Hailey's POV
Reiden's wolf—Blade—howled, signaling a halt. We—Reiden, Cameron, Bianca, Davis, some royal guards, and I—were out in wolf form, not hunting but searching for goblins. Ridiculous, right? Wouldn't it have been better if she simply disappeared?
A loud howl tore through the clouds. Blade stopped instinctively, as did we. Davis communicated through our pack's telepathic link. "That's Cole," he informed us, though Reiden likely already knew. Cole's call carried imminent danger, and Davis, as his beta, could sense it clearly.
"It's coming from Willow Creek?" Cameron asked. "Isn't it dangerous in there? Why would Cole be—" His voice trailed off. My mind suddenly remembered Cole. Oh no… Cole went in search of Olivia, I blurted, catching everyone's attention.
"Do we go back for backup? It is Willow Creek—" Bianca began.
Reiden growled, cutting her off. "No time! Move—NOW!" He sprinted ahead, and we followed, feeling the oppressive energy of the forest pressing against us. It was powerful, unparalleled even by the King's aura. Blade's seven-foot body, draped in midnight fur, tore through the night air—but suddenly, he stopped.
I looked ahead and froze. My blood ran cold, my face drained of color in horror. A group of towering, powerful Lycans stood before us, their claws and dagger-like teeth stained with blood that smelled hauntingly familiar. No! I thought, hoping desperately it wasn't what I feared.
Then my eyes landed on a figure lying motionless on the ground, blood pooling around him.
"Cole…" I whispered softly, tears welling. My precious Cole lay bruised and beaten, fur stained in his own blood, barely alive. Out of impulse, I called his name.
The Lycans instantly spotted us. Their glares sent shivers down my spine. Had I just blown our cover? Cameron and Davis glared at me. Unknowingly, I had put all our lives—and Cole's—in danger. They readied to fight when Reiden stopped us all.
"Don't," he said. "You're all too weak. Stay here. Wait for my order. Then you can extract Cole and Olivia. Got it?"
Without waiting for a response, he leapt forward, releasing his alpha aura. Some Lycans recoiled slightly, intimidated. The leader growled in anger, stepping forward to meet Reiden head-on. The battle was brutally bloody, but Reiden barely exerted effort. Realizing defeat, the Lycans retreated.
"Want to run? Too late!" Reiden scoffed, chasing at incredible speed. Davis and Bianca followed under his command while Cameron and I stayed behind. I ran to Cole's side, dropping beside him. Tears rolled down my cheeks. My only consolation—he was still alive.
Cameron ignored us, moving ahead as if hypnotized. Through his eyes, I saw it—a breathtaking figure bathed in light amidst the darkness. Ethereal, unearthly, divine.
"Wow," Cameron whispered. I was beyond shocked to recognize her. Olivia?! we both exclaimed, his awe and my shock mixing.
No! How could this goblin turn out so beautiful? Anger and hate boiled within me. I slowly drew a dagger, advancing toward her. I had to kill her—she was a threat: to my kingdom, my pride, my favor, but most importantly, to Cole and me.
"Ahh!" I screamed, rushing forward, ready to end this and reclaim what was mine.
Meanwhile, deep in the forest
Blade chased the Lycans, fiercely and relentlessly, while Bianca and Davis's wolves followed.
"What the hell do you want?" the Lycan growled, dodging Reiden's attack.
"What I want?" Reiden paused, releasing a surge of power that pressed down on the Lycans, slowing them. "You… are dead."
He slashed through several Lycans in a single move, their growls of pain echoing through the forest. "How dare the lowly Lycan race hurt my brother! You all deserve to die!" He launched another full-scale attack, severely injuring them.
Ahead, the forest split into two, and the other side held far more dangerous creatures, their auras felt even here. "Fall back to the inner forest!" the Lycan leader commanded, knowing it was their only chance. Blade tried to catch up, but they leapt across the divide. He stopped at the edge, watching them disappear. "Fall back," he ordered, and they obeyed—this part of the woods wasn't wolf territory.
Back at Willow Creek
"Hailey, what are you doing?!" Cameron shouted, grabbing my wrist to stop me.
"Let me go, Cameron! I order you!"
"Hailey, you've gone completely nuts!"
"No! I haven't! I must eradicate her—she's a threat! The King said so himself!" I retorted, struggling against him.
"He didn't say kill her, Hailey! He said find her!" Cameron argued.
Damn! I cursed inwardly. Fine. If you insist on being a nuisance, I can handle you first. A cruel smile curved my lips as I struck, severing his arm.
He fell, growling in pain. "Hailey… you're a monster!"
I ignored him, moving closer to my prey. "I can't believe it… finally, the day has come. I end you, you wretched wench." I lunged forward—but before I could strike, a hand grabbed my wrist from behind, releasing an oppressive aura that made me tremble in fear and submission. My eyes widened as I met the cold, merciless gaze of the person holding me.