Benita.
"Hold still, Father," My trembling hands tried their best to stop the bleeding wound. "You'll be fine. Just hold still."
He caught my wrist. His grip was weak but steady enough to stop me. "Benita… listen to me."
I shook my head, tears stinging. "Don't. Don't talk like that. You promised you'd teach me the Crescent Formation after this."
He smiled faintly, a broken, painful thing. "My brave girl… sometimes, a leader's lesson comes through loss."
I turned my head swiftly a I. heard another cry or should I say shout, making me see that many bodies were lying on the ground, some injured, some bleeding and some dead.
If I hadn't hidden myself and just obeyed, all this could have been avoided. I stared at my father once more, relief washing over me as I was glad I came out on time otherwise...
My hatred for this man grew bigger at the thought of what could have happened.
He was no other than Fred Cole, the alpha of Bloodfang pack. A psychopath whom everyone dreads.
Fred Cole's men were everywhere. Their armor was brighter than the moon as it glowed.
Rising up to my feet with a tense shoulder, my eyes darted to the center of the field where Fred stood, tall, clean, and monstrous in his calm. His white coat is as clean as snow regardless of the blood spill everywhere.
"Bring her forward!" he barked.
Two of his warriors dragged me closer. I stumbled but refused to fall. My wolf snarled inside me, restless, wild.
Fred's eyes, ice-blue and merciless scanned me from head to toe. "Daughter of Alpha Reuben," he said, voice smooth yet laced with poison "You've caused me more trouble than your pack is worth."
My father groaned behind me, trying to push himself up. "Fred, this isn't honor. You swore to—"
"Honor?" Fred's laugh was cold. "You speak of honor while you let your daughter run from the alliance pact. Not just that, you sent your warriors to attack. "
"That's a lie!" I spat. "We only defended ourselves when you crossed into our borders."
He stepped closer, his breath ghosting against my face. "You'll defend nothing when Silvercrest turns into ashes."
"Alpha Fred!" My father's voice cracked. "Take me. Let her go."
Fred didn't even look at him. His attention stayed locked on me. "I'll offer you one more chance, Benita."
"Marry me," he said. "Join our packs. Your people live. Your father heals under my protection."
I felt my pulse pounding in my ears so loudly as everywhere became silent.
"And if I refuse again?"
He smiled, a cruel, effortless smile. "Then I slaughter every last one of your kin before dawn."
My heart dropped. All that came to my mind were my pack, my people, and their cry for mercy that would never come.
I looked at my father. His face was pale, lips trembling. His eyes said don't do it, but his voice, when it came, was broken. "Benita… please…"
I clenched my fists. "You want my hand? Then stop this madness. Let my pack go first."
Fred tilted his head. "You're not in a position to negotiate, sweetheart. I'm offering mercy. Don't make me regret it."
My wolf pushed against my skin, begging for release, as I had a strong urge to reap his throat open but one look at my father, weak and bleeding tamed the beast inside me.
"I need time," I whispered.
He smirked. "You have until the next moonrise." Then he leaned in, close enough for me to inhale his breath "But if you try to run away again, I'll find you. And when I do, I'll make you regret being born."
He turned away. His men followed, their laughter echoing through the burning woods.
When their scents faded into the distance, I fell to my knees beside my father.
"Benita…" His hand reached for mine, trembling. "You can't—"
"I won't," I said sharply. "I'm not marrying that monster."
He sighed, eyes glistening. "You'll doom us all."
Before I could answer, footsteps approached towards me. A familiar scent hit my nostrils so strongly. My heart stuttered.
"Benita."
I turned, and there he was, Lucas. His face was streaked with soot, his brown hair clinging to his forehead. His wolf eyes glowed amber in the firelight.
"Lucas…" My chest tightened. I wanted to run into his arms, but the weight of what had just happened pinned me in place.
He glanced at my father's wound, his jaw tightening. "How bad?"
"Deep," I whispered. "He needs a healer. But we can't risk moving him yet."
Lucas crouched beside me. "Fred won't stop. You know that. He wants your father dead… and you as his trophy."
I swallowed hard. "He gave me until the next moonrise to decide."
Lucas's eyes darkened. "You're not deciding anything."
He grabbed my hands, his grip firm. "Run with me, Benita. Tonight. Before it's too late."
I stared at him, making a decision at this point seems difficult as I was torn between the longing in my heart and the sound of my father's breathing behind me.
"Lucas, if I leave—"
"He'll kill them anyway," Lucas cut in. "You think marrying him will save them? He'll crush Silvercrest once he gets what he wants. That's what monsters do."
I blinked back tears. "He said—"
"He lies. He always lies." His voice was barely clear as the lines on his forehead grew thicker and his fear twisting together. "You think I'll just watch him chain you to his side?"
He cupped my face, his touch desperate. "I love you, Benita. Ever since the first time we met, you had always been on my mind. The moment you shifted beside me I swore that it would only be you. I won't let him take you away from me, only in death can he have you."
My throat ached. The tears burned but didn't fall. "If we run… he'll hunt us."
"Then let him," Lucas said, his voice fierce now. "Let him chase ghosts while we disappear."
For a moment, I believed him. The thought of running away, just the two caused a tingling sensation within my heart. I would really love to spend the rest of my life with Lucas even in hiding.
But then my father shifted to his, the sensation I felt earlier vanished, replaced with sadness.
"I can't leave him," I said, barely audible.
Lucas's jaw clenched. "We'll take him. We'll find the priestess near the river. She can heal him. Please, Benita… don't sacrifice yourself for his power."
I looked between them, the man who raised me and the man I loved. Duty pulled one way. Love the other. Both cut deep.
I finally nodded. "Tonight. When the moon touches the peak."
Lucas exhaled shakily. "I'll get the horses ready. Stay hidden."
As he turned to go, I caught his arm. "Lucas."
He paused.
"If we don't make it—"
"We will," he said quickly. "Don't say that."
"Just promise me you'll keep him safe." I looked at my father. "Whatever happens."
Lucas pressed his forehead to mine. "I promise. But you're not dying for anyone tonight."
When he left,I kept wondering what kind of future awaited me once dawn came.
'If you try to run away again, I'll find you. And when I do, I'll make you regret being born.' Fred's words rang in my head.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips, I was truly hunted.
But I wasn't afraid.
Let him come.
I won't surrender to him.