"Tell the king, the next time he sends someone after me, I will personally deliver their heads. And I will not rest until I burn his entire kingdom to the ground and make him watch." I hiss, "After you utter those words, the poison will stop."

And you will die. Ulrica finishes for me. I smile, getting up and wiping my hands on my shirt.

I give a little wave before disappearing into the forest.

Satisfied.

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Satisfied.

Until I hear it.

Out of the complete silence, the cry rose. Out of complete reverence, the sounds of life stilled to listen. The cry started slow and came out in gentle sobs until it grew and rose to wails that tore at my heart.

Bram's tattered cry felt like it would follow me to the end of the world. If I were to travel over lands and seas, through forests and valleys...would it follow me? Would it haunt my dreams?

Probably.

This cry that held his broken heart the one that mourned not for himself and the pain he must be going through but for his mate that died right before his eyes.

The mate that I killed. That thought alone made me fall to my knees.

I felt the weight of sorrow press me into the dirt. And not for the first time I wished with all my might that I could just be swallowed up into the cold ground. To stop my existence - to stop the pain and death that seemed to follow me everywhere I go.

My mind clouded with pain, and my heart grew cold with pent up emotions. I wanted to join in Bram's cry. To howl with him and grieve with him.

I lift my head to the sky, and as the first sound begin to escape my throat, I shut my lips with an audible snap. My tongue narrowly escaping my teeth.

"No," I whisper. I caused this pain. I took away Bram's mate for a reason. I didn't deserve to mourn with Bram.

I lower my head, ashamed of my selfishness.

All I wanted was to be left alone, to find a place where I could feel safe.

I just want to feel safe for once in my life.

I don't want to feel this guilt. This guilt that feels like gasoline in my gut.

I clutch my hands to my chest, wanting to soothe some tiny piece of my pain.

I want to feel anything but this hollow ache in my chest. Shutting my eyes, I bring up the wall between the living and the dead. I imagine the wall, as durable as any metal this world has but soft to the touch like black silk. The image is evident in my mind, and I walk towards it. Before I touch the wall, a line of stairs appears before me leading up, and without any hesitation, I climb it.

This is where I belong, in between life and death, where I can see and feel everything alive and everything from the past. I push my mind further, trying to reach closer to the souls that are still on this earth — trying to get in touch with anything alive. The world held so much life that it was easy to get lost in the spirit of the trees and the grass. To dance along with the rhythm of a scared rabbit, to feel the courage of a bear or mountain lion. And I wanted that.

To feel the life around me and not the death that I have caused.

My heart skips a beat when I feel someone close by. This soul wasn't an animal. I have spent my whole life getting lost in the constant hum of an animal.

No, this new beat was calm, but not still like a tree.

We are not alone. Ulrica confirms, and I concentrate hard on trying to find where this soul was hiding. The flame of this soul was bright and steady; it felt somewhat familiar as if I had known this soul for years. The feeling made me want to go towards it, to be warmed and comforted by it.

I clutch my hands tighter to my chest, using the pain of my burns to steady my throbbing head.

Where are you? I gritted in my mind, the vibrations of life from the trees around me masked the soul hiding. I focus my energy into my hands, willing my flames to come up and be ready.

Anala, push forward. Remember what I showed you. Rica reminds me, and I drive into my mind trying to go past the vibrations of nature and search for something that doesn't belong.

I'm clenching my hands so tight, and I'm sure my nails will pierce through my palms.

Ah-Choo

I yanked my hand out of my grasp and jerked it to my left, the tree I was aiming for ignited in a fiery ball of yellow flame, billowing skywards. A figure jumped to the side right before the fire could touch him.

"That was a warning." I call out, "You won't get another one. Leave!" I hissed out, bringing my hand back to my chest, the burn already starting to sting again.

My eyes glued on the soul, now bright in my eyes. He steps out with his hands raised high in the air — a sheepish smile on his face. My eyes widen in shock...I know him...but from where?

Demidicus... He was the one that was going to be taken by those disgusting wolves. Ulrica answers

"I'm sorry, that was probably the worst time to sneeze. But...if it's possible, please don't blow me up." He looks at me sheepishly, his black hair falling in front of his dark eyes.

No promises Rica growls, and I fight off the eye roll.

"I said LEAVE." I grit out. But he shakes his head at me. I raise my hand again, willing the flames to come out.

"I'm not leaving you. Not this time." I stumble to my feet and take a step back.

"This time? What are you talking about?" I ask, trying to get as much distance in between us. His eyebrows furrow, and he takes a hesitant step closer. I raise my hand again, preparing to shoot when pain erupts in the bleeding flesh. I jerk my hand back to my body, trying to stifle my cry. The man looks startled when he hears my strangled cry.

"What's wrong with your hands?" Demidicus asks, stepping closer to me. I roll my eyes this time.

Look at this fobbing rude-growing moldwarp! I swear he better step the fuck back! Ulrica ranted in my head. And I fight to hold her back.

"Oh, my hands are just starting to cramp up. It happens when I don't give myself a break in between stabs..." I look away, trying to keep the image of Bram's mate out of my head. I blinked back the tears threatening to come out. Demidicus takes a step closer.

That's it. I'm blowing him up Ulrica fumed

Not helping I reminded her

Then you better get rid of him before I blow him up! Rica growled trying to force our legs to run from him.

"Go," I barely whisper "I don't..." I trail off, pleading with my eyes.

Please...I don't want to kill anymore...please just go. Demidicus' eyes softened. He extends his hand, gently, towards me.

"Come with me."

Like hell, Ulrica growls. I look away, tears stinging my eyes.

"I can't," I whisper.

"Why not."

Because I don't want to hurt you.

I don't give him an answer. Instead, I turn around and walk away.

"Hey!" He calls out to me, but I ignore him. I hear him running to catch up to me, I feel his heat close to me, and I twist my body away.

"Don't!" I scream, and his hand stops in midair inches away from touching my skin, "Please don't do this...don't act as if you care." I hiss at him. Demidicus' face turns into a hard scowl.

"You saved my life! Of course, I fucking care!"

"I didn't save your life! I spared you and your entire family from death! I could've easily killed you and everyone else!" I shouted.

"But you didn't!" He retaliated, "You had every chance to kill all of us, and you didn't! You had a chance to run and save yourself. I saw it!" I blinked at him, unable to form any words.

"You are the reason I am alive..." He trailed off.

"I am also the reason that little girl died." I croak, a tear finally escaping. Before I could react, he took a step forward and closed his fingers around my wrist. I bite the inside of my cheek to hold in my cry. Demidicus turns me around and takes off his too-large coat, and he wraps it around my shoulders. Then he picks me up and starts walking.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Put me down!" I begin to struggle, but my body is so tired and weak; it doesn't listen to my commands.

"Hush." He mutters, and I narrow my eyes.

Punch him in the throat! Ulrica seethed, and I ignore her.

Demidicus carries me through the forest without stumbling over the rocks, and I try to look anywhere but at him. I cannot remember the last time I was ever carried like this. It was gentle and reassuring. Demidicus didn't look strong, but his arms were hard with muscles, and his skin gleamed white under the moonlight.

It took a couple of minutes of silence before we reached a small river. He set me down gently on the rocks before bending down and ripping the bottom of his pants into small strips.

I inched away from him, unsure if I should just run and forget about him...but a part of me didn't want that. It took every bit of my energy just to keep my eyes open.

"Give me your hands." It was soft at first, and then demanding, impossible to disobey. Right then it was blissful to give my hands over and let him tug them towards the running water. Even scrubbing the blood out seemed a righteous pain, a deserving punishment for what I've done. I couldn't stop shaking. I didn't even realize how cold my body was. Even though the forest was quiet, I could still hear Bram's cries, and I could again feel the warm blood running down my arms.

"I-I didn't mean-" but I did mean to do it. The feeling just didn't want to sink in..killing someone...again.

"It was self-defense. You were protecting yourself and us. And you were magnificent." The reverence in his tone made me want to grab at the opportunity to hit pause on my emotions.

"I saw the fear in their faces," I murmur referring to the vampires, "They were all afraid of me. I don't blame them, though. I am afraid of myself too," I admit lowering my head. I tug my hands-free and curl myself into a ball. I hate myself for being so weak in front of this potential enemy.

But I don't care anymore. I looked up when I heard his booming laughter.

"Of course we were scared of you!" He grinned, "No one has ever really seen the power of a Blood Wolf. There were rumors, yes, but it was just that...rumors. No one can prepare for what we all witness. Honestly, that was the scariest thing I have ever experienced in my entire life. Even almost dying in the woods was nothing compared to what happened back there." He gestured behind us.

"But I suppose that is what we will need in our future Queen." He mused. I jerked my head up.

"What?" I ask bewildered. He looks over at me, not understanding my sudden mood change.

"What the hell do you mean!?" I ask, anger filling my body.

"What? The Queen part? Yeah! It's all everyone is talking about. Centuries ago there was this prophecy about a Blood Wolf who will set the world free or something like that. No one really believed it because all the Blood Wolves during the time were all male. But here you are."

"I think you have the wrong person," I say quickly getting up.

"Wait," He pleads also getting up, "Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you or anything."

"It's fine." I insist, taking off the jacket and dropping it to the ground.

"I have to go," I mutter before walking away.

Before I could disappear into the woods, a large woman dressed in a black cloak step in front of me.

She blows powder in my face, and I inhale a sweet scent of lavender.

"ANALA!" Demidicus yells in the distant

"Faex" I mutter [Shit in Latin]

Witches Ulrica moans distastefully before the world goes dark.

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WELCOME EVERYONE!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING THIS CHAPTER!!!!
I REALLY HOPE YOU LIKE IT!!! 

Today was such a big deal to me! And I am genuinely grateful to everyone that is reading The Queen of the Prey and who have discovered my story thanks to @werewolf and @SpaceQueenSara

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