Well, I think that makes the most sense.
Alright, let’s go then.Aedan walked up to Freja and leaned his head into her hand. He knew his parents were worried and he wanted to reassure them. Lucie did the same. It was a simple gesture, but it was all they could do to convey their feelings.
“So Aedan, you going to give me a ride? Look … I think it makes sense. We can cover ground faster on your backs,” Justice said, chuckling.
Though it was a joke, Aedan and Lucie both looked at each other. It wasn’t a bad idea. They could cover ground faster that way and still keep them all close. Sure, Derrick and Justice were fast, but Lucie and Aedan’s four legs were superior in speed, and their lycans were a towering size. They could easily carry someone on their backs. Abe could teleport along with them easily.
“Wait, that was a joke.” Justice licked his lips nervously as he let out a dry chuckle. Talk about a moment where he could have inserted his foot in his mouth.
CHAPTER 63
Two blurs raced over the mountainside, one fawn and the other silver. Justice gripped the silver fur beneath him. What was supposed to be a joke had turned into something serious. Of course, they would pick now to take him seriously. Why not the time he wanted to try spreading his seed across the swim team? No, they laughed that off.
Riding on the back of a speeding lycan was actually terrifying. Especially with how Aedan leaped off boulders and free fell to the ground. Abe was following them in flashes that only he was capable of, and he had more energy now that he and Lucie had a stronger relationship.
Lucie was racing happily alongside Aedan. It had been a while since she was able to run and stretch her legs. Same with Aedan. They were both enjoying this moment. It was even more fun since Derrick was riding on her back. His hands curling in her fur made her body tingle, and she imagined a differentscenario of pulling hair. Good thing he couldn’t read her thoughts, though he still knew her emotions. She felt his other hand rub through her fur as he chuckled lowly.
“I feel the same way, little mate. We have some reconnecting to do after you shift back, now that you’re finally all healed up. I’m in desperate need of some Lucie therapy.”
One of the good things about being in her feral form was that he couldn’t see her blushing. Even if Derrick understood her feelings, he kept quiet and gently stroked her side. Just being close like this had a comforting effect on both of them.
They came to a wooded area that was shrouded in mist. Off in the distance, they heard a screaming sound. Abe materialized between the two wolves and stared quietly in front of them.
“The shriek …” Abe said, inhaling sharply.
The shriek was a dangerous, vengeful spirit that claimed the lives of anyone who feared death or wished to live. Bitter from the lives they’d lost, they now claimed the lives of whoever they encountered. Who didn’t want to live? This was true for most, except for Jester and Freja. In fact, Jester had lived in the woods with the shriek. It kept him isolated and private. That was, until the day a girl with auburn hair named Freja entered his forest. A girl who also didn’t fear death or care if she lived.
“Uncle Jester told me about that.” Derrick tightened his hand in Lucie’s fur. “Is there no going around?”
Lucie looked over at Abe. She’d also heard of stories of the shriek from her mother, and that there had also been another, more dangerous one out there. There was a chance there were more vengeful spirits in the woods than they knew of. Just then, they heard two more terrifying screams in different locations, confirming Lucie’s thoughts. There was more than one. But the fastest way was through those woods.
Can we outrun them?Lucie asked Abe.
I don’t know. I can hold one off, but I don’t know how many we’re dealing with. The woods have become infested after the demon war. It would be wise to go around … but to go around would mean going through the mountains.His eyes darted to Derrick for a moment and then back to Lucie.Going through the mountains would be dangerous for you and Derrick. There are no friends of the vampires there.
Lucie knew Abe was speaking about the Children of the Moon. Three remaining packs of wolves that had banded together. They hated vampires and killed them with a vengeance. Her father had tried to unite them with the rest of the packs, but they wouldn’t budge because of how accepting others were of vampires.
The Children of the Moon were a strong pack, but the five of them would be able to overcome them. The problem was that they would have to annihilate the pack, and it was always Hunter’s hope to assimilate them. They were wolves too. Aedan could probably command them, right? They’d never tried to give an order to rogues before, though it should be in their power. She looked at Aedan and asked him what he was thinking. Through the forest or mountains.
It isn’t worth the risk, Lucie. If the pack is hostile, we’ll have no choice but to wipe them all out. It’s faster to go through the forest.Aedan stared at the woods, growling lowly.We’ll run straight through, not giving them a chance to catch us. We stop for nothing. Don’t look back and just keep running.
Lucie had to agree with him. She hardly wanted to kill the isolated pack. For the most part, they just want to be left alone to live their own lives. They’d never caused trouble for anyone. They did have a strong hatred for vampires, but given what happened to them before, it was understandable. Long ago, way before her time, there were three packs that rested on the outskirts of the vampire kingdom. This was back before Alarictook over as king. The vampires wanted to expand their territory and went to talk with the packs to come to an agreement.
This was where things got cloudy. Each species accused the other of starting the attack. In the end, three packs were destroyed, and the survivors united as the Children of the Moon. All that remained was the alpha’s son of one of the packs, and under him, the remaining members united. It was hard to tell what really happened that day, but the vampires were adamant that they only went for peaceful talks and they were attacked. In either case, the hatred the Children of the Moon harbored for vampires would not be extinguished. Still, Hunter was hopeful in time they would be able to resolve the ill feelings of the past.
Shrill screams erupted nearby, the eerie sound echoing through the forest. It was enough to make Lucie step back nervously. Going through the mountains would mean a fight. But going through the forest could mean death.
Lucie, we can do this. Let’s see which one of us is faster, eh?
“I don’t think we should travel through the forest.” Derrick could feel Lucie’s nervousness, and he was anxious about it as well. All of them had something to live for. It wasn’t the fear of death but the fear of leaving the ones you loved behind, which would be enough for the shrieks.
Lucie took in a deep breath, calming her nerves. She lifted her head to Abe.
Tell them to hold on tight and not to let go. We’re running straight through. We need them to duck down and hug our bodies tightly so we don’t accidentally knock them off running through the trees.
Abe slowly nodded his head. He relayed the message to Justice and Derrick before turning his focus back to Lucie.
“I’ll do what I can, princess.” Abe didn’t fear death. He was already dead. He could only do what he could to hold them off,but the numbers were against them. All he could do was distract them and fight off any that got too close.
