Forbidden Forces

The Enchanted Forest

[Alloura POV]

My head began to feel clearer the further I walked towards the forest. I always knew that me and Rhys’s future engagement was purely contractual, determined by our parents long ago. But, I’d always been excited for it. Rhys is so handsome, and charming, and strong. But, I also know he never really noticed me before outside of being the younger girl living in his family’s palace, the daughter of his father’s best friend.

The more I watched Rhys date other women over the years, the less I clung to the hope that we could really one day fall in love with each other. But, he did tell me I look beautiful. And when he looked at me in the hall, he seemed to really see me. Maybe Rhys was starting to develop feelings for me beyond friendship?

I just need to let my wings loose. I fluttered deeper into the forest, until I reached the little spring my mother had shown me when I was a little girl. It was tucked between tall, weeping willows, surrounded by glowing moss, and wildflowers. The only sounds were the spring bubbling softly, birds chirping in the trees, and nature continuing on around me. My mother used to come here when she needed to really attune herself with nature, and now that she’s been dead for 7 years, it makes me feel closest to her. The weeping willow nearest the spring even had such a wicked knot on the trunk that almost resembled a face, and I liked to imagine it as her.

I slipped my dress off and stepped into the spring in my slip so I could best connect with the elements. Suddenly, I began to hear leaves rustling in the distance. Someone was walking near here.

[Xander POV]

The war with the faeries ended nearly 20 years ago, but my people were always tense, anticipating another feud over territory. The mountains served as our border to the Alfheim kingdom, leaving my Lycaon kingdom within the mountains. Lycaon overlooked a fjord with mountains on both sides, and while beautiful, I frequently wished I could feel the warmth of the enchanted forest. My father always stressed the importance of being prepared for war with the fae since I was a kid, though.

The fae were not to be trusted, he would say. They wielded their powers against us to claim the once neutral enchanted forest as their territory. Faerie men may not be as strong as a werewolf, but the faerie women could lure you in, sinking their metaphorical teeth into your soul, and then controlling you. At least, so my father claimed.

I don’t know if the things my father told me were true, I’d never met a faerie. But, my father died last year, making me the alpha and king of the Lycaon kingdom clan. With him no longer here, all I have to go on is the things he taught me before.

The enchanted forest was neutral until I was 5 years old, but I liked to sneak across occasionally when I really needed to clear my head from the stressors of being alpha king. I always missed the warmth of the forest. If I stayed in my wolf form, I could be stealthier and hopefully fly under the radar.

But, today was going to be a busy day, so I could only go to my favorite spot in the forest for a short time. I walked to the back of the castle, took my clothes off, and changed into my wolf form and took for the enchanted forest.

……………………………………….

[Alloura POV]

I positioned myself behind a rock that sat on the bank of the spring, trying to look around the corner. No one ever comes out here.

Through the trees, a large form approached me. A giant beast of an animal appeared. Shaggy black fur, large gray eyes. It appeared to be a wolf, but the wolves in the forest aren’t usually so big.

I froze against the rock in fear, hoping that by not moving, the beast would lose interest and keep walking.

…………………………………

[Xander POV]

No one ever comes to this spot. But, someone was in the spring. Not just someone, but a girl. She was by far the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. Lycaon had plenty of beautiful women, but I had yet to find my mate. Being a werewolf, I knew I would know at first sight when I found my mate, and I had never found her in Lycaon.

It felt as if my heart dropped into my stomach and every muscle in my body froze. She was so captivating, I couldn’t look away. Her hair looked like milk chocolate, and I could see her glittering green eyes from my distance. I tried to study every inch of her face - her gorgeous, gorgeous face. How was it that I had never met or heard of this werewolf before?

And then, I realized how I had never met this werewolf. My eyes fell to the wings peeking over her shoulders. She wasn’t a werewolf at all - she was a faerie. Relationships between werewolves and faeries were forbidden under both kingdoms. How could a faerie be my mate?

…………………………………

[Alloura POV]

The giant wolf wasn’t moving, but its eyes were fixed on me.

“Hi there.” I said to the wolf. “I promise I am no threat to you.”

The wolf c****d his head to the side, like it was studying me. It took a few more steps toward me until there was about four feet between us. I stretched my hand out in front of me.

“It’s okay, buddy,” I tried to reason with the wolf. “I’m not threat to you. Please don’t hurt me.”

The wolf stepped a little closer and sniffed my hand, then nudged my hand with its nose. Then, suddenly, it turned around and took off through the woods.

What just happened? How much time has passed? I quickly jumped out of the spring and grabbed my dress, and rushed to fly back to the palace. I should be able to sneak into my room to change into my gown for dinner.