CHAPTER 4

"Wait, I smell someone's blood here. An outsider, hiding in the bushes," I heard the patrol group say. They were looking for me as I tried to cross the border again.

Now I know one thing for sure, I can't stay here any longer. I have to find a new place to live.

Only if I can hide from them this time.

I sighed and leaned against a large tree, trying to cover my bleeding wound with a piece of cloth.

As I wondered how to get out of there, a voice was heard.

"Captain, there's nothing suspicious here."

"All right, let's go back." As I listened to the captain's voice, the footsteps slowly faded away.

I didn't dare stay any longer, so I immediately left the place and ran into the dense forest. I didn't stop until I felt I was no longer being chased.

Looking at the fruit I had, I rolled my eyes when I realized it was only enough for two days. This time, I had very little food, and to get it, I was almost found by the pack and died in the forest.

I had been an outsider for three months, and I was wandering around. To say that this life was almost like hell would be an understatement. I refused to join the group of outsiders because it would only make me sadder.

I ate an apple after washing it in the lake, removed the bandage from my foot, and realized the wound was almost healed. I washed the cloth in a small hole I had dug with my hands and left it to dry on a tree trunk.

Yes, I lived like a wanderer.

"If you're willing to listen to me, you don't have to live like this anymore. I'm telling you, contact Mark. He'll help us. He's part of the council, he's obligated to help us," my conscience, which I've told you all about, reappeared. She hates this nomadic life even more than I do. She's used to a life of luxury, believe me.

My conscience is called Ariana. She claims to be my inner wolf, but I don't believe it. If I had a wolf's soul, I would transform, and I wouldn't be the lantern that everyone hates. I wouldn't suffer so much.

"Have you forgotten that I haven't recharged my phone since... I don't even remember when it was last. I don't have any money, I don't want to go to the city. I would be ashamed to know that they would see me as a different person," I replied before collapsing onto the ground.

Honestly, the idea was very tempting, but I was afraid. I was afraid the council wouldn't want to deal with a lantern that rejected its partner.

“I know you're scared, Lexi, but to live a better life, you have to take risks. Don't you understand that? It won't get any easier as time goes by. If anything, it will get harder every day. You've found your mate. And remember, you're the one who rejected him, not the other way around. In a few months, you'll be in your first heat. It would have happened if it weren't for your light. But remember, after your first period, you'll have your period every month, so what are you going to do about that?" asked Ariana.

“I’ll handle everything, no problem. I know what it feels like to be in heat. To speed up the mating process, a female in heat becomes overly excited, feeling a strong sexual desire for her partner, and her partner is attracted to her, and they mate, leading to pregnancy.” I rolled my eyes after saying that.

"No, dear, that's where you're wrong. When a female is in heat, her partner and all the single male wolves will be attracted to her. You are a lone wolf in the forest. What do you think will happen when you are in heat? You will not only attract all the outsiders in the area, but also the males in the pack. The pack."

I hate to admit it, but her words got to me.

"I don't know, do you understand? For now, I have to move before they find my trail and follow me," I said before grabbing the bag and fruit I had stolen.

As I walked along the riverbank, I sang a song so I wouldn't feel lonely, because I was bored.

I used to think that traveling was fun and I always wanted to do it alone, but now I don't think so. Traveling is only fun if you have food and shelter. Otherwise, the forest can be your worst nightmare.

After walking for several hours, I opened the group map I had made in geography class. The map was now my greatest help, allowing me to know which group was closest to me.

"This is the Manhattan group. I don't think they ever said they were a dangerous group," I said loudly as I looked east, which would take me to the border.

I set up camp on the riverbank because this was unclaimed land, where no group could claim ownership. I bathed in the river, trying to wash away the dirt and sweat from my body.

I changed my clothes and combed my hair. I was about to eat some stolen fruit when I heard a tree branch break nearby.

I quickly hid behind a tree. I grabbed my knife, ready to attack whoever it was.

"Come on, come out. I see you, pretty girl. Surrender to us or this won't end well for you if we decide to use our strength," I heard one of the three men say.

From their foul smell, I knew they were outsiders. They smelled bad because most outsiders didn't bother to bathe and clean themselves.

"We're asking you nicely, dear. Come out while you still can," I heard a man say.

"What should I do? Should I go or not?" I thought, weighing the consequences. But knowing that being raped was not part of my plan, I came out of hiding.

"Wow, she's hot," said the blond-haired man, making my stomach churn.

"I don't want to hurt you or get in your way. I take care of my life and you take care of yours," I said indifferently.

"That's not what we want, sweetheart. We want you to come with us. Let's have some fun. After that, we'll decide what happens to you," said the brown-haired man, making me look at them with disgust.

"I've been nice to you guys," I said, rolling my eyes before grabbing the dagger and throwing it at the three of them. I was going to stab them right in the heart.

"As if this dagger could hurt us," said the man before pulling the dagger with his hand, making me tilt my head and stare at them with the most serious expression on my face. I tilted my head and stared at them with the most innocent look I could muster.

"I know, but the aconite on that dagger will definitely kill you," I said as one of them started coughing.

"That was pretty quick," I said, taking my dagger and wiping it on their clothes.

While I was cleaning my third dagger, the person in front of me was dying restlessly. I heard another branch break behind me, but before I could turn around and check what it was, I felt something sharp on my neck, making my eyes widen.

"Turn around, stranger," I heard a deep voice that sounded very familiar.

I turned and saw the man holding a large dagger to my neck, and inevitably, I fell silent.