His Huntress Mate

Escape

Behind them was the dark forest of soaring trees which would swallow their body with no way out if they forced themselves to break into it. However, before them stood another jeopardy they could not confront with their incapability. Neither of the choices would benefit their safety; one would send them to the beast, the other way to hell.

For the perplexity hazed their mind, the masked man had stood near them with only his shadow as the barrier. Even though the appearance of the stranger stimulated no terror in Jane's heart, it conquered Nick with dread that clogged his throat. And only the raspy tone of his vocal cord his mouth could produce to uncover who was the man in resemblance.

"W-who are you?" He stammered, questioning the mask man.

Jane had prepared herself for the worst at the arrival of the unfamiliar covered-up-faced man in front of them with the branch she grabbed from the soil which was never off her clutch just in case he had bad intentions for them.

"There is only one exit you can follow to get yourself secure from the siege of werewolves; that's through the forest."

That stranger man, beyond their expectation, revealed the secret of how to abandon the shelter of the werewolves. It was too coincidental that they encountered such a good man in the den of the eerie critters. However, she let go of her wonder about the motive behind this person's kind heart who voluntarily showed them the path out of this perilous place for what mattered the most now was to take the chance of escape.

Upon their gratitude for his favor, their steps rushed through the street of jungle shadowed by the blackness of the plants on both sides of it. Their fatigue did not stop their struggle on the track for the end of the lane which would lead them to their safeness.

That man indeed did not manipulate them; the light at the rear of the aisle asserted the existence of the people's settlement as a sign of their security from the menaces.

"There it is," Jane yelled while she gasped for her breath, "that's the city down there. We are free."

"Just promise me…., you will…never endanger yourself by carelessly sneaking into the pack ever again." Nick was puffed, warning his friend.

"I can promise you nothing for that before I find and slay those who have killed my father."

"I regret having such a stubborn friend like you!"

"Nick….I apologize to you for having put you in danger."

Her friend, Nick, did not even listen to her pleading for a pardon and hurried his pace, instead, along the route to go home. Jane trailed his back after her mouth muttered no words.

It was her fault for the casualty Nick nearly met; she would not let her friend experience the horrible thing next time. Jane would rely on herself in the endeavor of her mission's accomplishment.

While heading down the road, hounding Nick, the figure of the masked man tumbled into her thoughts. Would it be possible that the man was one of them, the werewolves, the creatures she abhorred?

***

Inside the assembly room of Douglass mansion, roared the wrathful voice of a man stimulated by the report from one of the bodyguards about the breakout of the prisoners. Oliver could bear his anger no more for the restlessness of the wardens and as a consequence of it, those two bodyguards should have accepted their execution if only Andrew arrived there tardily.

"They can't take all the blame for it was the shrewdness of the captives that they slipped out of the prison."

"Andrew! You shall not defend them."

"Father, I can guarantee that it will never happen anymore."

Capitulated by the words of his son, Oliver left the two men who still froze in their apprehension until Andrew gestured them to go. They bowed to his instruction, retreating from their position.

Not long after the frenzy of his father's rage ended, Aeron came and approached him who plunged into one of the chairs in his solitude. He took the right seat of his brother and settled there.

"I am here, the one whom father should bestow the punishment upon for it was me who has set them free."

With his head turned to him, Andrew's eyes bugged in surprise and disbelief at his confession which he considered too valiant, and rebelled against their father.

"What made you have the courage to do such a thing, Aeron?".

"I have no other purpose but to clear our family name, that we are not the murderers of the tragedy twenty years ago like people referred to us too."

"Do you think it is going to work out? No, they will keep believing what they think is right. It is not our responsibility to prove them our innocence."

As Aeron had no say in his response to his arguments, Andrew let no words come out of his mouth; silence took over them until Andree drew out of the room. Through his mimic, it was clear that he still held back his disappointment with his brother's unexpected action.

Aaron, in a long sigh of remorse for his wrongdoing, chased his brother's paces in his initiative of apology for the mistake he made even though he felt nothing wrong with it.

"I will never be careless next time."

"You should not, Aeron, as it will only be detrimental to you if our father finds it out. They are just ominous human beings, after all; it's useless to stand up for them."

Aaron pondered the truth in his brother's opinions since, unlike other parents on average, their father, with his power and duty over their community, could not tolerate any faults his sons did.

As they were strolling the corridors while engaging in a conversation, Aeron remembered the information his father once shared with the rest members of the pack about the important event tonight which his brother might not care for.

"You have to prepare for tonight's event, your engagement with the Luna of the Blood Moon pack."

The news his brother reminded him of hit him with a headache. If there was any possible way, it would be better for him not to see that girl his father was adamant to matchmake him with. However, his rejection could certainly destroy the reputation of the Douglass family which would risk their lives. Without a choice to make but to accept the betrothal, Andrew sadly nodded at his brother's reminder; Aeron could sense the compulsion in his gloomy eyes.

***

In a huge white-walled ballroom with great lighting and detachable food on the buffets, people assembled in their best attire. Some were in a talk with their partners, lifting the glass of drink while the others just danced on the prom floor, following and enjoying the rhythm of the music.

The gleam of happiness smeared all the faces of the men and women through their joyful smiles. The crowds grew thicker with more guests coming. It was the huge event which would be a memorable moment they were attending, Andrew's engagement party.

It should have been the most rejoiced day for most of the couples in preparation for the marriage of the two souls. It did not occur to Andrew who would soon meet a woman to whom he would betroth tonight.

In the corner far from the others, Andrew chose to isolate himself with a glass of wine in his hold, his gazes which reflected the trepidation sinking into it. His lips shut tightly with not even a slight of joyful grin on them. His mind wandered through his own imaginary realm, avoiding interaction with the guests. In his heart, he had only one hope that the party would end in a blink of an eye.

"Andrew…." His agitation halted, distracted by his mother who stepped forward near him. "Are you happy with this engagement of yours?"

"What do you expect me to say, Mom? You have known the answer for sure; I refused this matchmaking in the first place."

"Sometimes, to survive, you have to follow the rules but you can change it later once you are on top; and to be there, you have to kill your selfishness and swallow the bitterness." Andrew was stunned at his spot upon listening to his mother's advice. "Get ready, your mate and her family have arrived."

Just after her sentence reached a full stop; a group of people entered the chamber. Walking elegantly in the center, a gorgeous girl with deep blue-sea eyes and straight long blonde hair sucked all the attention of the people in the room. Her smile enthralled each of them so that none diverted their gaze away from her, except Andrew.