The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows through the dense forest as Aiden, once the mighty alpha of the Nightfang pack, limped along the edge of a dirt road. His paws ached, his breath came in ragged gasps, and his sleek fur was matted with dirt and leaves. The cursed transformation had left him vulnerable, and days of fleeing from hunters had drained what little strength he had left. Although with the help of the self healing effect, he is out of danger, but he is still weak.
Now, in the body of a mere dog, he was at the mercy of a world he had once dominated.
His legs wobbled as he tried to keep moving, but the weight of exhaustion was too much. With a final, painful stumble, Aiden collapsed on the side of the road. His chest heaved as he panted, every muscle screaming for rest. His once-powerful mind was clouded with weakness and frustration. He had been a ruler, a force of nature, and now… nothing.
He growled softly to himself, but it sounded more like a weak whine. He had no choice but to lie there, too drained to care if a hunter or even a wild animal found him. This was it. He would die here, forgotten and cursed in a form that mocked everything he had been.
But then, in the distance, he heard something unexpected: footsteps. A human was approaching. Aiden's ears perked up, but he was too weak to lift his head. His mind raced. A human meant danger. If they recognized him as anything more than a stray dog, he was doomed. Yet, in this pitiful state, he couldn't run or fight. He could only hope to remain unnoticed.
The footsteps drew closer, slow and hesitant. Aiden could smell them now—a mix of earth and something sweet. The scent stirred a memory deep within him of calm, peaceful moments long forgotten.
"Oh no…" a soft voice murmured, filled with concern. A shadow fell over Aiden's weakened body. "Are you okay, little guy?"
Aiden forced his eyes open to see a figure kneeling beside him. The human was young—a woman, her face framed by dark, windswept hair, her brown eyes wide with worry. She wore a brown jacket, and her hands trembled slightly as she reached out toward him.
He wanted to snarl, to tell her he wasn't some helpless creature, but his body betrayed him. All he managed was a weak whimper.
"Oh, you poor thing," she whispered, gently running her hand along his back. Despite himself, Aiden flinched at the contact, but there was no malice in her touch. Only warmth. "You're so tired. Where did you come from?"
Aiden's instincts screamed at him to pull away, to not let a human get so close, but he was too far gone. Besides, she had no idea what he really was. To her, he was just another stray dog.
With surprising strength for her small frame, the woman scooped him up into her arms. Aiden, normally bristling with pride, was too exhausted to resist. He could feel the warmth of her body against his, a strange contrast to the cold loneliness that had gripped him since the curse had been placed on him.
"You're coming with me," she said softly. "I'll take care of you."
"I'm taking you to my clinic," the woman said, standing up and grabbing her coat. "I'm a vet, and you're not out of the woods yet. We need to make sure you're healthy "
Aiden's ears perked up slightly at the mention of a clinic. A veterinarian, she had said. He had heard of humans who tended to animals, but to be treated like a common dog gnawed at his pride. Yet, he had no choice. He couldn't afford to be weak, not with hunters still on his trail.
With surprising gentleness, the woman knelt beside him and scooped him into her arms again. As much as he hated being carried, he knew he lacked the strength to walk far. Once outside, she carefully placed him into the passenger seat of a small car, covering him with a blanket.
"Don't worry, it's a short drive," she assured him, patting his head. "I promise you'll feel better soon."
Aiden resisted the urge to snap at her hand, though he couldn't deny that her touch was surprisingly calming. The car rumbled to life, and they began the short journey to the clinic. Aiden stared out of the window, his sharp eyes scanning the unfamiliar landscape. He still had the instincts of a predator, despite his pitiful appearance. Every movement in the trees, every flash of light, caught his attention, but he remained still.
Within minutes, they arrived at a small, cozy-looking veterinary clinic nestled on the outskirts of town. The sign outside read Riverside Animal Clinic in warm, welcoming letters. The place smelled of medicine, animals, and something sterile, far removed from the wild scents he was accustomed to. The woman carried him inside, where the soft hum of machines and the low murmur of voices greeted him.
Inside, the clinic was bright and clean, with several examination rooms lined up along the hallway. A few people milled about, either waiting with their pets or assisting the animals in the back. Kaelen's nose twitched at the scent of various creatures—cats, dogs, rabbits—but there was no threat here. It was all… calm.
"Hey, Claire," a young assistant, who was also her best friend, Diana called from behind the counter as the woman walked in. "Who's this?"
Claire. So that was her name.
Claire smiled, adjusting Aiden in her arms. "I found him on the side of the road. He's exhausted and malnourished. I want to give him a check-up, make sure there's nothing more serious going on."
Diana nodded, giving Aiden a sympathetic glance. "Poor thing. I'll prep an exam room."
Although, Diana felt pity for the husky, she couldn't shake the feeling of being surprised, knowing her friend was afraid of dogs and the sight of her tending to one was truly unexpected.
As they moved toward the back, Aiden tensed, his instincts on high alert. His natural distrust of humans flared, but his body was too weak to do much beyond a soft growl. Claire must have noticed, because she gently stroked his fur.
"It's okay," she whispered. "I know it's scary, but I'll take good care of you."
The words were meaningless to him, but the tone… the tone was calming.
Once in the exam room, Claire set Aiden on a padded table and began her work. She moved with practiced precision, her hands gentle but firm as she examined him. Aiden remained still, letting her do her job, though he felt a surge of irritation as she checked his temperature, his reflexes, and his eyes, as if he were a mere dog in need of care.
"Hmm," Aiden murmured as she listened to his heartbeat. "Your heart sounds strong, which is good. But you're dehydrated and clearly underfed." She paused, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I don't see any obvious injuries, but we'll run a few tests just to be sure."
Aiden felt a prick as she drew a small sample of blood, and though it was nothing compared to the battles he had fought, the indignity of it made him snarl softly. Lila merely chuckled. "Easy, big guy. We're almost done."
After a while, she stepped back and smiled down at him. "You're tougher than you look, you know that?" She pulled a blanket from a nearby shelf and wrapped it around him. "But you need some rest and proper food. I'll take you with me, run the tests, and we'll get you feeling better."
" what! Claire do you injured your head, you want to take it home?" Diana was shocked and shouted.
Claire was taken aback but she instinctively defended herself " don't spout nonsense!, and stop shouting like my mom"" anyway see you later. Bye".
She also was shocked by her behavior, she don't know why she felt attracted to the dog.