BETWEEN TWO LYCANS

Ceremony Gone Wrong

“Get away from me!” she exclaimed with shuddered breath, her heart rate increasing rapidly. How did she end up in the house of the same man who gave her nightmares?

“Elsa… I did it to protect you.” He said softly, moving towards her.

“To protect me?! You tore off his head!”

“I had to kill him, they were going to kill you.”

“No, they weren’t. you didn’t even know why they were there.”

“I'm well aware of their intentions with you. But there were 7 of them, Elsa. Did you really think you were going to survive that?” He said, his eyes warm, his tone soft and inviting, his face relaxed, he looked like no monster. She squinted at him in confusion.

Was she mistaken?

"Stop calling my name like that." She muttered, for some strange reason, the way he called her made her bones weaken and heart melt, it gave her butterflies.

“I only wanted to protect you, Elsa, I’ll never hurt you.” He added, stretching his hand out to her, his eyes pleading, sincere… yearning. It marveled her, it called to her. She took his hand subconsciously without averting her gaze from his.

Andrews barged into the house. “Your majesty, we need to get going. Your people are awaiting your presence.” Andrews said.

“Shall we?” Jared asked with a warm smile. “We have a ceremony to attend”.

***

Chants honored the moon’s energy as the pack embraced their primal instincts. Jared shifted into his wolf form, running through the forest as the rest followed behind him, united, and powerful. Elsa stood by Irene in awe as she watched Jared, the magnificent beast, his entire body was covered in raven-black fur, the sheer power of his aura commanding respect among the pack.

“This is the first time this is happening.” Irene whispered to her. “The King turning while the rest remained as human and followed.”

“Really?” Elsa asked, she had to admit it looked odd.

“I’m sure it was because of you, my lady.” She added with a smile.

‘Because of her?’ Elsa wondered. ‘Why would he change the rules because of a slave?’

Suddenly, they came to a halt and the chants stopped. Jared climbed the rock of liberty to address the pack, he returns to his human form and speaks:

“Pack, gather beneath the full moon’s glow!” His voice boomed with a mix of authority and affection, echoing through the night. “We honour our heritage tonight. We are fierce guardians, born of the moon’s embrace…”

Elsa couldn’t help but notice people staring strangely at her, whispering amongst themselves as the speech went on.

“You know, today is the first time I’m seeing the King also, just as you, my lady.” Irene said, noticing this.

Elsa turned to her in surprise, “What?!”

“He hasn’t been out to the public for years now and I hadn’t gotten the chance to see him before his sudden disappearance. I was hired by Mr. Andrews and I’m never allowed close to the mansion.” Irene explained. “I’m sure they’re surprised also and think it’s because of the new werewolf he had brought into his estate, his date, you, my lady.” She added.

“Why?” Elsa muttered. Her head was spinning, she had thought the reason why he had hidden away was his hideous form, but clearly, she was wrong about that, he was anything but hideous… so why then?

“If he hasn’t been handling the ceremony, then who has?” She asked.

“His cousin, Prince James. He’s not around today.” Irene replied then whispered to her, "he is not a good man and is arch enemies with His Majesty."

“Tonight, we are mighty guardians of the night!” The pack shouted in unison as Jared closed his speech. She caught his eye as he looked at her proudly, she ignored it.

Soon the feast began and she went to the riverbank, staring at the glory of the moon. Another full moon had come and yet she hadn’t shifted still, who was to say that she would ever be a true wolf?

“It’s a beautiful night.” Jared’s voice came from behind her. She kept silent.

“You look amazing tonight. The pack adores you.” He continued, coming to her side.

“Irene said they’re probably wondering why you aren’t here with your queen and instead with a slave werewolf.” Elsa retorted. She was growing irritated, she had no idea what was going on nor the true reason why she was here, and ever since she had heard what Irene had told her, she had begun to grow extremely uncomfortable. She didn’t belong here, much less with him.

“You’re not a slave, Elsa!” He said to her, raising his voice in anger. “Who the hell told you that?!”

“Well, then what am I?!” She exclaimed. “And why have you brought me to this place?”

“Who told you that you were a slave?” He asked menacingly. She caught his eye glimmer in fury.

“I don’t understand. I was bought, was I not? If not a slave, then what am I?

“You were bought, but not as a slave!”

“Then as what, for goodness' sake?!”

He kept silent as they gazed at each other.

“Say something”, she begged but he remained silent.

“Every day, I wake up and pray that it’ll be the day I finally get to see you, finally get to do something different to escape the misery you have trapped me into. How do you think that feels? How do you think I feel?” She continued, hoping to get something from him. Instead, he simply stared at her, his eyes showing pain, indescribable pain, it worried her.

“What is wrong Jared? Say something.” She said, moving closer to him.

“Elsa…” He started.

“Yes?... Talk to me, Jared.”

“You don’t understand anything. You can’t be with me…!” He exclaimed, his neck twitching spontaneously as his body began to slightly tremble. “I can’t let you close to me, you don’t understand how dange…” His voice changed, becoming colder as he shut his eyes and fell to the ground.

“Jared!” She rushed to him and held him up.

“Arghh!” He screamed in pain, his body shaking against her hands. She was seriously panicking.

“What’s happening? Jared!!” She shook him.

“No!!! He’s coming Elsa… Go away! Run!” He screamed, holding his head in agony. “Leave me alone! Please!”

Elsa was dumbstruck and horrified. What the hell was he talking about? She looked around. Who was coming?

“My King!!!” Andrews shouted as he came running down. He pushed Elsa away as he hurriedly carried him and rushed down to the car as Jared continued to scream in pain.

“What’s happening?” She asked Andrews, running after him with warm tears drenching her cheeks. “Did I do anything?”

He ignored her and placed Jared in the car, he got in and sped off, leaving her to watch along with a few lycans, who had witnessed him leave and whispered amongst themselves in confusion.