"But did you do this?" Serena repeated, pointing toward the slouched figure of Venus, and staring directly into her father's eyes. Her father shifted on his feet and looked toward the glass and the woman behind it. After turning back to his daughter, he moved toward her.
"Serena, I did what I needed to do to keep you safe. She's fine, I promise. I just knocked her out. She will wake up here at any moment and will call for help once she remembers. Satisfied?" The man reached his hand toward Serena's trembling figure and grasped her wrist carefully. After a glance at Venus, a swift tug lurched Serena forward and out into the cool evening.
The clan looked different than it had at night. The bustling groups were no longer there. A few stragglers mingled and drank by the center of the houses, but everyone was preoccupied with the conversations and the drink.
The two made their way toward the edge of the forest on the side of the prison house, Serena's father in the lead and his daughter falling behind with each step.
"Hurry up, Serena. The wind is in our favor. If your scent gets blown back to the wolves, we are done for. We have the moon goddess on our side right now, and your mother."
Serena's ears perked up, and her head snapped toward her father, eyes burning holes into his back.
"Don't talk about her like that. You don't deserve to." She spat.
She stopped on the rim of the woods, unwilling to enter and follow. The weary man turned back around and strode toward her.
"Serena, I loved your mother very much. We did not hide the fact she was a werewolf from you with the purpose of hurting you. Please believe me when I tell you we both had your best interest at heart. You were a fearful child, and we did not want you to fear your own mother." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Serena, please, let's continue to the cabin. We can talk there." He squeezed her shoulders tightly and pulled her close.
"This is not over." She muttered into his chest, fists pounding gently against him. The two continued through the woods carefully. Unlike the previous night, the woods were filled with a brilliant array of warm colors from the setting sun.
Serena gazed about and marveled at the colors and the atmosphere. It was almost as if the forest were burning, but the light provided a sense of warmth and comfort. It would have been beautiful if it weren't for the fact she was running from a man who believed they were meant to be together and following a liar back to her home.
Snap.
The loud crack of a branch sent waves through the quiet forest.
The two stopped and looked at each other, silently asking if they were the one who had made the mistake.
The rustling of leaves and more cracking soon followed the snap.
"Run." Her father commanded in a hoarse whisper, pointing a shaking finger deeper into the forest.
Serena took off running in the direction her father pointed, away from the sound of leaves crackling, branches snapping, and thudding feet. Branches whipped past her hair, and roots tripped her feet, but despite that, she kept moving toward her goal.
Heavy breathing soon sounded close behind her, and the loud thudding of feet echoed through the evening woods.
Whack.
Pain spread into the surrounding area of her cheek, tears threatening to spill onto the reddened skin and run down onto her dry lips. But despite the stinging, she ran.
Pounding footsteps grew louder with every step. Galloping closer and closer.
A heavy weight pushed against her back and sent her flying into a nearby low lying bush, scratching any exposed skin.
A low growl from where she had once been, reverberated in her ears. Dazed, she opened her eyes to see a massive wolf. It was about four to five feet tall and thick. The massive paws left imprints deep into the hard earth. The tail swished in the air, the fur swaying in the light breeze. The ebony fur glowed in the red-orange light of the sun, the red eyes piercing into Serena's green.
Serena's breath caught in her throat and her eyes widened.
Foam and saliva leaked out of its mouth and dripped down into the dried leaves with a splat as it slowly made its way toward Serena. She scrambled to her feet and moved deeper into the bushes, hoping to block it in some way. But despite the pricking and tugging of the bushes, the beast continued unwaveringly.
Out of the corner of her eye, Serena caught a glimpse of a lush bush. Taking a sharp turn, she dove headfirst into the bush and curled herself into a ball. As she hid underneath the waxy leaves and deep purple berries, the heavy padding continued toward her last location.
Serena took a deep breath and held it, hoping to stop the intense pounding of her heart.
"I can smell you, Serena." A thick, deep voice filled her ears. At the sound, her heart began to slow and her breathing steadied. The beast continued to walk nearby, gazing lazily about. "You are… here." The wolf turned sharply toward the bush and broke into a sprint.
A high scream filled the trees, quickly followed by cracking branches.
A dark figure of a wolf exited the woods, a weight dangling from its mouth. As the wolf exited the woods, it made its way toward a human figure crumpled on the waving grass. The wolf gently dropped the weight next to the human figure and sat, watching the two figures intensely.
"Serena…" The crumpled man extended his arm toward her unconscious body, caressing her face in his calloused hand. "I'm sorry, Princess. I never should have lied to you. I'm sorry I put you in this mess."
The wolf moved toward the old man and clamped its teeth onto his leg. Dark blood squirted from the puncture wounds. The man continued to hold his daughter through the pain of the pointed teeth puncturing his skin. His tearful eyes examined every crease curve of the young girl's face before him, memorizing and reminiscing simultaneously. The wolf moved away from the woman on the ground and toward the edge of the woods, dragging the man behind it. The man continued to gaze toward his daughter, arms outstretched, as the man and the beast made their way silently toward the edge.
The two entered the woods quietly. Not long after a sickening thud and a lone howl echoed through the darkened sky. The wolf exited the trees soon after, alone, muzzle and paws smeared with blood. The tainted fur glimmered as the sun reflected off the shiny blood.
Quietly, the wolf approached the woman, gently bit into her loose clothing, and lifted her. Careful not to disturb or hurt her, it made its way toward the pack of wolves.