Chapter 41 Horrible life
ZORA
“Zora! Zora! Wait up!”
I could hear Marissa calling behind me as I raced into the dark woods without thinking, my eyes on Julie. I didn't know whether it was curiosity that powered my legs or if it was something else but I tore through the dense woods, ignoring as thin sharp branches seemed to grab me at me from all sides.
Soon, I developed several cuts in my arms, sides of my face, and ankles, but I cared less. If Julie wasn't stopping, then I wasn't as well.
What was she doing out here? I didn't want to believe this was a coincidence. It seemed like she was following me with the way she teased me, popped out of the blue, and dashed into the forest, clearly expecting me to follow.
I couldn't see her anywhere nor hear any sort of rustling, so I stopped running. Somehow, I had lost her. My chest sucked in several bouts of air as I looked around, scamning every corner and double-checking every shadow.
“H-how i-in the w-world, can you run that fast?” Marissa finally emerged, panting terribly.
I frowned at her, shaking my head. “I thought you let me chase her.”
Marissa stared at me like I had grown three twisted horns out of my head as she threw her hands in exasperation.
“Why would I let you do that? Heck! We should go back now. She's gone.”
I shook my head in refusal. “She's here. There's nowhere she'd run to. She wanted me to follow her.”
“And you did, which I don't think is a good idea. You promised you'll be back before the break of dawn.”
“Yes, I know. And we still have plenty of time. I'm not leaving here without answers.”
Marissa harrumphed, clearly annoyed. Her eyebrows were pulled together in a displeased frown. I ignored it and started walking deeper into the woods. I had no idea what to do next, but I couldn't just turn back either.
I haven't seen them since then. They didn't care, that I was certain of. They made sure to let me know. After all, I was a thrash piece they had picked up, and when they were tired, they had discarded just as easily.
They've never liked me. Alpha Ryker wasn't the only one who rejected me and picked the fake mate over me. The one who I was supposed to call family did similar.
So why was Julie here? After I escaped the pack, they hadn't made any efforts to locate me. Or had they? And the last outburst was just fake?
I mused over the possibility and scoffed at it. The idea wouldn't take a solid form in my hand. My family despised me as much as Ryker despised the idea that someone like me could be his mate.
Oh wait, they aren't my family anymore.
If Julie was here, then it didn't mean good.
“Let's just turn back Zora. We are not going further into the woods. We don't know what could be out there, and tonight is not the night we're experimenting.”
“But Marissa…”
“I'll turn back and alert the palace that you have disappeared if you don't follow me back. This is ridiculous.” Marissa turned around and started walking.
She was a servant assigned to me, but the fear of Ryker was enough to make anyone think twice about aiding someone against him or his wishes in any way.
I pursed my lips, looked around the deserted forest, and with a regrettable smile , I turned around and dragged my feet behind Marissa.
“I guess a weakling has no choice to be anything more but a weakling. Even a servant gives you orders.” Julie finally emerged out of a thicket not far from us. I glanced at Marissa. She was still a wolf. She must have caught Julie's scent but pretended.
Marissa didn't hold my accusing gaze, but I soon turned my attention to Julie.
“Why were you following me?”
“Oh, I wasn't. Why do you think so?”
“You're the one out here baiting me into following you. I believe in coincidences but not when it comes to you.”
Julie threw her head and cackled. “Nothing about you makes it worth my time stalking you. I wouldn't do it for anything in the world. For someone who's yanked into obedience by a servant, you're shameless.” She eyed Marissa. Condescendingly.
“It still doesn't explain why you are at twilight.”
“I do not answer to witches, Zora.”
My hands balled into fists at my sides. “I'm not a witch!”
“And you're definitely not a wolf. So what are you exactly, hmm? An unknown? Ever since you stepped into this pack, there's been misfortunes here and there. Only a witch can pollute a land.”
A guttural kind of growl seemed to stir in my chest, my canine elongated, but I couldn’t make it leave my lips. Instead, I glared at Julie.
“I'll give it to you. I didn’t expect you to be alive. None of us were. We were so confident that we saw it useless to make a bet. But here you are, standing in front of me in fullness and blood. Still weak, though. But imagine my surprise when you appeared” Her lips stretched into a cynical smile.
“I don't know what you're here for, but I don't have any more of my time to waste on you. Irrespective of what you think I am. Witch? Wealking?” I shrugged. “It's old news, Julie. You can rest now.” I turned around and gestured to Marissa. I was ready to head back to the palace.
I hadn't taken up to five steps away from Julie when my breath was knocked out of me from the back of my shoulder. Next thing I know, Julie grabbed my shoulder and hauled me to the other side. I hit a tree back and fell forward on my knees only to land on a rock stump.
“Aaargh!” I screamed and hissed in pain as the pointed tip of the rock slumped drove into the side of my knee, tearing the flesh first before oozing out blood.
Julie approached me, but Marissa stood in front of me.
“She belongs to Alpha Ryker, and he hasn't commanded that you touch her. You'll have him to answer and will provide reasons for your presence here in the middle of the night.” She warned.
As much as I hated being posted out as Ryker's slave, I didn't want to engage in a physical fight with Julie and it was simply because I didn't want to have to answer questions as to my whereabouts to Ryker should sustain anymore injuries.
Julie placed one hand on her hip and raised her eyebrows. Eyes glinting with mockery.
“We'll see again slave.” She chuckled and turned into the woods, dashing out of sight just like before.
I stared after her, a dump of several emotions sitting on the floor trying to stop my knee wound from bleeding.
And as Marissa helped me put of the woods, cursing under her breath, I wished the moon goddess had done something to unalive me at birth and save me from this terrible horrible life.