I Want my mate

Aria's pov

I ran as fast as my injured legs could carry me. I saw my chance and took it. I couldn't defeat Chad and his cronies.

They were too strong and I was too weak from the earlier fight. Luckily for me, something distracted them and I fled.

I kept running to the border, aware that they took their time chasing after me, thinking I wouldn't escape. My blood dropped from every injury and it delivered my scent to them.

I slumped on a tree trunk to catch my breath, luckily for me I had my bag with me. I changed out of bloodied clothes, I used the old clothes to clean the bleeding wounds.

If I wasn't bleeding, it would make it more difficult to catch me. I switched clothes to black ones, they would hide my limping form and make me more invisible.

I abandoned the bag at the tree trunk and set out to the border. I stayed in the woods, camouflaging with the tree. Thank Goodness it was night. It made hiding a whole lot easier.

I got to the patrol post, and the guards stopped me.

"Where to?"

"I am reporting for patrol," I told them, grateful that my voice came out as strong as I wanted it to be.

The guards sniffed and narrowed their eyes when they smelt the blood. I kept the smile on my face."Why do you have blood on you?"

I shrugged, "I just fought a man twice my size in the intra - games and as punishment for my victory, I am stuck patrolling."

He bought it. He eyed me but he allowed me to go.

I turned to go but I stopped it, "Please, tell them that I am coming. I am too exhausted to answer any kind of questions about my injury,"

He nodded and moved away. I crossed the first patrol station with my heart thumping loudly in my chest.

They would think the adrenaline is still running through me. I stayed behind the shadows till I got to the second patrol station. They let me through with no hesitation.

I was almost there, just one more station and I would be at the border. The third station was much easier seeing that I haven't caused trouble.

I got to the border and I almost danced happily when I could smell my freedom. My lips stretched to a grin and I began to run towards it.

The force snapped me back and I stumbled, managing to break my fall. I shook my head and groaned when my sides protested from the fall.

I tested the border with my finger and it zapped me. I watched helplessly as the other patrol guards walked freely past it.

Resentment like never before filled me, I lifted my hands and started banging hard at the unseen wall.I was exhausted, hungry and bleeding from all areas of my body. I could feel the fatigue making me weak but I refused to give up on the attack.

"Let me pass," I cried, my voice hoarse.

My vision blurred and I stumbled, suddenly dizzy from the onslaught. I heaved and panted, trying to catch my breath.

I blinked rapidly to get rid of the dizziness so I could continue.

"Aria," a lovely voice called out to me.

I looked to the side where the beam of light glowed, I shielded my eyes with my hands and squinted at it.

I could see a figure in the light but the face wasn't visible.

"Who is it?" I called out.

The figure scoffed with disbelief like it doesn't hear enough of this question.

"You don't recognize your mother?"

I almost died of shock, my mother was dead but if…

My face shot up with shock but I quickly put it down from the blinding light.

"Where do you think you are going?" The voice asked me.

I shrugged, "I want to leave,"

Her melodious voice laughed and I felt myself relax from the tone.

"You can't leave. You have a destiny and mission to become moon Maiden."

I tensed again, "Everybody keeps reminding me. I don't want to be a moon anything,"

"It's not a choice you can choose from," the moon goddess voice was hard as it reached my ears, "You have been chosen to be one and as thus, you cannot leave the kingdom,"

My eyes widened, and I took a step back, "No, that can't be. Do you know what I have had to endure today? You caused this, you couldn't let me have this one day for myself. I have trained and trained for this day just to have it ripped away from me," I yelled.

My breath cut off and I took a deep breath to keep me from spiraling. This was unbelievable.

I glared at the moon goddess, "This is all your plan? Using The Mate Games to run a scam to solely target women."

"No," she said.

"Then why me? You know how much being a warrior matters to me. I have dreamed of this moment and your mark made me a laughing stock in front of everyone today," tears dropped from my eyes as I said this.

"Please my child, I didn't do this to hurt you. I can never hurt any of my children," she pleaded.

I felt the scream building up in my throat but I couldn't voice it out, my throat was dry and it was hurting.

I channeled the rage to my body and flew at the barrier, clawing at it and crying at the same time."Please, stop hurting yourself," the goddess pleaded. From the sound of her voice, it looked like she was moved to tears.

I kept scratching and hitting the barrier, feeling the electricity travel up my arms, hurting me but my sheer will to escape this place was stronger than ever.

Her voice faded into the background, nothing existed for me anymore except my way out from this hell hole.

My freedom.

Darkness enveloped my vision and I stumbled when my legs gave out under me. The last thing I saw was the ground before I collapsed into unconsciousness.