Chapter 89: Silent Prayer
Meredith's heart thundered as she knelt down, gently cupping her son's cheeks.
“Boys, listen to me,” she said. “You're going to run through the forest, stay together, and don't stop until you're far away. Do you hear me?”
Daemond clung to her shaking hand, his wide eyes glistening with tears. “Mama, we don't want to leave you!”
“You have to,” she said firmly, glancing at Ksaver and Marcus, who nodded hesitantly. “Be brave. Look out for each other, no matter what. Now go!”
“But…”
She pushed them gently, and they hesitated for a heartbeat before turning and sprinting toward the tree line.
Daemond led the way, his hand gripping Marcus’s tightly, while Ksaver brought up the rear, his small legs pumping furiously. They glanced at her one last time before they were swallowed by shadows.
“Don't let them escape!” the rugged men shouted, and a few broke off to run after them.
But Meredith moved before they could get far, stepping into their path.
“You're not touching them!” she roared, glaring darkly at them.
The lead hunter sneered, his silver chain swinging ominously.
“Out of the way,” he said. “You can't protect them forever.”
Meredith dropped into a defensive stance and raised her fisted hands. “Try me…”
With a guttural yell, the first man lunged at her. He slashed his silver blade through the air, but she quickly sidestepped.
Her fist connected with his jaw in a bone-crunching blow. He stumbled back, clutching his face as blood trickled from his split lip.
Another man charged, swinging a net. Meredith ducked under it and grabbed the edge, yanking it from his grasp before using it to trip him. The crowd shouted, cheering for the hunters as if it were a game.
“Kill the monster!” a woman screamed. “Make her pay!”
Meredith blocked out their words. Her focus was entirely on the hunters surrounding her. Her movements were swift, but the strange scent lingering around slowly weakened her. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, and her limbs felt heavier with each passing moment.
One of the men swung a chain at her legs, and she jumped back, narrowly avoiding it. But another came from behind, his silver blade grazing her arm. She hissed as the wound burned. The silver seemed to sear her flesh.
What is this?
“Getting tired, aren't you?” the tall hunter taunted, circling her like a predator.
Meredith ignored him, her eyes darting toward the forest. She couldn't see her boys anymore, but she hoped they had made it far enough.
Then she glanced back at the muscular men.
“Come on!” she said hoarsely. “Is this the best you've got?”
The hunters hesitated, momentarily thrown off by her. But it didn't last long. They smirked as they repositioned themselves. Their weapons gleamed in the moonlight as they prepared to attack once more.
Meredith squared her shoulders and wiped the blood from her arm. Her body ached, her vision blurred slightly, but she stood her ground.
“I won't let them pass,” she whispered to herself.
The leader sneered and raised his blade. “You really think you can win against all of us, don't you?”
Meredith's lips curled into a small smile. “I don't,” she said firmly. “But I'll make sure you remember me.”
With a fierce cry, she charged at them, fighting with every ounce of strength she had left. Her fists flew despite the burning pain coursing through her entire system.
She knocked one hunter to the ground with a kick, then spun to block another's blade with her forearm, but the silver scorched her skin.
Her growl tore through the night like a wild beast.
The toxic scent thickened every time she breathed. Her eyes began to blur. Her limbs grew heavier as the hunters began to outmaneuver her.
One of them managed to land a blow, his silver-tipped club smashing into her side. She stumbled, clutching her ribs, until she fell to her knees.
She tried to call for her wolf, but the wolf did not respond.
“I can’t transform…” she thought. “Why?”
The crowd's cheers and jeers echoed around her.
“She’s slowing down!”
“Take her down already!”
“Chain her like the animal she is!”
Meredith clenched her teeth, forcing herself to rise back to her feet. She thought of her lovely sons, and it was enough for her to keep standing.
‘If I die,’ she thought as tears began to fall on her cheeks, ‘who else will love and take care of them?’
But another hunter swung a silver chain at her legs, wrapping it tightly around her ankle. He yanked, and she fell hard to the ground, her knees scraping against the dirt.
“No!” she roared, thrashing wildly.
A net was thrown over her, its silver threads burning her skin wherever they touched. She screamed but clawed at it, trying to tear it away.
Another hunter stepped forward, driving the butt of his weapon into her back, forcing her down.
“Stay down, mutt!” he barked.
Meredith's chest heaved as she tried to push herself up. But her muscles refused to cooperate. She was surrounded now, the hunters circling her like vultures.
One of them carried a set of thick chains coated in silver, the links gleaming faintly.
“She’s done,” the leader said with a smile. “Chain her up.”
“No!” Meredith growled, summoning the last of her strength to swipe at the nearest man.
Her nails slashed across his arm, drawing blood. He howled and staggered back, but it only fueled the others’ fury.
“Hold her still!” another hunter shouted. “We can’t let her wolf take over!”
Several of them pinned her arms and legs down violently. Meredith thrashed beneath them.
“You can't take me!” she cried. “You can't touch my boys!”
They wrapped the silver chains around her wrists. The metal seared into her flesh, drawing smoke where it touched. Meredith let out a guttural cry as they secured her ankles next, ensuring she couldn't move.
The leader crouched down in front of her. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him.
“You put up quite the fight,” he said mockingly. “But it's over now. You're coming with us.”
Meredith's tear-filled eyes glared at him. “You'll never get them,” she rasped. “They’ll be safe... far away from monsters like you.”
The man smirked. “Oh, don’t worry. We’ll find them soon enough.”
Her heart clenched at his words. It was all too much, and she could no longer bear it. As the hunters dragged her away, her gaze lifted to the forest.
A silent prayer escaped her lips.
“Run, my babies,” she whispered. “Run and never look back…”