12

We've been walking in peaceful calm for more than two hours already. It took me all this time to put behind me what just happened. I erase the last wound of a blade with a painful shiver.

I feel my hand stubbornly touching a specific part of my back. A sigh escapes my mouth, catching Ezequiel's gaze. I don't look into his eyes, only wanting to see some scary emotions.

I repeat myself over and over like a bad reel that has skipped "think about something else". So with the enthusiasm of a rusty automaton, I think back to the word that Thaïs whispered like a saviour.

Loren

This name directly echoes one of my memories. I take a deep breath, plunging back into a mind map where a forest decorated with the name "Loren" is depicted.

I'm not wrong. This is the name of the place where the green elves hide. A kind of magical protection preserves them from the sight of parasites. This bubble allows them to have an undeniable advantage: the surprise effect. As soon as an intruder crosses the invisible border, guards are already shooting deadly arrows.

Wood elves are much more agile and strong in weapon handling than other race types, giving them yet another advantage. They hate violence so much that they have developed a phobia of strangers and now have the sole instinct of killing every stranger. It will be necessary to explain to them that their reasoning is completely stupid. Anyway, I know they can't do anything against me, since I'm...

"You really don't want to talk about it, cut me the wolf in my thoughts."

- No, really not, Ezequiel.

- But you were still...

- I think I answered "no" to your last question, Ezequiel.

- Stop calling me by my name.

- Thank you for telling me that you are a follower of nickname. So what does the Cub want as another name?

- You know very well what I meant... But if you insist when I was little, I wanted to be a knight, so you can call me...

- A knight, I question him, cutting him off.

- Yes. Don't tell me that the great Ténébris never played princess and valiant knight?

- I think I've always been very far from the princess with her big pink dress, I laugh.

- I'm surprisingly only half surprised... You're definitely closer to the big bad wolf than to the delicate princess.

- If I was a princess, I should have cried then, right?

- Yes, but we'll forgive you, you don't even have the right outfit for the character...

- It's out of the question for me to put on a pink dress! So let's change the subject.

- Why not, it's a pretty dress.

- What didn't you understand about "changing the subject"?

- I insist, I will pay dearly for the unique Ténébris to make the front page dressed in frills.

- Heck, I've always dreamed of wearing a pink dress, I don't need the money!

- In that case, I offer you something else, he laughs.

- All right, I'm into the game! What do you have to offer me, Sir Knight Servant?

- No, I insist; I am a "valiant knight".

- Don't overdo it either. I listen to your proposal... brave knight. I spit after a few seconds of suspense.

It also comes into play, and I am surprised when I hear one of my own laughter break down the barrier of my lips:

“O my dear and tender princess. I offer you a simple and sweet bet.

- I'm listening to you...

- When we go to a dark place of debauchery called a nightclub; I ask that if you win, I will be obliged to go there as a knight and if I win, which is bound to happen, you will be obliged to dress in a pink dress. Realizing your dearest dream. »

He burst out laughing when he saw my dismay. He really did it, he dared to put himself in danger too. Forgetting that I'm going to have to wear a more than detestable pink dress, I answer far too playfully:

" Bargain. Explain the bet to me.

- A simple race. I've always wanted to see the Tenebris at full speed.

- That seems more than adequate.

- We're in my brother's domain now, I'm going to leave my things to transform and the first one to arrive at the bottom of your bedroom window wins! »

I can already see him putting his personal belongings on the ground when I nod. I want to burst out laughing at his future failure. It hasn't been revealed in the media that I'm a lycanthrope. To everyone else, I'm just a human. Since I never kill in my wolf form, they quickly deduced that I had no supernatural abilities, what morons. But hey, I'm not going to blame them, tonight, it's going to be useful to me. Ezequiel thinks he's going to face a human and it's a wolf who will beat him hands down.

He transforms in front of me and I start a countdown:

"3... 2... 1... Go!" »

As soon as I finish pronouncing the last syllable, I see him leave quickly. He stops a few meters further on, surprised that I don't follow him. But no sooner has his head turned than I pass him quickly. My legs fly away to lead me straight to this victory. I feel that he is surprised, but Ezequiel does not let himself be destabilized and puts a boost. I run at the same speed as a wolf on my best days, I have always been a particularly fast and agile being. I don't see the beta by my side confirming my lead. I avoid a tree, a branch, an animal and then another tree. My breathing quickens and I feel him gain ground. I may have extraordinary speed, but I'm still human; my endurance will not beat that of a wolf. So in a race not short enough to be a sprint and not long enough to showcase just endurance, I see him approaching my left shoulder.

After a while, with the darkness of the forest and the speed of the wolf, Ezequiel disappears from my field of vision, fortunately I have my plan B.

I accelerate like a madwoman and I finally arrive in the clearing that surrounds the Alpha's house. I'm surprised to see that he's not that far from me, but whatever, it's time to pull out my secret map.

My rage to win unfolds my animal, bestial side in me. I very rarely turn into a wolf, totally denying this part of me. It echoes too many dark moments in my life. But today is finally the time to be useful, however unimportant this race may be. I transform into a mighty howl, waking up all the inhabitants miles away.

I smile unconsciously at this sensational moment offered to me by my wolf. Each of my senses is increased tenfold, giving me incredible happiness. I had forgotten the immeasurable joy of feeling liberated at this point. I see Ezequiel who is strangely much too close to victory. My dominant and incomparable wolf speed to hers. I accelerate suddenly, and from an outside point of view, I give the impression of having teleported in front of my bedroom window.

I arrive at the last second to equalize. He turns to me surprised at my sudden arrival and especially my form. Too focused on the end of his race, he did not realize that I had transformed.

My wolf sticks her coat to his to analyze the wolf she has in front of her. The two sizing each other up in silence and Ezequiel's originally light green eyes are now turning a very dark green. Ezequiel's wolf sticks his nose against my wolf and the latter pushes him away.

With her size which is larger than normal, she is slightly taller than Ezequiel's wolf. Its black coat and black eyes contrast sharply with the beta's light color. From a distance, you might think he's the female and I'm the male. Indeed, female wolves tend to be smaller than males and obviously, there needs to be an exception to the rule: me.

Even if this moment lasts a few seconds, my human part wants to regain control.

My lycanthrope separates from the wolf and then leaps into my room. She throws a sheet out the window. I then transform to be able to discuss with Ezequiel on the continuation of the bet. Because neither of them lost. I get dressed very quickly with the few things in the room. Nothing amazing, but, it'll do the trick. (media)

I go back down through the window and see that Ezequiel has transformed and is holding my sheet around his waist. I dare not look at his chest, knowing full well that he is very muscular. It is besides, with the beauty, one of the characteristics of the powerful wolves:

" I can not believe ! Are you a wolf?

- You always have to know your opponent well...

- Ok Master Yoda, but otherwise your parents are wolves?

- It's a complicated story... Are you at least aware that you lost the bet?

- What ?! I arrived earlier! Stop cheating.

- It's okay, I know, I'm teasing you. We arrived at the same time.

- Okay...

- So that means we both have to dress up...

- We're going to be magnificent..."

We look at each other for a moment. And we burst out laughing simultaneously imagining our respective quickdraw. Suddenly, I'm waiting for the supreme pack to arrive. I completely stop laughing, not wanting him to see me laughing with their beta. Ezequiel doesn't seem to understand. He finally feels that the pack will arrive any second. He stares at me, and I see in his eyes that he's sad to see my change in attitude. He looks hurt. Before I even have time to justify myself, the wolves arrive.

“What the fuck are you doing at 4am here?! And you, Ezequiel, why is your wolf howling like that, damn it?! Control it, damn it!

- Cheer ! You have just awakened the last who are not awake, I cheer him.

- Do you really want to be clever with me, Ténébris?

- Come on, when do we start? »

I approach him and our heads come to stick in a very unfriendly face-to-face. He thinks I'm human, but he still decides to take out his aura to crush me. He really has no shame. However, he fell on stronger than him. I take out my aura and automatically, I see his eyes popping out of their sockets. He collapses to the ground while the others move away:

“And for your information, the wolf you heard was mine. If you want, can I show it to you? I'm warning you, she loves eating prudish people like you. »

I then turn to the auburn-haired wolf who seems worried since earlier. The way she looks at him and the fact that he has the same smell only makes me think of one thing: they are soul mates. I turn to her:

"And you should tell your boyfriend to learn to shut up." Because while you were all snoring, with Ezequiel we found out that the person who was the target of the attack is still alive and his name is Thais. So next time, don't disrespect those who are doing their job.

Brett and his girlfriend don't answer, surely offended by the spiel I just gave. The wolf approaches me and fixes his eyes on mine. His eyes only reflect pure anger, I feel that at any moment it will degenerate. He presses his forehead to mine again and tries to intimidate me. I don't blink for a second. I glare darkly into his brown eyes and warn him before I knock him down again. Fortunately, the pretty wolf with odd eyes calms her down. There is at least one out of two who listened to what I said:

"Calm down my love... Come on, let's go back to bed..."

Brett finally takes a step back and with great tension leaves with the auburn wolf clinging to his arm.

The whole pack follows the couple and goes to bed. Ezequiel before leaving, grabs my hand and says kindly:

"A princess wouldn't have acted like that...

- That's good, I'm not a princess. »