Chapter Six

Fear gripped me as I looked around the darkened forest. The cool breeze that blew left a trail of goosebumps on my skin and the shadows of the tall trees felt like they were closing in on me. In the distance, an owl hooted which only added to the eeriness of my surroundings. 

For the life of me, I couldn’t understand how I got there, the last memory I had was watching reruns of a random TV show after Dominic’s welcome ceremony. 

A rustling nearby kicked my heartbeat up a notch and once again I surveyed the area, hoping to spot something even remotely familiar, but the Moon Shadow pack was new to me, I’d only been here a week and apart from the drive from the airport, I hadn’t stepped foot in the forest. 

The rustling grew louder and my head whipped around for any indication that I wasn’t alone when suddenly a figure pounced from the bushes, eliciting a high-pitched scream from my throat before I watched the red-eyed rabbit hop off into the darkness, as far away from me as it could get.

Realising I was still standing in the same position, I chose a random direction and allowed my feet to carry me there. I knew there was a possibility I was walking further away from safety, and possibly into the den of a ruthless rogue wolf, but my feet kept moving. 

Weren’t werewolves supposed to have a keen sense of direction or at least the ability to sniff their way home? Apparently, the Goddess missed that gene when she created me, or perhaps it had to do with my inability to actually shift properly. Does that still make me a werewolf? 

The mystery of my existence ran through my mind with question after question going unanswered as my walk through the eerie forest continued. The noise in my brain was the only thing keeping me from curling up on the ground with my arms around my knees as I waited and prayed for someone to save me. 

I’m not sure how long I walked before a movement in my peripheral vision caused me to freeze, it was hard to see through the darkness, though I knew it was the night of a full moon its light barely penetrated the thick foliage. 

“Wh- who’s there?” I swallowed thickly, turning in the direction I saw the movement.

I’m going to die.

“Is anyone there?” I croaked, feeling a lump growing in my throat so big I could feel my breathing slow. 

My blood ran cold when scores of reddened eyes surrounded me and for a moment all I could do was stare.

I’m going to die.

I blinked and they were gone. Rubbing my eyes I searched the woods for any sign of the red eyes, but it seemed it was only a figment of my imagination.

A noise in the darkness, however, confirmed my suspicion that I wasn’t alone, but my ears perked up when I realised what it was.

Sobs and whimpers. They were soft, barely audible.

My eyes searched the forest for any indication where the sound was coming from and walked slowly in the direction I found till my eyes landed on the reason for the soft cries.

Huddled against a tree in the pitch dark of the forest was a tiny figure of a little boy, his small frame shook slightly under the breeze and his hands gripped the short pants on his legs. When his eyes landed on me they widened in fright and his whimpers grew more frantic.

“Shh, it’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you.” I extended a hand towards the boy and slowly kneeled before him. 

His body shuffled further into the tree, “My name is Sophia. Are you out here all alone?” I asked in the calmest voice I could muster. I obviously couldn’t show him I was just as scared as he was. 

A small nod and a sniffle from the boy indicated that he was calming down a bit. 

“You shouldn’t be out here, it’s not safe to be in the forest all alone at night.” I held out my hand for him, but he didn’t rush to grab a hold of it like I would have if I was in his position. “I promise I won’t hurt you.” I tried but the boy’s eyes widened at something behind me. 

Glancing over my shoulder, I felt fear grip me like a vice once again at the figure approaching us. Without thinking I threw my body in front of the little boy and shielded him from the view of the attacker. 

His whimpers behind me were more frantic than when he first saw me and I braced myself for the inevitable attack, but it never came. The figure came to a halt before us.

“Sophia, is that you?” The voice sounded familiar, “What are the two of you doing out here alone in the middle of the night!” Alpha Devin’s frantic voice registered in my mind and without warning, I let out a heavy sigh of relief. 

He’s here, he’ll show us the way back home. 

“Alpha Devin?” I called, my shoulders sagging when he came closer, bringing his face into my view. 

“Come on, it's not safe out here, we need to get you two home.” He grasped my arm and helped me up, but when his eyes landed on the little boy who was cowering behind me, his face morphed into confusion. “That isn’t Ben.” 

“No, it isn’t. I found him huddled against the tree, crying. He’s all alone.” I looked up at the Alpha with pleading eyes, but Alpha Devin didn’t hesitate. 

“Hello there-” He stopped short when the kid flinched, his eyes searching mine for help. 

Kneeling before the child I spoke in my calmest voice, “Hey there, this is my friend, Alpha Devin, he’s here to help us. Will you come with?” I held out a hand for him and watched him hesitate for a second, but eventually, he took the offer. 

“Good, let’s go. We’re way past the pack borders, there could be anything lurking around here in the dark.” He hurried us along in the direction of the pack borders and only sighed once we crossed the imaginary line. 

“I’m sorry, I got lost, I didn’t know how to get back.” I dropped my head in shame, I could sense the worry rolling off him in waves. 

“What were you even doing out here at this time?” He glanced down at me with a frown. 

“I- I don’t know.” I sighed, “The last thing I remember was falling asleep then I woke up here, In the middle of the dark forest.” I bit my lip. 

“Do you usually sleepwalk?” His frown turned to a look of concern. 

“No, it’s the first time something like this has happened,” I answered truthfully, no one was more frightened than I was about the night’s events. 

“It’s okay, we’ll make sure to lock up properly in future. Why did you scream?” He glanced at the little boy who followed us but hid slightly behind me.

“A rabbit hopped out of a bush and startled me,” I mumbled, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. 

Alpha Devin chuckled, “Thank Goddess for that rabbit then.”