Chapitre 13

How many warriors were captured in the attack?

But they were not alone in the cells. She-wolves knelt by the wounded and tended to their wounds. What was going on here? The prisoners were provided with bandages and water. As if by reflex, my gaze twitched to the silver cell, which was now open and battered in the corner.

"It's just a relic."

I jerked around to Zelos, who wore his typical grin. His hands were covered by black leather gloves.

What the hell was he up to?

"You look cold," said Zelos and took off his black coat. He put it around my shoulders and I was immediately surrounded by its smell and a cozy warmth. It was much too big for me, but I snuggled it closer to me .

Now he was standing there in a shirt with the black gloves, staring down at me. A tingling went through my body.

"What's going on here?" I asked, taking my eyes off Zelos and letting him wander over the prisoners.

"We should go back. It's been a long day and you need to rest before the festival. Come."

Zelos put an arm around my shoulder and pressed me to his side. Speechless, I followed his lead back to the stairs and upstairs. A warm feeling spread through me. The guards opened the door for us and I narrowed my eyes.

Ice cold awaited us and secretly I was happy for Zelo's proximity. The setting sun threw its last rays over the house roofs, which were covered with fresh snow. Smoke from fresh fires billowed from the chimneys.

"I thought you finally had enough of the dungeon after all this time," said Zelos.

"I thought so too," I replied, and he laughed.

"I guess we have something in common there. As your alpha, I could order you to clean the last stones from the dirt."

I looked up at him and raised an eyebrow.

"And what would you do if I refused?"

"Oh, I would think of something," said Zelos and grinned mischievously. He pressed me closer to him and a tingling ran down my arm. Suddenly he froze in the middle of the movement. His eyes became snow-white. I broke away from him.

"Zelos?" I asked. This wasn't normal. The mind link to the pack looked different. I grabbed his elbow and he instantly jerked back to the present. His red eyes stared down at me. "What was that?"

His thoughts still seemed far away.

"Come on," he said simply. I had trouble keeping up with his long strides. His talkative manner seemed to have melted away. What had shaken him so?

"What happened? Where were you just now?" I asked, but Zelos wasn't deterred. I pushed his coat off my shoulders and handed it back to its actual owner.

"You can keep it," he said, but I shook my head. Before I could reply, the pack house came into view. The sky was slowly turning a darker blue, but golden light spilled out onto the square from the house's windows The doors were open.

The party.

"I have to go home," I said and stopped. Only now Zelos turned to me. His brows were drawn together as he examined me with my blood-red eyes.

"The packhouse is your home now," he replied. Now I stared at him in bewilderment. I opened my mouth.

"Elizabeth! What a pleasure to see you!" a figure called and I jerked around. Theo waddled toward us through the snow and waved. "Oh, I don't want to bother you, but I'm Theodor Hershel and I'm the best builder in all Mountain Shade. It's a pleasure to meet you, Alpha Zelos. So if you're looking for an excellent architect, feel free to contact me."

Zelo's eyes sparkled as if he were enjoying the show that was presented to him. Theo bowed so low his nose almost touched the snow.

slime.

"Oh Alpha Zelos, good to meet you here!" a new voice called and slithered towards us. The joy fell from Theo's face. Peterson, his competitor, elbowed him only to bow even deeper .

This was my chance.

I took advantage of the builders' bickering to slip away on the sly. I ducked my head and dove into the crowds of wolves and humans pouring into the pack house. Still, I felt a burning look on the back of my head, but I didn't turn around.

The golden rays and warmth of the packhouse welcomed me with open arms, along with the hum of joyful voices. Tommy must still be around somewhere. We should finally go home, our real home. Laughter filled the great room and I stopped.

It was filled with rows of tables, white blankets and crockery on them. The cutlery gleamed in the light of the chandeliers. Laughter erupted between those already seated. Nobody seemed afraid anymore. The room buzzed with life and relief.

Everyone was probably happy with the new Alpha that had taken over the city. My eyes caught a head of brown that whipped through the ranks.

tommy

He played catch around the tables with the other kids. The giggles were like birdsong as he caught a girl. He immediately ran away while the little werewolf's eyes changed color for a moment. She pursued him, but I was faster.

I grabbed Tommy's shoulder and he looked up in shock. The girl ran into his back and stumbled back.

"We should go home," I said seriously. The glow of joy faded and I was almost sorry.

"Whyoo? I want to stay here and play," he gasped out of breath. "Everyone's invited!"

His gaze suddenly wandered away from me and up to a shadow I felt behind me. I turned around only to see Zelos there. The signature smile bared his sharp teeth like those of a predator. I had hoped Theo would stall him longer.

"You can't go yet," said Zelos finally and his grin grew even wider. "After all, you are my guests of honor. So sit down, the food will be served any moment."

"Yes!" Tommy yelled, and before I could even open my mouth, he shot past me. The werewolf girl pursued him, giggling loudly. I watched them go, speechless, and sighed. At least someone here was having fun.

"Nice try to leave me alone with these crazy people, but you won't get rid of me that easily," said Zelos. "I'm the Lycan and I-"

"Oh Theo!" I yelled and staggered him over to us. Zelos turned to the builder, who immediately set off on our way. Zelos stared at me in disbelief and for the first time that day I smiled a genuine smile.

"Nice to see you again, Alpha! You guys just left so quickly I couldn't get my ideas across to you," Theo said, his graying hair sticking out in all directions as he gasped.

A sparkling laugh escaped my lips.

Immediately Zelo's eyes twitched to me as if I were a creature from a strange world. His gaze softened and a tingling gripped my stomach. I could feel it in my heart.

The connection.

The laughter got stuck in my throat and I swallowed. Zelos pulled his shoulders back and his gaze hardened. We both knew the truth, but neither spoke it.

"If you'll excuse me," he said, turning his back on us and heading toward the stage.

"It's very fortunate that you know our new Alpha so well..." Theo said and spoke to me from the side, but his words bounced off me like a wall. My thoughts followed the werewolf, the Getting farther and farther away from me, my heart clenching.

The food was served, we sat down and Theo just kept talking about the fragrant food and sweet drinks. I had lost my appetite. Zelos sat between Fenrir and a young werewolf, with whom he had an intense conversation.

who was she

She looked like a warrior...

"Silverblood I would fear."

My gaze jerked to Theo, who shoved a whole potato into his mouth.

"What?" I asked.

"I said instead of Silberblut I would be afraid", Theo smacked his lips and waved the fork in Zelos direction. "The tables have turned, my dear, and with him we have the upper hand."

"Silverblood territory is much larger than ours. How can you be so sure?" I asked, poking at my butter peas. Theo leaned over and raised his frizzy eyebrows to his hairline like he was telling me a secret. I walked towards him and twisted mine head to the side.

"I saw him fight," Theo whispered.

***

“The territory of Silverblood is much larger than ours. How can you be so sure?" I asked, poking at my butter peas. Theo leaned over and raised his frizzy eyebrows to his hairline like he was telling me a secret. I walked towards him and twisted mine head to the side.

"I saw him fight," Theo whispered.

“His wolf is… incredible. I have never seen such a fast and strong being. He shredded the attackers in mid-air and the rest fled, tail tucked. In a weird way it was... majestic," Theo said.

The white wolf with his muzzle covered in blood came to mind. He was leaning over me, nudging me as if to make sure I was alive. He had kept his promise.

"I can't believe that all of this just happened yesterday," I whispered, turning my gaze to Zelos.

He was still deep in conversation with the werewolf. Her hair was the color of hazelnuts and curled over her shoulders. What do you think they were talking about? I lowered my gaze. Why did my stomach feel so weird?

"In case you're wondering: Luna, er, I mean Lilli gave birth to her child during the attack," Theo whispered, raising an eyebrow. "A baby born in war. That's a bad omen."

"Is she alright?" I asked and Theo nodded.

"One could almost think Fenrir and they are glad to have handed over responsibility. Without him we would probably all be dead..."

I swallowed before leaning further forward.

"I saw the dungeon. The cells are full of silver-blooded prisoners. Their wounds are treated and they are given enough to eat. What does Zelos intend to do with them?"

"If he really wants to defeat Silverblood, he needs warriors. Next up is Silver Crown on the way to the White City. The territory consists mostly of mountains, which can be an advantage and a disadvantage. An ambush might work. But if you don't know your way around..."

"You mean there are silver crown wolves among the captives?" I asked.

"Today, everyone who lies north-west of us counts as Siler blood. But remember, they were once distinct packs, and many of them will feel more a part of their families than a werewolf king sitting miles away in a marble palace."

Was this really Zelo's plan?

"If just one of the prisoners from the former Silver Crown cooperates with him, the unfamiliar territory will no longer be a problem for him," I whispered. He had carefully calculated it.

The attack on us had now become our advantage.

The prisoners only had to have faith in Zelos and his power, and the way he behaved everything seemed to be working according to his plan.

"Who is this she-wolf?" I asked, panning toward the large table. Theo threw back his head and laughed so I could see the mashed potato chunks on his tongue. It's a wonder he didn't choke...

"I would say one of the candidates for the vacancy as a beta."

He washed his words down with a sip of red wine. Suddenly a bolt of lightning shot past us and stopped. Tommy's hair was completely tousled. His cheeks burned like fire as he gasped for air. He grabbed the mug of apple juice from the table and downed it.

"Don't you want to eat anything?" I asked, smoothing his hair.

"No, no time! We're going to play...upstairs now...hide and seek!" he shouted, eyes shining.

"Okay, but don't get caught first," I said, smiling. Tommy gave me a kiss on the cheek before dashing off. My shoulders relaxed and I took a deep breath. Somehow, breathing felt easier since Zelos -

I could feel his eyes on me. They burned my cheek. How long has he been watching me? My face felt like it was stuck in an oven. I have to get out of here.

I jumped up, to Theo's surprise.

"Where are you going?" he asked while scooping another portion onto his plate. Luckily there was always someone walking the aisles so no one noticed me.

"Just get some fresh air. I'll be right back," I replied. The gaze followed me until I finally stepped out of the doors and could breathe deeply. I left the packhouse and the freezing night closed in on me. My breath condensed before my eyes and I moved further away from it large square to the rows of houses that lay deserted and silent in front of me.

Why did Zelos have such an effect on me?

I had seen it with Lia. We used to joke about it. Whom did I want to fool, I liked Zelos. Although I would never admit it in front of him. I was afraid. Not in front of him, but in front of-

Paws scurried across the snow.

They came right up to me. I tried to see something at the end of the alley, but the darkness only allowed shadows. Something hissed around the corner and sprinted in my direction. Something with three heads.

My muscles spasmed. I darted around and stumbled down the street to the only place it was safe. To the pack house.

"Hil-!"

My scream choked in my chest as a force threw me to the ground. My face landed in the snow. The paws pushed me further down. Warm breath touched the back of my neck. A head nudged my cheek and another sniffed my shoulder.

A monster.

I narrowed my eyes.

I held still like I was dead.

A sharp whistle pierced the air.

The monster's heads lifted and with a gust of wind it jumped over me. The paws thundered in the direction of the whistle. I breathed a sigh of relief against the snow. I pushed myself up and shook the flakes out of my hair and wiped the water off my cheek.

At the end of the street was the beast, its three heads all staring at one person. It was as big as the windows of the houses around us. The monster's tail wagged back and forth.

Zelos.

His red eyes pierced the night and a smile was on his lips. The monster slithered to a halt in front of him and circled his legs. One of the heads barked excitedly while the other two sniffed at Zelos. They just came up to his waist.

He put a hand on one of the heads, who seemed to enjoy it. Soon they were fighting for his attention. The moon in the night sky made the black fur and fangs shine.

The Lycan's Deathbringer.

"Kerberos," I whispered, and suddenly three pairs of yellow eyes twitched at me. The middle head barked while the paws turned to me. "Oh no."

The beast thundered back in my direction. I shuffled further back on the snowy ground as if to escape the giant dog. My back hit a wall as the monster grew in front of me. A panicked gasp escaped my throat.

"Stop!" a voice ordered, raising the hairs on the back of my neck.

Zelos.

The monster froze a few meters in front of me. The outer heads turned to their master while the middle one was still focused on me. Yellow eyes bored into me. The black claws were buried in the snow and awaited further commands.

Zelos took all the time in the world before he came to a standstill in front of Kerberos. He petted one of the heads, which closed its yellow eyes and leaned against the hand. My knees were shaking and I was glad I was still on the ground.

This monster could kill me with one bite and then tear me in three pieces. A shiver ran down my spine when I looked up at Zelos. He would never let that happen, hopefully. That would be a cruel death.

"Please forgive his enthusiastic manner. He had been stone for a few decades," he said. "Sit."

The dog sat down in the snow and waited.

Zelos stood between the beast and me and offered a hand. But I was too focused on the monster behind him, its heads moving like snakes.

Suddenly two arms were under my armpits and heaved me out of the snow onto my wobbly legs. Zelo's warmth radiated towards me like a fire in the night. I shakily exhaled a cloud.

"You don't have to be afraid of him," Zelos said and brushed my strands of hair out of my face. I looked at him for the first time. His eyebrows drew down. "You're shaking, let's go back inside."

I grabbed his elbow and he looked at me expectantly. I couldn't get a word out of my lips.

What the hell had just happened?

****

I sat back at the feast table, but not in the way I had planned next to Theo. Zelos leaned down to me.

"You haven't eaten all evening," he whispered, looking at my plate. Kerberos waited patiently beside him. One of the heads was focused on the meat on my plate.

"I do not want to eat anything."

Zelos sighed.

"He won't hurt you. I swear by..."

Silence.

"By the moon goddess?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. He grinned.

"I'd rather not, otherwise she'll curse me again," he replied and I smiled back.

"I'd like to see that," I said. "Then Kerberos would make a nice decoration in the entryway."

The three-headed dog narrowed his eyes as if he understood my words. Zelos stroked the monster, which came up to his armpits while sitting.

"Don't listen to her. She's just jealous that she only has one skull," he said, and my jaw dropped. Kerberos huffed and closed his eyes as if agreeing with his master.

"Whatever," I mumbled, picking up my fork. I scooped the sweet peas in my mouth and chewed. They were cold, but they burst between my teeth. Next up was the mashed potatoes.

"She can eat after all," said Zelos. I bit back the comments.

The wolves began to move the benches. The table legs thumped across the hardwood floor, leaving an empty space in the middle. I washed the food down with a large gulp of water.

"What's happening here?" I asked and turned to Zelos. The golden light accentuated his flawless skin as he turned to me. Happiness was reflected in his eyes.

"Now let's dance!"

As if on cue, the sound of flutes swung through the air. The melody got the crowds onto the dance floor and the couples twirled in circles. The beaming faces of companions lost in each other's eyes...

My cheeks turned red and I felt the heat.

Imperceptibly I looked at Zelos.

He was leaning back in his throne and watching his people with a satisfied expression. Did he also want to dance? The laughter of the couples buzzed around the room and I looked back down at my empty plate.

I gave Zelos a sideways glance.

My heart cramped.

Why... didn't he ask me?

He liked me and I liked him.

But I stayed silent and he ignored me.

My stomach sank a bit as I leaned back too. Should I... ask him? Maybe that's what he was waiting for. I crossed my arms. So he could wait a long time. I lifted my chin and followed the figures on the dance floor.

I couldn't dance at all, at least not like that...

The longer I waited, the louder the voice inside me wanted to ask him. The shadow I had to jump over was fading by the minute. What if he said no? Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone climb the steps to the stage and head straight for us.

The she-wolf with the hazelnut hair.

Oh no.

My heart trembled at the sight of her. I jumped out of my chair so that even Kerberos was staring at me wide-eyed. But I was fixated on the lycan in front of me.

"Shall we dance?" I asked.

A simple question and yet my palms started to sweat. Zelo's grin spread all over his face, his white teeth glistening in the light.

"I thought you'd never ask," he said, rising from his throne and extending his elbow to me. I gave him a relieved smile and linked my arm with him.

"Quite the gentleman," I replied and turned my head up. Standing, I just reached his shoulder. Zelos grinned down at me as if he had just dusted off the first prize. His warmth rubbed off on me.

He turned to Kerberos briefly.

"Stay," he said sternly before we passed the wolf. She bowed her head in front of us.

"Lycan Zelos," she said and he nodded appreciatively.

I take a deep breath.

Zelos helped me down the steps and the closer we got to the dance floor, the louder the sounds of the flute got.

"Why did she give you Lycan-Ahh!"

Zelos spun me around so I could feel his abs through my dress. He raised my right hand and wrapped his left hand around my back. Heat continued to lick my cheeks as he stared down at me with a grin.

"Your heart sounds like a hummingbird," he said. "Like a little bird."

"I don't know how to dance," I said, putting my hand on his upper arm. I could feel his muscles underneath and a slight tingle. He was beautiful. I looked away, a little embarrassed.

"Eyes on me," he murmured, his voice rumbling in my stomach, confusing everything. "Relax and let me lead."

I nodded.

Zelos laughed.

"The poem is also called relaxing," he said and his words fulfilled their purpose. I hadn't even noticed that my eyebrows were drawn down in concentration. Suddenly Zelos started to move in my direction.

He smiled.

“You have to keep the tension in your arms. They point the way," he said.

"I guess dancing isn't that easy," I replied with a nervous smile. He gave me a warm grin before walking towards me again. This time I backed away and suddenly we were turning between the couples.

A loud laugh escaped my lips, mixing with the melody of the music and the beating of my heart. I felt free, carefree, like I could fly.

A wave of happiness grabbed me and swept me away.

My feet moved by themselves, but I knew that it was only because of Zelos. We didn't take our eyes off each other. The spark between us glowed brighter than the light. I couldn't get the grin off my face.

He seemed to quench a deep longing in me just with his smile. My heart jumped with joy and my chest felt huge. Drums shook through the floor, driving us on with the flutes. Zelos kept spinning me around and I felt safe in his arms.

We floated across the floor as one.

I followed Zelo's movements to the harmony of the music that echoed through the room. My curls flew with every twist.

"You're a very good dancer," I said, smiling. "Did you practice in your cell?"

He laughed and little laugh lines formed around his eyes.

"No, I was busy with other things," he replied, and his hand on my back pushed me even closer to him so that there was nothing between us. My chest wanted to burst with happiness. "You're beautiful, if you're not so grumpy are you."

In any other situation I would have become grumpy at his words, but not here and now. I could only smile. Everything around us was blurry, like we were alone on the dance floor.

I felt high, free...

Tied together...

we were connected

Between us was a flame that would never go out. I had tried to fight her, but it was useless. Zelos kept turning me, more and more.

Until the drums slowed down. A pang of disappointment spread through me. We lost speed and Zelos slowly brought us to a standstill. I gasped for air, heat seething under my dress, but I could have danced all night.

We stared at each other.

His eyes were electric. They fell briefly on my lips and I mirrored his movements. Almost unconsciously, I leaned against his strong chest and stood on tiptoe. The hand on my back stroked up and down sending sparks everywhere.

How would a kiss with him feel?

A clang snapped us out of the moment and back to reality. My head snapped to Fenrir, who was standing on the hall's stage. He waited for the noise to die down.

"What's going on?" I asked and looked at Zelos.

Regret shone on his face.

Oh no...

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth," he said before Fenrir addressed his former pack.

"Lycan Zelos has decided. The attack on Silver Crown will come soon and we will win!"

A cheer went through the crowd of boisterous wolves. A large hand grabbed my chin and turned it back towards him. Fenrir's further words faded into the background as I stared into his eyes.

"You will accompany me," he said. His voice was soft, but his words had a different meaning for me.

"No, I want to stay here," I replied, frowning. I couldn't leave. Mountain Shade was my home.

Zelos cocked his head. All happiness had drained from his face and he was as serious as I had seen him attack.

"I hereby call in my favor."

And with that I fell into a black hole.