CHAPTER 6

My lips trembled as I hobbled into the dense, dark forest, the excruciating pain in my ankle almost unbearable. My heart raced, and the distant howl behind me sent shivers down my spine. Panic surged within me as I recognized the sound – it was him.

The moon had risen, its light piercing through the dense canopy of trees. A peculiar thought crossed my mind: if only I could shift, this ordeal might become less agonizing. Limping felt so utterly helpless. The awareness that he would inevitably track me down grew stronger, compelling me to take action swiftly, if I did not want to get caught.

Soon, my ears picked up the sound of several howls, and my heart raced even faster. How fast were they? I wondered as I made my way further into the forest. Finally, I found a cave just ahead and quickly, I headed straight for it. As soon as I got to the cave, I hid inside, while silently praying to the moon goddess that I shouldn’t be found.

A heavy thud echoed just beyond the cave entrance, and though curiosity tugged at me, fear held my gaze captive. The sickening sound of bones cracking reached my ears, followed by an eerie silence. With a gulp, realization settled in. I braced myself for the truth, desperately wishing for anyone but him to have undergone the transformation.

Unknowingly, my gaze fixated on the ground, where a looming silhouette slowly rose. Each breath grew labored as he started moving towards the very cave I had sought refuge in, sending a surge of panic through me.

With quivering hands and trembling feet, I cautiously grasped a rock. Fear had overridden the pain in my leg. Amidst the deafening rhythm of my heart, the only other sound was the approaching footsteps of the man. Clutching the rock tightly, I mustered the courage to launch it at whoever might step into view, my aim set on protecting myself.

A sudden halt in the man’s movement sent me into a tense stillness. Why had he stopped? Had he sensed my presence? Another shadow emerged, indicating the presence of a second man. Just as I began to speculate whether the first man had signaled his companion, a fierce fight broke out between them.

Before long, the two men’s forms transformed into two fierce wolves. Their snarls filled the air as they lunged and clawed, locked in a ferocious battle. The struggle grew intense, and one wolf pounced onto the other, its claws slashing with aggression. Amidst the splatter of blood, the victorious wolf sank its fangs into the loser’s neck, ending its life. The fallen wolf reverted to human form, now lifeless on the ground. The victorious wolf also shifted back, and my heart raced as it advanced toward me. With bated breath, I raised my hand, preparing to hurl the rock.

“I’m not here to hurt you.” He assured, and from his voice, I could tell he was a man in his forties.

I didn’t respond or feel relaxed. I couldn’t possibly trust a killer. He kept walking, and as he approached me and stood directly in front of me, my body moved on its own, and I hurled the rock straight at his head.

He instinctively tilted his head to the side, and the rock fell a few meters behind him. His jaw ticked, and he sighed as he locked eyes with me. I could barely see his face as the cave was pretty much dark. I grabbed another rock and threw it and this time, he caught it.

“What do you think you are doing?” he questioned while I just stared at him, not knowing what to say. “I’m not your enemy. He is. He tried to kill you, and I saved your life. The least you could do is thank me and not throw stones at me.” He complained, his voice lacking even the slightest hint of guilt.

Suddenly, a wave of fatigue washed over me. I lost my balance and fell onto my knees, one hand touching the floor. I had been running for hours, my leg badly injured. My eyelids grew heavy, and it became hard to keep my eyes open.

“Are you okay?”

At that moment, I could faintly hear his voice. I lifted my head to catch a glimpse of him, but everything appeared as a blur. With the adrenaline wearing off, the pain in my leg surged, and before I realized it, I surrendered to the darkness.

***

I opened my eyes briefly, immediately closing them to shield myself from the bright light. After a moment, I cautiously opened them again to allow my eyes to adjust. Overwhelmed with fatigue and hunger, I wondered, “Where am I?” as I glanced around the unfamiliar surroundings.

The room lacked any semblance of luxury. A simple wooden table stood in the corner, while the curtains appeared aged yet surprisingly clean. Glancing downwards, I realized I was still clad in my nightwear, and my leg had been wrapped in a bandage.

I racked my brain to think, and though I remembered everything that had happened last night, I had no idea where I was. Just then, someone walked into the room, with a tray in hand.

“You are awake?”

It was him, the stranger. This time, his face was distinct and clear. His eyes, cold and brown, revealed his identity as a beta wolf, a fact signified by their hue. Only they possessed such eyes, just like Ryan. Patches of gray adorned his head, and curiously, his body seemed unaffected by the passage of time, in contrast to his face. He had an athletic physique, with a chiseled chest enhancing his appearance. On the tray lay an assortment of medical tools, which he moved aside before taking a seat beside me to inspect my bandaged leg.

“Wow, your leg is almost as good as new too.” He said and proceeded to take out the bandage, much to my discomfort. Soon, he replaced it with a new bandage and then glanced at me.

“Are you hungry?”

I nodded, and almost in agreement, my stomach emitted a loud growl. The stranger rose, tray in hand. “Thank you for saving my life,” I managed to utter, causing him to pause right by the door.

“What’s your name, child?” he asked while staring at me, from the corner of his eyes.

“Aurora.” I muttered a reply and he nodded, lost in thought. “Where am I, and how long have I been out?” I inquired as my curiosity overwhelmed me.

“You’ve been unconscious for two days,” he responded, catching me off guard. His answer nearly made my eyes bulge out of their sockets. “You’ll be protected here, within the Blood Howls Pack,” he continued to reassure, but I could only stare at him in utter shock.

“Blood Howls Pack?” I uttered, more to myself than anyone else, struggling to process the information. The reality was, I had never come across that name before, and now been told of it’s existence was overwhelming.

“When you’ve recovered and are able to walk, we’ll head to the pack house to meet the Alpha, Alpha Riel,” he informed, capturing my focus. I remained silent, and he didn’t seem to mind. Without delay, he opened the door and exited the room.