Chapter 4

Aesthelia's eyes flutter open. Her eyes roam around the place to examine the surroundings. Once again, she woke up and was greeted by another unfamiliar place. This time, it was not the infirmary or her room. 

She noticed that the room she was currently in was rather simple and wooden. She wondered if she had transmigrated into another story she had read before. She just wishes that's not the case.

Good thing there was a small mirror at the side table wherein she checked her reflection. She breathed heavily.

"What time is it?" Aesthelia wonders aloud. She immediately sat up straight when she remembered she had been knocked unconscious the last time on the training ground.

Aesthelia flinched as the pain struck her shoulder, as if the wounds were reopening because of that sudden movement. "Ouch." 

Aesthelia touches her shoulder and notices that someone has put a bandage on it. A red liquid began soaking the bandage.

"I should've been careful," Aesthelia said in a low voice.

With super hearing ability, Aesthelia managed to notice and hear footsteps outside the room. The sound got nearer. She immediately lay down and pretended to sleep. 

She wanted to avoid getting into a conversation because she can't say something by mistake or she will be found out and who knows what will happen to her. 

The footsteps clatter around. Aesthelia sensed the presence of two individual people.

"I heard the fight was intense and Gior jumped in the last minute," a woman's voice said in a gossiping manner.

"Yeah, we never had Aesthelia treated before and now we have. She's a strong she-wolf," another voice commented. 

Aesthelia kept quiet and listened. Aesthelia sensed that they moved around. There was a clattering of steel which made Aesthelia's eyebrows furrow.

Then, she smelled an herbal kind of scent. Aesthelia identified that it might be the salutary wolf, a herbal healer wolf. Those wolves don't use magic and stuff. The treatment is fully based on herbal knowledge. 

Magic exists in this dimension, but it is rare to find one who possesses it. That is why the real Aesthelia became a top-ranking warrior after training for a few years. Her wolf is a healer, which is rare in wolf spirits. Many wolves respect her and that explains why they are cheering for her in the duel. She has more influence than the alpha heir himself, which the old Aesthelia used for her own good.

Aesthelia can not help but groan in pain as a soaked piece of cloth touches her wound in the shoulder. It looks like they are treating and cleaning her wounds manually. Aesthelia is engulfed by curiosity.

"It's alright dear," the woman's voice soothed. 

Aesthelia decided to slowly open her eyes  and meet the two strangers. Aesthelia blinked multiple times before getting used to the light that comes from the lamp. They needed to light it up.

"Hey," Aesthelia greeted, weakly waving. She doesn't know how Aesthelia greets, acts, or behaves around people, but there's nothing wrong with trying at least. If she wanted to survive, she needed to learn a lot of things, starting with the smallest details.

The two strangers look puzzled at how jolly Aesthelia sounds right now, but still decide to greet her back with a warm smile. 

"How are you feeling?" The woman with blonde hair looks like Lily, but older and more mature-looking. 

"Good," Aesthelia said. She bit her lower lips surpassing a nervous laugh. Honestly, she doesn't feel well and her shoulder hurts a lot. The bruises are still visibly red from the attack.

The blonde one nodded when the woman beside her nudged her side. "It's obvious that she doesn't feel fine, Kiara." 

"She said it herself, Gia." Kiara mumbled, then smiled at Aesthelia's way. The woman knew that Aesthelia was nowhere to be okay. Something was wrong with her wolf spirit, and Kiara didn't want to push it. 

"You know that you're a strong she-wolf, right? But everything has a limit and that includes your strength, "the woman named Gia said with a stern voice, as if she's lecturing someone who won't bother listening.

Aesthelia nodded, agreeing with her words.

"I was wondering how long I had been passed out." Aesthelia asked. 

"It's been a day and half. You lose lots of blood and the fight exhausts your body I guess that's also might be the reason why your wolf spirit can't manage to heal just in time, "Kiara explained while her hand is on her chin. A habit of hers when she is trying to think deeply and conclude. It made sense to her, but there were no cases such as a wolf disappearing after being summoned, unless the wolf got rejected by their fated partner.

Aesthelia said truthfully. She pinched her skin secretly to ease her nervousness.

Gia gasped in shock while Kiara's eyes widened. 

"You what?" Gia asked, screaming in disbelief.

Aesthelia repeated her words, which left Gia's jaw dropping.

"Have you perhaps met your mate?" Kiarra asked worriedly. If a wolf is rejected by their destined mate, they will get weaker as time passes by. It will feel like half of them are torn and the wolf spirit will gradually become weak. 

"No," Aesthelia said. The story didn't mention anything about rejections, especially with the supporting character. If the old Aesthelia met her mate, she wouldn't be obsessing with Gior Frauzon.

"We'll have to inform the elderly about this and see what information we can gather. This is a rare case, Aesthelia." Kiara said this in a more serious tone.

Aesthelia just nodded, agreeing.

"I wanted it to be secret for a while. I'll ask you for the favor of only telling trustworthy elders until it gets figured out, "Aesthelia said as she looked pleadingly at both of them. 

"Keep it a secret from the alpha and my father," Aesthelia added. She hasn't met her father yet, but her guts tell her not to tell him anything. The first one to notice the changes in Aesthelia would be her family. 

Kiarra was the first one to agree to keep Aestelia's wolf disapperance secret.

"That explains why Gior beat you like this."

"You're the one always winning, which made me puzzled to see you bleeding to death," Gia commented loudly as she sat next to Aesthelia. She comfortably sat beside the patient.

"I can still use some of the abilities that wolves have," Aesthelia said. She can use her hearing quite well. 

"You can." Kiara answered.

"You are born as a wolf, so some abilities are still there but weakened," Kiara explained.

"You could've died out there. What were you thinking when you asked for a duel even though you knew you were messing with Gior's mate? " Gia asked with furrowed eyebrows.

Aesthelia felt uncomfortable for some reason upon hearing those words. It pained her in some ways, but Aesthelia decided to shrug it off. Then she answered honestly and in a vague way. "I can't remember exactly." 

Aesthelia is confused. The real Aesthelia was described as a villainess, a brat, and an immature she-wolf in the story, but why does Aesthelia seem like a respectable person with how Kiara and Gia talk to her? 

"Sometimes we feel like we're not ourselves and end up making decisions we know we will regret." Kiara calmly said as she cleaned up after the tools and herbs that she used.

"You almost died. You hear me? If it weren't for the guy who carried you all the way here." Gia said.

"You're done," Gia stated sternly.

"I advise you to rest and avoid physical activities, and if I catch you on the training ground or elsewhere, I will tell you that I will beat you myself." Gia warned Aesthelia playfully, her fingers moving in front of her eyes, then Aesthelia's way of conveying that she would be watching Aesthelia's every move. 

"Alright, Gia." Aesthelia smiled as Gia continued to talk and nag her with concern. She felt the warmth. 

Both of the salutaries chimed in, "Then we will be going now."

"Thank you," Aesthelia said without hesitation. She grinned widely as she expressed her gratitude. 

Kiara and Gia looked at each other. They aren't expecting Aesthelia's word. Both of them smiled back.

Once the door closes. Aesthelia stared outside the window. The woods looked ten times more terrifying when it was dark. Although the moon shines brightly in the sky, the waning crescent shape glows as it reflects the light. 

Aesthelia strided her way to the window, closed her eyes and inhaled the fresh air when she heard something from the woods, a rustling sound.

Aesthelia flutters her eyes open and quickly looks down. Then, she saw a familiar figure entering the woods alone. The familiar hair waves in the air. 

"Merideth?" Aesthelia recognized who it was. Aesthelia narrowed her eyes in an attempt to make sure she got it right.

Aesthelia, out of curiosity, decided to follow Merideth. And if Aesthelia walks out of the front door, Gia wouldn't like it. The best option for now is to use the bay and bow windows. She's only on the second floor, and it will be a piece of cake for Aesthelia to jump over her to the ground. 

"I can do this," Aesthelia convinced herself as she slowly climbed outside the window to jump. 

Aesthelia squeezed her eyes shut as she jumped and she successfully landed on her feet. Aesthelia bit her lower lips to overcome her pain from the wounds. 

"Where possibly could she be? Does Gior know about it?" Aesthelia questioned herself aloud. 

Aesthelia wonders if Gior knows this and he lets her. She shook her head, "Now is not the time to think about it." She just has to follow Merideth's trace.

It's dangerous to roam around the woods, and there's a chance you'll encounter a rogue. 

"Sentinels better be doing their job right or they will feel Gior's wrath. " Aesthelia blurted out. She remembered something about sentinels. They are the ones who ensure the packs' safety and patrol the territory. 

As Aesthelia entered the woods, she heard rustling and followed the sound. Wolf night vision is good. 

Aesthelia turned to her left as she heard another rustling. It looks like there were more creatures than she thought. She was about to look into it when a loud scream was heard from far away. 

That scream sounded like it was from Merideth. Aesthelia immediately took off and ran, still in her human form.  She runs faster when it becomes terrifyingly quiet. She just wished nothing happened to Merideth. 

Aesthelia found herself in front of the tree of aegis which was located at the center of the pack's territory and the training ground.

"Merideth? Where are you? It's me! Aesthelia!" Aesthelia shouted, calling out Merideth. She also wanted to have a talk with her and it was a perfect opportunity for them since Gior was out-of-sight.

The training ground is empty. No one is here, but Aesthelia is sure that she heard the scream from here. Her eyes roamed, but she found nothing until she heard heavy breathing. 

Merideth is described as a fragile and weak late-blooming wolf. So, Aesthelia didn't anticipate that Merideth could hide quietly and sneak away. 

"What do you want?" Merideth asks with a shaking voice. She's scared of something. Aesthelia wonders if she has scared the young girl to death when she followed her here like a stalker.

"Why do you keep tormenting me?" Merideth shouted this time. The fear was evident on her face. 

"It's dangerous out here, Merideth. The sentinels are on the other side of the territory. " Aesthelia said.

Aesthelia is slowly turning around to face Merideth. She raises both of her hands, to show that she means no harm. Aesthelia wanted to sweep everything clean so she could start over and survive. 

"I just wanted to have a word with you."

"I promise I won't do anything," Aesthelia said with a faint smile, convincing Merideth that she was changing.

Merideth's stare becomes hard. Aesthelia's jaw dropped at her words. "That's what you said when you almost drowned me in the lake a few months ago,"

Aesthelia can't recall anything like that mentioned in the book, but knowing the old Aesthelia's hatred and jealousy against Merideth, it is possible that it could happen and she can't find herself denying that.

"I did?" Aesthelia asked dumbfoundedly. Her palm sweats at the revelation. If that happens before, then does that mean there is no way to mend their relationship? She can try, but that would be selfish of her to expect a good result.

Aesthelia believes in the saying that determination melts others; sincerity softens the cold hearts of many. 

"Look, I am sorry for all the terrible things I have done before. I won't ask you to forgive me that easily. I just wanted to make some progress in mending my relationship with you, "Aesthelia stated in a determined voice. She looks pleadingly at Merideth.

Aesthelia squeezed her mouth shut after talking, waiting for Merideth's reply to her apology. She's not expecting to be forgiven, the old Aesthelia done worst that can't be forgiven. 

"You must have seen me as a naive and clueless girl, Aesthelia. You can't deceive me, " Merideth said, her beautifully gorgeous eyes getting teary as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. 

"I am not trying to deceive you."

"I really am a changed person—a wolf," Aesthelia said desperately. She felt like her life was on the line. Aesthelia believes that mending relationships with the main characters is the only way out of the death doors. 

"A person can't change in that small amount of time, Aesthelia," Merideth whispered, but it was loud enough for Aesthelia to hear.

"I-" Aesthelia stuttered, trying to find the right words. Of course, that's true; it takes time for a person to change, and it's suspicious in Aesthelia's case. Plus, she can't say that she transmigrated in this dimension and she comes from another world.

"Enough. Please just stop. Just leave me alone, " Merideth interrupted Aesthelia before she could even say anything. 

"Just hear me out," Aesthelia tried to convince her one more time. 

"How can you expect me to hear you out when you don't even listen to me when I told you to stop and leave me alone?" Merideth shouted half-sobbing. 

Aesthelia looked down, ashamed when she realized her actions. There is no denying it; she did another thing that made Merideth cry.

Aesthelia immediately turned around when she heard rustling, as if a bunch of people were running towards the training ground. She was greeted by Gior Frauzon, who looked shocked, and the sentinels, who looked exhausted.

"What happened?" Gior asked Merideth. Merideth just shook her head, refusing to talk, and sobbed in his chest. 

"I warned you, Aesthelia. I told you to stay away from her. " Gior glared at Aesthelia's way. His soft facial expression turned into a furious one. 

"Lock her in the dungeon!"  Gior commanded with his alpha's voice.

Aesthelia's eyes grew wide at that. She didn't anticipate this would happen. He ordered the sentinels to capture Aesthelia and bring her to the dungeon.