Chapter 80

Agnes

To say that I was satisfied and relieved by Ava’s absence at work would have been putting it lightly. I was far more than satisfied. Far more than relieved.

For the first time in a long time, I finally felt… free. And it showed in my work; over the remainder of the week, I developed several more sketches for the show, totalling five viable sketches by the end of the week.

In fact, by the time Friday rolled around, the department was moving like a well-oiled machine again. Maria’s work soared as well, and all of the designers admitted how happy they were to have Ava’s negative presence gone.

Soon enough, our fashion show would be underway. And I couldn’t have been more excited.

On Saturday morning, I woke up bright and early, feeling like going for a run. I wasn’t sure why, as I didn’t often run for exercise anymore—maybe it was the way the sun was shining particularly bright that morning, or maybe it was the way the birds were singing outside. Either way, I felt like getting out into the fresh air.

So without waiting for Thea or Elijah to wake up, I quickly dressed in my running gear and stepped out into the brisk morning air, inhaling deeply with a small smile on my face.

I began to run through the estate paths, which wound their way through the gardens and toward the forest at the back of the property. As I jogged, I passed by the groundskeepers, waving and saying good morning in a cheerful tone of voice.

“You’re in a good mood today, Luna!” one of the gardeners called after me as I jogged past, a smile on my face.

I turned and jogged backwards, unable to hide my giggle of glee. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”

The gardener chuckled. “Indeed it is. Enjoy your run!”

And I did enjoy it. Soon enough I had exhausted all of the garden trails, but I still felt like running, so I took the one trail leading toward the forest. There were some hiking trails through the woods, which I knew would be challenging due to the hills. But at the end, I knew there would be a nice view, which would be perfect to stop and enjoy for a while before heading back.

The forest was just as lovely as the gardens. The cool air immediately soothed my burning lungs, and the sound of early morning birdsong reached my ears. It was exceptionally green and vibrant, fluffy moss coating rocks and fallen trees as I meandered my way through the path.

Truthfully, I still wasn’t sure why I was in such a mood to run today. And furthermore, I wasn’t sure where my stamina was coming from.

With no wolf, my endurance wasn’t nearly what it used to be. Ever since I had lost my wolf, I had felt incapable of doing the things that I used to enjoy doing, such as training, playing sports, or running.

In fact, over the years, I had pretty much become lazy.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to exercise—and I still did, of course—but it was rather that I simply couldn’t. All I could really handle was low-impact exercise, such as hiking, biking, or yoga. Running for more than a mile, which never used to bother me before, felt like I was setting my lungs and limbs on fire.

But today, I didn’t feel that way. Today, I felt like my old self, running freely through the forest. Sure, my legs were starting to burn, but it was a good sort of burn.

For a moment, just a moment, I allowed myself to imagine that my wolf was returning and that was why I felt this way.

But I knew that wasn’t the case. When I reached inward and called out to her, there was no response, just as there hadn’t been for nearly seven years now.

Still, maybe pretending that she was returning was what kept me running.

At least, that was until I heard it.

The growl.

I slowed, coming to a stop around a bend of a narrow path. “Hello? Elijah?” I called out, turning. There was no one; just towering trees and swaying ferns.

Frowning, I turned to continue my run, figuring I had just imagined the sound of the deep growl. But then, I realized that I hadn’t imagined it at all.

Because a large, mangy-looking wolf was stepping out from a copse of bushes up ahead.

I gasped and took a step back. “Who are you?” I called out.

No response. The wolf just kept stalking toward me, head lowered and hackles raised. Its upper lip curled back, revealing yellowed, dripping fangs.

A rogue.

I knew I needed to get away, and quickly. Rogues had no ties to the pack, no scruples when it came to who they harmed. Sometimes, rogues were even rabid, affected by a mad wolf disease that could strip them of their higher functions—even trapping them in their wolf forms for so long that they forgot their humanity entirely.

I couldn’t risk an altercation, so I quickly turned, intending to run back toward the house.

But I was met with another rogue, this time directly behind me—so close I could feel the heat coming off of its breath.

I screeched, stumbling and falling backwards onto the damp soil. When I turned my head, I saw that there was a third rogue coming from the left, and a fourth on the right. I was completely surrounded.

“S-Stay back!” I called out, raising my voice in the hopes that Elijah or anyone would hear me. “Help! Rogues!”

It was too late. In a flash, the rogues converged, all leaping toward me in a mass of fur and fangs.

But something happened then.

No one came to my rescue. Elijah didn’t come barreling out of the trees. But rather, something happened inside of me. Some deep, forgotten power surged through me, taking over my muscles and sinews.

My wolf.

What happened next, I couldn’t describe even if I tried. All I knew was that one moment I was cowering on the ground, and the next I was on my feet, fighting off the rogues with all the ease of a Luna who had been training her entire life. My fists flew, legs extending in powerful kicks, deep and guttural growls escaping my lips and mingling with the terrified yelps of the rogues.

Something sharp connected with my arm, drawing hot red blood to the surface, but I hardly noticed.

All I noticed was the sudden gap in the rogues, and the chance to get away.

And I did just that.

Leaving the rogues behind, I took off back toward the house, my legs carrying me faster than they ever had. I ran and ran, so fast that the wind whistled in my ears, so fast that the forest around me turned into a blur.

I didn’t notice the sturdy form racing toward me until I collided with a warm chest, strong arms wrapping around me.

“Agnes!” Elijah shouted, grabbing my injured arm. “What happened? Are you alright?”

I paused, gasping, and looked over my shoulder. The rogues were gone, and as for the presence inside of me…

It was gone, too.

Suddenly, whatever strength I had left quickly ebbed away, leaving me feeling powerless and deflated. As I collapsed into Elijah’s arms, my legs giving out beneath me, all I could do was point toward the forest and gasp, “Rogues. Four of them.”

Elijah swiftly scooped me up against his chest, not caring if my blood stained his shirt. He shouted something, and several pack warriors took off into the woods in their wolf forms to find the rogues.

And as he carried me away, my head lolling against his chest, a single tear slipped down my cheek; but it had nothing to do with my wound.

My wolf was gone again.