~Sucre~
In the distance, footsteps are converging on the pine forest from several directions. It is unclear whether they belong to the warriors of Oceania.
Although it is clearly obvious the Oceania pack won't give up that easily. They were ambushed by a stranger and their sacrificial lamb taken away, so they let us go to avoid losing too many men, and it makes sense if they are now after us.
I have no plan to go any further because I am severely exhausted, and with a woman in my arms, I can't go far. It would be easier if Caine were here with me.
Staying put to rest for a moment and regaining some strength might allow me to hold out longer.
"Sucre... is the meal delicious? I added extra spice like you always wanted."
As my vision blurs, mixing the skylight with the pine forest, I hallucinate the gentle voice of that woman. My eyelids tremble.
Leaning against the tree trunk with closed eyes, the girl in my arms who scents like wild bluebell and jasmine fears I am dead. She calls out in a tear-choked voice.
"Shh... Don't make noise."
Regaining consciousness, I frown. My eyelids feel heavy, and my limbs seem filled with lead.
This feeling isn't unfamiliar to me. I've lived most years of my life fighting... For myself... For my pack, and fighting without my wolf is also common since Caine is quite a stubborn asshole. I would have healed if he were here...
There is a sharp sound of a sword targeting Wildbluebell. I force my eyes open and grip the sword blade with my hand, which is wrapped in bandages.
The sword's edge cuts deep into my palm, fresh blood soaking through the bandages and dripping from my tightly clenched fist onto the snow.
The pain finally clears my mind... somewhat.
As the chaotic footsteps draw near and a cold blade flashes towards her again, my hand grips my sword and parries with a crisp "ding."
The two swords scrape against each other, even sparking.
As my long sword slides to the hilt of the other blade, I flip my hand and slash a ghastly wound across the masked man's shoulder and arm, then kick him more than ten feet away.
"Hide behind the tree," I order Wildbluebell coldly, covering her with the coat and leaving her under an oak tree.
The whites of my eyes have taken on a bloodshot color like a lone wolf driven to desperation.
The dozen or so masked men, seeing the corpses of their comrades, are shocked. They exchange glances before raising their swords and rushing at me en masse, their attacks vicious and aimed at vital points.
One of the masked men swings his sword to grab Wildbluebell when the sound of something cutting through the air comes from behind him. He instinctively leans back, narrowly avoiding the cleaver hurled at his head.
Extreme tension and a protective instinct cause all the blood in my body to rush to my head. My fingertips tingle and burn, leaving no room for any other emotions.
I hurriedly press down harder, trying to control him. "Who the hell sent you?"
To my surprise, the man is forcing my blade into his neck.
A splash of fresh blood falls on the trampled snow.
The masked man falls, landing heavily on top of Wildbluebell. His throat is already blooming blood.
She stares at him for a heartbeat before a primal jolt of energy takes her; she hurls the weight off her body with the last of her strength, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
I look down at the blood-stained sword in my hand. "Why did he..."
He had preferred to take his own life rather than reveal a single word. Who were these people? Their attire was foreign, nothing like the kit of Oceania's warriors.
"Could they be enemies her father made during his years as a guardian?"
I hadn't even noticed Caine creeping up behind me. If my muscles didn't feel like jelly, I would have yanked him back and beaten him with the flat of my blade. How could he leave without letting me know?
"How did you know her father?" I ask instead, my voice raspy.
"She's our mate," Caine replies simply. "I'm not mistaken about any of this."
Mate?
It explains how I was able to break off and escape—just that scent of her.
"It will take a while before you heal; you've been away from your pack for so long, and I've been away from you for so long as well, but this is all for the best. We've found her."
He's right, I realize, my grip loosening on the sword. We've found her, and that is all that matters