Chapter 4

Arthur's POV

My blurred vision suddenly became clear again. Initially blank and controlled by madness, my mind was completely alert again. My body gradually transformed back into human form.

This sudden awakening left me stunned for a long time as if I were hallucinating.

From the moment I was born, I was under a terrifying curse. By May, every year, I would go crazy and suffer physical and mental pain. My madness can last for months, and when I go mad, I kill anything that moves in front of me. So, around this time, I will be taken to an isolated villa for confinement.

Every whole moon night, my torture became a hundred times more terrifying. To the point where I wish I could die because death is more comfortable than that endless pain.

The room was dark, but my eyes could still see everything. I was startled to see a girl lying under my body; her slender neck was bleeding. The sweet taste of blood still lingers on my tongue.

She fainted due to excessive blood loss.

I quickly regained my composure, feeling angry, not understanding why this human girl could appear in my room. She broke the law, and she must die.

I strangled her. The neck is tiny; only one hand can hold it. If I used a little force at this time, I could easily break it, but I gradually loosened my grip.

I am not a person who is easily softened. I thought about my sudden awakening; it might have something to do with this girl.

It's unreasonable, but I don't want to miss any chance for me to escape the torture of that terrible curse.

I left the bloody girl lying on the floor. I stood up and wanted to drag my body into the bathroom but realized my hands and feet were chained. The leash is not long enough for me to move to the bathroom.

At this moment, the moonlight shining through the window attracted my attention. I walked to the window and used trembling hands to open it.

The moonlight gently shines on me. I opened my eyes wide, staring at the moon. No one can understand that my heart is trembling violently right now. I'm scared! Afraid of the curse appearing again, fearful of going crazy, and afraid of the pain tearing apart my soul.

Nothing happens! Everything I feared did not appear.

"So, the moon is so bright and beautiful…."

I raised my hand to touch my left breast. No pain, no madness takes over my mind. I can completely control my body.

I was so excited that I transformed into a wolf. In my wolf body, I am still very rational and flexible. I am thrilled, as if today is the day I was born again.

I leaned toward the vast, bright moon and let out a long howl. The howl carrying the desire for freedom echoed throughout the sky.

…

In the morning, Dylan arrived very early. He was surprised to see me calmly lying on the bed and was even more surprised to see that girl.

If an average person saw another person lying in a pool of blood, he would immediately examine that person's injuries and find a way to save them. Still, Dylan was very indifferent to the girl. He frowned, looking angry because the girl had broken the law.

I felt her weak breathing and knew she wasn't dead yet, so I didn't care.

I excitedly told Dylan about my sobriety last night. Dylan's face showed suspicion, but seeing me acting like an average person right now, he was half-convinced.

If it were before, during the days when the curse was effective, in the evening, I would be tortured by the curse, and in the morning, I would be exhausted and lie in bed like a sick person about to die. At noon, when the sun rises, my body will gradually recover. It was a cycle I had to endure day in and day out.

"Who is she?" I ask.

"Her name is Lucinda, the maid who cares for you. She broke the law. I will have someone kill her immediately." Dylan said in a calm voice.

I stopped, "Wait! I want to do an experiment! Let's treat her first. Tonight, take her to my room."

Dylan was confused and asked, "You think you're awake because of her presence?"

I nodded.

"Certainly nothing like that happened. She's just an ordinary person who can't help you. She knew you were a werewolf; she had to die; that was the law." Dylan said seriously.

"Whether she dies sooner or later, there is only one outcome. I don't want to miss an opportunity to help me escape the curse. If I'm still crazy tonight, she'll die tomorrow." I said firmly, glancing at Lucinda; a dark light flashed in my eyes.

Dylan didn't dare disobey me. He called someone to take Lucinda for treatment.

I'm really looking forward to tonight.

…

Lucinda's POV

When I woke up again, I was lying in my room. At first, I thought everything that happened last night was just a dream until the pain in my neck spread to my brain. I touched my neck; the place where I was bitten last night was carefully bandaged.

If what happened last night was real, what did I see? That monster almost bit me to death! I panicked and sat up. The wound in my neck throbbed, and blood oozed out.

Before I could get out of bed, the door opened. I was scared and retreated into the corner of the wall.

The person who walked in was Dylan. He looked at me with unkind eyes and said in a cold voice, "The vital force of you is very strong; you don't die after losing so much blood."

I saw that it wasn't the monster from last night, so I relaxed a bit, but I was still very wary because I knew Dylan and that monster were on the same side.

Dylan placed the tray of food on the table. It contains a sandwich, two apples, and a glass of water.

"Even if you escape once, you cannot avoid death because you broke the law. Unfortunately! I thought you were a smart girl but still made the same stupid mistakes as the previous servants." Dylan said calmly.

My heart trembled for a moment as if I was hearing Dylan sentence me to death. I still don't believe he will kill me. I mustered up the courage to say, "You have no right to kill me. This is a society with laws, and you cannot kill people indiscriminately. I admit I was wrong because I broke the law here; you can kick me out. After leaving here, I still haven't seen anything and promised not to say anything. Please give me a way to live."

I argued and begged, just hoping Dylan would consider letting me leave.

Dylan's eyes flashed as if he had discovered something interesting, but that light quickly disappeared. He shrugged and said indifferently, "You surprised and amused me a bit because you didn't tremble in fear like other cowardly mice, but unfortunately, I don't have the right to decide. If you want to live, you must rely on your luck."

He left a sentence before went, "Please stay in your room; I will be back in the evening."

I quickly stood up, ignoring the pain in my body to chase after Dylan, but the door to my room was locked. I urgently knocked on the door and shouted, but no one responded.

I understood that I was locked in my room, so I stopped trying to do useless things. Even if I could leave this room, I couldn't escape the Douglas palace, which is full of guards.

I don't understand what Dylan means, and I know that something terrible will happen to me tonight.

...

The evening came quickly; the clock had just struck seven when the door to my room opened again. Dylan saw me obediently sitting on the bed; he glanced towards the food tray; it was empty. I saw satisfaction on his face.

"Follow me!" He says.

I quickly got up and chased after him. After a few steps, Dylan couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked me, "Aren't you scared? You're so calm I can't believe it!"

I'm scared; I don't react outwardly. I'm smart enough to know that even if I cry or scream, it won't help me; on the contrary, people will hate me even more. I should stay mentally stable and calm to make accurate judgments when facing danger.

I was thinking clearly, so I comfortably answered Dylan, "I'm not afraid; I believe in my luck."

Dylan turned his head to look at me, seemingly searching for another expression on my face. I smiled at him, making him confused, and turned his face forward. A few seconds later, he said, "You are so optimistic!"

Our footsteps never stopped, and soon, we arrived in front of Arthur's room.

Dylan opened the door for me. He had always been indifferent to lowly servants, but now there was some hesitation in his eyes.

The inside of the room was still pitch black. Memories of last night suddenly rushed back into my head, making my heart tremble. I took a deep breath to calm myself and walked into the room.

The door closed, completely closing off the last light in my heart. I panicked and thought, did Dylan want to let that monster eat me?

My legs were stiff, and I didn't dare take another step. The body feels extremely cold.

A low voice rang out in the darkness, startling me.

"Come here!"

I trembled and hesitated for a few seconds before slowly walking towards where the voice came from. I knew he was Arthur, the same monster from last night. I don't know what form he is in right now. I'm worried he'll eat me.

I felt his eyes following me ever since I entered the room.

I couldn't see anything, so I kept walking, bumping into the edge of the bed. I fell on a soft place, thinking it was a mattress, but I didn't expect a hand to hug my waist. I was startled. Before I could react, that hand pushed me away.

It turned out that I fell on Arthur's body. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness, so I could vaguely see Arthur's gloomy face. I took a few steps back in panic and softly said, "I'm sorry! I did not mean to!"

Arthur didn't respond to me, sitting motionless on the bed. I couldn't see the expression on his face.

My anxiety doubled, my heart was pounding, and the pain in my neck reminded me he could turn into a monster like last night at any time.

But maybe I overthinking because of panic. Arthur took no other action.