Ace's POV
I struggled to reign in my anger, desperate to uncover the truth about Ovelia's past. If my temper spiraled out of control, I promised myself that I would silence her non-biological mother for good.
"Ovelia, when you were a child, it was really creepy to watch you talk by the river, laughing as if someone were there. We've warned you countless times to stop, but you insisted you had a companion. That's why I always beat you. We've also noticed how quickly your wounds heal. We can't help but wonder if you're even human—or a werewolf, or maybe a witch. But thank goodness, as the years went by, we figured out you don't have any powers," Natasha sneered. "Ovelia, honestly, we never loved you. If you hadn't been a girl back then, we might have tossed you into the river."
Rage flooded my veins, and I stood, feeling my wolf fight to break free. The urge to kill Natasha was overwhelming.
Ray stood up too, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. "Don't lose your cool here."
I exhaled a long, shaky breath, forcing myself to calm down.
Ovelia's POV
Every word they hurled at me pierced my heart, a deep, excruciating pain.
I stood up, knowing I had learned enough for today. I couldn't recall my mother ever saying I spoke to myself, perhaps because I was so young then.
Tears began to fall, blurring my vision. The sister I once trusted, whom I believed was my ally, had only used me for her own gains.
I truly want to hate them for what they did to me, but despite that, I genuinely want to focus on the positive side.
I wiped my tears and took a shaky breath. "Alessia, thank you. Even if everything was a lie, the kindness you pretended to show made me feel, for a moment, that I wasn't alone."
Alessia's brows furrowed in confusion, a small, disbelieving laugh escaping her. "What do you mean?"
Ace's POV
What is Ovelia talking about? Is she really thanking the people who hurt her?
Ovelia's smile was bittersweet as she looked at Natasha. "Mother, I want to express my gratitude for keeping me alive, even if it was ultimately to serve as a human sacrifice in place of your true daughter."
Natasha stood up, indignation flaring in her eyes. "Are you mocking me, Ovelia?!" she spat, fury lacing her words.
I saw Natasha's hand swing toward Ovelia, ready to land a slap. I instinctively moved to stop her, but Ann suddenly intervened.
Ann's grip on Natasha's wrist was ironclad. A chilling smile crossed her lips as she warned, "If you dare lay a finger on her, I'll break your arms."
I'm amused because her fierce tone sent shivers down my spine. Ann was a different beast when provoked. The former assassin from the Crimsonheart pack is truly something else.
Ray let out a huff of impatience, his eyes rolling slightly. "Come on, let's get out of here. We're wasting our time with these people."
As Ann released Natasha's wrist, Ovelia glanced at me, pleading with her eyes. I nodded, signaling that it was time to leave this chaos behind.
Ovelia's POV
Before we left, I had to say something to Natasha and Alessia.
"Natasha, Alessia, please tell Lorence I won't be referring to you as mother, sister, or father anymore. Thank you for making me realize that just because someone is nice to me doesn't mean they love me. Sometimes, they're just nice because they need something from me, just like you," I declared, my words firm yet laced with hurt.
I could see the fury in Natasha and Alessia's faces, but they were frozen, unable to respond or move, Ann's venomous glare pinning them down.
Ace took my hand again as we prepared to leave when suddenly, Laurence's voice boomed as he approached, his face red with anger. "Ovelia! What are you doing here?"
Alessia ran to him, her voice trembling. "Father, they're bullying us!"
Laurence opened his mouth to speak, but Ace stepped forward, his eyes locking with Laurence's.
"You're the mayor of this village, a remarkable feat considering how poor it is. But if you dare speak again, your family will be dead, right here, in front of you." Ace rippled with rage, pointing fiercely at Laurence.
I watched as Ace's eyes brightened, realizing for the first time that he was wearing contact lenses, just like Ray. Suddenly, his nails extended, morphing sharply like a werewolf's, and without another word, he turned, leading the four of us toward the wagon.
Natasha's eyes widened in terror as she witnessed Ace's nails transform. Her voice rang out, "Everyone! That merchant is a werewolf!" Panic erupted among the villagers as they dashed into their homes.
Ray clapped Ace on the back as we walked. "Nice job controlling yourself back there, Ace."
"You too," Ace replied, his voice softer yet still charged with adrenaline.
I was bewildered by their conversation but had no intention of asking questions now.
As Ace released my hand, he turned to me, and to my surprise, pulled me into a hug. I stood there, stunned.
"I don't understand why you chose to stay kind earlier. It makes me think you're naive. But maybe you're just genuinely kind. It's okay to cry now if you need to," he murmured, his eyes searching mine for understanding.
I wrapped my arms around him and whispered, "I don't know why, but I don't feel like crying anymore."
Ray interrupted us, a playful urgency in his voice, "Hey, lovebirds, save the mushy stuff for later. We need to get to Meadowlark Village before dark, remember?"
Ace let go of me, and I stepped back, blushing slightly.
"Let's go," Ace said, determination flickering in his eyes.
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept through the area. We turned our heads to see a whirlwind swirling around Laurence's house, ripping their roof off in one swift motion.
In the distance, I could see the shock and fear etched onto their faces. For some reason, relief washed over me; they were still safe.
Suddenly, a strong wind blew. "I hate them,"
"That voice... it's that you wind?!" I gasped.
The whirlwind abruptly stopped, and a deep silence enveloped us as the wind seemed to retreat.
"That was bizarre! So wind was actually following us," Ace laughed, his charming smile lighting up the gloomy moment.
"Oh, this is my first time hearing the wind speak. I can't pinpoint it as anything else; it has no smell," Ray chimed in, his curiosity piqued.
"So, it's basically just... wind?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He nodded, smiling and giving a subtle affirming gesture.
I glanced at Ann, who was staring off into space. ""Ann, you were amazing back there. I didn't know you had that side of you," I complimented her.
"Sorry, ma'am Ovelia, but that's one of the reasons I became your bodyguard and maid," Ann replied, her voice joyful and proud.
We continued walking towards the wagon, laughter echoing around us. Even though my heart ached, I knew I had to leave my past behind and forge ahead. I still wanted to be kind despite everything I had endured.
As we climbed into the wagon and departed from Timberline Village, I couldn't help but wonder what challenges awaited us on this journey.
"Ovelia, do you regret coming to Timberline Village?" Ace asked, his voice etched with concern.
I turned to him, offering a tentative smile. "Not really. I'll admit, at first I was terrified that they might cause chaos because they saw me— a human sacrifice returning to their village. But despite everything that happened earlier, I feel relieved now. I understand how they must have perceived me. It's just a bit saddening because I still don't know who my real parents are." My voice trembled with a mix of hope and sorrow.
"Don't worry, Ovelia. I'm sure the day will come when you meet them," Ann reassured, her warmth a soothing balm.
"Thank you, Ann. Let's keep looking on the bright side," I replied, trying to muster optimism.
I saw ray look at me, his expression serious."But Ovelia, can you truly forgive your non-biological parents?" Ray asked, the question hanging heavy in the air.
I fell silent, the weight of his words pressing down on me. "I don't have enough reason to forgive them. The hatred for what they did to me still lingers. I can be kind to them, but deep down, I know I can't forgive them." A wave of melancholy washed over me as I spoke.
Ace nodded, his voice firm. "That's understandable. They don't deserve your forgiveness."
Suddenly, Ray jolted the horse to a halt, causing the wagon to lurch violently. I gasped, gripping the side for support as my heart raced.
"Ray? What's wrong?" Ace's voice was taut with alarm.
Ray's gaze was locked on the road ahead, eyes wide and unblinking. "There's a man lying in the middle of the road. He's... not hurt, but he's a werewolf."
A chill swept through me. Ace's hand instinctively moved to his sword, his expression morphing into one of determination. "Stay here, Ovelia," he commanded, his voice low and urgent, before vaulting off the wagon. Ray followed, weapons drawn, tension crackling in the air.
"Be careful! He could be a bandit, playing dead, luring you in!" Ann cautioned, her tone as sharp as a blade, eyes scanning the surroundings with the precision of a hawk.
Dread coiled in my stomach, and I whispered a silent prayer, the heavy stillness outside amplifying my fears. What if this was a trap? What if we were walking into our doom? Ray and Ace approached the figure cautiously.
Instinctively, I leaned forward, my heart pounding, desperate to see what would happen next. The silence stretched out, thick with tension, every moment feeling like a countdown. Would the beast awaken? Would they unleash chaos? And why was he there, unmoving, in the middle of our path?