CHAPTER FOUR: THE HUNTER

The next morning came quietly.

Birds chirped in the trees as the first rays of sunlight crept through the window. It was six in the morning when Aria sat on the edge of her bed, preparing to go and take her bath.

As she stood up, she looked down at her arms.

She froze.

The bruises were gone.

Aria quickly examined her arms and legs. There wasn't even a mark left behind.

"How did I heal so fast?" she muttered. "There isn't even a scar."

She touched her skin, confused. For a moment, she stood there wondering what had happened. Then she shook the thought away.

"I don't have time for this."

She grabbed her clothes and went to take her bath.

A few minutes later, Mira entered her room and helped her pack the remaining things into her bag.

"Here, eat this so you'll have enough strength for the journey."

She handed Aria her favorite cheese.

"Thank you, Mummy," Aria said quietly.

By seven o'clock, they were ready.

Thomas looked around the cottage one last time.

"Are we ready?"

"Yes," Mira answered softly.

Thomas turned around and started walking toward the door.

Suddenly, Aria ran after him and hugged him from behind.

"I am so sorry, Daddy. Please forgive me."

Thomas stopped.

"I know I've failed you and Mummy. I've only brought pain to this family."

She knelt down as tears rolled down her face.

"No, baby."

Thomas immediately bent down and helped her to her feet.

"We are not upset with you."

He gently stroked her hair. He couldn't bear to see his daughter cry or watch her blame herself.

"I won't deny that I was angry at first," he admitted. "But I can't stay angry at you forever. I was the one who raised you to be caring, I can't blame you for doing what I taught you to do."

Aria hugged him tightly.

"I shouldn't have gone out."

"No, my love," Mira said softly. "You only went out to help people. That isn't a crime. We are simply relocating. As long as we stay together, we'll be fine."

Aria nodded and wiped her tears.

Thomas picked up his bag.

"Let's go."

The three of them stepped out of the cottage.

---

THE VILLAGE

Officer Voss arrived at the village with his assistant.

They went directly to the village elder's house.

The moment the elder saw him, his face went pale. He quickly bowed his head.

"Officer Voss."

Voss didn't respond to his greeting.

"I heard there was a fire outbreak in this village yesterday," he said coldly. "And you didn't report it to my office."

"I am sorry, sir," the elder replied nervously. "It was because we handled it already."

"And when did you start making decisions by yourself?"

Voss's voice became colder.

"Did you think this was only about you? We are talking about the entire community. You are still under the Valeria Kingdom. You have no right to hide an incident like this."

"I am sorry, sir."

The elder bowed again, his voice trembling.

Voss stared at him.

"I heard a girl saved the children."

The elder immediately lowered his head.

"It was the people who saved the neighborhood, sir."

Voss's eyes narrowed.

"How dare you lie to me?"

His voice became loud. He pointed his finger at the elder.

"Did you think I came here to play? You lied to a royal officer."

The elder's face turned pale.

"Do you know the punishment you are putting yourself into?"

Voss turned toward his men.

"He needs to be punished."

"Take him."

"No, no!"

The village elder immediately grabbed Voss's leg.

"Please, sir!"

Tears filled his eyes.

"Please temper justice with mercy. It won't happen again. I am so sorry."

Voss looked down at him.

"For the last time…"

He paused.

"Who is the girl?"

The elder swallowed hard.

"Her name is Aria. She is the child of Thomas and Mira. They came to the village fourteen years ago, and I gave them the house where they live."

"Child of Thomas and Mira?"

The elder nodded.

Voss turned toward his assistant.

"Check their records. Find out if they registered any child."

The assistant immediately left.

A few moments later, he returned and walked close to Voss. He whispered something into his ear.

Voss nodded.

"Show me where they live."

The elder quickly stood up and led them through the village.

---

THOMAS AND MIRA'S HOUSE

The village elder stopped in front of a small cottage.

"This is where they live."

Voss looked at the house.

"Go ahead and announce my presence."

His assistant stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"Open the door! Officer Voss is here!"

There was no response.

He knocked again.

"Thomas! Mira!"

Still nothing.

Voss's patience was already running thin.

"Move."

He walked forward and pushed the door open with his leg.

The door swung open.

Voss entered the house.

There was no one inside.

He looked around.

"Search every corner."

His men immediately spread out and searched the cottage.

A few moments later, one of them returned.

"Sir, there is no one here."

Voss tightened his grip.

He slowly turned toward the village elder.

"Are you sure this is where they live?"

"Yes, sir. I swear this is where they have been living."

The elder's voice shook.

Voss looked around the empty house.

"I am sure they haven't gone far."

He turned toward one of his men.

"Search everywhere."

The man nodded. He was a skilled werewolf tracker, known for finding people through their scent. No matter how far someone ran, it was difficult to escape someone with his abilities.

---

THE FOREST

"Can you walk faster, Aria?" Thomas asked.

Aria tried to keep up, but her legs were already becoming tired.

Thomas looked at her.

"I think you're tired."

He walked toward her and lifted her onto his back.

"If we keep walking like this, we won't reach our destination early."

Aria rested her head against his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Daddy."

"Just rest," Thomas replied.

Mira continued walking beside them.

They had barely gone far when—

"Stop!"

The voice came from behind them.

One of Voss's men came running toward them.

Thomas immediately stopped. As he slowly turned around.

His heart sank.

Officer Voss stood several feet away with his men.

Thomas and Mira stared at him in disbelief.

After fifteen years, Thomas was seeing the royal officer again.

But this wasn't the Voss he remembered.

Thomas and Voss had been friends since childhood. They had grown up together. But everything changed when Voss entered the royal office. Power had changed him. The kind friend Thomas once knew had become a ruthless royal officer feared throughout the kingdom.

Thomas slowly lowered Aria from his back and tried to compose himself.

Voss walked closer, slowly looking around them.

"Are you leaving the village?"

"We are relocating, Voss," Thomas replied calmly.

Voss raised his hand.

"We are not friends."

Thomas's expression changed.

"So don't call me by my name."

Thomas lowered his head.

"Officer Voss."

Voss stepped closer.

"Better."

His eyes moved toward Aria.

"I heard this girl saved the children yesterday."

Thomas remained silent.

"Who is she?"

"She is my daughter."

Voss looked at Aria.

"And why isn't she registered?"

Thomas said nothing.

"I don't remember recording her birth certificate."

Voss's voice became sharper.

"So start explaining yourself."

Silence filled the air.

"Hand me her birth certificate."

Aria quickly moved behind Mira.

Voss looked at Thomas.

"I said, show me her certificate now."

"We don't have one," Thomas responded sharply.

Voss's eyes narrowed.

"So you stole a child."

"No!"

Thomas stepped forward.

"We didn't steal any child. She is our daughter."

"She is our child," Mira added quickly.

Voss turned toward his assistant.

"Take her."

The assistant moved toward Aria.

"No, Voss!"

Thomas immediately knelt down.

"Please. Don't do this."

Voss's face remained emotionless.

"I said, go and grab her."

"No!"

Thomas turned toward Aria.

"Run, Aria!"

Aria hesitated. She didn't know what to do. But when she saw the officer moving toward her, fear took over.

She turned and ran.

"Baby, keep running!" Mira shouted.

Aria ran as fast as her legs could carry her, tears streaming down her face.

Voss watched her disappear into the trees.

Then he let out a small laugh.

"Wow."

He turned toward Thomas and Mira.

"You don't know the grave offence you have committed."

Thomas stared at him.

"I don't care, Voss!"

His voice was filled with anger.

"I will protect my child."

Voss smiled coldly.

"Good."

He turned toward the skilled werewolf tracker.

"Let's see how long he can protect her."

The tracker immediately moved toward the direction Aria had disappeared. He lowered himself to the ground and examined the footprints Aria had left behind.

"Give me two minutes, sir."

He disappeared into the forest.

Thomas and Mira stood frozen, praying silently. Praying that Aria would not be caught.

The minutes felt like hours.

Then they heard footsteps.

A figure emerged from the trees.

Thomas and Mira's hearts stopped.

"Sir!"

It was the tracker voice.

They all turned. And Thomas and Mira couldn't believe their eyes.