AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why did they attack you, then?” Legend asks, crossing his arms.
“Because they thought I was her.” She steps back, clutching her wounded neck. “And they were going to kill me until they realized I didn’t have the mark.”
Tension waves through Legend. “How long ago did this happen? And what did they look like?”
She continues to back away, panic filling her eyes. “I don’t remember! Leave me alone!” She whirls around and runs down the alleyway toward the street.
Legend starts after her, but I snag his elbow. “Let her go. She’s already scared enough.”
“We need to get more answers from her,” he growls out. “We need to find out if it was them!”
I barely flinch at his rage. “I think we already know that it was.” I swallow hard. “They warned me that day when you saved me …” My insides quiver with fear. “They said they’d come back for me when you were out of the picture and finish what they started. And you’re leaving tomorrow, so …” Tears prickle my eyes.
“Princess,” he starts, his fangs vanishing again. “I think I should—”
“You don’t need to do anything.” I suck back the tears, not wanting him to feel sorry for me and do something stupid, like try to stay here with me. Sure, I’m going to miss him, but Legend isn’t happy here, and I want him to be happy. He’s been my savior and friend for a year, and that’s more than anyone else has ever done for me. “We should get out of here in case they’re still somewhere nearby.”
He opens his mouth, but then snaps his jaw shut and nods. Then he threads his fingers through mine and guides me down the alleyway, making me feel safe, just like he did the day he saved my life.
I wonder if I’ll ever feel safe again after he leaves.
Then again, I might not even survive after he does.
CHAPTER2
I’m walking home from school with a pile of books in my hand. I had a backpack, but a couple of kids at my school stole it from my locker and I haven’t had a chance to go to the store to buy a new one. I could’ve taken the bus, but I’d arrive home much quicker that way, and I hate being at my current home.
My foster mother despises me because my foster father seems to like me a little too much. He hasn’t tried anything yet, but I see the hunger in his eyes. Have seen that hunger before. The last time I saw it, I ran away. Eventually, though, the police found me and gave me back to Social Services.
In a few months, I’m officially out of the system, free to do whatever I want. I don’t have a place to live yet, but I’d rather be homeless than live in another home full of people who hate me or like me too much.
Sighing, I veer down a slender alleyway that dips between some apartment complexes, going the long way home. The route is fairly secluded and the atmosphere quiet. The pages of the books in my arms rustle in the breeze as the sun blares down on me.
Peace. I feel so at peace whenever I’m alone. I don’t know why. Why I can’t seem to connect to anyone. All I know is that I prefer to be alone.
I take my time, savoring the quiet moment, wishing I could feel this way all the time. Halfway down the shortcut, though, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. A faltering breath later, the overwhelming scent of moonlight floods my nostrils. I’m not sure how I know what moonlight smells like, only that the air currently reeks of it.
Hugging my books tighter to my chest, I quicken my steps.
From what I’ve read in books, werewolves often smell like moonlight. And, while paranormals aren’t supposed to be able to hurt humans, some have managed to break the spell and do a lot of damage. And I’d prefer not to cross paths with one in a desolate alleyway.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” a taunting voice sails from over my shoulder. “And she’s all by herself. Man, it must be my lucky day.”
I whirl around so rapidly that I trip over my feet and my back bangs against a dumpster.
A bulky man with shaggy blond hair and dark eyes materializes from the shadows with a grin curling at his lips. He drags his gaze across me, lingering on the star birthmark on my temple, fully visible due to the fact all my hair is pulled back.
His sneering smile widens. “Easy. You don’t need to be afraid of me.” The hunger in his eyes suggests otherwise.
I spin around to run, but crash into a solid surface. The impact sends me falling on my ass, and my books scatter across the ground.
Shock whips through me as I blink up at a man twice the size as the guy behind me. I don’t know how it’s possible for guys to be this huge.
But they’re not guys, are they? Smell the moonlight in the air, Lake.
“You’re wolves,” I breathe out, scrambling to my feet.
The blond guy grabs my arm and jerks me against his chest. “It’s not every day we get this lucky.” He sniffs my neck while the other one licks his lips. “Why are you here, Elora?”
