*SELENE’s POV*

“How did you lose your phone!?” inquired Suzan, she looked more panicked than me and I couldn’t help but smile at it.

“I think it probably fell when I turned into my wolf”, I said looking away, it was dark outside and I only hoped that no one saw that small piece of technology in the forest.

“Hahaha, that is why you don’t turn just anyhow!”, Suzan burst out laughing, it is not that big a deal for her. But for me, that was where my secrets hide! “Don’t worry”, reassured Suzan “someone from our pack must have noticed it, they’ll bring it with them. You go back to sleep.”

“I think I should go and check” and I tried to get up but a sudden pain sent back on my fluffy pillow.

Suzan wiped the sweat that had formed on my forehead, “No need! They will be back anytime now, we’ll ask them then”

“But..” I tried to protest. It was very important to me, but my body was weak and sleepy because of the painkillers.

“No but and no if!”, she pushed me down on the bed and pulled the sheets on me saying, “You rest here, I’ll check for them. They will pass here in a few minutes, I am sitting right outside waiting for them. But you are not to move!”

I tried to get up again but she held her finger in front of me warning me not to move, I sighed raising my hand as surrender, “Fine! But you please bring it to me immediately. And if they don’t have it, wake me up immediately”

“Yes ma’am”, she said with a salute and both of us giggled.

My heart was restless but Suzan won’t let me go, my painkillers had already kicked in but I forced myself awake, it won’t take them long now, they should be here any minute now.

The biggest problem would be if they didn’t have my phone, that would be a doomsday for me! I would have no choice but to run for it without bothering about my injuries.

What if someone else finds it! It has a lock but the Simcard and memory chip can be used in some other device. What if they are a hacker?

What if someone wrong pretends they kidnapped me? My father would do anything to get me back, after all, I am an important piece for his political bargain. My mother would kill me if she knew I lost this little box that has palace contacts.

As I drowned in my thoughts, overthinking every possible and impossible scenario, my drowsiness took over me and I fell asleep unknowingly.

~*~

I woke with a jerk gasping, The clock ticked four in the morning ‘Shit! How can I fall asleep!’ My hands were already shivering as the panic started to set in, “Suzan!” I called out to her, I just hoped she got it as she didn’t wake me up.

There was no response from her which sent me further into panic. I got up and ran outside shouting her name yet again, “Suzan!…Suzan!”

It had been hours and I was perfectly fine and healed right now, there was a little lingering pain but nothing that I can’t handle.

Suddenly my leg hit something right outside the main door, I was about to trip but sung by the door frame balancing myself.

I looked down to check what it was and here she was, Suzan!

She had wrapped herself in a cosy blanket sleeping on the house deck.

Oh no, Suzan!’ I should have stayed awake with her. I shouldn’t have relied on her.

The dress that I wore was quite stretchable, so I removed it and tied it in a circle to my right leg. I had a pocket so bringing back my phone the same wouldn’t be a hassle.

I would need the dress later anyway, and I turned into my wolf speeding off in the direction of the capital city where I believe my irresponsibility happened.

It was no problem for me to run now, my adrenaline had also kicked in making me go faster than I ever could! I had to reach there before the sunlight hit the ground, if anyone found my mobile device it would be troublesome for me.

I could finally see the capital city, and the spot where I turned into a werewolf was a few steps away. Hiding behind a tree I checked if anyone was around and turned back to my human form.

I wore the dress that I tied to my leg while coming here, and came out of my hiding spot running to check if my mobile was anywhere here in this dark damp place.

A sudden scent of burnt ember filled the air, this was a very odd scent for any being to emit. It wasn’t a living creature’s scent and yet I knew who this belonged to.

Everyone had a distinct scent to them and as werewolves, we could easily differentiate each other from it. And this was an odd scent of the most obnoxious man I met outside the castle.

“I was waiting for you princess”, a deep voice called out to me and I looked around to see where it came from.

“Who is it?” I shouted, even though I had pretty much identified who it was.

“It’s heartbreaking you couldn’t even guess my voice”, the familiar voice came from behind the tree on my left, then I saw the man’s feet emerged from behind the tree.

He was dressed in full black and my doubts were confirmed.

“Fang Warchild!”, I said his name out with a rather irritated expression.

“Oh so you do recognise me”, he said with a smirk leaning on the tree folding his arms, “looking for something here?”

“Just out for a leisure stroll”, I replied and pretended to walk casually with my eyes on the ground.

“Perhaps this is what you are looking for?” He said raising his hand.

It held a small rectangular mobile device, that was my mobile!

“So this is yours? I figured it must be, looks pretty expensive you know! Shouldn’t throw it around just anywhere”, I gulped a little worried about the fact that he will again ask for something as a price to return that device.

His feet casually started heading towards me, “You know I tried to open this, but can’t figure out the password. Can you tell what it is?”

I did a ‘seriously’ face, really? Really! He expected me to just blurt that important detail out like it meant nothing. He was asking so openly how ridiculous he can be! I rolled my eyes and tried to snatch it away from him, but he pulled his hand back.

This man was around 5 inches taller than me and I would have had to jump to take my mobile back. There is no way I am looking stupid that way in front of him.

“Give it back!”, I demanded.

“Finders keepers”, his words always added fuel to my anger. With a devilish smile on his face, he asked again, “You didn’t tell me your password yet!”

I closed my eyes and clenched my jaw, “Why would I tell it to you! That belongs to me so return it right now.”

He laughed sarcastically and came close to whispering exactly what I was afraid of, “What do I get?”

He was so close I could feel his warm breath on my skin, my eyes went wide at his actions. But instead of moving back, I snatched my mobile out of his hand, he wasn’t expecting that. Fang moved away from me and covered his mouth, probably thinking what he should do next.

“That was a surprise, aren’t you a princess!? Didn’t they teach you to maintain distance from boys? It can ruin your character little one”, his eyes narrowed as his hand slid down from his mouth. I simply ignored his question and started walking away, heading back to my home.

“041273”

I heard the numbers he said and stopped right in my path, it was my mobile password! My fingers hastily unlocked the mobile to check if there was any unusual activity.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t do anything in there,” Fang replied casually as if I would trust his shrewd words.

“How did you get the password?” I was literally angry at him now, what was his game? He definitely was looking at me like some bargain he would get from the king.

“You told it to me just now!” Fang said, twisting his lips at his own words or was it how my heart was beating unevenly right now.

I clicked my tongue and rubbed my forehead with my fingers, my anger was up in the sky. I hate scheming people like him, and I felt like beating him to a pulp right now.

I stomped to him and held him by his collar. He was significantly taller than me but I pulled him down to my level, “Don’t you dare try to play any cheap tricks with me if I see any of your hidden agendas playing out later on… Then I’ll personally behead you!”

He whistled loving everything I was doing right now, “little one is short-tempered, let me check something else as well!” Saying this he suddenly took a hold of my wrist holding his collar and twisted it.

Did he want a fight? Then I wasn’t going down without one.

I kicked him on the shin of his leg.

“Ouch!” he said without letting go of me as if it was nothing, so I twisted myself in another attempt and hit him hard with my other elbow in his abdomen.

“Wow! You are pretty strong for such a pale looking girl”, he said with a bit of a pain struck voice. I didn’t train for nothing back in the palace, even when I was locked in the dungeon I made sure to train my hits.

But Fang was too casual right now and caught my other hand as well, holding both of them back together.

This was a helpless situation as I tried to wiggle out of his grip, but he was very strong. He held me right in place with barely any scope of movement for me.

Fang leaned in closer to me, my back touching his chiselled muscles. He whispered in my ear sending tingles down my spine, “So you are feisty as well. Little one, I like feisty!”