Chapter 3
In the morning, I finished packing my bags, knowing it was time to leave. Before departing, I sought out my mom, embracing her tightly.
"I'll call you, and you can come visit. I'll be back. A lot," I reassured her.
Her warm smile accompanied her affectionate response. "I love you, Ruth. You'll be a great leader," she said, planting a gentle kiss on my cheek.
I walked over to my dad, and we exchanged a heartfelt moment. "You'll be an amazing Queen, but you'll always be my little girl," he said, his love evident.
"I love you, Dad. I'll see you later," I replied, reciprocating the sentiment. He kissed the top of my head before parting.
"Ruth!" Jonah ran over, his enthusiasm evident. "Can I come with you?" he asked, his hopeful eyes gazing up at me.
"Not this time, buddy, but next time, I promise. You can stay with me for a few days," I said with a reassuring smile, hugging him.
"Behave, Jonah. No more fights," I reminded him, affectionately kissing his forehead.
"I love you," Jonah whispered, returning the affection.
"I'll be good, as long as you remember that you're the most special person. You're a queen," he whispered into my ear.
I nodded, a smile on my face, and assured him, "I will, Jo." He grinned and pulled away, excited by the prospect.
"Ready?" Dominic asked, and I nodded, grabbing my suitcase.
Before departing, Dominic extended his gratitude to my parents. "Thank you for your hospitality and for having your amazing daughter," he told them. Both of them smiled and nodded.
"Be good to her, son," my dad advised.
"You know I will," Dominic replied with a smile, and I blushed, looking away.
We made our way to Dominic's black truck, preparing to set off. I opened my door and was about to take the plunge, but I hesitated, considering the height. Being just 5'4", I sighed and prepared to jump. Then, I felt Dominic's hands wrap around my waist as he chuckled and lifted me into the truck.
"Thanks," I muttered, my cheeks turning red.
"Anytime, Princess," he quipped, getting into the driver's seat.
"You need a smaller truck," I commented under my breath.
"You need longer legs," he retorted. I scoffed playfully and rolled my eyes.
"Such rudeness," I teased, and he laughed as he started the truck, setting us in motion.
"About an hour away," Dominic announced after driving for 30 minutes. I nodded and continued fiddling with my phone.
"Why are you wearing long sleeves? It's hot outside," he asked, his curiosity piqued. I kept my gaze fixed on my phone, shrugging my shoulders. I knew the reason but didn't want to share it.
"I just like this shirt," I replied quietly, still avoiding eye contact. He nodded and reached for my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine. A soft smile graced my lips as I set my phone aside and looked out the window while we continued on our journey.
Suddenly, Dominic inquired, "What's this?" He tugged my sleeve up, and I attempted to pull my arm back, but he held it firmly. Pulling over to the side of the road, he continued to reveal my scars.
"They're mainly scars," I confessed in a hushed tone.
"But, Princess, why?" he asked, releasing my hand. I looked at him and let out a heavy sigh.
"My whole life, Dominic, I've been told I'm not good enough. That no one loves me. When I was 14, a boy at school asked me out. I knew it was a joke, that they were mocking me, so I declined. He got angry and attacked me, throwing me to the ground and kicking me relentlessly. Then he took something from me," I whimpered, the memories hauntingly vivid. "He told me no guy would ever want me as a mate, that I was used and worthless. I felt numb, so I resorted to cutting myself in hopes of feeling something. Once I started, I couldn't stop."
"When was the last time?" he inquired, tears glistening in his eyes.
"The day before my birthday," I whispered.
"What did he take?" Dominic pressed, his concern evident.
I averted my gaze and shook my head. Dominic leaned over, unfastened my seatbelt, and pulled me onto his lap.
"What did he take?" he insisted.
I met his eyes with tears streaming down my face. "My virginity," I whispered, watching his eyes darken as tears welled up. He rested his head against mine and embraced me tighter.
"You're with me now. No one will ever hurt you again," he promised, his voice tinged with anger.
"I'm sorry," I murmured, burying my face in his chest.
"Don't be sorry. Don't ever be sorry," he whispered, placing a tender kiss on my cheek. I nodded and, overcome with drowsiness, allowed myself to drift into sleep.
Ruth’s Dream State
As I awoke, I found myself in a field surrounded by white flowers, dressed entirely in white. Confusion filled me as I called out, "Hello?"
A woman, her attire mirroring mine, appeared nearby. With long white hair and pale skin, she exuded an ethereal presence.
"Hello, my dear," she greeted me.
I questioned the unfamiliar surroundings. "Where am I? Where's Dominic?"
She responded with a serene smile, "I summoned you here in your dream. We need to talk."
"Who are you?" I inquired.
Her smile persisted as she introduced herself, "I'm the Moon Goddess."
She gestured for me to sit in a chair before her. As I complied, she initiated her tale. "A long time ago, when the wolf race first began, I was about your age. There were malevolent people in the world, so a witch cast a curse upon them, turning them into wolves. They could only become human on full moons. To break the curse, they had to find their other halves, their mates. The witch assigned them each a mate and explained that if they found their mate and their mate loved them for who they were, the curse would be lifted. One night, a wolf jumped out of the bushes, and I was terrified. I called for my parents, but I was too far away. The wolf pounced on me, biting my arm. As I was prepared to meet my end, another wolf emerged from the bushes, driving off my attacker."
With a mixture of curiosity and fear, I listened to her story. "I tried to escape, but he asked me to wait and explain. As he reached out to me, I felt sparks between us. We were mates, and then I knew I loved him. He remained a human the next day, and I understood that we had broken his curse. But there was a side effect—once we became mates, I shifted into a wolf. I didn't know what was happening, so he took me to the witch. She explained the side effect. Although he isn't always a wolf, the wolf nature still lingers within him. His inner wolf. When we became mates, I was also turned into a werewolf. That's how it all began."
The Moon Goddess continued her tale. "Since I was the first mate ever discovered, I was named the Moon Goddess, granting me vast powers. I granted your mother her powers, and now, I've endowed you with your abilities. I possess the ability to foresee the future, and Ruth, dark times are approaching. I have chosen you to protect the wolf race. You are the White Wolf, the one who will help me. The rogues have grown out of control, turning malevolent and threatening pack life. Packs are the very structure that sustains us. You possess incredible powers, such as moving things with your mind and even manipulating people's thoughts. With great power comes great responsibility. Be vigilant, dear, as you will make enemies. But remember, you're above them."
With a reassuring smile, she offered her final words, "Be careful, Ruth. You are the guardian of our kind."
The dream world seemed to fade away as I grew increasingly tired, and her words echoed in my mind. "Until next time, my darling," she said, and everything turned black.