Bidding Dylana off, Evangeline slipped into her car, her hand subconsciously brushing over her mark. It burned like a searing iron rod—already fading, now that the bond had snapped. But oddly enough, she didn't feel pain, no heartbreak, no sorrow. Her chest felt... lighter. Relieved. As if she'd finally been set free from something that was never true to begin with.
Evangeline released a shaky breath, she gripped the wheel trying to steady her thumping heart. Dylana had managed to wrap her injured hand, but the pain still pulsed, her body trembling from the rising heat. She hit the gas and drove out of the university.
She was an easy prey now—ripe for the taking with no mate nor his protection.. Thanks to Vallienne, she had lost all her pills too. Those pills would've kept her sane tonight. They would've shielded her, even just a little. And even worse, her body didn't care about the shame or danger. It just wanted. Craved. Burned.
"Ah—" she winced, biting down a scream as a violent rush of heat surged under her skin. Warmth gathered between her thighs, unbearable and cruel. Her stomach tightened painfully, her body begging for touch. It was sickening how even now, her instincts betrayed her.
The night sky offered no comfort. No stars. No moon. Just thick forest on both sides of the road—dangerous, merciless. Anything could leap out from those shadows. Evangeline sped through the dimly lit road, eager to reach the packhouse and lock herself in her room. That was the only safest place until this wreck of a heat cycle ended, and she prayed to be safe until she reached it.
But even the heavens had turned their back on her. Not after a few minutes of driving, Evangeline heard loud horns behind her. A chill ran down her spine as to found a few bikes chasing behind her.
They raced and followed closely, their malicious laughter reaching her ears.
Evangeline pressed harder on the gas, tires screeching, but they were too fast. The bikes flanked her car, weaving in and out beside her, boxing her in.
Stop the car!" one of them jeered. "Let's have some fun~" He banged on her window, causing Evangeline to flinch.
"You are finally free from that incompetent asshole~" Another barked. "Come out! We will help you cure your heat."
Evangeline's heart hammered against her chest. Her body shook as her heat worsened—every jolt, every rush of adrenaline only fueling it. Her body wanted something, anything, to ease the ache. But her mind screamed Keep driving.
To her horror, the car began to stutter—coughing, slowing. Evangeline slammed the pedal again, but it was too late. The engine gave out, and the car came to a slow, bumpy halt. Someone seemed to tamper with it, but she had no time to curse them.
The bikes circled her like vultures, engines revving, before they made a line in front of her car. One of them walked over and knocked on her window. His creepy smile, visible through the tinted glass, made Evangeline's skin crawl, his fangs pushed out making her stomach churn. Oh, she was doomed for real!
"Come out while we are being nice!" he taunted, mimicking the way she had stood up against Vallienne earlier. It seemed they were from the university and had been waiting for this.
Taking a deep breath, Evangeline rummaged through the glove compartment before taking the gun out. She hadn't walked out of the house without preparation—not when Vallienne decided to choose to prank specifically tonight.
The group was instantly hit with a wave of strong pheromones the moment she stepped out of the car. The leader licked his lips hungrily, his eyes gleaming with lust. His friend pushed Evangeline to the center, putting her under the dim street lights. But his smile vanished as Evangeline pointed the gun at them.
"One step and I will shoot you!" Evangeline warned, her hands trembling slightly. She clutched the gun tightly, aiming squarely at the leader, who was taken aback.
The man beside her tried to snatch it away, but Evangeline was quick and jerked away. "Don't you dare!" she pointed at him, before gesturing to join his mates.
"These are special bullets my father uses to hunt rogues. You must have heard about them, right?" she babbled whatever came to her mind.
"Even a small pierce would kill you." Evangeline continued, her words bold, unlike her shaky voice.
"Put it down! We will let you go!" the leader tried to negotiate, having a clear idea of Alpha Graham's infamous ways of torturing his enemies. His poisonous bullets were one of the many.
Evangeline placed her finger on the trigger, scaring them.
"No! No!" the group panicked, backing away.
"Let's talk it through! We are sorry!" the leader begged, but it was too late. The mad woman had pulled the trigger.
Everyone froze in terror, waiting for the inevitable. But instead of bullets, a thick fog of what seemed like pepper and garlic burst out from the barrel. Chaos broke out as Evangeline shot a few more times, stinging their eyes, burning their skin.
The leader coughed violently, his wolf groveling in pain. He caught Evangeline running into the forest through the haze. "This bitch! She tricked us!" he glowered.
"Catch her!"
Evangeline heard the voices of the group as she ran aimlessly into the dense forest. Her pack's weapons? She had no access nor privileges to touch them, so was forced to create her own. The spray would keep them distracted for a couple of minutes, and she needed to find a way before it.
She sprinted into the forest, crashing through branches, dodging trees. Her breath came in ragged gasps, pain biting at her lungs. Quickly, she took out her phone and dialed Dylana. But when she didn't pick up even after many trials, Evangeline was forced to dial Johan. Hiding behind a dense tree, she quickly dialed his number. And luckily, after two trials, he picked.
"A group attacked me," she panted. "I ran into the forest, but—they're catching up. And when there was no response, she added, "Please help me out."
There was a long silence before Johan scoffed from the other side. "We are no longer mates, stop clinging to me for god's sake!" His words cut through her hopes. "Also, serves you right for leaving your room." With that, he ended the call.
Evangeline kept the phone pressed to her ear, his words echoing in her mind. Yes, they hadn't been on good terms recently. But they had been friends for as long as she could remember—in fact, best friends! How could he not have even a tiny bit of concern left for her?
"She is around here! I can smell her!"
The voices cut through her thoughts. She had no time to cry over spoiled relationships. Taking a deep breath, Evangeline ran in the opposite direction of the voice. She didn't care that her lungs were screaming, or that her feet were stumbling. The heat in her veins was poison now, dragging her down. But she didn't care or stop!
Thanks to her pheromones, the leader was able to sense her even faster. Her heart skipped a beat as she felt the faint glow of flashlights. She ran faster through the thick trees, but they were able to catch up soon.
"Stop running, little whore!" the leader barked at her. "No one is going to save you tonight!" His hand reached Evangeline and caught her shirt's collar.
"Huh!" Evangeline as the fabric choked her throat, the buttons pressing onto her neck. And in the next second, he tore it away without mercy, exposing her back to the cold air.
Evangeline paused in panic, clutching the front part to her chest. One of them lunged forward and forcefully tore the remaining parts of her shirt before pushing her, shredding away her last hopes of fleeing.
Evangeline hit the muddy ground, groaning as the group circled her. Their laughter pierced through her ears, her vision blurry as she was barely able to stay conscious. Her heart rummaged against her chest, her body burning like a hot flame.
"Strip her!" the leader demanded with a smirk.
Evangeline quickly tried to crawl away, but one of them caught her ankle, dragging her back to the center. He forcefully turned her around, his hands crawling up her legs.
"Leave me!" she cried out loud, her fragile hands trying to push him away.
"Stop acting tough! You desperately want it, and we all know it." The leader spat at her, smirking as his friend managed to pin her down.
Tears stung Evangeline's eyes, her resolve breaking as the man reached for her pants. But just as he was about to rip it apart, a voice echoed behind them.
"Cowards."
When they turned around, a man's shadow loomed over them. "Cornering a weak woman in heat?" Clicking his tongue in disappointment, he drawled, "You all need to be castrated."