White Heart Lane

Gabriel POV:

I unsheathed my dagger slowly, my eyes were fixated on the abomination right in front me. It was also watching my every move, at that moment there was a thin line between who was the predator and the prey. The atmosphere was filled with tension and the strong stench of the wolfs bane filled up my nostrils.

I steadied myself anticipating its lunge at me, instead it turned around and made a run for the wood.

“You are not getting away”

I threw the dagger hard with anger filled precision. My heart sank as I watched the dagger miss it by a hair breadth and pierced into a nearby tree. It disappeared into the wood in a heartbeat. I knew chasing it was futile, it would easily outrun me.

I've had a couple of wolves escaped me over the years, but none filled me with so much pain and self disgust like this one. I stared blankly towards the direction it disappeared, wishing for a second I had their speed.

“I promised to protect her and failed” I muttered to myself

The deep hatred for werewolves was engraved in my heart before today, but now it burns, it burns like a furnace roaring with intensity. And so, I stood there, a broken guardian haunted by the memory of a promise unkept, weight of regret and self-disgust was now a part of me, a scar carved into my soul.

I retrieved my dagger from the nearby tree.

“Let's go, Jack, we should at bury her body properly. I shouldn't allow those vile beasts to feed her flesh. I owe her at least that”

I scrambled over rocks, pushed through thorny underbrush, every step down that treacherous cliff felt like a descent into my own personal abyss. I reached the bottom, the desolate landscape stretched before me, a stark reminder my job hasn't gotten any easier. I traced the trajectory of where she had fallen from.

My heart raced as I reached the spot where I had expected to find her lifeless body. Instead, there were only footprints imprinted in the dirt. I was utterly confused.

“Did someone carry her dead body already? Or did she walk off?”

I knew the former was more likely than the latter, but I prayed silently she did walk off herself. And if she didn't, whoever took her body would have to return her dead or nor, or face my wrath.

I followed the tracks, my anxiety grew with each step, not knowing what I would discover at the end of this trail. And then, through the tangled branches and undergrowth, I saw her lying unconscious on the ground. Relief flooded through me, a momentary respite from the anguish that had gripped me. But my relief was short-lived, for my eyes were drawn to the scene that unfolded before me.

Three men on horseback had encircled her, their intentions unclear. I recognized them as the General's with embel on their chest. I knew I couldn't dive head into the situation headfirst, there was the possibility of being arrested for murdering a woman who was trying to get away, there might not be enough evidence to prove otherwise.

“What are those assholes doing here?” I muttered

I hid behind a tree and watched on, my breath caught in my throat as I strained to hear their words. Fear and anger intertwined within me, a mixture of emotions that spurred me to stay hidden, to gather information before I acted.

Their voices reached me in fragments carried by the wind, harsh laughter, mocking taunts. One of them got off his horse and knelt down beside her.

He stumbled a bit to the back startled “She is still alive” he announced, with more fear than delight.

A shockwave of emotions rippled through my heart, Relief, hope, and a renewed sense of urgency surged within me. I wasn't interested in how she survived the fall, no human should survive that, I was too happy to care.

“Great, the General will reward us more for bringing her in alive”

"Oh' no we aren't. I heard she's extremely dangerous and came so close to killing the general. We should simply kill her and get it over with”

“Stop being a Coward Arthur, don't you want a big reward”

“I want to survive and avoid any complications” he snapped back

“She will be tied you chicken!”

“No, I refuse” Arthur insisted

“Most often than not, I do wonder how you got to be in the General's army. Afraid of a woman? Such a disgrace.”

“I am stronger and by far a better fighter than you, I am ready to take you on any day of your miserable life” Arthur snapped back. He was poised, ready for a brawl.

“We are taking her alive and that's final”

“Well, the decision isn't up to you, is it?” Arthur retorted, not ready to back down.

“Arthur, stop acting like an idiot and Lancelot, stop being a dick to your brother. Can both of you simply go a day without squabbling like little kids”

“He started it” they both whined like kids.

I would have let out a chuckle if I weren't in such a grime situation.

“Arthur is right, if she is half as dangerous as reported, we need not take unnecessary risks. Besides, taking her unconscious body back will be quite a drag. You can cut her head off, Arthur, We will get as much reward delivering her head.”

“With pleasure sir” Arthur replied,

“No, I will do it. He doesn't have the stomach to do it” Lancelot said, he also jumped down from his horse.

I couldn't bear to hear another word of their vile conversation. The mere mention of cutting her head off was a line that sent shockwaves of horror through my being. It was now or never, the moment to launch myself from the shadows.

I signalled to Jack to stay put, I didn't want to risk him getting hurt. He understood his perfectly and sat without making a sound.

I lunged out of from behind the tree, running like a whirlwind towards them. The element of surprise was on my side, their faces twisted in shock and bemusement as I materialized, my presence unexpected and sudden.

The first man, the one who had confirmed her survival and had insisted on her being killed, turned toward me in astonishment, but before he could react, my fist connected with his jaw, the impact reverberating through my knuckles and up my arm. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious, without a sound.

Without hesitation, I pivoted to face the second man I figured was Lancelot, his eyes wide with disbelief. His hand instinctively went for the weapon at his side, but I was faster. With a swift kick to his wrist, the weapon clattered to the ground. A powerful uppercut followed, silencing him as he slumped to the earth.

The third man, the sole man still on horse back and seemingly their leader, had calmly watched everything unfold in front of him.

“What do you think you are doing, young man?" He demanded with a furrowed brow.

“You do realize, you just knocked out the General's men and the punishment for such transgressions is death by hanging."

“Yes, I know”

“Then I arrest you on the name of the General, if you surrender now, I promise to grant you leniency not clemency”

“Will you shut up already” I rudely cut him off

I saw the spark of rage in his eyes as he unsheathed his sword.

It was clear as daylight he was different from his companions, his eyes flickered with a hint of calculated skill as he unsheathed his sword with a smooth, practiced motion, the glint of the blade caught the sunlight, casting an ominous gleam.

“Don't blame me for your death” He said, pointing his sword towards me.

I knew I had to be more careful, this wasn't a reckless adversary like the others.

I reached for my dagger, but returned it. I knew I couldn't kill the general's men, assaulting them already carried a death penalty, the whole mountain will burn for it if their dead bodies is found.

I clenched my fist, poised ready for him.