The beta opened his mouth to speak, but gagged, the images he’d witnessed flashing again before his eyes. Swallowing hard, he clenched his fists and forced the words through trembling lips.
“Come with me. You need to see it yourself.”
Rydan’s frown deepened. He didn’t like being spoken to like that—especially not by someone beneath him. But something in the beta’s shaking hands, the haunted look in his eyes, made a cold shiver crawl up Rydan’s spine.
“…Fine,” he snapped. “Show me.”
Uneasy, the rest of the warriors followed. The earlier tension had curdled into dread. As they neared the area, Rydan’s stride quickened, eventually overtaking the beta.
He knew this place. His instincts screamed warnings as the trees gave way to that cursed patch of forest.
It was where they had left me.
But I was no longer there.
Rydan’s sharp gaze swept over the ground, jaw tightening with frustration.
“Where is she?” he snarled, rounding on the beta. “You moved her? Didn’t I tell you not to untie her? What did you do?!”
The beta’s face went pale. He could barely lift his arm as he pointed, voice quivering. “Th-there…”
Rydan followed his gesture.
The soil was soaked dark, almost black with fresh blood. Patches of flesh—raw, torn, unrecognizable—were scattered around. Crushed bone jutted from the mess, gnawed and splintered.
He blinked, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. No… this couldn’t be.
His chest heaved, claws twitching at his sides. His breath came fast, angry.
“Did I not give orders to keep this place clean? This is a sacred punishment ground. Blood draws disease.”
He shot a venomous look at the beta.
“Well? Still not telling me where she is?”
But the beta only trembled. Then, slowly, he raised a hand again—this time pointing to the wall of stone where I had once been tied. “Th-that’s… her…”
Rydan’s gaze snapped to the rock—and what little denial remained in him shattered.
The stone surface was marred with deep, ragged gouges. Claw marks—wild and desperate—scarred the wall. The scent of wolves still hung in the air, strong and unmistakable. He inhaled sharply, nostrils flaring.
My scent was still there—faint, but lingering. Even in death, I remained.
Then came the scream.
One of the warriors stumbled backward, pale as death, his hand raised, pointing at something behind them.
Rydan turned—and froze.