2: The stranger on the train

BRIAR

I was going through the most devastating moment of my life.

After the rejection, I was paralyzed with pain so that I couldn’t do anything. I had thought that would appeal to Aaron’s human side, but I was thrown out without anything other than the small bag I had with me. According to them, I didn’t need anything because I was soon going to get dragged to Alpha Azreal’s asylum. There was no escaping that. That was the fate of every single wolfless person who didn’t have a matebond to hold them up in Fangshire.

There was no use fighting what was set in stone.

But I also couldn’t allow that to become my life. I shouldn’t be losing my mind in that asylum while Aaron lives out on the good health I got for him, while Roxie takes over every aspect of my life. So I fled. I didn’t know where I was fleeing to because Fangshire extended over almost all the parts of the world as I knew it, but I wanted to get as far away from the capital that housed both Alpha Azreal’s palace and his famous asylum.

There was a rule that if wolfless people walked into the asylum themselves, they were not subjected to the welcome trial, but if they were caught and dragged into it by his soldiers, then they would go through the trial that was rumored to be extremely painful. Nothing has been said about those who fled, but I knew the punishment must be even more unbearable.

I was almost at the train station when I noticed Alpha Azreal’s soldiers walking around and stopping shewolves. My heart lurched. I knew they were looking for me. I turned back and walked into the train station with my heart in my throat. At the ticketing booth, I was told there were no empty seats anywhere on the train again, except for one in a private first-class coach. The price was high, but when I turned back and caught a glimpse of some of the soldiers at the main gate, I swiped my card and paid.

The private first-class coach was everything I’ve always dreamt of. This was the dream life I planned for Aaron and me. This was supposed to be our lives now that our business had taken off. But instead, here I was, betrayed and fleeing for my dear life.

I broke down quietly on the giant chair that could easily accommodate five people, but was meant for only one. I broke down at the realization of what I’d lost and how Roxie always managed to steal everything from me.

I sobbed so hard that I broke into hiccups. Tears clouded my vision, and I didn’t even know when the train started moving. My attention was only brought back to reality when I heard frantic whispers and murmurs behind me. It grew louder, prompting me to pull back my curtain to see what was happening.

In the other seat in the coach, a man was breaking out in what looked like hives, and from the way his breathing echoed and his eyes barely stayed open, I knew he was reacting to something.

Two train hostesses were standing over him, anxious and whispering furtively, instead of getting him a nurse.

“Just get him a nurse,” I told them, and they both looked at me.

“That's the thing, ma'am, we don't have anyone on board right now. We'd just pick her up at the next stop.”

I frowned at their stupid service before looking back at the dying man. Allergies were a severe issue, and if this man were left untreated, he could die at any minute.

An idea suddenly occurred to me. It was stupid, and I tried to tape it down, but it didn't work. It wasn't even something I've explicitly confirmed, only on dying flowers in my garden, and when one of our neighbors' children had a cut. It worked then, and now, it should work too.

It was my blood. After giving up my wolf, a series of bizarre things happened that suggested my blood now carries healing powers.

I walked up to them and asked them to get me wet towels and other things that I did not need. I just wanted to get them away, and the minute I was alone with the dying man, I tore my palm with my tooth and allowed my blood to trickle into his mouth.

His healing was almost instant. His breathing normalized, the hives stopped growing, and his eyes fluttered repeatedly. By the time the hostesses returned, he was almost entirely better. I only told them to use the towels on his forehead while they repeatedly thanked me for saving him.

I returned to my mini cabin, and soon enough, I forgot about what just happened. I could only replay my situation in my head. There was nothing for me. No future at all. Even if I managed to escape, I'd have to live in hiding forever.

A rap on my door distracted me. When I pulled the curtain back, it was the man I had saved a couple of minutes ago. I was momentarily taken aback by how good he looked… like a god, with how his whole face was perfectly aligned.

“Hi. I came over to thank you.” He let himself in without my permission, and he settled on the seat opposite me.

“I'd have died if you didn't step in.”

“It's nothing,” I told him, even though I wanted to be left alone, “I'm glad you're better.”

“Hmm,” he nodded and looked pointedly at me till I couldn't keep up with his eye contact again, “I heard you crying earlier. I'd have come over if my allergies didn't kick in. May I ask why you're crying? Why are you traveling alone with no bags?” He looked around my cabin, where I had nothing but my small bag.

“It's nothing. Just my hormones and…”

“It's nothing. I know it when a woman is broken and…”

“Fine. Since you want to know, it's my former mate and my stepsister…” I rambled on and on about how they both used me. About everything that brought me here, and when I was done, I was heaving and crying again.

“And now, I'm here. Fleeing for my life and trying to escape being dragged into Alpha Azreal’s asylum. All because I loved my mate enough to give up my wolf for him.”

I was crying again. Ugly sobs that wrecked my entire body, and he was suddenly beside me and pulling me into his arms. I was surprised at the instant warmth that I felt. It felt like home, like soft cottons and beddings cocooned me, and it made me cry harder.

“I'm sorry. Your former mate is a fool for treating you like that. I'm sure you'll be fine. Everything will…”

“No, nothing would be fine.” I pulled away from him, “This is futile. My trying to escape is futile. No matter how fast I run, Alpha Azrael’s men would catch up with me, and I'd be dragged away and locked up. That man calls himself our alpha, but all he does is make our lives unbearable. He doesn't care that wolfless people already have enough trauma; he just wants to enslave us and make us mine for treasures for the rest of our lives. He's just a wicked and callous monster.”

The stranger pulled away from me slightly, and I could see a bemused smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You think Azreal is a wicked monster?”

“I know he is,” I replied, shifting from Aaron to Azreal, “if he weren't, he wouldn't have an asylum where he enslaves thousands of people. If he weren't wicked, he wouldn't keep waging wars, disposing of other alphas, and taking over their lands.”

“I think you're right,” he was still looking at me with those intense dark grey eyes of his, “thinking about it now. He's a monster. Wouldn't it be better if he just dropped dead?”

“That would be the best thing,” I agreed, thinking about how I wouldn't have to be dragged to the asylum and how I'd be free to plot my revenge on Aaron and Briar.

The stranger chuckled, and it was a dark sound that I didn't get to ponder because the announcement came on that we were approaching a stop, and the stranger got to his feet.

“That's my stop, I guess I'll see you around, little kitten.”

I wanted to tell him that he’d never see me around. That the chances of us running into each other were less than 0.5% but he had already walked away.

I remained in the train with no destination in mind until we got to the last stop, where I was forced to disembark.

When I stepped out of the train, Alpha Azrael’s men were waiting for me.