CHAPTER III : THE SECRET
1073 Words
📖 CHAPTER III
THE SECRET
Days passed, but the memory of that day never faded. In fact, it felt like Lance was everywhere. Even when he wasn't physically there, I could feel his presence lingering around me, like an invisible shield protecting me.
But life had to go on. I still had to work, I still had to take care of my mother, and I still had to pretend that everything was normal.
One afternoon, I decided to go back to the forest. I needed more herbs and maybe some fresh fruits. I was nervous at first, remembering what happened before, but I told myself to be brave.
"I'll just stay near the border," I whispered. "I won't go too deep."
But fate seemed to have other plans.
As I was walking, I heard voices. Loud, rough voices coming from behind the trees. I froze and quickly hid behind a large bush, peeking carefully.
I saw three men. They were big, muscular, and looked like rough warriors. But they didn't wear the royal armor like Lance's men. They looked like rogues or outcasts.
"Did you hear? The Alpha King claimed some girl in the village!" one of them said, laughing loudly. "Hah! The great King Lance finally found his weakness! If we get that girl, we can control the King!"
My heart stopped. Oh no! They were talking about me!
"Right!" another one said. "She is just a weak Omega. Easy to catch. Once we have her, we can demand anything we want from the Kingdom. We will be rich!"
Fear gripped my heart. I wanted to run, but my legs were shaking too much. I was so scared that I accidentally stepped on a dry branch.
CRACK!
The sound was loud in the quiet forest.
"Who's there?!" one of them shouted.
They immediately turned around and saw me hiding. Their eyes turned dark and greedy.
"Look what we have here..." the leader grinned evilly. "Isn't that the girl? The King's little pet?"
They started walking towards me slowly, like predators hunting their prey.
"Come here, little girl," the man said, reaching out his hand. "You are going to come with us nicely, or do we have to force you?"
I stepped back, trembling. "Stay away from me! Don't come near me!" I shouted, trying to sound brave, but my voice was shaking.
"Oh? She has a voice?" they laughed mockingly. "What are you going to do? Call your King? He is far away, sweetheart. No one can hear you here."
They lunged at me! I screamed and tried to run, but one of them grabbed my arm tightly. It hurt so much!
"Got you!" he growled.
I struggled and tried to push him away, but he was too strong. Tears started falling from my eyes. I was so scared. Is this how it ends?
"HELP!! LANCE!!" I screamed his name without thinking.
Suddenly...
ROAAAAAR!!!
A deafening, earth-shaking roar echoed through the entire forest. It was so powerful that the trees shook and the birds flew away in panic.
The men holding me froze. Their faces turned pale white in an instant.
"T-That roar..." one of them stuttered, eyes wide with terror. "I-It can't be..."
Before they could even move, a blur of silver light flashed past. In just a second, the man holding me was thrown away like a ragdoll, crashing hard into a tree.
I fell to the ground, coughing and gasping for air. I looked up and saw him.
Standing there, in the middle of the clearing, was a gigantic wolf. His fur was as white as silver moonlight, shining under the sun. His eyes were glowing bright red with fury. He was huge, majestic, and absolutely terrifying.
It was him. It was Lance.
He stood in front of me, shielding me from the bad men. His presence was so overwhelming that the three intruders were shaking on their knees, unable to stand.
"YOU DARE TO TOUCH WHAT IS MINE?!"
His voice echoed in my mind, loud and angry. It was the voice of the Alpha, the voice of the Beast.
The men bowed their heads down, trembling in fear. "Y-Your Highness... W-We didn't know... P-Please forgive us..."
"Lies!" Lance roared again. "You planned to hurt her. You planned to use her against me. Death is the only punishment for your crime!"
He was about to attack them, to tear them apart, but I managed to stand up and held onto his thick, soft fur.
"Lance... stop..." I whispered weakly.
He immediately stopped. His body tensed up, then slowly, he turned his huge head to look at me. His red eyes softened the moment they saw me.
He shifted back into his human form in a swirl of light. In a blink of an eye, Lance was standing in front of me again, wearing only his black pants, his body muscular and glistening with sweat.
He looked at my arm where the man grabbed me. He saw the red mark and bruises. His expression turned dark and dangerous again.
"They hurt you..." he said, his voice low and full of rage. "They laid their hands on you..."
"I'm okay, Lance... I'm fine..." I said, trying to calm him down.
He pulled me into a tight hug, burying his face on my neck. "I was so worried when I felt your fear. I ran as fast as I could. I almost lost control, Elana. If I was late..."
He pulled back and cupped my face.
"From now on, you are not allowed to go anywhere alone. Do you understand? I will not let anyone put a finger on you. You are precious to me. More precious than my own life."
I looked into his eyes and felt tears falling again. But this time, they were tears of happiness and safety.
"Thank you," I whispered. "You saved me again."
He smiled slightly, then looked back at the terrified men. His eyes turned cold again.
"Guards!" he shouted loudly.
Suddenly, dozens of warriors appeared from the trees, surrounding the place.
"Take these traitors away," Lance commanded coldly. "Execute them at dawn. Let everyone know what happens to people who try to hurt my Mate."
"Yes, Alpha!" the warriors answered and dragged the screaming men away.
We were left alone again in the quiet forest. Lance turned back to me and gently held my hand.
"Come," he said softly. "Let me take you home."
- Writer
