The Journey

“ARE YOU INSANE?!”

Iwas half-screaming, half-sputtering when I lunged at Cyrus. Because what elsewas I going to do?!! He had justcold-blooded killed my stepdad like he was swatting a fly!

Judas lay there gasping, eyesopen, blood blackening his shirt, a terrible art piece. The metallic tang was already curling in my nostrils,turning my stomach. I just couldn’t process what I hadjust seen. One minute, he was standing there, saying the same-old, same-old, and the next— dead. Just like that. As if his lifehadn’t mattered.

Cyrus, the absolute beast, didn’t evenlook the slightest bit affected. He just caught my wrist inmid-air like I was some troublesome cat mid-pounce, whipping me toward the door with comical ease. His grasp was firm but not painful, as if he were cradling something delicate that happened to beextremely annoying.

“We’re leaving.”

His tone was way too fucking casual,as if we were going on a weekend trip rather than escaping a murder scene.

I dug my heels in, breathingshort, panicked bursts. “The hell we are! He has kids! A family!”

Cyrus piqued a brow, his demeanor barelychanging. “You mean the manwho sold you for a goat? That family?”

Okay, fair point, but STILL.

“That doesn’t mean you —you just —” My voice shook. My heart raced sofast it was as if it was trying to burst out of my ribcage. I whippedaround to my mom, who I figured would react, break down, scream, act like a person.

Nothing.

She just kind of stoodthere, staring at Judas’s cooling body as if she was waiting for it to get up and apologize. Not a single tear. Not even a gasp of shock.

My stomach curdled. "Mother?"

She blinked at last, as if I’d only now appeared in her field ofvision. Her lips opened slightly and she exhaled through her nose, looking — giveme a second — tired. Not sad. Not horrified. Just tired. "Agnes... go with him."

That stung. More than it should have. More than I wanted to admit.

I felt my throat constrict as I looked for someflicker of hesitation in her face, some signal that she didn’t really mean it. That she was simply inshock and would come out of it any second. Any second now.

But she didn’t.

She shifted her eyes between me and Cyrus, herface unreadable. Andjust like that, she was gone. Like this was already over. Like I was already gone.

Myfists balled, nails digging into my palms. "You can’t be serious. He just — hejust murdered your husband!” And you’re just accepting ofthis?”

Only her shoulders tensed slightly, a hintof any real emotion. "He wasn’t a good man."

I emitteda stuttering laugh, half disbelief, half hysteria. "Oh, great. So murder is perfectly okay then,right?”

Cyrus made a low, amusingsound. "See? Mommy dearest agrees. Now let’s go beforeI lose my patience.”

His grip tightened. Ihardly had a moment to gasp before he all but shoved me toward the carriage waiting outside.

The Carriage Ride of Doom

I folded my arms across mychest and glared daggers at Cyrus.

Hours stretched between us withoutwords. Literally.

Atsome stage, I fell asleep, which was to become the worst mistake I ever made.

Because I fell asleepwith my head on his shoulder.

And—OH DEAR GOD—DROOL.

I sprung up so quickly Inearly catapulted myself out the window. "I—YOU—THIS—"

Cyrus looked down at hisvery expensive-looking shirt, on which a shiny wet patch of my betrayal glimmered.

Then he looked at me.

I gulped. “Wecan pretend this never happened.”

Cyrus tilted his head; the smirk that crept ontohis infuriatingly perfect face was a slow one. Or youcan wash it when we get home.”

Damn it.

I scowled. “Or, and hear me out — big-brain idea — we get someoneelse to wash it. Like, I don’tknow, a servant? A very dedicated raccoon?"

He arched his brow. “Are you comparing yourself toa raccoon?”

“No, I’m saying that a raccoon would be better atthis job.” They have tiny hands. It’s pretty mucheverything they do.”

He hummed asthough not impressed at all. "Fascinating. Now, wash it."

I puffed, spinning around to yank the carriage curtains open — and regrettedit instantly.

Just blackness and trees,trees, trees.

I blinked. “…Are we in a forest?”

Cyrus reclined, relaxedas ever, as if he hadn’t just pulled me into a horror story setting. “Took you a whileto notice.”

"Notice?! We’re in the middle ofnowhere! Shouldn’t we stay at an inn orsomething?! Or maybe somewhere with,I don’t know, beds? Civilization? People whodon’t go around murdering people?”

“Oh,” Cyrus said failing to hide his dramaticsigh, as though I was wearing him out personally. "We don’t need an inn. We have a destination."

"Great. Love that for us. And how dowe survive being eaten by something with more teeth than a dentist’s nightmare?”

As if the cosmos had determined to embrace the very soul of spite, a distant, blood-curdling wail pierced thesilence.

I froze.

My blood ran cold.

Gradually, I pivoted to Cyrus, hoping—if only this once—that he would give a little slackmeasure of concern. Just a little. A fraction wouldbe comforting, even a small one.

Nope.

The bastard looked bored.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t hear that,” I whispered, my voiceat the verge of squeaking.

Cyrus sighed and picked at his nails, as if he had better things to do thanacknowledge my imminent doom. “You really suckat this whole not panicking stuff.”

“NOT PANICKING? WE’RE LITERALLY ABOUTTO BECOME WOLF SNACKS.'

He looked at me slowly,judgmentally. Then deadpanning, he added,“I’d love to see them try.”

I blinked. What.

My mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. “Excuse me —do you think you’re scarier than whatever just made that noise?”

His smirk widened. "You tell me."

Oh, for the love of—

I threw my hands up. "Fantastic! We’ve officially crossed into the “Cyrus believeshe’s an untouchable badass” segment of the evening. You know what? Let’s just invite them over! Perhaps they’ll value your bravado more than Ido!”

There was another howl, nearerthis time.

I was on the edge ofmy seat.” “Oh my gods, we are really going todie.

Cyrus stretched, perhaps enjoyingmy misery. "You really lack faith."

"Faith?! Faith in WHAT? The factthat you possess the survival instincts of a brick?”

He rolled his eyes. “Iwant to see a brick tear someone’s throat out.”

I made an indignant noise. "Not the point!"

He looked me over for a moment, then leaned across andgave my head an absent signal.

"Relax. You’re with me."

I swatted his hand away. "That is not comforting!"

"It should be."

"Well, it’s not!"

His smirk was still there,but with something else mixed in. Something dark. Amused. Dangerous. “Then maybe you aren’t asintelligent as you say you are.”

I let out a hardbreath, squeezing the bridge of my nose. "You know what? Fine. When the wolves come, you canfight ‘em, and I’ll be over here, screaming and crying like a sane person.”

His eyes sparkledin the lowlight. “That’s the best thingyou said all night.”

I sank intomy seat and groaned. I was so doomed.

Despitethe confusion this caused me, Cyrus dismissed it with a wave and shut his eyes as though prepared to nap.

The moonlight fell through the window, andI was still looking at him—

—And his eyes blazed up througha bloody and violent red.

My breath hitched. My hands went clammy. My stomach dropped.

Cyrus,still completely calm, whispered, “Close the curtains.”

I did. IMMEDIATELY.

And that’swhen it dawned on me — hit me like a damn truck.

“…You’re not human, are you?”

Cyrus cracked one eye, a wrysmile flitting across his face. “What do you think?”

“I—I don’t know! A demon? A witch? A vampire?”

Cyrus scoffed. “Vampires are extinct. Insufferablelittle bloodsuckers.”

I stared. “Youare acting like you know them personally.”

Cyrus smirked. “Maybe I do.”

I gulped.

Oh.

Oh, I wasso fucking screwed.

TheArrival — And the Immediate Regret

After two days of agony, we finally reachedour destination.

And boy.

Ithad been a stone fortress—massive, intimidating and shrouded in darkness. It seemed like the sort of place where happy dreams went todie.

I climbed down from the carriage and instantly clutchedCyrus’s sleeve.

Why?

Because there were wolves. Everywhere. Huge ones.

And the worst part? There were humans too — laughing, chatting, totally unfazed that literal giantbeasts were just chilling outside.

My brain refused to compute.

Then —LIKE THIS DAY COULDN’T GET ANY WORSE — a wolf charged at me.

I let out this ear-piercing scream and I think my soulslipped out of my body.

Cyrus, unflappableas ever, covered my mouth with a hand.

Before I had time to process that I was going to die, it altered inthe air;

And just like that— a naked man appeared in front of us.

I CAMESLAP, SLAP, SLEEPING IN MY HANDS OVER MY EYES.

“WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?! ” I shrieked. “YOUEVER HEARD OF CLOTHING?”

The man, completely unbothered,laughed. “She’s loud.”

Cyrus smirked. “Very.”

Ipulled one hand away just far enough to glare at him. “OH, I’M SORRY—AM I THEWEIRD ONE HERE?! ”

Cyruscrouched, a twinkle of mirth in his eyes. “Welcometo the Ghysen, the Pack of the Northern Wolves.

I blinked.

Then blinked again.

Then slowly, the realization of my total impendingdoom settled in.

I had justbeen sold to a pack of werewolves.

Oh.

Ohhh.

…Welp. I was so freaking dead.