Chapter 21

Leo and Ethan walked onto the training ground, the midday sun casting long shadows behind them. The moment they stepped into the center, the atmosphere shifted. Every guard that had been training paused, turning their attention toward the two figures now standing in the middle. A hush fell over the area as the guards began to gather around, forming a loose circle, their eyes filled with anticipation.

They knew what was coming. Leo and Ethan sparring was always a sight to behold. They were the strongest wolves in the pack, unmatched in strength and skill. Leo, the Alpha’s son, was known for his raw power and incredible speed, while Ethan, his trusted guard and advisor, was a master of technique and precision. When the two fought, it was like watching a dance of power and control—a spectacle that left everyone in awe.

Ethan rolled his shoulders, loosening up as he gave Leo a knowing look. “Ready to clear your head?” he asked, his tone light but with a hint of challenge.

Leo smirked, nodding in response. “Let’s do it.”

Without another word, they began. The circle of guards erupted into cheers, their excitement evident as they watched the two wolves square off. Leo moved first, his speed a blur as he lunged at Ethan with a powerful strike. But Ethan was quick, sidestepping Leo’s attack with practiced ease, countering with a jab aimed at Leo’s midsection.

Leo blocked the hit, his eyes focused, his movements fast. The two exchanged blows with a fierce intensity, each testing the other, neither willing to back down. The sound of fists meeting flesh and feet pounding against the ground filled the air, mixing with the cheers and shouts from the surrounding guards.

“Come on, Leo!” one guard yelled, his voice rising above the rest. “Show him what you’ve got!”

“Don’t let him get to you, Ethan!” another called out, laughing as the two wolves continued their dance of power.

For a while, Leo managed to keep his focus, his thoughts narrowed down to the fight in front of him. Every strike, every block, every movement was calculated and precise. But as the fight dragged on, something caught his attention—something that pulled him out of the moment and made him falter.

At the edge of the training ground, standing just a little distance away, was Lucy. She wasn’t part of the crowd, wasn’t cheering or even watching the fight with the same excitement as the others. She stood there, her presence a quiet contrast to the noise and energy surrounding them. But to Leo, she was impossible to ignore.

His gaze lingered on her, his mind momentarily drifting away from the fight. Why was she here? What was she thinking? He felt a pang of something—guilt, worry, something deeper he couldn’t quite name. It was enough to distract him, to pull his attention away from the fight.

And in that split second, Ethan struck.

Ethan hadn’t noticed Leo’s distraction, his focus entirely on the fight. Seeing an opening, he moved in quickly, aiming a powerful blow at Leo’s side. Normally, Leo would have blocked it easily, but this time, with his attention on Lucy, he didn’t see it coming.

The hit landed hard, knocking the wind out of Leo’s lungs. He stumbled back, gasping as pain shot through his side. The crowd around them fell silent for a brief moment, the cheers dying down as they realized something was wrong.

“Leo!” Ethan’s voice cut through the sudden quiet, his tone filled with concern as he stepped back, realizing his mistake. “Are you okay?”

Leo blinked, shaking his head as he tried to clear his thoughts. The pain from Ethan’s blow throbbed in his side, but it wasn’t just the physical pain that bothered him. It was the fact that he had let his guard down—because of Lucy.

The guards around them murmured, their excitement turning to confusion as they watched Leo struggle to regain his composure. Ethan reached out, his hand hovering near Leo’s shoulder as if he wasn’t sure whether to help him or not.

“Leo,” Ethan said again, his voice quieter this time, but with a hint of urgency. “What happened? You never let your guard down like that.”

Leo gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand up straight, pushing the pain to the back of his mind. He couldn’t afford to show weakness, not in front of the guards, not in front of Ethan. And definitely not in front of Lucy.

“I’m fine,” Leo said, his voice firm despite the pain. He shot a quick glance at Lucy, who was still standing there, watching him with an unreadable expression. He forced himself to look away, focusing on Ethan instead. “Just lost focus for a second.”

Ethan frowned, clearly not convinced, but he nodded nonetheless. “We can stop if you want,” he offered, his tone gentle. “No need to push yourself.”

Leo shook his head, determination hardening his expression. “No,” he said, a hint of defiance in his voice. “Let’s keep going.”

But as he got up on his feet, he staggered like he was losing his balance. He bent his back a little, his hands resting on his knees and at that moment, let out a loud growl that caught everyone's attention. His growl echoed through the trees such that the leaves were shaken and the birds flew away.

The crowd of guards still surrounded him, watching with anticipation but they sensed the change in the air. The cheers and shouts of encouragement had died down, replaced by a wary silence. Even Ethan, standing opposite Leo, could see that something was wrong.

Leo could feel the tension building inside him, a storm of emotions that he struggled to keep in check. His heart raced, and his muscles tensed as the energy coursed through his body, threatening to spill over. The fight with Ethan had been intense, but it wasn’t the physical exertion that was pushing him to the brink. It was the thoughts he couldn’t shake—thoughts of Lucy, of his father, of the pressures mounting on him from all sides.

“Leo…” Ethan started, concern laced on his face but before he could finish, it happened.

Leo felt his control slipping. His body began to shift, the familiar but always unnerving sensation of his bones stretching, his muscles contorting. He gritted his teeth, trying to hold it back, but it was no use. The transformation was inevitable. The beast within him demanded to be released.

His hands, clenched into fists, started to elongate, claws sprouting from his fingertips as his skin darkened to a deep, almost jet-black hue. His face stretched into a snout, sharp teeth replacing his human ones, and a thick layer of fur began to cover his body. His once intense blue eyes turned a glowing yellow, and his vision sharpened, taking in every detail with predatory clarity.

The transformation was complete in a matter of seconds, but it felt like an eternity. Standing in the middle of the training ground was no longer Leo, the Alpha’s son, but his wolf form—a towering creature, black as night, with fur that rippled like shadows and eyes that burned with an inner fire. He was immense, his presence dominating, his power undeniable.

The moment he fully shifted, Leo let out a loud, earth-shaking growl that reverberated through the entire pack. The sound was primal, filled with both rage and sorrow, a release of all the emotions he had kept bottled up for so long. The ground beneath his massive paws trembled, and the air itself seemed to vibrate with the force of his growl.

Every guard present fell silent, their eyes wide with awe and fear. They had seen Leo in his wolf form before, but there was something different this time—something more intense, more terrifying. No one dared to move. They were frozen in place, unsure of what to do, or what Leo might do next.

Lucy stood up from where she was, caught by the form of Leo. It was her first time she was going to see him shift.

Ethan, standing closest to Leo, instinctively took a step back. His heart pounded in his chest as he dropped to his knees, his head bowed low. He knew all too well that he couldn’t take Leo in this form, not even if he shifted into his own wolf form. The sheer power radiating from Leo was overwhelming. The rest of the guards followed after Ethan and also fell on their knees.

“Ethan, you don’t have to kneel,” Leo’s voice rumbled out, deep and guttural, as he shifted back to his human form. His transformation was swift, the fur and claws receding, his body shrinking back to its usual size. His voice, though human again, still carried an edge, a lingering trace of the beast he had just been.

Ethan remained on his knees for a moment longer before slowly rising to his feet, his eyes never leaving Leo’s. “I had to,” Ethan said, his tone serious. “I don’t know what you might do in that form. No one does.”

Leo clenched his jaw, understanding the truth in Ethan’s words. Even he didn’t fully trust himself when the wolf took over. He exhaled slowly, the tension gradually leaving his body as he regained his composure.

“Disperse the guards,” Leo ordered, his voice calm but commanding. “Get them back to training.”

Ethan nodded, turning to the circle of guards who were still watching, their eyes wide with uncertainty. “You heard him!” Ethan barked, clapping his hands together to get their attention. “Back to training, all of you!”

The guards hesitated for only a moment before obeying, the spell of Leo’s transformation broken by Ethan’s command. They scattered, returning to their exercises. As the guards dispersed, Leo’s sharp gaze shifted to a spot at the edge of the training ground. His eyes narrowed as he spotted Lucy standing there. She had been sitting a moment ago, likely watching the training from a distance, but at the sound of his growl, she had stood up, her body tense, her expression unreadable.

Ethan noticed Leo’s gaze and followed it, spotting Lucy as well. “Oh! I could now see why I got you while training.” 

Leo smiled and nodded his head. “Now you know.” 

“But why is she alone?” Ethan questioned, his brow furrowing. “Why would she be here, all by herself?”

“I don’t know,” Leo admitted, his voice quiet, the calm after the storm. He could feel the unease settling in his chest again, a knot tightening in his stomach. “I don’t know why she’s here. Her face doesn't look too good. I guess she was still overwhelmed by what happened back in the room”

Ethan’s eyes darted between Leo and Lucy, sensing that there was more to this than Leo was letting on. He hesitated for a moment before speaking again, his tone more cautious. “Do you want me to go find out?”

Before Leo could respond, a new voice broke through the tension. “Lucy!” Marie called out, her voice tinged with urgency as she appeared from behind a nearby building. She was clearly flustered, her steps quick as she rushed toward Lucy.

Lucy turned at the sound of Marie’s voice, her expression softening slightly but then, she looked away and sat down.

Ethan glanced at Leo, a question in his eyes, but Leo shook his head, signaling for him to stay back. “Let’s wait,” Leo murmured. “See what they’re up to.”

Marie reached Lucy, her eyes wide with concern. She spoke in a hurried, hushed tone, too low for Leo or Ethan to hear from where they stood but with Leo's ability, he could pick a sound no matter how low if he focused himself. 

“Don't touch me.” Lucy uttered sharply and Leo looked up at the sound of her voice.