"You're not going anywhere," Ivailo said, as if reading my mind. "Not after this, I simply can't let you go."

At this I grew more tense, he still wanted me dead. I felt my cheek, still gushing blood. With a clawed hand, he lifted my chin to meet his golden gaze. Leaning in, he whispered in my ear. My face flushed and I was aggravated by his touch.

"Be good and maybe I won't kill you-"

He didn't have time to finish his sentence before I slapped him across the face with all of my strength. He stumbled back a step, his eyes squeezing shut. But it didn't seem like the pain was his main concern; he looked more irritated than anything else.

"I see."  His face contorted to anger but he didn't bother approaching me. Instead, he let out a loud howl in a tone I didn't even think possible for a human, but he was no human, that much was clear.

With my mistake dawning on me and without a second thought, I ran towards the opening of the cavern. The faint light ahead gave me hope and I didn't bother to look back.

I burst out of the musty cavern and into the cool, moonlit forest, gasping for air. As I slowed down, my ears perked up and I heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Behind me was a muscular man with wild red hair and enormous claws the size of mountains.

His one blood-red eye bore into my soul and I stopped in my tracks. I couldn't stop staring at him, a mixture of awe and fear beholding me. I stared at the eyepatch on his face, then back to the beautiful red one, scanning him for any emotions outside of murder.

"Who are you?" I asked stupidly, but in reality, there was no outrunning him.

"The name's, Zeta Khris. The alpha has sent me to kill you, so let's make this quick..."