Chapter 60: The Wolf From The Forest
1317 Words
Elena’s POV
"Presenting the Princess Elena of the howler pack."
The doors opened wide, and a hush fell over the grand ballroom. My heart thumped in my chest as I stepped forward, my long black gown brushing the floor with every stride I took. The chandelier light above shines down, complementing my dress.
Dozens of eyes—curious, judgmental eyes- followed me as I descended the staircase. My back straightened. My chin lifted. My hands trembled slightly, hidden within my gown.
This was the performance of a lifetime, so I had to make it a good one.
At the foot of the stairs sat a long banquet table, lined with powerful wolves, elders, alphas, and warriors—all with their bodyguard wolves positioned right behind them, ready for anything.
At the center of it all, seated on a high-backed silver chair, was the Alpha King himself—Alpha Batholi.
I walked slowly, gracefully towards him. Ray’s footsteps were following behind me, his presence not too heavy in the room.
When I reached the table, the Alpha rolled out of his spot in his wheelchair and extended his hand. I gave a small curtsy before taking my seat beside him. Ray took his position right behind me, his posture straight, and his eyes peeled open.
The Alpha Batholi lifted his glass, filled with sparkling red liquid.
“A toast,” he announced in his loud, deep voice, “To my only son... who will be married in three moons’ time to the beautiful Princess Elena.”
A chorus of clinks echoed across the table as people’s glasses were raised.
I raised mine too, my fingers tightening slightly around the stem of the glass. Please let the potion work, I prayed silently, remembering the small vial Luna had pressed into my hand earlier.
‘Drink this, Elena. Just in case anyone tries anything funny,’ I recalled her saying to me.
I drank from the glass, hoping the potion would shield me from whatever poison or spell might be hidden in the food or drink.
One of the older men seated at the table leaned in slightly. “Your Highness,” he said to the Alpha, “we’re honored... but where is the prince himself?”
The Alpha chuckled, about to respond, when a guard rushed in and leaned close to whisper something in his ear.
The shift in his expression was immediate.
His laughter died.
His face hardened.
Then, with a loud thud, his fist slammed into the table. Plates jumped, glasses shook. A couple of wolves snarled instinctively.
“DAMIEN!”
A cold silence swept through the hall.
From the shadows, a woman dressed in a flowing wine-red gown emerged.
Her face was perfect, beautiful in a very dangerous way. “My King,” she said softly, “you mustn't stress yourself. Your blood pressure…”
She walked slowly to his side, laying a hand gently on his shoulder.
“Everything is under control,” she said with a sly smile, and then snapped her fingers.
Music filled the hall instantly. Dancers in red and black spun into the ballroom, twirling with ribbons and glowing masks, distracting everyone with a sudden burst of color and motion.
I leaned back slightly and whispered to Ray, “Something’s not right.”
He didn’t answer, but I could feel his shoulders tensed.
“I need you to find Luna. Now.”
He shook his head. “I’m not leaving you here by yourself.”
“That’s an order, Ray!” I said firmly, without looking at him. “Go. I’ll be fine.”
He hesitated, but then slipped silently into the shadows.
I tried to use my eye to look out for the woman, but she had vanished.
*******
Luna’s POV
I slipped out of the guest hall, keeping my head low.
If I were going to survive in this place—if any of us were, I needed to understand where exactly “here” was.
The architecture of the mansion was indeed strange. Walls lined with old weapons and dark velvet curtains. The mansion smelled like lies and dark secrets—secrets I wanted to uncover.
As I turned a corner, I spotted a young maid carrying linens.
“Excuse me,” I said politely. “Do you know where the royal library is?”
She blinked, confused. “There’s no royal library here, miss. Only the family study. It’s down the hall, but… only family members are allowed inside.”
“Thank you,” I said with a smile.
She left.
I waited a few seconds after she left, then turned and made my way down the hall.
At the end, I reached a heavy wooden door with carvings of wolves and crescent moons on it. I knelt and reached into my sleeve for the lock-pick elder Karen had taught me to use back at home.
But the door creaked open before I could try anything.
Unlocked? Well, that's a tad bit suspicious.
Without hesitation, I stepped inside.
It was dark—too dark. I fumbled along the wall until I found a switch, then clicked it on. Warm yellow light spread across the room.
The study wasn’t big, nowhere near the scale of the Royal Library back home. Still, books lined every shelf, and I had to work with what I had.
I scanned through book titles—cookbooks, history records… boring, boring, boring.
No books on magic. Or potions. Or even warfare.
I sighed, pulled down the only book that looked slightly useful—a cookbook—and walked over to a wide, curtained window.
Then I froze.
Someone was already there.
Sitting quietly on the window ledge, staring out over the city lights.
The only part of him that moved was his shoulder, rising and falling slightly with every breath.
“If you take another step,” he said in a low, slurred voice, “you’ll be dead.”
His words were cutting, like he’d been drinking, but his presence was cold and dangerous.
I laughed nervously. “Well, that’s not very welcoming.”
Then I took a step forward.
A soft snip cut the air—and something fell.
A lock of my hair.
My heart stopped beating. My body froze. He just cut a piece of my hair. But I didn't even see him move.
“Who... are you?”
He stepped down from the window, walking into the light.
Messy black hair. Dark eyes. A split lip, blood on the edge of his mouth.
His clothes were wrinkled, the collar of his shirt half undone. He looked... exhausted.
And yet…oddly familiar.
“I’m a healer,” I said quickly, slowly opening my bag and pulling out some wool and a small bottle of cleansing liquid. “I can help with that cut.”
He didn’t speak.
I took a small sip from the bottle, letting him see. “See? Not poisoned.”
Still said nothing.
But he lowered his arms slightly.
I walked slowly toward him, dipping the wool into the liquid and gently pressing it to his lip. He winced but didn’t pull away.
Then, for the first time, I looked into his eyes and I got a hell of a good view.
Something flickered in me—A memory.
“I’ve seen you before…” I whispered. “That night. In the forest. You were the wolf.”
He was the wolf I had helped that day in the forest. The day I became the royal healer.
We gazed at each other, and then he began to lean in.
Before I could speak or do anything, the door burst open.
A growl echoed.
Ray stormed into the room in his wolf form. His gaze locked on the man.
“No—Ray, wait!” I shouted, attempting to stand between them.
But it was too late, Ray had already attacked.
- Writer
