Chapter 221 Stripped Bare
ROWAN
The moment my shoes touched the dock, scents crashed into me all at once. It was too overwhelming for my senses. The scent of the water clung to my skin, familiar enough, but it was drowned beneath a flood of artificial fragrances. Humansyered themselves in strange scents, some sweet and musky, but often inismatched. In this heat, vani? It clung heavily in the air like rotting sugar. My nose wrinkled in disgust.
I lifted a hand to rub the bridge of my nose, exhaling slowly. This was rc. I had finally stepped into the infamous city I had heard about only in stories, and already, it felt suffocating. However, aside from that, it did feel strangely serene.
I had no n or destination in mind. The boat was gone, and the crowd spilled into the streets. I was just another face in it.
Where the hell was I supposed to go?
A hotel. That seemed like the logical choice. If I treated this like a vacation, maybe I could breathe long enough to think.
I shoved my hands in my pockets, preparing to wander until I found something that looked half decent.
“Cab, handsome?”
The voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
I turned my head sharply. It wasn’t some predator or drunkard–it was an elderly couple standing near the curb. They were humans, and their frail statures made me let down my guard just a little bit.
“Cab?” I repeated, uncertain.
They nodded eagerly. The old man gestured to a ck car parked nearby, its surface polished to a mirror shine. It looked brand new, much nicer than anything I’d expect to see operating as a simple taxi.
“We transport people to the best hotel for a small price,” the old woman exined. “Would you like to avail of our services?”
“Well, well,” I muttered under my breath, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “To think luck’s finally on my side.”
Leaving the South might not have been such a terrible decision after all.
I approached the car and pulled open the back door. The interior hit me like a second surprise. It was fancier than I’d expected, but I wasn’t about toin.
Sliding into the seat, I leaned back, crossing my arms loosely across my chest.
“Do you have any preferences?” the old man asked as he settled into the driver’s seat. “Budget restrictions?<b>” </b>
I shook my head. “No. I’m great. Anywhere’s nice.”
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Chapter 221 Stripped Bare
“That’s good,” the old woman replied cheerfully from the passenger seat. “We’ll take you to the best hotel.
then.”
I gave a small nod, forcing a friendly smile. “Sounds good.”
Her eyes twinkled as she turned to face me, “My name is Martha, by the way,” she said kindly. She gestured to her husband with a proud little tilt of her chin. “And this is Stewart.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said. The words felt strange in my mouth, like I hadn’t said them in years.
On impulse, I cleared my throat. “Perhaps… do you have some water?”
“Of course,” Martha said brightly. She leaned forward, pulling open the glovepartment. A small stash of bottled waters sat there, lined up neatly. She plucked one out and handed it to me. “We always keep these for our customers<b>.” </b>
I took it, twisted the cap, and drank deeply. The cool liquid slid down my throat, washing away the dryness. When I lowered the bottle, I let out a small sigh. “Thanks.”
Her smile widened, pleased.
It really was good water.
I leaned back again, tucking the half–empty bottle between my legs. For the first time since stepping off that boat, I felt a shred of relief.
“You two haven’t retired?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“We have,” Stewart answered with a chuckle, his eyes still on the road as the car purred forward. “But we’re doing this for extra cash. You know how it is in this economy–it’s hard to live.“,
I nodded slowly. He wasn’t wrong. Humans had it harder. Their lives were short and fragile. Most of them spent decades scraping by, fighting to survive a system built against them.
I leaned my head against the seat, the vibrations of the car humming through me. My eyelids felt heavy, strangely. I blinked rapidly, forcing them open.
I wasn’t used to feeling like this. Had I over–exerted my body? I could go days without sleep, so why now?
I lifted a hand and pped my cheek lightly. Once, twice. The sting helped for half a second, but the haze pressed back.
“What the hell-“I muttered.
The water bottle slipped from my grasp, rolling somewhere on the floor. My vision swam.
Through the fog, I heard a menacing voice, one I didn’t expect toe from Martha.
“Sweet dreams.”
**
I woke up with a groan, my head pounding. For a moment, I wasn’t sure where I was, or why the ground beneath me felt cold and damp. I looked up at the canopy of trees, tall pines blotting out half the sky, and
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<b>15:43 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>8 </b><b>Sept </b>WO
Chapter 221 Stripped Bare
the earthy smell of soil clung to my nose.
s
I lifted my hand to rub my face and froze. My shirt–my expensive shirt–was <i>gone</i>. My wallet and my phone were gone too. I scrambled upright and looked down. At least my pants were still on. I exhaled. sharply. Well, that was a small blessing.
But seriously? I turned in a slow circle only to be met by an endless, unrecognizable forest.
That old couple.
I cursed out loud. “Did I seriously just get scammed by humans?”
The words came out in a growl. My hands curled into fists, the pulse in my temples beating louder. Those frail, wide–eyed, harmless creatures had the audacity to y me like this?
“Menacing fucks,” I muttered.
Did they even know who I was? What I was?
Well… technically, right now, I was nothing but a stripped–down, shirtless idiot <i>in </i>the middle of nowhere.
My head continued to pound so I reached up to touch it. When I pulled my hand back, there was blood smeared on my fingertips. Fantastic. A headache and a head wound. The Moon Goddess really had it out for me, didn’t she? Maybe this was punishment for leaving the pack.
I staggered to my feet, wobbling as the forest spun. I clenched my teeth. “Well, Moon Goddess, I’m not going to back down just because of this.”
Just then, I heard the sound of soft footstepsing nearer in my direction.
I stilled immediately, body tightening. Someone was here. Whoever it was, they’d regret it if they thought they could finish me off so easily.
The branches parted. My breath hitched, and my fists curled. And out came…
Three small wolves.
I frowned the moment I saw them. They couldn’t have been more than ten, maybe twelve or thirteen at most. Their paws barely touched the ground before they froze, staring at me.
They shifted in a sh, fur melting back into skin, and suddenly there were three naked boys scrambling into rough–spun garments. I stood awkwardly, blood dripping down the side of my face, while the tallest of them, barely reaching my shoulder, grabbed a stick and pointed it at me.
I frowned. Was I seriously about to get beaten into submission by a bunch of kids with sticks?
Then the boy narrowed his eyes, studying me. Just when I thought he might attack, his lips curved into a grin.
“Did youe here for a renewal, too?”
“Renewal?”
“Yeah!” His voice was oddly confident for his age. “You look pitiful. You must be here to have a new start
<b>15:43 </b><b>Mon</b>, <b>8 </b><b>Sept </b>
Chapter 221 Stripped Bare
My jaw dropped slightly. Pitiful? A new start? What the hell was this kid talking about?
* Free Coints
“Well, you came to the right ce,” he added, beaming like he’d just weed me into a summer <b>camp</b>.
I stared. My head throbbed harder. Was this real? Was I hallucinating from blood loss?
“Oh no, he’s injured,” the smallest one piped up, his eyes wide with rm as he pointed at the blood on my temple.
“Let’s take him to Ca’s mommy,” the second one suggested quickly.
“Yes!” The tall one eximed, throwing down his stick like it was settled. He looked at me with pity. “Come on, Mister. We’ll help you.”