Jupiter's Pov.

I land roughly, I'm on my hands and knees, my wings limp at my side and head bowed. The grass is soft under my hands and the air is crisp in my lungs.

I heave in a breath and it burns but it's my first real breath, the first time in a long time that I have been free. I haven't flown in so long, I missed the utter freedom it brings with it, it's been so long and I have become so unfit although I should have guessed that. I really should have thought this through a little more but I'm finely free. Free to go where I want, when I want and do whatever I want. I haven't been free since I was fourteen and it's the most thrilling feeling ever.

I sit back on my knees and take another deep breath. Ash hadn't stopped me, he could probably see from a mile away what I was going to do and yet he had simply stood there and smirked. He's either on my side or just extremely cocky.

Before I had taken off I had smiled, I felt bad because I have no idea how his uncle will react. I feel bad but I had to leave, I had to get out. So no matter how bad I feel it is behind me now and all I can do is focus on the future.

So with a shuddering breath I push myself up onto shaking legs. I feel so tall, like there is no longer a weight on my shoulders.

But before I have a chance to enjoy it I am suddenly falling forward and it feels like all my problems are crashing back into me. The wind is knocked out of me and the grass is tickling my face. Then I'm being flipped over and there is a weight at my waist and my wrists are pinned above my head. I blink slowly, waiting for my senses righten themselves.

Slowly everything comes into focus. I'm on my back and I'm staring into forest green eyes that seem to be filled with joy and clear cut excitement.

How did he find me? I flew for about two hours, rested for about half an hour then took off again. I landed here and I was gonna start running before he tackled me. So how did he find me? And so quickly?

"H-How?"

A smirk spreads over his face, it's full of cocky pride and it makes me scowl.

"You disappointed me. I have you a head-start and yet you were so easy to catch."

I scowl at him but it doesn't seem to affect him.

"After you took off I went inside and informed my uncle, he had immediately started insisting I go after you right away, but I had insisted on suiting up -" he gestures with one hand to himself "-before coming for you."

I look at him probably, taking in his appearance for the first time. He is still wearing all black but his pants are made of a tight black material, almost like the material of army pants, there is a knife strapped onto the side of his right leg and the hilt of one sticking out of his left boot. He is wearing black leather combat boots and his shirt is a tight spandex like material. It leaves me wondering if he came prepared for a fight.

"T-That doesn't tell me how you found me!"

"I'm a tracker, the best tracker actually."

His voice is full of pride and it makes me wonder why exactly he has worked so hard on this, to be the best.

"Well time to go back princess."

I sigh physically defeated as he hauls me up and gives me a once over.

"You're tired, exhausted."

"Umm, Yeah?"

"You're unfit, that's why you didn't get further."

I nod, a little curious as to where he's going with this.

"How far do you think you will be able to walk?"

"Not far. M-My legs feel like they might give out."

He sighs as he turns around, bending his knees slightly, and looks over his shoulder at me.

"Hop on."

"You want to give me a piggyback?"

He nods and I hesitate for a second, I could run away but I'm sure Ash would tackle me instantly, so I place my hands on his shoulders, I can feel his muscles tighten as he braces himself, then I jump and he catches my legs adjusting just fine to the extra weight.

His back is solid and his arms strong with hidden muscle. I want to stay up straight with my hands on his shoulders but I'm tired so I end up sagging against him, my chest against his back, my arms hanging loosely down his chest and my chin resting on his shoulder.

We walk in silence for a while until I decide to speck up.

"Why are you giving me a piggyback?"

"Because my uncle told me to get you back as soon as possible. Personally I could have gone my whole life without doing this."

His voice seems deeper, almost soothing, now that he is so close and for some reason it sends a shiver down my spine.

Ash's Pov.

I gave her an hour head start, I thought she would have gotten further but then again I didn't count on how unfit she was.

Now that she is on my back I can tell that she is light, too light, which probably means that she is underweight. I know that she had been with those two hunters but for long had they kept her.

"How long were you with those hunters?"

She stiffened and is silent for a while. I don't want to push her, can't push her, not when I can feel the tension in her muscles that my question bought on, it can't be a very pleasant memory.

"About four years."

I nod as all the puzzle pieces fall into place. They would have wanted to keep her a secret, so firstly a small quiet town with no exposure to the outside. They also probably limited her food to keep her weak enough not to put up a fight.

I shake my head slightly and my ears flatten against my head. She turns her head noticing my ears and then lifts her left hand, and starts to rub the tip of my ear between her thumb and index finger.

Suddenly everything comes to a crashing halt, including my feet, my focus zeroing in on that one single touch. Skilled nimble fingers playing with the tip of my ear.

A warmth rushes through me, a deep longing that has always secretly been there but, along with it there is a raw ragged memory that follows it. A memory that carries to much pain, pain that outweighs the longing. A memory of me giving Feyre a piggyback, of us lying in the grass, of us on a couch, in a tree, all with nimble fingers playing with my ears, scratching my ears and ruffling my hair playfully.

I shake my head, trying to rid myself of the memory and she retracts her hand and let's her arm fall loosely against my chest again.

"I'm sorry, it's just your ears looked soft and-"

"It's fine just, please don't."

She looks at me curiously but nods gently as if she can sense in my voice, or maybe she can feel how rigid I have gone.

I start walking again and after a few moments of silence she starts to shift and play with her nails.

I sigh-" What is it Jupiter?"

She seems to hesitate for a second before she specks up.

"It's just that I thought that wolf half-breeds liked their ears being scratched and I thought rubbing their ears was supposed to relax them, so why didn't it work for you?"

"I- uhh- I like it but it also brings back some really painful memories."

"What memories?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

She nods and wraps her arms loosely around me in a kind of hug, in an attempt to comfort me. It brings a small smile to my lips and I focus the rest of my attention on getting back.