Ten

JADE POV.

*****

He was drunk again. Heavy footsteps thudded up the stair and I cowered in the dark closet, my hand clenching harder on the kitchen knife I held. Sweat beaded, then trickled down the side of my face. My stomach grumbled in protest, as it should have since I hadn't eaten for two whole days. He was the one who fed us, but I hated him showing up. It was much quieter when he wasn't around. But it also meant no food to eat for days, except if mother met a new customer.

I wet my patched lips, my ears pressed against the wall. They were fighting again, and their voices were getting louder.

"Where is that little piece of shit! She can't continue feeding off my hard-earned money without earning her keep!" He roared, flinging the table against the wall. The shattering glasses made me wince and I clutched the knife tighter.

"You have to stop, Franco! I already took her to her real father, she is no longer living with me. I earn my keep for us, isn't that enough" she yelled and the smack of his hand striking her cheeks made blood rush into my head.

He roared, then kicked at her, the sound in the enclosed space making me sick. My Mother moaned in pain, her voice quiet as she took his anger.

Every vile thing he'd ever done or said to me and my mother rushed into my head and I found myself trembling, the rage burning within my skin. More punches. My head spun. The door to the closet opened, and I realized I'd pushed it. He was kneeling over my mother.

The anger gave. A screaming sound reached my ears. It was my voice as I plunge the blade repeatedly into the back of his neck. He collapsed unto my mother who stared at me, her eyes wide in terror.

Breathing heavily, I pulled back, my body trembling as I took in what I had done. The knife fell from my hold.

My mom pushed the man off her frantically. Blood streaked the neckline of her dress. She inspected his body, her fingers shaking as she pressed them to his neck. Her eyes whipped to me.

"What have you done? What the fuck have you done, Jade!" She screamed, then grabbed me. "You killed him!" She yelled, shaking me so hard, I thought my bone will break. "You've ruined everything Jade. He was the only one who gave a shit about me and you fucking killed him. I have no choice but to give you to your father now, why the hell did you do this?" She screamed, tears streaming down her pale cheeks.

I hiccuped, unable to speak. "He was… he was hurting you. He was… he was a bad man. I just wanted him to stop hitting you".

"I never asked for your help" she screamed, shaking me harder. "You're just like your father. Murderer. Fucking murderers. I wished I never met him or had you. You ruined my life! You both ruined my life" she said, then shoved me onto the fallen table.

******

I gasped awake, the wound from the bullet graze pulling slightly under the bandage from the abrupt way I'd sat up. My body ached, everywhere.

A quick scan around the room told me that I was still being held by the wolf man Dearil. I should be freaking out, but I'd been through so much shit in the hands of monsters, that a man turning into an actual monster wasn't too terrorizing to me.

I got up from the bed. It was odd, but he hadn't kept me in chains. Was he so confident that there was no way of escape for me?

I tried to remember if I'd ever read any book on werewolves and what to expect from them. He'd been fast, too fast to be precise and he was also strong. If I ran, would he find me easily, or would it take a few days? Would he sniff me out like a dog, or did he suck at that?

"I guess I have to run first and find out".

Shrugging off the bitter effect the dream- which was more memory had on me, I limped to get my boots.

I shoved my feet into them while listening for any movement. I'd had the chance to look around the room the night before and the only way I could get out was the windows, and he'd left them open almost as if he was taunting me.

Stepping towards my way of escape, my eyes darted around the room until they landed on the object I'd used the night before. I picked it up and then gingerly climbed out of the window.

The ground seemed a bit farther than it had been the night before and I knew if I didn't hit the floor right, I might wound up with a broken neck, or a twisted ankle which wasn't ideal for the long run.

Using techniques that I'd spent years perfecting, I let go of the ledge and got a good kick on the wall which gave me enough momentum to flip twice before landing on harsh gravel. It wasn't as smooth as I envisioned, and my bleeding palms were testaments to that.

The forest had been quiet all through my stunt and only the occasional hooting of birds and swirling of tree branches disturbed the peaceful atmosphere, there was also no movement going on in the large expensive house that looked like it could accommodate twelve different people and their kids, which was odd, or maybe he was also surrounded by other wolves. I really needed to learn more about the wolf species. It was fucking pathetic, I was sure no one would believe that I freaking met monsters in Etral forest. I wasn't going to share it, but I imagined if I had to, and I told them I met a real werewolf, they'd think I was deranged, then they'll probably send me to an asylum, that was if I didn't kill them first.

There was absolutely no CCTV camera and I wondered if he was that confident that no one could attack his home or destroy it. I would when I got back because I didn't know how to let the sleeping dog lie.

I ran without finesse, but I kept my eyes out for any sought of movement. I didn't want to be caught off guard, it had already happened once, which was shameful, considering my flawless track record.

The forest was easier to navigate in broad daylight but it still felt like being trapped in a fucking maze. I was also careful not to fall into the hands of hunters. The last ones had been gullible and had allowed me to fight them, the next ones might not be that stupid, and I didn't have any weapon for self-defense. My fist could only get me so far.

My lungs burned, my wounds and bruises smarted, and every step I took felt as if I was walking on pins and needles.

Two hours passed, and all that lay ahead of me were trees for miles.

"Fuck this! Fuck this darn forest" I yelled in frustration, my throat patched, and my stomach grumbling its hunger. "How do I freaking get out of this darn maze," I said, and almost tripped as my feets kicked against a dark object on the floor.

Glancing down at the object brought a smile to my face. "What do we have here? If it isn't the prodigal son" I grinned, bending to pick up my gun that I'd lost the night before. I checked the cartridge and my smile got wider when I took in the bullets still left it. "You should have been with me last night, a lot of bullshit would have been avoided," I told the gun, then reattach it.

"Are you done having fun"? A deep voice called to me and I didn't have to think too hard to know who the unique voice belonged to. It was finally time to end the game we were playing. One more fucking day here and Ryland would ruin everything I'd spent years trying to build.

I whipped around, my gun aimed straight at his head. I smirked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

"Dearil! You found me, too bad, I found this little toy first" I taunted and his gaze darkened.

He looked glorious in the sunlight, he also wasn't wearing a shirt and his broad shoulders and muscled chest rippled as he clenched his fist. The man was sculpted, and everything about him was in the right proportion. His low-hung denim jeans that didn't hide the V of his waist would have made a lot of girl drool, especially with the way the sun streaked over his tan skin, and I admit I ogled him more than was necessary or safe, considering that wolf was supposed to be super fast, but that was because he was gorgeous and he exuded so much dominance that it was hard to ignore him. He wasn't looking happy at the moment tho, so I guess his finding out I ran away was the trigger.

Too bad, because this was going to end with only one outcome.

A bullet getting buried In his perfect skull.