𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬

Chapter 65

The screaming rang in my head and echoed in my mind. I didn't want to imagine what was happening, I didn't want to think of what was happening, but the faster I ran, the closer I got to the gates, and the clearer I could hear the spine chilling screams. My heart beat rapidly against my chest, and sweat dripped down my forehead, but I continued running. I didn't stop when the prisoners around me cried for my attention, or when the guards bowed in respect, not even when my mates called for me, I didn't stop. It was as if I couldn't focus on anything around me.. my mind was solely focused on getting to the entrance of the dungeon, reaching the scream.

Because it pained me that I didn't know who it was.

I initially thought it would be Sapphire, because she was the only target who made sense to me. She was important to both Weiss and I, hell, she was closer to the throne of this kingdom than that wicked witch will ever be! It hurt me so much that my sister's mate would be hurt, all because of me... Then someone screamed, and I realized it wasn't her. Sapphire didn't scream like that, in fact, that wasn't her voice at all.

I wasn't going to lie. When I realized that the screaming voice was vastly different from Sapphire's, I felt relieved, absolutely relieved at the thought that my friend, and my future sister-in-law, was safe and sound. However, the relief didn't last too long as I thought... If Sapphire was safe, then who was screaming in pain? This thought repeated like a broken record inside of my brain, and before I knew it, I ran like a maniac.

And as I ran, I thought of my friends.

It can't be Amethyst... Vaye always knew where she was, and I doubted those two were able to be apart from each other for a long period of time. It can't be Pearl either, for she was always surrounded by people, it was almost impossible to get her alone. Besides, if Pearl was hurt from even just a single touch, the werewolves would immediately know, for she was their Luna, their queen, and they would not hesitate to absolutely hurt anyone who'd dare to even take a single strand of their queen's hair.

Then I thought of Lucilia and Angeline... But they weren't exactly my friends. Besides our history of working with each other in the war, I didn't know them well enough to actually refer to them as friends, hell, if the wicked witch targeted them, it'll be as if she's trying to taunt Weiss, and not me. They could be targets.. but I deemed it highly unlikely since they kept out of everything. It just.. it wouldn't make sense to hurt them.

Who else was there? I didn't have many friends, except for the one who betrayed me, and Weiss was basically untouchable for the wicked witch, who else was a potential target? Who? I truly couldn't think of anyone.

And it looked like I didn't have to think anymore either. For the target wasn't me all this time... It was Harvy.

My eyes widened as I watched Monica, Harvy's mother, crawling on the ground as blood dripped down her face. Our eyes met, and it felt like a gun to my heart when she gave me a soulless look. Her eyes were cloudy, her lips were parted as she gave eerie screams, her hair and her teeth were stained with crimson, and her blood kept dripping from the knife that was stabbed on her forehead. Fuck, she looked.. like she was a ghost, and it sent unpleasant shivers down my spine. I tried to open my mouth to say something, to say anything, to apologize, but nothing came out. Fortunately, from behind me, Gaia took the lead and kneeled beside Monica, reaching out her hand and immediately trying to heal her. Meanwhile, I could only stare with wide eyes as my mate tried her best to save the mother of my former friend. I felt Mallory's hand on top of my head, patting me as her way of comforting me, but I didn't feel anything.

I understood everything now, and it was all my fault. Harvy didn't have to get involved, he didn't have to, but she made it seem like she had no choice. The wicked witch used his own mother against him, to get him to do her bidding, and he almost did, but we caught him, and I hated that we did. Because we knew he was working under her.. she punished him. This was all my fault. If I... If I never confronted him so soon, if I never found out so soon, then none of this would have happened... Because of me, an innocent life was lost, a mother, a sister, a friend, a daughter, and a wife... Because of me.. she died as quickly as she smiled.