Chapter 87
Kane's POV
Blaze didn't hesitate.
My wolf tore free from beneath my skin, black fur erupting across my body in an instant. The moment my four paws hit the ground, that Blood River warrior hadn't even processed what was happening before my claws ripped his throat open.
Blood sprayed across the dilapidated wooden door.
The warrior's body crumpled, not even managing a scream.
His eyes bulged wide, as if even in death he couldn't understand why a massive wolf had suddenly appeared in this godforsaken place.
The girl collapsed to the ground, eyes locked on me. Her lips trembled, trying to make a sound, but only broken whimpers escaped. The old woman was terrified too, sprawled on the ground with her hand over her mouth, frozen in place.
Shit.
I'd forgotten I was currently a nearly seven-foot-tall black wolf with blood dripping from my fangs. To these two defenseless civilians, I was no different from the bastard I'd just killed—maybe worse.
Tears welled in the girl's eyes. She stared at me, then at the corpse on the ground, her lips moving like she was about to cry out.
"Don't make a sound."
I shifted back to human form quickly, crouching down shirtless and clamping one hand over the girl's mouth.
Her body shook violently, tears sliding through my fingers.
I lowered my voice, trying to sound as unthreatening as possible. "Don't cry, don't make a sound. If the guards hear us, we're all done for."
The girl stared at me with wide eyes.
Her cheeks flushed crimson—whether from fear or because I was too close, I couldn't tell. My bare chest nearly pressed against her shoulder, my breath hitting her ear.
Her body went rigid as stone, but at least she didn't make another sound.
"Dorothy, don't be afraid." The old woman finally recovered, struggling to her feet with a hoarse voice. "He saved you."
I released my hand and the girl immediately stumbled back several steps, wrapping her arms tightly around herself.
Her gaze flickered between me and the corpse.
I sighed, standing up and turning to the old woman.
"Quick, drag the body inside." The old woman's reaction was unexpectedly calm. She gestured urgently to me and the girl, speaking rapidly. "Dorothy, help! Before anyone notices, hurry!"
I bent down and grabbed the warrior's ankle, dragging the corpse into the house. Dorothy hesitated, but eventually came to help. Her hands trembled, but she moved quickly. The three of us shoved the body into the far corner of the room while the old woman covered the bloodstains with rags.
Once we'd finished, the old woman walked to the door, peeked outside to make sure no one had noticed, then shut it firmly.
"Thank you." The old woman turned and bowed deeply to me. "Thank you for saving my granddaughter. I'm Faye Webb, and this is Dorothy Webb."
Dorothy stood behind her, head lowered, hands clutching her skirt tightly.
Her face was still red, unable to look at me.
"Don't mention it," I said curtly, my gaze falling on Faye's arm.
She'd started to lean against the doorframe but suddenly pulled her arm back, pain flickering across her face.
I frowned. "Are you hurt?"
Faye hesitated, then slowly rolled up her sleeve.
I saw the brand.
A blood-red wolf claw mark, seared deep into her aged skin, the edges of flesh charred black. It was Blood River Pack's mark—they used red-hot irons to stamp this brand on all conquered civilians, like branding livestock.
"Everyone has one," Faye said quietly, lowering her sleeve. "Men, women, old folks, children. If you're still breathing, you get marked."
My fists clenched involuntarily.
"They say it's proof of 'belonging,'" Dorothy added in a small voice, trembling slightly. "That we belong to Blood River now and must obey their commands."
I pushed down the rage churning inside me.
I wasn't here to vent my anger. I had more important things to do.
"I need to ask you something," I said, keeping my tone as even as possible. "About Lightning Wolf Pack's past. Do you know Chloe Flores? She was the Alpha's daughter."
Faye blinked, then shook her head. "I'm just an ordinary woman. I don't know much about the Alpha families. Those important people—we common folks rarely knew about their business."
"Lightning Wolf Pack always let the men make the decisions," Dorothy said softly. "Women just handled the household, didn't worry about outside affairs. So... we really don't know much about the Alpha's daughter."
My heart sank.
"Is there anyone who would know?" I pressed. "Anyone who understands the past? Anyone at all?"
Faye fell silent for a moment, furrowing her brow in thought.
Just when I thought she'd shake her head too, Dorothy suddenly spoke up. "Grandma, we're forgetting someone."
"What?" Faye turned to her.
"That old monster," Dorothy said quietly, a flicker of fear in her eyes. "The one living in the old wolf house."
Faye's expression changed. She nodded slowly, as if suddenly remembering. "Right... there's him."
"Who?" I demanded.
"At the edge of the village, in the old wolf house, there's an elderly male werewolf," Faye said slowly, unease creeping into her voice. "His hair and beard are all matted, like a wild man. They say he's the only surviving male werewolf from Lightning Wolf Pack."
"Why didn't Blood River kill him?" I asked.
"Because he's insane," Dorothy answered, her voice barely above a whisper. "He runs around shouting that he's seen his son, that his son's come back. The Blood River soldiers think he's just a crazy old man and can't be bothered with him."
My heartbeat quickened.
"Is he really insane?"
"I don't know," Faye said, shaking her head. "But you might not be able to get clear answers from him. Still... he's the only one who might know about the Alpha's daughter."
I took a deep breath. "Take me to him."
Faye looked at me and nodded. "Dorothy, you take him. I can't move well—I'll clean up here first."
"Wait." Something occurred to me. "I killed that warrior. Won't that cause you trouble?"
A bitter smile tugged at Faye's lips. "Don't worry. Blood River soldiers are lazy and undisciplined. There are plenty of wild beasts in Lightning Wolf Pack territory—we'll say a beast got him. They won't bother investigating."
I nodded and turned to Dorothy.
The girl kept her head down, face still flushed, but she'd stopped trembling. "Follow me," she said quietly.
I followed her out of the house, deeper into the ruins.
Night fell heavier, wind howling through the broken walls of the canyon, releasing mournful cries. Dorothy walked ahead, her silhouette painfully small in the moonlight.
Watching her thin frame, I suddenly thought of Ella.
Ella had been just as small when she was in Blood River.
She'd been dragged around too, threatened, treated like a plaything. And I... I'd saved her, only to push her into another hell with my own hands.
I shook my head, forcing those thoughts away.
Now wasn't the time for this.
I needed to find that old man, find clues about Chloe Flores. Only then could I understand my mother's past.