The elderly woman hummed a quiet tune as she cradled the baby in her arms, her pace slow but steady, as she walks her way back to the cottage. She brought the baby with her to the market. The chill of the night nipped at her skin, but she held the child close, her warmth a shield against the cold. “We’ll get you somewhere safe,” she murmured, her voice soft. “Don’t you worry.”
The forest stretched endlessly ahead, its shadows long and dark. The faint outline of her cottage was just visible in the distance, a beacon of comfort in an unforgiving world. But before she could reach it, the sound of approaching footsteps froze her in place. A group of werewolves emerged from the trees, their golden eyes gleaming in the dim light.
“Well, what do we have here?” their leader drawled, his tone laced with mockery. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a scar cutting across his face. His pack flanked him, their expressions a mix of curiosity and menace.
The woman clutched the basket tightly, her voice trembling. “It’s just a child. Leave us be.”
One of the wolves sneered, stepping closer. “A child? What kind of fool carries a kid in the middle of nowhere?”
The leader motioned for one of his men to investigate. Rough hands yanked the basket from her grip, spilling its contents onto the ground. The baby let out a sharp cry, the sound startling in the stillness of the forest.
“A baby?” one of the wolves muttered, his face twisting in disdain. “What are we supposed to do with this? It’s useless.”
The group laughed, their derision cutting through the old woman’s pleas. “Please,” she begged, her hands reaching for the baby. “She’s just a child–”
In one swift movement the leader snapped her neck and chuckled. “Useless old hag.” And then he turned to his men. “Leave her. Let the woods take care of it.”
Before they could leave, a young omega stepped forward, her wide eyes fixed on the crying infant. She hesitated for only a moment before picking up the baby, her movements gentle despite the tension in the air. “I’ll take care of her,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The leader raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smirk. “You? You can’t even take care of yourself, omega.”
The omega didn’t respond. She held the baby close, her expression defiant. The leader laughed, shaking his head. “Fine. Do what you want. It’s your funeral.”
As the group moved on, the omega lingered behind, her heart pounding. She looked down at the baby, her voice soft and trembling. “I’ll keep you safe,” she promised. “Bella. That will be your name.”