Chapter 4 - Unveiled Bonds
I was tense, my heart raced as I thought about how he had hidden something so important from me. He should have told me who he was; I deserved to know. The forest around us was shrouded in shadows, with rays of sunlight timidly piercing through the leaves of the trees, casting a play of light and shadows on our path. The tall trees seemed to murmur ancient secrets as we continued our journey.
"Why are you so slow?" He stopped abruptly and stared at me.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I stopped and sat down, waiting for his response.
"You didn't want to go back, and I couldn't escape my responsibilities. I would have told you at the right time." His eyes assessed me, and he approached.
"I don't understand." I stood up to move away from his approach. "What's the purpose of all this? Is it a game? My family was a rival to the Kingdom; they hated us. How am I the chosen one now? It makes no sense."
"I've already told you I don't go against what the Mother Moon commands. Do you think it will be so bad to stay by my side?" His expression became more severe, and I realized he was as irritated as I was.
"It's not that, but I don't understand, Eldric." I sighed, and he transformed back into a man. His features in the daylight were even more beautiful than they had been the previous night. With human eyes, I couldn't capture all the nuances of his body and details. Eldric seemed to have been sculpted by the Gods.
"Aren't you going to transform?" He questioned me.
"I can't." I spoke in embarrassment. "I was never trained to perform the basics of our kind. I only turn into a human once a month during the full moon." He returned to his lupine form, disgruntled.
"I don't know how my father let the kingdom get into this situation, but I assure you it ends now." He approached to examine my wounds and gave me small licks on my face, trying to convey reassurance.
"I failed in my first mission to protect you," his low growl was dry, "Let's go to the castle. I'll ask the healer to tend to you and hire a tutor for you to learn everything that was denied to you in childhood." I agreed without knowing exactly if I would like that or not.
We walked without saying anything more to each other, just appreciating the silence of the forest that surrounded the castle's entrance.
In our pack, the wolves inhabited the forest, dominating it with their spirit. Everything there was our territory. We could roam freely, except in the vicinity of the hidden dwelling.
The Alpha King's house was set apart, not only for security reasons but also to ensure privacy.
Eldric's father had always had his reservations, and I learned not to question his will, although that did not mean he shirked his responsibilities. The pack never went without, always had access to the best hunts, and was never caught off guard by attacks. We were always prepared. Always alert.
From a distance, it looked like a pile of sculpted stones, embraced by the lushness of the forest. However, as I approached, I could see that the walls had been constructed with ingenuity, care, and impressive detail.
Each element was meticulously placed, harmonizing perfectly with the natural landscape around it. The building blended seamlessly with the surrounding forest, as if they were one entity.
As we crossed the entrance, we were greeted by two wolves who observed us intriguingly. "Your Majesty," they greeted us in unison.
"I will escort you to your room and speak with my advisers about the next steps," he said, and I nodded.
"Will I see you again?" He smiled and approached.
"Of course, you will. I'll come to be with you soon." He stared at me for a few seconds and then withdrew, leaving me in a massive room, larger than any house in the village.
I stayed there for a few minutes and felt trapped. That environment, surrounded by imposing walls, was strange to someone like me, accustomed to the freedom of open fields. With every step I took, curious and suspicious glances followed me, as if I were an intruder among lupine royalty, and not the mate of the Alpha King.
I wandered aimlessly for some time until the castle's rumors began to reach me.
The staff was already talking about my presence, saying that the King would destroy me as soon as he found out who his son had chosen. I tried not to think about everything I was hearing, but it was impossible. I was getting scared by the amount of noise echoing through the castle walls.
"Eldric, who is the girl with you?" I heard a deep and powerful voice speak through one of the walls. Slowly, I approached and crouched down to listen without being noticed.
"She's my mate, father. The mate that the Moon destined for me." His stance was firm, and he didn't seem afraid of anything.
"What do you know about her?" The King's voice seemed even more intimidating, and I felt my fur stand on end.
"I know her name is Rachel, why so many questions?" Eldric's voice now sounded impatient.
"You've barely arrived and have already caused more damage than the entire pack in the past year." My breath caught, knowing that now the King would reveal who I was.
I didn't want to hear that; I needed to escape immediately. Eldric was the best gift the Moon could have given me, but I was the wrong gift for him.
I got up and started running with all the strength in my small body. I crossed the main gate and left the two guards behind. With tears streaming down my eyes, I ran up to the top of the hill, which concealed the castle, and took a minute to observe what could have been a dream for me.
When I turned around, I saw him standing at the castle's entrance, watching me. His fangs were bared, and his body seemed even larger.
I had been foolish to think that this would work out somehow. I should have realized that he didn't know exactly who I was and that going to the castle would represent even more danger for me.
"I WILL FIND YOU, EVERGREEN!" His enraged shout echoed throughout the clearing, causing a flock of birds to take flight into the sky. I ran again, thanking the Moon for showing me, even for just one day, what it was like to be protected by someone so powerful.