Chapter Two

The Beast in the Woods

Elowen's POV

When I came to, my head was pounding like crazy and I found that I couldn't move or talk. My hands were tied and my mouth was covered with tape.

“I'm sorry, El. I really am. I only married you because I felt sorry for you, and because I was lonely when Olga left me. Now I realize that I could be someone and not just a mere slave.”

I shook my head to clear my vision and saw that I was taken to the woods.

“You should have signed the divorce paper, Elowen,”Olga whispered in my ear. “Now there won't be any traces of you left.”

My eyes widened in horror and I attempted to free myself and scream for help but my effort was futile.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you, El. You might attract the feral beast and it will eat you alive.”

I screamed at them. I asked for help, I begged for mercy, but they ignored me and walked away with Olga waving at me with a sadistic look in her eyes. Henry didn't even look back at me and wrapped his arm around her.

They just left me to die and be devoured by the beast!

A merciless beast living deep in the woods and was said to devour his victim without leaving even a trace of blood. It was also said that he'd violate them first if they were women. I heard so many stories about him and I didn't think I would face the same fate as his victims.

I think I stopped breathing when I heard a twig snapping before a loud growl was heard.  

“I don't want to die yet! Not like this!”

I forced myself to run as fast as I could. Should I thank those devils for not tying up my legs? I was able to remove the tape thanks to their lousy skill as well.

I panted hard, whimpering pathetically because I could hear loud growls behind me and I didn't have to look to see that they were a pack of rogues. 

What's worse is they're playing with me. They know I wouldn't outrun them so they are taking their sweet time. 

“I'm not delicious. I'm all skin and bones!”

I hid behind a tree and panted hard. It felt like my lungs would explode and I'd have a heart attack before they could eat me.

It's hopeless. I would be torn apart by those hungry beasts!

“God, please. I know I'm not exactly your favorite but please save me. I haven't even lived yet. I didn't get to enjoy life.”

I blabbed nonsense. I ranted about my whole life and how unfair life was. I prayed, but when my prayer remained unheard of, I started to blame God.

“Why do I have to die and they get to live after what they've done? Did you create us just to suffer by the hands of these monsters?!”

A collective growl behind me snapped me out of my pity party.

“No. I refuse to die like this.”

I pushed off the tree and forced myself to run even when my legs almost gave out on me. The growls behind me grew louder and I guess they got tired of playing games with me.

My blood was pumping hard and my heart was beating a million times a minute. One wrong jump and the wind was knocked out of me as I fell on my stomach. 

I let out a loud scream and covered my face with my arms just when one of them jumped on me.

I waited for the excruciating pain of being torn apart but it never came. Instead, I heard the repulsing sound of bones snapping and the rogue wolves whimpering in pain. When I had the courage to open my eyes, I was surprised to see the rogues running away with their tails between their legs.

My happiness was cut short when a towering figure of a lycan stepped out of the shadow. Its majestic yet terrifying appearance was hidden in the darkness, yet their aura was too immense to ignore.

Is he the real beast that was said to abuse women before devouring them whole?

“P-Please," I pleaded.

The beast chuckled and my breath was hitched in my throat when he stepped into the light and I saw his form. Lycans are more powerful and ruthless than werewolves. It is also said that they are mostly members of the royal family—the highest and most powerful creatures in this world.

“Please don't kill me.”

“Hmm, but you look tempting begging me like this.”he replied in his guttural voice that sent a terrifying shiver down my spine. 

I tried to get away but he was in front of me for a second. I gasped, eyes popping out of their sockets. My heart pounded in my chest when he went for my neck, but instead of biting me, he inhaled my scent.

“How could I let you go when you smell like this?”

The lycan suddenly reached for my wounded hand and he let out a deep growl. 

“A golden blood,”he said, “I didn't think I'd find you after searching for so long.”

“H-Huh?”

I stiffened when I felt his hand on my thigh, moving higher to my pelvis, stomach, between my chest and my neck. 

“Please don't hurt me.”

The lycan chuckled. “Why? Didn't you hear that I violated my victims before eating them? How do you want me to eat you up, human? Do you want it... hard or gentle?”

I breathed heavily when he snatched my wounded hand again and his rough and long tongue licked the blood seeping through it. He let out a groan and I thought he'd eat my hand for sure.

I gasped when he grabbed my arms and placed them above my head. His dark eyes stared back at me. 

“I will gobble you up, human. I will make this body mine to take whenever I need it. But not now.”