Chapter 12
After a few moments with Redilyn and Kaite talking, their attention was caught at the sound of footsteps. The 2 ladies turned to see a Gamma approaching, his expression serious but not unfriendly.
"You good, Redilyn?" he asked, his voice low but filled with concern.
Redilyn gave a brief nod. "Just keeping watch. Nothing to report yet."
The Gamma eyed her, obviously in his eyes scanning her for any signs of fatigue or distress. "You sure? Are you sure you're alright?"
Redilyn hesitated. "I'm fine," she replied, her voice steady.
The Gamma didn't look entirely convinced, but he gave her a respectful nod. "Alright. Just make sure you take care of yourself. If you need a break, let us know."
He gave a respectful look at Kaite, before he left. As he turned to leave, both ladies watched him disappear before their sight. After a brief silence, Kaite spoke quietly, her voice steady but tinged with an underlying seriousness.
"You're carrying too much on your own, Redilyn," she said, her gaze flicking to meet Redilyn's. "I've been thinking about it, and we need to talk about what to do next."
Redilyn turned her head to look at her, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"
Kaite's shoulders relaxed, as though she had made up her mind. "I know you're worried about the plan... about the other pack. The invasion. But you don't have to carry all that weight on your own."
Redilyn frowned slightly. "What do you mean by that? You are the one carrying all that weight."
Kaite sighed, stepping a little closer. "I think it's time we bring others into the conversation, especially the ones who can help. I will talk to Nigel first. He will understand."
Redilyn was a bit surprised at what she heard. "Wow, you must be close now. You call him by his first name?"
The moment the words left her mouth, Kaite's face went crimson. She froze, her blood rushing to her cheeks as she fumbled for a reply.
"I-I mean the Beta. Let me talk with the Beta first," she stammered, her face still as red as a tomato. She quickly turned, hurrying away with a mix of embarrassment.
Redilyn stood there for a moment, watching her friend leave. A slow smile spread across her face as she realized that despite the tension of the situation, Redilyn couldn't help but feel a bit of warmth. It was clear that there was a shift in her friend's feelings in some way—something had changed, and Redilyn couldn't help but be curious about what had happened. But that would have to wait.
For now, there were bigger things to worry about.
~*~
Kaite walked away from Redilyn with her heart pounding in her chest. Her thoughts swirled, colliding in a messy blur of anxiety. The distance between her and the gate felt like miles even though she had only taken a few steps. She's already in the packhouse and on her way to the Beta's office after asking the people or werewolf passing by. She was about to approach his office, but a sinking feeling weighed heavily on her.
What is she doing? The last time she and the Beta had spoken, things had been... strange. There had been a tension between them, a space between words they didn't know how to fill. This secret she kept from him was hanging over her like a storm cloud.
She winced as the memory of their last awkward meeting replayed in her mind. The look in his eyes when he realized she hadn't been entirely honest. The way he kept quiet in his place, withdrawing into himself, leaving her feeling like a stranger in her own skin. She had always thought that at the very least, the last interaction they had before her leaving the pack made them close, but now... now it felt like she was keeping him at arm's length, deliberately.
But this time, she has decided to let him know. Above all of it anyways, she's still aware of the loyalty of the Beta for the pack and how he will do anything to protect it, not because it is his duty, but because he believes in the vision and mission of this pack.
She slowed her pace, her mind racing as she neared the room where he would likely be. Was this the right time? What would he say? What if he will ignore her? She tried to shake off the doubt gnawing at her, but the uncertainty lingered, tugging at her chest.
As Kaite reached the doorway, she took a deep breath. Focus, she told herself. This isn't about you and him. It's about the pack. We need a plan.
With renewed determination, Kaite was about to knock on the door, but before her hand could touch the wood, the door swung open, and there he stood. She raised her eyes to meet his, the familiar warmth in his gaze causing her heart to skip a beat.
[Mate.]
Her wolf stirred, reacting instinctively, but the moment felt too heavy for such an unspoken connection to surface. The silence between them was deafening, thick with the tension that had been building for days.
Kaite hesitated, unsure of how to break the quiet, unsure of how to face him after all that had transpired. The last time they had spoken, words had been left unspoken, the space between them filled with unaddressed things.
The Beta cleared his throat, his deep voice cutting through the stillness. "How may I help you at this hour, Miss?" His tone was formal, professional—so detached, as though he was addressing someone he barely knew.
Kaite flinched inwardly, the formality pushing her further into reality. She shook her head, trying to steady herself. Get it together, Kaite, she thought, gathering every ounce of confidence she had left.
"I need to talk to you."
His expression softened, though his eyes remained guarded, and he stepped aside, offering her the space to enter. "Come in," he said, his voice low and inviting.
Kaite stepped inside, feeling a pang of unease settle in her chest. She could feel his presence behind her, but for once, she didn't let it make her falter. As she crossed the threshold, he gestured toward the chairs by his desk. "Have a seat."
She did, settling herself across from him as he made his way to his own chair, sitting down with the same poised composure he always carried. The weight of the silence between them lingered for a few moments, but then he spoke, his tone low and measured.
"What's going on?" There was an undeniable edge of concern in his voice, but his words were calm.
Kaite swallowed hard, fighting the lump in her throat. "I... I've been holding something back from you."
The tension in the room thickened, and she could see the change in his posture—his focus sharpening, waiting for her to continue. His silence pressed her to keep going.
Kaite took a deep breath, her words flowing as she explained the invasion of the other pack, the threat that loomed over their home. She detailed the intelligence she had gathered, the signs of the enemy's preparations, and the urgency of the situation. As she spoke, the Beta listened carefully, his posture rigid, his gaze never leaving her face. The room felt suffocating as Kaite recounted everything, knowing she had held this truth from him for far too long.
When she finally finished, the weight of her confession hung in the air, thick and heavy. The silence stretched between them before the Beta spoke, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable undercurrent of urgency. "How long have you known?"
Kaite shifted uncomfortably, her gaze dropping to the floor before meeting his once more. "A few days," she answered, her voice quiet.
The pause that followed felt like an eternity as he processed her words, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. Kaite could see the flicker of frustration in his eyes, but there was something else—something deeper—lurking behind it.
"Since the day you returned to the pack?" he asked, his voice a little sharper now.
Kaite froze. She hadn't expected him to piece it together so quickly. Shocked, she met his gaze, but quickly regretted it. The look he gave her was not one of mere curiosity; it was a look that spoke of knowing things she hadn't realized he could. It was as if he saw all the hidden truths, all the unspoken details behind her actions.
She quickly looked away, her voice faltering. "Ho-How... How did you know?" she stammered.
Nigel exhaled heavily, his frustration palpable. "Don't underestimate the mate bond, Miss," he replied, the irritation in his tone still surprising her. Despite that, Kaite kept her eyes averted. She had not expected him to be so affected by her secrecy.
"So, this is the reason you were gone for so long?" His question hung in the air, sharp and accusing. "To gather all this information?"
Kaite hesitated, her mind racing, before she finally lifted her gaze to meet his. "Yes," she answered.
Nigel didn't respond immediately. Instead, he let out another sigh, more resigned than frustrated. Kaite remained silent as well, watching the myriad of emotions pass across his face. She could still see the flicker of frustration in his eyes, but now there was something else—a resolve, a readiness to protect the pack that steadied her heart and made her realize why she had come to him in the first place.
"We need a plan," Kaite said, her voice firm now, her resolve hardening. "The other pack's forces are gathering. If we don't act soon, they will overwhelm us before we can even organize a defense."
The Beta's posture straightened, his gaze sharpening with intensity. "Thank you for telling me, Miss, but you should have come to me sooner. We could have been preparing."
"I know," she admitted, guilt weighing heavily on her. "But now it's time to act. I'm not sure how much time we have, but we can't afford to wait any longer."
There was a heavy silence, and then Nigel looked up at her, his expression shifting, full of concern. The air seemed to thicken with the weight of his next words. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said, and his tone surprised her. The genuine empathy in his voice caught her off guard.
Kaite blinked, stunned for a moment, before she realized what he was saying. "But," he continued, his voice a little softer, "...full of gratitude, thank you for all of this. I appreciate all your efforts just to protect our pack. You are a great asset for this pack."
Kaite was taken aback by the unexpected praise, her heart fluttering a little. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks, though she tried to hide it behind a weak smile. "Of course, uhm... no worries," she said, a little embarrassed by the praise. "You're welcome. Besides, what's the point of being alive if you can't be useful, right?"
The words left her lips before she could stop them, but as she looked at him, she noticed the brief surprise on his face.
"You are not a thing, Kaite," he said, his voice full of sincerity, his gaze steady. The depth of his words hit her harder than she expected, and she froze and her heart skipped a beat at the same time. "I'm sorry for my previous wording, causing a misunderstanding. I should have said that you are a valuable asset. Whether you are in this pack or not, please keep in mind how lucky you are to have such great assets—your traits, your knowledge. That is what makes you invaluable."
Kaite's eyes widened in shock, her mind racing to process what he had just said. His words lingered in the air, and for a moment, she was speechless, her body reacting faster than her mind could keep up. Her face flushed deeply, the warmth spreading from her chest up to her cheeks, making her look like a ripe tomato. The impact of his words, mixed with the mate bond they share, sent her heart racing in a way she didn't know how to control.
"Do not worry, Miss," Nigel continued, his voice smoothing over with calm reassurance. "I will explain this to the Alpha immediately, and I am sure he will also appreciate your efforts—"
Before he could finish, Kaite raised both her hands, covering his mouth with a swift motion, her heart pounding in her ears. She lowered her head, unable to look at him.
"Please, give me a moment," she mumbled, her voice shaky as she fought to regain control of herself.
Damn it, she cursed herself while feeling the warmth flood her entire body. She knew the Beta was just being kind, doing what any good Beta would do—offering praise and appreciation for her efforts. But damn, it was having an effect on her. The mate bond made everything feel more intense, more vivid. Her wolf was reacting too—purring with approval at his words, urging her to get closer, to embrace the compliment. It was all she could do not to let her instincts take over.
She heaved out a sigh, trying to keep herself together. At least her wolf wasn't completely taking over... yet.
Realizing what she had done, she quickly retracted her hands and leaned back on her chair, but her breath was still coming in uneven bursts. She couldn't stay in this moment any longer. It was making her heart race in ways she didn't know how to control.
"I-I think that is all," she stammered, a sudden urgency flooding her voice as she stood up from her seat. She turned quickly, not wanting to linger any longer than she had to.
But she stopped when she remembered one last thing. Well, it's a good thing she was able to remind herself despite her mind being a mess right now.
"B-By the way," as she turned her head back to him. "Please, don't tell your Alpha about this yet. Don't tell him the plan first. Not until we figure out what to do."
The Beta looked back at her, confusion flickering in his eyes, but he didn't say anything. He replied with a nod. He wanted to understand why that is the case, but she was already out the door, disappearing into the hall before he could say another word.
As the door clicked shut behind her, the Beta stood still for a moment, his mind racing to make sense of the strange reaction she just had. Also, why is she so adamant about not telling the Alpha? His wolf stirred inside him, restless, sensing the tension between them.
Loading... silence passed... before realization dawned on him.
The way she reacted to his words—the flush on her face, the way she tried to control her emotions—now, that is the same reaction he is currently feeling and showing.
The mate bond.
He was still processing everything that had happened, even as he lay in bed, but it wasn't making it any easier for him to sleep. His thoughts kept swirling, refusing to settle. He tried working to distract himself, forcing his mind to stay on task, reminding himself that he still had duties to fulfill. But no matter how hard he tried to focus—sorting through papers, reviewing reports—a nagging feeling at the back of his mind grew stronger. The more he tried to push it away, the more persistent it became. But through it all, one thought remained clear: he should not tell the Alpha about this yet.
[Tell me what exactly?]
The Beta went back to reality as he turned to the Alpha. His voice cut through his mind, sharp and direct, dragging him back to the present.
[Damn it. Stupid mind link.]
Axelon let out an exaggerated sigh. "I can still hear your mind, Nigel," he said, not even bothering to look up from his papers. "Here's a reminder: you can switch off our mind link if you don't want me to hear you."
Axelon's playful smile was evident in the tone of his voice, but Nigel, now frustrated, rolled his eyes and quickly switched off the link. The silence felt oddly comforting, but the tension in his chest remained.
"So, what is it that you don't want to tell me?" Axelon asked, his voice still casual, though his gaze never strayed from the documents he was working on.
Nigel remained silent, but his mind was a whirlwind. He wasn't sure how to process everything that had just happened, let alone how to explain it to him. The Alpha's intense gaze was like a spotlight on him, making the pressure mount, but the words wouldn't come.
Axelon raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension. "Come on, Nigel, what is it?"
Nigel sighed, finally breaking the silence. "No-Nothing important for now, Alpha," he said, trying his best to sound calm.
Axelon leaned back on his chair, crossing his arms with a smirk. "Nothing important? Why? Is it because of your mate?"
Nigel was taken aback for a moment upon hearing that, then an idea sparked. "Yes," he said confidently, as if the answer was something clever. "It was just about my mate. Nothing more."
Axelon raised an eyebrow at his answer. "Okaaay," he replied back, full of confusion. "So, you're flirting with your mate?"
And at that, Nigel was about to answer, when he realized what he just heard, and reacted.
Axelon chuckled. "Wow, little brother. It's obvious on your face that you don't even need to answer me," he grinned like he was enjoying teasing his Beta. "Here's another reminder: control your tail. You know you can hide it, right?"
Nigel's face flushed slightly, but he quickly masked it with a scoff. "Shut up," he muttered as he tucked his wagging tail down.
The mood lightened as they both fell into a comfortable silence. Axelon flipped through a few more papers, still humming with amusement, when his posture shifted, leaning forward, his expression turning serious.
"On another note," he began, his voice more focused that caught the Beta's attention. "Have you noticed how Redilyn's been performing lately? She's been doing great."
The Beta was momentarily thrown off by the change of subject but quickly nodded. "Yes, she's been on top of things lately. Her skills are impressive, especially with the humans she's been tracking down."
He paused, thinking of a few recent reports. "I have heard a lot of praise from the Gammas. They are actually following her strategies now, not just because she's capable but because they trust her methods."
The Alpha raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "Really? How so?"
The Beta continued. "She's been giving the pack new instructions on how to handle rogue humans, and even some troublesome werewolves. Apparently, she's been teaching the Gammas specific tactics—like using misdirection and psychological warfare. Her strategies are making them more effective."
The Alpha smiled slightly, clearly impressed. "She's that good, huh?"
"Yes," the Beta agreed. "And it's not just the Gammas. Even some of the older werewolves are recognizing her talents. Word is getting around fast, and even the human citizens are starting to notice her methods."
Axelon's face turned thoughtful, and he leaned back on his chair, tapping his fingers on the desk. "Interesting. I've been hearing similar things from the human Gammas. They said she's been de-escalating situations with ease. It's as though they are afraid of her now."
"That's right," Nigel agreed. "She's creating a reputation for herself that speaks louder than any threat. Even among the other wolves, they are starting to realize they can't underestimate her."
The Alpha smiled. It's obvious in that smile that he's very pleased. "Good. That's good. Let's make sure we use that to our advantage."
The Beta was a bit surprised at that. "She's a great asset," Axelon added. "We should start thinking about how to give her more opportunities to lead—"
"Alpha," the Beta interrupted. "Don't forget, she's a red hood."
Axelon paused, taken aback by the way Nigel said that. "She's trained to be a werewolf slayer, so normally werewolves should be afraid of her," the Beta added.
Axelon's gaze flickered briefly, and for a moment, the room fell silent. The gravity of Nigel's words hit him harder than he expected.
The Alpha leaned forward, his face serious as the full weight of the situation settled over him.
"You're right," he said, his voice low, his words deliberate. "It's been so long since we've encountered Red Hoods. I thought I knew what they are capable of, but now we have one in our pack..."
His sentence trailed off, unfinished, as though he was still processing the implications. The Beta looked at him, waiting for him to continue, but he remained silent, clearly lost in thought.
The Alpha let out a long sigh, and then, as if shaking off the weight of the conversation, he shifted his tone. "If anyone is going to protect this pack," he said, his voice firm and resolute. "...it should be those who earn the respect of both humans and werewolves alike."
The Beta nodded slowly, the heaviness of the moment not lost on him. They both knew Redilyn's potential, but now, more than ever, they realized just how much of an asset she was—and, perhaps, more dangerously, how much of a threat she could be if not managed carefully.
The weight of the conversation seemed to linger in the air, but the Beta, sensing the moment needed a shift, decided to break the tension. "Speaking of which," he began, "have you talked to her yet?"
Axelon's eyes flickered, and his jaw tightened for a moment before he let out a low breath. "We are still in an awkward place, Nigel."
Nigel raised an eyebrow. "You two have not spoken since...?"
Axelon rubbed his temple, clearly frustrated with the situation. "Since that day, things have been... off. I don't even know where to start."
The Beta studied his Alpha, offering a knowing look. "You know it will only get worse if you keep avoiding it."
Axelon looked at him, his voice heavy with a sigh. "I know. I'm avoiding it because I don't know how to fix it. And I don't know how to approach her after... that."
Nigel paused, letting the words sink in. He turned back to what he was doing, though his mind was elsewhere. He was thinking, trying to find the right words even though he knew he was in no position to give advice. His relationship with his own mate was no less complicated, and actually, he's the last person who should be talking about this.
He let out a deep sigh. "Her rounds end at 6 pm," he said, the first thing that came to his mind. "After that, she usually goes straight to her room to rest. Now, figure out when and where to talk to her, but please, don't even think about suggesting a secluded spot or trying to get her alone in a room."
Axelon stared at him for a long moment, processing his words. The silence stretched, and finally, he nodded slowly. "Right. I'll take note of that. Thanks, brother. Please take over for a while. I will try to make it quick."
Nigel nodded. "Good luck," his tone was still cold, but Axelon knew the sentiment behind it.
Axelon gave him a wry smile, the tension in his chest easing a bit.
"Thanks. I needed that."
~*~
Redilyn walked briskly down the hallway, her footsteps echoing in the quiet corridor as she tried to stretch the tension from her muscles, clearly worn out after a long day. She hadn't had a moment to breathe since this morning and her mind has a lot going on right now. Her eyes were fixed straight ahead, but her mind kept drifting back to all the things that needed her attention—most pressing of all, the looming threat of a rogue werewolf pack.
And then there was Xielo. They hadn't spoken since that encounter, and she had no idea how to fix it. As if on cue, her hand reached up to rub her neck, a nervous reflex.
When she reached the door to her room, she froze. There, standing just beside it, was him. His posture was rigid, almost tense, and there was an unmistakable look of unease in his expression.
For a moment, Redilyn thought about turning around and walking away. Her body instinctively tensed, ready to retreat. But then she reminded herself of her purpose, of the mission at hand. She couldn't let the past cloud every moment of the present. She needed to stay in control.
Xielo straightened at his place, his eyes locking with hers the moment he noticed her. "Redilyn," he began, his voice gentle but shaky, as though unsure of how to approach her.
A heavy silence hung between them after, stretching longer than either of them had intended.
Finally, Xielo spoke to break the silence, his tone more earnest this time. "Let me just first say that I'm sorry. I shouldn't have acted the way I did. I know I made you uncomfortable, and that was never my intention. I don't even know what came over me. But damn... I've learned my lesson. The mate bond... it shouldn't be underestimated."
The words hung in the air between them. She could feel her heart rate spike, her pulse quickening at the proximity, at the reminder of everything she had worked so hard to overcome. But as his apology sank in, she realized something.
He wasn't the only one at fault. She had known better. She had been warned the last time, and she'd endured rigorous training to prevent exactly this. But it was her own fear, her own insecurities, that had fed the distance between them.
She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to stand tall. "It's okay," she said, her voice quieter than she intended but steady nonetheless. "I understand now. It's not just you. I... I should've handled things differently."
Xielo's expression faltered, the surprise evident as he tilted his head, confusion flickering in his eyes. "What do you mean?"
She hesitated, the words taking longer to come than she expected. But the more she thought about it, the clearer it became. If she was ever going to move forward, she needed to confront the source of her fear—and more importantly, she needed to explain it to him.
Taking a deep breath, Redilyn gathered herself. "I know you have an idea about my past," she began, her voice low but steady, though tinged with the weight of what she was about to reveal. "When I was young, I was not raised around people like you—around werewolves. Then, without warning... my village was attacked by rogue werewolves."
Xielo's eyes widened, his expression softening as the weight of her words hit him. He stood still, absorbing the gravity of her confession.
"It was a bloody massacre," she continued, her hands clenching into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as if trying to ground herself. "I can still see it... the bodies of people I knew, the screams, the blood... and my parents..."
She faltered, the words catching in her throat as a tremor ran through her. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady herself. She didn't need to look at him to know that Xielo had noticed her trembling. But when she finally met his gaze, her eyes were steady yet vulnerable, betraying the depth of the pain she'd kept hidden for so long. She had never shared the full story with anyone. She had never allowed herself to be this open. But in that moment, it felt like the only way forward—if she was ever going to bridge the distance between them.
"That's why," she said, her voice quieter now. "Every time I see a werewolf, it triggers those memories—the fear, the helplessness. I can't just turn it off. It's not that I don't want to trust you... it's just... hard."
Xielo didn't speak right away, his expression softening with understanding. When he finally did, his voice was low, full of sincerity. "I know... it's hard." He took a step closer, as if trying to offer comfort without overwhelming her. "I remember you telling me about it back when we were still in school, but now... now I understand what you went through, what kind of trauma that leaves on a person. But you don't have to face this alone."
Redilyn turned her face slightly, looking away, as if avoiding the vulnerability of the moment. She swallowed hard, forcing the tightness in her chest to ease, but it didn't completely go away. "I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But it's hard to forget. And I can't just... pretend it's not there."
Xielo's gaze softened even further. He took another step forward, his presence steady and reassuring. "I understand. Just know this... I promise you, I won't hurt you. I won't let anyone else hurt you, either. As the Alpha of this pack, I swear I will make sure no one experiences what you went through—not again, human or werewolf."
She looked at him again, and this time, there was something new in his eyes—understanding, patience, and a quiet promise that he would be there and do what he just said.
The tension that had gripped her heart began to loosen, just a little. But she knew that the journey ahead wasn't going to be easy. It never was, especially when it came to facing her past. Yet, for the first time in a long while, she didn't feel so alone.
"Thanks," she said, her voice quieter now, but the gratitude in it was unmistakable. She kept her gaze down for a moment, as if the words were a weight she had to release before she could move forward.
There was a silence that stretched between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that happens when two people share an understanding that doesn't need to be vocalized. Redilyn took a steadying breath before she spoke again, the words coming with more ease this time.
"Back then, my mother used to tell me about heroes like the Red Hoods—the werewolf slayers," she began, her voice softening with the memory. "That's why she made me wear a red riding hood when I was little... as a symbol of protection."
She smiled weakly, the memory bittersweet. "She thought the red hood would scare the wolves away, that they would not dare touch me... and, strangely enough, it worked. Or at least, that's what I believed at the time."
She paused, the smile fading as her gaze drifted into the past. "But... there was one time, she sent me on an errand to visit my grandmother, out in the woods..."
Xielo's eyes widened slightly upon hearing that.
"The thing is," Redilyn went on, her voice distant, "...my grandmother did not live with us. I never really knew why. To tell you the truth, up until now, I still don't know why." Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve. "My parents never told me, and I didn't ask. I was still young, and I thought... I thought maybe it was just something I wasn't supposed to know yet. But that's where it all began. That was the start of it all."
As Redilyn continued, her voice steady but the pain behind her words clear. "My first encounter with a werewolf was when I went on that errand. When I arrived at the small cottage where she lived... her dead body lying on the floor, with blood spilling from her mouth and chest and her lifeless eyes looking at me was the first nightmare imprinted in me. The sight of her lifeless body, pale and cold... it struck me like a physical blow. The blood had already pooled around her, soaking the floor beneath her. And standing there, right in front of her, was a young werewolf, panting heavily."
Redilyn paused, her fists tightening at her sides as the memories flooded her mind. "I couldn't move. I just stood there, frozen, staring at the creature. Even though he's young, his yellow eyes—cold, predatory—met mine, and for a moment, I thought he would attack. But he didn't. He just stood there, watching me, as if it was waiting for something... or maybe just deciding if I was a threat. The smell of blood, thick and overwhelming, clung to the air, and I felt my heart racing, my body shaking with fear. I wanted to run, but my feet felt glued to the ground."
Her voice faltered slightly. "All I could do was scream, but that made him escape into the trees." Redilyn exhaled, her breath shallow. "It's a good thing a woodcutter was nearby. He helped me back on my feet, and face the situation. He helped me have a proper burial for my grandmother. After that, I decided to go back to the village to inform my parents of the sad news and came to know that he also came from the same village, so together we went back... but when we arrived, that was when the second horror awaited me.
She continued as if the memory is still vivid. "The streets were strewn with bodies. Homes were burned, and the smoke choked the air. People I had known all my life, gone. It was as if everything I had ever known had been ripped away in an instant. I could not process it at first. The blood, the screams, the chaos—it all blended together into one nightmare."
She swallowed, her voice steady but firm. "That's when it became clear to me—no one was safe. Not even in our own homes. The story of the Red Hoods, the warriors who fought against creatures like that, finally made sense. I understood why they existed. They did not just protect—they fought back. They fought to ensure others would not have to face the same horrors I did."
Her gaze lifted, her eyes meeting his with quiet determination, her words carrying the weight of years of pain and loss. "That's why I wanted to become a Red Hood. Not just to overcome my fear, but to gain the strength to protect the people I care about. To never feel so helpless again, standing there, powerless, while everything I loved was torn away from me."
As Redilyn finished speaking, she looked at the Alpha werewolf she is talking to, but something in his expression made her pause.
His face was frozen in shock.