ZADOKThe ghoul threshed till it was a few feet away from me. Ithra’s face was red from holding her breath for so long. I couldn’t describe how I felt the more it came close to me with its deathly cold aura. Just when I thought it was all over, the other ghoul exclaimed. “I hear it! It certainly came from this way.” It said, sniffing the air. “It’s a bear!”The ghoul stood away from me and said, “Who cares about a bear when you can find something more profitable.” It sneered, “I’m close to finding what it is. I can feel it right underneath my nose.” My heart seized at its comment because we were right under his nose. “If you are not interested in partnering with me, just say so. Enough of your stupid acts. Are you trying to get on my nerves?” The other one said, sounding offended. I heard a tired sigh, “But I feel there is something here. Please give me a few minutes before we go after the bear?” It asked, shocking me with the sincerity in its tone. “I will not give up another k

ZADOKI watched in horror as the dragon took Ithra farther and farther away from me. “Wait! Please! Don’t kill her!” I screamed with all my might. Praying that the dragon heard and reconsidered its decision - All to no avail. Instead, the dragon took her up to the roof of the cave and threw her into what seemed like a reef at the top of the rocks. “Not yet.” I heard the cackle of the dragon. “Sometimes, it gets lonely over here. I mean, it’s once in a thousand years before I can meet visitors in the dark forest.” he snickered, “And that’s not because there haven’t been a lot of them, but because they weren’t lucky enough to get here.” The dragon descended and sat proudly on the mountain of treasures. “So you can imagine my surprise when I saw two suspecting individuals threading my territory with every plan of crossing over without saying hi.” “Let her go,” I growled, not in the mood for his story time. The dragon hissed, “I’ll be careful if I were you. Because even if you haven’

ZADOK“No! Please don’t take me there! I only just escaped!” The goblin cried as I dragged him towards the cave, carrying his bag at my back.“I don’t care. I need to get my partner, and if catching a jewellery thief will get the desired result, then so be it.” “The dragon doesn’t care about this. I got it out a few decades ago. He has long forgotten about it!” The goblin explained, but I didn’t care. “Let’s find out then.” I dragged the goblin to the front of the closed entrance, holding him down tightly. I stood till I realised I didn’t know what to do.“I told you,” The goblin said, “I hold no value to him, neither do my possessions. Let me go already.” I stayed silent, looking at the closed door, waiting for some miracle to enable me to trade the goblin - All to no avail. My shoulders sank, and I contemplated if the goblin wasn’t valuable enough to recover my Ithra. Just when I thought it was over, a rumble rocked the cave, and slowly, the rocks that blocked the entrance roll

ITHRAZadok and I spent the night camped very close to a river. After everything we’ve been through, we resolved to rest and continue our journey the next day. “I needed that,” I said, joining him beside the fire after having a much-needed bath.“That river has got to be the best thing we’ve experienced since we came to this forest.” He joked, and I smiled in agreement. I looked at Zadok, and I felt my heartbeat increase. I couldn’t pinpoint how exactly I felt for him. He managed to diffuse every doubt I had about him and the werewolf community. But why was I still afraid to trust him with everything? I couldn’t shake off the guilt in my heart, knowing that I was keeping something from him when he so bravely fought for my life, even when he had an opportunity to bail out. “What are you thinking about?” Zadok jolted me from my thoughts, watching me with keen eyes. “Nothing serious,” I said, bowing my head. Zadok sat close to me and took my hands in his. “I want to hear it,” he r

ITHRAI can’t expect the pain I felt watching Zadok walk away from me. I remember the urge that boiled within me, begging that I run after him, apologise to him, and tell him I never saw him as an enemy. Neither did I want to be his enemy. I wanted to hold him by his leg and tell him just how much of a coward I was to get clean with him after holding back the truth from the beginning. I needed him to know  I was ready to give up the ghost Orchid so he could find his mate if I could be in his good books. From the moment he came back for me at the dragon’s cave, I fell hook, line and sinker in love with him. I was ready to carry this love I have to the grave if it meant I got to see him happy with his mate. However, it was too late. I couldn’t say that because it would be no use. I had broken Zadok’s trust so foolishly and damned myself to a life of perpetual pain, agony and sorrow - A life I was b