Chapter 2

Ophelia

It was a letter, one I hadn't noticed was there before, and I wondered who had placed it there. I didn't think it would be Richard as there was no time for him to write it or even predict what would happen. It could only be the men. It seemed Uncle Richard was taken away and being held hostage.

"Were they going to ask for ransom? I don't have any money to pay them!" I thought, still standing rooted in my spot.

"I have never been paired with someone so stupid before. Why would they need your money? You heard your name being mentioned and you are thinking of money. Of course, you'd be the ransom they want!" My wolf, Althea, snickered loudly in my mind as if not believing I could think so stupidly. Before I could retort, I was interrupted by her again.

"You are always easily distracted, and that might be your downfall someday. Just this minute, you forgot about the danger lurking in the dark, waiting for a slight mistake from you. Go check the letter." Even though she was correct, I wouldn't say I liked her disrespectful attitude.

"If you don't watch your tone, Althea, believe me, you'd never experience the sunlight on your fur. My elf form is enough for me." I threatened, cutting off our communication instantly. I walked to the table and took the letter, opening it.

"My little Lia,

I can't believe how you have grown up to be an absolutely beautiful lady, and I can say for once that I didn't do a terrible job. Thank you for being part of my life. You should know many things and secrets, but sadly, I won't be able to tell you that as I am running out of time.

If you are seeing this letter, that means I am no longer with you, but rest assured, I am safe. You are to go to the address I will write at the bottom of this letter and don't forget what I have always told you. You are not to let anyone know you are a hybrid. Hide your elf form well and reveal only your wolf to the world.

On no account should It be known that you are a hybrid of wolf and elf, as you would be killed instantly on sight, and this should be kept as our little secret. Go to the address below and tell him you are from Richard. The Alpha owes me a favor and it is time for him to pay back. Till we meet again. I love you, little Lia."

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I held the letter like a fragile doll. He knew this would happen, and he had prepared for it a long time ago. I could tell from the ink that it had been written for a while. I felt betrayed and disappointed, wondering how he could do this to me despite knowing my greatest fear.

"He left," I whispered to myself. "He left me after promising not to." I blinked back, the tears clouding my eyes. I stood and walked toward his room; my shoulders cast down in sadness and loneliness. I wondered if something was wrong with me being unable to make someone stay with me. They always leave. I looked around the perfectly arranged room; the only thing out of place was the rumpled bed sheet and blanket on the bed. Uncle Richard was a perfectionist and had OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder).

I read the letter repeatedly, trying to decipher any hidden information, but found nothing. Suddenly, I clutched my chest in pain as Althea clawed at the imaginary wall I placed between us to stop our communication.

"What is it, Althea?" I questioned harshly.

"I'm sorry about earlier, but we need to leave soon." She said frantically, prancing up and down. "There's danger lurking by!"

"But we can't leave here. Uncle Richard might come back and he will go frantic if he can't find me!"

"He is not coming back, Ophelia. Get that into your head before you get us all killed. We can search for him later, but you need to get out of here. Pack the necessary things and leave." She shouted angrily. I wanted to scold her but stopped, knowing she was right.

With the letter in hand, I dashed silently into my room, took a backpack, and arranged some necessities into it. I looked around the room again before dashing out through the back door into the woods, my moves silent and precise.

I hadn't run too far into the woods when I heard a loud explosion and looked back in fright, my eyes turning red and black. My body trembled in anger at the sight reflecting in my glossy eyes. My fangs and claws elongated as I stared at my once-home burning down rapidly before my eyes.

It took all my strength and power not to return and find the orchestrator. "I will find you and will enjoy the burnt smell of your flesh burning," I whispered, turning back as I disappeared into the woods.

It's been two days since I had been wandering around the forest. Even though I knew the forest like the palm of my hand, it still took me two days to reach civilization, even in my wolf form.

Dropping the backpack which hung around my neck, I shook my fur, trying to rid myself of the journey's tiredness. My ears perked up as I heard the sound of floating water. There was a stream nearby. My bones cracked as I switched back into my human form and picked up my backpack. The bottled water I took from home had long been exhausted.

"Watch out!" Althea screamed just as I instinctively dodged, but it was too late as I collapsed weakly on the earth's surface. My body became weak instantly as I struggled to keep my eyes open but failed, the darkness pulling me in quickly.

Wolfbane.