Chapter 66: West Moon Forest

It caused a colossal fuzz since everyone did not expect the royal lycan family would bestow two prizes.

It was because the prize for the winner had changed this time. Last year, the winner of the hunting competition should be granted a wish that would be fulfilled by the royal lycan family.

And now... this year, they were sacrificing the blue diamond chalices.

This was crucial, especially since they were bestowing two blue diamond chalices. It was said that the Moon Goddess had carved those chalices Herself. It served as a pact between Her and the members of the royal lycan family with silver eyes that they were royalties.

There was a rumor that those chalices glowed in the lunar eclipse, which was happening to the members of the royal lycan family with their silver eyes. The chalices are substantial national treasures of the Yuanzhong Kingdom.

To think that they were using those national treasures as part of the prizes... what was Henry thinking?

I knew this did not happen in the past, so I was blinded on this spot. I had no idea what was happening.

I tried to get Henry's attention, but he was smiling so sweetly as if he was expecting this would have happened.

"Yes, you heard it right. Two prizes for the winning team," he repeated and hushed everybody.

"Your Royal Highness, aren't we are offending the Moon Goddess if you are using the blue diamond chalices as part of the prizes?" one of the spectators asked.

"My father, His Majesty, Alpha King approved this and the one who requested this."

I stroked my chin, thinking carefully. This would create a negative impact on the nobles, especially those who were devoted to the Moon Goddess.

Was Henry deliberately proposing this and making it appear that his father would decide this?

Was this the beginning of his rebellion? Was he setting a trap for his father slowly but surely?

I watched the other's reactions. I saw different reactions. Some looked like they did not like what was happening, but the others looked like they only accepted everything if it was His Majesty's will. Then, there was no need to make it a big deal.

Henry looked thrilled at their reactions before he cleared his throat to hide the smile that almost crept into his lips. "And, of course, the winning team can also be granted a wish. However, we can only grant one wish, not each person on the team can be granted one. You two must talk it out and must have the same wish."

The murmurs started to get louder before I turned to Eustacia and drew closer to her since she was beside me. "Did Henry share this plan with you?" I asked.

Eustacia, who looked lost, turned at me, shaking her head. "N-No. Even I was baffled at what he was announcing..."

"I see..." Damn it... That fucking lycan prince had never told me his plans in advance! He would always make me wonder and decipher it alone!

"Well then... shall I announce the teams?" Henry turned at Lanfrid, who had a lottery box in his hands. "There are 54 balls here which I already assigned who your partner is for the hunting competition. In this competition that will last for three days, you shall provide your own basic needs in this vast ancient forest, our West Moon Forest. Bestow us 50 tails from different beasts. Whoever the first three teams to return here shall be deemed the winner," he instructed as he drew from the lottery box. "First team..."

I cocked my head from side to side, not liking this. I found this absurd that he was conducting a team event this year.

Did Henry know that with our disparities, it would be challenging to create teamwork?

Whoever would be my partner for this competition, I was hoping that I could get along with that person.

I was hoping I wouldn't get a partner with Warren or Britanny. I never liked them in the first place.

"Next team... Dominixe Lilith Cantavalle and Niccolo Andreu."

I almost dropped from my seat when I heard my name being called and my partner-to-be.

What?!

Niccolo Andreu?!

I was horrified upon hearing his name before I turned at Henry, who looked like he wanted to laugh right now upon seeing my expression. I was in disbelief, realizing that he deliberately did this.

When he was finished announcing the 54 teams, Henry clapped his hands, gathering our attention. "Let the hunting competition begins!"

A loud horn was being released, indicating that the competition had begun.

I did not hesitate to approach Henry, having a stoic expression. "Can we talk?" I asked, smiling sweetly.

Henry must have sensed the danger I was emitting before he chuckled. "My, my... I am looking forward to this event, Domi. Isn't this year's event exciting? I bet you did not expect this to happen, no?"

I squinted my eyes. It was as if he was telling me that in my previous life, this did not happen, which was he was correct.

I smiled more. "Indeed." I approached him and clung to his arm before I secretly pinched him in his forearm. "I am dying to kill you already..." I said through gritted teeth.

"T-That hurts." He chuckled nervously.

I scoffed, looking at Eustacia, who was slightly frowning. I panicked and separated from Henry. I did not want to cause a misunderstanding between him and her later.

"Lady Dominixe." Demetrius approached us, having Niccolo by his side.

"Demetrius..." I noticed that he was thrilled when he met me.

"I am thankful to His Royal Highness that he partnered Niccolo with Lady Dominixe," he said, beaming. "I am looking forward to your victorious arrival after three days."

I glanced at Niccolo, who was looking intently in my direction. "Um... Indeed."

Demetrius looked thrilled before he turned at Niccolo. "Please take care of Lady Dominixe, Niccolo. She is my father's mate. Please let no harm inflict on her."

Niccolo bowed. "Yes, Alpha. I am going to take care of her," he said meaningfully, looking straight into my eyes.

I did not know why, but my heart flipped at his words. I felt uneasy for some reason but ticklish at the same time.

What was this feeling—the feeling of nervousness and excitement lingering inside me? I only felt this when I was with Valerian or about to begin my mission of annihilating a pack.

That's odd...

I averted my gaze. "Lanfrid, my sword."

"Here, Your Royal Highness." Lanfrid stepped forward and bestowed me my sword. I felt mixed feelings whenever I was holding this. It reminded me of how I attempted to end myself.

And the part about how this sword killed Valerian...

"Shall we go now, Lady Dominixe?"

I gazed up at Niccolo before I nodded. I turned at Henry. "I am going to kill you once I am back." I smiled meaningfully.

Henry shrugged. "Fine, fine."

Rolling my eyes, I walked with Niccolo as the participants started their journey toward the West Moon Forest. That said, many beasts lingered around this vast ancient forest.

I had been here so many times since I was dispatched as the representative of the House of Cantavalle.

"Let's go this way." I gestured my head as we went in the other direction the moment we dove deep into the forest.

Niccolo followed me with no complaints. He was behind me, so I felt his gaze piercing my back. I felt awkward since neither of us was talking.

Darn! I knew that I was most perfectly on working alone than being with someone who was a novice. I couldn't help rolling my eyes.

I halted and spun around. "It would have been better if we were in our wolf forms." Niccolo reacted when his eyes widened. "We can dive deeper into the forest and catch some beasts there."

I was about to transform when Niccolo halted me. "I-I can't."

"Huh?"

He looked hesitant. "I cannot transform..."

"And why is that?" I faced him, crossing my arms over my chest. "You are a werewolf. You should be able to do that."

Which reminds me... I once saw Niccolo, having an elephantine black wolf form in my previous life. Having that black fur indicated that they were Alphas.

And did he say that he couldn't transform? Did I hear it right?

"I am wolfless."

"Wolfless?" What the hell was wrong with this man? "You are lying. You can transform." If I was right... If he was really an Alpha, I should be able to see that he had black fur.

Could this mean that he was finding an excuse not to transform because I could find out the truth?

"I am telling the truth!" Niccolo sighed. "But I do have the other qualities of being a werewolf, such as a strong sense of smell, hearing, and sight. I can even use wolf speed and strength," he reasoned.

"Huh..." I couldn't just buy his words. I knew what I saw in my previous life. Britanny even forced him to be in his wolf form!

"Believe me..." His emerald green orbs pierced me again, making my heart go wild.

I tsked, getting annoyed at this point. "Fine!" Even though I did not want to believe it, I just let it go. He must have a reason, but my patience was thin if I stayed with this man. But I had no choice but to cooperate with him. "I will be in my wolf form. You can ride on my back if you insist you are wolfless."

Whatever his reason was... I wondered how long he would keep the truth. Did Demetrius know about this, though?

"Thank you for being considerate of me, my lady." Niccolo bowed when he saw me in wolf form, offering my back.

But what made me wonder was he looked like he must have seen a ghost when he saw my wolf form with brown fur with striking black and white fur at the ends of the strands of my hair.

I snorted, rolling my eyes. When I looked at Niccolo, a slight smile lingered on his lips, but he cleared his throat and remained stoic when he must have realized what he had done. He even saw that I was squinting my eyes at him.

I snorted and used my paw to trample the ground, indicating that I was preparing to run. I slowly felt Niccolo's arms wrapping around my neck and felt him burying his face through my fur as he sighed in relief.

That stiffened me for a moment before I continued what I was after. I ran and evaded the trees that I had come to past while feeling Niccolo sniffing my scent. I knew I should feel like I wanted to throw him off what he was doing, but I felt... fine.

It was not offending on my part. In fact, I felt ticklish.

I used my powerful paws to hide that feeling before I felt his hug tighten around me.

"I missed you..."

I turned my head when Niccolo muttered something I missed because of the wind traversing as I sprinted.

What did he say?

Did he say something?

Our eyes met. Niccolo's expression featured before he coerced my head to look in my front. "Eyes on the front, my lady," he said in my ear. "We do not want to collide in one of the trees here."

I felt like something had passed through my nape, feeling embarrassed. Did I check him out?

Distracting myself, I focused my eyes on the road. I felt relieved at Iron Lake, the middle of the ancient forest. This vast lake was used this lake as means of their natural habitat. They were so many wild animals lingering around here, so this was the spot that we could use to gather some of the beast tails that we needed.

Niccolo mounted down from my back. I shivered when his hand caressed my side stomach as he was on his way to settle in front of me.

I dared to meet his eyes when I saw longing while he was caressing my snout. "Pardon me, my lady. But I cannot help admiring your wolf form. You are so beautiful," he said dreamily.

My wolf purred, which surprised me before I found myself leaning on his touch. I castigated my wolf to halt her from doing that, but she was stubborn and kept nudging Niccolo using our snout.

That surprised me since my wolf had come to like Niccolo.

She did not feel threatened or ill towards him, while I was the opposite.

I was still cautious around him since I knew he was hiding something.

Niccolo chuckled for the first time when my wolf licked him. I was dumbfounded at his laugh. It was... soothing and genuine.

"Alright, alright..." Niccolo said before he did an unthinkable action as he drew closer and planted a kiss on my snout, causing my eyes to widen. He smiled and looked at me lovingly. "At last, I am with you again..." he said with longing. "...the wolf I kept seeing in my dreams."