Thea had already moved a sufficient distance away, helping Adeline to move slowly, leaning part of her body on herself, when another heart-rending scream rang out behind her.

The thought flashed through her mind that Nikki must have defeated the werewolf. But she was much more surprised when she saw another werewolf, black and more massive than the one her friend was fighting.

This new werewolf on two paws towered over Nicole, who was holding a gray wolf in a vice. There was genuine fright in her eyes, withering fear, because she could not expect another opponent to appear.

But instead of attacking Nicole, he growled ferociously, grabbed the gray wolf and in an instant tore its torso into two parts. Aggressive, cruel and heartless.

Thea sat Adeline down on the ground in an instant and scattered masking crystals around her at the speed of light to protect her while she ran to help her friend.

She could already feel the tingling in her hands, which meant a rush of magic to her fingertips. A slight chill hovered around her, ready to attack this monster at any moment.

Hearing the approaching footsteps, the werewolf slowly turned his head towards the running red-haired girl. His eyes flashed with bloodthirsty lust, but immediately he seemed to change, let out a loud howl and fell to the ground, revealing instead of a fluffy huge terrifying beast no less massive strong man. And completely naked, although it didn’t seem to bother him at all.

- There’s no need for you to attack me. - he said in a low guttural voice. - I have no intention of hurting you.

- We are in the territory of Riliya, since when have there been werewolves here? - Thea asked cautiously, who didn’t even think to release the clot of magic swirling in her hands.

- It’s too long a story to tell. Moreover, I’m not sure that you should even know more about it than you might see. - he answered without enthusiasm.

- If you’re not going to attack us, then why did you kill your own colleague? - disbelief slipped from her lips.

- He’s not my colleague. – the man shook his head negatively, without stopping the attentive scanning with the gaze of a miniature fighting girl. - He’s someone who shouldn’t have existed. I have done you a great service by helping to destroy it, and where is my gratitude?

- Thank you, of course, but we could do it ourselves. - Nicole intervened, who, like Thea, was too biased against this strange man.

They still couldn’t stop their knees from shaking, but they steadfastly held their faces in front of this man, not showing him their fear. This was the first rule of war - the enemy must not see your fear, otherwise he will take advantage of it.

The man laughed out loud when he heard Nicole’s answer. His lips stretched into a wide smile.

- How presumptuous. – he said slowly, drawing out the words. – One is injured, the second is trying to take her away, although with such an injury it would be foolish to think that it is possible to go far. The other girl is busy with blair. And what would you do to me if I decided to attack you? Are you saying you could do it?

- Didn’t you just say that you had no intention of harming us? It was only because of that werewolf you killed. - Thea snapped.

- Bliar. - he interrupted dryly. - It’s not a werewolf.

- What’s the difference? - Nicole was outraged.

- Big difference, baby. - The man hissed through clenched teeth.

Thea did not fail to note how long the man’s fangs were. His teeth seemed to have been sharpened in order to tear flesh. Like wolves, his fangs were sharp and slightly curved.

- They can’t change their appearance, and all their behavior is driven only by a thirst for murder. – he commented. – You are lucky that this person was still too inexperienced, his conversion must have happened relatively recently. But it would be different if you met someone stronger. They are uncontrollable and carry a huge danger for such little girls who are lost in the forest.

- You mean there are others like him in this forest? - Thea asked a little more timidly, and the man nodded.

- That’s why I advise you to go home if you still value your life. Besides, there are more than enough traps for each of you that your friend has fallen into. - He grinned.

Thea thought deeply. Did that mean that the very experiments her father and stepmother were doing in Riliya’s basements had created these mindless creatures?

- This Bizar has something to do with... - she began.

- Bliar. - he corrected her, clearly annoyed by her inattention.

- Yes, yes, I’m sorry. Bliar. - Thea raised her hands in defeat. – These creatures are created artificially, am I right?

The man grinned, his lips pressed tightly together, while interest flashed in his eyes.

- Where did you come from so knowledgeable? - he tilted his head slightly to one side, but did not have time to continue his question, because from somewhere to the side there was a heart–rending scream with endless sobs.

Thea immediately rushed to Adeline, who had extracted the crystals on her own and was now convulsing from the newly returned pain sensations. Her leg was riddled with a large number of deep lacerations, and the blood did not even think to stop. Her forehead was covered with beads of sweat, and a sudden heat engulfed her entire body.

- The traps here are smeared with poison. - The man declared, which made Thea frown even more. - Your friend won’t live to see the next dawn if she doesn’t get help in time.

Thea stood up and in a moment was in front of him, grabbing his hand, squeezing it tightly in a vice. Panic was clearly visible in her eyes. She was so scared that she might lose Adeline that her own life no longer came first when she clung to a man so much.

- How do we do this? Do you have an antidote? Give it to us! – Thea almost begged, but the man was stalling for time, not trying to answer her with lightning speed.

- You know, it would be noble if you could help us. – Nicole supported her friend.

- Who says I’m noble? Of course, I sympathize with you a little, but nothing more. – he replied. – Especially since I don’t have the antidote with me, since I don’t need it, so I don’t have the habit of taking it with me.

- Then tell me, where do we need to go to get the antidote?- Thea’s hands tightened even more around the man’s strong arm, and he grimaced in displeasure, then grabbed her hands and forcefully opened them, throwing them off.

- You’re asking me to help, even though you came here yourself. Did you think that a dense forest is a great place to walk? I’ve already helped you enough, haven’t I?

- Yes, I’m asking you because it looks like you’re the only one here who knows how to help her. - Thea’s face contorted, tears welled up in her eyes, which threatened to spill at any moment. – I’m sorry that I was rude to you, and I’m grateful for the help with bliar, but we have no one else to turn to. What should we do? Please help us.

- And in general, what are you doing in this forest? - he asked, looking at her significantly.

- We were heading to the northern lands. - Nicole interjected. - And since you are one of the representatives of the werewolves, then you could help us and then escort us there.

- And why would I do that? The northern lands rightfully belong to us, and we do not like uninvited guests. - he snapped. - What’s your business with werewolves?

- How can we talk if we don’t even know who you are? Maybe you can’t be trusted either? - Nicole insisted. – We will only talk to your alpha.

The man burst out laughing, as if possessed by the girl’s words.

- Well, then I’m listening to you carefully. - He hissed, stung by her audacity.

Only after that did everyone realize that in front of them was none other than the leader of the werewolf pack himself. And it was really an unexpected realization, disturbing and joyful at the same time.

Alarmed because their acquaintance initially happened on a rather rude note, and happy because it was their chance to establish an unsuccessful contact and enlist the support of the alpha himself.

- I’ll tell you everything, but first, could you help our friend? You can see for yourself what agony she is in. It hurts her. – Thea could no longer hear those terrible screams that came from Adeline writhing on the ground.

- Well, I’ll be looking forward to an explanation. Otherwise, if you decide to deceive me, you will not return alive from the northern lands. I promise you that. - the man’s response was uncompromising.

They looked at each other, as if mentally solving some joint tasks and coming to a common opinion.