The night

Nyx was in the courtyard, shivering painfully when she heard Evander's dark cold voice.

“Slit her throat…”

Even after beating her, he still wanted her dead.

She knew what that meant and didn't even bother to pick up anything. She dashed into the woods, her fading breath shuddering as she held fast to her cloak.

In a matter of seconds, Evander's men were littered all over the woods. His nightmare giving dogs barking in the distance.

She struggled not to look back, she knew what it meant if she was caught.

“She went this way!” One of them screamed.

Fear enveloped her, her mind scanning for any safe place to hide but found none.

“Alpha said alive, but broken’s fine!”

One scorned.

She was too busy cursing that one in her confused mind and didn't even notice the root before her and she tripped.

“Fuck.” she cursed and rose up again, there was no time to waste.

She knew she had to keep moving, she just had to get past those trees into the dark forests and she's gone.

Her leg hurts and her shoulder bled. Evander had beaten the living out of her and dislocated her shoulder in the process.

“Aargh!!” she cried as she pulled it back in place.

Still struggling to get back to her feet, she heard a low growl, one of them had shifted into a wolf.

That could only mean trouble.

“Silly bastards. Always send others to do the dirty work.”

However, she was more than happy as she had crossed finally into the dark woods; the deadly region of blackened trees and dark magic.

She knew they wouldn't follow her there, even Evander was terrified at the mention of this place.

This was the closest thing she had to a safe haven. She took a deep breath and crashed into a corner and slowly, the howls faded, leaving the area open to the silence that ruled the woods.

She got some herbs ready and was cleaning her wounds when she heard a growl.

Her senses went on high alert, she didn't even know when the words escaped her mouth.

“Who's there?!”

She rose to her feet immediately, tiptoeing slowly to the area she heard struggling. The voice, it was male, that alone sent shivers down her spine.

Remembering what Evander always did to her made her weary of men.

“Who's there?!” she asked again, her weak voice quivering. She had wrapped her wrists firmly to a stick, ready to strike when she heard his plea…

“Help… me”

She froze immediately as she couldn't understand who would be in these woods at this hour?

But nevertheless, she didn't give up, she moved with caution, the rustling leaves only annoyed her the more as she counted her steps.

“Jeez…”

The moon shone brightly on him. He was stuck in a clearing. He laid there, bloodied, without shirt, against a tree.

His chest was slashed brutally. His gold eyes flickering.

She had numerous questions about him. ‘Could he be a rogue,’ she thought. But no, he can't be as he was to clean for one.

Despite the fact that she was in grave danger, she was determined to help him.

She approached slowly, her heart drumming against her rib cage, her dagger unsheathed in case of any funny movements, the fear of men, it never left her.

“Are you dead?”

She knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she touched his face gently.

“... Not yet.”

His weak voice pierced her heart, those eyes. She couldn't understand, it struck her.

She calmly examined the wound on his side, it was bad, really bad.

Something ripped straight through him, definitely not human.

“Shit man. Who did this to you? What were you doing here alone?”

She knelt forward and touched his burning forehead.

“You smell like magic.” He chuckled softly.

Instead of providing answers to the questions, he began with humor, which she couldn't quite understand as he was halfway dead and snapped back angrily at him.

“Uh huh… and you smell like you’re dying.”

Now her mind reminded her of the stakes that were in place now. Evander's men would probably find a way to get into the woods and if she left him there, they'll probably finish him off when they get to him. If she sticks with him, he'll only slow her down and they'll still catch up with them.

From his look, she knew he was dangerous. That big crest tattoo on his chest, she knew it meant something. And she also wondered what he was doing out here all alone if he wasn't dangerous.

Looking at herself, she was still bleeding heavily. She was about to ditch him as she couldn't understand why she would be helping a stranger she just met when he slumped forward.

“Fuck this…”

She knew she had to do something fast or else…

Immediately, she tore a piece of fabric from her cloak and pressed his wound.

“Hold it. Apply pressure…”

“Why are you helping me?” He winced.

She shrugged, “I ask myself that every ten seconds.”

Suddenly, she heard a heavy branch crack. ‘They were here.’

“That scent, it's back. Check the trees!”

One of Evander's men ordered.

She noticed the reluctance in the others. That was her only advantage here, their fear of the dark forests.

“You think she's stupid enough to come here?” The other cried.

While they bantered, she struggled to pull him into a small rock, panting and her muscles twitched in pain. He was very heavy and she couldn't keep up again and fell with him into a corner.

The noise alerted them and he winced softly, but she held him tightly.

“Now you listen to me carefully,” she warned. “If you move, we both die. Do you understand?” She whispered.

He raised his head slowly and looked into her eyes with his charming glowing eyes.

“Understood. I'd rather not die twice in one night.”

She covered his mouth and held her breath as they passed, struggling to control her pounding heart.

However, one paused, he's been pushy ever since.

“Feel that?”

The rapid heartbeat of the others rang in her ears. That was exactly what she needed, they wouldn't dare come closer.

“Come on man. Let's move. This place is cursed.”

She waited patiently for them to leave and the silence engulfed them again.

She examined him again, noticing that his breath was improving slowly. He was healing fast, unnaturally fast, far beyond wolf fast. She knew he must be an Alpha or something, but couldn't understand what such a person would be doing here alone, no Beta to accompany him.

“Who are you? What are you?”

“No one,” he shrugged.

She pinched him in frustration and he growled softly. The look on her face, she wanted to slap him, he was very annoying to her.

“You know lying’s quite a weird thing to do when you're half dead right?”

She rolled her eyes at him and observed his bare chest. One of his runes caught her attention and she touched it without thinking.

Immediately, she felt a magnetic effect. There was a small flicker of light, as if he reacted to her.

His eyes shone in shock as he struggled to get back to his feet.

“Ouch!” She cried as he pressed her legs.

“You're not just a witch.”

“And you're not just a wolf.”

He shook his head in frustration. One thing was certain, they couldn't work together if they were hiding things from each other. She raised her eyebrow at him and he finally spoke.

“Yes, I'm the Alpha King.”

Her mouth widened in shock. She almost threw him away the second he said it.

‘You can't be serious.’ She thought , but the look on his eyes proved otherwise. He was more than serious.

“No… wait, you're Theron?”

His eyes were woozy, but he nodded once before he passed out.

“Great… now I've pissed off Evander and kidnapped his rival.” She muttered angrily.

She looked up at the trees, and then to the moon.

“Moon goddess, I know you're watching, this was your idea. I know it.”

However, she knew she couldn't stay here forever. She had to keep moving or find a better spot.

She lifted him with a grunt, dragging him across the roots and the mud, his resounding moans kind of kept her moving.

‘At least he wasn't dead yet.’

She got closer to the riverbank and found a cave by the side. Just the perfect place for both of them. Without any atom of hesitation, she pulled him in.

“You better not die on me. I still have questions, a ton of it…”