Chapter 20

RANDALL POV

It had been three days since I was released from my cave and I was no closer to getting home, than I have been for the past three days. Everything had changed so I was a bit disoriented and couldn’t track my way so the only thing I did was stumble on some small preys and feast on them just to keep myself awake and alive. Every since I was in that cave, I couldn’t feel hunger but now that I was free, the hunger pangs came with full force and every minutes I was always stuffing my stomach with foods I could find.

I could still remember my family back then. It was a peaceful loving family until everything changed and my mum went psycho. She killed my father and cursed me and sealed me in a cave far away invisible to the human eyes. I didn’t know what she did to my brother Adrian, but she was going to pay. I vaguely remember the pack’s name Wood Creek. That was the pack, I grew up in, the pack that was turned into a hell by my own mother. I closed my eyes shaking away the bad memories, I hoped that nothing bad must have happened to my brother. If my mother was still alive, I was going to kill her, and make sure that the wild animals feed on her dead body. And I would not stop there, I would reclaim my pack from her, kill off all her coven and go after every last female witch in the world. I will track them down and kill them all. They will pay.

I held this resolute in my head as I staggered down the windy part. A lot of things had changed so I wasn’t sure of where I was going. I couldn’t smell anyone and although my wolf was fully awake after feasting on a human for the first time, he was too weak to transform.

We have been cursed to survive as both human and werewolf at the same time, we couldn’t switch back, so I still had my werewolf eyes which was red, my long claws and long toe nails and also my growl showing that my wolf was a part of me, and changing back was difficult if not impossible.

I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to be able to switch or if I would be stuck like this, but I didn’t care. I had grown to love this part of me and I was cool with it. I only hoped that Adrian wasn’t suffering a fate worse than death just like I did.

I got to a stream and stopped. I was parched and it was already getting late. I decided to spend the night here. I removed my clothes and stepped into the cool river and did my best to wash the dirt off my body. I scrubbed hard and washed my face and hair making sure that I was neat. I then proceeded to scrub my clothes with a little bit of water so that it would dry faster. While it dried I waited by the bank meditating, hoping to see if something would come my way.

I later wore my clothes and made my way through the shrubs. I was looking for something to eat, anything at this moment. But I was quite unlucky. I heard the sound of a twig snapping and I quickly hid myself. I checked closely on where the noise was coming from and I saw an old woman who was dragging some firewood and she seemed to be alone. I decided to leave but on a second thought, it was late and her house wasn’t seen. Since I wasn’t in a hurry to get home, I decided to help her and I came out of the woods.

“Who is there?” Her frail voice called out and I raised my hands to show that I wasn’t a threat and said,

“Good evening kind ma. I am just passing by and I saw that you were alone. Do you need help with the load? It seems quite heavy.” I said as she looked down at the firewood and said,

“Yes I do, thank you kind soul. I have been living here all my life and nobody has ever asked to help me.” She said as I took the load from her hand and followed her at her pace.

She trudged forward with a walking stick, but I wasn’t sure if she was looking it as a support or as a guide. It was too dark to tell if she was blind or not, but since she hasn’t commented on my eyes which was a dark red, it was safe to say her eyesight was bad.

Some miles later, we finally stumbled onto a hut, where smoke could be seen coming from the roof and we stopped. I helped her to fix the firewood in the fire and she thanked me. I turned to leave when she said,

“My son…wait I have something for you.” She said as I turned around and saw that she was trying to give me something in a vial.

“Take this, this will help you. It is best if you drink it.” She said as I looked at her suspiciously. I didn’t know what this vial contained yet it seemed like something dug out of a witch’s cabinet. Was she a witch? I frowned as I wanted to resist but she shook her head and said in a more soothing voice.

“Drink, and sleep.” It was as if my limbs were suddenly tired. I obediently opened the vial and drank everything in one gulp.

The bottle fell from my hand as I held my stomach, I felt this excruciating pain as if someone was stabbing me uncontrollably with a knife.

“What…did…you…do?” I asked trying to reach her as she just smiled and mouthed with her mouth.

Sleep.

And just like that I was thrown into the pit of darkness once more.