Chapter 3 Knight in Shining Armour

Dranco stood in front of the mirror all dressed in gold and black. He was looking neat and handsome as usual, his Ash colored hair complimenting his grey eyes. The hall and outside the hall bubbled with celebration and cheerful shouts. They were celebrating the coronation of a new Alpha for their pack. He should be there in their midst, looking all proud, but soon enough, dead. It has been a week since the death of his father and he knew he was the heir. Obviously, the throne should go to him. But the healer had been threatened to keep quiet about the cause of his father's death.

They had also agreed that Franco was the best fit for the Alpha throne. He couldn't risk it.

Slowly, the scepter in his hand fell.

"I can't do it." He murmured. "I just can't."

A knock snapped him out of his deep thoughts, making him flinch. A familiar voice called from outside the door.

"Your highness, it's time for you to be coronated." Dranco sighed as he stared out at the moon turning blood red. He would soon be King and his life would be at risk. He was strong but not enough to fight all the elders. At least, not now.

"Your highness?" The guard rapped on the door a number of times before retreating to call another guard. Hushed low voices were exchanged before they began kicking at the door.

"Your highness, are you okay?"

No answer. After a few kicks and pushes, the door flung open. The guards looked at each other as the room was empty. This isn't good.

Dranco ran as fast as he could, removing his gold plated coat that made it hard for him to run fast. After running a few meters, his wolf began to take over.

"Calm down, Ray." He calmed his wolf knowing very well that transforming now would expose him.

The moment he got out of the palace walls, Ray took over and his bones crackled and shrunk. A painful moan soon got replaced by a ground shattering growl before a black furry body emerged and began running towards the end of the Jungle.

♤

"You should hurry up so we can meet up with the ceremony, Lyla." Diane said as she walked past Lyla's room that was empty unknowingly to her.

Lyla, who was not interested in anything that has to do with Reeds thought it was useless participating in their ceremony. They were Woodscrewers and shouldn't be involved in the affairs of the Reeds. Besides, unless the Moon Goddess picked someone, the elders will be responsible for choosing a leader which will obviously be someone with the same interests as them.

"What are you doing here?"

Lyla had reached the barn and saw a figure standing tall next to the foods that were stored. The moment the figure turned and the moon shone on his face, she did a double take.

"Sanjo?" He pulled her in and closed the door, placing a strong hand against her mouth.

Sanjo was not only huge but five years older so if he did anything to her now, she would be helpless.

"You will not tell anyone you've seen me."

"What are you doing here?" Lyla pushed his chest but he didn't budge.

"It's none of your business. Stay away from me. By the way, I hope you still remember my plans." Lyla shook her head, trying to play dumb. "Are you crazy?" He grabbed her chin so he was looking down at her.I will marry you and take you with me! Understood?"

She looked away but he slapped her face back to him. "Understood?"

Lyla turned to look away again but he kept hitting her in the face to assert dominance, each slap increasing intensity. She had now closed her eyes as she endured the pain, losing hope as she continually got bullied. Tears stung her eyes, her face red and possibly bruised.

Suddenly, he stopped. Before she would open her eyes, she felt the heat in the room had increased. More like there was more than one person in the barn.

But a snare and growl made her eyes flutter open.

"Lay one finger on her again and I promise you'll be eating off the ground like a dog." His voice.

"Who are you?" Sanjo asked, voice quivering.

It was dark so Lyla couldn't make out who it was as well.

"You don't have to know." A loud smack resounded and Sanjo twirled and landed face down on the floor. She didn't know whether to be happy or scared for her life but after he stepped forward into the light that managed to enter through a small opening in the barn, she swallowed. Hard.

Standing before her was a man almost twice her height, able-bodied and naked. His hair was kind of like he just escaped a fire outbreak and the ashes gave his hair a permanent makeover. The moon shining on his hair made him look like an angel, especially with his stony gray eyes that kept blazing as he stared directly at her.

"Now, who the fuck are you?"

She almost gave in to her quivering legs. It was almost as if she would pass out. This man standing before her was too beautiful to behold. Is he even real?

"Um..." She moved forward and poked his chest with her index finger. A gasp escaped her lips.

"You're real."

"Thank you. I'm grateful. You saved my life. These were the words I expected, not that." His voice was also a rich velvet and warm chocolate bass. Everything about him was surreal or otherworldly.

"Who are you?"

"Lady..."

"And why are you naked?"

As if Lyla reminded him that he was naked, he stared down at himself and quickly crouched.

"Oh, fuck!" She bit her lips to stop her from laughing. He panicked and stumbled around the barn grabbing anything to cover himself.

"Find me something to wear or find your laughing head on a plate." His voice thundered, snapping her out of her laughing attack.

"Sorry. It's just...you can have my coat." She slipped out of her own overall coat and handed it over.

"You don't look like you'd ever imagine yourself wearing this but that's what I grew up wearing."

The man gave her a side glance, eyed the handmade cotton coat she's offering and snatched it from her without uttering a word.

"So, where are you from? Knowing Reeds, they are not particularly nice to strangers so I hope you're not one of the Rogues or Omicrons or whatever." She chattered off as he wore the coat but he didn't reply or do so much as look at her.

"I will only tell you little since I'm gonna need your help after saving you."

"I knew it. You're trying to invade the Reeds." She grabbed a bunch of haystack and threw it at him like it would do anything. "Leave before I scream."

He stared at her with an arched brow. God! This man is every inch beautiful. He stepped in closer while she took a few steps backwards. She stopped when her back hit the wall.

"What are you doing?"

"I dare you to scream." They were inches apart and unlike Sanjo, this man looked like he would break her into two without thinking twice. She wouldn't want to cross him.

"What do you want?'

"That's what I thought," he breathed lowly, filling her nostrils with the smell of amber and pine cones from the woods. He smelled like he spent half his life in the woods yet looks fresh and luxurious. "I need help running out of Reeds territory and I know this is the best place to run out from."

"You're running from Reeds? Why?" That explains his appearance. He must be one of the guards.

"The King just died and er..." He paused, almost as if he's not sure why he should trust the young pretty girl before him. But his wolf nudged him and he continued. "I'm supposed to take over but the elders don't seem to like me so instead of risking my life by just standing there, I'll rather much take my chances."

Lyla just stared in shock, blood drained from her face. Her lips parted and she was held in a chokehold.

"Y...you're the next Alpha?" She managed to say and he stared at her to confirm her suspicion.

"Oh my God! Oh my god!" She began to move around, panicking. "What should I do? What would happen to me?"

It dawned on her then that her childhood crush was standing next to her. So close as well. Not really seeing the Prince made her think he was just like every prince in a fairytale and soon her fantasy would die. But that Prince was here.

"Prince Dranco?"

Dranco was the one with Ash strands but now, his whole hair is full of that colour. She wanted to hug him and take in his scent but she wouldn't dare so she bowed a little.

"I'm really sorry for being rude."

She could be killed and nothing would happen.

"I just need you to help me. That's all."

"You should be at the ceremony, not here."

Dranco grabbed her arm as if shaking her back to reality. "Didn't you hear what I just said? My life is on the line and I have to run."

She looked up at him and when she realized his strong warm hand was wrapped around her bare arm, she shuddered inwardly. Their bodies were pressed together making it hard for her to breathe. He is holding her. Really holding her.

"Can you hear me?"

"Yes." She would do anything for him at this point.

"Then help me escape."