THE MISSION

Adora's POV

As I ran through the dense forest with a letter tightly clutched in my hand, my heart raced faster at the sound of horses galloping in the distance behind me. The warriors of Dawn were after me, and I knew they wouldn't stop until they captured me.

I looked around frantically, searching for the small hut that Adam had told me about. It belonged to his brother, a surgeon who might be able to help me. But the vast forest made it difficult to find my way. Adam was an old friend of mine I thought I would never see again, he turned out to be one of the royal guards too, and he helped me escape.

As I ran, I stumbled and fell to the ground, a sharp pain shooting up my leg. I looked down to see a snake slithering away, and I realized I had been bitten. The warriors were closing in, and I knew I wouldn't make it.

Just as I thought all was lost, a shadowy figure emerged from the trees and took me behind a tree. My heart raced as the stranger's body pressed against mine, but I knew I had to stay calm if I wanted to survive. The warriors rode past us, completely unaware of our presence, leaving me and the stranger alive.

I pushed him away, still feeling pain from the snake bite. "Please, let me help you," he replied. "I need to find a surgeon, can you help me?" I asked.

"What a coincidence I am a surgeon!" He exclaimed. I showed him the letter from Adam. He quickly read it and then pressed me to the ground, sucking the venom out of my leg with his mouth. I was in pain, but I couldn't stop thinking about Bruno. "He's still in danger," I said. "I can't sense his wolf anymore."

"Calm down," he said. "We'll find him together. But you need to be healthy first."

The forest was beautiful, but it could also be dangerous. "Thank you," I said, barely above a whisper.

"You're welcome," he replied, looking up at me. "What's your name?"

"Adora," I answered.

"I'm Alex," he said, smiling. "Don't worry, Adora. We'll find your friend Bruno together. But first, we need to make sure you're healthy enough to help."

I refused to follow Alex to his hut to rest. It was still hard to believe that Bruno was dead. The snake bite on my leg had already started healing, but I couldn't leave Bruno in the forest for another day, or he would die for real this time. I had no idea if he had already died, but if he somehow survived it meant the moon goddess took care of him.

"Alex, we need to find Bruno," I said, determination evident in my voice.

"Adora, you need to rest," Alex said, concern lacing his voice.

"No, I can’t, not yet. Bruno needs us," I replied.

Alex sighed, then bent down to let me climb onto his back. We began to move, me sniffing the air to follow Bruno’s scent. After a few minutes, I stopped and pointed to a pile of leaves.

"We’re here," I said, my voice trembling.

I jumped down from Alex's back and went to the spot, removing the leaves from Bruno's lifeless body with tears in my eyes.

"No, no, no," I whispered, my fingers brushing over Bruno’s skin.

Alex knelt beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Adora, I’ll do everything I can to save him."

I nodded, my eyes never leaving Bruno. Alex lifted Bruno onto his back. As we arrived at Alex’s hut, he placed Bruno on a makeshift bed made of furs. He examined him, moving his fingers over his body, hoping for a heartbeat. But there was nothing.

"I'm sorry, Adora," Alex said solemnly, "I can't feel a pulse."

My heart sank, and I felt a wave of hopelessness wash over me. I had lost Bruno, and there was nothing I could do to bring him back. Alex used a defibrillator to try and revive Bruno, and after a few minutes, he detected a faint heartbeat.

"We need to go to my pack," he said, looking at me with desperation in his eyes.

I didn't understand. "Why? What’s wrong?"

"Bruno needs an oxygen mask, and I don’t have one," he said, his voice urgent.

I hesitated, my heart torn between staying with Bruno and trying to save him. But I knew what I had to do. "Let’s go," I said, my voice choked with emotion.

We left the hut, running as fast as we could through the forest. I could feel Bruno’s pain through our bond, and I knew that time was running out.

"Hurry, Alex," I urged him, my voice urgent.

"We’re almost there," Alex replied, his breath coming in short gasps.

As we arrived in front of the Livid pack, my heart was pounding with fury. I wanted nothing more than to transform into my wolf form and take on Dawn’s warriors even if I couldn’t, but Alex, with Bruno slung over his back, held me back.

“Lower your head,” he whispered, guiding me to do the same. It was then that we heard footsteps behind us, and Dawn’s warriors emerged from the shadows. But before they could make their move, the warriors of the Livid Pack appeared, shooting arrows and getting rid of the intruders.

The gate of the Livid pack was opened, and we were welcomed into a paradise that left me breathless. Even though it was night, the pack was still beautiful, with the stars twinkling above and the moon shining bright.