The Lycan King's Fate Calling

Crystal's POV:

'What did it say?" Rufus asked, turning serious now. "I deleted it," I lied without missing a beat.

That message was calling me out by my original name. Rufus must not see it, no matter what, or things would only get even more complicated.

"Do you still remember what it said?" Rufus frowned, his eyes never leaving my face.

I nodded. "I didn't recognize the number, and I have no idea who the sender might be. But whoever it was, they knew my name and made some threats. They even mentioned Beryl."

"Do you think you can recall the phone number?" Rufus asked, never doubting my words for one second. "I can have someone trace its IP address."

"Yes, I remember." I had pored over that message repeatedly last night, unable to sleep. Naturally, I had come to memorize the cursed number.

I cited the numbers without batting an eye, only for Rufus to hold up his hand. "Too fast, I didn't catch it." "Huh?" I frowned in confusion. This man had a photographic memory. How could he have missed a short series of digits?

Nonplussed, Rufus took out his phone and handed it to me. "Add me on your contact list and send me the number."

moment, I found myself at a loss. What was he up to? But our priority was to find Beryl, so I quickly swapped

When he faced me again, we finally had results. "The IP address was traced back to

as he spoke, and I knew that I mirrored his

there right now." Without a moment to lose, Rufus barked

foreboding aura, just as it had always

of mist seemed to hover among the branches. Rufus divided his men

by side, our senses keenly attuned to our

and Beryl had a special connection, after all, because he strode straight

turned darker, and the ground beneath us was covered with thick moss so green, it was almost black. If we weren't careful, the moss could swallow our

on massive tree

my first time coming to the forbidden forest, I was still as creeped out as any

Rufus. Sure enough, he was calm and focused, like he already knew where he

us became more familiar. I didn't realize until then that Rufus had brought us to the spot where Noreen was buried; we

a tall, prominent tree, and I recognized it immediately. This was how Laura and I remembered the spot we chose to

to me and said, "Beryl is probably over

him. My