Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel as I approached the entrance to Brenther. It's way scarier than I thought. All I could see was an endless stretch of forest.

Astrid’s outskirts are also forested, but not as dark as Brenther’s. This place is really meant for lycans.

The car slowed down due to the broken road. I kept glancing around. I had the eerie feeling that eyes were watching me. If I sped up, I might get into an accident because of the road’s condition. It seemed like it hadn’t been paved in years. There were so many potholes that could cause an accident.

"Ow, shit!" I exclaimed as I massaged my head, which hit the roof of the car due to the strong jolt from hitting a pothole.

I stopped the car when I saw what lay ahead.

"What the hell?"

I stepped out of the car and carefully examined the area.

This is it? Did I read the signs wrong?

I massaged my temples as I checked my phone’s GPS.

"Damn it!"

Just when I needed it most, I lost signal. Great! Just great. I’m literally in the middle of nowhere. The broken road ends at a forest. Damn forest.

I leaned against my car, raising my phone high, hoping to get even the faintest signal.

Curses flowed freely from my mouth as my frustration grew. My forehead was furrowing deeply in annoyance.

"Come on, work with me here! This is so frustrating," I muttered, raising my arm higher.

Then, I froze at the sound of rustling nearby. I straightened up and listened intently, scanning the vast forest.

Fear began to creep into my chest. I had heard many unfortunate stories about this city. The lycans here don’t care about the contract. They kill anyone who dares to enter their territory.

I gripped my phone tightly as I heard another rustling sound. Despite my fear, I forced myself to act brave. I need to see their Alpha. I need to get to Brenther.

"Who's there? I am a Florendale. I need to see the Alpha," I called out, my voice trembling with fear.

The rustling intensified until something suddenly lunged at me from the side, shoving me hard against my car. A strong hand gripped my neck.

A pair of golden-yellow eyes greeted me. A man with jet-black hair and a massive build stood before me. The way he pushed me against the car was like a wild animal. His appearance was human, but his eyes betrayed his lycan nature.

"Please, I just want to see the Alpha," I pleaded, my voice quivering.

A devilish smirk crept across his lips, revealing a deep scar on his right cheek.

He slowly leaned closer to my neck, as if sniffing me.

"Your expensive perfume can never hide his scent… and that's what's going to get you killed," he whispered in my ear.

I swallowed hard as he suddenly tugged at my blouse, exposing my right shoulder.

His grin widened when he saw the scar there. I can’t even remember how I got those scars. They’ve been there as long as I can remember.

Another man emerged from the forest. His brown hair and chinky eyes complemented his fair complexion. His gray t-shirt was slung over his shoulder, and beads of sweat trailed down his toned torso. He smiled sweetly at me.

"Ah! You’re really here, babe. The marked virgin," he chuckled. "That guy is really a legend, huh?"

The man holding me, Baron, loosened his grip until he finally let me go.

"I told you, I got this, Hank," Baron said irritably.

Hank just grinned, folding his arms across his broad chest as his eyes bored into me.

"Relax, Baron. I just wanted to meet the pretty lady," Hank said casually.

Baron sighed and scratched the back of his head in frustration. He glanced at me with a furrowed brow.

"You can’t go in there. You’ll get yourself killed," he said seriously. He opened the driver’s side door and gestured for me to get in.

I glanced back and forth between the two of them. Despite their dangerous appearance, I stood my ground. I couldn’t go home without getting help. Not now. I’ve come too far.

"You don’t understand. The Alpha of your pack is my only hope. I need to see him," I said firmly.

Baron’s jaw tightened as he crossed his arms, his serious gaze fixed on me.

"If you set foot in Brenther, it’s as if you’re declaring war between Astrid and Brenther. The Alpha doesn’t support Astrid’s civility with hunters," Hank said, his smile gone.

"It’s been two decades. There are no hunters anymore," I replied.

"Really? How sure are you?" Baron challenged, his brows furrowing deeper.

I hesitated. How sure am I?

I looked away and walked toward the end of the road. I hugged myself as a strong wind blew.

"I need to talk to the Alpha. If you won’t help me, I’ll find my way to the city on my own," I said firmly before stepping into the forest.

I had barely taken a few steps when Baron caught up with me. He pushed me against a large tree.

I swallowed hard as I saw the fierce look in his eyes.

"Our job is to protect you. So please, stop being so stubborn—"

He suddenly stopped when we heard a loud howl in the distance.

He turned his back to me, his hand still gripping my arm, as he scanned the surroundings.

Moments later, rustling sounds reached our ears. They grew louder and closer, making my knees feel weak with fear. Hank suddenly stood by my side, as if shielding me, just like Baron.

"Too late, dude. They're here," Hank whispered, his gaze fixed on the source of the noise. Moments later, five men with glowing yellow eyes emerged from the forest, wicked smiles plastered on their faces.

"Well, well, what do we have here? The twin betas of Astrid with a treat. Isn't that sweet?" one of them said, his dragon tattoo on his right arm visible.

Hank stepped forward, the tension between him, Baron, and the group of lycans palpable.

"This is just a misunderstanding. We're leaving. She's not a treat. She has the mark. You can't touch her," Hank said firmly, but the tattooed man seemed unfazed. He stepped closer to Hank, his gaze challenging.

"Your rules don't apply here," the man replied.

In the blink of an eye, he had me in his arms, gripping my neck. My back was pressed against his chest.

"You both know that, don't you?" he sneered, resting his chin on my right shoulder.

Baron and Hank's eyes blazed, and their forms began to change. Sharp claws extended from their fingers.

"Get your hands off her. I'm warning you," Baron said in a calm yet menacing tone.

The man holding me laughed mockingly. I couldn’t understand my emotions anymore. Fear consumed me as my vision blurred with tears, and the deafening sound of my heartbeat echoed in my ears.

He leaned close to my ear, his breath sending chills down my spine.

"His scent is all over you, lady," he whispered.

I held my blouse tightly, paralyzed with fear as the tip of his nose grazed my neck.

Baron and Hank charged toward us, but the other four men attacked them, overpowering them.

Tears streamed down my face as I watched them struggle. This is my fault. If I hadn't been stubborn earlier, this wouldn't have happened.

"After them, you're gonna be next," the man whispered, his words igniting a new wave of terror within me.

He lifted my arm and brought it to his mouth. I screamed as I felt his sharp teeth sink into my wrist.

Two powerful howls echoed from opposite directions in the forest.

"Alpha..."

"Alpha..."

Both groups murmured as two familiar figures appeared. The two epitomes of a romance novel's fantasy stood tall before me, their shirts drenched in sweat.

I barely recognized them through the pain in my arm. One of them was the man I almost hit yesterday. The other? Levi. Levi Grimmerson.

Their gazes turned toward us, their expressions serious, their fists clenched tightly.

"Let her go," the man I almost hit commanded.

The lycan holding me immediately obeyed, releasing me. Before I could hit the ground, Levi was already there, catching me in his arms.

It felt like déjà vu—except this time, I was on the brink of death, and there was no playful smirk on Levi's face. Only fury. Yet, despite his anger, I couldn’t help but notice his features. Every detail of him was perfection. If I were single, I might have swooned, just like everyone else had.

He cradled me gently, as if I were something precious. My head rested on his broad chest, and I could hear his heartbeat—rapid, just like mine.

"I got you, luv. I got you," he said, his husky voice comforting. There was something in his tone that made me feel safe.

My vision blurred further, and I felt my consciousness slipping away. I couldn’t fight the urge to close my eyes.

A man’s pained scream shattered the silence. It was the lycan who had bitten me. His cry was followed by the heavy thud of something falling onto the dry leaves.

I heard approaching footsteps. Forcing my eyes open, I saw someone kneel beside me, gently holding my injured arm.

The man's gray eyes reflected a mix of sadness and resolve as he inspected my wound. Blood spattered his face. He looked up at Levi, who was still carrying me.

"I'm sorry about this. These kinds of actions will never be tolerated. Take her home now. You need to treat the bite before she loses too much blood," he said before releasing my arm and turning away.

"Layco," Levi called, making the man stop. "Thank you."

Layco remained silent for a moment before glancing back with a faint smile. He nodded at Levi before walking away.

I had no strength left. I felt Levi carry me toward my car. He gently placed me in the passenger seat, resting my head against his chest. The car shook as Baron and Hank got in, Baron taking the driver’s seat.

"But... the Alpha... I need... I need the Alpha's help," I murmured weakly.

Baron and Hank exchanged glances before Baron started the car.

Levi stroked my hair gently and pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head.

"Shhh... As long as I'm here, you won't need anyone else again..." he whispered.