The more the hilt of the dagger pressed against her skin, the safer she felt. In the unfamiliar environment that Jade was now entering, it was difficult for her to ignore the itch. She needed the dagger in her hands but with everyone around her, on a boat with humans, it was not ideal.

She shivered slightly, a sign which meant they were near. The cold was getting to her, making her pull out a thick animal skin and wrap it around her like a shawl. This temperature was perfect for wolves but not for her. She was at a disadvantage and obtaining the dagger quickly might prove difficult in this chilly environment.

The air outside was frosty and she would have to warm herself first before diving into her assignment.

Her hand reached over to her neck to caress over the mark, a lesson given to her by her master for her incompetence. Even now, months after it had happened, the memory still played freshly in her mind as if it was something that had happened just days ago.

[MONTHS AGO | SOMEWHERE IN SOVIET RUSSIA]

Jade defended the blow.

It would have landed on her head otherwise, knocking her out completely. She knew what came next. Her opponent bent down on one knee, the other leg stretched out ready to knock her off balance. His head was right in front of her chest and she took the gamble.

Within seconds, she placed her hand over his head. Gripping onto his shiny hair, she raised herself up, letting his head take her weight just as his leg swiped where she stood.

She landed perfectly on the other side of him, pulling out chunks of his hair as she did so.

He stumbled. Perfect for her.

She turned and waited for him to get up. He took the support of his hand, another predictable move made. Kicking his supporting hand away, she landed on top of him while aiming her elbow on the rib, breaking two in one go.

He grunted in pain, the sound of his bones cracking ringing into the air. As he tried to hoist himself from that, raising himself by throwing his legs up in the air, she grabbed onto those. Twisting him around by his legs, she turned him on his back and snapped the knees on the left leg before letting it go. It hit the ground and he hissed.

There it was, clear as day. A weakness.

He raised his right leg and swiped it at her, his teeth gritted tightly together as he fought the burning sensation. Jade bent down and crouched in front of him before pushing back up and holding onto it, ready to break the foot. He would not be able to raise his leg from the pain then.

“Break the knee,” a voice called out.

Without a thought of her own, Jade did as told. Her hand reached over the ankle and applied the pressure on his knee until she heard the satisfactory crack.

“Kill him.”

She did not hesitate. She reached over to his neck—

“With a knife, little fox. I want him to bleed to death like the failure he is.”

Her hand reached over to the dagger in her boots on instinct and she swiped it across his neck. It would take a lot of time for him to heal but he would die because Master was going to throw him into the freezing river, no doubt.

“Well done, Foxy.” The sound of clapping resonated and the master walked to where the both of them were.

He turned around to address everyone, “This is what I expect from you. If you ever want to be bestowed missions from me, this is what you must succeed in first.” The master glanced down at the wolf in distaste, “You lost to a fox, Wolf. Shame on you.” He looked at the two guards with massive guns and commanded them, “Dispose of him.”

They moved to the bleeding wolf — once her opponent — as the master turned to her. “Perfect, Foxy. I think you are ready. To succeed or to die will depend on how you perform.”

Coming back with failure was not an option. Master would have them die instead in that case.

“I am ready to succeed, Master.” She bowed her head in respect. “I shall bring back the relic to you.”

“Dismissed,” he spoke loudly and everyone dispersed. The Master wanted to talk to Jade personally. No one would breathe a word of this conversation even if they heard one.

He tilted his chin and watched her as she lowered her eyes in respect.

“I hope for your sake, you remember what to do and how,” his hand gripped her neck and she stood immobilized, “because I would hate to see you fail.”

His nail dug into her skin and She smelled blood — her blood — with a pinch of pain.

“A little reminder for you on your journey.”

[PRESENT TIME | ON A BOAT TOWARDS NORWAY]

It left a mark just as the master had intended to do. A perfect reminder he had deemed for her.

“Harbor!”

The bells on the boat started to rattle, irritating her but Jade kept a straight face. The announcement for the dispersal was made and she did not wait around. She had one bag with her whose weight she could easily pull. As she walked above the small plank, a man offered her his hand and she took it graciously.

“Thank you.” She smiled. “You are too kind.”

His eyes lit up immediately. “You're most welcome, my lady. Are you here to meet someone? You would not find many English speakers here,” he warned.

It didn’t matter. Luckily for Jade, she knew the native language well.

“I am, Sir. I am here to meet my aunt who settled here, in this beautiful country,” she gushed, looking around at the beauty of the place visible from the busy harbour. “However, I don’t think I can find transportation. Would you be kind enough to give me a lift into town?”

His acceptance was instant and in his carriage they went. This was the cover. If anyone saw her, she could easily say that she was married to a human.

He stopped at the entrance of the town and she bid him a farewell.

The night had descended and it was easy for her to blend in. However, the town was not the destination. After all, what she was after couldn’t be found in human settlements but rather werewolves’. Packs never stayed in town unless it was for official business.

Two mountains stood between where Jade was and where she had to be. Before she even reached her endpoint, the scents of wolves invaded her nose and she knew she was close.

Jade opened the bag she carried with her and rubbed the leaves on her. Mint was always useful, its refreshing scent was just enough to cover up her trail. The wind blew gusts of air in her face, further spreading the scent of the wolf pack and engulfing her in it.

Narrowing her eyes at the guards, Jade waited for them to change positions. Just as they did, she stepped into the territory. The moment her foot touched the land beyond the boundary, the land shook as the growl rumbled.

A beast was near, Jade realized. And she could see it charging right towards her.