Chapter 12

Veronica's POV:

I still feel awkward since last night after I kissed Lucas. I didn't know what force propelled me to kiss him but I did and to make matters worse, Beatrice saw it all happen.

She didn't utter a single word as she escorted me back to my room. The silence felt uncomfortable so I decided to ask her for directions to Lucas' room. She pointed at the room down the hallway and I thanked her and bade her goodnight, after shutting my door.

Strangely, I've not seen Beatrice again since last night's event and I couldn't help but wonder if she's okay.

"Good morning, my princess. What brings you here" Matilda said, standing straight with a cold, deadly stare in her eyes. She didn't genuflect or bow as others did. I just don't get why she doesn't like me.

"I'll be helping you with the pups from today onwards" I replied, acting unfazed by her disrespect.

"Huh? You?" She scoffed, stifling a burst of mocking laughter, "You're not even a werewolf so how'd you teach the pups how to shift" she added, daringly arching her brows.

"Well, I might not be able to shift but there are other things I can help with" I retorted. I'm not going to let this shrewd talk down on me.

"Oh, sure! You're welcome to join—" Matilda's statement was interrupted by the shrieking voice of Kate who was smiling broadly and coming in our direction.

"Good morning, my princess. It's such a pleasure to have your gracious presence here" Kate gushed over me, bowing down. Matilda looked at Kate in disgust and shook her head.

"Morning Kate, I'd like to meet the pups at the training ground," I said, smiling and exposing my upper set of teeth.

"Sure. Please follow my lead, my princess" She replied pointing in the right direction and taking the lead while I followed behind her closely.

The pups at the training ground were so excited to see me. I love kids and even if I have no recollection of my past, I'm willing to create a new memory with these loving kids. 

"Get into your positions," I heard a familiar voice say. It was Matilda.

As the pups slowly took to their various positions, I stood at the corner and watched. Cheering on some of the kids to lift their spirits.

The training was intense and I slowly began to feel out of place. I can't shift into a werewolf so what was the essence of sitting here and watching kids learn how to shift to their wolf form. I decided it was best to take a stroll in the dense woods behind the training ground.

"Hey Kate, I'd like to take a little stroll. I'll be back later" I said, tapping on Kate's back.

"Alright. Make sure your phone's location is turned on and don't wander deep inside the woods" Kate warned, not raising her head to meet my gaze.

As I walked in the woods, I couldn't help but admire the beautiful nature. The trees stood tall to each other as if they were an arranged set of brooms. I felt the soft breeze wash over my bare skin, enveloping me in its warm embrace. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The feeling was refreshing and I began to wander deeper into the woods, hoping to see something that will help me recover my memories but nothing struck a chord.

Exhausted from the long walk, I turned around and began heading back to the training ground. It was getting late and the sun was beginning to go down. I kept walking for hours but there was no sign of the training ground. It seemed as if I was walking around in circles. I became scared when I remembered that four werewolves were killed last night in the woods. 

"What will be my fate if the monster comes for me?" I thought to myself. I'm not a werewolf and I can't defend myself.

Adrenaline rushed through my veins as I began to run, hoping to stumble upon the familiar sight of the training ground. My heart raced as I brought out my phone with shaky hands. My Dad gifted me a brand new iPhone 12 pro max as a welcome-back gift and he saved his number and mum's number as well. I quickly dialed my dad's number but it wasn't going through. My eyes flickered to the top right corner of the screen and I realized that there was no reception on the phone, probably because of the woods.

Fear engulfed me as I began to run again. I could feel the tears swelling at the corners of my eyes. Will anyone notice my absence? Are the pack warriors searching for me now? How far away am I from the training ground?

Tons of questions hung in my mind as I began to cry. "Help! Somebody help!" I yelled, hoping that someone would hear my voice and come to my rescue but all I got was an echo of my voice.

Tears were beginning to effortlessly flow down my face and I let them flow. It was getting darker and the night was beginning to creep in slowly. 

"Is this how I'm going to die in the woods?" I thought to myself as I broke into another run. Almost immediately, I tripped over a stump and fell on my face. I felt a sharp pain in my left elbow as I tried to stand up. I bit on my lower lip, trying to stop a loud cry from escaping my mouth but something caught my attention. 

I saw a figure appear in the woods. It was dark so I couldn't make out the features of its face but the figure felt strikingly familiar. 

"Finally, someone was coming to my rescue," I thought out loud. I began to wave my right hand, hoping that the person will see me and come to my rescue but it seems as if the figure had other plans aside from helping a lost soul in the woods.

"Help m—" I instantly lost my voice in mid-sentence as I watched the figure transform into a huge creature on all fours. My eyes bulged in surprise and my heart began beating even faster. My whole body trembled in fright as the monstrous creature looked in my direction.

"No. God, please I don't want to die this way" I muttered under my breath. Ignoring the pain in my left elbow, I stood up and began to run again. I had no idea about where I was running to but I knew I had to get away from that monster as fast as I could. As I ran, I felt something closing in on me. The monster followed me closely gurgling with delight as I ran. It was as though it fed off my fear and anxiety.

Suddenly, someone pulled me into his protective muscular arms and I heard a gunshot. Followed by another gunshot. The cologne smells familiar and as I raised my head to look at the face of my savior, I heard his deep voice ring "Keep your head down if you don't want a bullet to go through your brain".

It was Lucas. His voice was cold, yet laced with warmth. I felt my heart flutter and I snuck comfortably into his arms, basking in the warmth it offered. His heartbeat was steady even as he kept firing bullets at the monstrous creature. After a few minutes, I heard receding footsteps. It probably belonged to the monster.

Karen, Ethan, Jordan, and J'Cole appeared from the woods, firing bullets at the creature as they slowly walked in the direction of its footsteps but after a while, they all stopped. It was as if the mysterious creature disappeared into thin air.

"There's no footprint after this" J'Cole called out to the other pack warriors, pointing at a large footprint that was left in the soft earth.

"How on earth can something that huge suddenly vanish without a trace?" Ethan questioned rhetorically. Jordan who has been quiet all this while spoke for the first time.

"My princess, what were you doing in the woods by this time" his voice was rough.

I became nervous as the five men stared down at me, waiting for answers.

"Uhh! I just came to take an evening stroll and I lost my way" I explained, fumbling with the edge of my gown.

"Please, don't wander into the woods next time. It's dangerous coupled with the fact that a wild creature is lurking in the woods and killing people. You could have been the next victim if not for Lucas' intervention" Jordan spoke sternly, his voice void of emotions.

"It's getting late. We have to get back to the palace," Karen said, tapping Jordan on the shoulder.

We all turned around and began heading out of the woods but someone caught my hand, forcing me to stop in my tracks. I quickly turned around and my eyes met the gaze of Lucas. 

In one swift motion, he drew me into his arms in a warm hug. His scent engulfed my entire being and made me feel lightheaded. Our heartbeats synched like a rhyme and just immediately I closed my eyes so I bask in the euphoria that his hug offered, I felt his warm breath on my skin.

He kissed the nape of my neck.