Freya's POV I woke up to the cold, hard surface of the concrete floor beneath me. Frowning, I slowly scanned my surroundings. I was in an unfamiliar place-a cold room enclosed by thick iron bars. A chain was fastened around my ankle, as if they thought I might somehow escape through the heavily secured bars surrounding the place. I pressed a hand against my forehead when I felt a slight throbbing pain. I tried desperately to recall what had happened before I woke up in this dark, unfamiliar place. Airplane. Engine malfunction. Vast ocean. Terrified screams. We were crashing! A shiver ran down my spine as the memories came flooding back. My heart began pounding violently, overwhelmed by a mixture of anxiety and fear. I placed a hand over my chest, trying to calm my racing heartbeat. Am I dead? Am I in hell? Then why isn't there any fire? "Am I... alive?" I whispered to myself, inspecting my body for any wounds, injuries, or broken bones. I noticed the man standing outside the iron bars briefly glance in my direction. I swallowed hard. I had absolutely no idea where I was, but at least I was still alive. I pushed myself off the filthy floor and brushed the dust off my clothes. I felt like I was covered in layers of dirt. "Where am I?" I asked the guard standing outside my cell. He didn't even bother responding. "Hey, kuya! Are you deaf? I asked where I am!" The man finally turned toward me, only to raise an eyebrow before looking away again. Oh, so he's a snob? I let out a frustrated sigh. Maybe the guard was mute. Or perhaps he was some kind of machine that needed a coin inserted before he could move or speak. Feeling defeated, I sat back down on the floor and leaned against the wall. I stared blankly into space, allowing my mind to wander through every possible explanation for why I was still alive and where exactly I had ended up. My attention shifted toward the entrance when the cell door suddenly opened. A muscular man stepped inside. I noticed the guard slightly bow his head in respect toward the newcomer. I quickly stood up from the filthy floor. Judging by the guard's behavior, I could tell that the man who had just arrived held some kind of authority. I discreetly studied him as he approached. He seemed quite handsome, although I couldn't get a proper look at his face because of how dark the place was. Besides, my eyesight wasn't exactly the best. Thanks to all those hours I spent staring at computer screens and reading books during college. "Is the captive awake?" His deep, baritone voice echoed through the confined space, making me feel slightly uneasy. "Yes, Beta," the guard replied. My eyebrows shot up. Beta? What a weird name. "Um... hi?" I greeted awkwardly as the newcomer entered my cell. The man looked me up and down. For some unknown reason, I suddenly became self-conscious. I knew I probably looked like a homeless person right now, considering the amount of dust covering my clothes and body. I also had no idea how long I had been unconscious. "Who are you? And where am I?" The questions slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. I felt a little intimidated by the way he was staring at me, although I somehow knew he wouldn't hurt me without a reason. A smirk slowly formed on his lips. "Don't you think we're the ones who should be asking you those questions, young lady? Who are you, and what are you doing in our territory? Are you a spy?" My forehead creased at his question. "A spy? Territory? Do I look like a spy to you?" I shot back at him. "Fair point. No pack would send such a weak spy into enemy territory. It would be more reasonable to assume that you're a runaway slave from another pack. However, it's strange that I can't detect even the slightest trace of another pack's scent on you." "What? What pack?" I raised an eyebrow at him once again. Which is it? Did I end up in some ancient settlement or in a hideout full of lunatics? I couldn't understand a single thing he was saying. The man sighed at my reaction. "Where did you come from, then?" he asked calmly. I paused for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts. "I was on a plane heading back to the Philippines. I had just come from Switzerland," I answered. The man's eyebrows rose slightly. He didn't say anything, but judging by his expression, he seemed completely unfamiliar with the places I had mentioned. I suddenly felt helpless. Oh, God. Where exactly am I? Since he remained silent, I continued explaining. "I honestly have no idea. The last thing I remember was being on an airplane when its engine suddenly malfunctioned. Everyone started panicking, and then the plane crashed. After that, I don't remember anything." My explanation only caused the Beta's eyebrows to rise even higher. "An airplane? It sounds like you're referring to some rather unusual form of transportation." My mouth fell open. "Don't tell me you've never seen an airplane before?" I asked in disbelief. "An airplane? You know, the thing that flies in the sky?" I tried explaining, but all I received in return was an amused smile. Seriously, where the hell was I? Why did this place seem so far behind civilization? "Your homeland sounds like an interesting place," he remarked with a nod. "Can you please let me go now?" I asked, trying to sound hopeful. My hopes immediately crumbled when he shook his head. "You will remain here until the Alpha decides what to do with you." With that, he turned around and walked out of my cell. I leaned against the wall, watching him disappear from view. I suddenly felt so weak and helpless. I couldn't explain it, but there was something strange about this place. Where exactly am I? Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep while lost in my thoughts. I was awakened by the sharp screeching of metal against metal, signaling that my cell door was opening. I slowly sat up as the Beta entered once again. "I assume you're hungry, so I brought you something to eat," he said, placing a tray of food in front of me. My eyes immediately landed on the grilled meat and fresh fruits arranged on the tray. "Are you sure this isn't poisoned?" I asked bluntly. The man let out a quiet chuckle, as though he found my question amusing. "Believe me, if we wanted you dead, I would rip your heart straight out of your chest and feed it to the vultures." Instead of looking frightened, I simply frowned at his response. Seriously? What a brutal imagination! "There's no love potion in this either, right?" I added, picking up a piece of grilled meat and taking a bite. It was delicious, actually. Too bad it was difficult to appreciate good food while being locked inside such a dark and filthy cell. The Beta merely shook his head at my question. "You're beautiful, but I'm certain the woman destined to be my other half is far more beautiful. My mate," he replied with a smug grin. I paused for a moment. Mate? As a bookworm, I was quite familiar with that word. It was commonly used in two particular genres of fiction: werewolves and vampires. I didn't bother responding and simply continued eating. But now, everything he had said earlier was beginning to make sense-or at least, I was starting to connect the dots. Beta. Pack. Mate. My brain refused to accept what those words seemed to imply. No matter how much I thought about it, the possibility seemed utterly ridiculous. Unless I'm on the set of Twilight. "Beta? Is that your name?" I finally asked, breaking the deafening silence. I needed to clarify a few things. Because if my suspicions were correct, it would mean that the people around me weren't exactly human. "Vincent. That's my name. Beta is my title within this pack," he answered. I placed the remaining meat back on the plate, picked up the glass of water, and took a sip to ease the strange uneasiness in my chest. Then I gave him my most serious look. "Let me guess. You're a werewolf related to Jacob, and I'm somehow on the set of Twilight?" I asked jokingly. If this was some kind of joke, it wasn't funny. Vincent met my gaze, seemingly contemplating whether he should even bother answering my question. His eyes narrowed slightly. I felt a sudden wave of anxiety at the thought of what he might say next, but I needed to know where I was. "Are you saying that you're not a werewolf?" he asked in return. But somehow, his question was already confirmation enough. I weakly leaned back against the wall. So that's why their presence felt so strange. I covered my face with both hands. Oh, gosh! Where the hell am I? "Vincent, are you telling me that you're a werewolf? As in... an actual, real-life werewolf?" I repeated, still unable to believe it. Vincent looked as though he couldn't decide whether to laugh or get annoyed by my questions. "Do I look like I'm joking to you?" he replied, raising an eyebrow. I didn't want to believe him. Those things aren't real. They're just fictional creatures. Unless... Unless he actually transformed right in front of me. Yeah, right! I'd only believe it if I saw him shift with my own eyes. I fell silent for a moment, contemplating the possibility. Then, suddenly, my eyes lit up as an idea struck me. The greatest weakness of werewolves! Silver! I quickly rolled up the sleeve of my shirt and unclasped the silver bracelet around my wrist. Waving it in front of Vincent, I watched as he immediately sprang to his feet in surprise. His gaze sharpened, and his eye color began to change. From dark brown to a silvery yellow. A loud growl echoed throughout the small room, making my eyes widen in terror. His canines were now clearly visible, confirming everything I had suspected. I immediately shoved the silver bracelet into my pocket and raised both hands in surrender. "Easy, Vincent! I was just checking if you were telling the truth!" I explained nervously. I noticed him taking a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm himself down. Moments later, his eyes gradually returned to their original color. "Watch your actions, young lady. My wolf is aggressive, and what you just did was considered a threat to him." With that, he turned around and left the cell, abandoning me once again. I was left sitting there, overwhelmed by fear and confusion. But this time, I was certain of one thing. I was no longer in the same world.

Freya's POV  I woke up to the sensation of something gently brushing against my leg. "Hmmmm..." I let out a soft groan, slowly opening my eyes. I was still feeling sleepy, but that feeling quickly vanished when I saw the prison guard standing right in front of me. A sinister grin spread across his face, sending chills down my spine. My eyes widened as I finally realized what he was doing. "What the hell are you doing?!" I screamed, immediately scrambling to sit up. I was about to shove him away when my hand suddenly stopped midair. It was chained behind my back! The man simply burst into laughter at my futile attempt to resist. "There's no point in struggling, young lady. I suggest you just cooperate if you don't want to get hurt," he said with a wicked grin. Oh, fuck. I'm dead! I frantically scanned my surroundings, searching for anything I could use as a weapon. Unfortunately, the only thing within my reach was my pillow. A shiver ran down my spine. The man was about to approach me when I quickly kicked him, forcing him to stumble backward. "You little bitch!" he shouted furiously. I watched as his eyes began turning yellow. That was when I knew I was in serious danger. "No! Please, no! Help!" I screamed in terror. Tears streamed down my cheeks as he roughly grabbed my dress and began tearing it apart. I could feel his claws scratching my delicate skin. Within seconds, my dress was reduced to shreds, leaving me with nothing but my underwear. I couldn't stop trembling as the cold and fear seeped into my bones. "By sunrise, you won't be alive anymore, mortal!" he snarled, a sinister smile playing on his lips. He forcefully grabbed my hair and tried to kiss me, but I immediately turned my face away. My resistance only made him tighten his grip, painfully pulling at my hair. "No! Please, someone help me!" I screamed desperately. Deep inside, I felt utterly hopeless. Who would save me? I didn't know anyone in this place. I had no one to turn to. "Who would've thought that a mortal like you was hiding such beauty?" he remarked maliciously, his eyes wandering toward my chest. I wanted to cover myself, but my hands were still chained behind my back. He was about to pull down my bra when he suddenly froze. His eyes widened as he glanced over his shoulder. Meanwhile, I remained motionless, paralyzed by fear and anxiety. Suddenly, the man coughed up blood. I instinctively curled my legs toward my body as he collapsed lifelessly onto the concrete floor. There was a gaping hole in his back, apparently the cause of his death. Only then did I notice a shadow standing behind him. I couldn't make out who it was because the figure was partially concealed by the darkness. "W-Who a-are you?" I asked, my voice trembling. The man stepped out of the shadows, revealing his face. His eyes were burning yellow, and fresh blood dripped from his hand-the same hand that had killed the man who had just tried to assault me. "V-Vincent?" I stammered in disbelief when I recognized him. I instinctively pressed myself against the corner as he took a step toward me. "N-No... P-please don't come near me," I begged between sobs. I knew he had just saved me, but given my current situation, I couldn't bring myself to trust anyone. He stopped when he noticed my reaction. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Darlyn," he called. A beautiful woman immediately entered my cell. "Yes, Beta?" she asked respectfully, her head slightly bowed. "Clean this cell and give her a new dress and some first-aid supplies. Make sure she is properly guarded. I don't want something like this happening again." His voice was authoritative, but his eyes remained fixed on me. "Yes, Beta," the woman replied. Without another word, Vincent left my cell. I remained silent, huddled in the corner, watching his retreating figure until he disappeared from view. I was still terrified, but deep down, I couldn't help feeling grateful. I was glad he had saved me. For a moment, I had truly believed that my life was over. I stayed curled up in the corner, silently sobbing as I tried to process everything that had happened. I need to go back. I need to find a way out of this hell... ❤️❤️❤️ I woke up to strange noises, loud crashes, and howls coming from outside. Fearfully, I looked around. The guards who had previously been stationed outside my cell were nowhere to be seen, which I found rather strange. Judging by the faint light filtering through the window, it seemed to be almost dawn. My eyebrows furrowed when I caught the smell of burning wood. I immediately got up from where I had been lying. Whatever was happening outside, I was a hundred percent certain that it was dangerous-and definitely not something a human like me should get involved in. I didn't know why, but I had a strong feeling that if I wanted to survive, I needed to get out of there as quickly as possible. I hurriedly scanned my surroundings, searching for a way to escape. It felt like spotting an angel when I noticed a bunch of keys hanging from a pillar near my cell. I didn't know why, but I had a feeling that someone had deliberately left them there for me. I mean, seriously? What kind of sensible guard would leave a bunch of keys right beside a cell's lock? It didn't make any sense, right? Nevertheless, I quickly grabbed the keys and tried them one by one on the lock attached to my ankle. My hands were trembling from a mixture of fear and anticipation, making it difficult to insert the keys properly. I finally breathed a sigh of relief when I heard a faint click, signaling that the chain had been unlocked. I quickly stood up and stepped out of my cell. Once outside, I cautiously made my way toward the door, careful not to make any unnecessary noise. I could still hear growls and cries coming from outside. I stopped right in front of the door. Taking a deep breath, I slowly opened the small entrance leading out of what appeared to be a basement dungeon. I wanted to make sure that death wouldn't be waiting for me on the other side. These people were werewolves, after all. I wasn't about to risk my life by running straight into the middle of a war without a single gun or bullet to protect myself. I gasped at the sight that greeted me. I immediately covered my mouth with one hand to keep myself from making a sound. This was the first time I had actually seen this place. Several houses were burning, and countless dead bodies were scattered across the ground. Whatever had happened earlier seemed to be over. Aside from the lifeless bodies scattered everywhere, there were no longer any werewolves fighting one another. Some were still in their wolf forms, while others had already returned to their human forms. All of them were staring in the same direction. I carefully pushed the door open a little wider to see what had captured their attention. My eyes widened at the sight before me. It was a gigantic midnight-black wolf! Its enormous size was particularly noticeable compared to the other wolves surrounding it. I swallowed hard when I noticed what lay beneath its feet. Another lifeless wolf. I couldn't help feeling sorry for the dead creature, even though I had absolutely no idea who it was. I shifted my gaze back to the enormous black wolf, only to feel my heart nearly leap out of my chest when I realized it was staring directly at me. Impossible! How did it even see me? I wanted to run straight back into the dungeon when it began taking slow steps toward me. I swallowed hard. My heart was pounding violently with fear, yet I couldn't seem to tear my eyes away from it. I forced myself to snap out of the strange trance its gaze had put me under. I need to think. I need to do something! I was just about to take a step backward when a white wolf suddenly leaped out of the nearby forest and launched itself at the black wolf. Caught off guard by the unexpected attack, the black wolf failed to dodge in time. The two wolves began fighting fiercely. However, perhaps because the black wolf was considerably larger, it effortlessly caught the white wolf between its jaws before hurling it against a nearby tree. The white wolf whimpered in pain but still managed to struggle back onto its feet. The moment it stood up, it launched another attack. But the black wolf easily dodged its assault before sinking its teeth into the white wolf's neck. I watched as the white wolf's eyes turned red with fury and pain, but there was nothing it could do to escape the black wolf's powerful jaws. The black wolf sank its fangs even deeper into the poor creature before throwing its limp body against a pillar near where I was standing. The white wolf desperately tried to stand, but its injuries were too severe. It collapsed again, and moments later, its body slowly began transforming back into human form. My eyes widened. "Vincent..." I whispered. Damn it! That white wolf was Beta Vincent! Panic washed over me as I watched the enormous black wolf slowly approach him. It was still in an aggressive stance, clearly preparing to attack the helpless Beta. Judging by the way it moved, I doubted it had any intention of letting Vincent live. Damn it! What should I do? Vincent had saved me once. Just last night, to be exact. I couldn't just stand there and let him die. He was the only person who had shown me even a little kindness in this strange and unfamiliar place. Perhaps he was the closest thing I had to a friend here. I squeezed my eyes shut as the black wolf launched another attack. Its jaws clamped down on Vincent's shoulder, making him cry out in pain. A loud crash followed as the black wolf hurled him away once again. Tears began streaming down my cheeks. I couldn't bear watching anymore, especially when the other werewolves surrounding them did nothing but stand there and watch in silence. The black wolf leaped into the air, preparing to deliver another attack. And that was when something inside me finally snapped. I threw the door open and ran toward Vincent's nearly lifeless body. "Please, stop!" I screamed, wrapping my arms around the bloodied Beta to shield him from the impending attack. I squeezed my eyes shut, trembling as I braced myself for the impact. I could hear warning growls coming from every direction, but I could also sense that the wolf had stopped moving. Slowly, I lifted my head and met its gaze. "He's already too weak to fight back. Please, don't kill him," I begged, my face drenched in tears. I could still feel the burning intensity of the black wolf's stare, as though it were weighing whether or not to grant my request. I held my breath until it finally took a slight step backward, signaling that it had no intention of attacking anymore. "Thank you..." I whispered, desperately trying to wipe away my tears, although it was practically useless since they wouldn't stop falling. The black wolf turned away from me. It then lifted its head toward the golden sky and let out a powerful howl. To my surprise, several other wolves, including those who had already returned to their human forms, joined in. Their howls echoed throughout the area, marking their victory in the battle that had just taken place. I couldn't help staring at the enormous black wolf. Its midnight-black fur swayed gently in the breeze, making it look absolutely magnificent. Perhaps sensing my gaze, it turned its head toward me and met my eyes once again. My heart began pounding. There was something strangely overwhelming about the way it looked at me. I was certain he was their Alpha. The enormous wolf took a step toward us, making me even more nervous. I thought it was going to approach us, but without saying a word, it simply walked past me and continued on its way.

Freya's POV "Vincent!" I immediately rushed to Vincent's side when I noticed him slowly regaining consciousness. He had sustained a serious wound to his chest. Thankfully, the werewolves had allowed me to treat his injury and stop the bleeding. After I finished tending to his wound, they placed an iron collar mixed with silver around his neck to prevent him from shifting. "Where are we?" he asked once he had fully regained consciousness. He struggled to sit up, wincing as he fought against the pain coursing through his entire body. "We're inside a prison carriage, and I believe we're heading to their territory." I nodded toward the werewolves guarding the entrance of the carriage. "Shit!" he muttered under his breath. I could see the grief and anger written all over his face. Most of his pack members had been killed, including their Alpha. "Only fifteen members of your pack survived, including the two of us. Six managed to escape, so there are only nine of us here." He didn't respond. A considerable number of pack warriors had died. I was certain some of them had been his friends. I couldn't help feeling sorry for him. "I wish you had just let me die!" he said quietly but firmly. I fell silent for a moment. "Don't you feel any sense of responsibility toward the others who survived? What will happen to them if you die? They need you." I paused before continuing. "Besides, didn't you say you wanted to meet the woman destined for you? Your mate? You haven't even met her yet, and you're already planning to become a widower?" I said with a sarcastic pout. We both turned when one of the guards outside the carriage suddenly burst into laughter. "She's right, Vince. The lovely young lady has a point," he remarked, winking at me. I raised an eyebrow. "Are you part of this conversation?" I asked sarcastically. He simply laughed at my response. Instead of entertaining my sarcasm, he turned toward the injured Beta and flashed him a grin. "Looks like you haven't taught the omegas in your pack the meaning of respect, Vincent," he remarked. "I'm not an omega. I'm not a werewolf, and I'm certainly not a member of their pack," I corrected him. His eyebrows rose as he studied me from head to toe. "You're not a werewolf? Interesting..." he murmured, a peculiar smile playing on his lips. I noticed Vincent clenching his jaw, clearly displeased by the man's remark, but he didn't say anything. I decided to remain silent as well. My gaze drifted toward the sky. Dawn was beginning to break, and judging by our surroundings, we still had a long journey ahead of us. Nothing but trees stretched across the landscape. I couldn't see any landmarks that might help me determine where we were. I let out a sigh. A new pack, a new prison, but my situation remained unchanged. I had been in this strange place for days, yet I still had no idea how I had ended up here. Where exactly was I? What kind of place was this? And what had really happened after the plane crash? Could it be possible that I had actually survived the crash but was now in a coma? Perhaps everything happening around me was nothing more than a dream. But if this was a dream, why did everything feel so incredibly real? I sighed again, suddenly feeling exhausted. We had been traveling for more than five hours. Even though I was riding in a carriage, I couldn't help feeling tired. I guess I needed some sleep. Whatever happened next could wait. Besides, I didn't think they intended to kill us once we reached their pack. I rested my head against Vincent's shoulder. Somehow, I felt a little safer whenever he was nearby. I was just about to close my eyes when something caught my attention in the carriage behind us. It was carrying several valuable belongings and documents, but one particular item immediately caught my eye. A backpack. "Does that backpack belong to me?" I suddenly asked Vincent, pointing toward it. He nodded. "I found it beside you when I discovered you unconscious near the waterfall." "Then why didn't you give it back to me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Have you ever heard of a prisoner being allowed to keep her belongings?" he replied, raising an eyebrow of his own. He had a point, but those belongings were important to me. Who knows? Perhaps something inside could help me find a way back to Earth. ❤️❤️❤️ "What is that thing?" Vincent asked as he watched me fiddle with my camera. "It's called a camera. You can use it to take pictures and record videos," I explained while turning it on. I noticed his forehead crease as though he had just heard some unfamiliar magical term. I pressed a hand against my forehead. How was I supposed to explain the wonders of a camera to someone from what seemed like an ancient civilization? "Err... It's sort of like a collection of memories. You can use it to capture important moments in your life. Whenever you want to relive those memories, you can watch them again using this." My explanation only seemed to confuse him further. I decided to turn on the camera and record our surroundings. Sometimes, demonstrating something was easier than explaining it. After recording for a while, I played the video so he could see the result. A smile spread across my face when I noticed his lips curling into one of admiration. "Remarkable. Do you have any memories stored in there from your world?" he immediately asked. I nodded and opened the camera's gallery. I showed him several photographs, most of which featured beautiful landscapes and nature. I had always loved taking pictures of the places I visited. I even showed him how to press the Next button to move from one photograph to another. He carefully examined each picture. "Your homeland must be a beautiful place," he remarked. I smiled. "Yup! That's why I couldn't help feeling so out of place when I woke up in this strange world." I nodded in agreement. Vincent stopped scrolling when a particular photograph appeared on the screen. He turned the camera toward me. "Where was this picture taken?" he asked. My forehead creased as I recognized the photograph. Without thinking, I reached for the necklace around my neck. "Aurora..." I whispered. In the photograph, I was facing the camera, sitting on the snowy ground while gazing up at the sky. Standing beside me was a huge white wolf with a distinctive black diamond-shaped marking on its forehead. It was a simple photograph, but the beautiful aurora dancing across the sky made the scenery breathtaking. I took the camera from Vincent and played a video. It was a recording of how I first met Aurora and everything that happened between us until the day we parted ways. ❤️❤️❤️ Flashback Freya's POV I smiled at the camera held by my best friend and personal camerawoman, Meily, before striking one pose after another. Who wouldn't want to take pictures in a place as beautiful as this? It looked like something straight out of a fairy-tale book. We were in Switzerland for a two-month vacation. I scooped up some snow and tossed it into the air while Meily continued recording. However, both of us suddenly froze when a loud gunshot echoed through the area, almost simultaneously with the falling snow. "Was that a gunshot?" I asked Meily. "I think so. Should we head back to the van?" she suggested nervously. Instead of staying at a hotel, we had decided to rent a fairly spacious camper van. That way, we could travel around Switzerland without worrying too much about anything other than finding a parking space. "No," I refused. For some reason, the sound of the gunshot made me uneasy. I had a strange feeling that something terrible was about to happen. Then I heard a howl. It sounded like an animal crying out in pain. My heart began pounding. I couldn't explain it, but I felt an inexplicable urge to find the source of the sound. Without thinking twice, I ran toward the direction of the howl. "Freya, come back!" Meily shouted. But I ignored her. Something inside me insisted that someone-or something-in the forest needed help. Meily eventually ran after me, still recording everything with her camera. I stopped when I noticed several drops of blood scattered across the white snow. My heart pounded harder. Ignoring my growing fear, I followed the trail of blood while Meily stayed close behind me, continuing to record. "Oh my gosh! Is that a wolf?" Meily exclaimed when the blood trail led us to an injured wolf. I gasped as I took in its beauty. Its fur was as white as the snow surrounding it, except for a distinctive black diamond-shaped marking on its forehead. Although its beautiful coat was stained with blood, that did little to diminish its appearance. The wolf growled when it noticed us, but it seemed too injured to stand. There was a gunshot wound near its shoulder. "That wolf belongs to us!" Meily and I turned around simultaneously when a man's voice suddenly spoke behind us, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked. I immediately raised my hands in surrender. "Sorry, but no one owns it!" I boldly replied, looking straight into his eyes. The man merely smirked before pointing his gun at the wounded wolf. Without hesitation, I stepped between the wolf and the gun, shielding the creature with my own body. "Freya!" Meily screamed when I stood in front of the gun, keeping the injured wolf behind me. "If you want to kill it, then you'll have to kill me first," I declared firmly. The man simply smirked. However, after a few moments, he finally lowered his weapon. "It's going to die anyway. Shooting it again would just be a waste of bullets," he said before slinging his gun over his shoulder. With that, he turned his back on us and walked out of the forest. Meily and I only began to move once the man's figure had completely disappeared from sight. I cautiously approached the injured wolf. It let out a low growl, seemingly warning me not to come any closer. But judging by its gunshot wound, it could barely even lift its body. "Easy, wolfie... We're here to help you," I whispered soothingly as I gently stroked the fur around its neck. Surprisingly, it began to calm down, as though it understood that we meant no harm. "Meily, come here. We need to get this wolf into the van," I said. Meily's eyes widened. "What? B-but-" "No buts, Meily! We have a first-aid kit in there. We can use it to try to remove the bullet." "Okay," she finally agreed before turning off the camera. ❤️❤️❤️ Present Time Freya's POV "So, you've always had a habit of using yourself as a shield whenever there's something you want to protect," Vincent remarked, referring to how I had also thrown myself in front of him when he was fighting the Alpha of the rival pack. "At least it works," I replied with a pout. Vincent simply shook his head, smiling. We continued watching the rest of the video. Most of the remaining footage showed Aurora's gradual recovery and how she eventually began playing with us in the snow. From being a wary and distrustful creature, she slowly grew comfortable enough to play with us. Eventually, we managed to earn her trust.