Chapter seven.

The two didn't come back until the moon was up. Reeking of sweat and blood.

"What happened?" Leona narrows her eye at the two.

"We ran into a rouge den." Royce sweeps a hand through his hair.

A rouge den?

"Is that why you are late?" Ruby scowls, not a single shred of worry on her face. "Hurry. Bring the meat over."

She then turns to me. "Ivy. Cook."

"Ah....okay."

"If you need help," Darius says, but Leona cuts in.

"I will help."

"Th—thanks." I think I should reject her, but I am scared.

Don't blame me. Werewolves are very scary creatures.

So the rest goes in, leaving just me and her.

Uhhhh...is she going to keep staring at me?

I cough awkwardly. "I will start now." Lord, she is still staring. I look around, and then an idea pops up in my head after seeing the burned-out fire. "Can you help me, please? Create another fire. To cook it."

It takes almost half a minute before she gives a response. "I can."

"Okay. Thanks." I use my hand to blow myself.

I am sweating. Is it because of the coat?

★★★★★★

Less than an hour later.

"It's ready!! It's ready!!" Darius, who is squatting next to me, cheers excitedly.

The joy on his face is totally on another level.

"Hah...." Ruby takes a deep breath before walking out. "Yes. This is definitely something I can eat."

"It smells nice, Ivy." Royce says, taking a seat.

"I think I saw some plates inside; I will—"

"I will go get it." Darius and Royce move at the same time. Returning in a flash.

"O—kay. Thank." I serve everyone. Then for myself.

"Hah..this tastes nice." Royce moans loudly.

Ruby gives him a disapproving glare, and his mouth clamps shut.

Cute!!

***************

Werewolves may be very scary, but they are also equally amazing.

Using average speed, I calculated that I would journey for about 6 days before reaching the nearest city. But going with Ruby's team—I mean, after getting a free ride—we arrived at night.

It felt so cool, almost as if I were flying. I have never been so jealous about not being a werewolf as I am right now.

Didn't they say the father's genes were more dominant, or was Alpha Luke the problem?

Anyway. The ground quakes under me as I climb off Kane's back, using one hand to massage my aching temples.

Lord, I feel dizzy.

"Are you alright?" Kane places a supporting hand behind my back.

"I am fine." I breathed out. That was really too fast. "Thank you."

Since werewolves were fast runners, Kane carried me. 

"Weak." Ruby scowls, folding her arms under her bosom. "Now that you are here, what are you going to do next?"

I kick my feet on the ground, saying it sincerely. "I don't know. I guess I will travel around and explore new places." for the less than 30 days I have left. 

"Why don't you come with us?" Darius says to me, and Ruby gives him a glare. "hut up." They are really fun. I would really love to spend some more time with them, but I am afraid that I might get used to it.

Shaking my head, I smile once more. "Thanks a lot for your help. It would have taken more time to get here without your help."

"It was nothing much." Ruby and Mutas.

"Ah, still, thanks a lot, you people. Okay, then. Goodbye." I strap my bag to my back, giving it a light wave.

"Wait!" I hear Ruby's voice after the count of four steps.

She walks up to me, pulling me by my backpack, so I am facing her. "Do you even have any money on you?"

 Money? Oh, "I don't."

"Stupid. How are you supposed to survive without money? Even I, a Lycan, would know that." She scolds.

I don't have money, but I was planning on selling some of my mom's jewelry. I am not that dumb.

"Here." She unzips my bag, throws something inside, zips it back up, then pushes me away. "Now go."

"Ah, thanks?" What did she put in my bag?

"Hurry and go find a hotel or something. It's late."

"Yes, yes" I walk away, but it is hard to resist the urge to turn around, and when I do, I see nobody. They are gone. 

"Ah, kind werewolves. I will remember this." until the day I die.

♦♦♦♦♦

 Change in POV

"Can I really not keep her?" Ruby says

"She is not a pet princess." Kane addresses her carefully. "You will be enslaving her."

"I know, I know." She waves him off, her lips ticking up in annoyance. "And where is that bastard? Are we supposed to wait for him with something?"

"Princess, can you not speak like that?" Darius warns in a small voice. "He will surely be mad if he hears that."

The Lycan princess gives him a glance to say, And I look like I care?

"Can we not go inside first?" Royce asks. And they all gave a silent agreement.

"Leona" Ruby calls. The female warrior responded to the unspoken order.

Breaking apart the old chains used to lock the gates with one hard flick, she pushes them open, the old clicking sound sharp against the midnight breeze.

It is one of the villas that belongs to the royal family. They have one or two in almost every city.

The villa looks old and "dirty." Ruby wrinkles her nose, walking directly inside the building.

Unlike the exterior, the inside was kept neat and tidy. 

And there he was—the person they were waiting for. Chilling with a bottle of expensive wine.

"Brother?" Ruby's eyes go around. "You are here?"

"You didn't expect to see the bastard so soon, did you?" The snarl on his handsome face did nothing but enhance his attractiveness. Eyes curled wickedly.

"I…I…" Ruby knows not to anger him.

"You're back!" Cain's voice came just in time to save her.

"Hmmm. I didn't like the pack, and the alpha looked shitty, so I ditched them." He took a sip from his wine glass. "By the way, why do you smile like that?"

"Me?" Ruby points at herself, and Cain frowns.

Emiliano totally ignores her. Eyes pinned on his friend. "How do I smell?" Kane questions.

"Sweet. Very nice. Almost like—"

"Cinnamon." Ruby speaks at the same time and then stares at him with complicated eyes.

★★★★★

"Ah, so this is what the city looks like." I gaze at the big buildings and many stores.

There's so much more than I thought or ever expected. In all my life, I have never stepped past the pack borders. I mean, not many people have... You can't go out without Alpha's permission, which is really not nice.

"I feel like I can walk all day and not get tired." I say this to the little tiger on my shoulder. There's so much to see. "I wonder how it will look when it's daylight."

"Hey, you, little girl." A voice comes from behind me and I halt.

Is someone calling me?

I turn around to see three, no, four men walking towards me. They look dangerous, with eyes glinting with malice.

Why do I have the bad luck of always running into werewolves?

"Look here, pretty girl. Where are you off to? Let uncle take care of you."

"I don't know you, and I don't want to talk to you. Can you please go away?" I say it in refusal.

"Ahaha, look at her. Oh, darling, are you scared?" The one with a scar says, swiping a tongue over his lips.

"Oh, don't be scared. You shouldn't be scared. We're just going to play a little. I'm sure you'll like it, too." Another one adds.

Something feels wrong about this. I am not that dumb.

They don't really look like good people. I back up, while at the same time knowing that I really won't be able to escape.

After living with them for so long, I, of all people, know that it is impossible to escape a werewolf.

What do I do? What do I do? My thoughts ran in circles.

The little tiger wakes up from my shoulder, jumping to the ground. It growls at them threateningly.

Oh no!!

"Quiet, don't make them more mad." I quickly snatched it up, cuddling it to my chest.

The first man grabs my hand and starts pulling me towards a dark corner.

"Let go. Let go of me." I shout, panic rising.

I throw a kick, fighting against the pull. "Let me go, you bad man. Leave me alone."

"Hahaha." They laugh evilly, looking just like the devil's. "Don't be scared."

I am so scared.

I tumble to the ground when he releases my wrist all of a sudden. Glancing up with wide eyes.

The man has his eyes open wide while he stares at nothing. Blood was pouring out of his mouth.

The two red eyes in the darkness behind him let out a cruel chuckle. "Didn't you hear her asking you to let go?"

Who is it? My Savior, another devil? Or worst?

I look around. The other men are dead too, their limbs twisted in awkward positions.

Did he do that too?

It isn't my first time seeing so much blood. It can be said that I am already used to it. I have seen it a lot, back at the pack. 

You wouldn't know how easily people can die.

He stalks towards me, and I can only stare, paralyzed.

When he gets to where I am, he kneels, staring into my eyes. "MATE."

"I REJECT YOU." The words come out of my mouth before my brain can register, and the world turns black in the next second.