Chapter Twenty-Two – Sneak attack.
The forest was just as he had seen it last. Cold, empty, and oddly coordinated.
Cold Prince turned to his sister, who had stubbornly persisted on following him.
She swung her blonde hair left and right with her blue eyes watching her surrounding.
“You should have stayed back. You need rest from that attack” he sighed dragging his eyes off her tired face. His stomach still churned on the earlier incident.
Rushing from his mother’s deathbed on news that his younger sister had been abducted by a wolfman who needed to see him before killing her.
His blood had ran cold as he rode back, what if she was dead by the time he came? He’s mother had barely a month to live and his stubborn sister was the last family he had in his life.
If he hadn’t outsmarted the wolfman to retrieve her, his mother would have buried her youngest child before her death.
“I am the Dragon Queen. Don’t underrate me. I gave you the honor of killing that wolfman but I’d kill this one” his younger sister spat and motioned for her horse to move ahead.
Cold Prince exhaled. Her stubbornness could be annoying at times. Dragon Queen?
He had given her that title after his mother couldn’t function as Queen due to her failing health, she must have forgotten.
It was never even official but he wouldn’t be the one to remind her. He’d save his ears some scolds.
“Slow down, Killer Wolves are in this forest” he reminded her, as well as the three soldiers behind him.
They nodded whole holding their right hands on their sword. The ‘Dragon Queen’ kept on moving before her horse stopped itself.
“What? Move you, animal…” Cold Prince held her hand from hitting the animal.
“Some things are lurking. The horse sensed it, use your head” he dragged her horse backwards with his left hand.
His right hand drew out his sword. His head swerved on hearing some footsteps by their right. It was almost midnight.
He had planned to sneak on the wolfman, could it be this wolfman never sleeps? He’s a wolfman but…
“It is a woman, your highness” one of his soldiers whispered to him. He placed his sword back in its sheath and came down from his horse.
A woman? Could it be one of the wolfman’s woman?
“Let’s kidnap her. She can lead us to him later” his younger sister advised.Original from NôvelDrama.Org.
He shook his head, if she was anything like a wife or mate to the wolfman, she wouldn’t betray him.
It’d be easier to deceive her into thinking he’s a friend than come out right that he’s an enemy.
But it won’t work either as she could be well informed who he was. He’d just have to follow her to her hideout.
“Who is there? Scott?” the young woman called. Cold Prince peeked behind a tree to see her while signaling for his men to lie low.
She was holding unto a tree branch like her life depended on it. Well, with the dangers of being in the forest at such an hour, her life could depend on it.
He stared intently at her trying to memorize her face in case he’d need it. Something about her chubby cheeks and big body seemed to attractive him.
And her dark hair and brown eyes that seemed so natural yet so… he couldn’t phantom. She looked a lot like his mother.
And he’d give anything to see his mother walking about like that.
The girl brought out some grapes from behind her backpack, “Look Scott, you can have a night date with your wolves if you want, I just want to know you’re safe. It’s late y’know”.
She nonchalantly picked the grape fruits while looking up at a big tree, expecting someone to come down from it.
She titled her head to look higher but only saw darkness with some shadows of the moon reflection.
“Fine. Goodnight then. Lydia and Evelyn says goodnight too” she waved and turned back, stopping to hear a response.
“Scott?” she called again. She sighed exasperated and began heading back home.
“We follow her” Cold Prince pointed, tying his horse on the branch of the tree he had rested on. His men do the same, helping the young Queen.
The young woman seemed to be carefree eating her grapes till a small crack of a twig made her stop on her tracks.
Cold Prince glared at his younger sister who stepped on the twig. She could have really stayed back at home.
For once she had a guilty look, even if it faded the moment it came.
“Scott? Are you…” The Cold Prince noticed the girl’s eyes widen but dilate back.
“Hmm…” her voice was low as she continued her carefree eating as she walked.
She swung around a tree, chuckling lightly then stopped over a river and poured some on her face.
Cold Prince found the behavior weird but brushed it aside since he never knew her.
He came closer to the river and saw claw marks of one of his sister’s dragon bird. The wolfman’s hideout must be close.
The young woman energetically jumped across the ever and made a short sprint deeper into the trees. There was a darkness to that part of the forest.
“Follow her. Keep close” he held unto his sister’s hand and she let him.
Small growls were being heard as they followed the woman deeper into the darkness of the forest.
Cold Prince questioned the rationality of the wolfman to house his mates at such dark and creepy place.
When the young woman disappeared into the dark, that’s when he decides to proceed alone. For all he knew, the wolfman might not be there. But a small howl stopped him from breaking off with his men. And if he heard correct, that small howl has been following him from behind.
“Bye, bye” a small chirp came from behind him as he saw the young woman they’d been following far behind them, across the river.
He was shocked. How’d had she come behind them. They were just following her?
“You think you’d follow me to Scott? Really, I’m that dumb? Think again. Well, my sweet puppy, have a feast” she rubbed a little wolf’s belly before running off back to the clearer path.
“We’ve been tricked” Cold Prince heard his younger sister cry.
“We are surrounded by Killer Wolves” his men screamed. He caught the realization fast as well.
This young woman had tricked him, the Cold Prince of the Dragon Dynasty, into the pack of the Killer Wolves at a bloody hour.
“Protect my sister” he gave his order, before unsheathing his sword.
Still something about that young woman attracted him. And with her prank, he seemed to be more impressed.
He’d surely live to meet her again, she’d regret their next meeting. He hoped she’d like his surprise.