please…” And my knees give out. I cough—or try to—onto the forest floor, gagging through my constricted throat.

I hate how weak I am, but I simply can’t take another step. We’ve been living in the woods like fugitives for over two years now. We’ve lived so long without any proper food, water, or medicine. I can’t even remember what it's like to live in a world where we’re not constantly running and terrified.

I simply can’t take another step.

“No!” Mari screams at me. “Don’t give up!” She hitches my arm over her shoulder and heaves me to my feet. But it’s too late.

The two muscled alphas stroll down the hill, their big bodies looming over us. They look thrilled, like they’ve won the lottery. I guess they have. Finding two young omegas out in the middle of nowhere is a wonderful prize for any alpha. I hope Mari doesn't sacrifice herself for me…again.

“Come on.” The alpha with the long black ponytail mocks us like we’re two lost puppies. “We won’t hurt you.” He touches his crotch, and I look away.

Mari bristles next to me, forcing me to lean against her much smaller frame. “Keep going,” she commands me, but we both know I’m not going anywhere.

“Run,” I try to speak, but the single word comes out as barely a whisper. I’m not even sure if she heard me. “Run,” I repeat, begging my sister to save herself, but she keeps glaring at the alphas.

“There’s nowhere to go.” The rough-voiced alpha grins, and his black hair whips into his face. His features are sharp, and his teeth are pointed. I’m sure there’s a world where omegas swoon over these two long-haired alphas, but out here, they look like monsters. Vicious beasts waiting to rip weak omegas like me to pieces.

The alpha with the ponytail takes a single step toward us, and Mari lets out a high-pitched growl, forcing me to move once again. She drags me down the hill and over the twisted roots. The tips of my shoes catch, but Mari doesn’t stop. She heaves me like a rag doll, down, down, down the hill.

She’s so much smaller than me, with tiny arms and a fragile frame, but she’s somehow able to pull the greatest stretch out of nowhere.

All too quickly, sloped ground levels out, and my heart stops as the trees part.

It’s a cliff.

We’re trapped.

And I’m so exhausted.

A defeated sob bubbles from my tight throat. It’s agony to cry with my chest constricted so tight, but I can’t stop. Trying to calm down, I hang my head and force deep breaths through my nose and out my mouth. It doesn’t help. It pushes my long, dirty hair into my face, tickling my nose. Making me want to sneeze.

“It’s okay,” Mari whispers, lowering me to the ground. The earth is cool to the touch, and the grass is soft and lush. I commit it to memory, assuming it will be the last thing I feel before the alphas kill us. “It’s going to be okay,” Mari lies to me.

“Easy there, blondie.” Ponytail alpha hitches up his pants as he stops right in front of us. His bare chest is covered in sweat, dripping down to the tattoo across his abdomen. The words TENUS PACK are etched in bold black letters across his lower belly, and when I look even lower, my fear really takes hold. His penis is very hard, tenting the front of his jeans.

“Don’t come any closer,” Mari snarls, stepping right in front of me like a shield.

I try to stand, determined to help her fight, but my lungs squeeze even tighter, and my head swims. I fall back to the ground with a heavy thud, making Ponytail alpha sneer at me.

“I think we’ve got a fighter.” The rough-voiced alpha palms himself in a lewd way as he moves toward Mari.

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