Chapter 42 Danger

Like a blur of light, Emily claws slashed at Clara, leaving her no time to react. Blood gushed from her face as the crowd gasped in shock.

"So this is her real color."

"She has no dignity of a werewolf."

"All she was is nothing but a facade."

"Future Luna, my foot. She can't even handle a tease. Poor Clara."

The crowd's words echoed in Emily's ear. She can't believe she has finally ruined her image. Her father has always warned her to have control over her anger. But here she was, ruining everything.

Emily covered her ears with her bloodied hands. Tears dripped down her face as she shook her head frantically in denial.

She looked at Clara, whose face now had a deep, gaping wound. Yet she was smiling, an eerie, unsettling smile.

Emily stumbled back. She turned to the crowd and they also had the same creepy smile on her face.

"Emily!"

A voice brought Emily back to the present, she looked around in surprise, a little startled by the thought.

She let out a sigh of relief, she was grateful she really didn't do that and neither of those were real.

"You look so pale." 

Daphne pointed out. 

"If you are sick, you can go to the inner chamber and get some rest…"

"No, I'll take my leave now. Thank you for having me."

Emily rose to her feet and walked out of the gathering, her eyes taking a quick glance at Clara who had a smirk on her lips. She wanted to wipe that smirk off her face with her claws.

Her heart pounded in her chest, she had fallen. Calista.. wait till I get my hands on you.

As she made her way towards her carriage. A huge frame blocked her path.

Emily looked at the man with black short hair. He stood at 6'3 tall, his brown eyes swirling with mischief.

"Who are you? And how dare you block my path?"

Emily snared, her wolf pacing in anger and fear. She felt threatened in his presence, as if she amounted to nothing.

"Do you like what you saw?"

His voice was slow and powerful. Emily brows knitted in confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

"The image of you gushing someone's face with your claws?"

Emily's breath hitched. 'How did he know about what I was thinking?'

"I know what you did."

Emily's breath hitched. "What do you mean?"

The man stepped closer, his voice a whisper. "I turned back time to stop you from ruining everything."

Emily's heart plummeted. He could turn back time? So she really did it? That wasn't just a thought? She felt like breaking down. ' What have I gotten myself into.'

Seeing her plight, the man smiled, but it was so unsettling that Emily felt little ants crawling around her skin.

"What do you want?"

"Good question, I want you to do something for me."

"And what could that be?" She asked.

"I will let you know when the time comes."

The man vanished into thin air. Emily clenched her fists, frustration boiling inside her ' what a terrible day.'

She knew the man was not someone she could trifle with, even her wolf was cowering in his presence. ' But who is he?'

A sharp, searing pain tore through her skull, she wobbled as her vision spun.

"Remember our deal. There will be a consequence if broken."

The man's voice echoed through the thin air, he was nowhere to be found.

After a while the pain subsided. Emily wobbled to her carriage. She had a bad feeling about this. But what can she do, she definitely cannot tell her father about this, he would skin her alive. She would handle this, no one will know.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the thick dark forest, the heaving breath of a girl could be heard clearly through the air.

Calista placed her hand on the tree, her chest heaving up and down. She has been running for what seemed like an eternity.

Her other hand clenched on her bag. Sweat trickled down her face. She has finally got the freedom she had craved for.

But she has been running in circles for a very long time now. Her eyes gazed at the markings she had earlier made on the trees. This is her fourth round of running in circles.

She has made sure to follow every single instruction on the map, and she couldn't understand why she was in this predicament.

She raises her head towards the sky. She could barely see the sky because of the huge canopy of the trees.

Then…. Something caught her eyes.

Her green eyes widened in horror. She didn't know if she should run or stand still. Cold shivers ran down her spine.

A low, guttural noise filled the air. Her hand slowly returned to her side. Her eyes are still on the creature.

The creature opened its mouth wide.. shriek.

Black liquid dripped over Calista's face. Her lashes fluttered in fear, her lips curving into a silent cry.

The creature's black eyes gleamed with hunger. Its ash-colored, hairless skin glistened under the moonlight, stretched taut over its massive bat-like skull. Sharp, jagged teeth jutted from its open maw, a sickening hiss escaping as it locked onto its prey.

"Oh no." 

Calista murmured, she turned around and bolted through the forest. The creature flapped its wings, its massive form darting after her like a shadow.

' Oh my God, help, help me' she cried out in desperation. She can never survive things. Her death was certain.

She ran as fast as her legs could carry her… until her foot caught on a root.

Thud.

She stumbled to the ground, her body facing the sky, her eyes widened in horror.

The creature circled around her up in the sky, before descending as a bolt of lightning.

"Noooo!"

She cried out in horror, she wished she hadn't escape.

'So this is it?'

Calista's eyes closed instinctively, her heart limping out of her chest.

Splash.