Chapter 2

The air hung heavy as I drove away from the party. Deep down, I knew this was a terrible idea. I should have stayed indoors, perhaps focused on training or delving into research to find a way to end the werewolves. However, against my better judgment, I succumbed to Lola's insistence. It wasn't her fault; I couldn't blame her. It was all the werewolves' fault, and that's precisely why I had to put an end to this. Clenching the steering wheel, I accelerated into the city, heading towards the one place that offered solace – home.

Upon arriving, I slipped into the house but froze at the sound of my mom's gentle sobs.

"I'm sorry; I promised I wasn't going to cry," she confessed, wiping away her tears.

"It's okay, honey," my dad consoled her. "We have to be strong for her."

My chest felt constricted, as if I couldn't breathe. I couldn't let them see me in this vulnerable state. Quietly, I slipped away, stumbling upon something as I did. Looking up, I sighed in relief that my parents hadn't heard me. Looking down, I found those wretched black roses. Why did he always find a way to affect me like this? I picked up the rose and hastily left.

As I drove towards my destination, a sense of terrible unease enveloped me. I loathed him—loathed him intensely. He made me feel as if I were suffocating. I needed air. Swiftly, I got out of my car and ran, refusing to stop until my breath caught up with me. Standing in the heart of the forest, I decided to release the pent-up frustration within me. My screams echoed in the desolate woods.

"I've had enough!" I yelled into the emptiness.

"Why don't you face me?"

"Show that foolish face of yours," I demanded, but met with silence. Of course, there was no response; what had I expected? Turning to depart, I caught the rustle of leaves. Bas? I thought, only to be disappointed by the appearance of three different faces before me.

"It's foolish to wander the forest at this hour," declared the guy in the middle.

Werewolves, I thought.

"Look at what we have here," he said as he approached.

I stared into his eyes, refusing to back down.

"Quite the confident one," he smirked. "It's a shame you won't live to see another day," he added, his eyes glowing under the moonlight.

I couldn't die like this, not until I witnessed these monsters perish.

"You can't kill me," I asserted, laughing. They all looked shocked.

"Says who?" the other werewolf questioned.

I slowly lowered my gown sleeve, revealing the mark on my left arm.

"She's Marked," the lady stated.

I smirked at the middle guy; I could see the pain and humiliation in his eyes. Among the terrible things, that was the only perk of being marked – immunity to death by any other werewolf, except the one who marked you.

"I guess I will live to see another day," I said with a smile.

As I turned to leave, the middle guy quickly appeared in front of me, blocking my view.

"Where do you think you're going?" he snarled, revealing his sharp fangs.

"Joe, what are you doing?" the other werewolves asked in surprise.

"Just teaching her a lesson," he replied, grabbing me by the neck and lifting me up. I gasped for breath, finding it hard to breathe.

"Joe, that's enough!" the female werewolf intervened.

"You could kill her," the other one warned, but their words fell on deaf ears.

I fought desperately against his vice-like grip, but his strength prevailed. The ominous reality of impending death loomed over me; my very existence teetered on the edge. As the struggle continued, a surge of unparalleled force sent me hurtling to the forest floor. The impact jarred my senses, leaving me disoriented and gasping for air.

Amid the disarray, I saw Joe, flung to the far reaches of the woodland, his form disappearing into the shadows. The sudden violent expulsion raised questions in my mind, but my weakened state hindered me from comprehending the unfolding events.

A deafening bang echoed through the forest, reverberating in the air like a tempest's roar. It signaled the entrance of an unknown presence, one that instilled fear even in the hearts of the other werewolves. Though my curiosity yearned to identify this mysterious savior, my body betrayed me, succumbing to the overpowering fatigue.

The world around me dimmed as my eyes fluttered, weighed down by weariness.

My eyes hesitantly fluttered open, greeted by the muted hues of an unfamiliar room. The soft glow from an unknown light source painted the surroundings with an eerie yet intriguing ambiance. Confusion surged through me as I struggled to place myself in this unfamiliar setting. This certainly wasn't my room, and a sense of disorientation washed over me like a haunting mist.

As my vision gradually adapted to the ambient light, I meticulously examined the room, searching for any clues that might reveal my location. A pained groan escaped my lips as I gingerly placed a hand on my throbbing head, memories of the recent werewolf encounter flooding back – mysterious figures, a desperate struggle, and then, an abrupt descent into darkness.

The realization struck me like a bolt of lightning. If there were werewolves involved, I couldn't dismiss the possibility of lingering danger. Wincing in pain, I carefully rose from the bed, my gaze sweeping the room for any object that could serve as a makeshift weapon. The soft glow illuminated a snow globe resting on the bed frame, and I limped towards it with cautious determination.

Stepping out of the room, the air thickened with tension, my senses on high alert. Every subtle sound or movement sent shivers down my spine, and as footsteps approached, I instinctively rushed behind the door, clutching the snow globe tightly. The anticipation of impending danger hung in the air.

The footsteps drew nearer, echoing in the quiet space. Bracing myself, I prepared for a potential attack. Raising the snow globe, I aimed it at the stranger's back. In a surprising and swift motion, I found myself forcefully pressed against the wall, my hands held captive by a compelling force. The snow globe slipped from my grasp, its gentle bounce on the floor reverberating through the room.

Slowly lifting my eyes, I was met with a piercing gaze – those unmistakable gray eyes. A complex dance of emotions unfolded within me as the realization hit like a crashing wave – Bas.