Free Web NovelChapter 50: Chapter 50
Riley’s POV
Horror grips my entire system so hard that my knees almost buckle under me.
"Did I— did I do that?" I ask, my voice shaky as I stare at the torn pieces on the ground, my eyes wide as the realization crashes into me all at once. My heart is pounding like it wants to escape my body.
For a second, no one answers, and that silence almost drives me insane.
Then Gunnar scoffs.
He steps forward with that cold look on his face, the one that makes it hard to read what he is thinking. "Do what?" he says mockingly. "Kill a scout?"
I swallow hard, my throat dry.
"Stop imagining things, Riley," he continues flatly. "Scouts usually don’t survive long when they enter Obsidian Veil. The energy here destroys them."
He turns and walks off like the conversation never mattered.
My heart finally starts beating properly again, and I let out a long breath I did not even realize I was holding. Relief washes over me so fast that my shoulders sag.
So it wasn’t me.
I didn’t do that. Yes, I’m normal after all. What was I even thinking?
Caden walks ahead, his posture alert, his eyes scanning the area like he expects another attack at any second. Cane stays close to me, his hand resting firmly on my shoulder, guiding me forward like he is making sure I do not fall behind.
"Stay close," he says quietly.
I nod and follow.
As we move forward, I instantly see them again.
The Mane Sisters.
They are not in their wolf forms this time. They have shifted back into human bodies, and for a moment, I forget how dangerous they are because of how beautiful they look. Their faces are sharp and flawless, their hair long and thick, their eyes glowing faintly with something wild.
They bow deeply as the Alphas walk past them, their heads lowered in respect.
Cane, Caden, and Gunnar do not even spare them a glance.
But I do.
My gaze drifts to them, and the second our eyes meet, chills run straight through my body. The look they give me is not friendly. It is not curious either.
It is dark. It is judging. And it feels like they are seeing something in me that I cannot see myself.
I look away quickly, my skin crawling.
Just like before, it feels like we are still in the woods, surrounded by trees and shadows. Then suddenly, everything changes.
It happens so fast that I almost stumble.
One blink, and the world shifts.
The trees disappear.
The ground beneath my feet feels different.
I stop walking, my breath catching as I stare ahead.
We are no longer in the woods.
We are standing in front of the massive gates of Obsidian Veil.
My heart skips.
The gates are tall and dark, made of thick metal and stone, carved with symbols I do not understand. They look ancient and powerful, like they have been standing here for centuries.
The gates open slowly as we approach.
We walk inside.
This time is different from before.
The last time I came here with the driver, everyone would whisper under their breath. Now, no one whispers. No one talks at all. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
It is like the entire place is holding its breath.
The people we pass lower their heads quickly, moving out of the way. No one dares to speak. No one even looks at me properly.
Fear hangs heavy in the air.
And then—
Chaos explodes.
A loud crash echoes through the place l, followed by screams.
People start running in all directions, crashing into each other, panic written all over their faces.
Someone shouts loudly, their voice filled with terror.
"The Blood Tithers have penetrated our pack!" another voice yells.
My heart jumps into my throat.
"They’re heading for the Luna!"
Everything happens at once.
Gunnar is the first to move. He takes off at full speed, his body blurring as he runs toward the sound.
Caden follows immediately, his expression hard and focused.
Cane hesitates for only a second before running after them.
They do not look back.
They do not even realize I am still there.
They leave me standing alone.
My arms wrap around myself instinctively, my body trembling as fear rushes in again.
"Luna?" I whisper to myself. "Is that their mother?"
I do not know where to go. I do not know who to follow. The noise around me is overwhelming, screams and footsteps and shouting blending together.
Then suddenly, someone slams into me from behind.
I cry out as I lose my balance and hit the ground hard. Pain shoots through my palms and knees as I land.
I turn quickly, my heart racing.
And I freeze.
It is not a person.
It is a beast.
The thing standing in front of me is bigger than anything I have ever seen in my life. It is enormous, towering over everyone around it. Its body is massive and thick, covered in dark, rough skin that looks almost armored. Long, sharp claws dig into the ground as it moves, leaving deep marks behind.
Its legs are powerful and twisted, built for speed and strength. Its arms are long and heavy, muscles bulging beneath its skin.
Its head is horrifying, with glowing red eyes set deep into a wide, monstrous face. Its mouth is filled with rows of sharp teeth, some broken, some stained dark.
Breath is hot and foul as it growls low and deep, the sound vibrating through the ground.
People scream louder as they run away from it.
Someone shouts in pure terror, "It’s the Blood Tither!"
The beast turns its head slowly toward me.
My body locks up completely.
It steps closer.
I try to crawl back, but my hands slip on the ground. My heart is beating so hard it hurts.
The Blood Tither reaches down and grabs me easily, lifting me off the ground like I weigh nothing at all. I gasp in shock as my feet leave the floor.
It brings me closer to its face and sniffs me deeply, its nose brushing against my neck and hair.
I feel sick.
Its grip tightens on me.
Then without warning, it throws me over its shoulder like a sack.
I scream as my stomach flips violently.
The Blood Tither turns and starts running.
Fast. Too fast.
The world blurs around me as it carries me away, deeper away from the chaos of Obsidian Veil.
And all I can think is one terrifying thought. They left me behind...
