LOVE ETERNAL

“I can’t move my feet,” Adrienne said softly, her face grimaced with pain, and her voice tinged with a sense of desperation and hopelessness. “You can’t be serious,” Ethan mocked, “You barely used those feet since we got here. Moreover, I carried you on my back all the way down here.” But when he saw her facial expression, his smile froze, and he hurried over to help her up. “Lay still” he instructed, the wolf in him threatening to pounce and take control. He hurried over to her side and tried lifting her gently, paying meticulous attention to her legs, as if he was afraid they would fall off. “What about our camping gear?” Adrienne managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper. Ethan admired her for her thoughtfulness; that even in the moment of such excruciating pain, she could still be concerned about other minor details. But he quickly pushed such trivial thoughts to the back of his mind. His goal was to get her immediate medical attention, and he could only do so by taking her to the pack as quickly as he could. “Forget about it, I will send somebody to fetch them once we are back in the pack, and you have seen a medic,” Ethan replied, his voice strained and breathless - filled with urgency and distress. It was supposed to be a fun-filled outdoor camping experience, one that started out so well. Why did it have to end in such a queer state? Ethan complained, a lot of disturbing thoughts surging up in his head. With his wolf fully activated, Ethan began running back to the pack. His huge muscles and powerful body propelled him at an immeasurable speed, as he moved swiftly through the woods with rapid strides, while occasionally casting nervous glances at Adrienne to gauge her condition. “I feel loved,” Adrienne moaned, drifting closer to Ethan’s embrace, and hugging him tightly. “Don’t worry, we will soon…” Ethan paused, “what did you just say?" He looked down at the girl he was carrying, only to see her smile at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Before Ethan could say another word, Adrienne jumped down from his hands with the agility not fitting of someone who, a few moments ago, couldn’t feel her legs. “You mean…” Ethan asked, trying to wrap his head around what had just happened. “I don’t know what you are talking about” Adrienne winked at him, sticking out her tongue and running back to the camping site. “I’m so going to get you…” Ethan roared, as realization dawned on him that he had just been tricked. He pursued her, seething with feigned annoyance, but his heart was palpitating with joy and relief. He followed her closely, giving her a little gap until they got to the campsite, then he tackled her down, pinning her to the ground as he stared at her with wide, intense eyes. His mouth tightened with tense facial muscles, conveying feigned anger and menace. “You almost got me worried back there,” Ethan admonished, his voice hoarse and deep with emotion. “Is that not your work my dear Alpha, to worry about your subjects - especially your dear subjects” she teased, staring at him with an innocent and wide, eyed gaze. He smiled, released his grip on her and laid on his back, and Adrienne, as if on cue, immediately jumped on him, nestling herself against his huge and muscular frame. They reclined side by side, finding solace and joy in the simple act of being together, their hearts intertwined with a deep sense of contentment and mutual understanding. Gazing at him with wide, innocent eyes, she posed the question softly, her voice tinged with vulnerability as she sought reassurance “Could you ever imagine leaving me?” “That depends,” Ethan quipped with a playful tone “I mean, if you were to trick me again, who knows…” She shook her head and puckered her lips in a playful pout, expressing her feelings without words. Ethan looked into her eyes with unwavering sincerity and tenderness, gently reassuring her, “I promise you, I would never even consider leaving your side.” This evening, he was going to mark her as his Luna, that was the purpose of this particular romantic trip. Ever since he met her, his life had never been boring. Her charm of innocence and selfless charisma, had consistently served as a source of brightness, amidst his challenging journey and burdensome responsibilities as an Alpha. She clung to him tightly, finding peace and comfort in his embrace, as though the entirety of her world found harmony in his presence alone. The feeling of safety enveloped her, soothing her heart with a profound sense of satisfaction. She soon began dozing off, and before long, she was fast asleep. They lay entwined, basking in the evening breeze that caressed them softly, wrapping them in the euphoria of comfort. The evening moonlight filtered through the canopy of trees, draping the campsite in a tapestry of gentle shadows. “Clang! Clang! Clang!” The piercing sound of the warning bell echoed loudly through the air, jolting the love duo awake from their tranquil romantic interlude. “That can’t be right,” Ethan said, gently disentangling himself from Adrienne’s embrace and sitting up. He rubbed his eyes and glanced around the campsite, trying to make sense of the situation. A look of disbelief was evident on his face as he turned towards Adrienne, who was still half-asleep beside him. “Did the warning bell just ring three times? Adrienne stirred, her brow furrowing in confusion. “What’s happening?” she murmured drowsily, her voice tinged with sleepiness. Ethan ignored her question, his mind racing. He swung his legs over the edge of the camp-mat and rose, straining to listen for any other unusual sounds. The silence that followed was almost deafening, amplifying his growing sense of unease. “Clang! Clang! Clang!” The bell rang louder this time, its echoes resonating intensely through the surroundings. “We must return to the camp at once” he commanded, the primal instincts within him stirring, his senses heightened, and his brows furrowed with worry. That alarm signaled the gravest crisis in the Pack - one ring for nominal internal issues, two for warning against severe attacks, but three… that was reserved for crises capable of destroying the Pack. In the entire history of the Pack, an incident involving three rings of the alarm had only been heard of once - and that was long before he was even born. “What could possibly be the problem?” he pondered, his mind racing with concern for the safety of his Pack.