Blackpine Ridge Alpha: Two Wolf Pups Born from Moonbathing

Chapter 3 Accidentally Wandering Into a Brothel

Let’s start from the beginning: On the afternoon after Christmas, I was floating down the Willowbrook River when a passing fisherman fished me out. They checked my breath and felt my pulse—probably because my vital signs were weak after turning human, and my body temperature was dangerously low from the icy water. They couldn’t detect any obvious signs of life, so they panicked and immediately sent for the town constable. It was an open-and-shut case of “drowning,” and with no one to claim me, the constable’s men didn’t bother with further checks. They just hauled me straight to the town’s public mortuary on the outskirts.

The mortuary was already lined with several bodies draped in white sheets. When I woke up, my head was still fuzzy. I stared blankly for a good while before remembering that I’d floated downstream on the river. I threw off the sheet covering me and glanced at the other bodies around me, silently comparing our looks: This one’s face is completely unrecognizable—definitely not as pretty as me! That one’s wearing drab, gray clothes—so tacky! This one’s hunched over like a shriveled prune—even worse! Yep, no contest. I was still the prettiest one here. Solid win. At first, I thought I’d drifted back to my cabin in Blackpine Ridge. But then I spotted a Western-style iron candelabra in the corner, and it hit me—I was in Willowbrook Town!

Once I confirmed I was safe, I let loose. I wandered around the mortuary at will, even reaching out to touch the jars of embalming spices hanging on the wall. Only after I’d thoroughly assured myself that my looks outshone everyone else (dead or alive) did I sneak out, satisfied. I’d barely left when the limping old caretaker of the mortuary came in to take inventory. He scratched his head, circling the mortuary tables, and muttered to himself, “Weird… The constable swore he dropped off a new body today. But every time I count, it’s still the same number. Not one more, not one less. It’s like seeing a ghost!”

The old man hobbled out the door just as I was clumsily stopping a passerby to ask for directions. My mind was so set on finding the busiest part of town that I didn’t bother hiding the water stains on my clothes—or how bizarre it was that I’d just wandered out of a mortuary. The old man pointed me in the right direction, his eyes full of confusion and curiosity. He probably had never seen such a strange girl in his life.

By dusk, the post-Christmas Willowbrook Town was already lit up. The Christmas wreaths and twinkling lights still hung on the wooden lintels of the shops, glowing warmly alongside the kerosene lamps and bathing the streets in a cozy, inviting glow. The roads were packed with people, and the shops were brimming with colorful pastries, fabrics, and trinkets that dazzled my eyes. It was so bustling!

This was my first taste of human life, and I couldn’t look away. The One-Eyed Elder Werewolf had told me stories about how lively human towns were, but he’d never mentioned all these amazing things! I wandered around, gawking at everything, and my eyes darted over every passerby. Every now and then, I’d sidle up to a girl walking by and size her up, my almond eyes scanning her from head to toe like a total show-off. I completely forgot that I still smelled like river water and the faint mildew of the mortuary.

Between my weird smell and my eccentric behavior, passersby dodged me like the plague. But I held my head high, preening with pride: Obviously, I was the most gorgeous girl on the street—no one could compare!

As I walked, I overheard two men in leather boots chatting: “Did you hear? They pulled a dead girl out of the Willowbrook River this afternoon. Supposedly, she looked like an angel. Such a shame—so young to die.” My DNA-encoded narcissism kicked into high gear instantly. I rushed up to them and stammered, “…Was she… as pretty… as me?”

The two men jumped at the sight of my face popping up out of nowhere. But when they got a good look at me, they shook their heads in unison: “Nope, not even close. You’re way prettier.” I felt a surge of pure joy! But my triumph didn’t last long. My eyes drifted to the dresses on the girls walking by—the lace gowns, velvet coats, satin shoes—and my mood plummeted. Their outfits were so elegant and glamorous, a hundred times better than my tattered, mud-stained rags! As someone who lived for beauty, I was fuming. No way—I needed to dress in something just as stunning!

I was still trying to figure out how to get my hands on a new outfit when two men lurking in the shadows spotted me—Jack and Tommy, a pair of human traffickers. They huddled in the alleyway, exchanged a scheming glance, and started rubbing their hands together, already counting their profits. I didn’t sense the danger at all. My eyes lit up when I spotted a tailor’s shop filled with beautiful clothes, and I bolted inside. I’d barely touched a deep red velvet dress when the sharp-tongued shopkeeper chased me out, yelling, “How dare you touch my clothes without a single coin? You penniless tramp! Get out of here before I call the constable!”

I clenched my fists, seething with anger. In Blackpine Ridge, no one cared about coins—strength was all that mattered! I had no idea what a coin even was, and the One-Eyed Elder Werewolf had never mentioned that humans had so many stupid rules—you couldn’t even wear nice clothes without paying for them! As a werewolf who’d lived in seclusion in Blackpine Ridge for years, I wasn’t about to take this insult lying down. I was about to march back in and give that shopkeeper a piece of my mind when the two men from the alley rushed over, blocking my path.

It was Jack and Tommy. They launched into a flood of flattery, their voices oozing with fake sweetness: “Oh my goodness, you’re like an angel descended from heaven! You’re the most stunning woman we’ve ever laid eyes on—even the Muse Goddess would pale in comparison!” I immediately picked up on the fact that they were complimenting me, and I felt myself floating on cloud nine. I forgot all about the shopkeeper, lifted my chin proudly, and replied, “I… think so too. You two… have good taste.” My words were even a little less stammered than before.

Seeing that I’d taken the bait, the two men switched gears smoothly: “It’s just that this ragged outfit is totally beneath you—it’s a crime against your beauty! But hey, we know a place where you can wear all the fancy clothes you want for free. They’ve got endless cakes and hot cocoa, too—all you can eat and drink!” My eyes lit up like Christmas lights the second I heard that. A place like that existed? My stomach rumbled loudly, and I urged them on immediately: “Lead the way! Hurry… take me there!” I was so eager that I almost dragged them along by the sleeves.

Jack and Tommy hadn’t expected me to be this easy to fool. They froze for a second, then exchanged a delighted, greedy grin. They didn’t even need to use the knockout drugs and rope they’d brought along as backup. As they clutched the coins they’d gotten from a woman named Martha, they couldn’t believe their luck, snickering to each other: “If all the girls were this gullible, we’d be millionaires in no time!” “Absolutely! With a face like hers, she’ll be the talk of the Red Rose in no time!”

Inside the Red Rose Tavern, warm candlelight flickered, and soft music drifted through the air. I followed a woman named Martha—the madam of the brothel—obediently, my eyes wide as saucers as I took everything in. This place was nothing like the streets outside. The women here wore glamorous, eye-catching outfits, their lace skirts swaying as they walked. They batted their eyelashes at the drinking patrons, their voices dripping with honey: “Come back to see me soon, sir~”

I was completely awestruck. I looked down at my ragged clothes, suddenly feeling ugly and shabby. I pouted at Martha and said, “I want… to wear pretty clothes like that too.” Martha already knew from Jack and Tommy that I was naive and easy to trick. She smiled, her face oozing fake kindness: “Of course, darling! I’ll have my girls dress you up right away—you’ll outshine every woman here and become the Red Rose’s shining star!”

In a place like this, being eccentric didn’t matter one bit—so long as you were beautiful enough to attract customers. And my innocent, breathtaking looks were exactly what Martha had been looking for. She was determined to make me her one-of-a-kind showstopper. Soon, she led me to a room filled with luxurious gowns and told me to pick anything I wanted. She sent girls to help me bathe, do my hair, and get dressed. The table was piled high with sweet cakes, warm cocoa, and berry juice.

I ate until my mouth was stuffed, grease smearing my lips. This was my first time tasting human food, and the sweet, rich flavors melted on my tongue. I was in pure bliss! Being human was awesome! Fancy clothes, delicious treats—this place was paradise! As I ate, I made plans to go back to Blackpine Ridge and show off to the One-Eyed Elder Werewolf. I had no idea that I’d already walked straight into a brothel’s trap.