Wolfless, but fearless

Chapter 4

Severa’s POV

Before I could even curse the Moonstone, the lid above us was violently ripped away.

Scar X kicked the dumpster over, spilling both garbage and two of us.

There were four rogues following Scar X. Two against five, and all of them were armed with hunting knives.

“I can’t take all five of them if they shift,” I muttered through gritted teeth, reaching for my short sword.

The beggar let out a deep and dramatic sigh.

"Chill, lady." he said, his voice suddenly turning calm and confident. "I guess... It's time to show my real strength."

I froze and stared at him in surprise. The moonstone was right. This beggar was a real master with a hidden identity.

"I knew you were a fighter!" I shouted.

"Me? No!!!" The beggar instantly scrambled behind me, taking me as his shield. "I meant, show them your real strength! Hurry up, shift and tear them into pieces!"

"What?" My jaw dropped.

He acted as a pathetic coward.

“Get them!” Scar X roared. All the four rouges shifted into fierce beasts.

I ducked instinctively, my body falling into the perfect combat stance my parents had taught me. I lunged forward, throwing a vicious right hook aimed squarely at one rouge's jaw.

But then, something impossible happened.

My fist was still three inches away from his face when a sudden, invisible force exploded from the air.

“AGHH!” The rogue screamed as if he’d been hit by a freight train. He flew backward through the air and crashed into the garbage, completely knocked out.

I froze, staring at my knuckles in shock. I didn’t even touch him!

Another rogue charged at me with his knife. I threw a roundhouse kick. Again, before my foot touched him, a voilent gust of force slammed into his chest, pushing him into the ground, groaning in pain.

What the hell? Did I just do this? Did the Moonstone actually unlock some hidden superpower inside me?

Within three minutes, all five enemies were groaning on the ground, completely defeated.

They struggled to stand up and took to their heels.

I stood there, panting, staring at my hands in absolute awe.

It was so incredible! Thank you, Moon Goddess.

"Whoa!" The beggar suddenly popped out, his eyes wide and sparkling with exaggerated amazement. "You're a monster! You beat them to a pulp even without shifting."

My smile faded.

If I told him the truth that I couldn't shift, he would look at me with pathetic pity. I couldn't stand being looked down on.

Driven by my pride, or maybe my vanity, I cleared my throat:"Shift? For those trah? Please. I don't need to use my wolf to beat up losers like them."

“You are so cool, boss,” he gushed. “Truly a warrior among warriors!”

I had to admit it was absolutely amazing to be a hero and to be admired.

I lifted my chin higher, for the first time, actually took a good look at the guy I had just saved.

He wore rags that looked like they had been chewed on by a bear. But looking past the grime… there was something entirely off about him.

His jawline was sharp. His dark eyes held a strange and calculating gleam, but he quickly masked with a goofy, cowardly smile the second we made eye contact. Even the way he stood, deliberately slouching to make himself look smaller, couldn’t completely hide his broad and muscular shoulders.

A beggar with the aura of a king?

But I didn’t care. I wasn’t here to pry into a stranger’s life. I didn’t need his life story. I just needed his presence. As long as this guy was near me, the Moonstone worked, and I was invincible.

“Come on,” I sighed, grabbing his wrist . “You smell like a dumpster. You need an upgrade.”

I dragged him to a cheap Wasteland street vendor. I tossed the grumpy merchant a silver coin and grabbed a plain black canvas shirt and a pair of dark trousers.

“Go wash your face and put these on,” I ordered, tossing the clothes at him. “Then I’ll buy you some food.”

“Yes, ma’am!” he saluted terribly and scurried off.

Ten minutes later, I was waiting by the vendor when he finally walked back.

My breath hitched. I actually forgot how to breathe for a second.

Damn.

With the dirt washed away, his skin was flawless. The cheap outfit hugged a remarkably well-built chest and his lean, powerful body. His messy dark hair was still slightly damp, falling perfectly across his forehead. He didn’t look like a stray dog anymore. He looked devastatingly handsome, carrying an effortless, magnetic charm that made a few passing female rogues stop and stare.

He caught me staring and flashed a bright, chaotic grin.

I quickly cleared my throat and looked away, my cheeks feeling slightly warm.

"Thanks for the clothes. Now I look as decent as a noble man." He grinned.

Indeed, he looked like the noble, yet he wasn't as fastidious and haughty as them. Instead, he was unspoiled, easy-going and free-spirited.

I got a little bit curious about how he became a beggar, wandering in Wasteland.

However, I knew it was rude to dig out the personal life of a man I had just met in one hour, so I just left my curiosity aside and said.

"You look better. Let's go eat something."

We found a dingy but decent-smelling diner down the Dark Street.

“I’m Severa,” I said, leaning back and crossing my arms over my chest.

“Cassius,” he replied smoothly, leaning his elbows on the table. We both didn’t offer a last name.

A grumpy waitress slammed two empty plates and a menu onto our table. Cassius stared at the list of roasted meats, his dark eyes lighting up like a kid on Christmas. He looked like he was about to drool.

Okay, fine, a noble man would rather die than stare at the menu like a glutton. But things that would look unrefined and rude coming from anyone else sat oddly well on him. I had no idea why.

“Order whatever you want,” I said, waving my hand generously. “Roasted boar, steak, aleg...get all of it. It’s entirely on me.”

Cassius blinked, looking up at me in shock. “Really? You’re treating me to a feast?”

“I said what I said,” I replied.

“You’re the best, Severa!” he cheered, instantly turning to the waitress and ordering half the menu.

Whoa, he was so confident and seemed to believe he deserved everything.

That was okay, pretty boy. I thought to myself. Order the most expensive things here. I will buy you clothes and food as well as others you want. I will protect you from dangerous rogue in Wasteland.

I needed him to think I was the most generous, reliable person in the world. I needed him to become completely dependent on me.

Because as long as he was happy, he would stay right by my side. And as long as this mysterious, handsome noble beggar was by my side… I had the power to destroy any enemy who got in my way.