CHAPTER 11

Sweat rolled down the sides of my face as I saw this assassin move closer to me. I didn't take my eyes off the bear for even a second. It was taking its time, before it would eventually pounce on me. Then with one more growl, it pounced.

I closed my eyes the moment I saw it pounce, and the next thing I heard was the sound of flesh tearing to pieces. Blood everywhere. It was all over me.

I couldn't believe this was how I would end up dying. I had always pictured myself dying in an epic battle ; one that would either determine the fate of the world, or my fate at least, but being eaten by a bear, alone in the forest, with no one to tell my story, wasn't exactly what I saw as the idle way to die.

But death was death I suppose, my time had come, and I laid still, waiting patiently for the last bit of life to finally drain from my body.

" You're not dead yet, princess "

I heard Theo's voice spring up from the darkness. I opened my eyes and saw him standing there, right in front of me, with his sword in his hand. Even in the dark I could still see that annoying smirk on his face.

I looked down, and found the bear lying there, cut clean open, blood gushed out of its lifeless body, then I looked at Theo, he was cleaning the blood off his sword with a piece of cloth, he wiped the blood off, and replaced the sword back in it's sheath, as good as new.

" So I guess the party wasn't fun enough ? " Theo asked, I could sense sarcasm in his tone, and I wanted to hit him for it, but he had saved my life, the least I could do was be grateful.

" I didn't wish to be here " I said, thank you could come later.

" So then you wanted to be chased by a man eating bear then ? " Theo asked, but I didn't answer that question.

" How did you know I would be here ? " I asked.

" It was easy, " he replied, and I waited to see why he thought so " I listened for the cries of a helpless wolf " he teased me again, if my hand hadn't been injured I would've punched him so hard in the gut, I thought, and then looked at my hand, it was better now, at least the bleeding had stopped, and it wasn't as sore as the first time.

" Is it still sore " Theo asked, looking at my hand now .

" I'll live, " I said confidently.

But then a familiar sound struck me again.

Snap !

We both looked up quickly, I could see Theo straining to see what lurked in the shadows, then I heard the sound again, only this time it wasn't just a snap, more like a brush, and it was right behind me.

I saw Theo's eyes widen greatly, he pushed me out of the way in seconds. I had never seen Theo move that fast before, not even when we trained, but like he was quick to push me out of the way, he wasn't so quick to jump himself, and I saw the bear lash at him, in seconds he was flying in the air, then he crashed against a tree, and fell inches away from the bear that couldn't wait to have him for dinner.

I saw his sword, it had fallen when the bear clawed at him, I could see the bear getting even closer to Theo, I grabbed at the sword as quickly as I could, and sliced at the bear's back, it roared madly, and turned to look at me.

I handled the sword with care, knowing it would mean the end of me should it slip and fall, then the bear rushed at me, and being the over confident Luna that I was, I rushed at it. I slashed at it, and it slashed back, its sharp claws swung at me and would most likely have taken my head clean off if I hadn't ducked just in time.

It came at me again before I could even get my stance, growling, pouncing and clawing about the trees, hoping to cut at me, but I didn't give it a chance, then just when I hadn't expected, it swung at me, and ripped open the skin on my shoulder, the pain was menacing, I looked down at my shoulder, the trail of its claw marks left blood running down my arm.

We both seemed to take a second to breath, and then we were back at it again. But this fight was taking too long, had it been Theo, this bear would already be dead, and we would be closer to home.

With that in mind, I swung at the bear one more time, and landed on my feet, It did too, only it fell few seconds after. I had sliced its stomach open, and it just laid on the ground, bleeding to death.

I looked at the sword, it had more blood than before, then I heard Theo groan, i rushed to him, he had deep cuts on his chest, he was bleeding badly. Theo would heal in time, but for now he was as vulnerable as anyone.

Just when I thought that was the end of it, I heard ruffles through the bushes, and prepared the sword. As soon as I felt whatever it was closing in, I swung the sword again and almost cut Goku's head clean off, but surprisingly he didn't flinch, he seemed to study me intently, and then he saw the cut on my hand, and his eyes widen, he rushed to my side, and tried to wrap the wound, but I didn't let him, I was still angry at him, i could take care of myself, and frankly, that was all I needed him to know.

The other wolves soon arrived, Loden, Mikayo, my father and an elder wolf, Loden and Mikayo helped Theo to his feet, and they took him back home, the elder wolf walked towards the bear and patted it gently, it was still alive, and in a world of agony, the sword hadn't cut deep enough to kill it instantly.

I saw the elder wolf pull out a dagger from his satle, and with a quick movement, he plunged the dagger into the bear's failing heart, it didn't struggle, it groaned at first, but was dead the following second.

I didn't look at father, he must've been furious. I tailed along the other wolves quietly, until we arrived back home.

As soon as we got back, the healer cleaned my wounds, I was worried about Theo, his wound has been pretty deep.

" How is Theo ? " I asked, trying to surpress the pain on my arm as the healer pressed some herbs on my wounds.

" Argh " I gasped, the pain was more difficult to surpress than I thought .

" He'll be fine " the healer said.

" Can I see him ? " I asked.

" Not until morning " He said, as he began to pack his things, then once he was done, he walked out, and father walked in.

From the way father looked at me, I knew he was still very angry, Father hardly got angry at me, no matter what I did, but this time I had gone too far, and I knew he wasn't going to go easy on me .

He walked over to me, and sat across from me, the tension in the room was enough to light a bonfire, then he spoke.

" How is your arm ? " he asked, and I shot my eyes at him, I wasn't expecting that question.

" It's healing " I answered briefly.

He took another look at me, and asked...

" Why did you go to the forest ? " he asked, his tone was so calm, it scared me even more, I wanted to admit I got angry and stormed off, and I hadn't realized when I wandered into the forest. That it was all Goku's fault . But then one look at his face and I knew I couldn't possibly tell him that.

" I... I " I stuttered, thinking up a lie, " I wanted to get a gift for brother when he returned " I lied, and I saw father arch an eyebrow suspiciously at me.

He must've known I was lying, but he didn't stress the matter, he took another look at me, studying me more intently this time, before he finally said...

" Get some sleep, we'll talk about it in the morning " and with that he was out.

I took a deep breath as soon as father left my room, he really seemed pissed at me, but I knew he was more pissed at the fact that I put my life in danger.

I kept on tossing and turning in bed, just like I had done earlier when I didn't keep my promise to Theo, now I couldn't sleep because I felt guilty about the state he was in, he had come to save me, and now he was badly hurt, the wounds would heal perfectly in no time, and by morning, there wouldn't even be a trace of any scar, but even that wasn't enough to put my mind at ease. I felt like I had to see him, it was the least I could do.

As soon as I made sure the coast was clear, I went out to see Theo, his tent wasn't very far from mine, and I got there in no time.

The healer had placed some herbs on his wounds to reduce the pain, but the cuts were still very visible.

For some reason, I couldn't take my eyes off them, and the moment I touched him, it felt as if I was back in the forest, relieving everything all over again, like a vision that hit me, I removed my hand with a gasp, then I saw his eyelids tighten, he was waking up, without wasting anytime I turned to leave.

I got out before Theo woke up, I was so careful I was almost sure no one saw me, when I returned to my room, I saw Goku waiting outside, he must've come to look for me when I went to see Theo, he probably wanted to apologise, but I didn't want to hear it, I knew if he said he was sorry, I would forgive him, and I hadn't fought with a bear just to hear only that.

He stood up the moment he saw me, our eyes met , but that was all, I walked in without saying a word, and he walked in after me.

He seemed to remain silent for a while, before he finally said...

" I saw you at the party " he said.

Funny what anger and excitement can make you overlook, I didn't know why, but hearing Goku's voice now, it sounded more manly and in some way more commanding, maybe it was the alpha inside of him.

" And I saw you " I said, still without looking at him, I walked to my bed and sat on the other end backing him, then I started taking off my sandals.

He walked to the bed and sat on it , but he stayed on the other side. He seemed to regret not telling me about him being an alpha, but I wasn't in a mood to make excuses for him.

" I wanted to tell you " he confessed, " but then there was Dorn, and again at the cabin, and... " he paused for a while and sighed.

I could feel his frustration, but I didn't show it.

" I'm sorry " he said, and then we both grew quiet.

" It's late... I need to get some sleep " I said, my oh my, I was being so heartless now.

" Of course " I heard him whisper, then he got up from the bed, and walked to the door, he seemed to pause for a bit, before he finally raised the curtain, and walked out.

I knew he was sorry, and I knew he meant it, but I wasn't ready to give in just yet. I could've died today, and all he would've said was ... " I'm sorry "

I pulled the blanket over my body, and rested my head against my pillow, there were a few things I could explain, some however I couldn't, and one of them was the vision I saw when I touched Theo, but that would have to wait till morning. I was tired and deserved some sleep, and with that I closed my eyes.