Feeling the weight of the air, she understood the fire was rapidly approaching the chamber in where she remained. The fire was swallowing everything in its path. Water. Wood. Metal. Oil and flesh. Nothing was powerful enough to put out or slow the fire. The more it devoured, the stronger it became. It seemed as if it were alive and had its own agenda.

They wore those black leather boots which ran near the exit doors. As the hefty trampling caused the floor to violently quake, the wolf laid her palm on it. It was unmistakable that they were doing everything they could to save their own asses. The few beasts that have escaped were either trapped, dead, or struggling to return to their senses.

They all scrambled in their cells, hoping to find a way out, but anybody that was there should be considered lucky if they perished from just the smoke inhalation. A quick end. Even if it was possible for the wolf to just walk out of here since she’s not chained up, unlike the caged beast, her previous strength has failed to return. The water was crafted to slowly kill her, and the fire was meant to destroy her, rendering her unrecognizable to everyone.

“At the end of the day, I'm just a beast for your story.” Warm tears flowed down her face as she kept her gaze fixed on the smoke that lingered from the ceiling.

Refusing to move at all. Since she can remember, the world has been too cruel to her. Her whole pack had been tracked down and killed for their sapphire lavender fur. She saw the children she often considered them as her brothers and sisters, all were cowering and sheltering her, the youngest of the pack.

In the end, she was left to travel the world on her own. There was no one to guide her as a wolf. There was no one to teach her about the wolf's or her pack's history. She grew up without loving a single soul, knowing that all they ever wanted from her was her fur.

Then the prince appeared, offering a world she could only dream about. He never had any unfavorable feelings against the beast. His eyes, like his soul, have always been filled with genuine love for her. In retrospect, it was dumb of her to give up on him so easily. She should've never fled from him. If it were even possible, she would wish to visit him before her next life and repent for abandoning him so suddenly.

I'm tired. I want for this to be over.

All she could concentrate about was her childhood as a pup, but it had been so long. She couldn't recall the faces of her clan nor her parents. Nothing, not even their laughter. She laughed a bit, assuming that the same nightmare will eventually befall her kid.

“Can my bloodline's fate become any crueler? I'm still planning to live.” The wolf heaved, her head laying on its side. Her eyes were becoming inflamed, like if someone had struck her in the face, and the pressure at the front of her forehead wasn't helping either.

She kept her swollen, watery eyes open slightly. Suddenly sensing footsteps hurrying down the hall. They belonged to some of the beasts who were patrolling the area outside the building late this night. Fortunately, they were able to help the majority of the trapped beast from below escape from their cell. Even though they were free, the fire had scorched a section of their flesh, it would be a challenge for them to get through those doors that were once guarded every night.

They were all running full speed past the wolf's room. Her heart appeared to follow the same rhythm as the beast's steps once more. She wanted to escape. She was determined to save her son. She couldn't just accept her death without a struggle. “Hey. Wait.” She strained her body for the power to scream for help, but the fire was too loud for anyone to hear, and the crackling sound it produced seemed like it was mocking at her.

Not even a whiff of her scent can greatly help her. “I've here. I'm still here.” The army of beasts dashing in and out of the flames was rapidly dwindling as they all evacuated. With the dense black smoke in the air, they couldn't see her. “Please wait. Come help me.” Rolling to her side and belly, the wolf crawled closer to the entrance with her toes and left forearm. The celestial nurse's tremendous healing charm on the wolf was rapidly evaporating from her body, and the agony from the water was returning.

“I've here. Help…. Help.” She could barely mumble her words as she shuddered all over. Her heart was on the verge of exploding from the sheer horror of being devoured by the flames that swirled around in the walls, within the air. As its own particular melody, it includes the sound of crackling wood and the agonizing cries of the victims who were unable to leave the area.

In just a few minutes, the fire that began with sparks had transmogrified into the biblical fire dragon insides from old mythology. Only mystic dragons, whom people worshiped long ago, are scarier than that of any beast. So when she remembered the story of the fire dragon, it truly terrified her. The nightmarish story her brothers and sister used to tell each other over the fire during a full moon.

A harsh, bitterness invaded the inside of her mouth. The environment became less breathable as the fire devoured the “clean” air that had previously filled the dungeon. The fire dragon was notorious for its quick temper and tremendous stamina against everything that stood in its path.

Don't give this up.

“Jack!” Looking around, the wolf approached to the door. “Jack!” She shouted as loudly as her voice would allow. Fearful, the wolf crawled as much as she could, the agony and flame spreading around her. She had to survive. And lashed down on Jack for abandoning her. “Jack! I'll be right there, Jack!”

Fortunately, a beast returned to have another look around before the entire structure fell in on itself. The heavy odor of blood was overshadowed by the raging fire that roared throughout the corridors. He could, however, hear the wolf whimpering out for someone called Jack.

When he saw her on the ground, he realized the wolf was still kicking, but also bleeding profusely. “I'm right here, Jack!” “Listen to my voice!” Weakly, the wolf grasped the beast's leg. She didn't appear to comprehend that someone was in front of her eyes.

He removed his shirt, draping the wolf, and cautiously hoisted her over his shoulders towards an exit, avoiding everything that had previously fallen. It was becoming increasingly difficult to breathe.