Chapter 131 The Fire Within


    Aubrey’s POV


    Stay alive!


    The thought crashed through my chest like a primal wolf’s howl.


    I can’t die here!


    Finished


    Bailey and Aurelia’s debts haven’t been settled, the K–virus sweeping across the continent is still unresolved, and these forests–brimming with life–are counting on me. The werewolves of Mount Fujin, who survived the T–flu catastrophe and are now struggling to rebuild, they shouldn’t be buried with Ulrich’s madness!


    Driven by that belief, I sprang from my hiding spot in the thick underbrush, a shadow merging with the night. I silently crept up behind the nearest werewolf, jammed a golden needle into his acupoint to paralyze him, then snapped his neck in one clean twist.


    Even though I controlled the movement as much as I could, the dull crack of his spine rang out sharplyin the silent forest. To a vignt werewolf, any shift was a red g.


    Another werewolf immediately looked over, alert. I recognized his sleazy face. When Ulrich captured me, it was this guy who stood guard–and took the chance to grope me.


    “Dave?”


    He called out to the dead one, but got no response. His expression tightened. Holding his torch, he slowly crept toward where I was hiding.


    Damn it! I crouched lower, holding my breath. E’s presence might be unstable, but the Alpha bloodline strength she gave me still lingered. If he just came a little closer, if I struck first, I could take him down. He was just a Beta.


    He inched closer… and stopped three steps away.


    The moment he turned his head, I lunged. My needle stabbed deep into his skin, paralyzing him in an instant. But his mouth still worked.


    “That b*tch is here! Get-”


    The scream was cut short. I broke his neck.


    At the same time, I stomped out the fallen torch, then dove back into the underbrush.


    Just as expected, the remaining two werewolves rushed over–but they no longer held torches. My heart dropped. I turned to look–dried grass nearby had caught fire. The small me was quickly growing.


    I realized then–I had to take out thest two werewolves, who were standing back to back on high alert, then put out the fire. If not, this entire forest would go up in mes.


    But without E’s wolf–form strength and speed, facing off against two coordinated Beta fighters <b>would </b>be


    suicide.


    What should I do?!


    Panic gripped me. I had no solution.


    08:35 Sun, 24 Aug <i>7 </i>M


    Chapter 131 The Fire Within


    379%0


    Finished


    Just then, in the corner of my eye, I caught a sh of frightened eyes peeking out from the grass. Under the moonlight, they shimmered faintly. An omega? Only an omega’s aura would be that faint–too weak for higher–level werewolves to detect easily.


    My pulse jumped. I nced at the two werewolvesbing the area, then crawled over to the girl, who looked around eighteen or neen.


    “You live here, right?” I whispered. “Listen, I need your help. Just distract one of them. Just one! Once I take him down, I’ll help you. I swear!”


    The omega girl’s eyes widened in fear. She shook her head hard, retreating as if on instinct. That’s when I noticed–behind her were over a dozen other omega werewolves, all cowering on the ground, pale as ghosts.


    “They’re going to burn this ce,” I said urgently, voice low. “Burn your home. We have to stop them


    “No, we can’t,” someone answered shakily. “All the beta warriors in the vige were sent away<i>. </i>Only us omegas are left…”


    “There’s only two of them!” I nced around quickly. “We’ve got eighteen people–eighteen! How can we not win?!”


    “But they’re Betas! We were born… born weaker. Our ws aren’t sharp enough, our strength isn’t enough, we’re not fast enough… They’ll tear us apart like prey!”


    Their eyes brimmed with helplessness, weighted down by a deep–rooted sense of inferiority.


    I nearly lost control of my voice. “But this is your home! Are you just going to watch your houses, your food, your children’s yground–all of it–go up in mes?!”


    “What can we do? Fighting back is suicide… We can’t protect this forest… We’re all going to die…”


    The terror and despair carved into their bones by the harsh reality of power disparity kept them frozen, like iron chains anchoring them in ce.


    Far off in the distance<b>, </b>the mes crackled and leapt, lighting their pale, desperate faces in flickering red.


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