Jonea let go of Aland's hand and went to Miller's side.
"I'm sorry, Aland. I must come with Miller to check on my parents at camp."
Aland clenched his fists and swung his fists in the air. "Okay, we will go there together."
Aland whistled for his comrades and subordinates. It was then that several young men and women appeared carrying their bags of supplies. The warriors and hunters gathered around the river.
Jonea was a bit surprised because she didn't notice their presence earlier. Miller was being so wary.
"How did you manage to hide your whereabouts? I can't even get a whiff of your presence at all."
"We train ourselves," Aland replied. "Because we also don't want to stand out after leaving the city life."
Aland turned to his men. "Secure the roads and the surrounding area. We're going to camp to find Jonea's parents."
They all bowed and received Aland's command by turning and crossing one arm over their chest.
Miller took the lead at the front. Meanwhile, Aland walked beside Jonea. He was so protective of her as if he didn't want to lose her again.
When they were close to the camp, Jonea stopped and held Aland down.
"They probably won't like your presence. If you feel uncomfortable, stay here. Miller and I will check there ourselves."
Aland shook his head. "Don't worry. The humans wouldn't be able to recognize us as werewolves. Even yourselves do not recognize the existence of our scent."
Jonea still doubts. If she brought Aland to camp, Jonea felt she was betraying them. This group of survivors has desperately tried to escape the werewolf's grave target.
Aland tries to understand Jonea's situation.
"Okay, I can accept your objection. But please let me come with you. I will come there without my warriors and hunters."
Jonea thought that was fair enough. She let Aland tag along down to the camp. This group of survivors set up tents and made camp in a sloping forest area. The place was surrounded by dense trees. So even though they move and live there, it is almost impossible for the werewolves to find them.
Miller had gone down first. He ran towards the campsite and was utterly taken aback. Everything fell apart.
Most of the tents are damaged. The place where they gathered and stored food reserves had also been plundered. The bonfire that had just been extinguished was scattered about.
"Impossible," Miller muttered. He ran to his family's tent.
Jonea also followed Miller. She was so scared and worried about the fate of her parents. Meanwhile, Aland checked the other tents and found no human life there.
"This tent is empty!" shouted Miller after bursting into his family's tent. "Absolutely no trace of our parents."
Jonea looks so frantic and emotional. She wanted to run through the forest, following in the footsteps of people leaving.
Miller held his sister and hugged her tightly.
Jonea rebelled. Miller has no intention of letting go of an emotional Jonea.
"They took these people!" Jonea shouted desperately. "They took our parents! Let me go. Let me catch up and look for them."
"Stop it, Jonea! If you catch up with them, it's the same as you give yourself up to be made into slaves."
After walking around the camp, Aland returned to meet Miller and Jonea. He shook his head weakly. Not a single human remains.
"Even I didn't find any traces of blood or traces of murder. Looks like they were all brought in alive."
Jonea roared hysterically.
Miller still held her tightly to comfort Jonea.
Aland whistled again to call his men.
"Did you find anything?"
"Yes, Alpha. Their tracks are close to us. If you permit, we can catch up with them."
"How many of them are there?" he asked.
"Around 20 werewolves consisting of hunters and warriors. They are led by a Beta. The humans they captured numbered around 18."
"Did you see Mr and Mrs Fallon among the prisoners?"
"If they are a married couple like the one in the photo, then no. We didn't see them among the group."
Miller released Jonea.
The girl approached one of the hunters brought by Aland. "Are you sure? You didn't see my parents there?"
The girl nodded and saluted Jonea. "We didn't see your parents among the group, Miss."
"I will look for it!" he exclaimed. "Perhaps our parents managed to escape. They should still be around here. I'll track them down."
Miller turns into a white lycan, ready to track down his parents.
Jonea prevented Miller. "I'm coming with you!"
"No, Jonea! You'd better return to the cave behind the waterfall and wait for me to take you there. If you come with me, you will only make things difficult and hinder my movements." Miller said curtly.
"He's right," Aland said. "There's no point in you tagging along with Miller."
"Take care of her for me, Hamilton!" said Miller threateningly. "If I come back and find her lifeless or even a speck of injury on her body, then I will kill you and your entire flock."
Aland nodded understandingly.
"Come on, Jonea!" take Aland. "There's no point in us being here. They can come back."
Jonea held Aland's hand and had the young man there. "Tell me. Do you know who did all this? Are they from Abraham's pack?"
"I'm sure Hunter wouldn't do any of this, Jonea. It must have been done with a solid reason, even if it was what he did.
"You defended him? Because he's your best friend? Even though he has made a terrible and fatal mistake?"
"We'll know later if we ask Hunter directly. But the most important thing right now is you're okay. My purpose in coming here was only to find and protect you."
Jonea let go of Aland's hand and started to hesitate. She rubbed her shivering arms together.
"I have lycan blood in my body. You probably know that too. It would be too risky if you took me and protected me."
"I don't care, Jonea!" persuaded Aland.
He turned into a white wolf and carried Jonea on his back.
They ran through the dark and cold forest. Jonea hugged Aland's neck tightly and wrapped her legs around the wolf's waist.
Their bodies were swept away by the night wind. Jonea stomped on Aland's back. Occasionally they dive when they reach the descent.
Jonea glanced back. The warriors and hunters followed them in an awe-inspiring formation.
"You are wonderful creatures. But, imagining myself having to transform like you guys, I still can't accept it. It was quite strange and a little scary."
"Honestly," said Aland as he ran through the pine trees.
He jumped right and left, avoiding roots and rocks with such agility.
"I can't even recognize you, whether you're a lycan or not. Because every time I get close to you and sniff your scent, I only smell human blood in your body, Jonea. I don't know how your parents could hide your identities so perfectly. Even that day, if I hadn't noticed Miller's change, I would probably never have realized he was a lycan."
They had arrived near the waterfall they had previously left. Aland climbed the cliff and headed to the cave hidden behind the waterfall. Jonea guides and shows the way.
When Jonea looked down, she no longer saw the wolves that had previously followed.
"Where are they?"
"They're currently scattering around here and clearing the area. You don't need to worry. Tonight we will guard and protect you."
Aland walked carefully when treading the rocks, which were slippery because of the moss. The waterfall sprayed some of their faces and bodies. Aland was amazed to see the cave hidden behind it.
They had just passed through the curtain of the waterfall and were at the mouth of the cave. Jonea got down from Aland's back.
"This place is beautiful!"
"Yeah, the best part is on the other side. This cave has another door at the other end. The exit is directly adjacent to the cliff. Come on, I'll take you there."
Jonea realized the cave was connected to another door after Miller told her. Now, with Aland and barefoot, she stepped on the cold, damp cave floor.
They had reached the mouth of the cave on the side of the ridge. They could actually see the vast expanse of the forest at night below. While the sky looks so bright with the sparkling moon and a sprinkling of stars.
Jonea and Aland sat side by side at the mouth of the cave, enjoying the view.
"Your clothes are wet, Jonea. Take off and change into dry clothes. I brought some clothes that you might be able to wear."
As Jonea was about to remove her wet clothes, she suddenly turned and blushed.
"What is it?"
"You ask as if this is a matter of course?" protested Jonea. "Could you avert your eyes and not peek?"
"Are you ashamed of me? I've seen you naked before."
"When?" shrieked Jonea.
Aland chuckled.
"You shouldn't feel ashamed. When the time comes that your wolf soul has been awakened, it's like you're being born again. You will not wear a single thread on your body at that time."
Jonea pursed her lips.
"Those are two different things. When you become a wolf, you are covered with beautiful fur. Even without clothes, it won't be a problem.
"So you admit that my wolf fur is pretty? Then why are you so afraid to change?" Aland continues to tease Jonea.
"Stop it, Aland," Jonea said while whining spoiled.
Aland was really excited about it. He stood up and pushed Jonea until her back was against the cave wall.
"Or... let me change your clothes, Miss?" Aland's forefinger brushed Jonea's cheekbones and down her collarbones.
"Aland, stop!" Jonea said, a little scared and curious at the same time. "I know you won't do it. You just love to tease me."
Aland didn't care about Jonea's whining and refusal. He landed his hand on the girl's chest and unbuttoned Jonea's shirt one by one.
Jonea was fixated on Aland's hair which was silver in the moonlight. The young man's eyes were sharp. Aland looked so cute when he focused on unbuttoning Jonea's shirt. Jonea was now fixated on Aland's rosy lips.
"Can I do it?" asked Aland in a hoarse voice.
Jonea needed to realize what Aland was asking. She simply answered because her mind was still focused on Aland's red lips.
"Yeah, just do it," Jonea answered softly.
"Are you sure?" Aland's voice grew hoarse.
"Do whatever you want to do, Aland."
Aland removed Jonea's wet shirt and dropped it on the cave floor. He landed his red lips on the crook of Jonea's neck. The girl whimpered.
Aland opened his jaw wide, and two pairs of huge fangs appeared. Aland also bit Jonea's nape so possessively.
Jonea groaned softly.