[Evening]
•Inside the Forest of Silverhowl Kingdom•
Ovelia's POV
I stood frozen, paralyzed by fear as the massive werewolf loomed closer, its eyes glinting with a predatory hunger.
A gust of wind swept through the trees, carrying a whisper, "Ovelia, run!" The voice lingered in my mind like a haunting echo.
Suddenly, a surge of adrenaline coursed through me. I bolted toward the garden, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. With every desperate step, I felt the distance between me and the beast diminish. I glanced back, and horror gripped me as I saw the drooling werewolf, its fangs bared, relentless in its pursuit.
Tears streamed down my face, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I stumbled, tripping over the hem of my long dress, and fell hard to the ground. Pain shot through my body as I fought to rise, the bruises from earlier throbbing painfully.
"Get up, Ovelia, you have to keep moving!" I whispered to myself, determination battling against despair. With shaky hands, I pushed myself off the forest floor, adrenaline blinding the pain. Each heartbeat sounded like a drum, echoing the urgency of my escape.
Closing my eyes for a moment, I summoned every ounce of strength as I began to run again, the garden now seeming impossibly far away. I could hear the growl of the werewolf, closer than ever. "Please, not now!" I cried out, my voice trembling with fear and desperation.
"Ovelia, don't stop! You're almost there!" the wind urged, blending with my racing thoughts, pushing me onward. All I could do was focus on reaching the garden, where hope flickered in the fading twilight.
My heart raced uncontrollably as I realized the massive werewolf stood behind me, a dark shadow against the night. Before I could react, he lifted me effortlessly and threw me against a nearby tree. The force of the impact knocked the breath from my lungs and sent sharp pain coursing through my entire body. A violent cough escaped my lips, and I felt hot blood spill from my mouth. As I wiped it away with trembling hands, I could hardly comprehend the dread that enveloped me.
My body shook, quaking with fear as darkness began to cloud my vision. I forced myself to look ahead, and there he was—the werewolf, slowly advancing toward me, an ominous grin stretching across his savage face.
It clamped its claws around my neck, and panic surged through me as I struggled to breathe. "Before I kill you," he snarled, his voice low and menacing, "I'll make sure to draw out your suffering."
His claws dug into my arm, a sharp, unforgiving pain that sent shockwaves through me.
"ARRGHHHHH!" I screamed, a raw, primal sound that echoed with the wild wind swirling around us. The howl of the night air mingled with my cries, amplifying the terror I felt. Those claws remained embedded in my arm, a constant reminder of my impending doom. I didn't want to die. Not like this… not yet.
Ace's POV
I didn't quite understand it, but my wolf was restless, sensing something was off. Then I spotted Ann approaching, her expression heavy with anxiety.
"Sir Ace, have you seen Ma'am Ovelia? I've been searching for her," Ann said, her voice trembling. "I went to the garden earlier, and I heard a loud scream, followed by a fierce wind in the woods."
Worry etched on her face, I felt her fear seep into my own.
I scanned the bustling hall, but I couldn't find Ovelia amidst the guests chatting and dining. A sense of urgency coursed through me, urging me to move. Just as I was about to leave, Eliana suddenly stopped me.
"Where do you think you're going, Ace? Don't leave me here alone," she implored, her voice tremulous with worry.
I looked over at Ann and noticed her serious expression; it deepened my concern. I took both of Eliana's hands in mine, trying to reassure her. "I'm just stepping out for a moment. I'll be back quickly," I said softly, though uncertainty gnawed at me. I could see the sadness shimmering in her eyes, but I had to find Ovelia.
"I'll be right back, I promise," I added, forcing a confident smile. Her grip tightened on my hands, fear etched on her face, but I had to push forward.
With urgency coursing through me, I rushed towards the garden, Ann by my side. Each step felt heavy in my chest; I needed to find Ovelia.
•Palace's Outer Garden•
We arrived at the garden, but Ovelia was nowhere to be found. I felt the tension in my wolf intensifying; it was as if a storm was brewing within me.
"Ann, have you seen Ovelia in her room?" I asked, my voice tinged with anxiety as my wolf stirred restlessly inside me.
"I went there earlier sir Ace. Before I came to the garden, I spoke with Sir Ray," Ann replied, her tone steady but concern brightening her eyes. "He mentioned he saw Ovelia with the old man who came in this garden."
Panic tightened my chest as thoughts raced through my mind. Should I call the guards to search for her? No, I couldn't do that—fear would scatter the guests like leaves in a storm. I glanced toward the forest, remembering a narrow path that led out of the kingdom. A chilling thought struck me: What if Ovelia had run away?
"Arggghh, please, stop!" The wind carried the anguished scream of a woman from the depths of the forest, piercing through the stillness like a knife.
Ann and I exchanged worried glances before we took off deeper into the woods. My heart raced as I caught sight of a black werewolf, unmistakably a member of the Shadow Pack. In that moment, everything narrowed into a singular focus as I saw it gripping Ovelia by the throat, her left arm bleeding profusely. Her dress was torn, and the black werewolf was poised to leave its mark on her neck.
Rage bubbled within me, igniting an untamed fury as my wolf howled in response to the injustice happening before us. I could feel its power coursing through my veins, urging me to transform. I focused, harnessing every ounce of that primal energy, my body shifting in a rush of fur and strength, ready to confront the beast that threatened my wife.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!" I roared, my voice echoing through the trees, a mix of fury and protectiveness. With each step I took, I could feel the earth quake beneath me as I closed the distance between us, the air charged with the brutality of the moment. My wolf was ready to fight, and I was ready to unleash its fury on anyone who dared to harm those I cared about.