Marry to Alpha or Vampire?

As they reached the depths of the forest, Hazel slowed her pace, and the others no longer ran. This was their search area.

They scoured the forest meticulously, using detectors to search for anything suspicious.

“Bessie, Bessie, where have you gone?” Pansy playfully imitated a ghostly voice.

“Hazel, do you find something strange?” Eloise suddenly questioned.

Hazel raised an eyebrow and inquired, “What do you find strange?”

“The fact that Bessie managed to escape from the dungeon,” Eloise remarked while attentively scanning her surroundings.

Hazel fell into contemplation. Eloise was right. The Iron Star Pack’s dungeon was constructed with special materials, making it nearly impossible for Bessie to escape without alerting anyone. This, in itself, was a baffling occurrence.

“I don’t see anything around here,” Pansy crouched down, sniffing around, as if she were a young wolf learning to hunt.

Hazel closed her eyes, tuning in to her surroundings. The gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and a peculiar scent wafted through the air.

Hazel twitched her nose, allowing the unusual scent to infiltrate her nostrils. It was the pungent odor of rotting meat, slightly unpleasant. Hazel waved her hand a few times to dispel it.

“Isn’t that in the direction of the clear spring?” Hazel was puzzled.

“What’s wrong? Did you find something?” Eloise approached Hazel and seemed concerned about the situation.

“I smell something strange,” Hazel said, moving towards the direction of the clear spring, with the other three following.

“Yeah, it’s a bit unpleasant,” Elmer pinched his nose.

“There’s something off,” Hazel said and hastened her steps, moving towards the restricted area alone.

“Hazel, Hazel!” Eloise yelled. “Hazel is running so fast. Has she found something?”

“Should we follow her?” Pansy suddenly asked as Hazel and their group appeared to have separated.

“We need to go after her,” Elmer urged, and the three rushed through the forest.

Hazel continued to advance towards the clear spring, where the smell outside the restricted area grew stronger, forcing her to cover her nose.

Stepping on leaves, Hazel moved closer, and she could hear the sound of flowing water, but also the noises of animals chewing. A gentle breeze brought an even more pungent and unpleasant smell.

Hazel covered her nose and continued forward. She crossed the forbidden line and neared the clear spring. As she approached, Hazel suddenly stopped in her tracks.

She widened her eyes, seeing Bessie just twenty feet from the clear spring. More accurately, she saw Bessie’s body.

Her head was hanging from a tree branch, with wide-open golden eyes and blood running down the tree branch. Bessie’s body was lying beside the clear spring, torn apart and gnawed at by other animals, leaving behind only some scraps and a skeleton.

Hazel felt her heart racing.

Elmer and the others were just outside the restricted area and witnessed Hazel crossing the line. They rushed to the scene.

“This is a restricted area, and we can’t enter,” Pansy shrugged, a stickler for rules.

“But Hazel went inside,” Elmer frowned, also eager to enter.

Eloise wanted to cross the forbidden line but was held back by Pansy. “Hey, do you really want to go in?”

“When Hazel is in there, maybe she found an issue,” Eloise furrowed her brows, not understanding why Pansy was stopping her.

“Dear, this is a restricted area. Rushing in would anger the Alpha,” Pansy reassured Hazel. It was clear she didn’t want to break the rules; following the Alpha’s orders was a werewolf’s instinct.

“Do you think the same way?” Eloise glanced at Elmer, unsure if he would join her side. They couldn’t stray too far from Hazel; what if Hazel encountered danger?

“In special circumstances, the Alpha would understand,” Elmer said, then crossed the forbidden line, with Eloise following closely.

“So we have no choice,” Pansy wanted to refuse, but she also didn’t want to stay outside.

Eloise, Elmer, and Pansy entered the restricted area, searching for Hazel’s scent.

“It seems to be over there,” Elmer pointed in a direction, and Eloise and Pansy followed him.

When the three arrived at the clear spring, they were met with this unsettling scene.

Eloise and Pansy covered their mouths.

Hazel stood next to a tree, with Bessie’s head hanging from a branch above. Hazel’s expression remained composed, and her white shirt was stained with a little blood. Bessie’s lifeless body lay at her feet.

“Hazel, you…” Pansy didn’t know how to react; the sight was visually overwhelming.

Hazel stood there quietly, looking at Elmer. “Inform the others,” she never thought she could remain so calm in such a situation. Hazel felt that she was changing.

“Hazel, don’t be afraid,” Elmer said, worried that she might feel frightened.

“You should check on Pansy,” Hazel turned her head away, Pansy was crouched on the ground, her face pale.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Poor Pansy,” Eloise patted Pansy’s back, easing her fear.

A cool breeze brushed Hazel’s face. Her mind couldn’t process anything. Bessie’s body was right there in front of her.

Hazel had crossed paths with Bessie and knew her capabilities. While Bessie was somewhat formidable, her abilities weren’t enough to escape from the dungeon. There was only one possibility – someone deliberately released her. Hazel didn’t know if her speculation was correct, but Bessie couldn’t have escaped on her own.

Cyril couldn’t have been oblivious to it.

“Do you find it strange, don’t you?” Rita suddenly spoke, also finding it eerie.

“It is indeed strange. Bessie’s escape was odd enough, and now she’s found dead in the forest,” Hazel interlocked her fingers, no longer looking at Bessie’s body.

“I wonder if Alpha knows,” Rita snorted. In her eyes, Alpha was all-powerful.

Hazel looked at Bessie’s body, wondering what Cyril was planning and who had killed Bessie.

Five minutes later, Alpha Cyril and his personal guards arrived at the clear spring. Beta Theo was also present.

Hazel spotted Parrish and Rankin, fully equipped, leading a well-trained guard unit of about twenty people. They had cold expressions and robust physiques.

Other groups also rushed here to catch a glimpse of Bessie’s body.

Cyril gazed at Hazel, who appeared emotionless, as if not intimidated.

“Thoroughly investigate, don’t miss a single corner,” Cyril ordered his guards, Parrish, and Rankin.

“Yes, Alpha,” Parrish and Rankin said solemnly, directing the guard unit to search every nook and cranny.

Hazel stood still, waiting for the outcome of their search. Bessie was dead, and there was likely nothing more to find.

“Of all people, she had to be the one to find it,” Ada grumbled, hoping to catch Alpha Cyril’s attention and make her presence known, but it was Hazel who discovered it first.

“What’s the matter? Worried that Alpha will favor Hazel?” Karin sneered. She knew exactly what was on Ada’s mind.

Ada huffed, not wanting to engage further with Karin, who dared to taunt her.

Parrish and Rankin returned to Alpha Cyril’s side with the guard unit. Hazel turned her attention towards them.

Hazel’s breath caught for a moment when Parrish produced the ring.

“We found this ring on a branch where Bessie’s head was hanging. Perhaps it was left behind by the perpetrator,” Parrish said. Discussions erupted all around as they seemed eager to identify the owner of the ring.

Ada rushed to Parrish and examined the ring from every angle, then loudly exclaimed, “I recognize it! This is Hazel’s ring!”