Chapter 395
With her goal achieved, Natasha’s lips curled into a sly smirk.
The Prince led the horse over, firmly gripping the saddle. With a powerful surge from his core, he was instantly seated atop the horse.
He looked down at Natasha, his thin lips pressed together and jawline taut. “Come.”
For a fleeting moment, Natasha was completely captivated by him.
But she quickly snapped out of it, reminding herself not to get carried away.
“There are plenty of handsome men out there. No way am I getting hung up on just the Prince,” Natasha reminded herself.
She placed her hand in the Prince’s palm, only to have it immediately engulfed by his large, firm grip.
She felt her arm seized by a powerful force, and before she could fully register what was happening, she was already astride the horse.
“Hyah.” the Prince commanded sharply, spurring his horse into a gallop toward the outskirts of the city.
The horse lurched and bucked, constantly throwing Natasha against his back.
The Prince’s face flushed crimson, sweat beading on his forehead.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, the Prince asked Natasha, “Which way did Vortex go?”
Natasha casually gestured toward the northern woods and said, “That way.”
“Are you sure about that?” the Prince’s tone was laced with suspicion, clearly sensing something was amiss.
The northern woods were dense with towering ancient trees, beyond which lay endless mountain ranges stretching as far as the eye could see.
No matter how spooked the horse was, it would never bolt into that dense forest.
Besides, there are wild beasts roaming those mountains.
Natasha asserted with unwavering conviction, “Absolutely certain. It’s definitely there.”
Seeing how determined she was, the Prince had no choice but to spur his horse into the woods.
At first, they could still ride through the woods, but as the woods grew increasingly dense, they had no choice but to dismount and continue on foot.
The Prince swung down from his horse and, not forgetting his manners, immediately extended a hand to Natasha. “Here, let me help you down,” he offered gently.
Natasha was just about to refuse, but then she suddenly remembered, “Oh, right, I’m injured.”
She could only force out a “thank you” in a strained voice, deliberately relying on the Prince’s strength to dismount.
The Prince tethered his horse, then turned to face the pitch–black woods, his brows knitting into a tight knot.
He turned back, his eyes burning bright as he looked at Natasha. “Do we really have to find this horse?”
“What kind of talk is that, Your Highness? Vortex is my partner. If you’re afraid, just head back–it’s not like I need your help anyway.”
She deliberately goaded the Prince with her words, then strode ahead.
The Prince let out a resigned sigh and caught up with her.
There was no way he would leave Natasha behind and return to the city alone.
“Slow down, it’s dangerous in these mountains,” the Prince called after Natasha.
Natasha watched him catch up, a triumphant smirk curling her lips.
Instead of stopping, she quickened her pace even more.
She led the Prince deeper into the woods, then suddenly gasped and pointed ahead, exclaiming with feigned excitement, “Your Highness, I think I see Vortex. It’s right up ahead.”
“Slow down. I’m losing sight of you.” the Prince’s voice faded into the distance as Natasha nimbly sprang up into the treetops.
From her perch in the tree, she looked down at the Prince, watching him flounder around the woods like a headless chicken.
She didn’t come down from the tree until the Prince was out of sight.
Natasha gave a playful wave toward the Prince and called out, “Your Highness, enjoy freezing out here, I’m off.”
The sun had long since set, and the forest was pitch black.
Natasha retraced her steps, but soon sensed something was off.
I could’ve sworn the edge of the woods was just up ahead. So why have I been walking for ages and still can’t get out?
Natasha stopped dead in her tracks, carefully scanning her surroundings. She facepalmed as the realization hit her. “Damn, I’m lost.”
“Damn it all. How did I get lost in this tiny patch of woods?” Natasha swore furiously. The more panicked she got, the more hopelessly lost she became.
The distant howls of wild beasts echoed, making her hair stand on end.
Natasha picked up her pace. She had to get out of the woods before total darkness enveloped them.
‘Otherwise, I’ll be wolf chow,’ Natasha thought anxiously.
After a few steps, the Prince still in the woods came to mind, and a sudden pang of regret washed over her.
‘What if he runs into a wolf pack?’ Natasha thought anxiously.
Natasha smacked her forehead in frustration. “Jeez, I just wanted to give the Prince a hard time–not get him killed.”
At this thought, Natasha promptly stopped in her tracks and turned back.
“Your Highness. Your Highness.” Natasha called out anxiously as she walked, her voice echoing through the dark woods.
There was no response from the woods, and Natasha’s heart pounded with growing panic.
Gritting her teeth, she pushed deeper into the woods, dry branches crunching underfoot.
A cold wind whipped up a few withered leaves, only to have them abruptly freeze, suspended in mid–air.
Waves of wolf howls shattered the silence. A dozen pairs of glowing green eyes materialized from the shadows between the trees, and an ominous aura washed over her.
A shiver ran down Natasha’s spine as her hand slowly crept toward the dagger hidden in her boot.
Natasha cursed under her breath, “Damn it all. Could I be any unluckier? A wolf pack, seriously?”
Just my luck,‘ Natasha thought with a bitter smile.
The sinister glowing eyes drew nearer, clearly forming a tightening encirclement around her.
It was clear as day—the wolf pack had already marked Natasha as their prey.
Her back went rigid in an instant, cold sweat drenching her clothes.
The wolves fanned out in a deadly semicircle, closing in. Low, guttural growls rumbled from their throats, and their razor–sharp fangs gleamed in the darkness.
Natasha tightened her grip on the dagger at her waist, slowly backing against
Three massive wolves lunged at her.
Three wolves, three angles, she took up a defensive stance.
She could only shield her vitals with one arm while slashing her dagger
And her dagger found its mark, plunging straight into the throat of a large wolf.
Within seconds, she took down two wolves in quick succession.
Natasha thrust her arm out to block the wolf, certain it would be torn apart–when suddenly, a dark figure streaked overhead like an arrow splitting the wind.
The Prince’s jet–black cloak sliced through the air in a razor–sharp arc.
With a fierce gust of wind, he landed before Natasha. The sharp shing of his soft sword unsheathing collided with the wolves‘ agonized howls.
“Close your eyes.” The Prince’s voice was as cold as forged steel. Before Natasha could even react, his warm palm had already covered her eyes.
The sound of claws shredding fabric pierced Natasha’s ears as warm droplets suddenly splattered across her face and neck.
Through the gaps between her fingers, she saw the Prince standing on one knee, propping himself up with his sword.
But his back was slashed by wolf claws, leaving three bone–deep gashes.
And she, shielded in his embrace, remained entirely unscathed.
The two swiftly slew three large wolves in succession, enraging the entire pack.
Even more wolves came charging at them, snarling with bared fangs.
In the blink of an eye, Natasha leapt up into the tree, hooked her legs over a branch, and hung upside down. Reaching out to the Prince, she shouted, “Grab my hand.”
With lightning reflexes, the Prince immediately reached up to grasp Natasha’s hand.
Their hands locked tight as Natasha leveraged her core, heaving the Prince onto the tree trunk in one fluid motion.
Almost simultaneously, the wolves lunged but found only empty air, then began circling restlessly beneath the tree, snarling in frustration.
Both of them were utterly disheveled–their hair in wild tangles and their robes streaked with wolf blood.
In that instant when their eyes met, they both burst into laughter.
Natasha glanced at him, a little embarrassed. “How on earth did you find me?” she asked, her voice tinged with guilt.
“Me?” The Prince leaned against the tree trunk, a roguish grin playing on his lips. “I’ve been tailing you the whole time.”
Natasha’s jaw dropped. “Wait, you knew I was setting you up, yet you still followed?”
The Prince smiled nonchalantly and said, “I only meant to give you a little scare–never thought I’d actually summon a wolf pack.”
Natasha was so furious she could have wrung his neck. “You jerk. That wolf howl was you all along?”
The Prince looked around sheepishly, keeping his mouth shut.
The Prince muttered under his breath, “Next time you play tricks on me, pick a safer spot.”