3

Adaline

The Peralez Forest, once notorious as the Forest of Demons, held no novelty for me. The four-day exile my father imposed felt more like a gentle reprimand; he initially hesitated to punish me. Despite his apparent satisfaction with my involvement with Cole, the Empress and Nyla were less than pleased. As a consequence, my flowing locks were sheared into a pixie cut, and I found myself here, in the heart of the Peralez Forest, tasked with reflecting on my actions.

The first time I was sent here was when the Empress was desperate for my disposal. Anyone sent to the forest of Peralez didn't last a day in here, they were hunted and scorged by the demons, only a skilled wolf can counter a demon. Well, till they get worn out by endless battles and ends up either retreating or dying in the battle.

I have never encountered a demon from my days sent to the forest, the palace warriors always looked shocked in awe when I come out unscath, it was as if i was a demon repellant.

Familiar with the forest like the back of my hand, I embarked on an exploration borne out of sheer boredom. A magical band, ingeniously bound to my ankle by the Empress, thwarted any attempt at finding an escape route. Whenever I neared an exit unrelated to the palace, an inexplicable heaviness seized my legs, rendering them immobile.

So long for eloping.

My stomach growled and I was getting tired of the familiar scene, I opt to rest but I needed to rest where there was food, lucky for me I'm immune to poisonous berries but I always end up gagging and throwing up so it wasn't worth it trouble. I regret not having my wolf, I could have literally hunted for food. Amidst my regret I hear the sounds of a shrub shaking, I suddenly became alert and positioned my stance. "Who's there?" I squatted, searching for a branch or stick but end up picking up a rock. "I have a rock and I'm not afraid to use it." I warned, as my heart raced a bit.

Would this be the first time I'd be encountering a demon? Well I guess I wasn't going to be invincible forever, I was bound to come across one.

I wonder if a demon could finally break this curse, but why now of all days ?

"Come out!!" I yelled waiting for whatever hides itself in the bushes. To my very surprise Cole walks out unscath as I drop the rock in confusion.

"Cole? What are you doing here? How are you here? Why are you here? How are you even alive?" I take in deep breaths to let my questions sink in, I expect him to bear at least a few bruises, the strongest warriors don't even look this untouched.

There are only two things, it's either Cole is a pretty good warrior pretending to suck or he's a Demon.

I rush towards him, he widens his arms for an embrace but I take his hand to examine his entire forearm.

"Explain yourself." I glared at him as he chuckled. "I felt bad about you getting banished to the forest so I decided to accompany you." He replied with a bubbly smile, it was one I wasn't quite familiar with.

"Not that, how are you still alive?" I asked. "Oh." He blushes pulling his hand back and scratching the back of his head while avoiding my gaze.

"I was born here, it seems like anyone born here doesn't get in contact with demons." This revelation made little to no sense, and how come I wasn't even aware and if he can enter the forest that means he's not as weak as he seems. "But the folklore says only the strong are born into the forest, you're as weak as biscuits." I said as Cole nods in confirmation.

"Well Folklore is not always true, you weren't born into the forest and you are invincible to the demons as well." He said which was quite correct. This forest might be picky about who gets invincibility.

"So who else knows about this?" I asked a he squatted, he was probably exhausted from trying to find me.

"Just me and my adoptive parents." He said as I recalled that he was adopted into the Debris household eight years ago. "That's probably why they adopted me." He added and his gaze shifts to my head. "The Empress really chopped your hair." He smiled as I looked away in embarrassment and blushed while running my fingers through my pixie cut. "I-I prefer it short, it won't get in the way when I'm doing the palace chores." I boasted proudly.

Cole tilts his head in some form of admiration. "You look good either way." He falls back resting his head on the beds of leaves. "So what's for lunch?" He asked like I was some kind of personal maid. "I don't know, I planned on eating berries but a lot of them are quite poisonous. I can't afford a stomach upset at the moment." I paused wondering how to bring up the conversation of us having sex, him showing up all of a sudden to keep me company was nothing but fleeting emotions set up for failure.

"How did your adoptive parents take the news about our affair?" I asked, unlike my father I'm sure his were quite livid. "They are not in the kingdom at the moment, I'm sure they'll be aware after my uncle's letters get to him. He was livid though." I chuckled imagining the look on Viscount Maverick's face, I wish I was there to see it.

"Well, just because we had sex doesn't mean you have to take responsibility." I immediately brought up the topic watching as it had no effect on him.

"I'm in no way taking responsibility, I got bored of same old training and wondered what you were doing." He said as I felt important just for a second, no one ever thinks of me, they only think of Nyla. "I see, any news then? You can tell me why we go hunt for food." I was bubbly realizing one of us had a wolf. "There are no animals in the forest, we'd be lucky if we see a fly." He confirmed as My hopes were shattered as I result to thinking about berries or apples.

"Any news then?" I inquired, and Cole abruptly rose, gasping. "Alpha Grant," he uttered breathlessly, "I saw him at the palace."