8 Hunting Ground

The back mountain stretched out as a vast expanse of dark and dense wilderness. From my father's tales, it wasn't like the territories our pack occupied, which is flat and expansive. It boasted rugged natural scenery and cliffs along the sea.

 

"Emilia, don't go there when I'm not around. It's too dangerous for you. I won't allow you to take such risks," my father's words echoed in my ears. His warm concern still touched me, but now, I had no choice but to enter this area, once an absolute forbidden zone for me, venturing deep into the forest, and during a time when many beasts were released into the hunting ground.

 

"Dad, if you were still here, please protect me from Ron's clutches," I silently prayed in my heart.

 

I bent down, draped in a black robe, wrapping myself tightly. Within the territory of the back mountain, I moved cautiously through the shadows of the night, like a mouse avoiding detection.

 

"Crack."

 

The sound of footsteps snapping twigs was faint in the silent forest, but hidden among the bushes, I perked up my ears, held my breath, knowing someone was approaching.

 

Moonlight spilled over the tall and low foliage, casting a faint glow on the deep green, almost black leaves, but the moonlight was far dimmer than the bright firelight below the trees.

 

I hid in the towering fir tree, like a nesting squirrel, ears pricked, quietly peering down through the dense foliage.

 

"Alpha Duke, guess what Alpha Ron promised for tonight's hunting game?" a strange male voice rang out.

 

"Who the hell knows," the alpha named Duke replied gruffly. "In my opinion, it'd be better to go back now and enjoy some wine and meat with those obedient female slaves. Why bother coming to this dark place to hunt wild animals late at night?"

 

Under the tree, four or five werewolves gathered around, sitting or standing, burning torches stuck into the ground, illuminating this small, dim thicket.

 

"Hey, don't say that. Alpha Ron just wants to entertain us better. There are many precious prey in this back mountain hunting ground," a scar-faced werewolf said mysteriously.

 

"What kind?" one werewolf asked.

 

"Hehe, they say there are snow-white panthers, golden lions, and even brown wild bears. Just think about it, it's not easy for Alpha Ron to gather all these things. If we catch them, skin them, and chop them up, it'll be such a prestigious thing to display at home."

 

The scar-faced werewolf's eyes gleamed with greed, and with each mention of a beast, my face grew paler. I stiffly turned my head to gaze at this seemingly quiet and peaceful forest, wondering if fierce beasts were silently lurking in those unseen dark corners.

 

"Well then, Ron said there were unexpected prey. What kind of prey could compare to a snow-white panther and a golden lion?" another asked.

 

"I don't know," the scar-faced werewolf shook his head, "Alpha Ron just said we'll find out when we discover it."

 

"Alright," Alpha Duke, sitting on a rock, stood up. "Whatever it is, Alpha Ron has given us only one night. This back mountain will be sealed since we're hunting. Let's catch something we like. I'll take that golden lion."

 

"Hahaha, Alpha Duke, you have good taste. I want that golden lion too."

 

"Alright, time is short. Let's go."

 

After a few chuckles among the werewolves below, they left again, leaving behind ashes from the burning torches scattered on the ground.

 

I released my held breath suddenly, "Phew," I sighed deeply, then turned and shifted my already numb ankles, carefully climbing down from the tree.

 

"Caw—caw—"

 

A shrill, hoarse crow suddenly came from above, and the branches shook a few times. My heart skipped a beat as I looked up to meet the black eyes of a crow on the branch.

 

Damn it, I had just managed to evade those alpha werewolves, why did this inexplicable feeling of dread still linger?

 

A breeze passed, bringing a chill, and the fallen leaves rustled on the ground. Moonlight filtered through the branches, casting toothy, clawed shadows on the ground.

 

I wrapped my robe tighter, crouched down, and moved forward.

 

Before leaving, I took off the white bag hanging from my waist, filled with firefly powder, and quietly buried it in the ashes on the ground.

 

(Yesterday)

 

"What's this?"

 

After the silver-haired golden-eyed man returned me to my room, he took out a small white cloth bag from his pocket and placed it in my hand.

 

"This is firefly powder," the man said, looking directly into my eyes.

 

"After you enter the hunting ground, you'll need to sprinkle this powder where you pass. As long as no beasts attack you, hide yourself. This stuff will help me find you as quickly as possible."

 

I widened my eyes in astonishment, looking at the small bag in my hand.

 

Werewolves have excellent night vision. Even in pitch-black darkness, they see as if it were daytime. Where did he get this strange and almost useless thing from?

 

Suppressing my doubts, I opened the cloth bag. Inside, the white powder emitted a faint, pearl-like glow. I picked up a bit of the powder and spread it on my hand. In an instant, the white trace disappeared as if it were a water stain under sunlight.

 

"This kind of firefly powder requires special tools to see the traces," Klaus said, looking down at me, his golden eyes hiding oppression. "As long as you leave a mark with this, I will definitely find you before others."

 

"Understood?" He leaned close to my ear, his aggressive breath making me dare not look into his eyes, so I nodded like a trembling puppy in the rain.

 

"Speak," Alpha Klaus's indifferent voice echoed.

 

"I understand, and I'll use it," I weakly replied.

 

(Now)

 

Memories flashed through my mind as I clenched my fingers, cautiously navigating through the depths of the forest.

 

"Heh, that strange thing, I won't use it," I pinched my fingertips, ridiculing in my mind.

 

That cold, strange, and powerful Alpha Klaus—he wasn't necessarily better than Alpha Duke. Although I didn't know why he helped me escape from Alpha Ron, why he could recognize my identity, and why he insisted on making me his slave, one thing was clear: falling into Alpha Klaus's hands might not be a good thing.

 

The two red bite marks on my tailbone were the most compelling evidence at the moment.

 

Moreover, I wiped the sweat off my forehead, suppressed the urge to retch due to excessive nervousness, and faintly smelled the salty sea air on my nose. The destination was getting closer and closer.

 

I suppressed my joy, accelerated, and squeezed out the last bit of strength from my calves.

 

"Phew," with the sound of my breath accompanying my pounding heart, the dense forest receded beside me. Stepping on the dry leaves on the ground, brushing past the tangled branches of the bushes, finally, I stumbled out of the forest's range.

 

Before me lay a vast expanse of the sea, the sea breeze blowing gently, bringing the unique salty smell of the sea. The moon hung high in the dark blue sky, casting its radiant light on the sea, shimmering like fish scales.

 

Here was a steep cliff. Looking down from here, I could only see the white foam splashing at the bottom of the cliff. A few slender, tender cypress trees grew below the rugged cliff, stretching out a few branches, basking in the precious sunlight and rain amid the huge waves at the cliff's edge.

 

My legs almost gave way, and I knelt on the ground. I lifted the black hood covering my head, finally not needing to suppress my breathing and heartbeat, and began to cough without reservation.