Chapter 23

"I'll be back soon, you won't have time to miss me.

Look after my heart - I've left it with you."

"If I could dream at all,

it would be about you."

"You are my life.

You're the only thing

it would hurt me to lose."

"You are the most important thing to me now.

The most important thing to me ever."

"It makes me... anxious...

to be away from you."

"Trust me just this one -

you are the opposite of ordinary."

"You are my life now."

- Edward Cullen -

Katherine was terrified seeing that Hunter is running towards Gregory, with anger in his eyes. Eventhough, the man is not on their side still, she doesn't want to see him killed by her wolf. Not sure if she can do it but she will atleast try. She run, then jumped and immediately summersaulted landing at the back of Hunter. She put herself into a deep concentration and when she opens her eyes, she smiled because they were not inside the arena anymore but her smile faded because infront of them were unfamiliar individuals with curious faces looking at them especially at Hunter who was still angry but not anymore with Gregory but with the people infront of him.

"Who are you and what kind of animal is that? How the hell did you just appeared infront of us?" One of the men asked and with his looks, Katherine is sure that he's the leader of the group.

"Well, ahm, I'm Katherine and this is my wolf, Hunter. We're just passing by, you know." Katherine said with a sweet smile on her face.

"Really? Passing by? That's a wolf?" The man asked again with a raised brow.

"Yeah, maybe because you were too busy talking, you weren't able to notice us." Katherine said hoping that these men will believe her.

"And what does a beauty like you doing with that ugly wolf in our territory?" The man asked again making Hunter stepped one foot ready to attack him. Katherine stroked his fur and he calmed a little.

"Ahm, we're kinda lost in the woods and maybe we could ask you directions on how we could return to our place." Katherine said.

"You want our help?" The man said smirking.

"Yeah?" Katherine answered.

"She needs our help." The man said looking to his companions and they all laughed.

"This is not good." Katherine said to herself.

"We will help you beautiful but what's the catch?" The man asked with a grin on his face. He is slowly walking towards Katherine but stopped when Hunter growled. Katherine stroked Hunter's fur again and whispered.

"Behave, buddy." Making Hunter sit. Katherine go down from Hunter's back. The man infront of her looked at Katherine intently and he felt something different from her.

"From where you are?" The man asked not removing his eyes on Katherine.

"Where is this place?" Katherine needs to know their exact location so she could make a white lie.

"This is the East." The man answered.

"Oh, I'm from the North." She remembered Gregory is the North leader.

"Really?" The man asked with a narrowed eyes.

"My brother leads the North side but unfortunately, they were captured by our enemies. All of them were captured, meaning, no one escaped." The man said looking seriously at Katherine.

"Trouble." Katherine said to herself.

"Who are you?" The man asked again.

"I'm Katherine." She answered but the man only smirk and to Katherine's surprise, the man instantly grab her neck. Hunter howled and started walking towards the man but he stopped seeing that his sharp fangs are already protruding aiming Katherine's neck.

"Behave or I will kill her." The man said and Hunter standstill as if he understood what the man said.

"Good boy." The man said but Hunter growled.

"I will ask you for the last time and if you still love your life, answer me correctly." The man said.

Katherine knew that she can deal with all of them with just a snap of her finger but she knew that this man is Gregory's brother making him a Sanguinarian too. She needs to find answers about these people so she could think of ways to end the war between them.

"I'm serious in telling you that I'm Katherine. Do I need to show you my identification card?" Katherine said making the group smile but when their leader looked at them, their smiles faded.

"Who are you by the way?" Katherine continued.

"Not needed because I will kill you at this very moment." The man said.

"Okay." Katherine said making the man furrowed his forehead.

"Are you not afraid of death?" The man asked.

"Are you not afraid of my fangs?" The man continued showing Katherine his sharp canines.

"No because I'm already dead." Katherine said.

"What!?" The man said with bewilderment. Katherine laughed seeing the man's confusion.

"Just joking. Anyways, where's your place?" I'm really tired and I'm hungry." Katherine said making the man rolled his eyes.

"You're really something. Your life is in danger yet you're thinking of rest and food?" The man said with amazement in his eyes.

Katherine looked at the man and she can say that he's handsome too just like Gregory.

"You look like him." Katherine whispered but he was able to hear it.

"Who look like me?" The man asked.

"My wolf." Katherine said.

"What!?" The man said, irritation on his face.

"Just joking again." Katherine said making the man sighed.

"Bring her to our place." The man ordered his men.

"Oh, no, no, you stay here, you're not coming. My people will be scared of you." The man said seeing Hunter is following Katherine. Hunter growled.

"Hunter, it's okay." Katherine said.

"Go home, and tell them where I am." Katherine secretly mind link Hunter and she smiled when the wolf stopped his tracks then, after few seconds of looking at her, he run away.

"Let's go." The man said.

"What is your name?" Katherine asked.

"I'm Travis." He said and continue walking.