Chapter 118: Chapter 118

JONEA

“Why the rush, Arabel? We just want to talk,” one of them said in a playful tone, but the look in his eyes sent shivers down my spine. I felt a cold dread creeping up my back.

Arabel stood beside me, trying to stay calm, though her face had gone pale. I could tell something was off, but before I could say anything, one of the men stepped closer.

“Who's this? A new friend of yours?” he sneered, glancing at me.

“Leave,” Arabel said firmly. “We don’t want any trouble.”

The man chuckled but didn’t move. “Neither do we. But you know, Arabel, you owe us something. So why don’t you come back with us, like the old days?”

I saw Arabel clench her fists tightly, trying to keep her composure. Fear and anger mixed on her face. I didn’t know what they were talking about, but I couldn’t just stand by.

“Listen,” I said as coldly as I could. “We just want to leave. So why don’t you step aside?”

They laughed again, louder this time. But before things could escalate further, I felt something strange. Owen’s shadow appeared near my feet, almost invisible to anyone but me.

“Stay calm,” Owen whispered softly, his voice only audible to me. “I’m here.”

His presence gave me a bit of relief, though I had no idea how he could help. I just hoped this situation wouldn’t get worse.

Tension rose as one of the men reached for Arabel’s hand. But Arabel quickly twisted his arm and delivered a sharp kick to his stomach.

“Don’t touch me!” Arabel snapped.

I glanced around, looking for a way out. The street was crowded, but people seemed unwilling to get involved. I had to think fast.

“Look, we don’t want any trouble,” I repeated, this time more firmly. “Leave us alone, or I’ll call the city guards.”

The threat didn’t faze them. If anything, it only made them angrier. Together, they prepared to attack us.

Before they could lay a hand on us, Owen’s shadow moved swiftly and transformed into a massive black lycan. Instantly, the men backed away in fear.

“What the hell? Why is there a lycan here?” they shouted.

“Let’s go now,” Owen whispered again, and I didn’t waste a second. I grabbed Arabel’s hand and ran as fast as I could into the crowd.

They yelled behind us but didn’t chase. Maybe they were too stunned or scared by what just happened. I didn’t care. All that mattered was that we got away.

Still panting, we stopped in a small alley far from the bustling main street. Arabel was out of breath, but a faint smile crossed her lips. She was trying to mask her anxiety, though traces of tension were still visible on her face.

“Arabel, what just happened?” I asked, my voice laced with concern.

She let out a soft, bitter laugh. “Sorry, Jonea. Those were old friends from my past. I’ve left that dark world behind, but it seems they haven’t let go of me.”

I frowned, trying to process her words. “Friends? What do they want from you?”

Arabel lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the ground. She took a deep breath before finally speaking. “I’ll tell you everything. But first, thank you for staying by my side back there. And Owen…”

I turned to Owen, who stood behind me in his large shadowy form. His golden eyes glowed faintly, showing he was still on guard. “Owen, you scared them off. But I’m worried if they report a lycan sighting in the city. We could be in big trouble.”

“I won’t let them lay a finger on you,” Owen said firmly, his deep voice calm and resolute. “But I’ll be more careful. We need to get out of here soon.”

Arabel nodded and gripped my hand. “Let’s find somewhere safer. I’ll explain everything once we’re there.”

We walked through narrow alleys until we found a quiet park on the outskirts of the city. The place was far enough from the crowds, and for the first time since the encounter, I felt like I could breathe again. Owen merged back into my shadow, ensuring no one would suspect his presence.

Once we sat on a bench, I looked at Arabel, full of questions. She looked tired, but there was a glimmer of determination in her eyes.

“Arabel, you don’t have to tell me if you’re not ready,” I said softly.

She shook her head quickly. “No, Jonea. You deserve to know. I want you to know who I really am.”

I nodded, giving her time to begin.

“Back then,” she started with a hoarse voice, “I was a street kid. No family, no home. This city was full of poverty and violence, and I was stuck in the middle of it. I survived by selling drugs—it was the only way I knew how.”

I stayed silent, letting her continue.

“My boss back then was a cruel man who only cared about money. If I didn’t meet my sales targets, he’d beat me until I couldn’t stand. Nobody cared. I was just another worthless kid to them.”

She took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions. “But that wasn’t the worst of it. When the red dragon clan attacked this city a few years ago, things got even harder. They destroyed almost everything here. I was forced to work harder, sell more dangerous stuff, even if it meant risking my life.”

My chest tightened hearing her story. “Arabel…” I murmured softly.

She gave me a faint, bittersweet smile, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I thought my life would end like that. But then I met Miller.”

Hearing my twin brother’s name made my heart race.

“He saw me getting extorted by my boss in the street. I don’t know where he came from, but he protected me. He fought them off and made me feel safe for the first time in my life. From that moment, I didn’t want to be away from him.”

“So, he saved you?” I asked, trying to piece together the story.

Arabel nodded. “He saved me. He asked me to leave this city with him. We wandered together, searching for you. You mean everything to Miller, Jonea. He never gave up on finding you, even if it meant taking me along.”

I looked at her, overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion. “Arabel, I… I don’t know what to say. Thank you for staying by his side all this time.”

She smiled, this time with genuine warmth. “Miller changed my life, Jonea. I owe him everything. And now, I want to be a better person—not just for him but for myself too.”

We sat in silence for a moment, letting her words sink in. But then, the earlier incident came back to me.

“Arabel, those men… They were offering you drugs, weren’t they?” I asked cautiously.

She nodded, her expression tense again. “They wanted me to go back to that life. They said I was one of the best back then. But I’ve sworn to myself that I’ll never return.”

I felt a mix of anger and sadness hearing that. I nodded slowly, trying to understand her situation. “You know, Arabel, I’m so proud of you. You’ve been through so much and still chose the right path, even though it’s hard.”

She gave a small smile, but this time there was confidence in it. “Thank you, Jonea. You don’t know how much that means to me.”

Owen, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. “We can’t stay here too long. They might come back with more people.”

I nodded in agreement. “But, the present…”

Arabel stood up, gripping my hand firmly. “Let’s go. I don’t want you to worry anymore.”