Moonlight Oath Three Lives of the Wolf Shadow

"Another beautiful night under the full moon," Sarah murmured, her silver eyes mirroring the moonlight. She loathed these mandatory patrols, but as the daughter of the Alpha, she had no choice. She was about to turn away when a bloodcurdling scream tore through the night. Sarah’s body tensed instantly; without hesitation, she plunged from the cliff. Her form shifted mid-air, landing as a magnificent silver wolf. "West, near the forbidden zone," she assessed, her powerful limbs carrying her swiftly through the undergrowth. The scent of blood was strong, overlaid by an ancient, familiar aroma. Suddenly, the bushes ahead stirred. Sarah stopped, crouching low, her gaze fixed on the source of the sound. A dark figure burst from the foliage, pursued by three others. "Stop!" one of the pursuers yelled. "Hand over the Blood Moon Stone, or you die!" The fleeing figure didn't answer, but Sarah saw a mocking smile play on his lips in the moonlight. He possessed an exceptionally handsome face, though marred by blood. Sarah should have immediately alerted her pack, but after a moment's consideration, she decided to intervene. A howl echoed through the trees as she launched herself at the pursuers with the speed of lightning. "Damn it! It's a werewolf!" The pursuers, clearly surprised, scattered in disarray. Sarah didn't pursue them, instead turning her attention to the injured man. He leaned against a tree, his golden eyes fixed intently upon her. "A most unexpected rescuer," he said with a light laugh. "I never expected to encounter a wolf princess here." Sarah shifted back into human form, frowning. "How did you know my identity?" "The silver eyes, the pure white wolf form," he replied, then broke into a violent coughing fit. "In all of the Scottish Highlands, only the heir to the MacLeod family possesses such characteristics." "Who are you?" Sarah asked cautiously, noticing his unsteady stance. Unable to resist, she stepped forward and steadied him. "Right now, I'm just a down-on-his-luck hunter," he said with a self-deprecating chuckle. "As for my past…" His voice trailed off, growing weaker until he finally collapsed into her arms. Only then did Sarah fully assess the extent of his injuries. The wound on his back was deep, exposing bone, yet, incredibly, the edges were slowly healing before her very eyes. This was far beyond the capabilities of any ordinary human. "Damn it!" Sarah cursed. She knew she couldn't take him back to the pack; too many eyes watched. But she couldn't leave him either. At that moment, his necklace slipped free. In the moonlight, a blood-red stone glowed faintly. Sarah gasped – the legendary Blood Moon Stone! It was said to be the ancient wolf king's relic, lost for centuries. "Interesting," Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Looks like I've stumbled into a major predicament." She efficiently hoisted him onto her back. "But since I've intervened, I must see this through." She carried him deeper into the forbidden forest, towards an abandoned hunter's cabin, a secret hideaway she'd discovered as a child. Throughout the journey, she felt the heat of his body through her clothing, and the faint, rhythmic thud of his heartbeat. "I must be mad," she muttered. "If Father discovers I'm harboring a stranger, especially in the forbidden zone, I'll be grounded for life…" "Mmm…" He groaned, seemingly murmuring in his sleep. Sarah strained to hear, catching only a single word in ancient wolf tongue – "fate." "This wound is incredibly strange," Sarah frowned, watching the unconscious man on the bed. Three days had passed, and the wound, which should have healed, continued to bleed. Worse, a disturbing purple hue had spread around the edges. "It's happening again!" She reacted swiftly, bracing him as he convulsed violently. His body burned with fever, yet he trembled uncontrollably. "Damn it, this is definitely a curse," Sarah muttered, staring at the ominous purple. "I have to steal some medicine from Adwin." Under the cover of darkness, Sarah infiltrated Adwin's medicine room. As she reached for the window, she overheard voices inside. "The ingredients for the curse-breaking potion are dwindling again?" It was her father's voice. "Yes, Alpha," Adwin replied. "And it's not just the curse-breaking potion; the wound-healing herbs are also disappearing. I suspect…" Sarah held her breath. "Continue," her father's voice was sharp. "I suspect someone is stealing the medicines. For the past few days, I've sensed a subtle presence, a feeling of someone entering the room." A silence hung in the air. "Increase security," her father finally commanded. "Report any suspicious individuals to me immediately." As the footsteps faded, Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly entered, locating the necessary herbs from memory. As she was about to leave, a small vial emitting a faint silver light caught her eye – the legendary Moonlight Essence, said to dispel the most stubborn curses. "I'm sorry, Uncle Adwin," Sarah whispered, snatching the vial before disappearing. Back at the cabin, the patient's condition had deteriorated. He continued to mutter in the ancient wolf tongue, and Sarah could only make out a few words – "betrayal," "throne," "oath." "Don't die," she murmured, mixing the potion. "I have so many questions for you." Suddenly, the patient's eyes flew open, his golden irises glowing eerily in the darkness. He seized Sarah's wrist with frightening force. "The throne is mine!" he roared in the ancient tongue. "Calm yourself!" Sarah responded in the same language. "You are safe now." Hearing the familiar language, he seemed to regain some clarity. "You… you speak the ancient tongue?" "Sort of," Sarah said, offering him the medicine. "Drink this." He eyed the bowl with suspicion. "Relax, it's not poison," Sarah rolled her eyes. "If I wanted you dead, you'd have been gone three days ago." He chuckled softly, drinking the potion in one gulp. "You're right," his voice was weak but gentle. "My name is Alexander." "Sarah," she replied curtly. "Now, tell me about this curse." "I'm afraid the answer might put you in danger," his gaze was intense. "You've already done so much for me." "Don't be ridiculous," Sarah retorted. "I've stolen half the pack doctor's supplies and the precious Moonlight Essence. If you don't tell me everything, I'm the one in danger." Alexander fell silent for a moment. "Very well," he finally conceded. "But before that, I need to ask you something." He struggled to sit up, gazing intently into Sarah's eyes. "Do you believe in fate?" "What?" "Because I believe our meeting was no accident," his voice was barely a whisper. "Silver-eyed princess…" Before he could finish, he collapsed again. But this time, the purple tinge of the curse was slowly receding. Sarah watched his sleeping face, her heart inexplicably pounding. "Fate?" she whispered, repeating the word. "Such a cunning man, a master of mystery."