[Gina's P.O.V.]
Dolly looked at me and then at the wound on my chin. Her mouth opened and closed with hesitation before she finally said, "I'm sorry..."
I didn't want to care about her. Saving her was purely an instinctive reaction. After all, I wouldn't have been put in this situation if she hadn't dragged me in.
Seeing that I was about to leave, she quickly pulled me back. "I'm really sorry. But I didn't lie to you."
Didn't lie to me? I couldn't help but feel a fit of inexplicable anger. I shook her off and shouted at her. "If it wasn't for you, how could I have come to this damned place?"
I looked at her angrily and she cried.
She lowered her head, making her already short figure look even more petite. Then, she pitifully said, "I didn't lie to you. It was true that my parents were killed by Dark Night Pack Alpha and I didn't want to work for my enemy anymore. The sight of him always reminded me of the moment my parents were murdered."
Her voice was already choked with sobs by then and she was sounding breathless. "That day, I was actually planning to run away with you. But you didn't believe me. By the time those beasts chased after me, I had no choice but to knock you out. Otherwise, they would have killed me."
I stood there in a daze for a while - her words had touched my heart.
I was at a loss as to whether I should believe her. But then again, why would she lie to me now? She wouldn't have a reason to.
Still, didn't I think the same at the time? In the end, I was captured and brought to this place.
Seeing that I didn't move, Dolly thought that I had changed my mind about her. She reached out to wipe my wound with a handkerchief and said sincerely, "Please forgive me, I beg you."
As I looked into her wide, innocent eyes, I warned myself that I must not be soft-hearted.
I had been observing Dolly for a while now. She had been doing quite well in the packhouse due to her personality. She was the kind of person who was good at everything, willing to put on a show no matter who she was talking to, what she had to say or what she had to do.
Her crying before me might mean that she thought I was soft-hearted, so she felt that this could deliberately act pitiful.
I moved away from her and turned to leave, but not before seriously saying, "Don't run away from your enemy. You have to find a way to defeat him."
This was also what I wanted to tell myself. After I finished speaking, I left without looking back.
Though the incident had already passed, Dolly still followed me around like a shadow. And while I hadn't forgiven her yet, I acquiesced to her existence.
Honestly speaking, I had probably already forgiven her in my heart. Even so, I was afraid that if she found out, she would trick me again until I wouldn't realize that she had sold me out until it was too late.
Finally, night had fallen and I was ready to awaken my wolf after midnight and transform for the first time.
I had made ample preparations for this - I had found a small garden where the moonlight was the most abundant and was only surrounded by guest rooms. I had observed this place for nearly a year and noticed that the warriors would not patrol here after midnight. It was also very remote and almost no one else would pass by here.
And thus, this was the garden I came to transform. I sat on a long bench, bathing in the faint moonlight. The watch on my wrist was constantly ticking, reminding me of the time.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
Finally, it was midnight!
I stood at the place where the moonlight was the most visible and prostrated myself on the ground. I stretched every part of my body with all my strength - even my fingers and toes were stretched to the maximum. Eventually, I started to feel as if my entire body was being torn apart. I felt the skin around my neck tearing and immediately after, my head was in so much pain it felt as if it was going to explode. My face was twisting so much that my original appearance was distorting.
My body started to change shape as every bone in my body seemed to be disassembled and reassembled in a different configuration. The pain had already blurred my nerves and I almost fainted. Cold sweat covered my entire body, making me feel as if I was soaked in water.
I bit my lips hard to keep myself awake. I had to succeed in one try. I couldn't take any more risks. My life was at stake here.
Gradually, my breathing was no longer as rapid, stabilizing. I noticed my hands had become large paws with sharp claws under the moonlight while a dazzling silver fur coat enveloped my skin.
But at this moment...
"Follow me closely. I heard that my mother has hidden a strange treasure here. You must find it tonight or no one can sleep!"
Anyone could easily tell that this sharp and piercing voice was Lila's.
Fortunately, there were a number of trees covering the area where I stood - I was well hidden. Through the gaps, I could see Lila standing with a few guards.
I was about to be discovered but since this was my first transformation, I had no way of controlling or interrupting it. My face continued to elongate while my canine teeth grew longer and sharper. But my mind was no longer focused on the transformation. Instead, I was so scared of being discovered that I held my breath.
I watched helplessly as the guard ran towards me, their footsteps getting closer and closer.