Chapter 21
Damian was injured.
As soon as the news broke, the nobles outside–especially the young women–rushed into the forest like a flock of startled birds.
Most of them had been waiting around, hoping for a chance to see Damian. Now that he was hurt? None of them could sit still. They vaulted onto their horses and charged straight for the predator zone.
After all, it wasn’t every day Damian was vulnerable. If someone managed to rescue him… they thought maybe he’d be moved enough to repay the favor with his heart.
Deborah stood there, stunned. She wondered, ‘Are these girls seriously not afraid to die? Charging into the predator zone for a man?‘
“Princess Deborah, don’t worry,” Thomas said quickly. “I’ll send a team in to rescue His Highness.”
“I…” Deborah opened her mouth, not sure how to explain that, well… she wasn’t actually all that worried.
Damian was incredibly skilled. A few wolves shouldn’t be a problem for him. And this was still the royal hunting ground–even the so–called predator zone had its limits. She thought, ‘It couldn’t really be that dangerous… right?‘
Thomas didn’t know what she was thinking. With a quick wave of his hand, dozens of guards charged into the forest without hesitation.
He didn’t even pause to check the bleeding scratch on his own leg. Anxious, he grabbed Deborah by the waist and hoisted her onto a horse in one swift motion.
“His Highness went in to look for you. If you don’t come with us, he won’t leave until he finds you.”
“Hey! Just tell him I’m out here–wait! Wah-!”
Before she could protest, Thomas slapped the horse’s flank, and it bolted forward, carrying Deborah straight into the predator zone. He and a few guards followed close behind.
Deborah had clearly underestimated things. The predator zone was far more dangerous than she’d imagined.
From the moment they entered, the air grew tense and heavy. Danger lurked in every shadow.
They hadn’t gone far when someone ahead gasped. “Wolves!”
Everyone immediately drew their weapons and fell into formation.
Deborah reached for her bow–and nearly groaned aloud. It was the dainty little set Damian had tossed her earlier–clearly meant for children or practice drills. He’d basically treated her like a kid. Against real predators? It was useless. A joke.
As if on cue, a haunting howl echoed through the forest.
“Wolves! A pack!” someone shouted.
A
Screams followed. Some of the girls were already crying. They’d known there might be danger–but not like this. Even the guards looked tense. This was no small threat. The wolves were really here.
“Stay close together!” the lead guard shouted. “Do not scatter!”
“Get the young ladies out of here!” Thomas barked. “Now!”
Leaving them here would only get more people killed.
But the girls hesitated. They thought, ‘What if Prince Damian is just up ahead? What if someone else reaches him first? After all this, we can’t just give up…
As they wavered, one rider turned her horse to leave–it was Deborah.
They thought, ‘Of course. So she really doesn’t care about His Highness.’
Frustrated, Thomas rushed over and grabbed her reins. “Princess Deborah, you can’t go!”
“I’m a girl too…” Deborah muttered under her breath.
She thought, ‘Hasn’t he just said the girls should leave?‘ With a pack of wolves on the way, she had no desire to be a hero. She wanted to live.
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Chapter 21
As if answering her thoughts, another howl rang out–this one closer. Loud. Commanding.
The alpha. The pack was here. Screams erupted again.
One by one, girls fell from their saddles in panic, scrambling together in a terrified huddle.
“Form up! Hold your ground!”
No one had expected this many wolves.
With a single, bone–chilling howl from the pack leader, the wolves charged.
Chaos exploded.
Guards scrambled to fight them off. One was pulled down within seconds, his scream cut short as he was dragged away.
The girls clutched tiny daggers, but they were useless. Worse than useless.
“My face-!”
“Help! Help-!”
over a hundred wolves swarmed them, surrounding the group like a living wall of fur and fangs. People were bitten. Some were ripped apart. The scent of blood filled the air, thick and choking.
Deborah stared down at the flimsy little bow in her hands, despair washing over her like ice.
This was it. She was really going to die here. She thought, ‘Would Damian still come? Would he make it in time?‘
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