Chapter Six

Elena's POV

We continued our aimless walk until we got far into the edge of the town. The two betas stood closer than before, and one whispered into the other's ear.

“We'll be turning back from here,” one muttered. “Stay here and don't try anything foolish, or you'll regret it.”

I felt uneasy because I had nowhere to go. Then the two went deeper into the forest for only the goddess knows what. I know the betas of Iron Fang. They were trained to be watchful men, taught through blade and blood. Not fearing the beta of our pack means not knowing our Gamma, my fearless father.

I sat on the scattered leaves and sand, staring into empty space like someone waiting for fate to decide their life.

“Don't move,” a voice called from behind me. It sounded like someone running. I quickly stood up and turned back.

The tall, muscular wolf started grinning from ear to ear.

“What do you want from me?” I shouted. My wolf groaned inside me, ready to attack him if he moved closer, but I didn't want to move because I thought he might be stronger than me.

Tears started falling from my eyes. Before I could think of an idea, he grabbed both my arms and sank his claws into my flesh. Blood dripped out. My wolf groaned, and I grabbed him by the neck.

I managed to twist his head backward. As he struggled to pull off my lower cloth, he suddenly fell to the ground and started shaking like someone having a seizure.

As I looked around to see who had done it, my body was already giving in to the ground because of the pain I suffered from the rogue.

The two betas appeared from nowhere and stood over the rogue's body on the ground. They looked at me in fear, checking my injuries. They carried me away. I knew they dared not let Varlok know how this happened.

Thanks to healer Kiara, she gave us a potion to apply to my body when I was taken to her place. Before we left Kiara's place, I was already feeling normal again.

The following day, I headed straight to the healer's house, and the two betas followed me again but stayed outside.

Inside Kiara's house, Camela and Mila sat facing Kiara in what looked like a serious conversation. I even heard Camela mention Golden's name.

As Mila turned and saw me, she quickly stood up.

“What are you here for, loser?”

I tried to understand what she meant but failed. “Anyway, I don't want trouble with you. As you can see, I'm here to see the healer,” I replied.

“You better not try anything stupid, or you won't like what happens to you next.” Her eyes burned with anger as she said every word.

“Do you mean you will kill me or what?” I asked as tears blurred my vision. I struggled to stay calm.

“Mila, first of all, what do you mean I shouldn't try anything stupid?” I said, confused. “I think, as my stepsister, you should care about what may be wrong with me instead of worrying about yourself just because I am here.”

“Who cares what's wrong with you? Useless piece of trash fighting for what was never meant for her,” Mila fired back as she moved to block every possible way I could escape.

“Let me go,” I protested as she spread herself to block my path.

“I think that's Elena there, Mila,” Kiara called out. “Let her come in.”

Mila angrily stepped aside and folded her arms as she watched me walk toward healer Kiara.

“You are welcome, Elena,” Kiara greeted me. “Elena, you will have to give me a few minutes while you wait in the other room.”

“Why is she here?” Camela quickly cut in. She looked closely at the healer and Mila, who had just returned to her seat, waiting for an answer.

I agreed and walked to another area away from where Kiara was attending to her visitors. On my way, Kiara rushed to me and quickly pulled me into another room, where she gave me the healing potion I had come for.

“Take this, and you should leave immediately,” she said, her eyes darting around as if she feared someone might hear her.

I immediately turned to leave.

As soon as I got outside, I felt a painful hit on the hand holding the potion. The bottle fell, and as I held my hand in pain, I turned back and saw Mila. She was breathing hard and holding a short plank.

She rushed forward and picked up the fallen bottle.

At once, I realized I needed to avoid Mila completely. I had finally accepted that my stepsister was wicked. I was her target, and that could lead me to an unthinkable fate.

“This is it, right? You came for this. Then hear me well. The goddess is on my side and won't let you embarrass me, you unlucky enemy of progress.”

I stood still, staring at her in shock.

As she turned her face back, she saw the two betas who had escorted me there. I quickly realized she had landed herself in trouble.