"Leyla!" Mac's voice filled with frustration and worry as he urgently grabbed Leyla's arm, turning her towards him. "Why did you do that?"
Leyla's anger flared even more when she witnessed the fury in Mac's eyes. She shifted her gaze towards Beth, intending to hurt her. But just as her lips curled back, revealing a glimpse of her sharpened fangs, Mac swiftly stood in front of Leyla, shielding Beth.
It was conflicting to comprehend if he was protecting their packs' secret from the humans or he was just shielding Beth from any potential harm.
The situation left no room for Leyla to pick the first option to solace her soul. Consumed by burning rage, she abruptly turned around and stormed away, her footsteps echoing with frustration.
Mac swiftly moved his gaze from Leyla towards Beth, who was still recovering from the shock of the sudden incident. With a sense of urgency, he approached her and noticed the injury on her forehead. Without hesitation, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a handkerchief, and gently placed it on Beth's trembling palm.
"Clean your wound. It's bleeding," he instructed, his voice carrying a mix of concern and responsibility.
When her gaze found its way to his green eyes, a sudden realisation washed over him—a realisation that left him startled. For the first time, he had shown genuine concern for a human.
Beth opened her mouth to ask for an explanation, but before she could say a word, he took a step back, turned around, and dashed after Leyla.
Feeling a sense of disorientation, Beth was left standing in the rain, her thoughts racing as she tried to comprehend the fragments of the chaotic scene that played out before her. Clutching the handkerchief tightly, she thought the slap she received seemed to come out of nowhere. And now, the stranger who had intervened and handed her the handkerchief was disappearing from her sight.
Beth's deep thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the blaring sound of a horn behind her. Startled, she turned around to find Kevin glaring at her through the window of his car. The intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down her spine, stirring up a mix of emotions she had thought long buried.
"Get in!" Kevin ordered in a cold, commanding tone, leaving Beth with no choice but to comply instantly. She swiftly entered the car, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and confusion.
As the car sped away, Helena shot Beth a glare through the rear-view mirror and grumbled with annoyance, "If you were going to get yourself soaked, why did you bother carrying that umbrella? Look, your wet clothes are ruining the seat."
Beth's thoughts raced as she recalled her forgotten umbrella. Panicking, she anxiously peered out of the window, only to see it lying on the wet ground, abandoned and forgotten.
"Can... Can we please stop for a moment?" she stammered, her voice filled with urgency and a hint of desperation.
Kevin remained silent, continuing to drive without acknowledging her request. Feeling a surge of desperation, Beth tried again, her voice trembling, "Kevin, please, I left my umbrella. Can you please stop the car?"
"Stop bothering me, Beth. It's just an umbrella," Kevin interrupted dismissively, oblivious to the significance the umbrella held for her.
"But…"
Rolling her eyes out of annoyance, Helena shouted at her, "You heard him? Now, for god's sake, can you stop talking?"
Beth's heart sank as she leaned her head against the cold window, tears welling up in her eyes. A heavy sadness settled over her, weighing down her spirit.
'I'm sorry, Dad. I've let you down once again. I couldn't even take care of your last keepsake. I'm sorry. I don't understand why this guilt keeps growing inside me. I try, but it seems unstoppable,' she whispered softly, her words barely audible beneath her breath. A sense of hopelessness enveloped her, leaving her feeling lost and defeated.
After completing her errands, Beth finally made her way back to her room, exhausted and late into the night. The rain had ceased, replaced by a clear star-filled sky and the gentle chirping of crickets outside her window.
Closing her eyes, she hoped to find some solace in sleep. However, her peaceful intentions were abruptly shattered when she heard Helena's moans echoing through the walls. Each deliberate moan pierced her heart, intensifying her emotional turmoil. Tears streamed down her cheeks, mirroring the ache in her soul.
Unable to bear the sounds any longer, she mustered the strength to sit up in bed. Her eyes fell upon the handkerchief resting on the nightstand, a tangible reminder of the chaotic events that had unfolded earlier. It was an opportunity to divert her thoughts, to focus on something else. Yet, she couldn't escape the complexity that now clouded her mind.
'What was that all about?' Beth whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the quiet room. With curiosity taking the height, she ran her finger delicately over the embroidered name on the handkerchief.
There was something special about him, something that had sparked a connection deep within her. But it also made her feel uneasy, like stepping into a world she wasn't quite prepared for.
A sudden, unfamiliar sensation stirred inside her. Compelled by curiosity, she brought the handkerchief closer to her nose and took a deep sniff.
At that moment, the scent acted as a form of solace, providing a temporary escape from her pain. When it enveloped her gradually, a wave of emotions washed over her, almost as if it had the power to conjure a vivid image of him, creating a hallucination of his presence.
He stood there, a figment of her imagination, appearing before the window with a gentle smile on his face. It was a smile that held unspoken words, carrying a depth of meaning that Kevin would never have for her.
Feeling a strange and heightened state of mind, Beth slowly rose to her feet, clutching the handkerchief in her hand. With a mix of curiosity and unease, she approached the figure before her and whispered, "Who are you?"
No answer came from him, as he simply gazed out of the window. Beth, intrigued, followed his gaze, drawing closer to the window, but she found nothing remarkable outside.
Confusion filled her as she turned back to him, only to realise that he had vanished, leaving her with a sense of emptiness and bewilderment.
"What's happening to me?" Beth muttered to herself with a voice filled with frustration and a touch of fear.
As she pondered the bizarre events, a sudden and loud howl echoed from the depths of the nearby woods. Strangely, Beth felt a deep connection to that howl, recognizing it as a cry of pain.
Compelled by an unknown force, she followed the sorrowful howl and left the house. Her steps were quick and purposeful, as if connected to the source of the pain by an invisible thread.
She dashed through the forest, breaking twigs and rustling leaves beneath her feet. The woods seemed alive, and she manoeuvred through the shadows, relying solely on her instincts and the haunting sound guiding her.
The branches lightly brushed against her arms, and leaves gently grazed her face, but she paid no mind to the obstacles in her way. All that mattered was finding the one in distress, providing solace, and perhaps even unravelling the mysteries that had consumed her thoughts.
When she ventured deeper, her heart pounding, she stumbled upon a chilling sight—a lifeless wolf lying on the ground. Its white fur was stained with blood. The sight sent shivers down her spine.
Just as she was about to cry out in alarm, suddenly, a grey wolf emerged from the darkness, its own fur also marked by crimson stains. Beth's eyes met the wolf's gaze, and she stood frozen, unable to speak or move. The strange encounter overwhelmed her, and she lost consciousness, her body giving way to the overwhelming emotions of the moment.