Athena’s POV“Ma'am, are you okay?” Yifa called out to me from behind. As I opened my eyes, the wolf before was absent. The rustling leaves in the bushes signaled it escaped.“Did you see that?” I asked Yifa.“See what?” she replied, looking in the direction of my pointed hand.“Never mind.”Although I ventured back to the arena to observe others, my heart still raced from the encounter. From a distance, I spotted Ralph and waved with a brief smile, which he reciprocated. Despite attempting to enjoy the festivities, the lingering unease led me back to my room.With twilight settling in and the wolfing-out time approaching, marking the peak of the celebration, Ralph visited my room.“Are you okay? You look worn out,” he observed with concern.“I'm fine. Maybe just tired,” I reassured him with a smile, hesitant to burden him with the uncertainty surrounding the wolf encounter.“Will you be able to come to the arena later?” he inquired.“Of course.” After spending little time he return
Ralph's POVRunning back to the arena, I regained control and swiftly shifted, putting on the clothes provided for us after the run. The haunting howls of other wolves echoed through the woods.I don't see Athena around, and given what I overheard involving Bardulf, I felt compelled to check on her.The thought of my friend being connected to Athena brought a sense of humiliation that I'd address later.Tracing Athena's scent, I found her with crossed arms, standing with Tala and Ulf. My instincts signaled trouble, especially with Ulf's mischievous grin.“I have a wolf!” Athena exclaimed.“Prove it” Ulf, clearly up to mischief, challenged her with a hateful smirk. Determined to prevent a confrontation, I hurried over, standing behind Athena.“She has a wolf,” I declared loudly, suppressing any potential rumors.Surprising Athena, she turned and gave me a smile. I lent my support, making
Athena's POV“I'm fine,” I reassured Ralph as he left for the emergency.Concealing the baffling headaches that plagued me, especially since Ralph's departure the night before. I kept the details from him, determined to understand what was happening.Sitting in the living room, questions swirled in my mind. ‘Why was I naked? Why did I feel tired? Why couldn't I remember anything? And why was I so hungry?’ Ralph returned, concern etched across his face."How are you feeling?" he inquired, measuring my temperature with a gentle touch.“I’m fine,” I replied, sensing his disbelief. He mentioned calling a doctor, and soon enough, one arrived, examining me with questions and a thorough examination.“Everything shows you're fine, except these constant headaches. I'll give you a shot, and then we'll see if it persists,” the doctor concluded.“I need to keep a close
Ralph's POVShe was sleeping peacefully as I rose early for my morning run, slipping out of the room with care not to disturb her rest.Upon my return, there was still darkness in the room. I found her still asleep, so I decided to take a shower. Unexpectedly, she joined me.In a soft, weakened voice, she greeted me with a ‘Good morning,’ and I reciprocated with a smile.The temptation of her presence in the bathroom was undeniable, a tempting echo of the previous night lingered. Exerting restraint, I finished my shower swiftly and left the bathroom to brush my teeth. Fortunately, I had extra toothbrushes, sparing her the need to return to her room.Emerging from the shower, she found me already preparing coffee, putting on only shorts."I should find something to wear," she muttered, eyeing the towel wrapped around her."My wardrobe is at your disposal," I offered.She disappeared into the built-in wardrobe, reemerging in an oversized shirt, that wasn’t surprising considering our di
Athena’s POVMy connection with Ralph blossomed, he stopped the expectation of odd and even days.Tala handled the spy planted to watch over me, but caution lingered in my mind. "Someone is here to see you." Yifa announced it to me one morning. "Who?""Ulf’s mother." My heart skipped a beat, pondering why she sought me out.Approaching the outside lounge, I found an elderly woman seated. Despite being Ulf's mother, her kind demeanor struck me, reminiscent of Ralph's former wife."I hope I'm not interrupting your precious time?" she asked softly."No, you're not," I replied with a smile, taking a seat beside her."You're the only one who can help me talk to Ralph about my daughter.""Okay?""She has been very rude and steps on everyone's nerves, but she is still my daughter. I need her released to me." She admitted, her voice broke."I don't want her to die, that will leave me childless." Tears rolled down her eyes.Taking responsibility, I assured her, "I'll talk to him, she'll be r
Athena's POVI heard Ralph's approaching footsteps, signaling his arrival in my room, prompting me to swiftly cover myself with a duvet, pretending I was asleep. He settled on my bed briefly, attentively tucking away stray strands of hair before he departed.As I sat up, an uneasy sensation eloped me. I couldn't understand the cause of what happend, but an evident sense of problem lingered, casting a shadow of fear.Discreetly, I asked Yifa to bring me something for my headache, careful to conceal any hint of illness from Ralph."Is everything alright?" inquired Yifa, her eyes narrowing with concern."Yes, Yifa, why do you ask?""Why are your clothes scattered on the floor?"I gasped, discovering my clothes shredded about, reflecting an unsettling occurrence from the previous full moon."It's nothing. Just get me something to eat.""Are you sure..." she began."Please," I interrupted, my hunger taking importance.Returning promptly, Yifa delivered breakfast, which I consumed as Ralph
Ralph's POV Athena's behaviour had subtly shifted, a delicate fragility veiling her lately. She always withdrew interest in midnight festivities. It seemed a wish for a connection echoed in her eyes, one that the absence of a wolf created. The joyous games, staged by the balanced partnership between others and their wolves, became a constant reminder of her situation.I yearned for moments alone with Athena, a desire fueled by the discomfort of witnessing her isolation. A determination formed within me, I would go to great lengths to assist her in acquiring a wolf, if that isn't possible I'll still support and love her. I noticed Bardulf's apparent absence. I chose to divert my thoughts, avoiding the complexities that might cloud the joyous atmosphere.As the festivities came to an end, Gonzolo and Tidwulf prepared to depart. “Your face bears the glow of newfound insight,” Tidwulf remarked, a knowing smile playing on his lips, a reference to the counsel he had offered regarding
Athena's POVAfter the unsettling blood moon incidents, I bore an unease, hoping desperately to avoid their recurrence. This uncertainty led me to adopt a cautious distance from others.Ralph, however, stood as a beacon of constancy. His friendship manifested in shared adventures and delightful dates, a relaxation from the tempest within.Yet, despite the solace he provided, I hesitated to open my crisis to him. A silent fear gripped my heart, urging me to retain my secrets. Seeking solace, I turned to Tala.“Ever since you discovered your prince charming, you have hardly visited” she teased when she saw me.“Is that your way of saying you miss me?” I chuckled.“No!”“Tala, we met three days back”.“Well, I only went to see Ralph and we met coincidentally”.“You came to my room, and we were together until evening” I sighed, shaking my head.“Duh!” She laughed.As the day unfolded, we engaged in lively conversation, preparing lunch together. The desire to unburden myself wrestled with