Chapter 4. Crossing the Territory Line

"Answer me, Ryn! Did they see you?" Lance shook the girl's shoulder and asked once more.

"No," Ryn replied firmly.

"Are you sure?" Lance seemed to doubt that answer.

Ryn tried to control her racing heart. She didn't know why she decided to hide the truth.

"I'm fighting Alpha Albert? Do you think I'd be here right now, alive?" the girl said.

"Ah, yeah! You're right." Lance sighed, shaking off the thoughts that had filled his head. "Albert is too strong for a girl like you," he continued.

In her heart, Ryn sighed with relief that Lance didn't see through her lie.

"By the way, how did you escape from that place? Didn't Albert smell your scent?" Lance probed.

"About that... um, I... finished my wolfsbane powder," Ryn replied while showing that her pouch was gone.

"I thought the powder would disguise your scent," Lance said.

"I stayed still long enough to wait for them to leave. "Um, Lance," Ryn called after him.

"Yeah?" The man focused on Ryn.

"Can you do me a favor? I'm really tired and hungry, too. Can you carry me all the way to Freemega?" The girl asked with puppy eyes.

Lance had a lazy expression on his face.

"Oh, come on, I ran a long way, my legs are sore, and I'm in a bit of pain. I'll die if I force myself to walk back," Ryn whined.

"Drama queen, what a nuisance!" grumbled Lance.

He squatted with his back to Ryn, then asked her to climb onto his back. Even while grumbling, Lance was still willing to carry the girl.

"I hope this is the last time you go near that place. You know, once you cross the river, you've entered Albert's territory," Lance said.

Ryn tilted her head so she could see the side of Lance's face.

"I told you, I didn't mean to," the girl said.

"Intentional or not, don't ever come there again. That place is too dangerous. If Albert catches you, you're finished! Or worse, he could follow you and attack Freemega," the man said.

Ryn rotated her eyeballs, feeling that the man was overreacting.

"Oh, and one more thing. About what you saw in there, don't tell Walter. I'm afraid he'll get angry and punish you," Lance ordered.

Ryn pulled the corners of her lips to one side. The girl paused as the image of Albert's face flashed back into her memory. The pounding was still there, making her chest ripple. Albert did look dangerous, but somehow Ryn felt that the man was not as dangerous as they said.

"Why are you so afraid of Albert? Even hate him?" Ryn asked.

"Haven't you often heard that Albert is a very cruel Alpha?" Lance replied.

"Yeah, I've heard that a lot. I mean, what makes him so ruthless?" probed Ryn.

"He's always expanding his territory by invading other packs. He held and tortured the Alphas he conquered in the dungeons. He also kept captive girls as sex slaves. Not only that, but Albert also did not hesitate to kill Rouge, who accidentally entered his territory, just like you did. You got lucky last time, but I don't know about next time. So, the best option is to stay away from the Golden Moon Pack's territory. Do you understand?" Lance explained.

Ryn did not respond again. The girl was silent on Lance's back while comparing the man's story with what she had seen from Albert some time ago. Ryn wanted to believe Lance's story, but deep down, she felt something was wrong with it.

"We're here," Lance said as he lowered Ryn from his back.

The girl then walked beside Lance. Up ahead, she saw Walter looking at them worriedly. She approached him with a guilty look.

"Sorry-"

"Thank goodness you're okay." Walter cut Ryn off with a hug. He then turned to Lance and asked, "Where did you find her?"

Lance and Ryn exchanged glances. They had already discussed the matter and decided not to tell Walter about Ryn entering Golden Moon Pack territory.

"I found her thirsty under an oak tree, near Wolfsbane Gate," Lance replied.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you," Ryn regretted.

Walter squeezed the girl's shoulder and said, "Never mind! Just don't do that again, okay?"

Ryn nodded with a faint smile.

"You'd better clean yourself up. It's getting dark, and we're about to start the party," Walter ordered.

As soon as Walter left, Lance turned toward Ryn. He looked at her seriously and said in a low voice, "Remember, this is our secret. I don't want to be punished for your carelessness."

Ryn refrained from rolling her eyes. After all, Lance had done her a favor. She would not let him down.

Night fell, and the herd had gathered to party. Bonfires, guitars, roasted deer—and one thing they wouldn't leave out was beer. Several people sat in a circle around the campfire. Two men are in charge of turning the levers of the venison roaster over the fire, waiting for it to cook, and distributing it to the whole herd. Some were singing along to the strumming of guitars. Others were chatting and occasionally laughing at jokes.

In the midst of the crowd, Ryn was the only one who felt lonely. The girl sat alone in the distance as she reflected on every moment she had experienced in Wolfspring. After two months of living with Freemega, Ryn felt something she never had in her other life: the warmth of a family. They protected and cared for each other. Very different from her own life, where she was always surrounded by danger. The girl looked up, looking at the moon shining brightly and the stars scattered in the sky.

"Why did you send my soul to this place?" She murmured as if talking to God.

The girl sighed as she lowered her gaze. A smile was etched on her lips as she looked at her new family enjoying the feast.

"To give me a chance to feel the love and affection of family?" she continued softly.

The smile on Ryn's lips faded as the visions flashed back into memory. The blood, the screams of pain, and the bodies. It was all so horrible. Ryn shuddered at the memory of each vision she had.

"Who were they? Why would I do that? Ah, no! That's not me." The girl's eyeballs rolled restlessly as a thought ran through her head. "Did this girl do it?" continued Ryn, referring to the owner of her body.

"Walter! Walter!" The panicked voice rang out from a distance, drawing the attention of the entire pack, including Ryn.

Walter, who had been sitting by the campfire, immediately got up when he heard the call.

"Bryan?" Walter furrowed his brow, curious.

The man named Bryan staggered over to Walter. For a moment, it seemed that he struggled to catch his breath. Meanwhile, other people also approached out of curiosity. Waiting for an explanation of what had frightened the man.

"What happened?" Walter demanded impatiently.

Bryan took a deep breath and replied, "Albert! He just crossed the border. He's on his way to Wolfsbane Gate."