Chapter 18:

I strolled through the woods, my body aching. Every part of me was in pain. I fell to my knees in agony and clutched my head as it throbbed. It was like beats in my head that caused everything to move around me on the beat. I stood up, but everything spun, I did not even feel how my body moved, just knew that it had as I tripped over logs or rocks. All was a colourful blur, spinning, spinning and spinning when suddenly it all stopped.

The woods were eerily quiet, too quiet. Not even the wind made a sound. It was like it was waiting for something, waiting in anticipation. No animal noises, just my deep breathes in and out. It froze to fog as it left my mouth and coloured my lips blue. These clouds of smoke making a crushed, freezing sound as the warmth cooled. I watched as it disappeared before my eyes and replaced by another.

In and out

In and out

In

And

Out

The darkness was deathning. Shadows danced along the ground and against the trees. They swayed with the leaves. Twirling as tiny breaths moved through them. A dark beauty, that was as dangerous as it looked. It hid the danger within its beauty, keeping the evil out of sight. The last shiver went down my spine when suddenly all hell broke loose, big red flames started to move my way. As quick as I could, I leapt to my left. My fight and flight mode coming alive, my need to survive became my first instinct. I fell to the ground, rocks and twigs cut my hands and dust clouded my face. As quick as I fell, I was up and running. The wind became harsher suddenly. Maybe it was me running or maybe it was trying to help me. I swerved between the trees, hearing how something was right behind me. Not having the courage to look back, I kept pushing myself harder.

Snarls were everywhere. Wolves ran beside me. Not just any wolves but huge ones. I leapt over rocks and trees. Feeling how they were snarling on my neck hair, their claws ripping my dress and their teeth nipping at my ankles.

A piercing scream left my mouth as I was toppled over by one of the wolves, both us falling down a steep slope. We rolled down the slope like to balls, my back was aching from the position. As we slowed down at the end of the slope, I kicked the wolf off and started to run again once on my feet. I felt blood run down my cheek or was it tears, maybe a mixture. The fall gave me a head start to the wolves, but I could still hear them. I smelled their foul breaths of blood and rot. I felt their eyes on my back, burning hatred at me. As I neared a clearing my mood sank deeper into despair, a cliff was in front of me. The universe was against me. I stopped at the edge and looked down, not too far down was a river. It was dark and glooming, it made an ear-piercing noise as the water swiftly moved along rocks that parted their streams. The wolves were growling louder and louder as they neared me. With adrenaline pumping more in my bloodstream, I pushed my luck and against all my common sense, I jumped.

I screamed as I fell downwards. I fell to the dark watery abyss and awaited my fate. My skin felt bitten by the freezing water, everything dark. I tried to scream, but only water filled my mouth and my air moved out as bubbles. I had to come up for air. My arms swayed around me to reach the surface. The stream was strong and took my beaten body with it. Every time my head broke above the violent water, I heard the angry growls from above. It took me away, my arm tried to keep me above the water by flying everywhere, but the stream bumped me into the rocks. I felt like a human shield for the water.

The wolves started to run back into the woods, hopefully giving up. One problem solved by making a new one. As I drifted further and further and the stream became calmer, I got out, hoping for safety. Howls penetrated the air and my hairs stood up all over my body, the coldness, shock and fear through my blood. I took off again when an unpresentable gust of wind took me from my feet and knocked me into a tree. Coughing, I tried to gain my focus and find out what was happening around me. In the moonlight stood a lady with straight jet-black hair that melt into the darkness. She wore a black translucent gown, with no shame. She was saying something, but I could not hear due to the ringing in my ears. Wolves got closer to her figure, I tried to scream and warn her about the danger but failed.

I watched in horror as the wolves passed her and she laughed wickedly at me. A mucky brown wolf stood on top of me, the same one who toppled down with me at the slope. My body stopped moving, accepting and awaiting death. My breath clouds become smaller and smaller. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Whisper, it was lurking in the shadows, none noticing it. In its eyes, a question, the same ones repeating itself. Asking, pleading for my answer. Remember, remember deep down. The other half of your soul. Where is it, Hope? Who is it Hope?

"Dmitry," I whispered and felt the darkness take over.

Dmitry's POV:

"Where is she?" I demanded dangerously at Michael. How could she be gone? How did he not notice her disappearing? It was the second time Hope disappeared into the woods. I have not told them about the first and it too looked like she did not remember.

"We don't know, she went upstairs and the next moment she was gone." He tried to explain, his nerves on edge as his wife also nipped at his butt. Olive was a scary person when angered.

"We'll find her! She is in those woods all alone. It is dangerous." My wolf side was passing, it wanted to come out and take lead. I was on the verge of losing control over something stupid. The worry had started to make my head hurt and that just aggravated me more. "Why would she do that. Why would you fucking do it, Hope? Hope?" Why did I care? I have never cared, but when that rouge stood above her, ready to kill. I lost it.

"We already have a search party out for her, we are doing..." Michael started again, but before he could even finish his sentence, his eyes fogged up. He was being mind-linked. Did they find her? Was she alright?

When his eyes turned back to normal, he looked scared. Did something happen? Where was she? I needed to get to her. My wolf was snarling within me, it was so hard to keep control. I felt my chest vibrate.

"Are patrol was breached. Rogues... they are out in the woods, on my territory. They are near here." He stated and my wolf side went haywire. I growled at Michael and felt how my fangs grew. I was in mid-shift, scaring all surrounded wolves. My fangs grew to its full size, my nails to their sharp canine-like talons and my eyes glowed darkly. My wolf was almost in control, one more push and it would be unleashed.

Scream!

I looked towards the woods and for over a century I felt my heart stop. Hope. I sprinted off towards the sound, the final push for me to go full beast mode. It was fully in control and for the first time in a while, I did not fight it. I agreed for once with the beast within, one goal, get to Hope.

My eyes scanned around the dark, my fur camouflaged within it. A trade I was grateful for. It gave me an advantage to my opponents. I sniffed the air trying to find her scent, but nothing. There was no sign of her, there was never a scent. It was the first thing I noticed of her, no scent and that beautiful shiny white locks of her. That day she bumped felt like a dream. She radiated innocence and beauty. Her white-blonde hair was in her face her cheeks red and her eyes soft and sweet, but no smell. I imagined her smell to be sweet, my dreams plagued with her radiant smile and intoxicating laugh.

Scream!

I was brought back to reality. My wolf form span around and ran into the scream's direction. I only hoped to find her in time. We ran, smelling the rogues' stench. There was five, all had a doomed future awaiting them. I ran between trees and bushes until I reached a steep slope. Pieces of white fabric laid on the slope, probably Hope's. Michael mentioned she wore a white dress. A ran down the slope, sniffing the white dress for a scent. It had a faint smell of washing powder and that was enough for my beast to follow. Finally, I had a scent to go on and our hope for finding her in time, greater.

The night was cold and dark. It felt as if the odds were against Hope. If the rogues did not find her in time, the cold surely would. My wolf pushed harder and went faster until we reached a clearing with a cliff and a river. Her scent stopped there, was she truly crazy enough to jump?

The rogue scent was still fresh, they were there a few minutes ago. Following the rogue scent, a notice it was going over the river to the other side. Mimic their scent I too jumped over the river and quickly followed the scent again.

The rogue scent got stronger, but another scent was mixed with them. It smelled of sage and smoke, one I did not like at all. Quietly, I neared the growls when I heard my name echo through the woods. Hope's sweet and soft voice whispering it into the night. My blood boiled of the sight in front of me.

A rogue was on top of her. I saw red, I started to attack any living obstacle between me and Hope. I just hoped my Beta would be able to find me in time and bring the warriors. The wolf that was on top of Hope, lost interest in her and focused it on me. As I neared him, my newfound pray, a gush of wind swept me away. Witches... the sage smell.

Just in time and in record time my beta was at my side. Michael and his warriors by his side, all attention on the witch that had a cruel smile on her face.

Her wickedness oozed off her. Her soul black as the night we were in. She stood proud in her black dress and an ancient symbol of sacrifice on her forehead. She was sent to die. She started to screech, a ball of fire in her hand. She looked me straight in the eyes, something people rarely did.

"You'll never have her."

Winking she did what I feared the most and threw the fire at Hope. Michael quick on his feet jumped to Hope and rolled them both away from the fire. It nearly missed them, Michael had a slight burn on his arm.

In one swift movement, I severed the witch's head and ripped the last rogues to pieces. My beast felt relieved with all treats dealt with.

Michael unwrapped his arms around Hope and lied her on the ground, looking at all her injuries. I growled for Michael to move away and neared her beaten body. I sniffed Hope, her little body stiffening from shock and coldness. She was unconscious and smeared in mud and blood. Her breaths were shallow and blood dripped from her nose.

"Hope!" an old lady screamed and rushed forward. She was not human, another witch. My wolf snarled at her, warning her not to take another step. "She needs help." The witch said and was joined with two other witches.

"They are good, they won't hurt her," Michael said from behind me, but everyone just received a growl from me, my ugly beast side not yet calmed. I shifted into my human form, my wolf side calming and giving me more control, knowing that it was the best way to help Hope. I grabbed her into a hug placing her on my lap, rubbing her blood-red coloured hair out of her face.

"Dmitry," I salutary voice spoke. It was one of the witches, an Asian woman with long black hair. She stepped forward.

"Don't," I warned; my wolf side still unsettled.

"We need to help her, My King." She said again, she was referring to me like her King. Strange for a witch to do. Michael's beta, James, was quick to her side. A protective nature he was showing, yet she was not his mate.

"No, stay back," I said and looked at Hope, I knew she needed medical help, but my beast was clinging. The more a tried to fight that side of me, the more control it got back. If Hope was to receive help, I needed to calm my anger before it fully took over and no one can near her. I tried sniffing her hair, yet nothing. No scent... no nothing.

"Why can't I smell her? This is the second time she was attacked, why? What is going on, witch?" I asked as James growled at me for reverting to her as a witch in a crude way.

"I can't tell." That only made me growl and my wolf madder. How could she not tell? "My King, what do YOU want to do? Think... something has been bothering you about her. What is it?"

I looked down at her. She was so beautiful, so innocent. As the moon shined on her, she had this glow, she looked like a goddess.

'My goddess' I growled to myself.

Under the moonlight, something started to glow a bright blue. That necklace. Asina's necklace...

Taking it in my hand, it turned red and burned my hand. It caused me pain, emotional and physical. As my skin burned, I tugged. In one motion the necklace was off her neck and away from us.

Cherry's and blossoms.

That sweet aromatic smell hit my nose and I felt as if my heart stopped. Hope's eyes opened as sparks shot through both of our bodies. That trilling feeling, I thought I lost long ago, never to be felt again.

"Priyatel."

Her soft hand touched my cheek, her eyes big as a doe's. I slowly dipped down to her, our breaths mixing together. I was so close to tasting her. That soft pink lines. A fire ignited within my belly as I kissed her for the first time. It was soft and delicate, just like her. Lifting her off the ground and cradling her in my arms, I stood up.

"Alpha." Alek bowed, awaiting my orders.

"We are going home."

Words: 2590