Chapter 3 The Black Wolf

Who is this man?

Why did he follow me, and why is he risking his life like that to help me?

Questions I couldn't explain as I felt the wolf inside me take over with rage.

But on my way to him, the other wolf lunged at me, and I fell aside with him.

And then, I was surprised by my own strength.

Being the daughter of the alpha, I was always safe.

That was my first fight, and I was winning.

It was... very exciting.

My wolf form was special. Rare. Something they called the Black Wolf.

I had never understood how special I was... until today.

In my rage, my power was overwhelming. The wolf attacking me had no chance.

In a few seconds, it was gravely wounded and running away.

Then I looked to the side.

The mysterious man who was trying to help me-he was on the ground, full of blood, on top of a dead wolf.

"Hey... are you okay?" I asked.

No answer...

He was alive, but unconscious.

It must be because he lost too much blood.

His body was full of bites and claw marks.

Under him, the wolf lay dead, with shattered ribs and broken bones.

Did he do all that in his human form?!

That was hard to believe!

I took my time bandaging him up and taking care of his wounds.

But then I heard them...

A pack of angry wolves,

growling as they slowly appeared between the trees.

Two? No. Four, or maybe more.

The wounded wolf who fought with me was behind them.

I shouldn't have let him escape.

Looking around in fear,

Black wolf or not, I can't fight them all.

I glanced at my mysterious hero.

He should be safe. I already stopped his bleeding,

And they are hunting me, not him.

So I started running in the direction of my village,

And I could hear them after me.

I dashed between the trees, trying to lose them.

Winning that fight made me more confident.

I can do this...

Come on, just a few more miles and I will reach the border of my village.

They can't follow me there.

Suddenly, I heard more wolves.

No... I'm surrounded.

Two more wolves appeared from the sides,

just running next to me.

But they didn't attack!

Suddenly, I stopped.

A man stood in front of me, cutting off my path.

with three more wolves behind him.

I knew that man... It's Ray the Red Fang,

Alpha of the Red Moon Tribe.

Trying to catch my breath, I yelled at him,

"What do you want? Are you trying to start a war with us again?"

Ray smiled.

"Little princess, the war never stopped."

He started walking toward me.

"But if you want, you can stop the war forever."

I stiffened.

"Me? What do you mean?"

"First, I have to apologize. We are sorry, Princess Nora. We didn't mean to scare you.

We just had to be sure the rumors were true."

"Rumors?" I asked. "What are you talking about?"

"We heard that the princess of the Thunderhowl Tribe is a rare breed.

That behind your beautiful, innocent face...

you hide the legendary Black Wolf."

He looked at me coldly.

"To be honest, my first thought was to kill you."

But my son changed my mind.

Suddenly, I felt another presence behind me.

With a soft touch on my shoulder,

my skin shivered. When did he get there?

He was a handsome young man, trying to cover my shoulder with a tall, soft robe.

Then he whispered in my ears,

"Don't worry, princess. I will not let anyone hurt you, nor force you into a marriage you don't want."

I stepped away, confused, looking at him with eyes full of questions.

"I know they want to force you into marriage,

and I also know what it's like to feel alone in this world."

He had a reassuring smile on his face, walking around me slowly.

I could feel his eyes studying me carefully.

Then he continued,

"I felt alone knowing that I'm the only Black Wolf in this world, but when I learned about you, I felt it was fate."

Before I could object, he grabbed my hand.

"Go back to your village now. You are free to do whatever you want,

but I humbly ask you for a chance.

Let us know each other better.

For more than twenty years, people thought the Black Wolf bloodline was lost forever.

And now there are two of us.

Maybe it's not a coincidence.

Maybe we were meant to be together.

Just think about it."

Then he gently kissed my hand and left.

And they all followed him.

I found myself alone in the forest, speechless.

What was all that about?

I felt the soft material of the well-made robe hugging my body.

Compared to Jax, this young man is surely an upgrade.

But on my way to the village, my mind kept drifting to that mysterious man who fought a wolf with his bare hands for me.

Meanwhile, in Draven's house, Jax was listening to his spy,

"Yes sir, I'm sure. The son of Ray, Alpha of the Red Moon Tribe.

And they are waiting for her decision."

Jax stood, anger clear on his face, his fist clenched tight, "And that strange man-are you sure she was alone with him in the forest, personally tending to his wounds?"

The spy answered "Yes sir."

Jax clenched his teeth and said in a deep, frightening voice, "Bring him to me."