Chapter 12
Lina's POV
I barely had time to register Carla's warning before the scent of blood and magic hit me.
My body tensed instantly, my sleeping nerves that had dulled from pain snapping awake instantly as I pushed myself up from the ground despite the sharp protest from my back.
I stayed close to the tree, my breathing slowing as I focused, trying to listen. I could hear footsteps, fast and erratic..
Someone was running, not just one person. Several wolves were chasing after a witch. I could instantly tell from the wave of magic I was getting from the direction they were approaching from.
A figure bursted through the trees seconds later, stumbling into the small clearing like she'd been dragged straight out of hell.
She was young, not much older than me, her clothes were torn and stained dark with blood,her blond long hair sticking to her face with sweat and dirt. Her eyes were wild, glowing faintly with magic she clearly couldn't control anymore.
What was a dark witch doing in our territory? Our pack didn't have any dark witches.
She froze the moment she saw me, panic flashing across her face as she staggered back, lifting her hands weakly.
"Please," she gasped, her voice hoarse, broken, "I—I won't hurt you."
I didn't answer right away. My eyes dropped to the deep wound on her side, her hands were shaking from both fear and exhaustion. She wasn't pretending. She was clearly at her limit.
Behind her, I heard the heavy footsteps approaching. The people chasing after her had closed in on us.
"Lina," Carla muttered urgently, "they're close."
"I know," I whispered back.
The girl's gaze flicked past me, her eyes desperate and pleading, her brows furrowed in terror.
"They're going to kill me," she said, her voice trembling, "please… I'll do anything, save me."
Normally as a dark witch, she was supposed to be more powerful than these wolves. So why did it seem like they had somehow overpowered her?
I clenched my fists, this was the first time anyone had desperately asked for my help. I shouldn't get involved, but I couldn't just leave her.
"Get behind me," I said sharply, knowing well I was about to make a move I'd definitely regret eventually.
She stared at me like she hadn't heard right.
"What?"
"Now," I snapped, already stepping forward.
She didn't hesitate again, stumbling behind me just as three figures emerged from the trees opposite us. Their auras and bloodlust was thick in the air.
Why would they risk crossing another pack's territory just to chase after a witch. Who exactly was she?
Their eyes locked onto me first, then shifted to the girl behind me.
"There she is," one of them growled, his lips curling. "Step aside, young lady. This doesn't concern you."
"You've traspessed into our territory," I said calmly. "Turn around and leave."
They laughed, their tone mocking as they looked at me up and down, like they were sizing me up.
"You think you can order us?" another wolf sneered, "That witch slaughtered three of our men. She doesn't deserve mercy."
"She was defending herself," I shot back, my heart racing. Lina what do you think you are? Some heroin ? You just got punished for being impulsive and here you are still making another impulsive move.
"I know fear when I see it." The leader said with a smirk, stepping forward, his presence pressing against mine, "Move. Or we'll deal with you too."
Behind me, the girl whimpered softly, her fingers clutching the fabric of my shirt like it was the only thing keeping her upright.
It was at this point that something in me snapped.
Maybe it was the pain still burning across my back. Maybe it was Brielle's laughter still echoing in my head. Maybe I was just done watching people with power decide who lived and who died.
I smiled, and it wasn't a nice one.
"No," I said simply.
The leader's eyes darkened. "Last warning."
I moved before he finished the sentence.
My wolf surged forward, feeding strength into my limbs as I closed the distance between us in a heartbeat.
He barely had time to react before my fist connected with his jaw, the crack loud enough to echo through the trees.
He flew back, slamming into a trunk. I was trained in martial arts since I could remember. At least I had learnt something useful during my training to become Luna.
The other two lunged at me, realizing they had underestimated me. I reacted quickly, pain exploded through my back as I twisted, but I used it, letting it fuel me as I ducked under one swing, grabbed the other wolf's arm and snapped it cleanly with a sharp twist.
His scream was cut short when I slammed my knee into his throat.
The last one hesitated as he looked into my glowing eyes. I hadn't realized I had become this strong, my speed, mobility, strength, even healing was far beyond what I'd ever imagined. Whatever pain I was previously feeling was completely gone now.
"Leave," I growled, the air crackling from my magic as stone and dust rose around us, my hair floating along. "Or I'll make sure none of you walk out of this forest alive."
He grabbed his fallen packmate, dragging him back without another word, disappearing into the trees as quickly as they'd come.
The Forest fell silent in an instant. My legs trembled as the adrenaline drained. I sucked in a sharp breath, forcing myself to stay upright as I turned around.
The girl collapsed to her knees instantly.
I caught her before she hit the ground, easing her down carefully.
"You're safe," I said, my voice rougher than I meant it to be. "For now."
She looked up at me, tears streaking through the dirt on her face, disbelief written all over her expression.
"i can't explain how much I'm greaful. Thank you. " she whispered in gratitude, her voice trembling.
I glanced toward the direction the wolves had fled, my chest tightening."You can thank me later, for now..."
"My name is—" she began, trying to sit up, but I held her in place.
"Not now," I cut in gently. "You need to stop the bleeding."
I pressed my hand to her wound, ignoring the sting as my wolf pushed what little healing it could spare into her. It wasn't much, but it slowed the blood enough to keep her conscious.
Carla was quiet for once.
Then, softly, she said..."You just made yourself a target."
I huffed weakly. "Story of my life."
"But, why do you smell like my mistress?" The witch murmured weakly as she sniffed a strand of my hair.