Shortly after, I saw the five wolves, stalking toward me. Even though I was ready to be devoured by wolves, I shouldn't have been that afraid and horrified. Perhaps it was the agony numbing in my entire body that caused me to even grin at them and wave my right hand at them.
I stammered, "Hey," Because of how dry my throat was, my voice was gruff.
The gray wolf that was leading the other four hissed at me and flashed its razor-sharp teeth.
Well, I guess my ‘hey’ isn't to her taste.
"I'm sorry, how rude of me to greet you like that" I meet the menacing eyes of the gray wolf and spoke, "Hi, Lara"
The gray wolf stared at me for a few seconds before its body morphed into human skin. Its furs vanished and were replaced by limbs until the one standing before me was Lara in her naked form. I was completely taken aback and genuinely afraid throughout the entire shifting process. It appears to be agonizing, and seeing how a wolf can change into a person was perplexing and left me speechless. It isn't enough that I know what happens. Seeing it with my own eyes made me still think that everything was all a dream but unfortunately it was not.
It simply goes to demonstrate how quickly they can separate my head from my body. Damn.
Lara sneered, "The little human got her tongue now huh? I'm startled you know it's me and how you appear to recognize what Shifters is, but your scared and shocked look was hilarious. I can smell the awful stench of fear on you, Jaidyn. You are terrified of what you witnessed."
Despite the fact that even I don't find it funny in the slightest, I laughed at her because I saw how Lara's face twisted in rage, so it was effective.
"Who wouldn't be right? A wolf that transforms into a person, it's terrible. I didn't even conceive that there were such creatures like that."
"There are so many things humans are oblivious about!" she suddenly cackled a laugh, "But I don't blame you and your kind, because humans are generally weak as a twig. We can easily snap you"
"I think it was appropriate to recognize that every species has strengths and limitations, Lara instead of labeling us or we humans the lowest of the low," I rolled my eyes.
Humans may rank last in terms of physical might, but not in terms of population or, crucially, resources. Humans have invested a lot of time and energy in developing weaponry and research.
Lara screamed, her eyes burning gold. "That's why you don't deserve to be Traian's mate! You will never accept our kind!"
I'm not sure exactly where in my statements she derived that connotation, but I chose to disregard it. I looked down at my legs which have a lot of small cuts. My blood-stained and ripped jeans were a mess. I can even make out a piece of glass that has punctured my thighs. I am no longer able to relocate them.
I said, drained of energy, "Yes, I do, and that's why I'm leaving."
Maybe I can put some sense into this woman. I'm not interested in meddling with their affairs or the Shifter and mate arrangement. I don't want it or any title. My life was not here.
"I don't want anything from your kind, Lara. I don't want to be Traian's mate or whatever the fuck responsibility it has! I don't want those that's why I am fucking leaving! You can shove those titles down your throat, I don't fucking care!"
That's a lie. I care a little. If this crazy woman will be their leader, I don't think it will be good, however, I know that Traian will not let it happen.
Lara shook her head as if she were insane and said, "BUT HE WANTS YOU TO! HE WANTS YOU TO STAY BY HIS SIDE! TO LEAD WITH HIM!" She pointed at me and glared menacingly, "AND THAT'S SOMETHING I CANNOT FORGIVE!"
"So what to do?" she exclaimed as she suddenly chuckled sadistically.
I kept my mouth shut and simply looked at her. As anxiety weighed heavily on my shoulders, my jaw clenched. At this moment, she unmistakably resembled a madwoman. She appeared insane and out of her mind with the way her eyes grew larger, her head tilting as if considering what to do, and the grin on her face.
And this is the real Lara. I am now dealing with her crazed self. Really a terrific way to start the day.
She questioned, and the next thing I knew, she was in front of me, bending down, her hands encircling and clutching my neck. "Why are you not answering? Huh? Because you believe you're Luna?!" she shouted.
Instinctively, I held her using my other available hand to remove her hold as my oxygen was cut off. Yet she was too powerful. I felt my insides burning from lack of air and my eyes tearing up.
"S-ST-TOP..." I tried to tell, "N-no"
"I shall take your head from your body, Jaidyn! You should rejoice!" she giggled and beamed broadly at me.
I tapped on her hand. No, no, please anyone save me. Mom, Dad, Jane.........Traian.......
She chuckled as her claws dug into my beck drawing blood and her grasp tightened causing black spots to once more dance across my vision. "Does your insides start to burn now? Are you desperate for air? Why are you not saying anything?" she demanded.
Lara immediately shrieked in my face, "DIE! YOU SHOULD DIE!"
I managed to smirk and, with what little strength I had left, I lifted my hand to point my middle finger at her. With her fingers firmly clutching my neck, I found it difficult to speak, "F-fuck you, Lara. I mean it."
Tears spilled on my eyelids at the lack of oxygen and I felt lightheaded when Lara suddenly pulled out her hand from my neck.
I gasp for breath as soon as her hands loosen, falling on the ground as I desperately fill my lungs with air. However, those few moments of solace were cut short when I saw Lara grinning savagely at me. Her nails had grown into claws, and her eyes were now gleaming as she looked at me.
I froze in place, expecting some sort of imminent doom as I gazed at her. If I had to guess, I'd say that she decided to kill me by suffocating me and denying me air. Lara decided to resort to spilling a damn blood. And to be completely honest, I prefer the former.
She took a step back and then suddenly surged forward with her claws in the air, her eyes locked on me, and her lips curled into an evil grin.
I instinctively cocked my head to the side, fiercely shut my eyes, and curled my fist. The next thing I knew, a loud, piercing cry emanating from me was heard in the forest. I could feel claws digging into my shoulders. and piercing the tree trunk I was leaning on.
I screamed so loudly, "AHHHHHH!" that my throat began to sting, but I disregarded it since the searing pain rocked my entire body.
Blood spilled on my stomach and I couldn't breathe for a second from so much pain. Lara smiled wickedly before I felt her pulling out her claw from my shoulders. When no claws dug into my shoulders, the sharp, stabbing pain increased and blood began to seep out of my shoulders.
She looked back at the four wolves in the back who were simply watching them. "Isn't my work beautiful? Look at those lovely hues of red and wounds," she said, pointing at me.
Suddenly one of the brown wolves shifted into a naked man. He had a sunken face and was skinny. His eyes were filled with hunger as he turned to face me and gave me a sadistic grin. He approached Lara, his lack of clothing making no difference to him.
He yelled, "Lara," in a firm tone.
My entire body was in excruciating pain, so I did nothing except listen. I am too exhausted to speak or move and can only concentrate on breathing.
Lara spat, annoyed, "What?"
The man grinned and added, "Allow us to taste her before you kill her. I cannot let such beauty be of waste. I'm sure her cunt was not damaged."
“Of course, of course. Who am I to refuse that? I'm sure this whore wants that before she dies,” Lara said as she gave me a quick glance and a sneer.
Their verbal exchange made my stomach churn. My gut churns with fear. My thoughts were gone. Instead of being touched by such men, I would rather die. I can't allow it to happen. The man moved closer to me, a lustful aura radiating from him. I caught a glimpse of one of the wolves shifting into a human as well out of the corner of my eye.
Lara's eyes caught mine as she smirked triumphantly and lifted her perfect brows. Not now, bitch. I smiled sweetly at her which made her frown while my hand was pulling out the shard of glass on my thigh. As soon as I pulled out the fragment of glass, I gripped it, my palms bleeding.
I spoke weakly, "I still win" and pressed the glass on my neck.