Rejected Obsidian Lycan

Chapter Seven: Norman's instinct

Third person's pov.

The howls roared in the forest, scaring the trio who stood in anticipation and fear, with Maya shaking where she was being carried.

“We need to keep moving,” Sarah rushed them, pushing at Nathan to keep running, as they wouldn't be caught in the crossfire. There would be a whole lot of casualties.

Maya was still skeptical, still scared of the man who had lifted her off her feet and onto his back. The only thing she could rely on was her sense of sound, smell, and touch, which were not as developed as werewolves'.

The thought kept resonating repeatedly, that she would remain this way for however long she lived—at least until Alpha Torian found out that she was alive and tracked her down.

They kept moving, weaving through the trees as fast as they could, before they arrived at their campsite, where they huddled together.

This was their group, their small pack of the minority by the hands of the Crimson Blood. What would become of them if they were being attacked every day?

Nathan set Maya back on the ground, which, afterwards, she took a few steps away—even though she didn't know where she stepped, almost stumbling over if it weren't for the protective hand Sarah had on her arm.

It was a widespread fear, grasping at their hearts, despite being faced with a situation like this before. The old and young felt this way as well.

Maya stood in the corner, feeling bad that she would be the cause of all of their deaths, having this nagging feeling that whoever had attacked them was the Crimson Blood pack—and they already knew about her.

Footsteps trudged heavily in the mud and approached them. It turned out to be Varek. A deep scowl was settled on his features, glaring intently at Maya.

Maya, who sensed a daring gaze in her, shivered and, on instinct, moved inches away from Varek.

“Rogues have been one more rampart. We need to move quickly and set the boundaries as soon as possible,” Varek informed them, blood dripping at the tips of his fingers and staring pointedly at Sarah. “And she is not coming with us,” he concluded through gritted teeth.

Sarah couldn't take Varek's brute nature, although she understood where he was coming from. But she didn't have the heart to leave a blind, defenseless, and helpless girl out in the wild all on her own.

“We would be sentencing her to death if we leave her out here,” she reasoned with him as they began to walk again.

Varek was a hard man to convince. With the pain and loss he had felt over the years, he wasn't relenting any time soon.

“You…” an old and shriveled voice called out to them, halting them in their tracks. While the others were at the front, an old lady stepped out. “Are not quite the gentleman.”

This was Lady Norman, the only pack elder that Varek had rescued. She was quite old, and no one would have believed she survived a rave.

Varek shook his head, already sensing what Mrs. Norman was about to say. “This doesn't concern you, Norman,” he called out.

Out of respect though, as she was still an elder, Sarah didn't waste much time to inform Norman of the situation of the girl, painting a convincing story so Norman would side with her.

“Did you mention the part where she was a former member of the Crimson Blood pack?” Varek added, dampening cold water on Sarah's story.

Norman hummed, staring intently at Maya in question, who was being escorted by Nathan a few steps away from them. “Can I see her?” Norman asked out of the blue, halting Sarah and Varek's growing argument.

Varek knew this was going to be a bad idea. However, he still needed to honor Norman's request and beckoned for Nathan to stop.

Slowly, Norman made her way towards Nathan and Maya, who stood with her arms wound around her thin frame.

Norman took in her appearance, with the only light coming from the crescent moon. She couldn't help but scowl, closing in on Maya.

Maya sensed someone before her. However, she didn't back away like she usually did. That didn't mean she wasn't cautious as well. After she had stopped walking, she didn't know what to expect.

Norman closed in. With a scowl on her features, she couldn't help but reach out and grasp Maya by the hands.

Maya flinched in response but didn't withdraw her hands away.

Being held in such a manner by such soft hands, the sound of a woman's voice gave her a sense of safety.

“She’s…” Norman tried to find the words as she stared at Maya's now bandaged eyes.

Sighing in defeat, as her heart seemed to be troubled, there was something about Maya that she just couldn't place her finger on.

Some have whispered of Norman's talent—of reading people just by a single look—her quiet being, the eyes were a window to one's heart and who they were.

How could she know who Maya was when her windows had been lost? Norman reached up slowly and touched the bandages, feeling rather sorry for the poor girl before her.

Sighing in defeat, Norman felt as though Maya had gone through so much. “Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea if…”

Norman hadn't finished her sentence before she was interrupted by Varek.

“Not a chance,” he disagreed.

“Why can't you all see that this is some sort of trap? And even if it isn't, we are risking much more than we can give!” Varek raged, causing Maya to flinch and withdraw.

Norman turned a stern look towards Varek while Nathan escorted a clueless Maya away.

“She has been through a lot. You of all people should know what that feels like.”

“At least let her stay until she heals, before dumping her back to the rogues. I believe your parents should have taught you such manners,” Norman bit back.