Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
After waking up cold and alone, I found Torin making us breakfast in the kitchen.
“Hi,” I said, wondering what to do with my empty hands.
He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes softening. “Hi.”
Torin turned around, stirring scrambled eggs in the frying pan.
I stared at his broad back. Our relationship felt like riding a rollercoaster—the excitement was followed by a sudden plunge in the ride that made my stomach churn.
Pushing away thoughts about Torin’s head between my thighs and the delicious sensations he’d awakened in me, I racked my brain to find topics to talk about, when I remembered I wanted to ask Torin about chosen mates.
“Sebastian and Mason mentioned their chosen mates. How does such a bond work?”
Torin turned off the stove. “If the fated mate dies, a werewolf bonds with another who he or she chooses. Sometimes they’re too impatient to wait for their fated mate or believe the Fates didn’t bless them with one, so they choose a mate,” he said, taking plates out of the cabinets.
“So, werewolves recognize their fated mate easier, correct?”
He divided the eggs onto the plates into two equally huge piles. “The supernaturals feel the pre-destined mate bond, while the chosen mates have to create the mate bond as soon as they consent to do so.”
Alexander had said something similar. I felt attraction to my mates, but I couldn’t recognize the fated one because I was wolfless, lacking the primal instinct to discern the other half of my soul.
“But then how does one become a chosen mate?” I asked, and Torin glanced at me from under his thick eyelashes.
He moved the plates to the other side of the countertop and dropped the frying pan into the sink. “The chosen mates have to create their mate bond. The process is the same. Exchange blood, mating, and marking.” He gave me an intense look. “Why are you asking—"
Torin’s gaze moved toward the front door, and his body stilled. A loud knocking came at the front door.
“Gosh, is the forest on fire or what?” I muttered under my breath.
Alexander stormed in as soon as Torin opened the door. Sweat dripped on his temples and cheeks.
“We have an emergency,” he said breathlessly, and his gaze darted between me and Torin.
“A weird-looking creature”—the Beta waved his hands as if he was showing the size of whatever got him looking so worried—“is roaming our forest and is getting very close to town. I sent the warriors on the scene, but I don’t think they’ll be able to handle it. ”
Torin raised his eyebrows. I’d have to guess the Alpha couldn’t believe there was anything his harsh training hadn’t prepared his warriors for.
“Alpha, we’ve never seen anything like it. Fire comes out of its mouth, and it has spikes over its body. It’s like…a giant demon dog.”
“Is it the only one?” Torin asked.
“Not sure, but it’s killing anything and everything in its way,” the Beta said, and goose bumps prickled on my neck.
I had so many questions, but Torin started giving instructions to his Beta.
“Stay here with Anna and keep her safe.” Torin stomped toward the front door but not before I shouted at him.
“No way, Torin.” I waited for him to face me. “Alexander is of better use to you in the forest. You need his help. I’ll be okay.”
A frown twisted on Torin’s face.
“Princess,” he said with a heavy sigh, “we don’t know how many of these creatures there are. And they are nothing that we’ve seen before—”
“More the reason to split up. I’ll alert the town and get everyone here to safety, and then I’ll find you in the forest.”
“No, Anna. Why are you not listening?”
Alexander’s gaze darted between me and his Alpha. “We don’t have time. It can be headed in this direction.”
“I’m not hiding, Torin. I’m your equal.”
Torin dragged his hands over his face. “It’s not about that. If something happens to you, how am I going to…” He paused as if reconsidering his words. “What am I supposed to tell the King if his daughter is injured under my watch?”
“I’m your Luna, Torin. Let me do my duties. Although I’m a human, I’ve returned to the dangerous supernatural world. I’ll either have to learn how to live in it or die.”
Torin flinched but nodded.
“We have to go, Alpha,” his Beta said, walking into the hallway.
I dashed to Torin and hugged him. “I promise I’ll be safe. Now go and be safe.”
Torin released me and gave me a smug look. “Nothing could bring me down.”
Then he left.
I shut the door behind me and ran to the streets.
The news of the creature had already spread. The streets were in chaos. The sounds of hurried footsteps and loud voices echoed around me. Doors were barricaded and window shutters pulled down.
I spotted a woman hugging a small child and approached her.
“Where are the safe rooms?” I asked and touched her forearm to bring her attention to me.
She scanned around us, but at my touch, she set her moist eyes on me. “Most houses have safe rooms built in, but the local library has enough space for many of us. I’m heading that way as soon as I find my older son. Do you want me to show you the way?”
I shook my head. “No, that’s all right.”
The woman started waving at someone, and I left her to find her family. People ran around, trying to take cover in the safety of their hidden rooms. Like the one that Torin had in his apartment.
But what good would that be if the buildings were set on fire? The thought made a cold chill run through my body.
The crying of a child rang in my ears, and I twisted my head to find the source. A little girl stood on the sidewalk sobbing and holding a plushie.
I sprinted to her side. “Hi. Did you lose your parents?”
She continued to cry but nodded at me. I looked around for anyone searching for their kid, but only warriors ran opposite the panicked pack members.
“Don’t be afraid. We’ll find them,” I said, lifting the child.
She immediately clung to me, resting her wet cheek on my shoulder. I patted her back, and her trembling subsided. I was taught never to trust a stranger as a kid, and I would have never hugged a person who wasn’t my family or one of Dad’s men.
Most people ran in the same direction, and I followed them, hoping to find the child’s parents at the library.
As I ran, a familiar man showed up running toward me.
“Little John?”
He halted in front of me.
“No hard feelings. I’m sorry for what I did,” I said.
“None, Princess.”
“Do you know where the town alarm is?”
Little John gave me a small smile. “It’s in the pack manor,”—he looked at the child—“but if our Alpha didn’t turn it on, then we shouldn’t, either. Alpha Torin probably didn’t want to draw the beast’s attention to the buildings. I’m heading toward the forest to help.”
I took a deep breath. How could I not think about that? I’d been about to sound the alarm, divert the creature’s attention, and put all pack members in danger.
Little John did a small bow and sprinted to catch up to a group of warriors.
My leg muscles burned by the time I got to a four-story building where most of the people had entered. A woman stood close to the double doors, crying and looking around.
I patted the back of the girl. “I hope this is your mom.”
When the woman saw me walk toward her, she sprinted with her arms outstretched.
“Thank you. Thank you.” She took the girl from me and hugged her. “Who are you?”
“I’m Breanna.”
“But…you’re human.” The woman’s eyes radiated curiosity, and I knew she didn’t mean anything by the question.
I only nodded, but my chest tightened.
“Hurry up inside and stay safe,” I said.
The woman and the child disappeared into the growing crowd.
Warmth radiated throughout my body, and I smiled. I might not have the strength and speed of a supernatural, but I had the wit and the heart to help others.
My eyes stung with tears, and my nose started to run. I sniffed the air. The scent of something burning wafted from somewhere. I hadn’t noticed it before. My brain finally deciphered the scent as one of the most instantly recognizable fragrances.
Burning wood.
I whirled around in the direction of the forest. Smog rose into the cloudless sky, making my legs work harder than ever before.
As I crossed the first line of trees, I sprinted toward the tall flames in the distance. My nose tickled and my throat burned as I gulped air filled with little white specks. Blinking rapidly, I tried to clear the blur from my watery gaze.
How much had already been burned from the forest?
I passed by Torin’s shouting men. Some naked. Some in their wolf forms.
And several lay unmoving on the ground.
I gasped as my eyes set on the creature in the middle of what probably was a meadow with wildflowers, but now it resembled a battlefield.
On one side, bright orange flames burned around the trees.
The charred ground was covered with embers on the other side of the creature.
Some of Torin’s men must have put out the fire.
But I wasn’t prepared for the sight of the creature.
It was a giant dog or a wolf, but demonic-looking with red glowing eyes. Its head would be level with mine if it was in front of me. The spikes on its back and head spread to the beginning of its nose. He used his long and spiky tail as a whip, striking everything in its way.
The creature looked like a hellhound with the nightmarish appearance of Cerberus from Greek mythology. Minus two heads. This creature was covered in short gray fur and sprouted only one head.
The myth about the three-headed beast told that it was the guard dog of the underworld realm. But where did this monster come from? And what did it want?
One of the men stealthily crept toward the giant beast. But what was his plan? The hellhound loomed over him like a mountain, more massive than any of the wolves here.