The relentless downpour of rain gradually stopped.
"This isn't the usual route to Ethan's chamber, is it?" I inquired, seeking clarification from Ronald.
"No, it's not," he replied, a chuckle escaping his lips.
These past few days, I had detected a hint of craving in Ronald's behavior whenever we were together.
Perhaps Ronald had developed feelings for me, or was I merely assuming baseless assumptions in my restless mind?
"Seriously, where are we going?" I asked as we ventured toward a dimly lit area behind the compound.
Ethan's compound was a grand display of wealth and power, captivating the envy of other Alphas in the kingdom. With 380 devoted servants, 165 loyal werewolves, and luxurious residences for family members. Immaculate gardens and majestic fountains added to its breathtaking beauty.
Ronald seemed not to be aware of where we were going as well, he was trying to avoid the question I asked him.
"What's the bag for?" I asked Ronald.
He stopped walking for a while and decided to clear my mind of my curiosity.
"Ethan ordered me to walk this part with you once you're done preparing for the feast. I don't know our destination but I believe he's going to show up soon. And as for the bag, he asked me to bring it as well." Ronald said as his words put my mind at rest. I was indeed starting to get scared.
"So, are we close?" I asked.
"I guess, but let's just walk towards the crack walls leading to the woods, I believe he's going to show up before we get there." Ronald added.
I was moved to ask, "What if he doesn't show up by the time we gets outside the cracked walls?"
"He's too obsessed with you to let you outside his watch, trust me he's going to show up."
I decided to trust Ronald's words even though I was afraid. I have over heard the servants talking several times about how dangerous the woods were, mostly at night hour.
Even though I hated Ethan and resented him even more when he's around me, right now I just wished he appeared before we starts going into the woods.
We got out of the compound and Ethan was still no where to be found. "He's not here yet? perhaps he wants you to escape tonight, don't you think?" He grinned
I grinned as well, although I was filled with fear. I was almost running back into the compound when I heard a crack from the woods. It seemed like Ronald already heard it before me.
"Did you hear that? A crack coming from the woods?" I asked Ronald.
"You mean cracks? I've been hearing them even before we came out from the compound." Ronald responded.
Why am I not surprised, after all he's also a werewolf with heightened senses. They're superhumanly stronger, and able to hear even the smallest of sounds from afar.
I thought it was just a crack, but soon glowing white eyes emerged from the dark, piercing through the veil of shadows.
Much to my surprise, Ronald's reaction was far from someone who was bothered, Instead he chuckled, unconcerned.
"There's a wolf coming, why aren't you doing anything?" I asked, preparing for the worst, as I planned on running back inside at the slightest opportunity
Just as I was about to make my move, Ronald whispered, "I told you he would come."
Confused, I tried to understand what he meant. Was he referring to the glowing eyes? Suddenly, my mind flashed back to our previous conversations. "Wait...! Is Ethan here? Where is he?" I desperately longed for our alpha's presence in this frighten situation.
He turned to me, gripping my arms gently. "Look ahead, that's your alpha," he directed. Following his gaze, I realized his focus was fixed on the direction of the glowing eyes. "You mean those eyes belong to the alpha?" I questioned in disbelief.
Ronald nodded, adding, "Yes, that's the Alpha. You may not recognize him in his wolf form."
Ronald's words echoed in my mind, and he was right about one thin, I wouldn't be able to recognize Ethan in his wolf form. In the two years I had spent in his abode, he had never revealed that side to me. Despite my numerous transgressions and attempted escapes, he had never shown any physical traits of his wolf form. No claws, no fangs, no unusual hair growth. His eyes never glowed in our presence.
As the glowing eyes emerged from the darkness, they stepped into the light, revealing a majestic wolf standing at a towering height of seven feet, all four legs firmly planted on the ground. It was the size of a large bear, with long and sharp claws, strong and pointed teeth. The wolf's skin was unblemished, its fur was in white shade that extended to its eyes. Even a puppy couldn't be this adorable.
Given its size, it was undoubtedly a werewolf. A normal wolf wouldn't be as massive.
Trembling, I turned to Ronald and questioned, "What if you're mistaken? What if that creature approaching us isn't Ethan?"
"Trust me, I have spent enough time in his presence to recognize my alpha even with my eyes closed," Ronald replied confidently, standing by his words.
"Okay, okay... you're right, I must be mistaken," I repeated those words in my head, attempting to persuade myself about the reality of the situation.
In no time, the large white wolf with glowing eyes closed the distance between us. Fear overwhelmed me, and I tightly shut my eyes, bracing myself for my impending fate. "You can lift your head and open your eyes," Ronald suggested, but I ignored him.
Then, a voice I recognized broke the silence. "So, you're this frightened of me after all," it said. I knew that voice. It was Ethan's. With a surge of courage, I slowly lifted my head to confirm what I already knew deep inside.
To be continued... A Leap of Trust