Chapter 8

I didn’t have time to think about Kael.

I wrapped a black scarf around my face and entered the market, then headed toward the pack house.

Outside, a few maids were whispering.

“Miss Nova took that old woman somewhere.”

My heart dropped.

“Where?” I asked, disguising my voice.

Before they could answer—

A familiar mocking voice cut in.

“So you dared to come back.”

Nova.

She stepped forward slowly, eyes scanning me.

I pulled down my scarf.

“Where is Salma?”

She smirked. “Follow me.”

She led me deep into the woods.

Then she stopped and shoved her phone into my face.

On the screen—

Salma was tied up.

Bruised.

Crying.

My knees nearly gave out.

"Leave her!" I yelled at Nova.

She let out a laugh. "Only in one condition."

"What?"

She handed me a tiny transparent bottle. I could see violet fluid inside it.

"Drink it. I will let go of your nanny Salma if you drink it."

"W-What is it?" I asked her with a surprised look.

She smirked at me and replied,

"Something more poisonous than poison.”

I could not believe my ears.

Was I going to die today?

"Why are you doing this? Haven’t I been obedient enough? Haven’t I endured everything in the Forbidden Mountain?"

Nova shook her head and leaned against a tree. "I am not satisfied with how you are living your life there. I told the supervisors to give you a life of hell, but look at yourself. You are totally okay. Your hands and legs are just working fine."

Everything clicked. It was Nova all along. She had been bribing the supervisors to bury me in extra shifts just to make my life hell.

"I am telling you again, Nova. I didn't kill your brother. You are misunderstanding me. Just let my nanny go. She is innocent."

Her smirk deepened as she whispered, "I know."

My eyes widened. What did she mean? Was she aware that I didn't kill her brother?

But before I got a chance to ask a question to her, she came and snatched her phone from my hand. Then she dialed a number and put the phone on the loudspeaker.

"Torture her," she commanded someone.

"Okay, Miss Blackwood," a man spoke.

Almost immediately I heard a sound of slapping. Salma's screaming voice came out of the phone.

Hearing her scream like that felt like a knife to my heart.

"No!"

With a shocked face, I rushed to Nova to snatch the phone from her.

"I will drink it, don't kill her," I said.

She turned to me with that smirk intact on her face. “What are you waiting for? Drink up.”

I held the bottle tightly and opened it. A heavy breath escaped me as a toxic floral scent that made my skin crawl.

It smelled like a poisonous flower I could not identify. I thought,

'Anything for Salma.'

I closed my eyes and brought it to my lips, the cold glass clinking against my teeth as the first drop of that violet liquid rolled toward the edge. It then rolled down inside my throat while burning it.

My knees felt weak. I reached out to steady myself against a tree, the empty vial slipping from my numb fingers and shattering on the forest ground.

I had no idea what was going on with me. The liquid was poisonous; I was in pain, but why was I feeling so heated?

"I-I drank it all. Now let Salma go," I uttered.

Nova typed something on her phone and then stayed quiet for a while as if she was waiting for someone. My body could not focus on her anymore as it slid against the tree, scratching my back. I felt no strength inside.

Soon, a few men came there. Nova gestured them to me and said,

"Enjoy her body. If she tries to run away, beat her and have your way."

Three men were shocked when they heard Nova. But when they glanced at me, dirty grins spread on their faces.

"Thank you, Miss Blackwood."

I shook my head, trying to move back, but my back was already pressed against the tree.

My lips trembled. "D-Don't do this to me."

Their tongue rolled while gazing at me, slowly approaching me.

Although I did not have any strength, I held my breath and tried to stand up.

One of them slapped me hard and tried to touch me. I bit his hand, which made him step backward.

Before the other two approached me, I gathered my strength and got to my feet.

I turned around and started running to save my life. I did not know where to go. Who would save me now?

I felt déjà vu of the night six months ago. I was attacked like this and got beaten ruthlessly. But tonight, it was more horrible.

These men were after disgracing me. I did not want them to ruin me.

My feet slammed his nose, and he moved back. I got up and started to run, praying for someone to rescue me from these monsters.

At that critical moment, I bumped into someone.

The three men paused behind, looking ahead with wide eyes.

I lifted my head and saw Justin.

As if a glint of hope arose in my heart, I held his hand and whispered,

"Justin"

Justin's eyes narrowed on me.

I felt his gaze like a physical weight as it slid down my body, stalling on my torn sleeves.

He then yanked his hand away, giving me a look as if he had touched dirt.

I stepped backward, feeling pain in my feet by his action.

Justin's eyes moved away from my body and then glanced back at the men.

He shook his head and gave me a disgusted look. ““Again? I catch you with men again? You’re disgusting.”

I begged him through my eyes. “I-I didn't do anything. T-They want to—”

“Shut up!” He yelled at me.

I shut my eyes, flinching at his yell. He stepped toward me. I thought he would scold me due to the misunderstanding but at least help me.

However, he pushed me toward the men, which made my eyes widen.

“Justin!”

I stared at him with shocked eyes.

His eyes were filled with cruelty, hatred, and something that I could never identify.

Why did he hate me so much?

The fear of losing my dignity to those men was so deep that I almost forgot the man in front of me was brutal.

He was the man who declared me a criminal; he was the man who slept with another woman without setting me free from the mate bond.

“You dared to enter the border and came to seduce men? Then they should do whatever they want to do with you. Why are you now acting in front of me?”

Saying that, Justin turned around and started walking away as if he was going to leave me to the men there.

I was helpless.

His look was telling me that he doubted I was just pretending.

I thought tonight I was going to lose myself. Those hungry men were dragging me to their den to eat me alive, breaking the last point that had been keeping me alive.

Just when I thought everything was ended,

A loud growl echoed in the forest, shaking every man around me, including Justin.

Then a thunderous roar came from behind me.

“Who dares to touch her?”