Chapter 6

Isabelle's pov

When the long dinner was finally over, I said good night to everyone and went to bed early.

Lying wide awake on the bed until dawn, I couldn't stop thinking how to find Ruth's whereabouts.

As I was almost devoured by frustration and helplessness, the screen of my phone lit up. 

"Come to meet Ruth at Golden Water Bridge alone before 6:00am."

My hair stood on end as my eyes fixed on this anonymous message.

Golden Water Bridge was located in a remote suburban area, seldom visited by humans nor werewolves.

'Could it be another trap by Amanda?' I thought to myself as my eyes stopped at the clock on the wall.

It was 4:15am already!

Without further hesitation, I jumped out of bed immediately and crept out of Green Bay.

Be it a trap or not, I didn't want to miss the slightest chance to rescue Ruth. She was my only family now.

The minute my feet stepped out of the villa area, I sprinted towards the Golden Water Bridge immediately. 

After running for like a century, I finally stopped in front of the Bridge.

But no one was there. Just as I was about to leave, I heard a few faint whines.

I followed the sound and saw Ruth in the bushes at the bridgehead, her hands and feet bound by ropes. 

Her mouth was even stuffed with a cloth strip.

"Ruth!!!" I cried out in excitement as tears welled up in my eyes.

But Ruth didn't have a smile on her face when she saw me running over towards her.

She opened her eyes wide and shook her head hard at me, gesturing me not to go over.

I knew she was trying to tell me this was a trap. But I was willing to jump into this trap for her.

Slowing down my footsteps, I walked steadily towards Ruth while being wary of the surroundings.

Until I walked up to Ruth's side, nothing happened. 

I reached out and took the cloth strip from Ruth's mouth.

"You shouldn't have come, Bella. You know this is a trap, leave here quickly." Ruth whispered to my ears in haste the minute I took the cloth strip away from her mouth.

"I'm never gonna leave you behind, Ruth." I smiled at her as my hands were busy untying the rope binding her hands and feet.

"Let't get out of here." I helped her stand steady and move towards the road.

"Get out of here?" A vicious voice sounded from ahead.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Ruth rushed forward immediately, protecting me behind her.

I looked up and found dozens of burly men standing in the way in front of us.

"What do you want? I'm Alpha George's daughter from Watson Pack. He won't let you go if you hurt us." I managed to keep my voice steady.

"Watson Pack?" The head of the group laughed aloud as if I was telling a joke. "Seems you haven't figured out the current situation yet. The Watson Pack is not worth mentioning in my eyes. We have even killed bigger shots. We won't get a foothold in this trade if we get easily threatened. Besides... "

The man paused as he looked up and fixed his gaze on me. "You offended someone, beauty. She paid me to take your life."

They were rogues!

I shuddered as this idea dawned on me. But who was he referring to by "she"?

It couldn't be Amanda or Jasmine. Because although they hated me, they had no guts to kill me after Joseph had showed up at the Sky Hotel and taken me away the other day.

Who else then?

I had many doubts in my mind. But at this critical moment of life and death, the most important thing was to escape with Ruth.

"C'mon! Let's get it over with!" The leading rogue ordered before I even figured out a way to cope with them.

"Run, Bella!" Ruth shifted into her wolf form as the rogues charged at us.

But there were just too many of them rogues and I didn't even have a wolf. We got no chance to win. 

Soon, Ruth got pinned onto the ground.

"Ruth!" I cried out when a string of heavy footsteps came from behind, getting closer and closer to me.

My back stiffened as I slowly turned my head and looked behind.

It was the leading rogue, who had shifted into a giant black wolf!

"Go to hell!" The giant wolf growled as its sharp claws landed on my back before I could even dodge.

It then raised me high into the sky and threw me back onto the ground hard with all its strength.

I rolled on the ground for a few laps as my clothes were worn out by branches and rocks on the ground. 

My arms and legs were in sharp pain, covered in abrasions. Blood was gradually oozing out.

"Bella!!!" Ruth managed to break free from the rogues and darted to my side.

I felt giddy and light-headed and my eyes were blurred. 

Still, I forced a smile at Ruth, telling her that I was fine.

"My moon goddess, do something!" Ruth looked up at the setting moon in the sky, howling in despair.

I closed my eyes as the rogues cornered us bit by bit, waiting for the beckoning of death.

"Howl!!!!!!" Just as I thought the rogues were about to tear Ruth and me into pieces, a deep, familiar roar sounded in the sky.

I opened my eyes and saw a giant white wolf leap overhead and land in front of me and Ruth.

"Hold on there, Bella?" The wolf turned to look at me with concern, when that refreshing cedar scent reached my nose.

It was Joseph!!! 

I wanted to call out his name but couldn't as the killing pain over my body threatened to kill me.

"We got saved!" With this idea in my mind, I stopped holding on and lost consciousness...