Chapter 37: Stalking Corrine

(LOCKE)

There’s no record of Erik having a child.

It takes two days to confirm that bit of information, and it sends me spiraling. I walk through the streets of this human city, feeling overwhelmed by everything that is happening.

The last eight years have taken a toll on me. They’ve also shown me a side of myself that has me feeling nauseated.

Eight years is a long time to examine my interactions with Corrine. I was so cruel to her in the beginning. She never complained. She never said a word. But it wasn’t because she didn’t feel the hurt and humiliation. It was because she had no other choice.

I know how different the human world is from life on the other side of the Veil. If Corrine has lived here for all these years, she has had no restrictions on her. I am a man deep-rooted in tradition. Will she ever want to leave this life and come back with me ? I can’t see that happening. And even if I did convince her, what could I offer her? How would she ever believe me?

I’ve always been a confident man. Being a powerful king inspires confidence. I have always been able to get people to do what I want. But now, when it comes to this woman, I have no control over her. I can’t forget the look in her eyes, the sickening fear, the hatred.

I come to a halt on the sidewalk, my wolf miserable.

Rothan and Sigrid have not been able to find Corrine’s home address. I managed to confirm that she doesn’t reside at the palace, so she must live somewhere else, but Erik has her personal details protected. The only way to get her alone will be to find her and follow her home. But she’s going to be vigilant. I’m sure she’ll hide out at the palace where nobody can approach her—

The thought has barely crossed my mind when I spot a familiar face walking down the street.

I go still. Am I seeing things?

It’s Corrine. She’s wearing a leather jacket and black pants. Her clothes are form-fitting, and she looks dangerously sexy, so unlike the demure woman I remember. Her hands are busy tugging on dark gloves as she crosses the street.

For a few moments, I stare at her, mesmerized. There’s nothing weak or fragile about her anymore. She carries herself with a confidence that I’ve never seen in her before. Her beautiful dark hair has been cut off and is now a light shade of brown, and the ends of it brush her shoulders as she walks with purpose.

This new look, this attire, I can’t help but think it all suits her. But where is she going at this hour of the night? She looks over her shoulder before darting around the corner into an alley. I follow her carefully, making sure to stay downwind at all times, across the road, concealed behind the trees.

She stands outside a window and takes out a strange device before holding it up to her eye. It makes a clicking sound. It’s oddly familiar. It takes me a couple of seconds to realize that I’ve seen it somewhere before. Humans take portraits with it. Who is she taking portraits of?

A camera. That’s what it’s called.

She stays there for a few more clicks before lowering the device and checking something on the back of it. Once she’s satisfied, she tucks the camera into a small bag attached to her hip and hurries out of the alleyway. She returns the way she came, and I realize that at this time of night, the only place she could be going is home.

If I follow her, I can find out where she lives. Despite this opportunity, I feel a flicker of irritation. Why doesn’t Erik keep her in the palace, where she would be safe? Why is she roaming around like this? Anything could happen to her.

Corrine has taken a couple of steps when she pauses and glances around, clearly unsettled. I’m still hidden behind a tree on the other side of the street, but she must have sensed my presence.

She doesn’t look in my direction, though. Her eyes flit over her shoulder first, and then her head tilts back and she looks up at the roof of the building she’s standing next to. I follow her gaze and see nothing. But when she breaks into a run, a bad feeling forms in the pit of my stomach. Something has her on edge.

That’s when I see someone jump down from the side of the building and give chase. A growl leaves my throat, and I sprint after them. There are still humans on the sidewalks, so I cannot shift into my wolf form. Corrine seems to have come to the same conclusion.

She zigzags through some parked cars and crosses a street, heading toward the dark woods. Initially, I thought there were only two people chasing her, but it hits me that there are more than just two. They’re coming from all sides, wearing dark clothes to blend in with the night. She’s leading them into the trees around the area, probably planning to shift and attack them. But if these are shifters, she won’t be able to take on all of them at the same time.

As I chase them, I note that her speed and stamina have improved. As much as I would like to get rid of those following her, I decide to wait and see what she plans to do. See how much she really has changed. I have a feeling this may be the only chance I’ll get to figure that out.

Corrine leads them deeper into the forest, and I count the figures chasing her. There are at least eight. They were clearly waiting for her. They must have known where she had planned to be at this exact time tonight.

She finally turns around and shifts in the blink of an eye, all dark fur and dangerous, glinting eyes.

When her pursuers shift as well, she lets out a low warning growl, her hackles rising. She knows she’s outnumbered, and she believes she’s on her own. I conceal myself behind a tree, watching and waiting. I want to see what she’s going to do before I get involved.

The first one jumps at her, and she lowers herself to the ground, making her attacker crash into the wolf behind her. As he does, she jumps to her feet and sinks her teeth into his tail, ripping it off.

My brows arch at the vicious nature of her counterattack. It’s effective.

The wolf falls to the ground, howling.

But that was just one wolf. She still has the others to contend with.

When the rest realize she’s not going to be an easy target, they converge on her all at once. I straighten up. If they think they can touch her while I’m around, they’re going to learn a very painful lesson soon enough.

Two wolves jump on Corrine, and I’m about to intervene when I see her kick one of them with her rear leg and bite the snout of the other one in front of her. She fights dirty, I realize, feeling a sense of pride.

As the others rush at her, I know that now is the time to step in. She’s starting to get overwhelmed, unable to watch her back for attacks from all directions. Revealing myself, I go for the two wolves sneaking up behind her. I don’t even bother shifting. I grab one by the neck and slam him to the ground on his back. The sound of his spine shattering fills the clearing. He goes limp.

Corrine glances over her shoulder, and when she sees me, her eyes widen. However, she doesn’t have time to react much more than that because another wolf darts at her. As she avoids his attack, the one intending to ambush her bares his teeth at me, saliva dripping from the sharp, pointed edges of his teeth. I wait for him to come at me. He clearly thinks he has a better chance than his companion did because he attacks me with full force.

I grab his jaw and rip it apart.

He goes down instantly, his body twitching, gurgling sounds emitting from his throat. Just then, I hear a pained howl, and I look over to see that one of the wolves has gotten Corrine in her underbelly.

His teeth have sunk in, and Corrine is trying to get rid of him, but he’s hanging on. The smell of her blood is ripe in the air, and fury fills my every cell. Howling in rage, I shift forms in a heartbeat and jump on the wolf. After tearing out his throat, I go for the one that’s sneaking toward Corrine from the other side.

These wolves are nothing compared to the monsters I fight on a daily basis. Within minutes, I’ve dispatched them all, but Corrine is still on the ground, her body quivering. Her eyes are unfocused, and as I rush to her side, I curse myself.

What the hell was I thinking, letting her deal with them? These individuals were skilled fighters. Even though she got a few of them, she was still vulnerable.

Her blood is pooling around her. That one wolf got her deep in her belly. “Shift back, Corrine,” I tell her, back in my human form now. She gives me a dazed look, and I see the hint of fear in her eyes. I stroke her fur, forcing my voice to remain calm. “Shift back so I can take you to a healer.”

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