After everything was done, Clary walked out to meet Carlos. Carlos was walking with two rabbits in his hands.
Carlos suddenly handed one of the rabbits to Clary. Clary was confused but accepted the rabbit and held it gently.
"Eat it," Carlos said.
Clary looked puzzled. "Now?"
"Even after you die, it won't matter," Carlos replied.
Clary grumbled and pursed her lips in annoyance.
"Listen, Mr. Werewolf, I'm not like you, and I can't just eat this rabbit as is," Clary said.
Carlos didn't respond and seemed to be staring hungrily at the rabbit.
"Hey, it's better if I cook these rabbits first," Clary said.
She couldn't bear the thought of the rabbit being torn apart by Carlos's sharp fangs right in front of her. Just imagining it made her want to vomit.
"Why? I can eat them as they are," Carlos said.
Clary rolled her eyes in frustration.
"No, you can't eat them directly. Give me the rabbit," Clary said.
Clary had an annoyed look on her face, and Carlos was already preparing his fangs. He didn't want to wait any longer. But Clary had extended her hand to receive the rabbit from Carlos.
Carlos seemed reluctant to hand over the rabbit. He didn't want to wait.
"Come on, give it," Clary said once more.
Carlos couldn't refuse her. He began to hand over one of the rabbits to her. Clary appeared relieved that she wouldn't have to witness the scene she dreaded.
"Do you have a knife?" Clary asked.
Carlos seemed to think for a moment.
"I prefer to use my teeth, but I do have a few knives," Carlos said.
"Great," Clary said.
Carlos went inside the house and fetched a reasonably large knife for Clary. Clary smiled. She could grill the rabbit meat. Clary's cooking skills were not to be underestimated. She had learned from her aunt for three years. In the middle of the forest like this, there might be limited ingredients and spices, but Clary decided to grill the rabbit.
Carlos always followed Clary while she was cooking, which made her nervous and uncomfortable.
"You don't need to follow me all the time. It's better if you sit down and wait for the food," Clary said, looking at Carlos in front of her.
"Okay, I'm just curious. There's a scent that's piquing my interest," Carlos said.
Clary tried to stifle her laughter. It seemed that Carlos was really hungry.
Carlos walked away and sat in the not-so-tall grass. Clary continued with her cooking. After everything was done, Clary served it to Carlos.
Carlos looked puzzled as he stared at Clary's dish.
"It seems like human life is quite complicated. Even getting food takes a very long time," Carlos said, not taking his eyes off the rabbit Clary had grilled.
Clary didn't care about Carlos's comment and had already started eating some of the rabbit meat.
"Aren't you hungry?" Clary asked.
Clary watched as Carlos greedily consumed the grilled rabbit in front of him.
"It tastes strange, but not bad," Carlos said, and he continued eating until only bones were left. Clary was surprised that Carlos could eat so cleanly without leaving any scraps of meat.
Clary felt her stomach getting full, so she finished her meal.
"Carlos, what do you think they will do to my sister?" Clary asked.
"Your sister is already dead," Carlos said casually.
Clary's eyes widened in disbelief. "How do you know?"
"That's what they usually do, except..." Carlos's sentence hung in the air.
Clary looked even more worried if Betty was already dead. She had to find her sister Betty and bring her back to Georgia.
"Except what?" Clary asked, curious.
"If they make your sister a sacrifice for the Half-Moon," Carlos said.
"What?!" Clary exclaimed in disbelief.
"But it seems the possibility of your sister being alive is slim," Carlos added.
Clary was getting more agitated.
"No, I have to get Betty back," Clary said.
"It's up to you," Carlos said casually.
Clary felt like scratching Carlos's face this time. He was truly annoying.
"What will they do during the Half-Moon?" Clary asked.
"A party," Carlos replied shortly.
Clary snorted and said, "What about my sister?"
"More precisely, a party to welcome new members," Carlos said.
Clary thought for a moment.
"What kind of party are you talking about?" Clary asked, confused.
"Your sister will become one of them," Carlos said.
"What?!" Clary couldn't believe it.
"If not, they will kill your sister," Carlos said.
Clary was emotional. Her beloved Betty was in danger right now. She couldn't just sit and eat comfortably in this place.
"Carlos, let's go quickly," Clary said.
"I don't want to," Carlos said.
"What did you say?" Clary asked.
"I don't want to," Carlos repeated.
Clary was getting more emotional.
"I helped you that time," Clary said.
"Yes, but I still don't want to. You can look for your sister yourself," Carlos said.
Clary just ran inside and grabbed her bag. Then, she prepared to leave.
"For the last time, you really don't want to come?" Clary said while raising an object in her right hand high enough for Carlos to see.
Carlos, seeing the object in Clary's hand, was immediately confused.
"How did you get it?" Carlos asked.
"Of course, I got it," Clary replied.
Carlos looked at his chest. Sure enough, there was nothing that he had guarded well. The pendant. Clary was holding Carlos's pendant. The pendant was like Carlos's identity. If he lost it, he would lose a part of himself.
Carlos stared at Clary with a mixture of displeasure and frustration. Carlos stood up and walked closer to Clary.
Clary quickly put the pendant back in her pocket.
"In that case, let's go now," Clary said.
Carlos still looked at Clary with a gaze full of anger. To be honest, Clary was a little scared when Carlos looked at her with such a terrifying gaze. Clary knew she could die if she messed with Carlos. But she had no other choice. She had to take this risk to get Betty back.
"Not now. It's a new moon, so there are many wild animals out there. Do you want to die before you save your sister?" Carlos said.
Clary had already imagined what it would be like if many wild animals were roaming around. But Betty's life was in danger.
"What about Betty?" Clary asked.
"I don't know," Carlos replied.
Clary was now getting frustrated.
"I don't care. I will destroy this pendant," Clary said.
Carlos ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"I'll find out first. If your sister is already dead, you don't need to look for her anymore," Carlos said calmly.
"Betty won't die. I'll find her," Clary said.
"Don't be silly. You're just a weak human, just like your sister. What can you do to fight them?" Carlos said.
Clary appeared silent. She also realized that her current position was dangerous. In a wolf's den? That's right, Clary.
"You're dangerous too, Carlos, but you didn't kill me?" Clary said.
Carlos also seemed silent.
"I've never killed a human," Carlos said.
Clary was quite surprised.
"Only that one time, I couldn't control my emotions, and the girl got killed," Carlos said.
Carlos looked sad when he recalled something. Was the girl Carlos mentioned the one who meant something to him in his life? Clary felt a deep sadness in her heart. Was that what Carlos was feeling now?
Clary tried not to dwell on those feelings, but they grew stronger, piercing her heart. It felt like she wanted to cry right there.
"Carlos, it's better if you find information about my sister," Clary said. She couldn't bear these feelings any longer. What was happening to her? Clary didn't understand why she was feeling like this. It was as if her heart was being pierced by something sharp.
"Alright, when will you return the pendant?" Carlos asked.
Clary appeared relieved when those feelings subsided a bit.
"After I reach my destination," Clary said.
Carlos then ran out of his house into the forest.
After Carlos had run far away and was no longer visible, Clary took the pendant from her pocket. She stared intensely at the blue pendant. Why did it look so similar to her own pendant, only different in color?
Clary didn't dwell on it and waited for Carlos to return to the house. She also repacked her bags and belongings. Clary stored the pendant in a safe place where Carlos wouldn't be able to take it.
Thoughts about Carlos crossed Clary's mind. Carlos turned out to be more handsome than the previous night. Perhaps it was because this time, the sunlight was shining on him, making him look clearer. His beautiful body was always exposed. It unintentionally made Clary's cheeks flush and her heart beat faster. Clary wasn't surprised that Carlos didn't wear clothes even in the cold. He was a wolf. He was covered in thick fur to keep warm. But his body always made Clary feel awkward.
Clary realized what she was thinking and shook her head. Right now, saving Betty was her top priority. She couldn't think about anything else. Just Betty.