1 - Worst Plan Ever

Aya’s POV

This was not part of my plan.

I really ought to pray and ask for forgiveness from the Moon Goddess because I really cursed at her for my bad luck on this very day.

A series of bad luck, might I add.

It started simple. A cute one, in fact. I was just about to pack my things silently, but then the wind knocked off my things. 

Oh dear.. Not now, please.

Please don't make him—

“Aya..”

Nevermind.

I exhaled first and then twirled around to face him. “Hehe, hi dad?”

He looked at me, at my bag, and sighed.

“No.” He firmly said.

“But dad! It has been ten years already! Ten years since we arrived here at Cladbridge! Ten years since we last set foot on Wood—”

“ENOUGH.” He roared.

Ten years since I last saw him…

I also want to add, but I think my dad would skin me alive. So I just looked at him with puppy eyes, hoping he would yield. But yield he not. 

Seriously, this man!

“Aya.. You know how dangerous it is for you to leave here. You only know half of why it is dangerous! Much more to go back there. Besides, didn't we promise each other to find your mother?” Dad spoke in a tone that crumbled my heart. Especially the last bit.

“I know dad, but I am just going to visit!” I protested. He only looked at me and said, “My decision’s final dearest, please forgive me,” and then he took off after giving me a kiss at the top of my head. I closed my eyes and savored this very last moment.

‘Please forgive me too, dad.’

—----

And so here I am. Not in Cladbridge, also not at Woodhill. But currently abducted before I even spent an hour running away from home.

“I assure you this one is special,” said one of them.

“How on earth can she be special? They are all the same, you dumbass.”

“You really don't have any idea about anything!”

And they bicker and bicker until I grow tired of listening. I was slightly annoyed too because they left my bag way back to where they abducted me.

As hours passed of just walking, my feet grew numb, and my thoughts went to my father. I bet he’ll be so shocked to see me gone. Because all this time, for ten years straight, I always try to run away. To go back to where my heart and soul truly belong. In Woodhill.

With him.

But dad always says something to make me stay. He knows I have a soft spot for him and for my mom. The one who left us all alone. At this point, I don't even know how to react when I finally see her again.

But I still do wanna see her and ask why on earth didn't she come back for us? Why did she leave in the first place? Is she still al—

I was interrupted with my thoughts when this gross, huge man grabbed my arm and literally dragged me away. As if hurrying me.

“Hey! Gentle??” I complained, and he just sneered.

Huh! The audacity of this man? 

I rolled my eyes at him, and, well, what else could I do but let myself be tugged?

We were in this huge forest. But every single time we took a step, I could hear the birds getting farther away from where we were heading. 

I gulped. Because that single piece of information sent chills all over my body. It can’t be..

That only means one thing.

We are in Bloodbury.

At the eastern part of the whole wolf domain. And we are obviously heading to their infamous ‘living forest’.

My heartbeat was fast, and I froze. Stuck my heel to the ground. That made the man trip on a fallen branch, but instead of getting angry at me, he chuckled. “So, you noticed already, huh?”

I gulped but immediately turned around and ran as fast as I could. Hands still tied together in front of me. I should be thankful that they did not blindfold me, but I know the only reason they didn't was because they knew..

The three of them knew that my efforts of running would be for naught.

And we were all right.

The three men laughed and let me run for five minutes straight before I heard them wolf out to chase me. I should try to hide, but that is so stupid since.. well, wolves.. They could instantly find me with this obvious leaking scent of mine.

After just seconds, they instantly found me. The three of them cut my path and circled around. One of them spoke, “You are smart for running away and not hiding.”

“What do you want from me!?” I yelled. My tears were about to fall, but I stopped them. Would rather die than let them see me crying.

Oh Goddess, what have I done? My dad would be so devastated if he saw my lifeless body.. but that is, if I even have a body left. My soul left me for a moment and thought of my father looking for me all over the place. Thinking I only ran away, and he would never find out I was already dead and buried deep within the very soil he would wander. 

Well, that itself is a blessing in disguise. He would be more devastated to know that I died rather than thinking that I lived. But he will surely still blame himself all the same.

“You already know where we are. So you should have half a mind of what we want.” The slimmest wolf snickered.

I tried to turn around and run again, but the third giant one immediately followed. “Fun’s over, missy. It is hungry.”

One of them bumped me into the giant one’s back, and then they started to glide through the woods. That was until I jumped off his back and rolled over the ground for five seconds. My whole body fucking ached. I thankfully didn't bump my head, but my face and arms are full of small cuts and some bruises.

I didn't mind the pain and instantly tried to stand as fast as I could. No matter how difficult it is with my hands tied. I heard them yell and curse at each other, so I tried my best to run away again.

It did not take long for them to find me, of course.

“You are one of those annoying ones, huh?” The giant wolf growled and turned back into his human form. He grabbed my hair and was about to bash my head somewhere, but the other two stopped him.

“Stupid! We will be dead too if you do that!”

“I’ll be at her back to hold her tight so that she won't dare to jump off again. So calm the fuck down, bro.”

The giant one glared at me. “Last chance, missy. I am not so patient. Either die with less pain or in a gruesome death in my hands. There is no other choice.”

I was cowering in fear deep inside, but I didn't let it show. The two of them wolfed out again with the other one at my back.

There goes my freedom. I haven't even seen him again, and now I’ll be dead. And what a pathetic way to go since they’ll feed me to this fucking living forest of theirs.

Yep, I swear on my life, this was really not in my plans..