Chapter 36: Chapter 36

KAIST:

I was in the midst of a hunt when a strong smell of blood mingling with honeyed milk and cherries filled my head.

I was about to drink at the spring in the middle of the woods, but I staggered. Am I hallucinating? Why can I smell Dahlia’s scent here at the heart of the woods?

It has been a little more than two months since Dahlia failed to show at our wedding.

I resented her for it. Since then, there was no night when my heart did not throb and ache for her. I knew that she was with that scoundrel Tristan somewhere, but what can I do? She had expressed her love for him countless times in my presence before. She had begged me to stop the wedding to be with that wolf, but I was the one who didn’t listen… I was the one to be utterly blamed.

News would sometimes reach me in the capital on how Dahlia and her new husband were doing. I didn’t need to hear it. I can sense her state of mind despite the distance that loomed between us. For the first time, I can sense that she was really in a state of bliss, something she had never felt before when she was with me…

Now, at this moment, I could only sense dread and horror in her body. I know she’s somewhere near, but where is she?

“My prince, are you okay,” Pelle asked with concern written all over his face.

“Yes,” I replied curtly. He must have been surprised when I staggered a bit while trying to drink.

“You look pale, your highness. Maybe we should go back and hunt another day,” he suggested. He reached for my back, trying to support me as I stand, but I waived his hand away.

“Go back first. I need to check on something,” I commanded to which Pelle’s face turned horrid.

“I can’t do that. I’m your escort!”

“And I’m your prince! Are you questioning my authority now?” I said in the most vicious way that I can.

Pelle sighed. He knew he could not control me when I was being this stubborn.

“How about I stay by the outskirts of the woods? Please send a mind-link message if you need any help,” he said after bowing down towards me. I watched as he reluctantly trudged away from me.

After seeing my escort disappear conveniently from my view, I sniffed into the air. Dahlia’s alluring scent was still there, and so was the heavy smell of blood.

I ran as fast as I could towards her. No matter how much I was pained by her actions on our supposed wedding day, I cannot resist her… I cannot walk away from her when her very life seemed to be in danger!

My feet took me further inside the woods. I was aware that this land belonged to Count Abell’s estate, but I have often hunted here before, so I knew the terrain well.

It didn’t take me a long time to find Dhally. Her scent had led me into a small cave that I had often used for resting whenever I made hunting trips.

I entered the small mouth of the dark cave. It looked tiny from the outside, but it had enough room in the inside.

I called her name softly, “D-Dahlia?”

There was no answer, but I was able to pick up the sense of someone shivering.

I walked further inside, and the view that I saw crushed my heart.

There, before me was a smallish, brown wolf – a she-wolf, to be exact. She was clumped into a ball, shivering from the cold.

I immediately kneeled beside her. It was the first time I was seeing this wolf, but I knew immediately it was my Dahlia. My heart couldn’t go wrong!

“Dahlly… It’s me, Kaist… What happened,” I asked. She shivered and went stiff when I tried to pat her fur. Why did she look like she was afraid of me?

My eyes landed on the patches of blood around her wolf’s body, and the fresh amount of blood that was trickling down from her hind legs. I heard her soft whimpers, and it broke my heart even further.

“Who did this to you,” I said. “Who the hell did this, Dahlly?”

I didn’t need an answer. I can feel a masculine musk emanate from Dahlia’s body. It was that same pungent smell of that Count Abell!

“What the hell did he do,” I roared. I couldn’t contain the rage in my chest. How can that man do this to her?! No, he wasn’t a man at all! He was far worse than a monster!

I stood up ready to unleash hell on that detestable wolf when Dahlly, in her wolf form, lifted her head weakly at me, and I heard her cry.

“Cold… It’s so cold…”

My heart was moved from anger to pity in an instant. I tried to control the trembling of my chest as I scooped her frail head into my lap.

“I’m here Dahlly… I’m here…”

I hugged her wolf’s head and rocked it softly. Goddess, how can you allow this to have happened to her? I have cherished my mate from the moment I have met her, and I was more careful with her when I recognized who she was. I was willing to offer the whole world at her feet, and when I agreed to not pursue her, thinking that I should finally give her what her heart wants, why did you send her back to me in such a state?...

My heart was overcome with hatred. That son of a b*tch wolf! How can he harm my Dahlia in such a sickening way? I swear that I won’t let him off easily. Maybe I won’t let him live at all after this!

“No, please…” Dahlia’s wolf whimpered. I don’t know if she was responding to my thoughts or if she was having a nightmare. I stroke her fur to make her feel more comfortable. They were turning colder against my touch.

Dahlia didn’t look good at all. I can feel some blood still flowing down from her body. This was not good… I must bring her back with me and summon a healer. I must make haste!

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I sensed the presence of a wolf coming towards me. Cruz began to growl fiercely inside my head.

“Let’s kill this f*cking bastard first,” he declared, and I agree with him a hundred and one percent!

I waited for him to show his hideous hide so I can crush him, and soon enough, he showed up.

That son of a b*tch punk soon loomed in front of the cave. He galloped faster when he sensed Dahlia’s presence, but he stopped when he saw who she was with.

I could sense the hate for me emanating from his body. It was alright. The feeling is so darn mutual!

I lost it as I shouted, “What did you do, you animal?! What did you f*cking do to Dahlly?!”

“What the hell do you care? Get away from my mate,” that blasted white wolf spat as he spoke.

“Do you think I’ll let you take her away after this?! Not a chance,” I roared. I pulled my sword out, intending to slash his putrid head away from his body. After that, I’ll make sure to feed his flesh to the crows at the gates of the kingdom for what he has done!

Unfortunately, he was fast. He was able to dodge my blade stealthily as if mocking me.

Perhaps he had begun to sense Dahlly’s condition too. Before I could attack him again, he had transformed himself into a half-wolf and stretched himself upwards. He pounced on my chest ferociously and knocked the air out of my lungs.

I almost passed out as he pounded his wolf’s fists against my body, slamming me into the ground, and right after, he leapt to where my Dahlia was curled at.

I could see him lift her up, his back against me. I could hear him whisper something very faintly into her ears.

I was still struggling to my feet when I saw it. That wolf’s body began to glow in a strange, purplish light!

I can’t believe what I was seeing! He was using some form of magic against Dahlia!

I struggled to crawl near him, but it was impossible. The magic enveloping him and Dahlia was too strong. Still, I tried to support myself, so I could get up…

The more I tried to come closer, the heavier the air felt. I tried to stay awake. I must reach Dahlia! I must reach her before that wolf does something bad to her again!

I was fighting a losing battle though. I tried to reach them as best as I could, but in the end, I lost consciousness.

I didn’t know how long I have been out, but when I came around, the blasted face of that wolf, that Count Abell, was looming before me.

“Get up,” he said coldly as he tried to slap my arms to rouse me up. “Get up and take my Dahlia with you.”