The King's Mate

Prologue

"T-Tamara," a frantic shook in her arms and a trembling voice from her mother woke her up.

"Mom," she sleepily called her – while she was still in her dream state and getting up from her comfy bed.

She rid her eyes while trying to look at the clock placed on her bedside table. It says that it was almost midnight.

Why would her mother visit her at this hour? Her eighteenth birthday was last two days ago. Would she receive another birthday present?

Her heart beat fast and smiled sweetly due to her excitement – however her mother's face says otherwise that wiped up her joyous smile for a moment.

"Get up, Tamara. Y-you need to get away."

Her mother was quivering, and that made her wake to her full senses – making her heartbeat speedily – now because of worry.

Is this some kind of a joke or a prank?

But her mother wasn't a fan of any kind of prank – especially not like this. She was always tenderly strict towards her. Her forehead creased as she saw her bothered face looking at the locked door to her room.

"What is happening, Mom?" she asked as she was trying to be calm, though her senses were in a panic mode now.

Her mother looked at her with watering eyes – that made her bump with abrupt edginess and discomfort.

What is happening?

"Honey, y-you n-need to go. Remember the forest that I told you to go to in case of emergency? Someone will pick you up there. Now, off you go, my child. I-I love you. Your dad and I love you s-so much." Her voice cracked as her fresh tears flowed down from her cheeks.

Tamara hugged her mom tightly – never wanting to hear those words as if it was the last time, they would see each other. Her eyes blurred with unshed tears as she tried to comfort her mother and her heartbroken self.

"W-what is happening, Mom? Where is Dad?" she repeatedly asked. Her lips were quivering and her voice hoarse from containing her mixed emotions.

Her mother broke their embrace and locked her face with her cold hands. They were so cold that she wanted to close her eyes and give her warmth – however she's quietly curious about her abrupt actions – it intensified her anxiety.

"There's no room for questions now, Tamara. You need to go. You know there's an exit in your closet, right? Go there. Faster, please," her mother grabbed her hand, and she was immediately out of her bed.

Her mom quickly assisted her in front of her massive closet and opened it widely.

A sudden bang and crashing of glass broke the lull silence inside their house – making both of their eyes widened in shock.

Tamara heard a loud growl and gasping – mixing through the air that reached her ears.

She could feel her mother's trembling hands.

"M-mom, w-what is happening? I can't leave you h-here. How'd bout you and D-dad?" She nervously asked for the nth time while her gaze moved towards the locked door.

She was more worried and horrified now. Her mother cleared the lump in her throat, and she could feel her restlessness. Her dark brown eyes filled with fear and sadness as they looked at her. She became more anxious as the seconds passed. She was closed to hyperventilating now, but she wanted to portray her strong façade.

"Tamara. Please, just get out of the house! It is more important that you're safe. And please don't ever look back," her mother pleaded and pushed her gently inside her closet.

It is where her parents built an emergency exit down to their basement and a little pathway that leads to the forest.

She was using this way whenever she wanted to escape from her parents – now to escape someone she doesn't even know.

She could feel her mom's shuddering cold hands holding her arms. Her mother looked at the locked door of her room and then back at her. They heard a loud thud and a snarl.

"But M-mom-"

"Enough! Save yourself! Promise me, don't look back. You need to run! Please." Her voice became low and pleading.

She saw how determined and hopeless her mom was – determined of getting her out of the house and hopeless on something.

"P-please...Promise me, huh?" She begged desperately.

She slowly nodded her head as she stifled her unshed tears.

"P-promise..." Tamara breathily answered.

Her mother gave her a warm and loving smile and kissed her forehead before pushing her down the exit door.

It was a slide way down to the basement. Tamara's tears flowed upon her cheeks. She doesn't know what was happening, and she was frighteningly shocked.

She finally felt the soft cushion and it made her realize that she was already on the basement floor. Her legs were wobbling – she could hear the tinny noise coming from the upper part of their house – where her room was.

She tried to stand up while her eyes were blurred by her tears. She accidentally nudged the antique ceramic vase standing near her. It created a loud crash sound followed by a loud and eerie growl.

Her spine shivered as she heard that menacing growl.

She pulled herself together, trying to find the pathway that would lead her to the forest. Her heart was pounding tough and fast – making her chest ache a bit. She heard debauched and loud steps getting nearer to where she was.

Finally, she pulled the cover of the pathway to open it. It was just a small tunnel-like and she needed to crawl in it. It was just as big as her size that it made it difficult for her to move. She did a nonstop crawl – never wanting any chance for the intruder to catch her.

She was doing her best to crawl as fast as she could – no matter how difficult it was for her. She could hear scratching sounds echoing in the tunnel that made her flinch. She ignored the foul smell, even her bruised knees and elbows caused by the concrete pave way.

She heard a loud snarl followed by gasping and panting, then a weakened cry.

She closed her eyes firmly as the tears flowed freely.

After minutes of nonstop crawling, she finally reached the end of the tunnel.

She tried to push the cover for it to open and she stopped a bit to gasp for air. She just realized that she's holding her breath for a moment already.

She tried to push it again, but it just wouldn't budge. Her eyes started to water once again. Her nose was now red and icky from all her crying.

She felt hopeless. She felt weak. She felt tired.

Then, she heard a cracking sound coming from the other side of the tunnel.

"N-no," she silently whispered.

She was trembling and couldn't even move an inch – because of fear.

She was about to crawl back to the house when the cover burst wide open.

A man who looked like in his mid-fifties meets her eyes.

"Good thing, you're already here, Tamara. I'm Benson," his voice was low but signified authority.

His eyes were as dark as the night as it illuminated to the flickering lamp post near them. He had little freckles visible on his forehead and some were on the upper part of his cheeks. His hair was grayish and neatly done.

He offered his firm hand to her – for her to grab on to – but she didn't even bother to accept nor look at it.

The man was muscular and quite tall. His face was laced with no emotion – at all. It was plain and blank – that made her inaudibly cry out because of unsolicited fear.

She just looked at him – still confused and shaken from everything that was happening.

"Come on, Tamara. I won't hurt you. I'm here to fetch you," he said. His tone never faltered – it was still low and authoritative all throughout.

She couldn't fathom whether he's telling the truth or not. Besides, her parents told her not to trust anyone easily. But she remembered that her mother had told her that someone was waiting for her in the forest.

She was hesitatingly reaching for his waiting hand, and he pulled her. His muscular biceps contracted as he carried her full heavy weight. He didn't care though – based on him having no reaction – as if she was just as light as a feather.

Her legs swayed as it stepped to the ground, making her lean on the tiny tunnel behind her to find strength and support. She clenched her fist as she tried to compose herself – taking a deep breath – embracing the cold wind that passed through her delicate skin.

She wasn't trusting this man – or anyone. For the mean time, she wanted to get away from whoever trespassed on their house and find out what was happening. For this man, well, she'll just cross the bridge when she gets there.

It was past midnight, and the new moon wasn't helping her see the surroundings so as the flickering lamp post standing near them.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and her tears flowed endlessly. Her lips quivered as she tried to control her sobs that mixed with the low growling sounds and the owl hooting that echoed the entire forest.

"Who are you?" Her voice was gruff as she asked him.

"I'm Benson," he answered – just repeating his name and nothing more.

Tamara's palm flew to her forehead, trying to stifle her mixed emotions.

"What I mean is – why are you here? Why won't you help my parents? Why did you know me?" She hysterically asked.

Her voice cracked as her trembling hands motioned to their house which was covered with many lofty trees and couldn't see to where they were standing.

"We need to go," Benson told her and turned around. He started walking to the depths of the woods ignoring her pressing questions.

"H-how about my parents?" Tamara eagerly asked as she languidly followed the man – as if she had any other choice.

"They were dead," he informed her without any sign of remorse – or any other emotion at that. He just said it as plainly as if it was just a common thing during a conversation.

While her heart sank to her stomach and her heart beat stopped for a second before its beats doubled. It was a bomb to her ears – making her deaf for a matter of seconds. It weakened her knees and she almost fell to the ground, if not to the trunk of the tree that supported her weight.

"W-what?" She unbelievingly asked in a low voice.

She would not believe what he just said – or maybe she's hoping that she heard him wrong.

He stopped walking and heaved a deep sighed, as if he's extending his patience to her – still not facing her.

"Winston and Ameia, they were dead," he said casually.

As simple as that.

He mentioned her parents' names. He knew them.

"H-how did you know?" She hopelessly inquired – still trying to collect herself for the hasty news.

Tamara tried to control her emotions by looking for loopholes in his answers. That certain statement that answered her questions lingering inside her mind, making her head spin in madness.

She would not believe this man.

Her parents weren't dead.

They...

Tamara gritted her teeth as she tried to compose herself, but the tears pooling her eyes and streaming endlessly down to her pale pink cheeks wasn't helping her at all.

She could feel her strength was slowly vanishing from thin air as she tried to clench her hands firmly – as if it would help her regain it and hold onto it.

She stifled her forlorn sobs, but the sound of it still resonated with the melancholic ambiance in the dark woods.

Benson finally faced her. Despite her blurring vision, she saw how his eyes glistened and turned pitch black – his face was still void and cold. He pressed his lips tightly, and before she knew it – her entire system was shaken for the following words he said.

"'Cause I can already smell the strong scent of their flesh and blood."

With that, her mind went black, and she instantly fell to the ground.

Chapter 1

POV: King Hades Pierce

"They were already making a step, My King," Arlan – the second in command – eagerly revealed the news to him.

King Hades' forehead creased while he raised his eyebrow and directly looked at him. He was in the throne room thinking about something nonsense when Arlan graced him with his presence breaking the passive silence engulfing the entire room.

"And so?" Hades asked mercilessly. His voice was pitch dark – without any sign of any emotion – and just plain blank and void.

It was his typical reaction, though – having no reaction at all. He was trained to be at that without anyone else by his side. Bitterness crept on his tongue as it reached his stomach, which made him grit his teeth tightly. He didn't want to do anything with this kind of feeling anymore. He was already done with all of it.

"But your Majesty-" Arlan stopped stating his reasons the moment he raised his hand and warningly stared at him.

Arlan swallowed hard as he was silently hoping that his shaking legs would also fade away like the lump in his throat. He didn't want to make him mad, but this wasn't the time for him to wear his well-made and tough mask.

"Your Regina was in danger, my King," he restlessly proclaimed as he watched how the King clenched his fist on the armrest of his golden throne.

His eyes turned pitch black, and it narrowed directly at him, making Arlan's heart beat in an unusual manner – faster than normal – as his legs wobbled down and bullets of sweat gathered on his forehead due to fear and edginess.

"I don't have a 'Regina,'" King Hades' jaw gnawed firmly as he loudly growled at him, making his canines bare.

Arlan trembled more in fear, but his face remained stoic. The King's aura turned authoritative and irrefutably held power as darkness covered his entire being.

He was the Alpha King of all Wolf Borne – as a matter of fact – that statement could already send chills down anyone's spine. And Arlan wasn't an exemption regardless of how long he's been serving as one of the loyal and efficient Kingsman.

He undeniably knew what he could do to anyone – like he could kill him in a matter of seconds to where he was standing right now by using only his bare hands. But being one of his subordinates, he also needed to do his duties, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.

"But-"

He curled up his lips upward – his notable devilish smirk appeared in his face – that could make anyone totter in terror.

"Choose now, Arlan. Do I need to cut your throat this instant, or do I have to care about your rubbish nonsensical words?" His menacing deep voice sent shivers down his spine, making him bit his tongue and swallowed his unsaid words.

For Arlan knew the King's words – once sealed, and it could never be broken.

Arlan bowed his head as he clenched his both fists to stop trembling, "I apologize for my despicable behavior, your Majesty."

With that, he knew he couldn't do anything right now.

***

POV: Tamara Davis

Meanwhile, in the depths of the woods, Tamara was running so fast as she tried to escape someone.

Thick fog enveloped the lofty trees as the hooting of the night owl continued echoing to the depths of the forest – making her more distracted and petrified. She didn't know where to go, nor she didn't know where the heck she was.

"Run!"

She could hear someone screaming as it resonated through the trees and mixed up with the hustling wind. Birds were flying, leaving their nests on the tall trees because of the unexpected sound that broke the deafening silence.

Her vision was spinning so as her mind was in deep haywire. She was gasping for air, but she didn't stop in her tracks and continuously ran without knowing where exactly to go – until she was outbalanced and painfully fell on the ground.

She felt the pain slowly crept into her palms and knees, but she didn't care. She tried to stand up, but her knees trembled and couldn't find its own strength. Miserable sobs escaped through her trembling lips as it clogged her throat.

Tamara felt so helpless and miserable – for the very first time in her life.

She was wretchedly lying on the ground and squeezed shut her eyes tightly.

She needed to gain strength – something was running after her. She needed to escape – and fast.

A loud terrifying snarl reached her ears – making her shudder with intense fear.

She slowly opened her eyes, but her blurry vision blocked her sight to whoever was sneering down at her. The sound of the strange animal moved closer and closer to where she was lying. She was glued to the ground where she was – she couldn't even move an inch. She gasped loudly as a blatant growl echoed at her feet.

A large wolf was ready to attack her, and she screamed as hard as she could!

"No!"

Tamara shrieked and forcefully got her body up to where she was.

She instantly looked at her feet and tried to look around – full of bewilderment.

Her temple throbbed – as she sought to do that. Her sight was whirling for her hasty move. She held her aching temple with her soft palm as she tried to compose herself while her eyes were shut tightly.

"I'm okay, I'm okay," she whispered as a mantra to herself, while her other hand went up to her chest – soothing the tense crawling of her entire being.

Thank God!

It was just a dream.

"It was just a dream, Tamara. It was just a dream," she breathlessly whispered to herself repeatedly – trying to calm her raging nerves.

She heaved a deep sigh and opened her eyes once again. She placed down her both hands and shook her head moderately.

Though an abrupt realization flashed her mind when her eyes met those blank cold eyes in the rear-view mirror.

"It's good that you're awake now," he plainly commented as he moved his eyes to the road and continued maneuvering the car.

Yes.

She was sitting in the back seat of a moving car that led to God knows where. She looked at the window – and all she could see was darkness. Tamara's forehead creased.

"W-where are we going? W-what are you g-going to do to m-me? W-what is happening?" She nervously stammered and felt a shiver down to her back.

She couldn't stop the questions that kept on popping up inside her mind. She was restless and she needed someone to answer her questions this instant!

At least just to answer her – regardless of whether it was the truth or not. It was her judgment to take whether to believe it or not.

Benson let out a deep sigh as he took a quick glance at her.

"Just wait and your questions will soon be answered once we arrived at the Lunar Mansion," Benson replied – still void of any emotions.

Tamara cleared her throat as she inquired.

"L-Lunar Mansion?"

"Yes. That is what the Lunar Pack House was called," he simply responded as he took a swift look at her.

She was so confused but she couldn't find her voice to ask more about what he was trying to tell her.

"W-where are my p-parents? W-who are r-running after us?" Her eyes began to water again as she slowly realized why she collapsed a while ago.

She had left her parents – she was an awful daughter for leaving them behind. She wanted to know more about what happen to them or to at least assure her that they were okay.

"They were already dead, Tamara. They were killed by rogues," Benson replied as a matter of fact.

Tamara's heartbeat hitched as she heard those words and unbelievably look at him.

"Rogues? What rogues?" she unbelievably questioned.

Benson's forehead creased – the first time she saw a bit of emotion – but immediately wiped away from his face and once again turned into plain stoic one.

"Rogues are bad werewolves," he said it as simple as that – as if it was just a common thing to him.

Tamara's eyes widened in shock and tried to calm her nerves.

"I-Is that even possible?" she let out a nervous and low chuckle – trying to cover the sudden presentiment she felt.

She saw how Benson took a glimpse at her once again but didn't say a word.

What the hell was he talking about?

Rogues?

Weren't they non-existent?

Maybe she was just trying to scare her – but she couldn't take away the fact that she was with this man. She didn't know whether he was the one her mother was talking about or not. So still, she couldn't trust anyone, and she needed to escape – and fast.

If she couldn't find answers from him – she would find it on her own.

A light bulb nimble her mind as she contemplated her plan. Good thing, she was wearing a black moto knit jogger and a large purple shirt – her typical style when she was sleeping.

"Uhm, I-I need you to stop the car." She tried to grimace as she looked at him.

He looked at her plainly.

"I need to – uhm, nature calls," Tamara's face turned pale pink as she said those words.

Though she was just partially acting, she was still embarrassed to say those words to a skeptical stranger.

"Can't it wait? Some of the rogues can still catch us." Benson basically said to her – his forehead creased more.

Now, she could finally saw worry and irritation plastered on his face. Maybe, if they were in a different situation, she would tease him about it though.

"I can't hold it anymore," she dramatically stated and deceitfully contorted her face and aggressively clutched her stomach with her both hands. Her acting was worst, and she just knew it, but she was so desperate to escape at once.

Benson swerved the car sharply at the side of the road that she almost hit her head on the car window. Tamara rolled her eyes because of her deep irritation.

"Don't go too far and make it fast. It's too dangerous," he warned her as he sighed and unlocked the car door.

She just nodded her head and immediately opened the car door. She was seriously wanting to pee, but she's more eager to escape from him.

She slowly walked away while he was looking at her like a hawk to his prey.

She instantly tied the lace of her pants as she looked around. She was approximately ten meters away from Benson. Tamara peeped through the tall tree where she hides. He was out of the car, and she saw him speedily walking towards her.

She instantly trembled in fear, and she ran fast – away from him.

"Tamara!"

She heard him call her name, but she didn't even bother to look back – then a loud roar, and the sound of scraping claws resonated in the depths of the forest, making the birds fly instantly.

Her lips quivered and she jolted to a sudden stop, then turned around to look at Benson.

Her heart beat speeding up and she just saw the most horrific scene of her entire life – Benson was surrounded by five huge wolves that were deviously showing off their bared canines.

They all looked like their ready to attack him in an instant.

She covered her open mouth with both of her hands to stifle her loud gasp. She was glued to her feet as she watched how Benson instantly twisted his body and shifted into a bulky wolf!

He was a werewolf!

"Oh my God! Oh my God!" she silently whispered over and over again to herself. She was trying to control her voice as low as possible, for she needed to let out her hyperventilating emotions.

His sleek grayish fur gleamed brightly in the middle of darkness. He let out a loud and lengthy growl thrice.

Tamara shakily and gently took a step behind her, and the sound of the snapping twigs made the enormous wolves turn their heads to where she was!

Her whole body started to tremble as she stared at those wicked eyes she had never seen in her life.

Chapter 2

POV: Rania Vikesh

"Did Benson already find her?" The woman asked the muscular man who was standing and staring at the huge window glass from their huge mansion.

She was sitting on a single deep forest green sofa while sipping her favorite lemon and mint tea. She was wearing a white sundress that flowed freely, reaching her knees, which was paired with nude flat shoes.

Her burgundy hair was neatly done into a messy bun. The woman had an aristocrat aura that was purely intimidating, added to by her narrowed eyes looking at the man.

She was in her late forties by undeniably still younger to look at.

He didn't answer her question and just continued puffing his stale tobacco while looking at the moon in its state – the new moon at its darkest form.

"Lorenzo," the woman called him – pure irritation was visible in her voice which was directly at him, for not answering her question.

The man called Lorenzo let out a loud snarl and faced her – she shuddered but she composed herself and raised her brow as she placed back the teacup down to its saucer.

"Just stop it, Rania. You know, we couldn't have her here." Lorenzo emphasized every word and tried to make her understand his point – but his face says otherwise because it reflected his hopelessness and pure concern.

Rania let out a defeated sighed and roughly cleared her throat. Her desperation was getting out of her, and she couldn't do anything to stop it.

Her husband, Lorenzo, turned his back at her and faced the huge glass window once again. He was wearing a black simple shirt and dark blue denim pants that fits perfectly in his entire body. He had this abnormal muscular size – one that radiates authority and an intimidating aura. It was already given because he was – no other than the Alpha of the Lunar Pack.

"But the plan was now ruined, Lorenzo, and you know that. We only have one last draw left and we needed her to execute it." Rania reminded him as she clenched her fists tightly turning her knuckles into paperwhite.

Lorenzo let out a deep sigh as he shook his head gently and remained silent – still thinking thoroughly about how to move on with their plan.

"What if-"

She was about to say something when she was cut off by the huge wooden door which suddenly banged open.

"Mom, we have a problem," their daughter, Shahara, told them with a hint of urgency in her voice.

Rania turned pale while her gaze darted towards Shahara. Lorenzo, on the other hand – without a hurry – put down his tobacco on the ash tray that was lying on the table lamp and looked directly at her daughter's worried face. He might be wearing his normal reaction but deep inside him was full of unadulterated concern.

Their hearts beat speedily as they both looked at her – and based on their daughter's face who was nodding disappointedly at them, something terrible might have happened.

***

POV: Tamara Davis

At that very same time, Tamara was running as fast as she could to God knows where – ignoring every sharp branch and vine that brought painful scratches and bruises all over her entire body.

After she witnessed how Benson turned into a freaking large wolf, as well as those wicked and fearful rogue's eyes – her own reflexes told her to instantly run, and she immediately did. She fought her wobbling legs and gathered all her strength, for all she wanted was to escape.

To escape from everything that was insanely happening towards her – that she almost couldn't comprehend why and how. Her mind was spinning as her forehead full of bullets of sweat that were gradually flowing down her face.

She was gasping for air and looked behind as she wiped that trail of sweat in her forehead that streamed down to her cheeks – her extensive fear turned into a raging fuel that made her move expeditiously.

Thank God!

No one followed her.

She stopped her tracks for a second and took a deep breath as she placed her both hands in her knees – hunching her back.

Tamara consciously looked around as she was embraced with a deafening silence and the night's darkness. The hooting of the night owl stopped and only the sound of the crickets resounded the place – wherever it was.

The gushing cold wind aided in easing down her maddening hyperventilation a while ago.

She let out another deep breathy sigh before she continued walking in her unknown tracks when in a split second an enormous murky wolf appeared before her!

His large and bared canines were evident as it maddeningly snarled at her – ready to attack.

Tamara instantly flinched as she suppressed her breath – her heart beat speed up intensely while looking at those vicious eyes.

She could still remember this one huge wolf that surrounded Benson a while ago. He had a mix of dark brown and dirty white fur. He was the largest among those other four wolves – making it hard for her to forget. Her deadly eyes looked at her – making her breath stopped for a matter of seconds and raging chills sent down her spine.

He took a very slow-paced step towards her – leaving a deep paw mark towards the muddy ground – as she took one slow step behind. Her legs began to crumble, but she never looked away from the massive beast's eyes. Tamara braced herself with her both arms – soothing herself and praying for someone to save her.

Her dark brown eyes were now blurred with unshed tears. She wanted to run, but how? She might just face her dreadful death that instant if she instantaneously did so.

The huge wolf was about to attack her, and she covered her face with her arms – bracing the sudden impact that it might've caused her. But then, another large wolf with an auburn fur instantly jumped at his side and did a counterattack for her.

It let out a loud snarl – giving a perilous warning towards massive wolf. Its long sharp and bared canines were obviously seen.

Tamara cringed with shock but also amazed at the same time.

The auburn furred wolf looked at her and slowly nodded her head, as if telling her to go while the rogue growled loudly.

Her eyes watered and mouthed 'thank you' and 'sorry' before turning and running away.

Guilt crept within her entire system while she was running madly fast. She couldn't stay there – she just couldn't.

Her fresh tears flowed freely as she continued running to nowhere. She couldn't even protect herself nor had the strength to fight but that wolf with an auburn hair could. It could protect itself from whatever that bad wolf was.

She needed to run – and fast. She needed to live and find out what happened to her parents. She needed to because that was what she promised. She needed to find out why would someone ran after her. What do they need from her?

She needed to save her own life – not just for herself but to find out the truth and gave justice for her parents – whatever happened to them.

She wiped away her tears through her arms as her stifling sobs filled the cold wind that was brushing her skin. She was silently praying to survive – the only thing that keeps her going now.

After hours of continuous running, the darkness slowly dazed by the golden rays of the sun. A mixed of a little black, mauve, orangish, grey, and cerulean colors filled the horizon.

If she wasn't in her forlorn state right now, she might had loved the tantalizing hues painted in the sky – like she always did.

Tamara roamed around and could now slightly saw the place she's in.

She was still in the middle of the suffocating woods, but she finally saw a glistening river – in which she promptly went near it. She was plopped down on her knees on the riverside and drank the running water as if it was the first time, she had it.

She was so thirsty and her raging stomach growl – but having this clear and fresh water to drink was enough for her to gain her strength, at least.

She washed her face unconsciously – feeling the freshness and coldness of the running water to ease herself. Then, she suddenly stopped when her eyes meet her mirrored self.

It reflected her messy wavy crimson red hair that tied knot to one after the other because she didn't even have time to comb or tie it. Her dark brown almond-shaped eyes were bloodshot red so as her pointed nose. There was a large black bag under her eyes. Her lips were quivering and whitish while her cheeks were full of tear stained. Her fair skin with touch of rosiness was now paperwhite – like a ghost in a scarry movie.

All in all, she was certainly a total mess.

Her eyes started to water again for her unending tears, but she wiped it away just before it flowed down to her cheeks. She was really weak, and she already knew it. Yet her strong will to find answers to her questions kept her alive – she needed to, and she's determined to continue it in doing so.

Tamara took a deep sigh as she tried to compose herself – while she stared blankly at the space in front of her. She was trying to think on what she should do next.

What now, Tamara? – She thought as her reverie fleets, and she was still sitting on the muddy ground at the riverside. She didn't even mind whether she was now getting wet with the running water.

Tamara let out a deep sign as she abruptly jumped a bit and dragged her in reality by a sudden loud and nasty growl – her senses heightened, and her body started to tremble again because of anxiety and fear.

Another growl followed that echoed within the woods – this time it was a little low and weak with a hint of pain in its tone.

A devious laugh trailed after that mixed with a couple of panting and snarling.

The hair at the back of her neck stood up as she shivered just by hearing those sounds resonating the entire depths of the forest.

Tamara wanted to just stay away from whatever it was, but her feet moved closer to where the sounds are coming from – uncontrollable and as if they have their own minds. She wanted to stop but she couldn't – as if something was telling her to go and she hated it.

She slowly walked towards the large trees covered with vines. Tamara could hear her own heart beat hammering inside her chest – making it ache a bit.

She swallowed roughly and found herself standing in the two tall thick trees that were twisted their trunks together. It was a secluded area and the other trees overlapped each other creating a fence-like trees around the shed. She immediately hid in the great bushes and wild grass.

She saw a small open lounge barn which was made of bamboo and hay. At the barn, three tall men were standing, and one was lying on the ground.

The three men were totally bulky, and they were all wearing black shirts and pants. While the man lying on the ground have nothing in to cover him.

"I already told you to never dare cross us, you coward jerk," one of the bulky man clearly stated – his voice laced with anger and annoyance.

One of them – the tallest – grabbed the neck of the man lying on the ground and spit at him. Then, he let him go forcefully and kicked his stomach. The man grunted miserably and coughed with blood.

She jumped in terror and covered her mouth to stop her gasped – in hopes of being quiet and never heard by anyone of them. She inaudibly turned around and hid herself more – embracing her body using her trembling arms.

Tamara saw how hideous the scene was.

Would she witness someone's death?

Here?

In the middle of nowhere while she was all alone?

The rustling sound of the lofty trees enveloped the entire place as the hair at the back of her neck stood making her shiver.