Chapter Seven

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over Lamine City as the tension within the pack's borders thickened. Carly was back in the maid quarters, nursing her bruises and silently cursing the day she was born. She had grown accustomed to the harsh treatment from Tina and the other maids, but something about tonight felt different. Carly sensed a shift in the air—a darker presence looming on the horizon.

Meanwhile, Alpha Terry stood on the balcony of his grand home, his eyes scanning the dense forest surrounding the pack's territory. His thoughts were troubled. Word had reached him about Andrew, the beast that had devoured almost every pack in Ramine City, and was now heading toward Lamine City. The threat was real, and it was only a matter of time before Andrew arrived at their doorstep.

Terry's mind wandered to Carly, the slave who had caused so much tension in his household. Despite his harsh words to Tina, there was something about Carly that intrigued him, something that made him protective of her, even though he tried to deny it. But now, with the threat of Andrew looming, he had to focus on the safety of his pack.

Inside, Carly sat in a corner of the maid quarters, trying to make herself as small as possible. The other maids had retreated to their beds, but Carly couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about Terry's words earlier. *She already knows she's a useless slave.* The words cut deep, but what hurt more was the realization that, deep down, she had hoped he might care for her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Carly’s heart raced as she quietly stood up and tiptoed to the door. Opening it cautiously, she found herself face-to-face with a young boy, no older than twelve. He looked terrified, his wide eyes darting around nervously.

"Please, miss, you have to help me," he whispered urgently.

Carly knelt to his level, her heart pounding in her chest. "What’s wrong? What happened?"

"Andrew," the boy whispered, his voice trembling. "He’s coming. He’s already here, in the forest. My father saw him, and he sent me to warn everyone."

Carly's blood ran cold. She grabbed the boy's hand and quickly led him inside, shutting the door behind them. She had to warn Alpha Terry, but how? She was just a slave. Would he even listen to her?

The boy tugged on her sleeve, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Please, miss. My father said we have to hide."

Carly nodded, her mind racing. She couldn’t just hide—she had to do something. With the boy in tow, she hurried through the dark corridors of the pack house, making her way to Terry’s quarters. She could hear the sound of her heart pounding in her ears as she approached his door.

She hesitated for a moment before knocking softly. There was no response. She knocked again, louder this time.

“What do you want?” Terry's voice was gruff, but Carly could tell he was awake.

“It’s urgent, Alpha. Please, you need to listen,” Carly said, her voice trembling with fear and desperation.

There was a moment of silence before the door creaked open. Terry stood there, his expression a mix of annoyance and curiosity.

“What is it?” he asked, his tone impatient.

“Andrew, the beast… he’s here, in the forest,” Carly blurted out. “This boy, his father saw him.”

Terry’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the boy, who was clutching Carly’s hand. “Is this true?” he asked the boy.

The boy nodded vigorously. “Yes, Alpha. My father said he saw him. He told me to come and warn everyone.”

Terry’s face hardened as he processed the information. Without another word, he turned and headed down the hall, barking orders to the guards as he went.

Carly watched him go, her heart still racing. She felt a strange mix of fear and relief. Fear for what was to come, and relief that Terry had taken her seriously.

The boy tugged on her hand again. “Miss, what do we do now?”

Carly knelt down beside him, trying to keep her voice steady. “We wait. Alpha Terry will protect us.”

But deep down, she wasn’t sure if anyone could protect them from the terror that was Andrew.

In the forest, Andrew moved silently, his massive form blending with the shadows. His eyes glowed with an unnatural light as he surveyed the pack’s territory. The scent of fear was thick in the air, and it excited him. He relished the thought of tearing through the pack, destroying everything in his path.

He had been hunting for so long, driven by an insatiable hunger that could never be satisfied. He was a creature of pure evil, and no amount of bloodshed could ever sate his thirst.

As he crept closer to the pack’s borders, he spotted a group of guards patrolling the perimeter. A wicked smile curled his lips as he prepared to strike. They had no idea what was coming.

Back in the pack house, Terry gathered his top warriors and prepared for battle. He knew they were outnumbered, but he refused to back down. This was his territory, and he would defend it with everything he had.

Carly and the boy were taken to a secure room in the basement, where several other women and children had already gathered. The air was thick with fear and tension, but Carly did her best to remain calm for the boy’s sake.

The silence in the room was deafening. Carly could hear the muffled sounds of battle above them—the clash of metal, the snarls of wolves, and the cries of the wounded. She hugged the boy tightly, praying that Terry and the others would be able to stop Andrew before it was too late.

But then, the door to the basement burst open, and a group of warriors rushed in, their faces pale with terror.

“He’s broken through the defenses! Everyone, we need to move now!” one of them shouted.

Panic erupted in the room as the women and children scrambled to their feet. Carly grabbed the boy’s hand and followed the warriors out of the basement, her heart pounding in her chest.

They were led through a series of dark tunnels beneath the pack house, the sound of battle growing fainter with each step. Carly could hardly see where she was going, but she held onto the boy tightly, determined not to lose him in the chaos.

Finally, they emerged in the forest, far from the pack house. The warriors led them to a hidden cave where they would be safe, at least for the time being.

Carly collapsed to the ground, her body trembling with exhaustion and fear. She pulled the boy into her arms, trying to comfort him even as her own mind raced with worry. She didn’t know what had happened to Terry or the others, but she feared the worst.

As the night wore on, the group huddled together in the cave, their ears straining to hear any sounds of pursuit. But the forest remained eerily silent, and Carly wondered if that meant Andrew had already won.

The first light of dawn began to filter through the trees. The warriors kept watch at the entrance to the cave, their eyes scanning the forest for any sign of movement.

Finally, one of them turned to Carly and the others. “We need to move again. It’s not safe here.”

The group reluctantly rose to their feet, preparing to follow the warriors deeper into the forest. Carly felt a deep sense of dread as they left the cave behind. She knew that no matter how far they ran, they could never truly escape the terror that was Andrew.

As they made their way through the forest, Carly couldn’t help but think about Terry. Despite everything, she found herself hoping that he had somehow survived the battle. But deep down, she feared that he hadn’t. She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew one thing for certain—her life would never be the same.

The group continued their journey in silence, the weight of their fear pressing down on them like a heavy shroud. Carly’s thoughts were a jumble of emotions—fear, sadness, anger, and a flicker of hope that refused to be extinguished.

As they trekked through the dense forest, Carly kept a firm grip on the boy’s hand, his presence a small comfort in the midst of the chaos. She didn’t know what they would do next, but she knew she couldn’t give up. She had to keep going, for herself and for the boy.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the group finally stopped to rest by a small stream. The warriors took turns keeping watch, their eyes scanning the forest for any sign of danger.

Carly sat by the water’s edge, her thoughts racing. She knew they couldn’t keep running forever. They had to find a way to stop Andrew, or they would never be safe.

But how could they fight a creature as powerful as Andrew? Carly didn’t have the answer, but she knew they had to try. For the sake of the pack, for the sake of everyone who had already been lost, they had to find a way to defeat him.

As the group prepared to move on, Carly stood up, determination hardening her resolve. She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew one thing—she wouldn’t give up. She would fight for her life, for the boy’s life, and for the pack’s future.

And as they set off deeper into the forest, Carly felt hopeful she knew They weren’t alone. They still had each other, and as long as they did, there was a chance they could survive this nightmare.