Chapter 4 The beast beyond the trees.

Raya's eyes fluttered open. Her vision was hazy at first, the world around her spinning in slow, jagged circles. She felt weightless, as if she were floating on air, but the soft pressure beneath her head reminded her that she was resting on something solid.

A soft groan escaped her lips, and she blinked, trying to clear the fog from her mind. The air smelled of herbs and something slightly metallic,like fresh blood, though faint. Slowly, she became aware of the warm, callused hand that brushed the hair from her face.

She turned her head, and there, just beyond her blurred vision, was Riven. His expression was tight, eyes full of concern, though he held a perfect mask of control, as always. The Beta, ever composed. Ever loyal.

"You're awake," he said softly, his voice a low rumble that seemed to resonate through her.

She nodded slowly, trying to push herself up but feeling a wave of dizziness. His hand pressed gently to her shoulder, urging her back down.

"You should rest." His eyes flickered to the small wooden table beside the bed, where a bowl of dark liquid stood. "Drink this. It will help."

Raya stared at the concoction. It smelled bitter, earthy, almost like a mixture of crushed leaves and roots...medicine. The kind she usually hated. She hadn't asked for it, but Riven never gave her a choice when it came to healing.

He had always been like this,gentle yet firm, protective without being overbearing.

"Just... hold your breath and drink," he urged, pushing the bowl closer to her lips.

As if he knew she was wondering how she would take it.

With a heavy sigh, Raya took the bowl, grimacing as the dark liquid slid down her throat. It was as foul as it smelled, but she swallowed it all in silence, her throat burning as it went down.

"Good," Riven said. "Now, just a little more rest. You've been out for a while."

Luna tried to focus on the ceiling, her mind still foggy from the hallucination. The rogue's face...his eyes, that damn power...had felt so real.

And that voice that sounded so motherly and familiar...

She clenched her fists, the memory still vivid in her veins, like fire.

"The antidote?" she asked hoarsely.

"Is that the antidote?"

Riven's gaze turned steely, as if he were measuring his words. "Yes, your highness. You need to be strong for what's coming."

Luna felt a twinge of frustration but pushed it down. There was something strange in the air, a heavy weight. Her body itched for action, for movement.

She began to wonder,this strange power that she was feeling wasn't from her wolf,what if she has lost her wolf? Raya couldn't hear her howling within.

"I need to leave," she said suddenly, sitting up. "Now."

Riven moved swiftly to her side, his hand gripping her arm lightly, but she shook him off. "I'm fine. I need to see what's happening at the gates."

He didn't protest this time. Instead, he bent low and scooped her,helping her rise, guiding her carefully out of the room, down the stone corridors of the keep. She held his shoulders firmly, but the dizziness still lingered, as though the world were spinning in slow motion.

When they reached the gates of the kingdom,he dropped her gently, Raya stepped out into the open air, the scent of the forest fresh and sharp in her nostrils. The sound of birds in the trees and the wind rustling through the leaves soothed her, though the unease in her chest refused to fade.

The gates were open, the guards standing at attention, but something felt off,like a storm was brewing, just beyond the horizon.

"I'm leaving the kingdom," Raya declared, her voice unwavering. "Just for a run,I won't take long."

Riven opened his mouth to protest but held his tongue. She didn't have time to waste, and the need to be free, to feel her wolf beneath her skin, to be sure that her wolf is still intact.

She was already shedding her skin, her fingers trembling as they ripped the fabric of her robe away, revealing the nakedness beneath. Her wolf's power surged up her spine, and the transformation came swiftly. Bones cracked, fur rippled over her skin, and within moments, Raya stood on all fours,a magnificent black wolf with eyes like burning amber.

She could feel Riven's gaze on her, the tension between them unspoken. But this wasn't about him. This was about her, about what was happening inside her.

Raya took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the rich forest air before she darted into the woods, her paws hitting the ground with the sound of thunder. The transformation had always come so easily to her, but now, there was something different about it. The power within her had changed. At least she hasn't lost her wolf.

Her mind raced. She could still feel that strange power surging under her skin, still taste the heat of the rogue's touch. But there was no time to dwell on it. The forest opened up to her, each step a blur of motion as she ran faster, faster, until the wind itself felt like an extension of her.

And then...wolves.

The pack appeared suddenly, from behind trees and out of the shadows. They surrounded her, sleek bodies moving in perfect harmony, their eyes gleaming with malice. Luna's hackles rose, and she bared her teeth in a snarl. These weren't just any wolves,they were rogues, unaligned, predators who lived by the law of strength alone.

A battle ensued.

Teeth clashed, fur flew, and Luna's claws slashed through the air as she fought for her life. But even as she fought back with every ounce of her strength, she was outnumbered. They were fast, agile, and ruthless.

It was then that she felt it...him. Even the earth felt his footsteps.

From the corner of her eye, a massive shadow moved through the trees, and she barely had time to react before a giant, feral wolf,a beast nearly twice her size,rushed in from the edge of the woods, tearing through the pack like a juggernaut.

His massive jaws clamped down on the nearest rogue, snapping it in two with a single brutal move. The remaining wolves scattered, and Luna stood frozen, her heart racing as she stared at the beast before her. He wasn't like the others. He wasn't controlled,he was untamed, primal, an apex predator who made her own power feel small in comparison.

The giant wolf's eyes locked with hers, glowing sharp golden,just like the rogue in her hallucination.

He didn't speak, but she could feel the pull between them. His presence was overwhelming, suffocating, and for a moment, she couldn't look away.

Without a sound, the massive wolf turned and disappeared into the woods.

Raya stood there, panting, her mind reeling. The adrenaline slowly ebbed away, but her thoughts remained in turmoil. What had just happened? Who was that creature? And why did it feel like he was connected to her in ways she couldn't explain?

******

That evening, Raya stood before the waters of her kingdom,she was wondering what was going on with her, her heart still pounding with the memory of the fight. Riven was by her side, and the air around them was thick with tension.

"There's something we need to discuss," he said quietly, his expression serious.

Raya turned toward him, her eyes narrowed. "What is it?"

"The antidote," he said softly. "It's outside the walls. But it's... not what you expected."

Her breath caught. She thought perhaps they have found another type of antidote,a moon flower maybe. She turned toward the gates, watching as a figure emerged from the shadows. A man, tall and broad, his features half-hidden by the dim light. His dark hair fell over his forehead, and his eyes... His eyes were the same golden that haunted her dreams.

It was him.

The rogue.

But this time, he stood before her in human form.

Raya's heart slammed in her chest as she locked eyes with him. He was real,not a hallucination. Not a dream.

And he was standing a few miles away from her.

What was that his name again...realization hit her...H-H-Humphrey!!