The Bigshot's Superstar Wife

The jungle swallowed them whole. Darkness stretched endlessly in every direction, a suffocating, inescapable abyss.

The dense canopy overhead blocked out the moonlight, leaving them with nothing but their frantic breaths and the rustling of unseen creatures.

The air was thick, damp, suffused with the scent of rotting vegetation and the metallic tang of blood.

Athena pushed forward, her body moving on instinct. Her grip on Marco tightened as he stumbled, barely conscious.

Lisa was right behind her, whispering words of encouragement to Darren, who clutched his bleeding arm. They had made it out of the cannibal village, but at what cost?

Screams still echoed in Athena’s mind. Not everyone had escaped. Some had been too weak to move, their fever-ridden bodies unable to keep up.

Others had been captured the moment the tribe noticed their escape, dragged back into the firelit horror. And then there were those who had been shot. Athena had seen it happen.

Just as they had reached the tree line, a handful of warriors had given chase, their crude muskets aimed with deadly precision. A single shot rang out. Blood sprayed.

A woman collapsed beside Athena, her face frozen in shock as the bullet tore through her chest.

Athena hadn’t hesitated. She had pulled the others forward, urging them to run. Time was against them. She wanted to save everyone, God, she wanted to, but it was impossible.

The jungle had been their only escape. And now, they were trapped within its depths, their pursuers not far behind.

The rain had started again, light at first but soon turning into a relentless downpour.

Athena’s clothes clung to her body, the cold seeping into her bones. Every step was agony. Her muscles ached, her wounds burned, and yet, she couldn’t stop.

They had to keep moving. Lisa choked back a sob. "Athena, Marco... he’s burning up."

Athena paused, glancing at the young man she had been half-carrying for miles. His face was pale, his lips dry and cracked. Fever. It had been eating away at him for days.

"We need to rest," Darren rasped, barely able to keep himself upright. His wounded arm was still bleeding.

Rest? In this nightmare? Athena knew they didn’t have time. But she also knew that if they pushed too hard, they would collapse.

She scanned the surroundings, looking for anything that could serve as temporary shelter. And then she heard it.

A low, haunting sound.

A howl.

The hairs on Athena’s neck rose. The others heard it too. Lisa’s eyes widened, and Darren froze in place.

Wolves. Experience more content on NovelBin.Côm

They weren’t alone in this forest. Another howl followed. Then another. The pack was nearby. Hunting.

Lisa swallowed. "Athena… what do we do?"

Athena took a steadying breath. "We keep moving."

Panic was death. They pressed on, trudging through the thick undergrowth. The terrain was treacherous, vines snagged their feet, hidden roots threatened to trip them.

The rain turned the earth into a slick, shifting mess. But it was the sounds that haunted them the most. The howls. Distant at first, then closer. Circling. The wolves were tracking them.

Athena clenched her jaw. She didn’t have the strength to fight off a whole pack, not in their current state. They had to find somewhere defensible.

She caught sight of a cluster of large boulders ahead. A natural formation, rising from the earth like a jagged fortress.

"There!" she pointed. "We can rest there!"

They scrambled toward the rocks, slipping and stumbling. Athena was the first to reach them, hauling Marco up and helping him collapse against the cold stone.

Lisa sank to her knees, her body shaking. Darren slumped against the rock, his breathing ragged.

Athena stood guard, spear in hand. Her body screamed for rest, but she couldn’t afford to stop. Not yet. Another howl echoed through the night. This time, closer.

Lisa whimpered. "They’re coming."

Athena gritted her teeth. She had led them here. It was her responsibility to protect them. Even if it meant facing the wolves alone.

The first wolf appeared at the edge of the clearing, its yellow eyes glowing like embers in the dark. It was massive.

Larger than any normal wolf Athena had ever seen. Its fur was slick with rain, its breath visible in the cold night air.

It did not attack immediately. It watched. Calculating. More shapes emerged behind it, silent, waiting.

Lisa clutched Darren’s hand. Marco stirred, his fever-addled mind barely registering the danger. Athena tightened her grip on her spear.

Then the wolf moved. It lunged, faster than she expected. Athena barely had time to react. She sidestepped, driving the spear forward.

The tip grazed the wolf’s shoulder, but it was too fast, it twisted, dodging the full force of the strike. The impact sent Athena stumbling.

The wolf snarled, baring its fangs. The others in the pack prowled closer. Athena’s mind raced. They couldn’t fight them all. She had to do something. Then, an idea struck her.

Fire.

It had saved them from the cannibals. Maybe it could save them now. She grabbed the soaked fabric of her sleeve, twisting it hard. If she could get a spark...

Lisa gasped.

The wolves… hesitated.

Athena blinked. Then she saw it. The wolves weren’t looking at her anymore. They were looking past her. To Marco.

The fevered, barely conscious man… was glowing. A soft, pulsing light beneath his skin.

Athena’s breath hitched. What the hell was happening?

The wolves, once poised to attack, now stood frozen. Their ears twitched, their eyes filled with something that almost looked like… recognition.

Then, without a sound, they turned and vanished into the night. The jungle was silent once more. Athena stared at Marco, heart pounding.

Lisa whispered, "Athena… what just happened?"

Athena had no answer. But one thing was certain. This was far from over.

The rain continued to pour, drumming softly against the rocks. The air was thick with tension, but the wolves had vanished, leaving only the echo of their howls behind.

Athena crouched beside Marco, pressing the back of her hand to his fevered forehead. The faint glow beneath his skin had faded, but its presence still sent chills down her spine.

Lisa swallowed hard. "That wasn’t normal, was it?"

Athena shook her head. "No. And I don’t think the wolves were normal either."

Darren exhaled shakily. "Then what the hell did we just escape from?"

Athena didn’t know. But she intended to find out.