Chapter 37

A strong punch was delivered from the Alpha to the Gamma's face as he kneels shamelessly in front of him. Beta Derek and Beta Darren was holding him still with force.

Another punch came in contact with the Gamma's face, his head going to the side because of the force. Blood was now coming out of his mouth, as a small scratch is starting to form on his cheek.

They've been in the dungeon for thirty minutes and counting. It was suppose to be a conversation between them, but it came to violence.

The Gamma received multiple strikes in the face and torso, a punishment for his untimely mistake.

The real Gamma of the pack was tasked to pretend as an Alpha while the real one was away, Beta Darren volunteered to fill the Gamma role as the Beta role was left empty.

It wasn't the real Alpha that Katie met when she was taken by the guards, it was a fake.

Derek has been silence the whole time, his eyes focused elsewhere as he holds onto the Gamma. He couldn't bare to see stuff like this.

Sure he can hold guns and shoot, but the fear is still there.

The Gamma who met Katie, who was supposedly a member of the games, is a human. However, the Gamma couldn't have known.

Especially when she smells nothing of sort.

He tried to kill her, emphasis on tried. The woman only fought back, and the timing of the attack was worse. Her name diverted the Gamma's attention, another reason why he couldn't have known what she is.

How he is not in trouble is because he stated that he was too busy to notice the woman, let alone know she's human.

Derek frowned upon his words, unable to comprehend it. "Don't make that face, you can't disobey the Alpha's orders, you know its the right thing to do."

Looking over, his brother patted him on the back, trying to make him see the bigger picture.

Darren looked at his brother pitifully. "I know she is close with you, but you need to let go of that. You are gonna be the one who will be in trouble if you do what is on your mind right now."

He didn't dare ask his brother why he had not tell them that Katie is human. The bond between them was enough evidence.

Darren dragged the Gamma, who has no energy left in him, out of the room, closing the door behind him. "Come on, call your mate and let her heal you."

The presence of your mate can help with wounds. The more closer they are, the faster you heal.

Derek was left alone in the dungeon, surrounded by the dark. It was like a sign for him. Katie could possibly die by the hands of werewolves.

Werewolves loath humans, and a human trespassing a pack border is frowned upon. Not only this shows weakness, but it shows how a pack runs.

Though the Alpha couldn't care less, his heart was still betrayed. He thought he could trust Katie. She had it all, and he almost made the biggest mistake of his life.

What my brother told me uncovers a lot of things, especially the one in the lab. If they found out I was the one responsible for the mission, my life could be put in danger.

Who knows, they might think I've led a lot of missions like this and blame me for the death of their people. Even though it was the first time I was assigned to that kind of thing.

Plus, these werewolves hate humans, and I just found that out after being in a pack for more than a month.

I took off the dirty gown, followed by my bloodied heels or what was left of it, that I used to defend myself. I was covered in dirt and blood.

I stepped into the shower and washed it all away, using the soap and shampoo that was left by Kris with a clean towel. Starting with my shoulders, I rubbed off all the dirt, all the way down to my toes, my eyes unconsciously watching how every little dirt and red dripped down with the water.

I made sure to properly clean my wounds, grimacing when I feel a little bit of pain while scrubbing it. Kris would fix me up soon, all I could do is prepare myself.

I finished when I cleaned the last wound, the claws that did this was long and was deeply buried in me. I whimpered in torture, it was much worse compared to my other injuries.

It started from the side of me and then ended on the center of my stomach, just a few inches above my umbilicus.

Sighing heavily, I removed all the remaining residue of soap on my body then I began to wash my hair, all tangled up and doesn't look like a hair anymore.

As it was already wet, I began to apply it with the shampoo, making sure to wash everything, feeling the rough texture because of the mud and blood as I do so.

Took me longer than I anticipated but I managed to remove all of the remaining filth left. I got out and dried myself carefully with the towel, then putting on the clothes.

When I was done, Kris was already preparing the food and plates, the elders already sitting on their own chairs.

Kris noticed me coming out of the bathroom, walking towards me and taking it from my hands. She disappeared from the room and came back afterwards, no gown in sight.

My stomach growled at the sight of the food, my hand automatically holding it as everyone turned to me, a chuckle and smile from them. I flushed, red taking over my cheeks.

I took a portion and silently ate, slowly chewing the delicious food that Kris prepared.

The others also began to eat, getting their own portions to their plates then picking up their silverware to carry the food to their mouths.

The room was silent, the clanking of tablewares is the only sound that can be heard and the chewing of food. No one said anything, minding their own business.

Halfway down, Kris interrupted my meal and spoke with curiosity. "Why have you been quiet?"

My action stopped midway, the spoon stopping just in front of my face. The others seems to have stopped too, wanting to listen in our conversation.

I don't know what to say. What she said to me the last time we met, still bothers me.

The atmosphere became thick, I breathed in to calm down. She had the courage to speak such words in front of me and then ask me so casually why I'm not saying a word to them.

Who would? I'm angry at her for saying it, but I'm furious she didn't even try to correct her wrongs, and just fucking apologized.

I don't need the apology, it's nothing but an instrument to pity yourself, affecting those around you, so they pity you as well.

And that's where force forgiveness happens.

I didn't open my mouth, continuing to eat the food that was left on my plate, ignoring her question. I chewed on the meat as if I haven't heard her speak.

I really hate it.

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What words? Katie, you're acting weird. Tell me what's wrong." Her voice is still soft, not raising nor lowering.

I scoffed. "See? You were there, you and some person carried me to the hospital when I was unconscious."

She had this sadness in her eyes as she puts her fork down, opening her mouth to speak once more. "We've been together since you've been separated from us. Kris didn't go near any hospital. Just like you, we were hunted when they found out who we are."

Diverting my eyes down on my thighs, I racked my brain, going back to that moment. There was nothing out of the ordinary that day, except for the mimics.

Mimics.

My eyes widened in realization. It hit me like a ton of bricks, if she doesn't remember seeing me and talking to me at the hospital, and the elders all backed her up, it's not her.

That's why she was acting weird, it was like she wasn't herself, like she became another person but had the same face.

I couldn't help it and let the tears fall down, a sob came too. "Katie." Kris was the first one to stand up and came closer to me.

It feels good, her holding me like this. To feel at ease and be in a love one's arm. A relieved sigh came out while I was crying, making my state worse than it already is.

The wound in my tummy, the pain in my head, and the betrayal in my heart, it was too much bottled up that I forgot that I'm not alone in this world. That I'm fighting for what I came here for and not alone, but together with them.

I opened my eyes, witnessing the elders also on the verge of crying, a smile on their faces. Even if we didn't spend much time together, from their eyes I could see relief and joy.

They were waiting for me.

The first thing I said was to not touch me, even after those days of me being taken away, I thought I couldn't trust anyone because I'm not in a world I'm suppose to live in.

She put more pressure on her hands as she applies more ointment on my skin. "If only you were careful enough, I wouldn't have to treat you like this, yeah?"

Is throwing my body into the water to wash away my sent not careful enough?

I fixed my position on the bed, facing her while lifting my shirt midway. She turned around while holding a small cotton while an ointment on the other.

When she turned, her mouth parted, her eyes widening. "What the actual fuck."

Thanking her, she grabbed her stuff and walked out of the room. "Keep it clean, I'll re-apply tomorrow."

She closed the door behind her, her other hand holding the kit. I sighed and closed my eyes laying on the bed.

I was at peace, not a moment longer I could hear voices just outside my door. My eyes opened, with a frown on my face I got up and walked to the door.

Quietly, I put my head against it and listened to the sound. It was two people talking to one another, judging by their tone, they seem to be arguing about something.

What were they talking about?

The cabin has another floor that contains three bedrooms and one bathroom. The bottom one has the kitchen, living room and bathroom.

I froze, shocked climbed into my body. My heart began to beat faster, my nerves started to go up. Kris grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the cabin and into the forest, followed closely by the elders.

Well fuck.

Without looking back, my feet took off to the forest, the others following behind me. "Ran as fast as you can. These guys are no fucking joke when it comes to running."

Okay yeah whatever, of course I knew they already knew that. Rolling my eyes, I pushed forward, running faster and putting more force on my legs.

Loud growls filled the air, and the stomping of paws on the forest floor echoes throughout the night. If there's one thing I've learned while running away from them is to never turn around or stop.

That's why I got this huge claw mark on me, I wanted to gain back the energy I lost after running for three whole days, stopping only for a minute then continuing.

When I turned around, six goddamn wolves were waiting to tear my throat out so I fought back.

I killed all of them, leaving one with a broken leg and a lost arm, at the moment I didn't feel anything but the need to escape their clutches.

I'd jump into that shit if I have to. We came close and was about to jump when a person with a fish tail raised above the water and flapped its tail.

An idea popped onto me and I pulled Kris. "Get in the water and hold onto her, she'll lead us to safety."

The mermaids began to pull all of us one by one into the water, and held on to us by our arms. "Take a deep breath, we're going far away from the surface. If you need air, just tug at us."

Took one word for us to hold our breaths and close our eyes. The water surrounded us, our clothes getting wet as the mermaids swam downwards.

I opened my eyes so I know where we're going. It was beautiful as fishes swam beside us, some alone and some with a lot of their kind.

The river seems to have gone, only the large water can be seen in every corner as fishes and different kinds of animals on water swim around us.

I looked to Kris, her eyes also open as she takes in the view.

The elders eyes were closed tightly. I caught movement on Millie, she tugged the mermaid for air, the mermaid obliged by creating a small bubble from her mouth, then the bubble moved towards Millie then taking over her face.

She breathed in and the bubble popped, the air now in Millie.

As we continued to swim, a view of a huge land can be seen from here. The closer we get, the more mermaids we see in every corner.

They look at us curiously. "We'll take you to the king, he can help." I nodded, unable to speak under water.

How these people speak under water is freaking awesome, if I could speak underwater I'd strike up a conversation with every fish I see.

The land was big, it took at least half an hour for us to get to her kingdom as it's placed on the center of their property.

She knocked on the huge, very huge doors as it opened automatically. We got inside and they pulled us in.

The space was in pure white and blue, it is made for really tall people, maybe giants as it is really long in length. There were also mermaids guarding every corner like how a guard usually checks stuff out in a castle above.

As we reached the main room, a man floats upon a throne, a trident in his hand. We stopped just in front of him, the mermaids giving us one last bubble of air before disappearing.

The bubbles didn't pop though, it just stayed on our faces, the air around it makes way for us to speak.

Now I get it. Mermaids are awesome. "We've come to seek shelter, away from werewolves." Tobias cleared his throat.

I spoke up, his words sounded so wrong. "Look, we didn't come here to ruin your little kingdom. We came here so we could escape from werewolves. We don't give a shit about how you run things here, just let us stay for at least two days."

He banged his trident on the ground, clearly not liking my way of speaking. Touché.

My eyes widened at her words, I turned to her to see a frown on her face.

I looked back at my friend, her nod the only response we needed. We began to follow them as they lead us to the doors they just came from.

I was still unable to process her words. What, she's the princess?

I just saved a mermaid princess.

——

- Anonymous

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