POV: SAINT
We took a different path, believing it would keep us safer from being discovered, and it worked—until Evelyn suddenly collapsed, causing Blake to tumble off her. She began to scream as she rolled on the ground.
I quickly transformed back into my human form and rushed to help Blake stand up before turning my attention to Evelyn. "What's wrong?" I asked, panic rising in me as I watched her rolling in agony.
"I knew it!" I heard Ava's voice. "I knew you wouldn't take the direct route." I looked over at Ava as she approached us slowly. "But you weren't so lucky. Your pack chose the straight path and is already fighting the rogues. But don't worry; I'll just kill you both right here," she said with a sinister smile.
Fueled by anger, I charged at her, almost landing a punch when she cast a spell. Suddenly, I was rooted to the spot with stiff legs and hands. She walked toward me and seized my neck, tightening her grip and cutting off my air supply.
"If you had just died that day, I wouldn't have to hide like—AHH!" she screamed as Evelyn stabbed her thigh, driving the knife deep into her flesh. Ava's grip on my neck loosened before she fell to the floor, shrieking in pain and clutching her thighs.
"We have unfinished business, right? I promised I'd get revenge for what you did to my son," Evelyn said as she pulled out the knife, making Ava scream again. I watched as Evelyn climbed on top of her and landed several punches before Ava managed to shove her off.
Ava clutched her bloodied thighs and cast another spell, forcing Evelyn's hands around her own neck, trying to strangle herself. I lunged at Ava, and we both hit the ground as I began to tighten my grip on her throat. In the background, I could hear Evelyn coughing, likely struggling for air. Ava fought back, pushing my hands away from her neck and trying to shake me off, but I held on tightly. Suddenly, a blow to my back caused me to loosen my grip, and I tumbled aside as pain shot through my body.
Sam grabbed me by my shirt just before kicks and punches started landing on me. Blake rushed over in an attempt to pull Sam off, but it was no use. Instead, Sam swung his arm and slapped Blake across the face. Blake fell to the ground, clutching his cheek and looking up at his dad in shock. Sam quickly went over to him. "I'm really sorry, Blake. I didn't mean to hurt you. Why were you trying—"
"Die," Evelyn screamed as we turned towards her. She had stabbed Ava in the throat and continued to plunge the knife deeper. "Die, you fucking bitch!" she yelled, relentlessly attacking with the knife. Sam dashed over and shoved Evelyn away before checking on Ava. Evelyn rushed to help me stand up; pain surged through my body, but I summoned whatever strength I had left.
"Take Blake and run! Don't look back," Evelyn urged urgently. "I'll try to keep him here."
"No! I can't leave you here; he'll kill you!"
"Saint," she said firmly, "please take care of my Blake." Then she wrapped her arms around a sobbing Blake.
"I'm going to kill you!" Sam yelled as he gripped the knife tightly and advanced toward us. I held onto Blake's hand, but he resisted, unwilling to leave his mother behind. Evelyn pushed Blake toward me and silently urged, "Go." She then turned and walked towards Sam.
I struggled to lift Blake, but my body felt too weak after Sam's beating. Instead, I tried to drag him away, but then both Evelyn and Blake screamed at the same time, forcing me to stop and look back.
Sam had stabbed Evelyn in the stomach. He pulled the knife out and stabbed her again on another side. Blake froze in shock as he watched what was happening. I couldn't move either. Evelyn was...
"I told you to behave, didn't I?" Sam said with a menacing tone. "Since you'll die right here, I'll reveal the second truth." He pulled out the knife again, making Evelyn gasp in pain.
"I caused all the miscarriages," he continued. The forest grew eerily silent as Sam spoke. "I ordered Ava to ensure you lost all those babies, Evelyn. I ruined your chances of having children because you ruined my chance of being with the one I loved." He burst into laughter at the sight of a dying Evelyn.
That couldn't be true! Sam couldn't be that cruel… he couldn't be responsible for her miscarriages... he just couldn't—
My thoughts were interrupted when Sam turned towards me with a wild look in his eyes. He transformed into his wolf form and lunged at me. I tried to grab Blake and escape, but I wasn't quick enough. Sam pounced on both of us, causing us to tumble down together. I hit my head against a log, making my vision blur as I searched for where Blake had fallen.
Sam prepared to rush at me again when a wolf suddenly jumped on him. I recognized the scent; it was Jackson. I found Blake where he had fallen and crawled over to him, shaking him gently, but he didn't respond. My head throbbed, and my vision was still blurry as I made my way to Evelyn. I shook her softly, and she blinked a little before looking at me. "You'll be okay, alright? I'm sure help is on the way—just hold on," I said.
It felt like déjà vu, just like with Marcus, but this time I struggled to believe my own words that she would be fine.
"I... thought.... the moon goddess... didn't think I was fit to be a mother... all along... my mate... ruined my womb," she managed to say through shaky breaths while gripping my hand. "P-please take care of Blake for me."
"No, you're not going to—" My voice broke as tears streamed down my face. She tried to turn her body. "W-where... is Blake? W-where—" Then she went still, and I watched as she took her last breath. As darkness closed in on me, one painful thought lingered in my mind.
Evelyn was dead.