Chapter 75 Chapter 74
Evelyn.
"Yes, there was. Immediately after the moon goddess festival. Ethan was badly injured. I was so worried about him and now there's this." She told me.
I glanced back at the empty corridor, gently shaking my head. I couldn't stay idle, knowing that the Alpha King's life hung in the balance. As soon as Duke Ethan left, I couldn't ignore my instincts any longer. Gathering every ounce of courage I had, I decided to venture into the forest alone to look for him. "I have to go now. I need to look for him myself." I told Amaris, running through the corridors. She screamed at me to stop but I paid her no heed, heading straight to the forest.
The forest lay in eerie stillness, the shadows deepening as I ventured further away from the castle. My every step felt like an echo in a deserted realm. I called for Kieran's name, my voice breaking the silence. But there was no response, only the rustling of leaves in the wind. Tears stung my eyes andy lips trembled viscously but I couldn't give up now.
It was when I reached a clearing bathed in the poor light coming from the sun that I sensed a presence. A low growl rumbled through the forest and my heart leaped into my throat as I turned to see a monstrous wolf emerging from the shadows.
I froze, terror gripping me. The wolf's eyes were crazed, its fur matted and filthy. It looked nothing like the majestic wolves of our kingdom. My blood curdled in my veins when I discovered it to be the wolf that had saved me earlier, the one I had also gone on runs with. He looked nothing like that, as he glowered at me with unrecognizable eyes, snarling loudly. In that moment, I realized that something had gone terribly wrong with it, something had driven this creature to madness.
The wolf lunged at me, its jaws snapping with a ferocity that sent a rush of adrenaline coursing through me. I tried to run but my legs wouldn't cooperate me so I just fell to the floor. Elongating it's claws, it scratched my arm but I was too shocked to scream or even cry. Tackling me to the ground, it stood over me, it's drool dripping over my face as my heart pounding in my chest. This wolf is going to tear me apart, there was no mercy in it's eyes. But just as I thought my life was about to end, another wolf, slightly smaller and more composed, appeared out of nowhere and tackled the crazed beast. They fought savagely, a whirlwind of fur and fangs.
Overwhelmed by the sight and the lurking fear, I staggered back, unable to look away. It was an horrible battle, with the crazed wolf having the upper hand most of the time. I tried scream but no sounds would come out of my mouth, my arms already coated with my blood, my head growing dizzy.
A couple more wolves appeared and continued to fight it, doing their best to tackle it to the ground but even with their numerous numbers, they weren't enough for it, in it maddened state, it was still stronger. A moment later massive javelins flew through the air, aiming straight to the rogue wolf and piercing its skin, lodging deep into it's muscles. It let out a pain-filled howl and only then did my mouth cooperate with me, a shrill scream escaping my lips. It collapsed to the ground with a thud, the floor trembling at the impact. They quickly bounnded it, the javelin still lodged deep into it's flesh. I screamed, crying for them to stop, tears streaming down my face.
But the sudden intensity of the situation became too much for me. The world spun around me, and voices becoming distant, I fell to the ground and everything went dark.
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My eyelids felt heavy and I struggled to push them open to no avail. Someone was sobbing quietly beside me and it felt like body had been run over, my throat parched. Eventually, I managed to flutter them open and was greeted with the sight of Amaris crying for me. She second she saw that I was awake, her eyes widened in relief before anger raged in them.
"Why did you do that!?" She screamed at me, causing me to flinch, closing my eyes. My body still felt sluggish. She saw my reaction and calmed down a bit, but her lips were still trembling badly. "I told you not to go! Look at you now, you're hurt badly!" She cried hardly, gesturing to my bandaged arm.
Slowly, I turned to the arm in question, wondering where I got it from. Memories of it flooded my mind and all the blood drained from my face. The wolf. I struggled to get to my feet, panic flaring through me. What did they do to it!?
"Where are you going?!" Amaris asked when she saw me stand to my feet. I just ignored her, hurrying out of the room. She immediately went ahead of me, blocking my way.
"I asked a question, Evelyn. Where are you going?"
"The Wolf. Do you know what they did to it? Where is it!?" I barked at her and she scrunched up her face in confusion.
"The wolf? What wolf!?" She questioned me. I darted my gaze around, furtively licking my lips.
"Where's Duke Ethan? I need to speak to him..." I muttered, immediately bypassing her and rushing out of the room. She was hot on my heels but I barely paid any attention to her. I found Duke Ethan in the hallways and immediately rushed to him. He saw me approaching and paused in his steps, wondering what's wrong.
"The wolf, where is it? What did you do to it!?" I asked him, staring at him with frantic eyes. He just gazed back at me, befuddled. I shook him with my pain free hands, loosing my mind. "What did you do it!!? Have you killed it!"
"No, of course not! It was the only way we could restrain it!" He replied back, his voice low but firm but I wasn't listening, my heart shredding to pieces.
"That wolf is my friend. Where did you put it? I want to see it!" I yelled even louder, my voice resounding in the hallways. He stiffened then, his eyes widening.
"Friend?" He repeated, gazing at me with an inscrutable look on his face. I nodded vehemently, still holding on to him. "That's... That's the Alpha King." He revealed, his voice quiet.
My grip on him slackened as my hand fell to my side and I took a step back, harsh cold seeping through my skin. "The wolf... Is the Alpha King?" I whispered and he nodded. I gasped, my heart squeezing in my chest.
What!?