05 | Mate

05 | Mate

At 7:00 PM, I started to feel hungry. I took another look at my younger brother, who was still sound asleep. I grinned a little and went to the kitchen to get something to eat.

I could feel the weight on my chest while I was eating my dinner. Four months passed, but I still could not get used to this situation. I still miss my parents. We eat together, a lot. Back then, I did not appreciate it. Now, I want to go back in time and spend more time with them.

I went to the sink to wash the dishes when I was done eating. I then heard some rustling a short while later. It came from our room. Is Bran already awake?

I heard a strong wind coming in. I just remember closing the windows before it grew dark. I took a swallow and halted my actions. My heart was racing faster. I walked cautiously toward the room where Bran was. As I got closer, I held my breath until I got to the door.

Bran was awake, and the window was open. He was innocently staring at the open window while sitting in his crib. I got there right away and shut it.

I looked outside the window. Although the half-moon can be seen, the clouds in the sky prevent it from glowing brightly. The wind was cold and no one could be seen outside. The crickets, the wind, and a few animal grunts were the only sounds I could hear outside.

My attention briefly wandered to the nearby tree. My eyes widened as I covered my mouth to stop my breathing.

"S-Shadows..."

They are here!

I stepped back. Are they here to kill us?

I looked around when the lights switched off and on. They... are already inside.

For the first time, Bran started crying. I dashed over and took him out of the crib. Without stopping, I ran outside. I couldn't even put on shoes. Even the outdoor lights turned on and off. They were absorbing the light and filling it with darkness.

We left the old apartment unscathed. I didn't turn to look behind me, but I knew those shadows were still following us. I kept on running even though I was having trouble breathing. My legs felt as though they would give out. I tried to call for help, but I was unable to speak the words. I had no idea where my feet were leading me until we entered the woods.

"Please... Please. S-Someone help us," I whispered.

I feel the pain in the soles of my feet. I stepped on a few sharp things but all I could do was moan. I just ran until my legs gave up. I fell to the ground, catching my breath.

"Oh, God!" I couldn't stop the tears from coming out of my eyes. I know we can't hide from them. I looked behind me when I felt their presence.

I gasped. We were already surrounded by them. The half-moon wasn't visible due to the thick clouds. My sight was already adjusted to the dark, but it wasn't enough for me to see their faces. Just like before, their eyes were glowing blue, and their feet were just like what a wild animal has. Yet their body figures resembled humans. Just what are they?

My grip on Bran tightened. They gradually moved away from our direction.

"Stay... Stay away from us!" I screamed between my heavy breaths. However, it didn't make them stop until one of them grabbed me.

A few seconds later, a scream was heard in the vast woods. I lost my brother in my arms.

"No! Bran!" I cried, trying to take back my brother from one of those shadows.

They surrounded me as the one holding my brother quickly disappeared along with him. I never heard his cries again.

Help. Someone, help me.

I forced myself to stand up and run away from them. I still couldn't stop the tears from coming from my eyes. A hand grabbed my leg, causing me to fall again on the muddy ground.

"Ahhh!" I shouted.

The Shadow grabbed my neck and suddenly bit me there. A shrill scream came out of my mouth again. I can feel its sharp fangs digging into my skin.

"Don't! Let me go!" I shouted. I felt another one touch my arm. I screamed again as I was bitten in that part until some of them did the same. They're trying to devour me.

Help me, please.

I was losing hope. No one would be near the woods at this hour. No one would help me from these monsters. All I could do was scream.

Help me.

My eyes were about to close when I heard a loud growl. The Shadows briefly stopped biting me. I looked up at the source of the growl.

My lips parted. It was my first time seeing a dire wolf. It was larger than I thought. The dire wolf stood atop a large rock. His body was gray except for the tip of his tail, claws, and chest, which were white. His eyes were glowing red, looking at us angrily.

One of the shadows attacked him, but he easily grabbed the neck of the Shadow with his fangs.

He approached us with the lifeless shadow in his mouth, angrily throwing it in front of us. The shadows rushed to him one after another. Yet, just like the first one, they just flew into the air whenever they approached the dire wolf.

I felt the shadows leaving my body and rushed to him as well. Their attacks were also futile.

I leaned against the tree near me. I wanted to run away, but I was too exhausted. I couldn't help being scared as I watched them. The dire wolf ripped every shadow that went in his way.

He was ruthless, killing those monsters.

After a few minutes, all the Shadows were lying on the ground, lifeless. The dire wolf was standing in the middle.

The clouds in the sky were gradually disappearing as the moon became visible.

The dire wolf slowly approached me. I couldn't move as he reached me. My whole body was shaking with fear. I held my breath as he moved closer to me. He sniffed my face.

I'm going to die this time.

I closed my eyes, embracing my death for the second time. But instead of sharp fangs and claws, I felt a hand touching my cheek. I could feel his nose sniffing my neck. It was not a dire wolf, but a human.

I opened my eyes again. I gasped as my eyes widened, looking at the man in front of me. His naked body was exposed in front of my eyes.

He moved away from me as our eyes met for the second time. I quickly recognized his sullen lilac eyes.

Augustus.

Under the moonlight, I could hear the heartbeats of two hearts. Our eyes were still locked on each other's eyes. His face still had traces of blood, and his eyes remained cold, but instead of being afraid, I wanted to get closer to him. I wanted to be devoured by him.

He furrowed his brows before he uttered the word... "Mate."