"MAAAAIIIID! Come out now!"
His cry exploded, nearly sucking the last bit of courage that was barely hanging in my chest.
Whoa, damn. That bastard is already here?!
I curled up behind a large tree, clutching its thick, bulging roots, trying not to be swept away by the snowstorm transforming the forest into a white mess.
But, the craziest part? Even as the sharp wind slapping my face over and over, my whole body unlocked a new sense of relief. Truly, I had never been so grateful for a storm until that afternoon.
Yes, because the moment I stepped out of my hiding, it wasn't the storm that would sweep my life.
"Hngg–"
In my arms, Skai's tiny body trembled, and he whimpered. His voice was slowly buried by my hand covering his mouth.
"Shh, shh, don't cry, Skai, please... I'm sorry," I whispered, begging.
Expecting an 18-month-old baby to understand my desperation was a cruel illusion. But what else could I do? He mustn't make a sound. Yet, his muffled cry shattered me more than all the blows I'd endured before, nearly shaking my resolve to keep his mouth shut.
The snowstorm's roar grew louder. My ears felt like they were filled with water, causing a buzzing sound inside. But damn, it didn't even drown out the sound of that bastard's thunder.
"Maid! Alpha wants his heir back! Hand over the boy, and I'll give you a quick death!"
Beta Shax Wulfric.
In the distance, his eyes glowed golden yellow behind the fog, and his breath steamed wildly. That cold, piercing gaze belonged to a hunter who would not return home without his prey. Meanwhile, the thin smile etched on his unnecessarily handsome face was... pure madness, sending my blood upside down.
Hot tears blurred my vision, choking my breath.
"I swear I won't let us get caught, Skai. We... have to be safe, we have to, or Luna Becca will mourn in her grave."
I would fulfill her last wish to take Skai away from the pack, from the Alpha's clutches, no matter what. Anyway, that damn Alpha was ridiculous. Why would he send his crazy hunter to catch us when he usually ignored Skai?! Shouldn't he be happy now that Skai was out of his sight?!
Luna Becca, please pray for us...
The ground creaked beneath the footsteps of Shax and his two men, along with the storm slowly subsiding. The air narrowed as their gazes swept around. It was only a matter of time before they found us, and when that happened, I shouldn't hesitate anymore. I had to... do it.
My hand reached into my pocket, tightening my grip on the only weapon you left me, Luna Becca. Damn, I only have five chances, right? And you know I've never handled it! What did you expect by giving me this, really!
"Come out, maid! I know you're here!" He turned sharply, staring right at my hiding place.
Fuck.
In an instant, he darted forward at a terrifying speed, and my feet hit the ground harder.
"MAAAIIID!"
Shax was only a few steps behind me. His laughter shook my insides. He clawed at my back. A searing pain shot through my skin, but I couldn't be distracted. This was my chance!
I spun around, pulling the trigger. "Screw you!"
I was sure the shot had exploded in the air, but I couldn't hear it because the pounding of my heart filled my ears.
When I snapped back to what was in front of me, Shax and his two men were writhing on the ground, groaning as they clutched the areas where I had shot them.
Got you!
The silver bullets coated with wolfsbane extract did their job. I continued running, confident that the poison would soon paralyze their limbs, slowing their movements, and eventually... killing them.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" But his roar thundered once more, making me look back.
At that moment, I watched their bodies tremble, black fur bursting out. They shifted to their wolf form.
"Damn! Why aren't they dead already?!"
In their wolf form, they chased me with staggering bodies and foaming mouths. My breath quickened as I sped up, jumping over railroad tracks covered in cold fog and heavy snow. At that moment, I heard metal vibrating under my feet. The roar of steel grew closer.
In the next second...
BAM!
The explosion of the impact filled my ears.
I turned around, watching three wolves thrown into the air, slamming into a tree, then falling.
What the—aren't scenes like that only in cartoons?
My feet were rooted to the spot until the long train passed.
I should have continued running, but my crazy instincts kicked in, telling me to check on them.
Two warriors returned to their human form. Their bodies were twisted unnaturally and... "They're... dead, huh?"
What about Shax?
His body lay face down, motionless, blood flowing, thick red on the white snow.
My hand was almost touching his neck when suddenly his grip snatched my ankle and his sharp claws dug into my skin. "Argh!" I crashed to the ground, landing hard on my tailbone. Skai's cries in my arms broke out, and the world seemed to scream at me.
Shax held my leg with wild strength, as if he wanted to drag me to hell with him. "I... loathe...you, ugh,"
I kept kicking his head, once, twice, three times. Each kick was harder and more desperate.
"Let go! Let me go!"
Finally, his grip loosened.
When I turned his body over with the tip of my foot, Shax was silent. There was no more breathing, and the pulse... was gone. I froze for a few seconds, looking down at his helpless body.
I... killed him.
Finally, I got rid of my hunter. Now, Skai and I are free!
My lips curved into a smile, a low laugh escaping my lips without me being able to hold it back. "Why did you chase me? You should have ignored me like you always do, bastard, HAHAHA... HA... ha..."
But why were my eyes wet and sore now?
The forest grew darker, the snow fell thicker, and my steps, which should have felt light, grew heavier. Everything gradually blurred until all that remained was me falling into darkness.
Gasp!
I opened my eyes and coughed hard, as if a colony of ants were digging in my throat. My back felt sore, as if Shax's claws were still fresh on my skin, and cold sweat clung to my temples and neck.
Again, that nightmare, no, that memory, kept reminding me of my sins.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The loud banging on the door made me jump out of bed. I frowned, peeking out the window. It was still dark outside, but the banging sounded urgent. I turned to Skai, who was still asleep beside me. Fortunately, he didn't wake up by the noise.
I clicked my tongue in annoyance. Who was coming this early in the morning?
I went to the door and pressed my eye to the peephole. It was Mrs. Barrack and two of my other neighbors. 'Why are they here?'
As soon as I opened the door, Mrs. Barrack thrust a photo right in front of my face.
"Miss Michelle, look at this!"
I froze.
What the hell was that photo? It was me... and Shax.
This was impossible. That photo shouldn't have been there. It should have been-
"We found it!"
I swallowed hard. "Found... what?"
"Your missing husband!" she exclaimed, her index finger pointing at Shax in the photo.
"... Huh?"