She takes a deep breath, takes a few steps toward me, and sucks in air again, as if trying to smell me.

- You're not from the Shaw clan? she asks in a trembling voice.

- Whose clan? I stare blankly at her pale face.

- Show. No. You are a stranger. - the girl says firmly. Somewhere in the distance, an animal roar is heard, the face of a stranger turns pale even more. She is very young, her eyes are deep green, as if obscured by fog. He sways a little, closes his eyes, literally for a minute. When he looks at me again, the look is already meaningful.

- Don't let me die. I saw you are real. You can save the life of the heir. Take it, please, take it, - she whispers hotly, holding out the bundle to me, - Come on, hurry up.

He impatiently stamps his foot, constantly looks around, licks his parched lips.

- Save his life, - I automatically take the bundle from her hands, which turns out to be unexpectedly heavy, - Nicholas. His name is Nicholas. Come on, run. Alpha will find you. Just save the life of the heir.

Pushes me in the back. It seems to me that I was hypnotized, the body does not obey, I go forward, not understanding what I am doing and why. The bundle in my hands begins to move, which brings me back to consciousness a little. I throw back the edge of the blanket and see a baby who looks at me with interest with gray eyes, like molten steel. I shake my head, trying to get rid of the obsession. Why did I even take this bundle? Who was that stranger? What should I do next?

I turn around, in the desire to go back and give the child to the girl, I take a few steps and hear a terrible scream, full of horror and pain, followed by a howl of a wolf, cutting the silence of the forest.

In horror, I back away, turn around again and run, clutching the child to me. It doesn't matter why. It doesn't matter where. The main thing is away. Away from this terrible scream. Away from the predator, which clearly did not spare the girl. Away from this forest.

Gradually I begin to suffocate, my strength ends, more and more often I stumble over the roots of trees. It's so dark and cold in here. And so quiet. I'm afraid that the beast might smell and chase, so I keep running until I fall to my knees, completely exhausted. A child wrapped in a blanket smile at me, hums peacefully and does not suspect that the adult woman who was entrusted with him is unable to help him.

Please - I whisper into the darkness, hoping that I will be heard by at least someone, - Please help us get out of here. Help to be saved. Please give me the strength to get through this.

Big tears of despair run down my cheeks. I close my eyes. I'm scared. It’s scary not even for myself, but for the child that I hold in my arms. I feel like the wind is gently brushing my face. It's getting warmer around me, I can hear the birds singing again.

- Girl, do you need help? - a pleasant male voice is heard from above. I open my eyes, trying to realize reality: I am sitting on my knees, on the edge of the forest edge, convulsively clutching the bundle with the baby. Nearby stands a young guy in camouflage clothes, with a basket in his hands. He carefully examines me, - Girl, can you speak?

I open my dry lips, only now I feel a strong thirst.

- Yes, - I cough, in my throat, as if sand is poured. The guy holds out a bottle of water, from which I take a few sips, feeling how the life-giving moisture pours into me, is absorbed, as if into dry earth, - I'm lost. Could you help me get out?

- Lost? - raises his eyebrows in surprise and shows his hand to the side, - There is a road behind those trees, I just entered the forest. to guide you?

He holds out his hand to help me to my feet.

- In vain you take the child with you to the forest, it's your business, of course, - he shakes his head accusingly and purses his lips, - But I, if I were your husband, would not allow this.

- I won't be long, - I answer in a trembling voice, not believing that I will soon find myself outside this forest, - Breathe fresh air.

We really walk for only about five minutes and find ourselves on the side of the road, on the side of which there is a black crossover. The man once again examines me from head to toe, lingers his gaze on the child in my arms, and hesitantly asks:

- Can I give you a lift?

- I live far from here, in the city. Probably, it will be inconvenient, - I answer. I really want him to take me. After my walk in the forest, which was planned as a light entertainment, but turned into a wild nightmare, I am squeezed out like a lemon. I am simply not able to get to the city again by several modes of transport, and even with a child in my arms.

The man sighs heavily, casts a dreary glance towards the forest and with a decisive step approaches the crossover:

- Let's go, - opens the back door in front of me, - All the same, my wife was already waiting, probably. Tomorrow I'll pick berries.

- Thank you, - I sincerely answer him, briskly into the spacious salon.

Chapter 3

It seems to me that I finally realized what had happened only at the moment when the baby sobbed loudly. Before that, I continued to be in some kind of fog, not thinking about the fact that I had someone else's child in my arms. The only thing I really needed was to get home. Thanks to the guy who drove me straight to the entrance, refusing to take the money. Only in the end I recommended next time not to go into the forest alone, especially with a baby.

Of course, I did not bring any mushrooms, the package with them was lost somewhere in the depths of the forest. And it wasn’t up to them now, to be honest. It seems that I will not want mushroom soup for a very long time.

In horror, I look at the baby, which is filled with crying in front of me and I don’t know what to do. I have never dealt with children. Maybe hungry? I wonder how old he is? I don't know how to judge the age of children by their appearance.

To begin with, I unfold the blanket in which the child is wrapped. He is dressed in a nice green jumpsuit, I also take it off. I check the diaper: it is, it needs to be changed. I carefully remove a strongly smelling object, carry the baby into the bathroom and wash it under the tap with water, simultaneously finding out that it is a boy in front of me. Although, I could guess by the pale blue color of the blanket. What's next?

The kid is silent, but not for long. As I frantically think about which people I know to call for advice on childcare, the crying bursts into my ears again.

“Hush, baby, hush,” I rock him in my arms, trying to calm him down.

"Nicholas. His name is Nicholas. Alpha will find you. Just save the life of the heir, ”I remember the words of a stranger, and a shiver runs through my body. What have I gotten myself into? If you remember that the girl mentioned some clans, it looks like a showdown of criminal gangs. But why in the forest? Who is alpha? Name of the gang leader?

I shake my head, banishing unnecessary thoughts now. You must first calm and feed the boy, and then think about what to do next. But it is better not to interfere with acquaintances, because who knows what the consequences may be. I will use the good old Internet and find out all the information that interests me. I resolutely open my laptop, typing in search queries one by one.

So, by height and weight, I calculated that the approximate age of my ward is 6 months. You need to feed him with a special mixture, adding cereals, fruit and vegetable purees according to a certain pattern. At night, he should already sleep, if I'm lucky, and his character is calm. Bathe him preferably every day. And diapers are selected according to the weight of the child. Excellent, in principle, everything that is needed, I now know. It remains to buy all the necessary gadgets, and you can enjoy temporary motherhood.

I put the baby, who seems to have calmed down, on the bed, quickly change into more decent clothes, throwing off my forest outfit. I grab my keys and run out of the apartment. I'm back in a minute. Hell, you can't leave a little kid alone. I'm frantically going through the options in my head. Ask to look after a neighbor? She's childless, so she can't handle it. Call one of your friends? I don't want to drag them into this. Walk with him in your arms to the supermarket? And if I meet acquaintances (which will definitely happen, because the law of meanness works, in my case, always flawlessly), how to explain the appearance of my baby? There is only one option - home delivery. Hope she arrives quickly.