Bleeding Lotus

Chapter 7

Charlie joins Damon in straining his ears and sniffing the air. Damon's intense gaze sweeps carefully through the trees again, searching for movement or even the smallest glimpse of someone hiding. Watching how the two are trying to find another presence causes an unsettling realization to settle into my mind.

How had I failed to sense these two while they were hidden so close to me earlier before they killed those vile humans? And who exactly were those humans?

At first glance, they had appeared to be ordinary human hunters killing animals for food or pelts. But the moment I examined their weapons, it became painfully obvious that they were far from normal hunters. Their guns were unlike anything I had ever seen before, crafted for something far deadlier than animals.

Wanting answers to the storm of questions swirling through my mind, I can't stop myself from asking the two men standing before me. "Why did those men have such weird guns and odd-smelling bullets? I have never seen an animal hunter with guns like those." My voice is filled with curiosity as I tighten my hold on the kit in my arms. Every firearm I have ever seen before was crafted from the same dull metals, their only differences being whether the stock was wood, metal, or carbon fiber. But those weapons had been entirely different - sleek, dark, and unnatural, forged from a strange material. If it truly was some new kind of metal, then it had to be something impossibly rare and far beyond anything a regular hunter could obtain.

"Are you serious?!" Charlie shouts, his jaw dropping as incredulity spreads across his face. His bright eyes widen so much that he looks almost comical. Confused by his strong reaction, I tilt my head to the side, my brows furrow wondering why such a simple question could stun him so badly. Living deep in the forest has kept me isolated from the rest of the world for most of my life, and because of that, my knowledge of human inventions is painfully limited.

Damon's expression, however, shifts into something far darker. His chiseled face turns solemn, shadows seeming to settle over his features as rage flickers in his piercing blue eyes before being smothered by careful restraint and determination. "I will tell you who those men were and why they don't carry normal guns," he says in a low, controlled voice, "if you will let us meet your pack."

The instinct to argue rises immediately inside me, but one look at Damon makes the protest die in my throat. Anyone with even a shred of awareness would realize challenging him would be hopeless. Power rolled off him in suffocating waves, thick and commanding, the kind of dominance that made the air itself feel heavier. I was familiar with strength when it came to wild animals and predators, but this was entirely different—colder, sharper, and undeniably dangerous. Nervously, I bite down on my bottom lip while debating whether I should reveal my pack to them. It was risky, something I had never done before, yet neither of these men had tried to hurt me or the tiny kit in my arms. In fact, they had saved my life by killing those hunters. If the men chasing me truly were dangerous as Damon, then learning about them was necessary if I hoped to survive another encounter in the future.

Damon and Charlie remain silent while I wrestle with the decision internally. Their patience surprises me, though beneath it I can sense traces of worry lingering in their expressions, as if they are afraid I will refuse them outright. Out of nervous habit, I flex my fingers, and my nails lengthen into sharp claws. The movement instantly catches both of their attention. Their gazes snap down to my hands before they exchange another look filled with confusion, once again making me feel less like a person and more like some strange animal trapped behind glass in a zoo enclosure.

The little kit in my arms suddenly grows restless, squirming anxiously and whining softly as he struggles to be put down. Looking into his innocent gold eyes, I can clearly see the trust and dependence shining within them. He wants reassurance from me—wants to know whether he should run back to the others or stay by my side. My chest tightens affectionately at the silent question. Carefully, I crouch down and place the fluffy ball of fur onto the forest floor. He pads back a few steps before letting out a questioning yip. With a tired sigh, I finally make my decision. These men would meet the only family I had ever truly known.

Fixing Damon and Charlie with a sharp glare filled with warning, I jerk my head for them to follow me before turning on my heel and striding deeper into the trees. Behind me, their relieved smiles appear almost instantly as they quickly fall into step.

After only a short walk, an enormous moss-covered boulder rises from the earth before us like a giant sleeping beast. Vines curl around its sides while shadows gather thickly beneath the surrounding trees. "My pack is here... please don't hurt them," I whisper nervously, knowing the two strange men can hear every word perfectly.

Drawing in a shaky breath, I tilt my head back and release a soft howl into the forest. The sound echoes gently through the trees, carrying my message to the pack—that the danger had passed... or at least I desperately hope it had. For several tense moments, silence hangs in the air before small red-orange heads cautiously peek out from behind the boulder. Their sharp eyes scan every inch of me frantically, searching for injuries. The instant they realize I am unharmed, they burst from their hiding spot all at once.

Excited yips and happy barks fill the clearing as fox after fox rushes toward me, circling tightly around my legs in a whirlwind of fluffy tails and bright fur. Some jump against me affectionately while others rub against my knees, their joy infectious enough to pull a grin from my lips. Warmth blooms in my chest at their excitement.

Fearfully, I glance over my shoulder toward Damon and Charlie, worried they might suddenly attack my friends and family. Instead, both men stand frozen in place. Shock and utter bewilderment dominate their expressions, but there is not a trace of malice in either of them. If anything, they seem completely stunned by the sight before them. Normally, animals avoided supernatural creatures at all costs because of the power radiating from us. Seeing me standing peacefully among twenty-six affectionate foxes must have shattered every expectation they had.

"Your pack is actually an enormous group of foxes?!" Charlie nearly screeches, his voice pitching embarrassingly high. The sheer disbelief painted across his face—his wide eyes and hanging jaw—makes me giggle softly despite the tension.

Unlike his companion, Damon remains calm and composed, though even he cannot fully hide the awe flickering across his features. "Why are they not scared of you?" he asks quietly, almost as if speaking to himself. His blue eyes shimmer with wonder as they drift across the foxes brushing against my legs.

I shrug lightly, unable to stop the proud smile spreading across my face. "They are my friends and family. They have no reason to fear me. I live for them—my entire life has been devoted to protecting these beautiful animals." My voice softens with affection as I lovingly watch the pack weave around me.

Slowly, Damon tears his gaze away from the foxes and locks eyes with me instead. The intensity in his stare sends a chill down my spine. Then he asks the same question I have heard countless times before but never once answered.

"What the hell are you?"