It was indeed Ethan standing before Ronald and me, completely naked without even a hint of underwear. I realized that he truly transformed into the magnificent white wolf I had witnessed moments ago.
"I suppose this should be my new look when you're around me. Perhaps it will prevent you from fighting me off out of fear," Ethan remarked with a smirk.
"Ethan? So, it's really you," I managed to say, attempting to hide any trace of fear in my voice or demeanor.
"Were you expecting someone else? Of course, it's me, were you that scared?" Ethan smirked once again.
I walked closer to him, mustering up my courage. "Scared? Me? No way... scared? Ha!" I chuckled uncontrollably until I convinced myself of my own words.
"I wasn't just expecting the big dog to be you. Why would I be scared when Ronald is by my side? He's my guardian angel, so a dog with terrifying glowing eyes from the woods won't scare me," I added, deliberately looking away.
Ethan and Ronald exchanged smiles, they were clearly aware that I had been frightened. As werewolves, they could sense my fear and hear my racing heart.
"So... why are we here? Aren't you going to the feast anymore? Because if you're not, I would be more than happy to return back to my room and sleep peacefully," I said, forcing a smile that clearly betrayed my true feelings.
"Well, I'm not particularly interested in your happiness, so we are still going to the feast," Ethan replied, taking the bag from Ronald.
Ethan was still naked so my gazes remained fixed upward as I avoided looking at him
Ethan retrieved some clothes from the bag and began to dress up. "Why are you looking up and away? It's not like you haven't seen what's down here before. You've even touched it on numerous occasions," Ethan remarked with a mischievous grin.
I could see the change in Ronald's eyes as soon as Ethan teased me with his seductive words.
"What are we doing here?" I asked once again, seeking clarification.
"We're going to the feast, but we'll take a path through the woods," Ethan replied.
"The woods? Isn't that dangerous? And besides, isn't the palace five miles away from here? Are we really going to walk all that way?" I bombarded him with my racing thoughts.
"If we're walking, the feast will probably be over by the time we arrive. I don't see any chariot or horse for us," I added.
Ethan chuckled, playfully touching his nose. "We may not have a chariot or horses, but we do have another large wolf," he said, his voice filled with confidence.
I quickly scanned the surroundings, searching for the presence of another formidable wolf that might emerge from the unknown.
"Don't bother looking into the distance for something that is closer than you think," Ethan chimed in.
Confused and startled, I turned back, half-expecting to find a wolf standing behind me. But there was no wolf, large or small, in sight.
"I was actually referring to a werewolf," Ethan clarified, pointing at Ronald.
"What? Wait, you expect Ronald to carry us on his back and run us to the palace?" I expressed my concern for Ronald, not willing to see my friend subjected to such strain.
"Yeah, if he transforms into his full wolf form, carrying and running with us on his back is nothing," Ethan explained, trying to assure me.
Still unconvinced, I held my ground. "Ronald and I are friends. I won't allow my friend to endure such stress. I'd rather walk to the palace on my own two feet."
Ronald's eyes widened in surprise and excitement as I openly referred to him as a friend. It was the first time I had said it aloud in his presence. I made sure to vocalize it to provoke Ethan and to protect Ronald from being used as a mere means of transportation to the palace.
It appeared that Ethan had already made up his mind. When the Alpha spoke or made a demand, his subjects dared not disobey, no matter how challenging the task might be.
"Emily, you don't understand how being a werewolf works. Things become much lighter when we shift into our wolf form. It's like a weight lifted off us," Ethan tried hard to convince me. But I had also made up my mind, just like Ethan had.
"If it's as simple as you say, why don't you do it?" I suggested boldly and seriously.
"Do what?" Ethan asked, pretending to be puzzled.
Ronald stepped in to defend and support his Alpha. "Emily, it's really not that difficult. It's like a piece of cake."
Ronald might be right, but I knew he would still tire from the exertion. I disagreed with Ronald as well. We started trying to convince each other while Ethan remained silent, pondering his next move.
"Both of you, stop arguing. Fine, I'll do it. But on one condition," Ethan finally spoke up. I wondered what condition he had in mind.
"Ronald won't be joining us," Ethan added.
I had already prepared myself for Ronald not coming along, so I didn't display any surprise or disappointment. When Ethan saw my expression, he knew that his condition didn't seem like much of a condition to me.
In front of Ethan, I hugged Ronald tightly, partly to make him jealous. However, instead of showing any discomfort, Ethan remained surprisingly composed.
Ethan touched his nose once again and asked, "Are you done?"
Reluctantly, I released my hold on Ronald, realizing that if I didn't let go now, Ethan might find a way to punish him.
"Should I close my eyes or something?" I inquired as Ethan began removing his clothes, preparing to transform back into the big white wolf.
"It's your choice..., but there's nothing to be scared of. It's actually quite fascinating to watch," Ronald whispered faintly to me.
Ethan moved a few steps away from us and started the transformation. It began with his fangs bursting out from his mouth, a sight that made me unable to witness the rest of the process.
During that short period, I heard the sound of bones breaking countless times. Gradually, the sound shifted to the growl of a wolf. After a moment, I cautiously raised my head.
To my surprise, Ethan had already completed his transformation, much faster than I had expected.
Surprisingly, I found myself less terrified of the big white wolf this time around. Perhaps it was because now I was certain that it was indeed Ethan standing before me.
Despite my reduced fear, I still couldn't gather the courage to touch him, let alone climb onto his back. Sensing my hesitation, Ronald encouraged me, taking my hands and guiding them towards Ethan's head.
Ethan lowered his head to allow me to feel his fur and establish a connection with him. As soon as I made contact with his head, I experienced a remarkable understanding. His thoughts were transmitted directly into my mind.
"Are you still afraid?" Ethan's message resonated in my head, clear and distinct. I could hear his words as if he had spoken them aloud.
In that moment, a smile broke across my face. "I suppose I don't have to be," I replied to Ethan, my voice filled with newfound confidence.
Ethan decided to sit down, lowering himself as much as possible. It was an invitation for me to climb on his back.
With Ronald's assistance, I managed to climb onto Ethan's back. It was a different feeling than I had expected, being settled atop Ethan. I felt incredibly relaxed and comfortable. His fur was warm and soft against my touch, banishing any form of cold from my body. It was as if I had become untouchable, a goddess seating on top of the world.
As Ethan gradually rose to his feet, I didn't experience any trembling or fear. Instead, I felt an overwhelming sense of confidence and balance. This feeling was too magnificent to be contained within me, and a hearty chuckle escaped my lips, echoing through the air.
Ethan turned towards the dark woods as he prepared to venture deep into their depths with lightning speed. After all, werewolves were well-known for their sharpness and swiftness.
To my surprise, Ethan didn't dash off as I had expected. He wanted to ensure my comfort and safety so he settled for a steady jog instead. Even at this speed, he could easily outrun any human speed.
The moonlight seemed to shine even brighter in the woods. The sight of fireflies dancing through the air brought back memories of my hometown when I was younger. Aiden and I used to spend our evenings chasing after these magical creatures, capturing as many as we could in a jar.
As Aiden and I grew older, we realized that what we felt for each other went beyond friendship, it was love. However, our lives took an unexpected turn when the Amaxon war reached our peaceful village.
Keldorin, my hometown, was a small village located on the outskirts of Yojamba Kingdom. It shared a riverbank with a few other villages from the neighboring Midgard Kingdom.
Before everything changed, Keldorin was a place of happiness and unity. But as the Amaxon war overrun the land, chaos followed, and our once peaceful village fell victim to the war caused by Midgard kingdom.
Over time, Midgard expanded its dominion by conquering villages, towns, and even entire kingdoms, claiming their territories as their own. Other kingdoms, fearful of Midgard's aggression, offered tribute in the form of gold and silver, hoping to appease the powerful kingdom.
Despite the tremendous wealth and territorial gains, Midgard still wasn't the wealthiest kingdom in the eastern region.
As the saying goes, every great person or kingdom has a rival. It is the law of nature that power must be balanced.
Midgard, the powerful kingdom from the eastern region, had a formidable rival known as Grendor. Grendor might not match Midgard's physical strength, but they possessed a different form of power: wealth. The land of Grendor was blessed with fertile soil and abundant mineral resources, making it a prosperous kingdom.
The middle east was divided between two major kingdoms, Midgard and Grendor, each governing their respective territories.
Minutes later, I and Ethan arrived at the Palace. The palace was nothing short of magnificent. Its towering walls were made of white marble and were adorned with intricate carvings.
As we walked through the palace gates, I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. I had visited the palace once before, but it still managed to impress me with its grandeur.
Ethan lowered himself, allowing me to descend from his back with care. He took a step back and begin his transformation, returning to his human form. Witnessing this change was still unsettling, but at least it was less terrifying than his wolf transformation.
His fur withdraw like an umbrella folding, gradually reducing his size until he was back to his normal stature. The cracking of bones accompanied the transformation though, and his color returned to its usual state.
Finally, his fangs and glowing eyes transitioned back to their human form. Once again, Ethan stood before me, completely naked. Before he could make any playful remarks, I tossed him the bag containing his clothes.
I never knew that tonight was going to be my last night of resentmentowards Ethan, it all happened so suddenly.
To be continued... Invading Grendor