Chapter Six

The woods stretched ahead, a labyrinth of towering trees and dappled sunlight. I tread cautiously, my heart pounding with each step. Maximo and Felix's hurried departure fueled my curiosity and worry. Something was amiss, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to find out.

Who is the Rivertide Pack? What happened to them? I wanted to know! I could not live like this knowing that I married a next-in-line Alpha and I have no clue about how his world works!

I may be a human but I am also a wolf. I still have a place in his world.

Despite the tension and crying I had earlier, my curiosity weighs heavy.

Since I drove with Maximo back home, my car is left at Heart and Heath's place. I booked an Uber and the driver dropped me off at the edge of the woods, and I pressed on, determination lending strength to my legs.

The forest floor was a carpet of fallen leaves, muffling my steps. His car is also outside this forest so I am sure he's just around here.

As I ventured deeper, an eerie calm settled over me. The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, casting intricate patterns on the ground. It was strangely serene, belying the tension I sensed in the air.

My pace quickened, driven by a mix of concern and the fear of losing them. I realized that I have no werewolf instincts to guide me, only my determination to see this through.

I had to know what was happening.

After thirty minutes of walking, and then I found something – a pile of clothes discarded haphazardly on the forest floor. I recognized them as Maximo's and Felix's.

"These are the clothes they were wearing," I murmured to myself.

My heart raced, and the realization hit me like a punch to the gut.

They had shifted into their werewolf forms.

The idea absorbs inside and I panic a little. I haven't seen Maximo in his werewolf form. Can I recognize him?

I continued walking while clutching Maximo's clothes on my left arm.

Every rustle of leaves was a whisper in the symphony of nature, and every step I took felt like a cautious note in that melody.

My forehead furrowed when I noticed a figure, almost imperceptible amidst the undergrowth, moving with a slow, almost agonizing crawl. My heart quickened, a mix of fear and concern coursing through me.

"Hello?" I called.

There is someone in there!

I couldn't just leave someone in need, even in this unfamiliar and dangerous place.

As I drew closer, my breath caught. A man lay before me, naked and bathed in his own blood. My instincts screamed at me to retreat, to protect myself, but my compassion overrode the fear. I crouched down beside him, my voice is soft but steady.

"Hey, are you alright?"

His gaze met mine, his eyes a mix of caution and pain. His voice was weak, but there was a flicker of relief as he spoke. "I've had caught up into something." He whispered with heavy breathing.

I had no experience with wounds or injuries, but I couldn't just stand by.

I glanced at Maximo's clothes clutched in my hands, a makeshift bandage in this dire situation. With a determined nod, I started tearing the fabric into strips, my fingers trembling.

"I found some clothes. Let me help you."

His eyes remained fixed on me, his gaze unwavering as I worked. Every touch of the makeshift bandage made him flinch, a sharp inhale escaping his lips. I tried to be as gentle as I could, but it was clear that the pain was excruciating.

"You don't have to do this," he murmured, his voice a mix of gratitude and wariness.

I met his gaze, my determination unwavering. "I can't just leave you like this. What happened?" Trying to fish for information about him.

Is he a human? Or a werewolf too? I wanted to ask but I am afraid to make nasty remarks when I am not even sure about this person.

He hesitated, his gaze flickering away. "It's... complicated."

As the makeshift bandage took shape, I offered a small, comforting smile. "Well, I've got time. We're in the middle of nowhere, and I'm not in a hurry to leave you like this."

His lips quirked the barest hint of a smile. "You're... different."

I finished tying the bandage, my gaze meeting his once more. "Different how?"

He looked at me, his gaze intense. "Most people would have run. Or worse, taken advantage of the situation. But you... you're helping a stranger."

I shrugged a mix of self-consciousness and determination in my voice. "It's the right thing to do." I sighed. "Besides, I am looking for someone in here. Do you know this place?"

His gaze softened, gratitude mingling with pain. "Thank you. B-But I don't know anyone here. I just got out of track and then I fell." He said.

Liar. You've got scratches on your chest. It did not look like you fell. I wanted to say but I just rose to my feet, glancing around as if realizing my mission anew. "I should find my someone. He's in trouble, and I need to help him."

He nodded, his expression serious. "Be careful out there."

With one last look at the injured man, I took a deep breath and set off once again, Maximo's clothes stained with blood but wrapped tightly around the stranger's wounds. As I ventured deeper into the woods, my determination burned brighter.

I continued forward, stepping into a clearing. And that's when I heard it – rough, guttural movements in the distance. My breath caught in my throat, and I instinctively crouched low, my heart pounding even harder.

The realization hit me like a freight train – I had stumbled onto Rivertide Pack's territory. Panic clawed at my chest. I was an intruder in a world I didn't understand, surrounded by werewolves I couldn't possibly defend against.

A sudden rustling behind me, and I whirled around just in time to see a werewolf lunging at me.

"Ahhhh!"

Fear rooted me to the spot, my scream piercing the air as the world turned into a chaotic blur.

Then, like a hurricane, a full white werewolf stormed into the clearing. Its presence was a whirlwind of rage and power.

I slumped down on the ground, shaking.

I almost lost my life, what the hell?

My eyes darted back at the furry animal in front of me as it fought with another batch of wild wolves who wanted to attack me.

The wolves scattered, realizing the grave mistake they had made. The white wolf's growl was a symphony of fury, his eyes blazing gold as he scanned the area.

And then his gaze landed on me.

"Maximo..."

I knew it was him. I can feel it. It's Maximo!

I felt a shiver down my spine as Maximo's gaze met mine. The sheer intensity of his anger and concern held me captive. But it was also a reassurance – I wasn't alone in this dangerous world.

"Maximo!" I finally screamed his name, very close to crying.

He moved towards me in a blur while the wild wolves that dared to approach him met a swift and brutal end. He was a force of nature, a true alpha defending his territory and those he cared about.

Despite the chaos around us, Maximo managed to reach me, his body wrapping around me protectively. I buried my face in his chest, feeling the rapid thud of his heart beneath his fur.

I was safe – at least for now.

As the clash of claws and fangs continued, Maximo's voice rumbled in my ear. "Stay behind me. I won't let them touch you."

I nodded, my grip on his clothes tightening. This was a world of danger and unpredictability, but in Maximo's arms, I felt a glimmer of safety.

While the seemingly endless fight continued, a woman holding a sword ran towards our direction. I was ready to run from her when she went straight to Maximo.

"We have lost Harper. He was bathed with blood already but he managed to escape."

"Fuck that traitor!" Maximo exclaimed.

"But I found something from the near distance," the woman continued and she raised a familiar ring in the air to show it to Maximo.

"This ring. Maybe he owns this, but there is an unfamiliar emblem."

Maximo looks at me as soon as he sees the ring from the woman's hold.

"Give that to me,"

"Yes, Alpha."

That's our wedding ring.