Chapter 123: Chapter 123

~ NYSSA

I stumbled back, staring in shock at what I had done, at the blood coating my fingers, my clothes, my arms.

Henry was unrecognizable. Blood pooled over his body and the floor beneath us, his face was covered in cuts, his eye was cut, as was his throat. I could barely see any glimpse of the man I knew.

A pained groan filled the air and I stumbled back, heart hammering in my chest as I realized that he was still alive.

He gasped, presumably trying to speak but all that came out were garbled sounds as blood pooled in his mouth.

Horror filled me, coating me with shame as I dragged myself to my feet. The keys were right there, in his pocket.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, more for me than for him as I snatched them up. “I have to do this.”

He made a sound of protest but I ignored it and scurried as fast as I could out of there. I slipped over the blood, falling flat on my ass but I did not stop, I rushed over to the door, hands shaking violently as I slipped the key into the lock and turned.

There was a chance that Henry would survive. If someone managed to get him to a hospital in time, he would heal. There were no traces of silver or wolf’s bane in what I used to stab him. I may not have killed him, but I bought myself some time.

I flung the door open, sighing in relief as the cool breeze hit my skin. I shut my eyes tightly, inhaling the crisp cold air. The sun was already beginning to set and the sky looked so beautiful, a kaleidoscope of colors.

On another day, I would have stopped to admire it, but I couldn’t. I looked around, making sure no one was near and I ran. I dashed as fast as my legs could carry me into the woods. The same woods I grew up in, that I knew like the back of my hands.

I pushed my legs as fast and as far as I could, lungs burning from the harsh wind. I slammed into branches, my bare feet landing hard against rocks and twigs. My limbs burned but I did not stop. The border was a distance away but if I could just get close enough.

I tried not to think of what would happen if Henry or one of his men were to find me, of the horrors I would be forced to face back in that house.

I pushed myself even harder.

The forest seemed to mock me, echoing every little sound. My footsteps seemed louder than normal and every few seconds, I could not help but turn back to make sure I was not being followed.

I was not sure of how much I ran, or how far, but the trees were denser, the forest steeper. I was so focused on getting away that I did not stop to pay attention to what was going on around me. I allowed myself get overconfident.

My leg caught on a root and I went rolling down the side of a steep hill. My shoulder slammed into the ground hard and pain shot up my sides. Twigs cut up my face and arms.

I reached for a nearby root, trying to hoist myself up but I was unable to gain a firm grip on it.

I rolled down until I slammed into a hard tree, my stomach hitting the trunk.

“Fuck!” I cursed aloud, trying to ignore the blinding pain that shot up my entire body.

Tears blurred my vision as I tried to pull myself up.

“Stop!” My spine went rigid at that very male voice. “Who are you?”

I fisted my own mouth to keep from sobbing.

“Turn around, now!”

I shook my head violently.

I did not come this far just to be taken back.

I would rather fucking die.

I scanned the forest, eye snagging on a large branch in front of me.

“Don’t let me repeat myself again!”

I reached for the branch and swung with all my might. It collided heavily with a huge body and loud curse filled the air. The man went to his knees, his hand pressed to his head. I lifted the branch to swing again when I noticed something unusual about his uniform.

It wasn’t the same deep blue as the ones that the pack soldiers wore, and there was an insignia, right on his shoulder.

The branch slipped from my fingers. “You’re from the palace?”

“Of course I’m from the fucking palace. Who the hell are–” he went silent, eyes going wide as he took me in. Bloody clothes, messy hair. “Fucking hell!”

I did not have the time to process his shock with him. “Is Rowan here?”

“The King? Yes, goddess above, you’re actually here! I didn’t think-”

My legs gave out beneath me.

Perhaps it was the relief of knowing that I was safe, that Rowan was nearby. The guard cursed, rushing over to my side to pull me up but I could not hold myself, not anymore.

The pain from my bleeding feet had finally set in, and the exhaustion and reality of what I had done left me reeling.

“Just… stay awake, please. The others will be here soon.”

His words sounded so far away. I wanted so terribly for sleep to take me, but it would not. It avoided me like the plague. When I closed my eyes, I saw Henry, I saw what I had done to him, how I had left him for dead.

It seemed so ironic now, that I was upset with Rowan for killing my parents and I may have just killed a man… someone’s family, someone’s friend.

Did that make me a hypocrite?

Heavy footsteps filled my ears and a stab of fear went through my heart.

For a moment, I thought it was Henry’s men. I thought they had found him and come to kill me in return, but as I lifted my eyes, I saw a flash of silver hair, of scars running down a pale arm.

A broken sob escaped my lips, my hands shaking terribly as I drew myself to my feet.

It seemed unreal and yet, there he was, heading straight for me, eyes blazing with heat and worry.

I took off in a sprint, meeting him halfway and I threw my arms around his shoulders as I sobbed, the tears flowing freely down my cheeks.

Rowan did not waste any time in wrapping his arms around me, his lips pressed gently against the side of my head.

“It’s okay, little wolf,” he murmured against my skin. “You’re safe.”

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