Chapter 106: Better Safe Than Sorry
The chilly forest air sent shivers down Lily’s spine. She clung close to Zayn’s wolf form. His soft black fur was warm against the autumn winds. She shivered, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders with one hand while the other gripped his fur.
She felt Victoria’s eyes on her, burning with hatred. The she-wolf’s golden glare never left Lily. She was watching her every move from a few paces behind. Lily tried to ignore it, but it made her skin crawl.
Being the only wolfless one made Lily feel like she was a burden, dragging the rest down. Everyone else moved with ease through the forest in their wolf forms. Martha’s gray coat flashing between trees, Ragnar’s massive brown form lumbering nearby, and Victoria’s sleek tan body slinking behind them.
Only Lily remained human, a fragile passenger on Zayn’s back.
“What’s wrong with that bitch?” Ragnar whispered roughly to Martha while glancing at Victoria, who was trailing behind.
“She doesn’t like how close they are,” Martha whispered back, looking ahead at Lily and Zayn.
“Someone should put her in her place,” Ragnar added before moving to block Victoria’s line of sight.
Martha moved to do the same. Both of them formed a barrier, blocking Victoria’s view. When Lily noticed it, she gave them a small smile of thanks.
The trees grew denser as they traveled deeper into unfamiliar territory. Eventually, they stopped before their destination. Ruins of a grand packhouse, now reclaimed by nature.
“We’re here,” Zayn announced.
Zayn lowered himself, allowing Lily to slide off his back. Everyone shifted back into their human form and huddled close. Zayn reached into his pocket, pulling out a small glass vial.
Inside were several small white pills. His face darkened as he stared at them. Lily knew what they were. Suppressants. She saw the hesitation on Zayn’s face. Behind his hard eyes were memories, nightmares of a past he fought so desperately to bury.