It is common saying that trouble come when we least expect it. After the small battle on Fur Mountain, the people had been having quite relaxing days. Nicklaus had declared a break for everyone to recover from their injuries both physically and psychologically. He had also sent his main pack out in small groups to scout for information about the supposed appearance of Cerberus, the hunter. He also fortified the mountain in defence against any force, Cerberus included. With all these in place, the werewolves of Fur Mountain had been spending time with friends and family.
In the court behind the mountain, a lot of them were there playing games or sparring. In one such court, Ophelia was sparring with a female werewolf called Staff. Staff was not her actual name but because she was as straight as a staff, imposingly tall and flat chested like a man. Staff was one of the oldest betas in Nicklaus's pack. She was brought in by Nicklaus but no one knew how they had met. She was the only female werewolf close to Nicklaus before Ophelia, Chloe excluded of course. Staff was the most quiet Ophelia had ever seen. She had only said one word to Ophelia since and was, "Staff", when Nicklaus was making the introductions. She would just spar with Ophelia and when the later made any mistake, Nicklaus would be the one to state it. Even the quiet Ophelia was awed by her penchant for silence.
"Being compassionate will put you at the receiving end of whatever, Ophelia. Be decisive when you strike!", bellowed Nicklaus for the umpteenth time which made Ophelia even more frustrated. She didn't understand why Nicklaus thought that she was being compassionate. Was he delirious or had she being too kind to the werewolves these days?
Another hit landed on Ophelia which made her stagger a little.
"Ophelia! you are distracted!", Nicklaus bellowed again. This time Ophelia raised her hand calling for a break. She went to the side where a servant was carrying a bottle of water on a tray, took the water and gulped half down her throat, then sat on the floor and raised her head to look at Staff standing in the court, looking as calm as ever and then at Nicklaus who was now approaching her. She could clearly hear the murmurs of the other werewolves around the court.
"She quit again"
"I told you she's weak"
"She is but a human after all"
"Does she intend to be recognized this way?"
"She's too self indulged."
"I agree"
"I think not"
"She is better than before"
"Has anyone noticed that her face is also blurred. Maybe she is ugly and is using a special means to hide it."
It went on and on and even Nicklaus's presence couldn't deter them from murmuring. Nicklaus was pissed but he couldn't possibly punish the whole pack for that. He would only add insult to his bunny's injury because it would only confirm that she was the weakling who's honour needs to be defended by her husband.
Nicklaus looked at his Ophelia. She just sat there without concern. Only he knew of her tenacity; all she needed was time and they would eat their own words. He was looking forward to that day. Thinking about it made him less annoyed. He smiled instead leaving his subordinates dump founded. He couldn't possibly be smiling, could he? Shouldn't he be pissed?
On the other hand, Nicklaus stood up abruptly. it was so sudden that the Werewolves there froze wondering if their alpha was going to speak up for her and chasten all of them but then something happened; something unexpected, shocking and ...
Nicklaus stood up abruptly, he felt a change in Ophelia's aura. He had felt it before at the River Aurora in Alkal.
"No no no no no no, Ophelia don't! Calm...."
Everyone on the field felt it. The air had become stiff and terrifying. There was an invisible force weighing down on their trachea. No matter how much deep breath they took it seem to be almost blocked. They could hardly breath. Not only that, they also felt confined to the space in which they were. They couldn't move. Then a blinding light invaded their eyes and they lost their visions. They couldn't see, breath properly or move. Were they about to die? They had never felt this much afraid in all their lives. As the light grew brighter, the pressure on them intensified.
Nicklaus tried to move closer to her but was also repelled. There was an invisible whirlpool of light around her that no might could cross. Within the light, Ophelia's face was distorted in pain but only Nicklaus could see it. He tried to get close to her but the light around her was like a boundary that no one could cross. He didn't give up slamming himself against this boundary over and over again.
"Ophelia,can you hear me!" shouted Nicklaus. He was so aggitated that he kept on throwing himself at the light. When he noticed how disadvantaged he was, he morphed into his true alpha form. As he grew taller, his clothes tore off leaving only his short underpants. His perfect muscles were exposed for the others to admire but it could not be compared to the blinding light from Ophelia.
Nicklaus was still trying to breach the walls of light around Ophelia. Within the light Ophelia was trying to control the outburst of power within her.
Moments before all of this happened, when Ophelia was sitting down, a thought came into her mind or rather a being that looked like her was talking to her.
The being: You know you can show this people who you are.
Ophelia: do I need to.
The being: Don't you think so. You are the Alpha's woman.
Ophelia:. ....
The being: They won't respect you if you don't
Since Ophelia did not respond, the being kept quiet as they looked on. Just when the being had lost all hope of convincing her host, a voice in the crowd said: "her mother must also have been ugly".
Right there Ophelia lost it giving the being room to take control of the body. The being took over and sent Ophelia into an illusionary world.
Nicklaus looked haggard. Anywhere his skin touched the light walls, it got burnt. He was covered in wounds of different degrees but he was still pressing forward. The werewolves couldn't stand still anymore they went closer attempting to help their alpha but Nicklaus blocked them out with a wall of ice. The icy walls were strong and impregnable. He didn't want to exert too much force that could hurt her.
"Ophelia! Calm down alright. You don't have to practice anymore. I'll kill all those who said a word about you today. It's my fault. It will never happen again."
"Is it?" questioned Ophelia in a serene voice.
Taken aback, he couldn't respond.
"I'm hurt. I listen to these words everyday. I don't belong here.", continued Ophelia.
Nicklaus was shocked. He had never had Ophelia complain before. Was she really not happy here? he wondered. No! that's not right.
"You are not her", he responded very calmly. Now he realised what had gone wrong. He saw a face in the light and it was not Ophelia's.
"It's you?", he knew this face.