Chapter 4

My heart skipped a beat. It nearly leaped out of my chest.

I'd completely forgotten that today was the day of the Spring Hunt. In my previous life, this was the day Oscar had been ambushed and trapped by a pack of rogues.

Someone had deliberately lured him alone into rogue territory. He had been mauled so badly that his wolf spirit suffered irreversible damage, and both of his legs were broken.

By the time the healer arrived, it was too late. His life had been saved, but his wolf spirit fell into an eternal slumber. His legs never recovered either.

I immediately sprinted toward the forest.

I prayed nothing would happen to him, but by the time I arrived, Oscar was already gone.

He had ventured alone into the depths of the forest to hunt.

Standing outside, my heart pounded as I grabbed someone nearby. "How long has he been in there?"

"For quite a while."

"Oscar!"

I shouted his name, only to have someone seize my arm.

A tall young werewolf gripped my arm tightly.

"What is he to you?"

I recognized him immediately. In my previous life, he had been the organizer of this Spring Hunt. For Oscar to have entered the forest, this man was undoubtedly involved.

I shoved him away and yelled, "You knew this is rogue territory! Why did you let him go in by himself?

"You have to come with me and save him right now! Otherwise, the Alpha family will never let you get away with this!"

The young werewolf burst into laughter. With utter contempt, he slapped my face.

"He offended me, and you still think I'm going to let you save him?"

I lunged forward and slapped him hard across the face.

"Attempting to murder the Alpha family's heir is enough to get your entire family expelled from the pack. I'm calling them right now."

His expression instantly darkened. In the next second, he shifted into his wolf form and tackled me to the ground. His saliva dripped onto my face.

For the first time, I felt real fear.

"You don't know your place."

A crushing blow landed across my back, leaving me unable to move.

Blood filled my mouth as I clenched my jaw. Turning my head, I spotted Evan standing at the edge of the crowd. Desperately, I cried out, "Evan! Help me!"

I screamed with everything I had.

He took one step forward, but Evelyn grabbed his arm and silently shook her head.

"Evan, don't.

"They'll take revenge on us. This is their fate. It has nothing to do with us. Don't get involved."

Evan hesitated. Finally, avoiding my gaze, he quietly turned around with Evelyn and left.

My heart clenched in agony.

The man who had promised in my previous life that he would protect me forever chose to ignore me when I truly needed him.

The werewolf pinning me down bared his bloodstained fangs and lunged at my throat.

"Go big or go home. I might as well kill both of you today and end this once and for all."

My wolf spirit had yet to awaken. All I could do was cover my head with my arms helplessly, close my eyes, and let the tears fall.

A furious wolf's roar echoed through the forest. The pain I had expected never came.

I opened my eyes. A wolf covered in blood burst from the woods and slammed into the one attacking me before sending him flying.

It was Oscar.

He planted himself in front of me and growled fiercely at the surrounding werewolves. His body swayed twice before he collapsed onto the ground.

"Oscar!"