Chapter 2 The Injured Werewolf

A week ago, the Brimstone Pack had found Hadley. Today was the day she would return to her biological family. Before reuniting with her parents, Hadley wanted to visit her adoptive mother's grave one last time. She and her granny, Sylvie Yorke stood quietly in front of the grave. “Let's head down now. The Brimstone Pack werewolf will be here soon,” Sylvie said. “When you return, you'll be the Alpha's daughter. It's time to forget your past...” “Okay, Granny. You go on ahead. I'd like to stay a bit longer,” Hadley replied sorrowfully. Sylvie glanced at the grave once more and let out a sigh “Don't be late,” she reminded Hadley. Then she turned and left, leaving Hadley alone to silently stare at the gravestone. Beneath that gravestone lay the woman who had cared for Hadley like her own child for over a decade. Today, she would return to a home she had never known. Anticipation mingled with apprehension in her heart. Suddenly, the sound of rustling came from the forest behind her. Hadley's sharp gaze snapped in that direction. Something was moving through the woods, coming straight toward her! She spun around warily. Her long, curled lashes caught the sunlight and cast faint shadows over her eyes, giving her an air of melancholy. A figure clad in camouflage emerged from the thicket with a potent scent of blood clinging onto them. It was a shapeshifter in the form of a male werewolf with an incredibly powerful aura. His entire body was covered in camouflage paint that obscured its fur color. Its level and rank were impossible to determine, masked by the faint scent of some kind of potion. However, Hadley quickly noticed the red symbol on its forehead—it was the mark of the Bloodmoon Pack! Why would a werewolf from the Bloodmoon Pack show up here? Her heart churned with waves of alarm. The rustling grew louder in the woods behind the werewolf. “Run! It's dangerous!” the male werewolf growled weakly, warning Hadley to leave. His low roar seemed to use up the last of his strength. He stumbled mid-run, his massive body collapsing in front of Hadley. Once he fell, he didn't move again, his blood soaking the crushed grass beneath him. Hadley frowned slightly. The concentrated scent of blood told her the werewolf had fainted from losing too much blood. Without immediate intervention, he would die. At that moment, two more werewolves in their shifted forms emerged from the woods. “Well, well, what do we have here?” said one with brown fur, sniffing excitedly. “A young female werewolf!” “Let's take her back. Been a while since we've had some fun with a young one!” said the second werewolf, with gray fur as he stared at Hadley. Perhaps it had been a while since they last saw a female werewolf. The gray werewolf's eyes turned lecherous as he spotted a gorgeous young female werewolf. Hadley's heart was pounding like a drum. Having lived in the borderlands for eleven years, she knew this area was rife with rogue werewolves and extremely dangerous. In the midst of her anxiety, she felt a flash of relief that she had sent Sylvie down the mountain earlier. The two wolves were tall and strong, at least gamma fighters. She might be able to handle one game fighter, but there were two. Hadley's eyes darted about. Raising her hands in surrender, she pleaded, “Don't hurt me. I'm just an ordinary werewolf...” The gray werewolf circled Hadley, then shifted to his human form. He lifted her chin with rough fingers. Hadley was gorgeous, and her skin was soft to the touch. He licked his thick lips and grinned. “Not bad, you're pretty and soft. Come with us.” As Hadley took in his lecherous smile, her long and thick lashes fluttered gently. Gulping, she responded timidly, “Fine. Just don't kill me. I'll do whatever you want. Let me pack my things, and I'll go with you.” Her timid response instantly fueled the werewolf's desire to torment. He smirked lewdly and said, “Since anything goes, you're up first!” At his words, the brown werewolf let out a low, pleased growl. The gray werewolf grabbed Hadley's slender wrist, yanking her toward him with force. As she collided with his chest, Hadley's left hand slid along the side of her skirt, fingers twisting to retrieve a hidden dagger. In an instant, she drove the hilt of the dagger into the base of the gray werewolf's neck, causing him to collapse to the ground instantly. “Ugh...” the gray werewolf groaned, his eyes meeting Hadley's gaze before he collapsed unconscious. Her delicate, timid appearance masked the ice and gloom in her eyes. She had outsmarted them. “What the f*ck did you do?” Sensing something off, the brown werewolf snarled, baring his fangs as he lunged. Hadley shoved the gray wolf's body aside and rolled to the gravestone. Reaching into the basket, she grabbed a handful of powder and thrust it at the brown werewolf. The white powder dispersed throughout the air. Upon inhaling it, the brown wolf felt dizzy. His movements slowed, his eyes turning white as he crumpled to the ground. The powder was a homemade tranquilizer meant to repel wild animals. Without an antidote, it would keep him unconscious for an hour. Standing, Hadley glanced at her skirt, now dirty and torn from her fall. Sylvie had just made it for her. She frowned and muttered, “It's all dirty now. Granny just made it for me.” She then turned her attention to the camouflaged werewolf and examined its wound. The camouflaged werewolf no longer had the strength to maintain his wolf form and had transformed back into a vulnerable human shape. His right shoulder blade bore a deep wound, still bleeding profusely. She knelt beside him, spreading her hands over the injury as she whispered, “Goddess' Kiss.” A strange light emanated from her hands, enveloping his wound. Moments later, the injury miraculously healed. Hadley possessed the legendary healing ability of the highest-level Alpha King, Goddess' Kiss. She was no ordinary seventeen-year-old girl without an inner wolf. In fact, she was unlike any other wolf. While most werewolves couldn't shift until at least sixteen, Hadley had gained her wolf instincts at just seven years old. However, as she acquired her wolf instincts, the pack she belonged to at the time experienced a disaster that she would never be able to forget. Her expression darkened. She was unwilling to dwell on those painful memories. She looked coldly at the man's now-healed shoulder. “You're completely healed. That won't do. Mother warned me not to let other wolves know that I have the Goddess' Kiss. An Alpha wolf who has received the legacy could easily deduce my true identity.” Thinking quickly, she nicked the healed spot with her dagger, creating a small, superficial wound. Blood began to seep out again. “Oops, maybe I overdid it...” she muttered, slightly guilty. Meanwhile, Caspian Quade stirred. The faint sensation of the dagger's blade grazing his skin was nothing compared to the overwhelming pull in his soul. It's her! Wake up! She's our mate! We've found her! His inner wolf howled with excitement. Hadley had just finished dressing his wound and was about to bandage it when a large hand suddenly gripped her wrist. “Don't be alarmed. I'm only tending your injury,” she explained. Caspian was weak, but his gaze burned with intensity as he locked eyes with her. Staring at her like a predator staring at its prey, he called out slowly, “Seraphina.”