The Hidden Forest

c h a p t e r 1

It's awfully silent in a forest full of life as Khai is walking around in his human form. He already passed the borders of his own pack long time ago. Something normal werewolves could never do, as their body would debate against the idea. Only an Alpha as Khai is allowed by the goddess to walk through the forest. Nonetheless, the other animals refuse to move from their hidings. Alphas do have better control over their instincts, but that doesn't mean it's absolutely safe for the other animals. Even other predators are aware of the fact that they should run the other way whenever met with a werewolf. Only the chirping of a couple birds could be heard, from the ones who knew their nest was too high to reach.

None of the Alphas wander around in their wolf form, as they would lose their control easily.

So Khai is patrolling his side of the common forest in his human form. Lost in his thoughts and not paying attention towards where his feet are leading him. His wolf was continuously smelling the air to sense if any humans made it inside the forest. Until he caught something. An intoxicating smell that's vaguely lingering in the air and almost disappearing. Wait. I smell something. That was all that's needed to catch Khai's attention. What is it? do you smell humans? I'm not sure, follow the smell.

His steps became more impatient as the smell became thicker. Not minding the stray animals whom are running away in from him.

He was intoxicated by the alluring smell and his feet urged him to go faster. He came to a halt when his wolf said excitedly mate! But that soon died down. There is a girl chained against a tree, she didn’t look in pain but both her hands and feet were chained so that she couldn’t escape. He took a minute to observe her body to look for injuries and then looked around,

Who did this, he growled loudly. He was surprised when he smelled the air. At first, he didn't notice the human smell that's coming from his mate. However now that he grasped it, he can't ignore it. his mate is human. Humans are detested by the whole forest. In fact, it was his job to attack any humans who dare to set food in the woods. It was the sole reason why the goddess turned them into werewolves. But looking at the state his mate was in, not once did he care about the fact that she's human. The goddess doesn't make any mistakes. She surely had a good reason for this and if she gave him a human as mate, then he would gladly accept her.

He took a few steps closer to her, an attempt to free his mate from the bindings against the tree. But then she raised her head and her eyes glowed, Is she in a trance? They glowed a crimson red in the moonlit darkness of the forest.

He couldn’t escape those eyes and couldn't move his feet. Then she spoke,

“Those whom have appeared before me cannot set another foot. The only step you may take is one behind, towards the road that took you here.”

“Who are you? Why can’t I come closer to you?”

“The land whom you desire to take a step on, is not land meant for those sinful human beings. Anyone who ignores those warnings, will be met with the punishment that I will cast upon, as I am the gatekeeper of this paradise.” She paused and smelled the air. For a split second Khai thought hopefully to himself, Can she smell me? Her mate?

“Only for the wolf who’s hiding will the entrance open.”

Disappointment washed over him, but he realized that he could learn more about what’s happening. He quickly shifted into his wolf and looked hopeful at the girl who’s still chained against the tree.

She smiled “Welcome home, little fellow. It must have been hard in the stained world outside these trees. The guide will soon arrive.” Her eyes dimmed and as soon as her eyelids closed, the bushes started separating, making a way in. He hesitated, because he didn’t want to leave his mate like that. But he didn’t know what’s happening and why she’s in a state like that. That’s why he made it his mission to find out.

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Staying alert, he walked towards the new road without dropping his guard.

After a few feet, the bushes started disappearing and the road became clearer. The scenery before him made his feet come to a halt.

So many animals of all kinds are here. The place was packed with both little animals, like rabbits, squirrels and birds, as bigger animals, like wolves, bears and foxes.

But no one is worried about being hunted. No blood was shed. No hungry murderous gazes were sent to each other.

No, they were rather enjoying themselves and even talking to each other. Enjoying each other's presence.

It was as if they were used to this. This life of theirs in peace. But for him this was unknown territory.

It was like a hidden forest inside the one he was familiar with.

An animal walked over to him. "First time here, Mr. werewolf?", it was a rabbit and instead of his wolf instincts surfacing to hunt it down, he felt nothing. No urge to set his teeth into the small body and feed himself with its flesh. And no superior feeling of being the predator.

Khai answered “Yes, where am I?”

The little rabbit responded "Don’t worry I’m sure the guide is already on their way here. You can wander around if you like. “

The rabbit turned and was about to go back, but Khai stopped it "Wait! Why aren't you scared of me?" Not that he wanted the animals to be scared of him, he was just accustomed to the way things are. All animals will crawl back in the bushes as soon as they'd see a werewolf. Especially the little ones whom they consider as prey.

"Can you give me a reason as to why I should be scared of you mister?"

This shocked him. He stated the obvious "Well, I've hunted your kind many times until now."

The rabbit was still standing unshaken before him, with no fear he answered back "mister, do you feel the need to do any of that right now while talking to me? Surely if you did, you would have already done it."

The realization left him speechless. It is true that during the whole conversation, it didn't pass through his mind that the rabbit is food. Only his logical thinking was suspicious of the situation as it's used to hunt.

When Khai didn't answer, the rabbit hopped back to where he came from. He was together with another bunny and a bear. On the shoulder of the bear was a serpent and a blue bird flew towards the bunch and landed on the head of the bear. Chirping cheerfully.

But not only them. No one in this place seemed to mind each other nor the presence of a werewolf.

He looked around but didn’t want to wander off yet, he wanted to stay near the exit to be sure. Its weird to see this sight for him.

He just kept on observing the sight before him. There was a small waterfall flowing down from a tree which was meant for the animals to drink from. He saw an owl on the tree and a couple woodpeckers timming on it. A deer came and drank from the small lake. While a fox jumped in it and was playing around. But the water didn't become dirty. It was still crystal clear.

Dumbfounded on how all of this was possible, he observed further. But more questions came rather than answers. He then saw the fox pick up a fish out of the water and ran somewhere with it. A smirk played on his face, So he's going to eat it after all. finding reassurance in the familiar situation. However, the fox went to the other side of the lake and dropped the fish there. With a closer look, he could see that at that place the other fishes had the same color as the one the fox picked up. Did he just reunite the fish with its family? His head was in chaos.

The little bit of reassurance he was holding on to disappeared.

“Alpha Khai from the North pack, whose territory is 7 km away from this place. What brought you here?” It was the same voice he heard before, the voice of the gatekeeper. His mate. He turned around and was baffled at the sight. Hair as white as the snow that falls in winter, eyes a ruby red that draws you in and a necklace with dozens white pearls hanging on it.

Her feet didn’t touch the ground as she was floating in the air. Her blurred form still greatly resembled the girl from before. The being in front of him was her spirit. He wanted to reach out and touch her, but seeing her blurry appearance, he knew it would be in vain. He also noted that she knew exactly who he is. But he just stood there staring. Still captured by the mystic figure in front of him.

Instead of finding it rude or awkward by the silence, his mate smiled.

“Did you see something interesting?” But he didn’t react and she chuckled at this. “I’ve seen a lot of reactions, but yours topped them all. The other ones could get fast over the shock. But maybe it’s because you’re half human and you’re trying to find a reason on your own. If you were fully wolf, you would have known instantly what I am, even though I don't look like the usual.”

She paused to watch his reaction, but he stayed still. “Go on, ask your wolf. Isn’t he comforted by my presence, with no doubts when seeing me?”

Isn't it because she's our mate?

Smell the air, look closer, that's not our mate, that's a spirit of the forest. An Anhangá, the spiritual beings whom are made by the goddess to protect the forest

Now you've mentioned it, the red eyes do belong to the Anhangás. It's been a long time since us werewolves last saw them, since we were shut away. So, is it a spirit who just happened to take form of our mate? Or is this her actual form? Why was she in that state?

I don't know. I want to know too.

“As you’ve noticed, I’m the gatekeeper you saw outside the gates. I’m also the guide who leads the lost ones and inform them about this place. No worries, you can leave whenever you want. May it be in 5 minutes or 5 days, you’re not locked up here."

So she is the gatekeeper. Doesn't that mean that she is our mate? What's happening here?

"Are you an Anhangá?"

"Oh? It's surprising that a werewolf knows about our existence. Not that we should hide from you, it's just that we are not needed where the werewolves are. So we never set foot there and instead roam around the animals who do need protection. But yes, I am an Anhangá"

"Didn't you just say that you're also the gatekeeper? What do you mean by that? The gatekeeper is human! And she's outside while you're here. Besides what's up with this place, nothing is making any sense!" He didn't mean to shout but all of this was taking a toll on him. He wanted to help his mate, who was chained helplessly.

He just wanted to know the truth to the mysteries. That way, the chaos inside his head could finally dim down.

She came closer and floated around him in circles. He breathed in and out slowly. Her presence was calming his nerves. Not sure if it's because she's an Anhangá or because she's supposed to be his mate. Either way, it was reassuring him. It was as if she was hugging him without having a physical body. He was melting in her presence. She stopped circling him and he finally opened his eyes. She was standing before him, with a smile so warm directed to him. He knew he would fall in love by just that smile alone.

She sensed that he calmed down and continued "This is a place of freedom and peace. A perfect world hidden in the forest of the world outside. If not for the hunters and greedy humans, the world you’ve known outside these walls would have looked like what you’re seeing now. A place where fear of being killed is only a problem for the beings outside. Eternal peace between all kinds of animals and happiness for all. A place whom the goddess has dreamed about for over a century now. But it's not ready yet. That's why she will wait till the time is right before introducing it to all animals, including the werewolves. However, until that moment, this place remains a hidden forest."

He stood there for a couple minutes, taken aback by her words. He was familiar with the history of the forest. The very reason why the werewolves exist, is to protect it against humans. The reason why Anhangás exist is to protect the animals from each other and to mislead the humans who dare to sneak inside the forest. Humans are taboo, so it didn't make sense why there was one outside the gates.

It was custom to teach the pups about the history. So that they wouldn't hesitate when they grow up to fight against the intruders.

"What is your name?"

The spirit looked taken aback by this. "I want to know what I should call you, besides you already know mine, don't you?"

She chuckled "Well the other animals call me spirit or guide, but if you insist, my name is Denia." She smiled at Khai and then turned around and shifted into a deer. An Anhangá deer. It was as beautiful as the stories say. With white fur and strands of shiny silver and a set of horns longer that the other deer have. The only thing that didn't change were her eyes. Still that ruby red that he came to love. "Follow me, Khai of the North pack."

Denia continued to lead the way. They were heading towards higher grounds, but he was clueless as to where. There lingered a comfortable silence between the two of them. Which was broken by her first. "Aren't you curious as to where we're heading?" she said while still facing forward in her deer form.

"I don't mind where we're going as long as it's with you."

She chuckled "oh, aren't you charming?"

But he meant it. He knew there would be no danger wherever they're heading. He is so at ease by her side it made him forget that the spirit in front of him is not his mate. His wolf said so. He still couldn't understand how they could be the same person and will ask her later. Even without the mate bond in place, he felt an attraction towards her. His eyes never left her. Eyes filled with adoration and curiousness.

She paused "We're going up there", she looked towards a tree which has a big hole in it, but it was a couple feet higher than where they were standing.

Before he could question it, her body began to glow. A blue shine covering her form. It was mesmerizing.

The fog around her body seeped into the ground and it went towards where Khai was standing, enveloping his body. After a few moments he realized that his feet weren't on the ground anymore. They were standing on the blue cloud of fog and was floating in the air.

When Denia was sure he would be alright like that, she shifted into yet another being. She became a white wolf and a set of big wings. A rare sight to see as they’re usually in their deer form.

She jumped in the air and Khai's cloud followed. She was flying wile he was floating so she made sure that her speed matched his.

He looked around when he could finally tear his eyes away from her. He let the beautiful, yet unfamiliar scenery of this hidden forest set into his mind.

The cloud came to a halt and faded away. They were standing on a tree branch and seeing the big hole, he realized they were at their destination.

Khai’s POV

Denia turned back in the same form when I first met her.

She turned around and smiled "Let's go inside"

I mindlessly followed her into the big hole.

I was expecting it to be a lot darker, but the hundred fireflies were lightening up the place.

All of the furniture was made out of wood. There were chairs, benches, tables and even stairs.

"The little beavers of the river side came and cozied up this place."

"They did a good job." I smiled at her

"Glad you like it. it may not be as comfortable as the cushions you have at your pack, but this place wasn't really meant for human bodies anyway."

I growled at that remark "I am not. Human!" I immediately stopped myself when I realized what I did.

I don’t know why but we always become aggressively defensive whenever someone points our human side out. We don't want to be grouped together with them. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that" I looked apologizingly at her, hoping that she would forgive me for growling at her.

She chuckled "Don't worry, I shouldn't have said it like that. The disgust for humans is widely known, I should have known better, especially me." she averted her gaze to the ground for a second. I was about to apologize for the second time but she beat me to it.

"So sorry again. By the way I need to check something over there before you're going to bomb me with questions" she smiled and walked away.

"I'll be waiting here" I said with a louder tone, hoping that she heard it.

I sat down on a wooden chair and a squirrel came over and gave me a nutshell. "Thanks"

He then continued to nibble on his and looked at me. I guess he wants me to eat this. I easily broke the shell and ate it.

The squirrel looked amazed and put all of his nuts on the table before me, "Can you open these for me?"

"Sure" His little body was shaking, full with excitement, when I broke all of them in a couple seconds. He took all of them and quickly shoved them in his mouth and scurried off.

I chuckled at the adorable behavior. This is nice. I wished it could always be like this.

"I see you already made a friend here." Denia came from around the corner with a satisfied smile on her face. "How does that feel? Do you like the way things are here?"

"This place is a paradise. It's not only the dream of the goddess, I believe it's everyone's dream. Deep down all of us are longing for this, peace between all kinds without having to murder each other." With a dreamy look I gaze outside where I could see the animals playing with each other.

I could feel the eyes of my mate on me. It was a warm feeling of satisfaction. I turned my gaze towards her and returned her a smile with one of my own.

But then it crossed my mind again. The gatekeeper I saw earlier. I cursed myself when I let myself forget it for even a minute. I perhaps thought it was okay since Denia, who is now before me, said that it was her.

And this Denia has been smiling the whole time.

But worry was eating me away thinking about the soulless eyes and a voice void of any emotion talking to me.

"What's on your mind, Khai?" Denia said with concern filling her voice.

I met her gaze "If you don't mind me asking, could you explain the situation with the gatekeeper?"

She looked a bit uncertain “Okay, if you really want to know"

Hope. Hope was all I had at that moment. Hope that with her explanation, I could save my mate.

"The person you saw is me. And the person in front of you is me too.

I'm an Anhangá who became half human. Uhm, it's not the same like you though. You became a werewolf, another animal species. While I simply became human. But the human part of me was troubling me and on top of that I couldn't protect the animals like I used to. That's why I separated my two sides from each other. An attempt to go on with my life in peace, but I guess I don't deserve that yet."

Why? Why would the goddess punish one of her creations by turning them human? Why did she have to become one?

"Because she has sinned."