Ovelia's POV
The rustling of the grass grew closer and closer.
Ray and Ace climbed down from the wagon, and suddenly, four smiling men emerged from the bushes, startling me.
"They're werewolves, but in human form for now," Ann whispered to me, her eyes wide with caution.
"Oh, merchants! I wonder what's in their wagon," said one werewolf facing Ace, a sly grin stretching across his face.
"The wagon's massive; it must hold a lot," added another werewolf, his curiosity piqued.
I watched as Ace swiftly drew his sword, his voice turning serious, "Ann and Ovelia, no matter what happens, stay by the wagon." The urgency in his tone sent a shiver down my spine.
In an instant, the four men transformed into werewolves. Their fur shimmered in various colors—black, silver, and deep brown—each more menacing than the last.
"Ann..." I said, my voice trembling as I grasped her hand tightly.
Panic surged through me. I didn't know how to fight; fear tightened around my chest like a vice.
"Don't worry, Ovelia," Ann reassured me, her resolve steady. "I'll protect you."
Suddenly, another werewolf broke through the grass, barreling toward us.
"ANN!!" I screamed, adrenaline fueling my voice.
In a flash, Ann unsheathed two daggers hidden at her side, her eyes fierce and determined. She was ready to strike, but before she could move, Ace dashed toward us. With a powerful kick, he sent the incoming werewolf crashing into a tree, his body thudding against the trunk with a sickening crack.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you!" Ace shouted, his voice a commanding blend of authority and protectiveness.
My heart raced as I clung to Ann, her strength giving me a flicker of courage.
"Boss! Their wagon isn't carrying much, but there are two stunning ladies inside. One smells human, and the other... is a werewolf," the werewolf reported, his voice laced with pain as he clutched his stomach where Ace had kicked him.
"Ann, if that werewolf touches Ovelia, you have my order to kill him!" Ace said, his voice intense and filled with authority, his eyes blazing with protectiveness.
Now, I realize that werewolves can recognize a person's identity through their scent.
"If the human female is beautiful, we could sell her at auction for a much higher price," the other werewolf sneered, a twisted excitement evident in his tone as he looked at Ace.
Before the werewolf could savor his thought, Ray swiftly approached him, an unwavering determination in his stride. In a swift motion, he seized the werewolf's arm and twisted it brutally, snapping it with a sickening crack.
"ARRGHHHHH!!" The werewolf screamed, the sound raw and filled with agony, echoing in the tense atmosphere as he fell to the ground, clutching his shattered limb in shock and pain.
"You can't touch them. I swear, I will kill every last one of you if you lay a finger on them," Ray declared, his voice steady yet fierce, a protective fire igniting in his eyes.
"You little piece of shit! Everyone, attack!" snarled the werewolf standing behind the two werewolves in front of Ace and Ray, his voice filled with rage and frustration.
As their threats hung in the air, a flicker of uncertainty began to spread among the werewolves. I felt a slight easing of the fear and anxiety that had gripped me, knowing deep down that Ace and Ray would never let Ann or me come to harm.
Ray unsheathed his sword, a glint of determination in his eyes. With a confident smile, he deflected the slashing claws of the werewolf, mirroring the creature's ferocity with his own skill.
"It seems like both of them are enjoying this," I remarked, watching intently.
"I think it's because it's been a while since they've fought, and the werewolf they face now is weakened. That's why Ray and Ace are only using swords," Ann replied, her voice thoughtful yet excited.
As each werewolf approached our wagon, Ace and Ray sent them sprawling with powerful kicks, displaying strength and finesse.
"They haven't even transformed into full werewolves yet, but those two are incredibly strong," muttered one werewolf, staggering after being kicked by Ace.
"Ace, it's amusing to play with them, but we can't afford to waste more time in this skirmish," Ray cautioned, sensing the urgency of our situation.
I noticed the five werewolves recoil in shock, their eyes wide.
"A-Ace? As in Ace Draven? The second prince of Silverhowl Kingdom?" stuttered one werewolf, trembling with realization.
"It looks like they saw through your disguise," Ray observed, his brows furrowing.
"It's because you said my name!" Ace snapped, irritation spiking in his tone, a sharp contrast to the earlier playful banter.
Humor faded into tension, and I could feel the weight of the moment intensifying. The werewolves exchanged anxious glances, and the laughter of battle transformed into an electric anticipation for what was about to unfold.
The five werewolves were gearing up to launch an attack when suddenly, Ray and Ace sprang into action. They swiftly drew their swords, shining with a lethal light, ready to defend us at all costs.
With a fluid motion, Ray charged in, targeting the midsection of three werewolves. His fists connected with brutal force, sending them tumbling to the ground, unconscious. The sheer power behind his strikes left no room for hesitation; it was a savage ballet of strength and precision.
Meanwhile, Ace was equally formidable. With lightning speed, he struck the necks of two werewolves, his movements clean and practiced. The werewolves fell to the ground, their eyes rolling back as consciousness slipped away from them.
Suddenly, I exhaled in relief— we were safe and unharmed.
"My wolf wants to kill them, but I can't. We need to capture them alive, and that makes my wolf furious," Ace said, his voice tight with restraint.
"I understand what you're feeling right now," Ray chuckled lightly, attempting to lighten the mood, but his eyes reflected a more serious concern.
Ann opened her bag, pulling out a heavy, somewhat lengthy chain. Her expression turned serious.
"This chain, ma'am Ovelia, is made by the witches. When bound to a werewolf, it saps their strength, weakening them and preventing transformation," Ann explained, her tone grave.
"Witches truly exist in this world?" I asked, my heart racing with both fear and excitement, realizing that the stories I had only read about were now reality.
She nodded with a smile, her eyes shining with the magic of her revelation.
As Ann stepped down from the wagon, she handed the chain to Ace. He took it with a determined grip. Ray began to pull five werewolves toward a massive tree, Ace swiftly securing them with the chain. With a shimmer of light, they transformed back into their human forms.
"I'm writing a letter to Shadow Ridge Prison to report these five rogue werewolf bandits," Ray announced, his voice steady and authoritative.
He moved to the front of the wagon, retrieving a pen, paper, and a single carrier pigeon. Turning to me, he said with genuine concern, "I hope you're okay, Ovelia."
"I'm fine, thank you for your concern," I replied, forcing a smile, though I could still feel a knot of fear coiling in my stomach. I didn't want to worry him further; he had enough on his mind already.
Ray began to write on a piece of paper, then tied it to the leg of a pigeon.
"Go to Shadow Ridge Prison and deliver this letter," he instructed the bird, watching as it took flight, a mixture of urgency and hope in his gaze.
Ann climbed into the wagon, sitting beside Ray. Ace joined us, settling in across from me.
"Were you scared earlier?" Ace asked, his brow slightly furrowed, concern etched on his face.
"A little," I replied with a gentle smile, "but I know I'm safe because you're all here to protect me."
He moved closer, sitting by my side, the warmth of his presence comforting.
"By protecting you, my wolf and I show our love for you. Did you feel it?" his voice was sincere, almost vulnerable.
I looked into his eyes, feeling a rush of warmth wash over me, a blush creeping onto my cheeks.
"So that's love," I mused softly. "It's warm, and it even makes my heart race a little."
"Exactly. Love takes many forms," Ace explained, his voice imbued with gentle wisdom. "For instance, giving me snacks is your way of showing your love."
He leaned back slightly, thoughtful. "There are different types of love. There's the love of friendship, like how my human side sees you now, and the love of family. Then there's a deeper love—like how my wolf feels for you, wanting to be with you for a lifetime."
Happiness bubbled inside me as I realized his human side was beginning to cherish me as a friend. He was honoring his promise from our date to embrace our fate step by step, starting with friendship even despite our status as husband and wife.
"Thank you, Ace," I said, my voice brimming with gratitude. "Thank you for explaining all this to me and for keeping your promise to teach me about love." I wrapped my arms around him in a warm embrace.
He hugged me back, his voice soft, "You're welcome."
"Ahem! I don't want to interrupt your little moment, but can we leave now?" Ray said with a chuckle, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Embarrassment washed over me, and I noticed Ann giggling softly beside Ray.
Reluctantly, I released my embrace around Ace, and he, too, let go of me. I caught a glimpse of his face, slightly flushed, and a quiet laugh escaped me.
"Ray, let's go," Ace instructed, his tone a mix of playful urgency and warmth.
As we started to ride, I felt a flutter of happiness within me. I was gradually learning to embrace love and companionship. Just this morning, we had been ambushed by bandits, a terrifying experience I hoped wouldn't repeat itself on our next journey. "Please, let this trip to Meadowlark Village be safe," I whispered to the winds, my heart filled with hope.