Chapter 6 Something is missing.

After officially becoming Melissa Graham's assistant to help with various tasks at the library, Josephine's presence on campus became more prolonged. Even though her classes had ended at noon, she wouldn't leave campus until the library closed in the evening.

The girl had a scheduled meeting with a client who intended to use her copywriting services to write an e-book about lifestyle. The client could have sent an email and communicated online, but he chose to meet Josephine in person.

The client handed over the material points that Josephine had to compile into an e-book, and they discussed various things in a coffee shop for almost three hours without realizing it.

"Let's meet again after you've finished." The client, a man in his early thirties who owned a fitness center, made a great impression when discussing with Josephine.

"Of course, thank you for giving me the opportunity to take on this task. I hope to complete it on time and show the best results."

"Yes, I trust you. Take care on your way, Miss Josephine."

They parted ways at the cafe's entrance as snowflakes began to fall on the ground again. Josephine had to return to the dorm before the gate closed, but she still had some free time before reaching Kalynda Lodge. So, she decided to take a leisurely stroll while enjoying the surroundings.

Walking along the frozen canals reminded her of someone's promise about a festival.

"I don't like this," she muttered gloomily, then quickened her pace because she had to pass through a deserted street between buildings that closed early.

Although Christmas had passed a few days ago, the festive atmosphere still lingered. From some stores that were closed, Josephine could see a magnificent Christmas tree in the corner of the room, lit up by surrounding lamps.

She was momentarily captivated by its grandeur, unaware that someone was approaching from behind, holding a glass bottle with some liquid left. The drunk man wore a black jacket and a similar-colored beanie, stumbling as he gulped down the remaining liquid in the bottle. Seeing someone who could be asked for money to buy more drinks made him enthusiastic.

"Hey, miss."

Josephine was startled and turned around, frowning as she watched the man approach her.

"Do you have it? You must have it." He looked at Josephine with glazed, reddened eyes. "You must have money, give it to me, and you'll be rid of this uncle." He patted his chest repeatedly.

"I don't have what you want."

She remained calm and confident, always doing so when faced with danger, because she was different from ordinary humans. She could survive after leaving her hometown, abandoning her grandmother and mother, if she didn't have the energy to protect herself, Josephine would have given up long ago.

"Really? Let uncle check." He sneered without releasing his grip on the bottle, roughly grabbing Josephine's arm before she pushed him away. "You won't give it to me, huh?"

"I don't have anything to give you. Can't you hear?"

"Damn! If you think I'll give up just because you're a woman, think again, stupid girl!" He slammed his bottle to the ground, then forcibly pulled Josephine's backpack, and a tug-of-war ensued between the perpetrator and the victim.

Josephine ended up stumbling and falling into a snowbank after being pushed roughly, her backpack was snatched by the drunk man who dumped its contents onto the ground, searching for anything to buy new alcohol.

The man bent down to examine anything among the scattered stationery and laptop on the ground. As he reached for the laptop, Josephine quickly pulled it away from his grasp, but then a calloused hand grabbed her hair, forcing her head back and causing excruciating pain.

"Just give me the money, it's all yours."

Josephine felt uncontrollable panic as danger loomed. Usually, she just needed to feel a slight change within herself to transform into a powerful werewolf, but this time, nothing happened.

The pain of transformation didn't appear as it usually did. She tried to call upon her inner strength, but there was no response. She felt like she had lost a part of herself, like she had lost her identity.

The drunk man pulled Josephine's hair harder, as if he wanted it to be torn from her scalp.

"It hurts so much. Please..." Josephine whimpered and cried, unable to hold onto the laptop anymore as she tried to free her head from the man's grasp. "Let me go, please..." She tried again and again, but nothing changed. She felt like an ordinary human, weak and powerless.

The situation escalated, and the drunk man shouted, "GIVE ME THE MONEY!!!"

The loud shout seemed to force Josephine to realize that she had lost, she couldn't summon her 'strong side' to appear and protect her.

Josephine's eyes welled up with tears as she stared at her unhealing wounds, her mind racing with the implications. She had always taken her abilities for granted, but now they seemed to be slipping away.

The drunk man demanded the laptop, but Josephine refused, "No! Don't take my laptop! Don't!"

Despite the pain, she desperately tried to protect the laptop, even as the man's boots stepped on and pressed down on her hand.

Not only did he do it once, the man again stomped on Josephine's hand with more vigor and pleasure, he wanted to destroy Josephine's pride and self-esteem, he wanted to make her bleed as much as possible.

"If only you had followed my request from the beginning. There wouldn't be a situation like this, bitch!"

Heuk!

Just as the situation seemed to be getting worse, a rock-hard hand with sharp claws grasped the drunk man's neck tightly. Lysander's golden eyes symbolized restrained anger, and he wanted to tear apart and destroy the trash that was still struggling in his control.

Lysander's eyes narrowed as he took in Josephine's state, her body trembling with sobs and pain, her hair disheveled, and her injured hand still clutching the laptop, staining the pale snow with blood. He turned back to the man he had been choking, his anger boiling over.

"Meet your maker, you scum!"

Lysander's voice was low and menacing as he hurled the man away, the sound of his body crashing to the ground echoing through the air, and he crashed onto the road after hitting a tree trunk. But, Lysander wasn't satisfied yet.

He chased after him ferociously, forcing his opponent to stand up before twisting his head until a 'crack' sound was heard from the broken neck.

He managed to send him easily to hell.

Lysander returned to Josephine, kneeling down in front of her and putting everything back into the backpack. Josephine covered her face, crying more without being able to stop.

Josephine covered her face with her bloodied hands, her sobs intensifying as Lysander knelt beside her. "Let's go, your hand needs to be treated," he said softly, his voice a gentle contrast to the violence that had just transpired.

Lysander patiently waited until Josephine was ready, but she remained in her initial position, continuing to cover her face and cry.

Lysander chose to disregard permission when lifting Josephine's body, his hands positioned behind her shoulders and behind her knees, the backpack containing stationery and laptop hung over his right shoulder.

"It's okay, I'll take you to the hospital. That bastard won't bother you again."

***