Chapter 8: Ovelia's Ordeal and Ace's Vengeance in the Forest

Ovelia's POV

The black werewolf's claws slid out of my arm with a sickening squelch, the sound of torn flesh and dripping blood filling the air. My breath hitched, and a strangled cry escaped my lips as he plunged his claws back in, twisting them with deliberate cruelty.

"Arggghh! Please, stop!" I begged, my voice trembling with fear and desperation. His golden eyes gleamed with wicked satisfaction, the kind that made my stomach churn. He was enjoying this—every scream, every tear, every drop of blood. His lips curled into a feral grin, revealing sharp, glistening fangs that seemed to mock my helplessness.

With a swift, jerking motion, he tore his claws free from my flesh once more, then yanked at my necklace, breaking it apart as if it were nothing more than a flimsy string. He ripped the side of my dress, the fabric tearing easily and exposing my skin to the cold night air and his malevolent gaze.

A twisted smile crept across his lips, filling me with dread. "A fake mark—so Ace hasn't marked you yet," he taunted, his voice dripping with sickening sweetness. "Instead of killing you, why not make you my mate?"

The words sent a jolt of terror through me, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. My mind raced, desperate for a way out, but my body was too weak, too broken to fight back. I could feel the darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision, threatening to pull me under.

"At this rate, you're going to die. Release me already." The voice in my mind was calm, almost detached, but there was an urgency beneath the surface that I couldn't ignore.

I don't know how, and I'm not planning to release her, I thought, my resolve wavering. But if I don't… I'll die here.

Before I could respond, a thunderous roar shattered the silence of the forest. "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!" The voice was raw, primal, and filled with a fury that made the air itself seem to tremble. A massive silver werewolf burst into the clearing, his fur glinting like moonlight. In an instant, he lunged at the black werewolf, his powerful jaws clamping down on the arm that held me captive.

The black werewolf howled in pain, releasing me as he stumbled backward. I collapsed to the ground, my body hitting the earth with a dull thud. My vision blurred, but through the haze, I recognized the silver wolf—Ace. His presence was both a relief and a shock, his transformation a stark reminder of the power he wielded.

With a fierce kick, Ace sent the black werewolf crashing into a tree, the impact shaking the ground beneath me. The sound of splintering wood echoed through the forest, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze. Then, Ace turned to me, his silver eyes blazing with a mix of rage and concern.

Before I could speak, Ann rushed to my side, her face pale and her hands trembling as she knelt beside me. "Lady Ovelia!" she cried, her voice breaking. She gently lifted my head, cradling it in her lap. Her fingers brushed against my cheek, warm and reassuring, but I could see the fear in her eyes.

"You're bleeding," she whispered, her voice trembling. She tore a strip of fabric from her dress, pressing it against the deep gash on my arm. The pressure sent a fresh wave of pain through me, but I bit my lip, refusing to cry out. "This cut… it's too deep. It won't stop." Her tears fell freely now, splashing onto my skin like raindrops. "I'm so sorry we were late. Ace and I… we should have been here sooner."

I reached up with my uninjured arm, my fingers brushing against her tear-streaked cheek. "Don't cry," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I'm okay." But even as I spoke, a cough wracked my body, and I tasted blood on my lips. The world around me began to fade, the edges of my vision darkening as Ann's worried face blurred into nothingness.

Ace's POV

Rage burned through me like wildfire, consuming every rational thought. My wolf surged to the surface, claws and fangs bared as I pounded the black werewolf into the ground. Each blow was fueled by a primal need to protect, to destroy the one who had dared to harm her. My fingers closed around his throat, squeezing until his eyes bulged and his struggles grew weaker.

"Why are you here?" I growled, my voice a low, dangerous rumble. "What do you want with Ovelia?"

He smirked, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "I'm here to kill her—to make you suffer. But when I saw you hadn't marked her yet…" His laughter was a twisted, guttural sound. "I realized you wouldn't truly suffer if I ended her life. So, I thought I'd make her mine instead. But then you showed up." His grin widened, taunting me. "I should've killed her immediately. Now, I get to see the fury in your eyes. It's hilarious!"

His words ignited a fresh wave of fury. With a snarl, I drove my fist into his gut, the impact sending him sprawling. My wolf howled within me, demanding his blood, his life. In one swift motion, I grabbed his arm and tore it from his body. His scream echoed through the forest, a sound of pure agony.

"My wolf wants to kill you," I growled, my voice trembling with barely restrained rage. "But I'll let you live. Go back to your pack and tell them this: if any of you dare touch Ovelia again, I'll wipe the Shadow Pack from existence."

He scrambled to his feet, clutching the stump where his arm had been, and fled into the darkness. I turned, my heart pounding, only to see Ann cradling Ovelia's limp body, her sobs cutting through the silence.

"Lady Ovelia!" Ann screamed, her voice filled with panic.

I turned to Ann, and my heart sank at the sight of Ovelia, unconscious and slumped against Ann's trembling legs. Without hesitation, I rushed toward them.

Ann was sobbing, clutching Ovelia tightly, her tears soaking the ground.

"Ann, she's just fainted. Listen closely; her heart is still beating," I reassured, kneeling beside them, trying to mask my growing fear.

"How can you still be so calm, Sir Ace? Don't you care about her?" Ann snapped, anger mixed with desperation. "She has so many bruises.. she's bleeding... she even coughed up blood!"

Her words hit me like a punch. My heart raced as I took in Ovelia's pallor, the urgency of the moment clawing at my chest.

I was taken aback when I saw the bruises on Ovelia's body again. My heart sank; how could I have been so foolish to think they were gone? During our wedding ceremony, I overlooked them, not realizing that Ann had covered Ovelia's bruises with foundation.

"Sir Ace, Ovelia is going to be your Luna. Can't you at least show her some care?" Ann's voice was sharp, accusing.

She was right. It was my duty to protect Ovelia and care for her. And yet… I hadn't done anything good to her. My heart was still tangled in the past, still tied to Eliana. But seeing Ovelia like this, broken and bleeding, something inside me shifted.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. "Ann, carry her onto my back and climb on as well. We need to get her to the palace and call a doctor."

As Ann lifted Ovelia onto my back, her weight felt impossibly light, fragile. Once they were both settled at my back, The wind picked up, rustling the leaves around us, and for a moment, I thought I heard a whisper. "Keep her safe." The voice was soft, almost ethereal, and it sent a chill down my spine. Was it the wind? Or something more?

I shook my head, pushing the thought aside. Right now, all that mattered was getting Ovelia to safety. But as I ran toward the palace, the guilt and anger churned within me, a storm I couldn't escape. This was my fault. If I hadn't left her alone after the wedding if I'd been there to protect her…

"Hurry," the wind whispered again, a haunting reminder of Ovelia's connection with it. What was she? And why did it feel like the world itself was watching over her?