Chapter six
887 Words
The Monster's Secret
Aurora woke to something heavy pressing against her shoulder.
She groaned softly and opened her eyes.
Two glowing red eyes stared back at her.
Aurora nearly screamed before remembering where she was.
"Right."
The cave.
The monster Alpha.
The giant wolf who apparently had no understanding of personal space.
The beast huffed impatiently.
Aurora rubbed her eyes.
"What now?"
A low rumble escaped him.
Not threatening.
Almost excited.
Aurora blinked.
"Why do you look so happy?"
The enormous wolf immediately stood.
His tail gave a slight swish.
Aurora froze.
Was that...
No.
Surely not.
The feared monster Alpha King could not possibly be wagging his tail.
The wolf nudged her shoulder insistently.
Aurora sighed.
"I just woke up."
Another nudge.
Harder this time.
"Ow!"
The beast turned and walked deeper into the cave before glancing back at her.
Waiting.
Aurora narrowed her eyes.
"You want me to follow you?"
The wolf immediately perked up.
His ears stood tall.
Aurora laughed despite herself.
"Moon Goddess."
The terrifying monster looked oddly pleased.
Curiosity eventually won.
Aurora climbed to her feet and followed him.
The cave stretched much farther than she originally realized.
Twisting tunnels branched in multiple directions.
The deeper they travelled, the warmer the air became.
Strangely, the giant wolf kept looking back every few moments to make sure she was still behind him.
As if he was afraid she might disappear.
Aurora noticed the behaviour immediately.
A strange warmth settled in her chest.
Nobody had cared whether she stayed or left in a very long time.
After several minutes, they reached a narrow passage hidden behind a wall of stone.
The wolf stopped.
Then he looked at her expectantly.
Aurora frowned.
"What?"
The beast nudged the rocks aside with one massive paw.
Her eyes widened.
Behind the hidden entrance was another chamber.
A beautiful one.
The ceiling sparkled with glowing blue crystals.
A small underground spring flowed through the centre.
Soft moss covered the stone floor.
The room felt peaceful.
Almost magical.
Aurora stared in amazement.
"This..."
Her voice trailed off.
The wolf immediately stepped forward.
His tail swished again.
Aurora looked at him.
Then, at the room.
Then back at him.
Understanding slowly dawned on her.
"You brought me here?"
The wolf's chest puffed slightly.
Aurora couldn't believe what she was seeing.
The mighty Alpha King looked proud.
As though he had personally built the room himself.
And was now waiting for her reaction.
The realization nearly made her laugh.
"You wanted to show me this?"
The wolf sat down.
Waiting.
Expecting.
Hopeful.
Aurora stared.
The giant beast looked exactly like an oversized puppy waiting for praise.
Her lips twitched.
The feared monster of the northern mountains.
The beast warriors told horror stories about.
The nightmare that haunted entire packs.
And right now...
He looked desperately eager for approval.
The sight melted the last pieces of fear lingering inside her.
A laugh escaped her lips.
A genuine laugh.
The wolf froze.
His ears lifted.
Aurora realized he was staring at her.
Almost mesmerized.
"When was the last time someone laughed around you?"
she wondered quietly.
Something painful flashed through his eyes.
Aurora's smile softened.
Slowly, she stepped closer.
The wolf remained perfectly still.
As though afraid any movement would make her retreat.
Aurora raised a hand.
For a brief second, memories surfaced.
The terrifying stories.
The warnings.
The bloodshed.
Then she looked into his eyes again.
And all she saw was loneliness.
Her hand settled gently on top of his massive head.
The wolf froze.
Completely.
Aurora smiled.
"Good job."
The reaction was immediate.
A deep rumble vibrated through his chest.
Not a growl.
Not a threat.
Contentment.
The giant beast leaned into her touch.
Aurora's eyes widened.
Then she laughed again.
"You really wanted praise."
The wolf shamelessly pushed his head against her hand for more.
Aurora couldn't stop smiling.
"You're unbelievable."
She scratched behind one ear.
The effect was disastrous.
The mighty Alpha King practically melted.
His eyes half-closed.
Another pleased rumble escaped him.
Aurora stared in disbelief.
"You like that?"
The wolf nudged her hand.
Demanding more.
Aurora shook her head.
"If the pack could see you now, nobody would believe me."
More scratches.
More happy rumbles.
For several minutes, she continued petting him.
And for the first time since arriving in the mountains...
Aurora realized something.
She wasn't afraid anymore.
Not even a little.
The monster everyone feared had never hurt her.
Never insulted her.
Never looked down on her.
Instead, he fed her.
Protected her.
Stayed beside her when she cried.
And now he was proudly showing her his favorite hidden place like an excited child.
The irony wasn't lost on her.
The humans and wolves she trusted had betrayed her.
The monster they warned her about had shown her nothing but kindness.
Aurora's hand remained buried in his thick black fur.
The wolf closed his eyes.
Peaceful.
Trusting.
For the first time in years, neither of them felt completely alone.
Neither Aurora nor the beast noticed the faint silver glow that flickered briefly between them.
Or the strange warmth spreading through the cursed Alpha's body.
A warmth he had not felt in a very, very long time.
The curse was stirring.
And somewhere deep beneath the beast's monstrous form...
The man trapped inside was beginning to wake.
- Writer
