Chapter 2
869 Words
Sophia
I ran.
Panting and breathless, I dashed through the woods as if my life depended on it, fear coursing through my veins. Eli had brought me to these woods blindfolded, so I had no sense of direction. I wasn’t as strong as him and might be running straight into the enemy.
I had never had to make decisions on my own; whenever Eli asked something of me, I did it without question. But now, with my heart pounding, I stopped abruptly at the sound of a loud, earth-shaking growl, followed by a weak howl. This wasn’t good.
“Eli.” I whispered, drawing in a sharp breath. Whatever had made that sound wasn’t a
werewolf. It couldn’t be.
I had to go back.
I had to help him.
Turning on my heel, I ran deeper into the woods. “Please, Eli,” I pleaded, praying he would be fine. He had to be. No one could defeat him—one of the strongest shifters alive.
“El…” I stopped in shock. A creature, with its back turned to me, had my shifted mate in its grip. That thing wasn’t just any creature—it was a Lycan. Unbelievable. Many believed they were extinct, mere myths. They were wrong.
Terrified, I hid behind a nearby tree, unable to do anything. Incapable of showing any emotion, I watched as the Lycan held Eli’s wolf by the back of his neck. Eli’s golden, sorrowful eyes met mine, and he knew I was watching.
A sad howl escaped his snout, and his eyes softened in a final goodbye. No…
The Lycan ripped him to shreds, killing him in cold blood while I watched helplessly. He was dead.
A sharp pain pierced my heart. “Eli!” I wailed, my voice echoing through the woods as I was left to grieve alone.
My mate was gone.
The shriek made the Lycan turn around, revealing its massive form. It towered over me. No wonder the pack couldn’t fight back; no one stood a chance.
Terrified, I stepped back and lost my balance, falling to the ground. The Lycan let out a growl, taking small steps toward me.
Run, Sophia—run! But no matter how hard I tried to will myself to stand, I couldn’t. I crawled backward, using every bit of strength I had as the Lycan drew closer.
All hope was lost when my back hit a tree, and I knew this was the end. That thing would kill me just as it had killed everyone else.
Holding my breath, I stared as the Lycan crouched down to my level.
Whatever you do, don’t look into his eyes, Sophia.
A groan of fear escaped my lips as a claw encircled my neck. This was no way to die. I was supposed to grow old with Eli. We were supposed to start a family and raise pups.
We had it all planned out. First, two boys, one of them his successor, and then three girls protected by their brothers.
If I couldn’t have that with Eli, perhaps dying was the best choice. I couldn’t survive without my best friend, my soulmate, my one and only mate.
The Lycan tightened its grip around my neck, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the end—but nothing happened. I felt the Lycan’s warm breath on my face and opened my eyes, making direct contact with its bloodthirsty purple eyes.
My insides heated up, and my skin tingled. I was at a loss for words, captivated by the beauty of the beast that had just killed my mate. What was wrong with me?
The Lycan’s eyes softened, and its claw moved from my throat to my jaw. We stared at each other, locked in a bizarre connection.
“W-What d-d-do y-you w-want f-from m-m-me?” My lips trembled as I spoke.
The beast tilted its head, studying me. If it planned to kill me, I’d rather it happen quickly.
“Stop it!” I yelled.
Suddenly, the Lycan growled, released me, and sped off, leaving me bewildered. He didn’t kill me. Was this a dream? Was I really still alive?
What had just happened?
Facing reality, I covered my mouth with my hands and sobbed uncontrollably. Eli was gone, and he would not be coming back.
“No, Eli!” I cried, hitting the soil with my fists. “No, no, no!”
I dug my hands into the ground, screaming his name. My voice echoed through the woods. It felt like I had unlocked a new power within me, and then I stared at my glowing palms in shock.
What is this?
Voices filled my head, whispers of some kind. What was happening to me?
‘The moon daughter.’
‘At last, they found each other.’
‘She’ll doom us all.’
‘Poison! She’s poison.’
Petrified, I removed my hands from the soil, staring at my glowing palms before balling my fists and closing my eyes. “Please, stop!” My heart raced as I felt myself growing more powerful by the second. I couldn’t take it anymore. “No—please!”
My body hit the ground, and then everything went black.
- Writer
