005| The Girl in the Woods
827 Words
~RONAN~
I had only come to watch the movement at the borders… to track and monitor our enemy troops.
But I never expected to run into the scene before my eyes.
“Is that a person?” Justin’s voice behind me made me certain that I hadn’t seen wrong.
I motioned on him to stay silent.
My beta, Justin immediately got down beside me as we watched the three men lower the person to the ground.
They stopped to survey their environment.
We remained completely still, watching them until they three left, rushing through the woods as though afraid they would be attacked.
But I wasn’t focused on them, my eyes were still fixed on the figure that lay unmoving on the ground.
“That’s a she-wolf. Do you think she is dead?” He asked, but I didn’t respond.
For some strange reason, staring at her made my chest feel too tight.
“Should we check on her, your majesty?” Justin asked, his voice laced with concern.
I stood up straight then, my brows furrowed as I stared at the body one last time.
“No.”
Justin stopped. “Oh.”
But as I turned to walk the opposite direction, I found out that I couldn’t move.
It was as though an unknown force was dragging me towards the girl.
I frowned.
But still, I couldn’t resist the pull. I found myself walking toward the girl instead, my body stiff in alarm.
In all my years, even when I had ruled the entire werewolf realm, I had never reacted to anyone like this.
And certainly, I had never felt the need to kill someone over a girl I never knew until now.
Yet, as I got even closer to the girl, my heartbeat seemed to quicken.
Behind me, I heard Justin whisper. “Seems we aren’t leaving after all.”
But I didn’t mind him, or anything else at this point.
Her back had been turned to us all this time, but as we neared, I noticed how blood drenched she was.
“She was tortured? How could anyone do this to a woman?”
I clenched my fists, trying so hard to calm myself down, but the effort seemed fruitless.
I got on my knees beside her, and slowly I took her hand, to feel her pulse.
But just like I had suspected, the pull turned electric.
I dropped her hand immediately, my stomach tightening as I took in what all this meant.
“Your Majesty?”
I swallowed hard. Then, I took her hand again, ignoring the restlessness of my wolf, as I felt her pulse.
“Is she dead?”
For a second, I almost snapped at Justin for even breathing.
I closed my eyes briefly, then leaned in slowly, pressing my ear softly to her chest.
Then, I breath a sigh of relief.
“She is still alive, but barely breathing.” I finally said, my voice low, almost shaky.
“Phew, I thought she was dead.” Justin said. “I hate it when women are brutalized.”
Justin kept saying something else, but I was barely listening.
I knew I was supposed to act, to call for doctors, but still I stayed there, rooted to the spot, trying to process what this all meant.
“Send for the doctor, we are taking her back.”
“Yeah, I almost forgot… wait, what?”
I didn’t look at him. Didn’t even mutter another word.
“Your Majesty, you know we can’t. This… it is dangerous to bring in another person into our pack… not when she’s from the enemy’s pack. This could destroy our mission all together.”
“Send for the doctor, Justin.” My voice came out stronger than I expected.
Justin stepped out, obviously mind linking the doctor to get ready.
I leaned in and scooped the barely breathing girl into my arms.
I didn’t know her name, yet seeing her like this made my chest twist painfully.
“Your majesty, the doctor is ready. We…” he paused, looking at the girl. “Your majesty, we will send her back after treatment, right? It’s too risky to keep her around.”
I shut my eyes briefly, then I muttered the words that I didn’t think I would ever say.
“She is my mate.”
Just like that, the woods fell silent. Justin’s eyes were as wide as saucers.
I didn’t wait anymore, I began making way through the woods, my steps fast and coordinated as we took our secret path back to the pack.
But Justin was hot on my heels.
“Are you sure, your majesty. Surely, you are mistaken right… I mean, why now? Why her?”
His questions were already giving me a headache. But even I had a lot of questions too, but the only answer probably lies with her.
“That’s enough, Justin. She is staying with me.”
- Writer
