Chapter 2: Who Is That Man?

Living in her father's Pack seemed like a distant memory to Hazel. She still remembered the wonderful times she had spent with her father, traversing mountains and the image of his towering presence remained etched in her mind, even if she could never see that loving man again.

When her grandmother parked the car on the outskirts of the Pack's territory, Hazel was struck by the eerie silence that surrounded them. It was as if no one inhabited this area anymore. Where had everyone gone?

This was definitely not right! Even though she hadn't been back for a year, Hazel remembered how bustling the streets used to be.

While sitting in the car, Hazel heard wolf howls from the forest, their haunting cries tearing through the air. She exchanged a glance with her grandmother and together, they got out of the car, ready to venture deeper into the forest.

The farther they went, the more unsettling Hazel found the atmosphere. The scent of blood hung in the air, making her cover her nose, as it was unbearable.

"Who are you people, and what are you doing here?" Suddenly, a burly man appeared before Hazel. He assessed her and her grandmother with a malevolent look. Hazel was certain she had never seen this man before, but she could tell he was a fellow werewolf. The howls from the forest continued, and she knew she had to find out what was going on.

"My brother lives here; he's a Beta," Hazel answered truthfully, convinced that she didn't recognize anyone here.

"Which Beta?" The man's gaze turned ice-cold, and it seemed that one wrong word from Hazel could result in her head being twisted off.

The man's words left Hazel puzzled. What did he mean by "which Beta"? Could it be that, apart from her brother Theo, there were new Betas in this Pack? Everything felt like a puzzle, and she couldn't help but wonder if the people she once knew were still around.

"Beta Theo," Hazel said urgently, needing to know if Theo was okay in his position within the Pack.

Whether it was a trick of her imagination or not, the man's demeanor changed when he heard Theo's name. He relaxed a bit, and some of his hostility seemed to dissipate.

"Head in that direction," the man pointed, which happened to be the way Hazel intended to go.

Hazel nodded and thanked the man before leaving his sight.

"This doesn't feel right," her grandmother frowned as she watched Hazel. She had more life experience than Hazel and could sense that something was amiss.

"Absolutely," Hazel furrowed her brow.

The man seemed to recognize Theo, but she had never met him before. What on earth was happening?

"Hazel, I can't smell anyone you know," Rita, Hazel's wolf, suddenly spoke. She too had sensed the eerie atmosphere.

"Rita, can you smell Theo's scent?" Hazel's mind was filled with doubt, and she didn't know if Theo would be in the woods, but she certainly caught a heavy scent of blood. She just hoped it wasn't Theo's.

"I can't," Rita roared. She could only sense the presence of a powerful wolf, but she didn't know who it was.

As they proceeded further, Hazel's heart sank. She encountered more and more unfamiliar faces, hardly recognizing anyone she came across.

Hazel's mind was filled with confusion; she needed to see Theo as soon as possible.

Five minutes later, Hazel and her grandmother reached the depths of the forest. Hazel saw bloodstains on the ground and the remains of wolves. Hazel furrowed her brow, worried that something had happened to Theo. This was beyond her imagination.

The next moment, Hazel spotted a group of men wearing tattered sweatpants emerging from nearby. They all had grim expressions and bore various-sized wounds, as if they had just been through a battle. What on earth had happened?

Hazel and her grandmother passed through the crowd and spotted Theo sitting on a tree stump further ahead. He looked exhausted, and his expression seemed tormented, as if he had endured inhuman suffering, yet his clothes remained intact.

"Theo." Hazel called out Theo's name and waved at him.

With her grandmother, they rushed to Theo's side as quickly as they could. He looked terrible.

In just a year, how had Theo deteriorated like this?

"Hazel, you're back," he said weakly.

"Grandmother, are you okay?" Theo managed a faint smile, but it seemed he had lost his ability to smile genuinely.

Her grandmother embraced Theo because he looked far from okay.

"Theo, what happened here?" Hazel's gaze shifted to the bloodstains and the wolf remains, convinced something was terribly wrong.

Before Theo could answer Hazel's question, she noticed a man emerging from the deeper parts of the forest. His face was covered in dried blood, his muscles seemed like they could knock someone down with a single punch. People around him treated him with the utmost reverence, and his reaction suggested it was a common occurrence.

Hazel was certain she had never seen this man before because he was the most charismatic man she had ever seen. Hazel felt her heart racing unusually fast.

Hazel's gaze followed the man as he approached. He had short black hair, bronzed skin, thin, full lips, eyes as dark and deep as honey, well-defined features, a tall and lean yet not rugged body, like a Greek sculpture.

Hazel tried to control the desire in her eyes. Perhaps her gaze was too intense, and the man looked her way, making Hazel feel like her breath was caught.

"Who is that man?" Hazel asked.

Theo realized whom Hazel was referring to, but his lips pursed into a thin line, indicating he didn't want to say more here.

"Let's discuss it when we get back," Theo said, keeping his head down.

Hazel and her grandmother exchanged glances, then redirected their attention. But the man's eyes remained fixed on Hazel, as if he were observing prey. His gaze exuded ambition and desire, but his face was ice-cold.

It wasn't until Hazel had left the forest that he quickly moved forward.

Hazel and her grandmother followed Theo back to the house where they had once lived.

Grandmother pulled the car into the driveway of Hazel's former house. The street was eerily quiet, devoid of any signs of life. The dilapidated houses, faded walls, and fallen doors made it look more like a ghost town.

No, it was even lonelier than a ghost town!

Hazel lingered in front of her old house, unsure of what emotions she'd experience when seeing her late mother.

But her grandmother had already opened the door and walked in, interrupting Hazel's thoughts. Theo followed her.

As Hazel entered the house, she was greeted by dim flickering lights, a kitchen filled with trash, and broken windows. How had it come to this?

She looked around, not finding any signs of her deceased mother.

Theo lay on the couch, no longer the vibrant person he used to be. He hadn't even shaved.

"Hazel..." Theo's eyes traveled up and down her body, as if he noticed the changes in her over the past year. Her flawless fair skin had a touch of rosy hue, her long, slightly curly chestnut hair, long, curled eyelashes, and bright blue eyes like clear seawater all contributed to her striking appearance. Her determined gaze was set, and she had a petite frame with no excess weight.

"Have you connected with your wolf?" Theo suddenly flashed a look of astonishment in his eyes.

"Yes, brother," Hazel smiled, even though now might not be the right time to discuss it. She still wanted Theo to share in her joy.

"What's her name?" Theo inquired.

"She's called Rita," Hazel shared her wolf's name.

"Congratulations, Hazel," Theo nodded. It appeared that Hazel had been doing well at her grandmother's house. Thankfully, she wasn't here, as she couldn't have handled all of this.

"Thank you, Theo. But are you okay?" Hazel gently hugged him, concerned about his state, which didn't look good.

Theo sighed and sat back on the couch, looking very tired and somewhat disheartened. Their grandmother stood nearby, placing her hand on Theo's shoulder.

"Theo, where is she?" Hazel didn't even want to call her mother.

"Mother has been cremated," Theo had completely come to terms with this, as it had been a week since their mother passed away. Under the new rules, werewolves had to be cremated within a week of their death.

"The remains and bloodstains you just saw are left by those who've already passed away," Theo stated, his face devoid of any excess expression.

He had become numb.

"What?" Hazel exclaimed. How could so many people have died?

"Hazel, something has happened to the pack," Theo said with a grave expression.

Hearing Theo's words, Hazel immediately recalled the man she had encountered in the forest, and she wondered if he was connected to all of this. Who was he?