Chapter 3

I was busy admiring the beauty of the full moon when I heard the sound of a vehicle. I don't know who was it because the headlights were turned off. Like a sneaky thief on a dark night, it parked near the shed where the wolf cubs live which is just few meters away from our cabin.

The person opened the door on the driver's seat and got off the truck. There I saw a familiar figure of a man hurriedly entered the shed.

Seeing Hector acting like that, I feel intrigued. Recently, he's been acting suspicious doing things that I don't know and going out in the middle of the night. Since I have no better things to do, I thought of a great idea to ease my boredom.

I silently went outside to ensure that Hector won't caught me. I purposely drape my shirt with mud before sneak in the back of the truck while Hector's still inside the shed. The wolf cubs have sensitive smell so to be safe I needed to bluff them.

I hid inside the cover and waited for Hector to come out. My heart is beating so fast! I feel nervous but at the same time excited. This is not the first time I tried to sneak out but it's been so many years since the last one.

That was just one time but Hector got so furious when I entered the woods alone. I was caught on the net the hunters set to trap a game. The villagers sent a search team to find me and said to have found me sleeping soundly while hanging on a tree inside a net.

Maybe it was because of exhaustion after crying and the calming feeling of the forest that I ended up sleeping my fears away. It was quite odd that I love the feeling inside the forest and was not that afraid of the creatures living there. Perhaps because I've gotten used to living with the wolf cubs.

From then on he never let me step foot inside the woods. Whether or not he's with me. Telling me that I have no sense of danger. That was the reason I can only admire the view of the forest from atop the tree in my secret spot. Nah--- it's not a secret anymore since I was rescued there earlier when I fell.

Moments later I heard footsteps. Hector is talking but I couldn't hear his exact words. He opened the door of the rear seat and closed it after. I tried to have quick peak and saw my babies inside.

Hector went to the driver's seat and started the engine.

Where is he taking the wolf cubs?

I thought to myself. Then the truck started moving. The surrounding immediately envelope in darkness and the only source of light was the moon shining brightly throughout the forest.

We entered deeper into the woods. It was so quiet and eerie. I could hear the sound of the crickets and occasional tweets of birds accompanied by my heartbeat.

My body shivered in the cold breeze.

Damn it! I forgot to wear thick clothes.

As we go on deeper I could hear the howling of wolves which made me feel more doubtful if this was good idea. I don't know how deep we are in the woods now but I could definitely tell that this is somewhere in beyond what a hunter would venture!

The car stopped in the middle of nowhere. After hearing Hector and the cubs walk far from the truck, I propped my head to see where we are.

My mouth instantly made an "o" shape. I was in awe when I saw the place.

The place is like a nature fortress with tall trees and the fireflies looked like christmas lights circling around them.

There was like a man-made stone formation where the moon shines the brightest. On its side was a waterfall. The clear water was sparkling under the moonlight and I could see the reflection of the full moon even from afar. Wow! It was a sight to behold!

I started scolding Hector in my head.

How can he hide a place like this to me! It's so beautiful! I thought nature channels are just exaggerating whenever they say that hidden places like these are healing and they were just editing stuffs to bluff people. But I never knew such place really exist. It was breathtaking and I could really feel my soul healing.

I was taken back to reality when I heard a wolf howling.

My eyes scan the area to look for Hector and the cubs to see where they are. I saw them at the center of the place standing a few meters below the stone formation. Quickly, people wearing cloaks like Hector's carrying torches gathered together with them.

They were followed by wolf cubs that somehow familiar to me. They were a bit smaller compared to the wolf cubs I am raising.

I have a strange feeling about this. These people look like cults and Hector is with them!

I want to leave but I don't know the way to go back. I was also thorn between wanting to see how things will unfold and wanting to grab my babies out of there!

Don't tell me they're gonna sacrifice the cubs!?

My mind immediately got terrified by the idea. I have seen this kind of things on movies. They do blood sacrifices to summon demons or evil things! Shit!

Is this why there were no adult wolves even if they were raising so many of them? Is Hector part of an evil cult? So am I gonna be a member too? I felt goosebumps thinking about it.

I'm practically shaking and getting anxious. I don't know if it's because I just watch too many dark movies that I got influenced by them.

One by one the people wearing cloaks took them off. And right that instant I swear I saw the people I mingle with everyday. I can't be mistaken!

What shocked me was someone standing on top of the stone formation wearing a white piece of textile drape on her body was a person who just made me my meal earlier!

Is this the important matter she needed to attend?

Damn it! Is this a village of cultist?

My gosh!

I cursed under my breath. All this time I'm living with them. Am I the only person who has no idea about what's going on?

A sudden idea flashed inside my head. I remember in the movies they usually use a virgin girl in a sacrifice right?

I look at Eleonor. I shook my head. No, she's not. She previously had a husband. There's no way they never done it. I tried to convince myself.

Shit!

I instinctively hugged my body. Are they going to sacrifice me? Did Hector take me here to be the virgin sacrifices!?

I screamed inside my head. I think I'm going to be insane with all the crazy ideas I'm thinking.

But contrary to my worries, something crazier happened.

The cubs gathered in a circle formation and started howling. Eleonor raise both her arms while holding a round shiny object while muttering something I couldn't hear. The people clasp their hands and copied her.

It feels like a ritual not just bloody. So I was a bit comforted by that thought.

Just when I was beginning to be a little relax, the object on Eleonor's hand started to shine reflecting the moonlight's grace that has already bloom to its peak.

The light was directed to where the cubs are. My heart was pounding heavily like a dog was running after me waiting what will happen next.

They served the cubs with live preys which they immediately pounce on. They didn't let go of it until it stopped breathing.

Blood ooze from the mouth. They look like beasts hungry for kill. I saw the wolf cubs I always play with. Their blood stained faces made me shudder. Due to the time I spend with them I nearly forgot that these guys are predators. Right, this is how they naturally are. They kill their preys ruthlessly, Ayesha.

To think I even say it wasn't anything bloody. I laugh bitterly.

The look on their eyes changed. There's no more softness and naivety like puppies. Their dark aura screams power and danger. Is this why Hector never let them taste meat and just feed them with milk?

The sound of howling reverberated throughout the forest. And the next moment a sight that struck the living hell out of me began to display.

What on earth is going on here?!

A big majestic white wolf appeared and is now standing at the top of the stone formation where Eleonor was previously standing. Towering over the now shifting people one after another.

What am I? Who am I? What did I just see?!

I heard a cracking of bones and the humanoid figures of the people I knew started to change into big four-legged creatures.

I tried to look for Hector but instead of a face I grew up seeing, I saw a huge canine with dark brown fur. His eyes were like glowing green orbs looking intently at the growling cubs.

The cracking sound continued, some are whimpering in pain. My eyes landed on my cubs-- no, I don't even know if they're really normal cubs!

After series of painful sounds, the air began to envelope with a chilly atmosphere. The cubs are nowhere near their previous stunted state.

A new batch of huge canines emerge and at the center are a few wolfs with a fur I am very familiar with.

The brothers gave a domineering aura making the othera instinctively cower in fear. The dangerous air around them was suffocating. The fluffy ball of clouds I used to tease and ruffle are nowhere to be found. My system can only scream danger from seeing these predators.

Right now I'm not the person who raise them. I'm nothing but a prey.

The sight was something no one would believe even if I tell them. Damn! I don't even know if I will still be alive to tell a tale!

I wish this was just a dream but I know this is real. My knees grew weak and numb but I can't just stay here!

There a freaking loads of wolves out there! I won't even fit the gap of their teeth even if they catch me and eat me!