Chapter 2 Despair and Regret

Eva's POV: "No! No! You can't! George! I'm your destined mate!" I screamed, but the words were barely audible as blood filled my mouth and spilled onto the ground. "Eva, your blood smells so sweet," George said, his crimson eyes glowing with hunger. "I bet your meat is even more delicious than Emily's. Too bad you're a bit too skinny—just not enough." His gaze was filled with a twisted desire, the kind of hunger that wanted to devour me whole. He moved toward me, his head tilting back in a triumphant howl. He was celebrating. Then, in a blur of motion, George lunged at me. His claws slashed across my skin, tearing my body apart, and blood sprayed everywhere. "Ah!" Pain shot through my wounds as I struggled to fight back, but the agony was overwhelming. I could barely hold onto my consciousness. I knew this time, I was going to die. My eyes drifted to Emily's lifeless body. I thought about how she and I would be the next meals for Elizabeth and George in the coming days. I thought about how, after the disaster struck, I had been the one taking care of them—finding food, finding shelter, protecting them from the brutal enemies ... And this was how they repaid me and Emily? "Enjoy it, George. I prefer my meat well-cooked," Elizabeth said from behind him, her face twisted into a smug smile. I never imagined that, in the end, I wouldn't die from the disaster or starvation, or from the hands of any other enemies, but from the ones who should have been my protectors—my destined mate and so-called "friends." How stupid I was. I had been played by both of them. And the price of my stupidity was my life and Emily's. I remembered when Emily had warned me. She had sensed something wrong about Elizabeth, but I dismissed it, thinking Emily had just been delirious from hunger after the apocalypse began. I thought her mind was playing tricks on her. But Emily was always so alert. She must have sensed the witch in Elizabeth long before I ever did. And yet, I didn't believe her. Tears of despair and regret slid down my cheeks. I was so stupid. I was so stupid! I lifted my head, trying to let out a howl, to call for the Moon Goddess. Was I really going to become George's fresh meal today? Moon Goddess, can you really bear to watch this brutal and bloody thing happen? To be devoured by your own mate, a wolf eaten by its destined partner—how absurd and terrifying that is. My strength was fading, and I could no longer summon the energy to call to the Moon Goddess. She couldn't hear me now. "George! Elizabeth! In the name of the Moon Goddess, I curse you! May you never find peace in this apocalyptic world!" In the span of these few minutes, everything that had happened consumed me completely, my heart filled with regret and rage. I hated myself for being so foolish, for not trusting Emily, for failing to protect her, and most of all, I hated this world filled with betrayal and evil! "A curse? How laughable. No one curses better than a witch," Elizabeth taunted as George's fangs sank deeper into me. Just before I died, I heard her mocking voice. With my final breath, I weakly pointed at Elizabeth, my blurred vision catching the image of her pulling something from her pendant—a small apple pie. I remembered it. It was my crystal pendant. George had taken it from me and given it to Elizabeth, claiming it was a proper gift for her birthday. He said she was our dear friend, and she deserved something nice. "Human apple pie ... it's so bland," Elizabeth muttered, tossing the pie to George. "I don't want to eat this. I'm sick of it ... " Sick of it ... I let out a bitter laugh. I truly was a foolish, pitiful wolf. As my consciousness slipped away, George had already torn into both of my thighs ...