Chapter 88: Chapter 88

DARAN

I drove slowly through the cold night in Blue Sapphire. The streetlights cast a dim glow across the sidewalk, making the city feel like it was hiding secrets in the shadows. An uneasy feeling settled over me, a restlessness without any clear reason, though deep down, I knew what was really bothering me.

Suddenly, the car radio crackled to life with static, and then the news announcer’s voice filled the cabin.

“Breaking news from downtown Blue Sapphire: another mysterious murder victim has been found tonight. The victim, a young woman estimated to be around 20 years old, showed no signs of sharp or blunt weapons. Instead, her wounds indicate the bites of a wild animal, though the exact species remains unidentified.”

I gritted my teeth, holding my breath as the report continued.

“Forensics experts note that the bite marks on the victim’s body don’t match those of a werewolf or a dragon. The preliminary theory is that the attack may have been carried out by a lycan. Although their presence in Blue Sapphire was declared extinct, investigations are underway to uncover the truth.”

My chest tightened at the word “lycan.” I immediately turned off the radio, not wanting to hear more. That news brought back my recent conversation with Evangelista. Eve had the same suspicion, saying these killings could be the work of an undetected lycan lurking in the city. Eve’s instincts were sharp; while I thought she might have been overreacting, hearing this report... she might actually be right.

Blue Sapphire wasn’t supposed to have any lycans anymore—besides myself and a few older lycans who chose to live quietly and out of sight. But if another lycan was causing chaos like this, it could bring serious trouble.

I tried to shake off the dark thoughts that clouded my mind, but it was hard. A constant wave of worry kept rising, as if warning me that danger was closing in.

In the middle of my thoughts, a familiar figure caught my eye. Jonea. She was walking alone on the sidewalk, lost in her thoughts, seemingly unaware of her surroundings. The night was getting late, and the streets were nearly empty. I immediately pulled my car over to the curb, right behind her.

Jonea kept walking, oblivious to my presence.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him—a man dressed in all black, trailing behind her. He moved stealthily, his posture giving off an unsettling vibe. Instinctively, I knew this wasn’t good. My mind raced to the worst possibility—a lycan. This guy could be one of those creatures they’d been talking about on the news lately, targeting young women in the city. Fear and a protective urge surged through me, and I began to close the distance.

Keeping my steps silent, I approached, trying not to alert either of them. From this angle, I could see the man edging closer to Jonea. His right hand slipped slowly into his jacket, as if reaching for something. Whatever he was hiding, it couldn’t be good.

I couldn’t hold back anymore. In a split second, I made my move. I ran at full speed toward them, closing the remaining gap. The space between us was narrowing, and I braced myself for what I had to do.

Once I was close enough, I lunged forward, hitting him with everything I had. The impact sent him stumbling, caught off guard by my sudden attack. The sound of our collision made Jonea freeze and turn around. Her eyes widened as she screamed, startled to see me suddenly appear and tackle the man.

“Jonea, get out of here! Now!” I shouted, not taking my eyes off the guy.

But Jonea seemed rooted to the spot, still in shock from what was happening. I didn’t have time to spare. The man began to get up, and this time I caught a glimpse of his face—startled but dangerous. His gaze grew colder, almost as if he felt challenged.

"Daran?" Jonea’s confused voice broke through. "What are you doing? Who is this guy?"

I tightened my grip on the man’s shoulder, keeping him in place. He struggled, trying to break free while his hand fumbled inside his jacket again. I clamped down harder, making sure he couldn’t move.

“Let go of me! Who the hell are you?” he yelled.

“What were you planning to do to Jonea, huh?” I growled, glaring at him.

He scowled back at me. “What do you mean? What are you talking about?” he snapped, though his tone wasn’t convincing at all.

I held his gaze, trying to read what lay behind his expression. But a slight shift in his stance kept me on guard. In a split second, he tried to kick me to get free. I blocked his attack and twisted him around, making sure he stayed far from Jonea.

Glancing over at Jonea, who was still staring at us, I called out, “Jonea, please, go now. It’s dangerous,” hoping to get her to leave.

Jonea finally seemed to snap out of it, though her eyes were still filled with confusion and fear. She took a few steps back, slowly putting more distance between herself and us. Meanwhile, the man kept resisting, refusing to give up. He tried to shove me, but I held my ground, making sure he couldn’t get any closer to Jonea.

“Don’t you dare go near her again,” I warned, pinning him with a sharp glare, ready to use any force necessary.

The man finally raised his hands, seeming to surrender. But I wasn’t buying his calm facade. He gave me a challenging look before saying, “I was just passing by and saw her drop her wallet. I was trying to return it!”

“What?” Jonea and I both froze, stunned.

He held up Jonea’s wallet, looking genuinely annoyed. And sure enough, there was no weapon inside his jacket. Jonea checked her bag and found a tear at the bottom, her wallet missing from where it should have been.

The man finally turned and walked away, leaving us in an awkward silence.

“Daran… what was that?” Jonea asked, sounding both puzzled and amused. “Why are you even here?”

I sighed, trying to steady myself. “I… I just wanted to make sure you were safe,” I answered quietly. “The guy looked suspicious, and I couldn’t let you walk alone at night like this.”

Jonea stayed silent, taking a moment to process what had just happened. “So, you thought he was going to attack me?”

I nodded, not wanting to hide how I truly felt. “Yes, and I couldn’t take any chances.”

Jonea looked at me for a long moment, then finally nodded and laughed softly. She seemed calm on the outside, but I could tell there was still a lot going on in her mind. Still, I was just relieved that she was safe, at least for now.

“All right,” she said at last, “thank you, Daran. You saved me.”

I felt both embarrassed and relieved, though I kept my guard up. Inwardly, I vowed to keep watching over Jonea. Blue Sapphire wasn’t as safe as it used to be, and I wasn’t about to let anything or anyone threaten her safety.

“So, tell me… why are you so on edge, Daran? This really isn’t like you…”