Chapter 24: Chapter 24

As the golden wolf dug its fangs into Jonea's neck, at the same time, a great white wolf jumped and charged at the golden wolf. The white wolf's muzzle tore into the golden wolf's neck. The two huge wolves rolled on the ground. They clashed claws and fangs.

The golden wolf managed to escape. He backed away and stood unsteadily. His neck was torn and bleeding. His head was down with his two forelegs slightly bent in pain.

“You… Aland Hamilton?” asked the golden wolf in a hoarse voice with pain. “Hrrrgg….”

The white wolf with a muzzle stained with deep blood stood up, eyes gleaming sharply. He walked up to the golden wolf.

“Yes, it's me. I told you this is your last chance. But you wasted it and still sink your fangs into that girl.”

Without warning, Aland attacked the golden wolf again. This time he clawed his stomach to shreds.

The golden wolf fell with a long screech.

Aland opened his jaw a little. Red blood dripping. He howled at the silver moon, the form of victory. Aland would once again attack the golden wolf to end his life.

"Why?" said the golden wolf, who had collapsed. "Why did you come? Elmar Delamo should have come to confront me. I have no business with you!”

Hearing that question, Aland failed to attack. He straightened up and transformed into his human form. Aland wiped his bloodied mouth with the back of his hand.

“Ouch! Your blood tastes so disgusting!”

Aland's face turned cold and serious.

“Of course, I have to come,” Aland said. “Don't expect you to annoy Elmar. He had to focus on his new film project. I don't like it when his acting goes bad just because of a trash fly like you."

“Trash flies?” muttered the golden wolf.

He tried to stand up despite the difficulty. The wolf turned into a human. His neck and stomach were torn. Fresh blood continued to flow from his open wound. In the next second, the wound recovered. He stood holding his neck, which was also lacerated and began to close again.

The man grinned at Aland. “Without wealth and power, you might be far worse than trash flies! Do you think I can be defeated this easily? No. You guys are just brats who don't know about life. You can only have fun and spend your parents' wealth. We should be the ones leading the herd and the country.”

"You talk too much. Your fault is only one; you try to harass Elmar through that girl.”

“Why are you so bothered just because of a human girl? So she really is Elmar's lover?” The man grinned in disdain. “Your taste is really lowly.”

“It doesn't matter what kind of racial type the girl is. If you disturb my best friend's property, you have to face me.”

Aland jumped, and he turned into a white wolf. He tore the man one last time through an artery. This time the golden wolf was unable to recover from its injuries.

The two of them clawed and bit each other until they rolled on the ground and, several times, hit the wall in the narrow alley. Part of the wall cracked and left a crack due to the impact of the two strong wolves.

Aland threw the golden wolf's body so that it crashed into a pillar and was lifeless on the ground.

Aland returned to his human appearance. His white shirt was stained with fresh blood. He also got scratches on his arms. Aland ignored his wound. In the next two steps, the wound has healed and completely closed. There are no traces at all.

The sprawling golden wolf returned to its human form when it died.

Aland reached for his cell phone in his trouser pocket and dialled someone.

"I need your little help."

Pause.

“I just made a bit of a mess here. Please clear up.” Then Alan turned off his cell phone.

The young man turned and saw Jonea lying on the shop's back porch. He immediately ran over and checked on the girl.

“Miss, you are injured! Can you hear me?

Aland examined the girl's arm and neck. Alan took off his shirt and tore it into several pieces. He wrapped his shirt over Jonea's wound and stopped the bleeding.

Aland examined Jonea's neck. The girl's face was covered by her hair which was sticky with blood.

“Oh, thank goodness,” Aland muttered. “Your neck is only slightly scratched. He has not had time to sink his fangs into your veins. You'll be fine. Miss, can you hear me?”

Because Jonea didn't react, Aland brushed the girl's hair covering her face. And Alan gasped in surprise.

Under the bright backlight of the shop, Aland saw Jonea's face clearly.

"You are so Beautiful. Huh! No wonder Elmar keeps his eyes on you. But…."

Aland was a little pensive as he removed a strand of hair from Jonea's lips.

“You… are very similar to someone. No, you are much prettier than him.” Aland's voice softened, and suddenly, a faint smile spread across his lips.

Aland looked around. He remembered that there was a bag left behind. Aland took Jonea's bag and checked to find the girl's identity.

"You don't have any identification? Who are you?"

Aland's eyes were caught in the flickering metal light caused by the reflection of the light. The metal stuck in the jaw of a sprawled man. He got up and checked it.

"Silver stake?" Aland pulled it out and weighed the stake while glancing at Jonea. “And… where is the other wolf? There should be three of them here.”

Aland returned to Jonea. "Should we go to the hospital?" Alan muttered. He was unable to make up his mind at that time. While Jonea was unconscious.

Aland knelt beside Jonea. On a cold autumn night, Aland didn't wear a shirt. Only jeans are attached to his body. Very gently and carefully, Aland lifted Jonea's body and held her in his arms.

Holding Jonea in his arms, Aland stared at the Moon Goddess in the sky and let out a long howl as if filled with grief.

***

Jonea had a dream. A very long dream.

She was stuck in a forest filled with pine trees on one side and a field of flowers on the other. The girl smelled the fresh scent of a blend of various flowers and pine needles.

“This smells so good,” Jonea muttered. “If only there was a perfume like this….”

Jonea moved her hand. She felt something soft and cuddly on her fingertips. The girl felt something was wrong.

In the dream, Jonea held onto a tree whose bark was hard and rough. But what she felt was otherwise; tenderness and warmth.

Faintly in the distance, she heard voices.

"You should take her to the hospital," someone said.

'Who's hurt?' thought Jonea.

"I can't do it, Doctor. It's too risky for me. And my hunch also says that girl doesn't want to be taken to the hospital."

‘Hospital?’ The words echoed deep into Jonea's ears. ‘That voice… I know him.’

Suddenly the scenery of the pine forest and flower field before her turned dark.

At that moment, the sweet scent of flowers turns into the sweet smell of coffee, tickling her nose. Jonas feels hungry.

She heard the sound of clinking porcelain clinking. Jonea started imagining a cup of warm coffee with a filling bag in her mind.

Then, Jonea gasped in surprise and saw the room's ceiling with a crystal chandelier hanging.

"Where am I?"

"Are you awake?"

Jonea blinked her eyes. Her lips and throat felt dry. She was still in a semi-conscious state. She thought she was still dreaming and moved to another dimension.

“So hungry,” said Jonea, who thought she was still dreaming.

“After sleeping for almost two days and waking up…all you asked about was food? But, as it should be."

'That voice is cold and…,' thought Jonea. The girl smiled. 'Aland,' she thought. ‘How could I dream it?’

Before her eyes, Jonea saw Aland Hamilton sitting with a cup of coffee. He was wearing striped pyjamas, and his hair was slightly tousled.

Aland got up, leaving his coffee on the table. While walking, he took off his pyjamas and was bare-chested.

Jonea smiled happily, enjoying Aland's beautiful body.

“You are… so sexy,” she said.

"Okay," said Alan, hands on his hips and only wearing sleep pants. "I assume you are healthy."

Jonea began to feel strange. The smile completely disappeared from her face, and she felt that what she witnessed was all too real. The girl immediately sat up straight and saw the blanket sag from her body.

"Where am I? Am I dreaming? Whose room is this? It smells so good, like a pine forest.”

“Yes, Miss Anonymous. You're dreaming of a handsome prince who has saved your life," Aland said coldly. He went to the wardrobe to find clothes.

Jonea secretly pinched the back of her hand. She felt real pain. Then, Jonea saw that her injured hand was covered with new bandages. Jonea immediately swallowed hard. She glanced at Aland, who was selecting clothes in the wardrobe.

'Fuck! This is real. I'm not dreaming. What should I do?'

Jonea closed her eyes and gritted her teeth silently.

‘Does Aland recognize me?’

On reflex, Jonea checked her hair. It turned out that the wig was still firmly attached to her head, even though it looked very dishevelled. Someone was trying to clean the blood from her hair, but it wasn't completely clean. There were still some dried blood spots left, and Jonea felt nauseous. It's wolf blood.

'I just have to pretend I have a messed up memory,' Jonea thought. 'Yes, wolf. The wolf attack damaged my brain. I just pretended that I was crazy.’

When she was about to open her lips to say anything that suggested she was crazy, Aland suddenly turned around and threw a fresh towel at Jonea's head.

"Clean yourself up!" said Aland coldly. “When you're done, you can have breakfast downstairs and leave here. I don't want any misunderstandings."

Jonea grabbed the towel on her head and turned to Aland. “What do you mean by misunderstanding? Do you… could you… know who I am?” Jonea looked panicked.