Chapter 3: Righteous Fury

Evelyn’s POV

My hands shook with anger as I stormed through the forest, my feet barely touching the ground. It felt like I was gliding over the mossy earth. Their words still echoed in my mind, their cruel words ringing in my ears. I clenched my fists so hard my nails bit into my palms.

I thought of running, of hiding. In truth, they probably couldn't find me if I hid. I knew the forest like the back of my hand. Plus, both boys had the combined brains of moldy bread, but I was tired of the constant bullying. Today, I'd teach them a lesson they’d never forget. I stopped at a clearing, my eyes scanning the surroundings. This spot would do nicely.

The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, and the sun filtered through the canopy above. I set to work, my mind focused and my hands steady.

I began by searching for timbo vines, their tough, fibrous strands would be perfect for my plan. I found a cluster of them twisting around a nearby tree and carefully cut them free with the knife I always carried.

The vines were strong but flexible. They could easily manage the weight of a fully grown Steer, but in this case, two fully grown dimwits. Next, I gathered stones of various sizes, arranging them in a pile beside me.

My hands moved deftly, my movements fluid and practiced. I had learned this skill long ago from other rogues, back when I was just a little rogue myself. Traps like these were used to catch prey, but today, they’d serve a different purpose.

I started by digging a shallow pit in the center of the clearing, the soil cool and slightly damp beneath my fingers. I lined the pit with stones, creating a sturdy base. Then, I threaded the timbo vines through the stones, weaving them into a complex web that would spring to life at the slightest touch.

With the foundation set, I rigged the vines to a trigger made of thin branches. I tested the mechanism several times, ensuring it was sensitive enough to respond instantly. Once I was satisfied, I covered the entire setup with leaves and dirt, concealing it completely. It looked like an ordinary patch on the forest floor.

I stepped back and admired my handiwork. The trap was perfect. I could almost see the boys' faces as they were caught, their smug expressions turning to shock and fear. The thought brought a small, grim smile to my lips.

Now, I just needed to lure them here.

I moved silently through the forest, my eyes scanning for my targets. I found them not far from where I had initially spotted them, laughing and joking as if they hadn’t a care in the world. I felt a slight sense of elation. This was almost going to be too easy. I stepped out of the shadows and called to them, my voice laced with false sweetness.

“Aren't you boys a little bit far from home? Looking for something?”

The boys turned to face me, their expressions covered in genuine surprise. They didn't think I would just come to them.

"Oh... um... Evelyn. Strange seeing you here." The taller boy fumbled his words. "We were just wandering about looking for squirrels."

The shorter boy turned to him with an even more confused look. "But I thought we were supposed to be looking for her," he said casually, pointing in my direction. "Remember, Hannah said we should---"

The taller boy quickly silenced him with a firm slap to the head. "Oww!" he yelped. "What was that for?" He rubbed the back of his head where the slap hand landed.

The taller boy leaned in and whispered something to him, and they both whispered back and forth to each other before finally turning to me.

The taller boy tried to feign concern. But I could see the deceit in his eyes. “It would seem we've run into you totally on accident. Why don't you come with us? Let's take you back to the mansion?”

The short boy snickered, earning him an elbowing to his side. I forced myself to smile. These guys were total idiots.

Ignoring their earlier request, I said, “I found something cool in the forest. Do you want to see it?”

Both boys exchanged a puzzled look before turning back to me. The tall boy spoke first. "We'd love to, but we really don't have the time. Just come with us, and we can come to see your cool thing later," he said as he took a cautious step forward. There was a good 20 feet between us; he didn't want to scare me off.

I rolled my eyes, "If you're scared to go deeper into the forest, just say so. You don't have to hide it.”

The tall boy’s eyes narrowed, his pride pricked by my challenge. “Scared? We're not scared, not a chance. "Come on," he says to his short friend let’s see what the little Evelyn has found.”

I smiled to myself as I turned and walked back toward the trap. I could hear them following, their footsteps crunching through the underbrush. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of anticipation and nerves. I had to stay calm, to make sure everything went according to plan.

“So, what is it, Evelyn?” the short boy called out. “Is it a dead animal? I hope it's a dead animal.”

I glanced over my shoulder, giving them a sly smile. “You’ll see. Just a bit further.”

When we reached the clearing, I stopped and stepped to the side, giving them a clear path to the trap. “It’s right over there,” I said, pointing to the concealed pit.

The tall boy stepped forward, pushing past his friend. “Out of my way.” He walked confidently toward the trap, but he hesitated just before reaching it. His eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across his face. "I don't see anything."

“It's right there. Just take a few more steps,” I tried concealing the anticipation in my voice.

He took a few more cautious steps forward but was walking as if he were in a minefield. The short boy laughed, and his face flushed with anger. “Shut up! I’m just taking my time.” He took another step but still seemed unsure.

“It's right there!” I said, my voice growing colder. “Oh, for heaven's sake, stop being such a coward and look already.”

His face contorted with rage, and he turned toward me. “What did you just call me!? You’ll regret saying that, you little—”

Before he could finish, the short boy rushed past him, determined to reach the thing I had pointed out. “You're taking too long. She said it was right there,” he shouted, sprinting forward.

With a snap, the Timbo vines sprang to life. In an instant, both boys were lifted off their feet, hanging upside down from the trees. Their screams of surprise and pain echoed through the forest, a cacophony of shock and anger.

They writhed and cursed, their faces red with humiliation. “You little bitch!” the tall one spat, his eyes blazing with fury. “You’re going to pay for this!”

I felt a grim satisfaction watching them struggle. I picked up a fallen branch and approached them, my grip tight.

“You think I don't know Hannah sent the both of you here to attack me,” I said, my voice cold. “You're dumber than I thought.”

One of the boys sneered through gritted teeth. “You’re just a filthy rogue, Evelyn. A filthy rogue that can't even shift into her wolf!”

The short boy joined in, his voice dripping with contempt. “Yeah, you’ll always be worthless. You’ll never be a real werewolf.”

Their words stung, but I didn’t let it show. “You may be right,” I said, my voice low and dangerous, “but you made the mistake of letting me catch you.” I swung the branch hard on their bodies, the satisfying crack of wood against their bodies echoing through the forest.

I hit them again and again and again. As I struck them, I thought of all the injustice life had handed me and how much pain I had endured. I wanted to make them hurt. Time seemed to pass in a blur, and all I could feel at that moment was rage. When I finally stopped, the branch was in pieces, and their shouts turned into whimpers.

Satisfied with my revenge, I turned to leave. But as I did, I froze. Standing at the edge of the clearing was a young man I had never seen before. He was strikingly handsome, with a face like a marble sculpture—flawless and cold. His eyes, though, were what caught my attention. They were like the surface of an ice lake, cold and unyielding.

My heart raced. I didn’t know who this man was, but he clearly disapproved of my actions. I lifted my chin, trying to appear unfazed. “What are you looking at?” I demanded. “Mind your own business.”

The man didn’t respond. He just stared at me with those icy eyes. Feeling a shiver run down my spine, I turned and walked away, my heart pounding in my chest. I had no idea who he was, and I didn’t care. He wasn’t a member of Blood Cloud, which meant he wasn’t my problem.

When I returned to the pack, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. I overheard snippets of conversation as I walked through the crowd. “Thunderclap Military College… admission team… luxurious hotel…”

My ears pricked up. Thunderclap Military College? The prestigious academy known for training the best warriors? My heart skipped a beat. This could be my chance. A way out of Blood Cloud. Away from the constant bullying and the oppressive rule of Alpha Hayes and his daughter, Hannah.

The hotel where the admission team was staying wasn’t far. I made my way there, my mind racing with possibilities. The lobby was packed with young werewolves, all eager to apply. I spotted Hannah and Colin in the crowd.

Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I waited in the corner, watching as one by one, the applicants finished their interviews and left. When the crowd finally thinned out, I stepped forward and approached the receptionist.

“I’d like to apply for Thunderclap Military College,” I said, my voice steady.

The receptionist looked up and nodded. “Of course. Please follow me.”

She led me to a private meeting room and instructed me to wait. I sat down, my heart pounding in my chest. This was it—my chance to escape Blood Cloud and make something of myself. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.

The door opened, and I looked up. My breath caught in my throat. Standing in the doorway was the young man from the forest, the one with the cold, icy eyes. He stepped inside, his gaze locked onto mine.