CHAPTER SEVEN

It's wild how once everything fades to black, the world seems so much brighter when my eyes finally open. It doesn't seem like I've been out for long, but my body is sore. The ground underneath me feels wet. It feels like my whole world has changed.

Even though it's night, I have no trouble seeing. But I’m terrified by what I see, so I quickly reclose my eyes.

Of course, I can’t keep my eyes closed forever.

What I'm seeing is horrific. There are bodies all around me, covered in blood. Their limbs are ripped off at unnatural angles. Their life coats the forest floor.

All of the wolves who were chasing me are dead. These are wolves from my pack. These are wolves who I grew up with. They are wolves who I've loved.

I wonder what happened. I wonder why I'm still alive. I wonder...

I look down at my hands and see that they're covered in blood. But I don't have very many marks on me. This blood is someone else’s blood.

I look back at my pack members who look like something powerful has torn through them. Something monstrous and strange attacked them. Whoever it was saved me, I've never seen anything like it. Whoever did this is terrifying.

I think about the prophecy. I think about how strangely everyone has been acting towards me. I try to think about what all this means but the thought is too horrifying to consider. It’s too terrible to avoid forever.

I think I might have done this.

I think I might have killed the people in my pack.

It's too crazy to really take seriously. I’m not stronger than everyone else. We were so outnumbered. There's no way I could have done this.

Then, I realize the alpha is missing. He’s the only body who hasn’t been mangled. That means he must’ve done it. He must’ve killed everyone.

But why? Why would he kill members of his own pack? How could this happen? What’s going on?

I don’t know anything except that I need to get away. If I’m the one who caused such destruction, then I don't trust myself. If it wasn't me, whoever did this may have left me for dead. They might come back.

Alyssa and her mate are lying near each other. She dragged herself to him before she died. Connor's body isn't far from theirs. I take one last look at them, horrified at what happened. They died because of me. They gave up their lives for me.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “Thank you for saving me. Thank you for everything.”

Then, I take off to the car. I won't let them die in vain. I'm going to survive this. I'm going to figure out what happened. No matter what that takes.

*

I almost cry when I enter the car and realize that the directions to the new pack are already pulled up on a phone that's in the car. The phone isn't locked, so I use it to navigate. I know it was left here for a reason. And that reason kills me.

I know the people who came to get me realized they might die. That's why they left it there. So, I could follow it in the event that they died.

None of this makes sense to me. I don't know why anyone thinks that I'm worth dying for. I don't know why all this is happening. And I drown in my confusion on the drive over. I'm terrified.

I keep thinking that someone from my old pack will come after me. Maybe the alpha left and will be coming back for revenge.

They don't know what the car looks like. They don't know where I'm going to. And it be difficult for them to catch up to me now.

Still, I can't quite shake the feeling that somehow they have caught up to me. I keep looking over my shoulder at the road behind me. I keep waiting for something bad to happen.

This has been the worst day of my entire life. I've never known death before. And now I know it closely. Now I'm going away from my home and I can never go back. I don't know where I'm going to. I don't know what to do.

But then, a new village comes into sight. It feels like home right away. It feels like this is meant to be. I follow the GPS until I pull up to the biggest house in town. I parked the car and get out.

Before I can go much further, Gavin leaves the house, running out to see me. He looks excited, he looks anxious, he looks like he's happy I'm there.

We run and meet each other in a hug that feels like home. Even though I haven't known him for long, I feel like I've known him my whole life. It feels like now I'm here with him, I'm safe. I don't have to run anymore.

“Where are the others?” Gavin asks, as he steps away from me.

I don't want to tell him. I don't know how to tell him. I don't know what to say.

“There's only wrong reason why they wouldn't be here,” he says quietly.

Tears fall silently from Gavin’s eyes as I hold his hand. He's not letting most of the pain show outwardly, but I can feel it through our touch. These people were very important to him. He's devastated now that they're gone. And they're gone because of me.

After a few minutes, Gavin looks at me. And I'm worried. What will he think of me now? His friends died because of me. How can he ever forgive me?

“You must be exhausted,” he says. He shakes his head. “Let's get you inside.”

I'm a little reluctant after everything, but I know he's the person I'm supposed to be with. I know he'll keep me safe. So, I follow him inside.

I'm stunned by how beautiful everything looks. The house is decorated in rich shades of red, gold, and light colors that bring in the light of fire and the moon. His house reminds me of the stars. And I feel like I'm safe here. I feel like I never have to be in the darkness ever again.

“Will you finally give me answers?” I ask. I'm hopeful. If anyone can tell me what's going on, I know that it's him.

“I can't tell you everything right now,” he says. “There's just so much to go over. You must be exhausted.

“I do have some important things to tell you. Why don't you sit down first though. This is going to be life changing.”