Chapter 10

Royce led Azure through the forest, the scent of pine and damp earth filling their noses. As they walked, he pointed out various spots where he had practiced his werewolf training. Azure couldn't help but be impressed by his dedication and skill. Seeing him in his element was something else entirely.

"Here's where I worked on my speed," Royce said, gesturing to a stretch of open ground. "And over there, I practiced my stealth."

Azure nodded, taking it all in. He had never really given much thought to werewolf training before, but it was fascinating to watch Royce go through his paces.

As they continued their walk, Royce began to tell Azure about his first time shifting. He was just ten years old before, alone in the woods and trying to make sense of his strange new abilities. It had been a terrifying and exhilarating experience all at once.

"I remember feeling like I was going to explode," he said, his eyes glinting with the memory. "But then, suddenly, it all clicked into place. And there I was, a werewolf."

Azure couldn't help but be drawn in by Royce's story. He had always known he was special, but hearing about his first transformation made her feel even more connected to him.

Francine was there, sitting on a bench, watching them with a serene expression. Royce and Azure settled down next to her, both feeling a little winded from their walk.

"Your training is really something else," Azure said, a note of admiration in his voice.

Royce grinned, a little sheepishly. "Thanks. It's not for everyone, but it's what works for me."

Francine nodded in agreement. "Royce has always been very dedicated to his training. It's one of the things that sets him apart from other shifters."

Royce shifted uncomfortably on the bench, not used to being the center of attention. "It's just important to me, that's all."

Azure reached out to take his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I think it's amazing," he said softly. "And I'm so glad I get to see this side of you."

Royce felt a warmth spread through him at his words. He had always been a little self-conscious about his werewolf side, but Azure's acceptance made him feel like he is a powerful creature.

As they sat together, watching the sun set over the forest, Royce couldn't help but feel grateful for a new brother. Everyone was proud of him, his wolf training and all, and that was a rare and precious thing.

For a moment, he closed his eyes and let himself relax, feeling the familiar pull of his wolf side. It was a part of him that he could never fully explain to anyone else, but with Azure and Francine by his side, he knew he didn't have to.

Azure had always been curious about this village; The Land of Moon, the small urban community that Royce came from. He had heard whispers and rumors about it, but he had never really known much about the place.

"Tell me more about The Land of Moon," he asked, as they walked through the woods. "What's it like here? I mean, I’m still new to this place,”

Royce grinned, happy to share his knowledge with Azure. "Well, our place is a small village, with only around 20,000 creatures living here. But it's a unique place, because it's only for Lycans and werewolves. No humans allowed."

Azure raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Really? Why is that? So you mean, everyone we see doesn’t have human blood?”

Royce shrugged. "I think it's just to keep our kind safe. There are still humans out there who fear us and would try to harm us if they knew we existed."

Azure nodded, understanding the reasoning behind it. "So, what's life like in this village? Is it all just werewolf training and fighting?"

Royce chuckled. "No, not at all. The Green River Pack, which is our pack, is considered the strongest in the country. But we're not all just warriors and fighters. We believe in democracy and freedom, and we don't hold strict beliefs or traditions like some other packs do."

Azure was intrigued. "What do you mean?"

"Well, for example, we don't believe that rank is the basis for judging someone's capabilities. We don't force everyone to study and train to be mighty wolves. We believe that everyone has the right to choose their own path, whether that's to become a powerful fighter or to just live their life freely, like a human."

Azure nodded, impressed by the open-mindedness of the Lycan King’s pack. "That's really refreshing to hear. Yeah, I can say this village is a great place to live."

"It is," Royce said, a note of pride in his voice. "We may be a small village, but we have a strong community and we look out for each other. Plus, the scenery is pretty amazing."

Azure looked around at the trees and the clear blue sky above them, and he had to agree. The Land of Moon is like a special place, and he is forever grateful for Zeke Forenbach to bring him in.

As they continued their walk, Royce pointed out various landmarks and places of interest in The Land of Moon. Azure listened intently, fascinated by the stories and history of the place. It was a world he had never known before, but he was eager to learn more about it.

As they reached the edge of the woods, Azure turned to Royce and smiled. "Thank you for showing me around. I feel like I've learned a lot about The Land of Moon today."

Royce grinned back at him. "Anytime. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll lead this place and the pack,”

Azure laughed out loud. “Even in my wildest dreams, that won’t happen, Royce,”

As they walked back to where Francine was waiting for them, Azure and Royce chatted casually about life in The Land of Moon. Azure was fascinated by the pack's democratic and free beliefs, and Royce promised to introduce him to everyone in the pack one day.

As they approached Francine, they noticed two other people approaching them. One was a young man, around Azure's age, with dark hair and sharp features. The other was a woman with fiery red hair, her green eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Hey, Royce!" the young man called out as they got closer. "Who's with you?”

Royce grinned. "This is Azure. He's a civilian. Dad adopts him. He’s currently living with us,”

The young man stepped forward, extending his hand. "I'm Floch. Nice to meet you."

Azure shook his hand, noticing the confidence in his grip. "Azure,” he plainly said.

The woman stepped forward next, her smile wide and friendly. "I'm Fiona Tells. I'm the Gamma of our pack."

Azure nodded in acknowledgement, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort around her. There was something about the way she looked at him that set him on edge.

As they all settled onto the bench, the conversation flowed easily between them. Floch shared stories about his training, and Fiona talked about her responsibilities as Gamma. Azure listened intently, fascinated by their stories. But he isn’t giving any comments.

But he couldn't shake the feeling that Fiona was looking at him too much. Every time he glanced in her direction, she was staring at him with an intensity that made him uncomfortable.

After a while, Royce excused himself to go run some errands, leaving Azure, Francine, Floch, and Fiona on the bench.

Unbeknownst to everyone, Irvin had been watching from a distance. He has known Francine since they were both young. Though he is four years older than her. hE had always secretly harbored feelings for her. And he is just waiting for her to turn 18, waiting for the right moment to confess his love.

But as he watched Francine laugh and chat with Azure, his heart sank. He couldn't compete with the likes of Azure, with his easy charm and handsome features.

Meanwhile, Fiona was still casting longing looks in Azure's direction, much to his annoyance. He couldn't understand why she was so fixated on him, when they had only just met.

As the sun began to set, they all said their goodbyes and headed off in different directions. Azure walked with Francine, chatting about their plans for the evening. They’re wondering where Royce went.

Floch watched them from afar, his heart heavy with sadness. He knew he had to tell Francine how he felt in future, but he couldn't bear the thought of losing her if she didn't feel the same.

As the night fell over The Land of Moon, Azure found himself unable to shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him since he had met Fiona. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something off about her.

Little did he know, Fiona was following them from afar, her heart aching that she didn’t get the reaction she wanted from Azure. She couldn't understand why Azure seemed to hate her guts, when all she wanted was to be near him.

***

As the days passed, Azure and Francine spent more time together, exploring The Land of Moon and getting to know each other better. But behind the scenes, a storm was brewing.

Fiona's infatuation with Azure was growing stronger by the day, and she couldn't help but feel jealous of Francine, who seemed to have captured Azure's heart. And Floch was still struggling with his feelings for Francine, unsure of how to express them without risking their friendship. He has to wait four more years, but his plan might get destroyed with Azure’s arrival.

Days passed by, Fiona could sense the disdain in Azure's tone, and it hurt her deeply. She couldn't understand why he was so cold towards her. She had always heard about how friendly and sweet Azure was to Francine and yet here he was, snubbing her without even giving her a glance.

One time, while they’re training in the forest, Royce notices the tension between Fiona and Azure, and decides to intervene. "Fiona, last time, I didn’t get the whole opportunity to introduce you to each other. But now, let me make up for it. I know you know Azure already, but yeah, he’s a new resident of the Land of Moon. My father took him in," he said, gesturing towards Azure.

Fiona smiled warmly, hoping that her friendly demeanor would help break the ice between her and Azure. "I know you know me already, Azure. But I hope you won’t forget my name. It’s Fiona. I'm the Gamma of our pack," she said, extending her hand for a handshake.

Azure reluctantly took her hand and shook it, but didn't say anything in response. His coldness towards her was palpable, and Fiona felt her heart sink.

Floch, who had been silently watching the interaction, decided to step in. "Hey, Azure, do you want to come with us to the training grounds later? We're doing some sparring, and it's always fun to have new faces join in," he said, hoping to ease the tension.

Azure hesitated for a moment, but then nodded his head in agreement. "Sure, I'd love to," he said, a hint of enthusiasm creeping into his voice.

As they walked towards the training grounds, Royce explained to Azure more about the pack hierarchy and the different roles of the members. He talked about how the alphas were the leaders of the pack, and how the betas and deltas were their second-in-commands. Fiona, as the Gamma, was responsible for maintaining the pack's internal affairs.

Azure listened intently, trying to absorb as much information as he could. He’s been with a pack before, but the Eirian is very different from the Green River Pack. Everything was new to him.

When they reached the training grounds, Azure was amazed by the level of skill and athleticism on display. The warriors were practising their fighting techniques, while the betas and deltas were doing strength and endurance training. Azure watched in awe, marvelling at how effortless they made everything seem.

Floch nudged Azure playfully. "Hey, why don't you join in? We could try what they’re doing," he said, grinning mischievously.

Azure hesitated, but then decided to give it a try. He walked up to one of the warriors, a muscular man with thick fur and piercing blue eyes, and introduced himself.

"I'm Azure. Mind if I spar with you?" he asked, trying to sound confident.

The warrior looked him up and down, assessing him. "Sure, kid. Let's see what you've got," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Azure took up his fighting stance, trying to remember everything Royce and Zeke had taught him. The warrior lunged at him, but Azure was quick to dodge and counter. They circled each other, exchanging blows and trying to out maneuver each other.

As Azure fought, he felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had never felt so alive before. The wind was whipping through his hair, and he could hear the sounds of grunting and panting all around him. He was completely immersed in the moment, and it felt incredible.

When the sparring session was over, Azure felt a sense of exhilaration coursing through him. He had never felt so alive before. He had always been fascinated by the idea of being a werewolf, and now he finally understood what it felt like.

“Oh my gosh, Azure! You’re great!” Fiona squealed. She approached him and handed him a face towel. Her body is so close to him. 

He felt a presence. Like a pair of eyes looking at him. Azure looked around and he saw Francine, looking at them. Francine ran away back into the woods. 

Damn, what the heck is running through her mind right now?!