Chapter 88: Last Breath
Meredith hummed softly to herself as she folded the blanket and packed away the remains of their little picnic. She could faintly hear her boys laughing and playing not far off. She thought, for a brief moment, that today might turn out fine after all.
Instinctively, she glanced over at them, imagining Ksaver chasing Marcus and Daemond with his stick sword held high. But then her gaze caught a woman standing near her boys. Her son pointed a finger accusingly at Ksaver, who was now sitting on the ground, tears welling in his eyes.
Meredith's pulse quickened. “What's happening?”
The woman's sharp voice carried through the park. “How dare you!”
Before she could fully process what was happening, Meredith saw Daemond and Marcus rush to Ksaver's side. They helped their brother to his feet, standing protectively in front of him.
“You leave him alone!” Daemond shouted, his small frame trembling with fury.
Marcus’s fists balled at his sides as he echoed, “Yeah!”
The woman ignored them. She swiftly raised her hand, aiming to slap Ksaver.
“How dare you hurt my son!” she shouted.
Meredith's legs moved before her mind followed. In a few swift strides, she closed the distance and caught the woman's hand mid-air. She gripped the woman's wrist firmly.
“Don't touch my kids,” she said coldly.
The woman's eyes widened as she tried to pull her hand away, but Meredith held tightly, her anger simmering just beneath the surface.
“Your child is a monster!” the woman hissed. “Look at my son! He said your boy scratched him. He's got marks to prove it! And… and his eyes! They turned yellow, like some kind of beast!”
“What?” Meredith's stomach twisted. ‘No way...’ she told herself. ‘Not now…’
Her heart pounded as she glanced at Ksaver, whose tear-streaked face was now buried in Daemond's shoulder.
“I don't know what you think you saw,” Meredith said evenly, “but I know my son would never hurt anyone without a reason.”
The woman yanked her hand free, glaring at her. “Ask my son, then! He saw it! Your boy showed his fangs like some rabid animal and scratched him!”
The boy next to the woman nodded vigorously, holding up his arm to display a faint red mark. “It's true! He growled at me and tried to bite me!”
Ksaver sobbed quietly, trembling as he clutched Daemond's sleeve. “Mama, I didn't mean—”
Meredith crouched down, holding a hand up to gently silence Ksaver. Her anger boiled beneath her skin, but her priority was protecting her boys.
“Let's get one thing straight,” she said, turning her icy glare back to the woman. “You don't get to accuse my child without proof. That little scratch on your son's arm? It could've come from anything—a branch, a fall, his own nails. But you don't get to blame my son just because he's not from here.”
The woman's lips curled. “He's dangerous! Monsters like him shouldn't even be in this village!”
Meredith straightened to her full height, her presence commanding despite her small frame.
“Enough,” she said. “We're not monsters. And you don't know anything about us. You don't know what we've been through. And you certainly don't get to judge my sons.”
She turned to her boys, her heart aching at their frightened faces. “Come here,” she said softly.
Daemond and Marcus each took one of Ksaver's arms, guiding him to their mother's side. Meredith placed a protective arm around Ksaver's shoulders.
“I swear...” She looked back at the woman and added through gritted teeth, “If you ever try to lay a hand on my kids again, I'll kill you...”
The woman huffed hesitantly, grabbing her son by the wrist and pulling him away.
“We'll see what the village council has to say about this!” she called over her shoulder.
Meredith didn't flinch, her focus entirely on her boys. She knelt down and gently cupped Ksaver's tear-streaked face.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?”
Ksaver nodded, sniffling reluctantly.
“I didn't mean to. He said we don't have a Papa because nobody wants us. And then I...” He paused, wiping the tears from his cheeks. “What's happening to me, Mama?” he asked. “Am I… a monster?”
“No, of course not.” Meredith's heart broke at his words, but she pushed it aside. “You listen to me,” she said firmly, looking into Ksaver's eyes. “You are not weird, and you are not alone. You have me, and you have each other. No one can take that away from you, Ksaver.”
Daemond and Marcus both nodded, their small hands clutching at Ksaver protectively.
“We'll always protect him, Mama,” Daemond said fiercely.
“That's my brave boys.” Meredith's voice softened as she pulled them all into a tight hug.
Suddenly, she noticed the whispers and glares from the onlookers. Her grip on Ksaver tightened as the curious crowd gathered around them. Before she could say a word, a large man pushed through the crowd.
He stormed toward them, his eyes locking onto Ksaver. Without hesitation, he grabbed the boy's arm roughly, jerking him forward.
“Say sorry to my son!” he ordered.
Ksaver yelped, his tear-streaked face contorting in fear. Meredith's instincts surged immediately. She lunged forward, her hands grasping the man's arm.
“Let him go!” she pleaded. “He's just a child!”
“So what?” The man turned his glare on her, tightening his grip on Ksaver. “Your child hurt mine!”
“But—”
“Well...” From behind him, the woman reappeared. “You think you can just walk away after what your monster of a son did?” She smirked. “The council is already on their way. Let's see how you explain this to them.”
Meredith's heart raced as she pulled Ksaver into her arms, shielding him. Daemond and Marcus clung to her skirts.
“Mama, I'm scared…” Marcus whispered.
Meredith could feel the weight of the crowd's stares pressing down on her, their murmurs growing louder.
Then, something changed. A faint scent wafted through the air. Her head throbbed as a sudden wave of dizziness overtook her. She staggered backward, clutching her sons tighter.
Her senses sharpened as she recognized the acrid scent. It weakened her, making her knees buckle. Her breath quickened as she realized the truth.
They knew.
The crowd parted, and rugged men stepped forward. Their hands carried silver knives, chains, and nets.
‘Hunters’, Meredith thought, her stomach churning wildly.
She instinctively pushed her boys behind her with trembling hands.
One of the men stepped closer.
“So,” he drawled with a sinister smile, “you really thought you could hide among us, did you?”
Meredith's voice trembled, but she forced herself to stand tall.
“I don't know what you're talking about,” she said. “Please, let us go.”
The man chuckled darkly.
“Don't play dumb. We know what you are. And your brats.” He gestured toward Ksaver, who cowered behind her. “Caught one of them showing his true nature, didn't we?”
Meredith tried to think of a way out, but the scent made her thoughts swirl. Every breath felt like fire in her lungs.
“Leave us alone!” Meredith managed to shout. “We've done nothing to any of you! Please!”
The crowd murmured angrily. Another man stepped forward, his silver chain glinting ominously.
“You think we'd let your kind roam free? You're dangerous. A threat to everyone here.”
The first hunter smirked. “Hand over the pups, and maybe we'll go easy on you.”
Meredith's blood ran cold. Her boys clung to her legs with their small hands.
“Never,” she said firmly, despite the fear threatening to consume her. “You'll have to go through me first.”
The hunters exchanged looks. “Suit yourself,” one of them sneered.
As they encircled her, Meredith's heart pounded. She could feel her boys' tiny bodies pressed against her as if trying to meld into her for safety.
She whispered to them, “When I say so, you run as fast as you can. Do you understand me?”
Daemond's lip quivered. “But Mama…”
“Shh... Just listen to me. I'll find you. I promise...”
The hunters raised their weapons, and Meredith felt her muscles loosen, preparing herself. She would fight.
For her sons, she would fight until her last breath.