CRESIA
Loud cries of agony . . . and even warriors screaming to fight and protect the land made my heart rate pick up.
Colton got off me and immediately shifted into his usual big black wolf form. With just one swift swing of his arm, the door opened and he went out of the house.
My body shivered as I tried to sit, still unable to believe what had just happened. If not for the attack happening outside, Colton almost raped me. My legs were still wobbly when I stood, but I forced myself to move as I needed to escape.
With the truth he just revealed and how he attempted to rape me, there was no way I would still want to live in this house. I ran to the basement as quickly as I could, and put on a long, rugged dress enough to warm my naked body.
Crying, I went out of the house and saw the horrible situation of the town. The loud screams of our pack mates pleading for help could be heard anywhere. My breathing was becoming heavy, and I was in helpless horror, watching how the warriors fought against warriors, tearing their opponents' bodies into pieces, and innocent people running away.
My chest tightened as I continued to look around. I saw fire and smoke everywhere. Hoping it was just a dream, I shook my head and closed my eyes. But my mind began to panic as I became aware that everything was real.
My body was still aching so badly because of how Colton beat me up earlier. I wasn't sure if I could go farther in this state. But I couldn't allow death to be the only form of my escape in this cruel world. It felt so wrong...
My eyes gazed up at the night sky. The full moon shone brightly... so fascinating that the sight of it seemed to have brought me a sheer amount of strength. I could feel it going through my bones and sinking through my veins.
"I have to live . . . I can't die. Not right now, Moon Goddess . . ."
Without any hesitation, I ran to the woods crying. My heart was pounding loudly. Deep down, I prayed that no werewolves from the enemy pack had followed me.
I whimpered as I reached the hillside where I felt safe. For the last time, I looked back at the Ferocious Manes town where I experienced the depths. A big part of me still didn't wish for the place to vanish as there were innocent people living there. Taking a long deep breath, I turned away and decided to run into the woods.
The woods were dark and cold as I ran as fast as I could without even knowing where I should go. The only thing I wanted right now was to survive, and so despite not being used to being in the dark, I held on to the last straw of hope I had.
Even if I went farther from the Ferocious Manes land, the cries of my pack mates echoed in the deeper parts of the woods. It was like a nightmare that was breaking my heart.
Our pack was strong enough to handle a war, yet this event was something they weren't prepared for, especially the Alpha, who initially wanted to get laid and almost used his sister to satisfy his needs.
Disgust crept within me. His revelation still lingered in my mind. It was like a poisonous truth that made me struggle to breathe. Now, it makes me question my identity and where I truly belong.
The massive gates greeted me as I reached the edge of the woods. Taking a few deep breaths, I crossed the gate by climbing on it. It took me a few minutes to reach the top and then I didn't hesitate to jump off the other side afterwards.
"Urgh!" I groaned as I fell to the ground.
Panting heavily, my eyes scanned the area. Tall trees, bushes, and the creaking sound of the insects hiding in the dark were the only things I could see and hear. The snow started to fall, which meant I needed to find a place to stay.
I stood up and ran, even if my body was getting weaker as each second passed. After crossing the river, I've entered another forest. I kept running . . . and running . . .
After a few turns on the trails I found, I heard the rustling sound of the bushes. Even though I was having trouble seeing in the dark, I worked up the courage to ignore what I heard because I wanted to get away.
However, I tripped on a rock, and whimpered as the pain on my body was intolerable. With lungs running out of air, I inhaled sharply. My eyesight was fuzzy.
Just when I thought I was about lose consciousness, two big wolves appeared emerged from the bushes. I was scared by their snarls. I swear my heart raced, so fast and loud that it hurt my ribcage.
My body tensed immediately as they walked near me.
"Stay away from me!" I managed to shout bravely.
One of the wolves growled before he shifted into his human form. He clicked his head and dared to smirk like a demon.
"State your name before I kill you, rogue!"
Rogue.
That one word stung me inside. In just one night, I became a lone wolf . . . a rogue who didn't have a place I could call home. But like I told myself earlier, I couldn't let death come after me.
I slowly stood up and stepped back. My hands formed a fist, as if they knew how to fight.
"I didn't escape hell just to be killed," I uttered firmly.
The werewolf laughed. "Don't get your hopes up. You will certainly going to be killed right now because you dared to step into our land."
His eyes were ablaze. One step forward and his hand were able to grip my hair tightly, making me feel his claws digging on my scalp.
"Get off me!" I screamed so loud and hit his chest. "J-Just let me go!"
"This one is feisty." He laughed and then glanced over at his companion. "It's been a while since the last time I killed a trespasser. Allow me to do the honor, Alpha."
Alpha?
I took a quick look at the other wolf. It was weird that it didn't move at all and just stood there and watched us . . . watched me intently. I swallowed the dread inside my throat.
How could my situation get worse?
That black wolf was totally different. It had a massive body, a kind that I'd never seen before. Its aura was too strong and dominant, which made my leg shudder. Its coat and eyes were jet black. Its bright red eyes were fixed on my face, as if it was trying to figure out what I was thinking.
I looked away as I couldn't take its intense gaze.
"Or would you like to taste her first?" The werewolf who was gripping my hair sniffed against my neck. "She smells good."
"Fuck you!" I screamed, and mustered the courage to push him. However, he was strong enough and didn't even flinch.
He grinned as he leered at me. "You want to be fucked, is that it? Be careful what you wish for, little mutt. You might get it now."
"No!" I spat on his face and looked at him angrily.
"How dare you!" He lifted his fist and was about to punch me in the face but the big wolf growled, making him stop from what he was about to do.
To my surprise, the big wolf shifted to its human form. For a brief second, my eyes grew wider. I'd never seen such a beautiful yet dangerous face of a man in my whole life.
He had the way-farer blue eyes that looked so fascinating, brown-colored hair shoulder-length hair that shone under the moonlight. His prominent cheekbones went well with his aquiline nose. His red lips... it was thin, and seemingly sinful. His basalt jaw and Spartan shoulders gave me the impression that he was really strong, sporting a hidden, lion-like power, and he walked with purpose and authority, one that could make anybody pee in their underwear. I could only suck in a breath when he spoke.
"You have to stop before I lose my patience, Klyde."
His voice was beastly that I felt the goose bumps crawl over my skin. I gasped in both awe and terror, believing that such a handsome Alpha was the same werewolf who would kill me. My jaw ached as I gritted my teeth.
"Why? Don't you want to have some fun?"
The Alpha growled and eyed him dangerously. "Let go of her now."
"But she's a rogue who trespassed our land!"
"I told you . . ." he paused. I gasped when I saw how his eyes glowed in red. ". . . to let go of her now."
His companion looked like bewitched or something. The arrogant werewolf then let go of me and stepped back, speechless and was like a robot.
The Alpha's eyes turned back to its bright, alluring way-farer blue color and at the same time the werewolf who attacked me seemed to have come back to his senses.
"Great!" He made a low growl. "Did you just use the Alpha command to me?"
The Alpha just ignored him. His attention was focused on me. His gaze. There was something about his gaze that puzzled me. It was strange, and I couldn't tell why.
"Fret not." He stepped forward, which made me panic.
"Don't get any closer to me!" I yelled firmly as I stepped back. "Who the hell are you, anyway? Which pack?"
The other werewolf laughed, seemingly mocking me. "Everyone knows who owns this land and yet here you are playing dumb?"
"I wouldn't ask if I knew," I talked back as I gritted my teeth.
I heard him growl. He didn't seem like the way I talked. He looked so eager to punish me; to tear my flesh until I was breathless. But then, the Alpha tilted his neck, a ghost of a smile curled into his lips.
"You stepped into the devil's lair, rogue," the other werewolf said. "Welcome to the Shadow Beasts land, where outsiders like you become the meal of our wolves."