Chapter 202
202 The Hidden Trail
Aubrey’s POV
“He’s… not very good.”
ཝཱ, 55%
+8 Pearls
Brook scratched his head awkwardly. “My dad’s just an omega. Not a very strong one, either.”
I nodded, understanding immediately. If his skill level wasn’t high, then for him to have successfully wounded such a nimble deer, it had to be when the animal was distracted–while eating, or drinking from a stream.
After landing the hit, Brook’s father probably realized his crossbow wasn’t strong enough to do real damage. Of course, it was also possible he was already exhausted, and didn’t have the strength to draw it fully. That would explain why the wound was so shallow.
If he was already tired, then it must have been late in the day. He probably decided to head back down the mountain–he still had a wife and child waiting for him. But on the way back, something must have happened. Maybe he fell into a trap. Maybe he stumbled on something.
There weren’t any large predators in this area, and yet he’d been missing for three days.
As someone who hunted regularly, he should’ve known how to avoid traps. The only explanation was that he’d found something–some hidden place—and either got stuck there or died inside it .
I went over the reasoning carefully. Nothing seemed off. Only then did I ask, “Brook, is there any water around here?”
He thought for a moment. “Yeah. There’s a little lake.”
My eyes
lit up. “Take us there. There might be a clue.”
Brook nodded, and we set off toward the lake with the deer slung over one of the guards‘ shoulders.
It was a long, narrow lake. The water was clear, with beautiful aquatic plants growing beneath the surface. From the footprints along the bank, it was obvious that animals and people came here to drink often. Brook’s father had probably come here to quench his thirst–and that’s when he encountered the deer.
“Search the area. Look closely. We’re not leaving until we find something.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Everyone I brought knew what I was looking for. They spread out, combing the area inch by Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the Findηovel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access s of novels early and in the highest quality.
inch.
Brook tugged at my sleeve, his lips pressed tight.
1/2
10:09 Wed, 3
202 The Hidden Trail
“My dad’s gonna be okay… right?”
3 55%
+8 Pearls
It wasn’t likely. Someone missing for three or four days, especially in a place like this, almost certainly wasn’t coming back.
I didn’t want to lie to him. The truth was, the odds weren’t good.
The little guy must’ve guessed what I was thinking. He lowered his head, tears welling in his eyes. He’d been the most desperate to search. He walked the entire eight- or nine–hour trip without a single complaint, just hoping to find his father alive.
“Dad said I had to take good care of Mom… He promised he’d bring back meat… I don’t want the meat. I just want him back…”
His voice broke into quiet sobs. He didn’t dare cry loudly–like he was scared someone would get annoyed and stop helping him.
I let out a long sigh and pulled him into my arms.
“Don’t cry… If something really did happen to your dad, I’ll take you away from here.”
If his father had caught the Lupine virus, his mother probably wouldn’t survive either. Brook would be left completely alone.
“No… I’m not leaving!” Brook suddenly pushed me away, his face full of panic. “I have to protect my mom!”
I didn’t blame him.
Just then, Perry’s voice called out.
“Miss! We found something!”
The sorrow in my chest vanished instantly. My expression turned cold as I stood and signaled the others to follow Perry’s direction.
We walked into a dense patch of forest. Thick layers of dead leaves blanketed the ground. The decay beneath had produced a faint, swampy miasma. No underbrush. No animal tracks. It was quieter here than anywhere else–a place no one ever went.
In the center of the area was a shallow, uneven depression in the ground. When I arrived, Perry used a stick to push aside the layers of fallen leaves.
Beneath them was a sloped, downward–facing cave.
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