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1449 Words
Veronica couldn’t explain what she was feeling at that moment. Fear? Shock? Anger? Confusion? Her emotions were all over the place, and she felt like she was in a waking nightmare. This kind of thing couldn’t possibly happen in real life, right?
Javier Romanov, the kind man who had helped her and saved her life—how could he be a monster? It was impossible. He wasn’t a werewolf! She had to be dreaming. Yes, that was it—she was just dreaming.
So, she pinched herself, hoping to wake up from this nightmare. But she felt pain. She gasped. Did this mean that everything she was seeing was real? Her eyes weren’t deceiving her?
Javier, who she could no longer call human, took a step closer to her. He looked like a full-fledged werewolf now.
She tried to gather her courage. She had to be brave. She pointed a finger at him. “Stay right there! Don’t come any closer!”
But Javier didn’t listen and moved closer to her, so close that she could almost feel his breath. Their faces were now just a hand’s width apart. She could see his large fangs, which were terrifying enough to scare anyone.
He pressed his forehead against hers and pushed her gently against the wall. She inhaled sharply out of sheer fear. His eyes were now those of a werewolf, different in color than they were before, but even so, she could tell they were still Javier’s eyes.
She squeezed her eyes shut as he pressed his forehead harder against hers. Was he going to bite her? Was he going to eat her? Would he make her his dinner? She was absolutely terrified.
Her body was frozen in fear. She wanted to scream, to call for help, but she knew it was impossible. The Villa was enormous, practically a palace. If there were any neighbors nearby, they were surely far from Javier’s Villa. And even if she called for help from Nick and Jordan, she was certain they wouldn’t come to her aid, knowing they were werewolves too.
But after several minutes passed, she didn’t feel any pain. Still scared, she slowly opened her eyes. Javier was still in front of her, but he was gradually returning to his human form.
She felt utterly drained. “Do you really, honestly think I could hurt you, Veronica? Your reaction hurts me. But I guess I can’t blame you.”
She didn’t know where she found the courage to respond. “And you really had to ask that? What do you expect, that I’d accept with open arms that you’re a werewolf? You lied to me! You’re just like Angelo—you’re both monsters!” she yelled in anger.
Javier’s expression turned serious. “I can accept being compared to other men. Your reaction is natural, especially since you’re human. But I will never accept being compared to your good-for-nothing husband. The word ‘demon’ isn’t enough to describe him!”
She was speechless. She didn’t know what to say. Deep down, she knew that Angelo was far worse than Javier.
No one could have ever guessed that the handsome billionaire, Javier, was actually a werewolf. From his appearance and demeanor, he seemed no different from humans. It was terrifying, yet at the same time, amazing.
“I didn’t deceive you, Veronica. You assumed I was a pure-blooded human. My intentions were pure when I saved you. You trusted me and shared your life with me, so it’s only right that I’m honest with you and admit that I’m a werewolf. After all, you already know that we exist,” his voice remained calm. “I might look like a monster in your eyes, but my heart is far kinder than that of many humans. Not all werewolves are evil. We are just like humans; some are good, and some are bad.”
She couldn’t find the words to respond. It was as if she had suddenly lost her voice. Javier sighed. “Don’t judge me, Veronica. My family has good hearts. My pack members are helpful and kind. It’s not our fault that we were born into this world different from most. Is it my fault that I was born not human like you, Veronica? Is it a crime that I’m a werewolf?”
She bit her lower lip. She wanted to be angry with herself for being so quick to judge, but she felt that her reaction was natural. “I’m sorry. I had a terrible experience with Angelo, and he’s one of your kind.”
“Angelo is a disgrace to the werewolf community. We should be the protectors of humans, not kill them. And you’re right; Angelo doesn’t deserve to live in this world. If you can still trust me, let’s work together. Let’s combined our forces,” Javier urged her.
She knew deep inside her heart that Javier was a good man. She would trust him. But there were still questions that needed answers.
“You told me that you’re the Alpha King of the Black Moon Pack. I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. What does that mean?” she asked, clueless.
“Werewolves like me have what we call a pack. In simpler terms, it’s a group that comes from our ancestors and has been passed down through generations. Every member is bound to their pack. They can’t just switch to another pack easily. But just because there are different packs doesn’t mean they’re enemies. Maybe during our ancestors’ time, that was the case, because of competition for territory and food. But not anymore. Times have changed, and so have we. You’d be surprised to know that some wealthy businessmen are actually werewolves—who knows?” he explained at length.
Veronica was amazed. “So what does it mean that you’re the Alpha King?”
“Alpha King, to make it easier for you to understand, is the title of a leader or king who rules a pack. He’s the one who protects and leads his pack. The beliefs and traditions of Alpha Kings vary depending on where they live. Many are still conservative, especially those living in rural areas and the wild. But our pack, since we grew up in the city, has a more modern perspective like humans. And yes, I’m the leader of our pack.”
So Javier was powerful. And perhaps he wasn’t really bad. After all, his pack members wouldn’t choose an evil leader. She realized she truly needed to trust Javier completely, for her own good.
And she was sure that he was the only one who knew how to bring Angelo down. First, because he personally knew her devil of a husband. And second, because he was also a werewolf.
"I see. Can all werewolves change their form whenever they want? Don't you need to perform some ritual or wait for a certain time before shifting? Because you seem to be able to transform effortlessly," Veronica asked.
Javier shook his head. "No. Not all werewolves can change their form without waiting for a specific time or performing a ritual. I reached the ability to shift whenever I want because of intensive training. I knew from a young age that I was much stronger than others my age. There wasn't a day I didn't train. And before my mentor died, he gave me a special potion. Since then, I unlocked my ability to shift any time I want. But my pack members and other werewolves, they need to wait for the full moon in order to transform."
She learned a lot from that. "That makes sense. Because I never suspected that Angelo wasn't human. He only shifted on the day he planned to kill me. And that day was a full moon."
"That explains everything," Javier replied.
She didn’t know what to say next. Everything suddenly felt awkward between them. He cleared his throat, trying to get her attention. "Will you still accept my help, Veronica?"
She knew she needed his help. She was broke, homeless, and her life was in danger. She couldn’t afford plastic surgery with her own money.
She nodded. She saw his face light up. "You won’t regret trusting me. We can proceed with your surgery tomorrow. You'll have a new life. But I have one condition."
His face and the atmosphere around them grew serious. She looked up. "C-Condition?"
"You won’t have to pay anything, Veronica. Everything will be free, including your post-op care. But I need you to do something for me—just one condition."
She felt a wave of anxiety. "W-What is it?"
"Use the face of my deceased wife."
- Writer
