CHAPTER 29: THE OTHER SIDE

Edge of the Dark Forest

"Awoooooh!"

The howl pierced the silence, long and commanding, echoing deep into the dark forest.

At the edge of the tree line stood two majestic white wolves. Their fur was pure white—glowing faintly beneath the moonlight like frost woven from silk. But it wasn’t just their beauty that made them extraordinary.

They were enormous. Each one easily twice the size of a normal wolf. Standing shoulder to shoulder, as they howled in unison toward the forest’s heart, never once stepping beyond its edge.

The howls faded into the night, and after a silent beat, the two turned to glance at each other. No words were spoken, yet their expressions shifted—communication passed in a glance.

And then, with fluid grace, both wolves transformed.

Fur retracted and bones reshaped. Limbs elongated and in the blink of an eye, two humans stood in their place—one male, one female, both with the unmistakable air of seasoned warriors. Neither seemed fazed by their nudity. With casual confidence, they reached for the clothes lying neatly nearby, slipping into them as they began to speak.

"He’s not back yet," the woman said, her voice tinged with worry. "Shouldn’t we be concerned?"

The man gave a soft, reassuring chuckle, shaking his head as he pulled a dark tunic over his head. "The forest may be dangerous, Brilla, but our king is faster than any creature within it. He’s never come back injured—not once."

Brilla’s lips tightened as she fastened her cloak. "I know," she said, her tone still uneasy. "But King Jared should know better than to—"

A sudden rustle—no, a crunch—of leaves behind them cut her off mid-sentence. Both whirled around, instantly alert.

From the shadows emerged a third wolf, even larger and more magnificent than the first two. Its white fur shimmered with a faint silver undercurrent, and its amber eyes glowed with authority. One look, and there was no doubt who it was.

In the next breath, the giant wolf began to shift. Muscles coiled and fur vanished as the beast gave way to a towering figure of a man. Naked, proud, and unmistakably regal.

Brilla and the man beside her dropped to their knees without hesitation.

"King Jared!" they said in unison, their voices strong but reverent, like the greeting had been rehearsed a hundred times before.

Jared’s gaze swept over them, stern and unimpressed. "I know you two are close to me," he said, his voice cold and sharp, "but when exactly did I say you could gossip about me behind my back?"

The chastising tone hung in the air for only a moment before his stern expression cracked into laughter.

Neither Brilla nor Harned moved, their expressions unchanged. They were used to his moods—both the temper and the teasing.

"Alpha, you’re hurt!" Harned said suddenly, eyes narrowing as he spotted the torn flesh on Jared’s shoulder.

Jared waved a dismissive hand, already reaching for the tunic Harned held out. "It’s nothing," he said gruffly. "Just a scratch. The forest monsters are persistent, I’ll give them that."

Brilla stepped forward slightly, her tone more serious now. "Were you able to—"

"I was," Jared interrupted, slipping into the breeches and fastening them with practiced ease. "Driving the monsters away from our side of the forest was no small task—but it was easier than I expected. Especially alone."

His voice held pride, tempered by weariness. He reached for the final button of his tunic as he continued.

"By now, the humans should already be struggling to handle the increase in monster attacks. It won’t take long before more Vampires are deployed."

Brilla frowned. "The humans will—"

"Die," Jared finished for her, his voice darkening. "And why shouldn’t they? They’ve never done anything for us."

The scowl on his face deepened, his lip curling in disdain. "The audacity—some of them think that just because they carry a drop of some ancient hunter’s blood, we could ever be alike? As if we share anything beyond the same sky?"

His disgust was palpable, bitter and deep.

"They’re not even as useful as they are to the vampires," he went on, spitting the word like venom. "At least vampires use them as food. We? We’re better off without them. We need more land. More space to grow our packs."

He gritted his teeth, the muscle in his jaw twitching as his eyes turned back toward the forest. He didn’t wait for a reply. Without another word, he took off running, barefoot and swift, his body already healing beneath the dirt-streaked tunic.

"We’re moving fast!" he barked over his shoulder.

Brilla and Harned exchanged a glance before taking off after him, doing their best to keep pace. Jared’s speed was near-blinding, and it took all their focus to stay on his trail.

Though they had exited the forest, they didn’t slow down—not even once. A single well-timed strike from a forest monster could rip them apart before they had time to shift.

Still, they pressed on.

Soon, towering stone walls loomed before them—high and formidable. The gates opened the moment the guards recognized them, and without a pause, they were handed black steeds. In one smooth motion, they mounted and galloped through the city.

Evening had settled, casting long shadows across the cobbled streets. Cloaks drawn over their heads, they moved quickly unseen and unrecognized. Just as Jared intended.

Only when they reached the heart of the main city did they slow, riding through the iron gates of Jared’s mansion.

Jared dismounted with ease, Brilla and Harned following suit. He had barely taken a step toward the entrance when a familiar voice rang out.

"Husband!"

The call was loud, overly cheerful, and deliberately so—as though meant to be heard by every ear within the mansion’s walls.

"You’re back!" A young woman beamed as she approached, arms wide, her purple robe tightened firmly around her as she moved with undeniable graceful. She hugged him tightly, rising on her toes to press a kiss to his cheek.

"Clara," Jared greeted with a strained smile. "Wife."

He pronounced the word slowly, deliberately, his jaw visibly tightening. But he did not pull away.

"You look well," he pointed out, his voice low as he watched her draw the edge of her robe tighter around her.

Her eyes dropped briefly to the bloodied shoulder of his tunic, her expression betraying no concern. Not even a flicker.

"I would be better..." she softly replied, brushing the edges of the top he wore, "...if my husband didn’t insist on running into the forest so often. Especially for tasks the guards could handle themselves."

Her voice remained quiet, but there was steel beneath the softness. Everyone present could hear it.

"Come," she said sweetly, extending her hand. "I’ve already had food prepared."

She threaded her fingers through his without waiting for permission, tugging gently as she turned to lead him inside. She didn’t spare a glance for Brilla or Harned.

Jared looked like he wanted to argue—but instead, he smiled, tightening his grip around her hand.

Tight enough that anyone with a closer eye would have seen the strain in Clara’s eyes as she struggled to hide the pain that burned from her fingers all through her wrist as they walked side by side.