HUNTED-Chapter 433: Golden Egg (3)

The black wolf, with a white streak running down the side of her body, sprinted through the woods, jumping over bushes and whipping in and out of trees skilfully. The battered wolf could barely keep up, stumbling and almost hitting trees, trying to keep the wolf ahead in its sight.

Once Ember broke through the shrubbery and the last of the forest, she didn’t hold back. There were no obstructions in the way now, and the wolf chasing her was yet to emerge from the forest.

Keira’s attention flicked to the timer above them and the hovering drone that had surprisingly kept up with them, most likely recording their entire fight and her wolf fleeing with two golden eggs instead of one. There was no need for it, but Keira wanted to teach the other girl a lesson.

She didn’t need to pick a fight with Keira. They were nearing the finishing time, both victorious with getting a golden egg, and yet the she-wolf decided to try and take her out over some grudge. Well, she picked on the wrong she-wolf.

As she continued to sprint, others came into her peripheral vision. She braced herself for more attacks, but then she saw the glinting light of golden eggs in their mouths, too. More werewolves were at the other end of this course now, where all of them had been at the beginning by the tunnel, looking bloodied and bruised, fur ripped in places, waiting with their golden eggs.

Almost there. Ember looked behind them again, but the other she-wolf had only just emerged from the forest, followed by others—all without a golden egg. Some still fought among themselves while others tried to catch up to those fleeing with their egg.

’We need to get to the tunnel.’ Ember pushed forward even as her muscles started to burn.

’Wait…’ Keira’s attention moved to a wolf charging towards Dylan near the tunnel. Dylan was barely jogging with a limp, holding onto a golden egg, his glasses still askew.

It was clear the wolf was going to kill Dylan and take the egg from him.

Ember’s thoughts aligned with Keira’s, acting before Keira could ask her to. She changed direction and picked up her speed, charging at the other wolf as it leapt at Dylan, jaw wide open, intent on making that final strike. Ember barged into the opposing wolf whilst holding onto the golden eggs in her mouth. Both rolled to the side and jumped to their feet.

Dylan stumbled backwards, and the golden egg flew along the grass, rolling out of reach to everyone. He crawled along the ground, his body weak, bruised and bleeding, the blood soaking into the grass beneath him where he dragged along it.

Ember remained in front of Dylan, and whenever the other wolf tried to go for him, she stepped forward. Even without using her sharp teeth, the aura of a much larger wolf was intimidating to the one trying to attack Dylan, who was in such a vulnerable state. After a few more attempts, the wolf backed off and started towards the golden egg that had rolled off to the side.

Turning around, Ember strode towards Dylan, but her leg buckled on the final step before him, and she shifted back into human form. Keira was thrust forward into her trembling form, hunched over on the ground, clinging to the golden eggs. She looked up at Dylan, who was before her, still on the ground, midway pushing up onto his hands and knees.

"Here…" Keira whispered, handing him a golden egg.

Dylan’s eyes flicked between hers. "You have two…"

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Keira looked to the side at an approaching figure. It was the scarred she-wolf from before, unabashedly naked, picking up the golden egg that had rolled to the side. The wolf who’d tried attacking Dylan lay dead on the ground. She glared at Keira and took the final three steps towards the tunnel.

"Here." Dylan leaned back and tugged his shirt over his shoulders, revealing a shredded body flexing to his movements. He looked away as Keira put the top on whilst remaining in a crouched position. The top was baggy on her, falling to her thighs.

’You need to get in the tunnel,’ Ember urged quietly as she curled up into a ball.

I feel that, sister.

Keira rose to her shaky feet, egg in hand and waited for Dylan to follow. She had no more strength to aid him into standing. They could have crawled, really, the distance was so short. A small part of her felt guilty towards the scarred she-wolf whose egg she’d stolen and then given to Dylan.

One minute left.

They made the final steps. Relief flooded Keira’s body. She didn’t know what would happen now, but she was glad to have at least helped Dylan. She didn’t know why she felt this sudden urge to protect him—maybe because of how unfair the odds were to him? He’d been beaten up before this sickening game.

Dylan impressed Keira by finding a golden egg and almost making it back in time. She believed he would be a goner, and it was the last time she’d seen him.

The countdown above changed to a bright red, and the last three seconds ran out, as announced by a loud horn. Keira released a long breath, her arms and legs shaking, face paling. Now that it was the end, she could relax, right? Her body couldn’t hold her up for much longer.

"Ooft." Someone pushed her hard in the back.

"You bitch!"

Keira spun around, ignoring the black dots clouding the side of her vision as the scarred she-wolf from before raised a clawed hand. Keira slowly moved her legs into a fighting position, clearly too slow because Dylan stood in front of Keira and Ahren, appearing out of nowhere, stopped her strike.

"Let go of me!" She snarled at Ahren.

Keira inhaled deeply and breathed out slowly, recovering a tiny bit as the black dots faded away. "I never intended on stealing the egg for long-"

"Bullshit!" The she-wolf spat back, glaring at Keira and trying to get out of Ahren’s vice-like grip. "You told me there were consequences…"

"And there are," Keira’s voice grew steely, her eyes glimmering like the light hitting a steely blade. "You wanted to kill me when we both had golden eggs…" She stepped forward even as her knee buckled a little, standing by Dylan’s side. "I planned on returning it to you at the last minute. I’m not cruel, unlike SOME."

She had. Although Keira was beginning to dislike this girl, she had no intention of killing her.

The she-wolf growled back at her, but before any more words could be exchanged, gunshots rang through the air, silencing them. Keira’s head whipped back and paled, watching those who hadn’t returned to the tunnel, those who had failed at retrieving an egg being shot in the head. Many attempted to flee. Attempted.

Keira’s heart leapt into her throat, paralysing her. All those lives were lost because of a stupid game.

In their distraction, the girl yanked her wrist free from Ahren and barged into Keira’s shoulder as she passed. "You act so tough." She scoffed, sneering at the side of Keira’s face. She was a little shorter than Keira but locked eyes with her anyway, acting as though she looked down her nose at Keira. "Yet, you tremble before their deaths.

It’s weak and pathetic." She leaned closer and dropped her voice to a whisper. "You won’t last here, princess."

Keira’s eyes widened, and she looked over her shoulder at the she-wolf stalking off. Did she know who she was? It didn’t matter. She would either be a target or someone others might go to for protection. She was young but clearly still quite powerful compared to others here.

Keira turned on her heel, watching the she-wolf’s retreating form. "There’s nothing wrong with feeling sad for those who have lost their lives." The girl’s hands clenched into fists. It was the only reaction Keira saw from her as she continued to walk away from them.

Keira pitied the girl-

’Don’t,’ Ember snarled. ’She tried to kill us.’

’She also didn’t even flinch at their deaths-’

’So, she’s evil. Stay away from her,’ Ember growled from her sleeping position.

’So, she’s been desensitised to it. Can you imagine what she might have had to endure-’

’I don’t care,’ Ember clipped back. ’All I care about is you and your survival. That includes not feeling sorry for some evil bitch.’

"Don’t mind, Katrina. She hates everyone," Dylan murmured.

"Rogue?" Keira asked, still facing the retreating she-wolf named Katrina.

She marched past the other victors who were already walking away from the field they’d all so brutally fought in. It was clear from their recent wounds, shredded clothes or naked bodies scattered with bite marks and bruising. Everyone dropped their golden eggs into a square box with a digital number counted up the more eggs were put inside.

"Yep, most of us are," Dylan added. "We are easier targets than packs."

That was true and the most likely reason people wouldn’t like her.