Alpha King Versus Vampire King

21.Wolf Man

"Mate bond?... Mate?" Those words echoed in my mind.

"I'm in a werewolf's world. Werewolves." A shiver ran down my spine as realization hit me, and a chuckle escaped my lips as I thought about my classmates.

In truth, I had a vague inkling of their existence, not through direct knowledge, but from certain assumptions.

During my elementary school years, we gained a new neighbor – an elderly woman who bore a striking resemblance to my late grandmother. It turned out she was my late grandfather's sister. That summer, she spent a month with me, and we developed a close bond. Sadly, she departed after that month, and I encountered her again at her funeral three years ago.

However, I used to visit her house often, mainly for her delicious cookies. She had a young woman serving as her caretaker, who spent her days in the garden, engrossed in books. She didn't mind my frequent visits, and she would share tales of fairies and paranormal beings, which fascinated my younger self. Almost every weekend, I'd find myself in her garden, listening avidly to these stories.

I was so engrossed that I began to dream about these supernatural creatures. The elderly woman, Maria, even shared books from her collection, which I would read late into the night.

These books mostly revolved around beasts that transformed into human forms in search of their partners. The first book I read was about a beast who left home in search of adventure, but got lost while climbing a mountain. His recklessness led him to enter a forbidden path, transporting him to a strange world.

In this world, he decided to explore and ended up offending its deity. In anger, the deity cursed him, forcing him to become human and experience the ups and downs of human life. The beast form remained within him, and he was cast into the human world.

He had little knowledge of humans, relying on scattered gossip for survival. He believed that once the deity's anger subsided, he could return home, but that proved to be a naive hope.

Left to fend for himself, he hid in the forest, concealing his true identity. As he attempted to adjust, his body transformed into a beast, terrifying the humans who had offered him assistance.

The carnal beast within him was too much for his human form to contain, driving him to madness. He endured excruciating pain, regretting his decision to leave home and longing for his family. Yet, it was too late for him to rectify his mistakes. In isolation, he struggled to withstand the pain, and on the brink of collapse, a fairy's kiss finally ended his suffering.

This fairy hailed from the strange world as well, and she had been left to navigate the human realm. The beast and the fairy, who turned out to be his mate, came together, marking the beginning of the lineage of supernatural creatures.

I was captivated by these stories and decided to share them with my desk mate, who was once my best friend but later mocked me in front of our classmates. They laughed, labeling me as crazy, causing me to eventually forget about these tales.

A few days later, when I returned Maria's book, I encountered something that my younger self couldn't decipher.

That day, I hurried into the garden searching for Maria, only to find her absent. Dashing to the kitchen, I stopped midway, drawn by sounds emanating from within. An anguished cry pierced the air, and I tiptoed closer to the partially open door. After taking a deep breath, I peeked inside, witnessing the caretaker sprawled on the ground.

The scene before me sent shivers down my spine, causing me to cower behind the door in an attempt to calm my racing heart. Then, a piercing scream echoed from the kitchen. Gathering my courage, I peeked inside again, only to see a large white dog gazing down at his paws.

I scanned the room, seeking the caretaker, but she was nowhere to be found. Confusion gripped me, and then I heard approaching footsteps. I hurriedly left, encountering Maria at the front door.

I returned the book to her and was about to inquire about the caretaker when my dad called me away. Subsequently, I went on an educational trip, and upon my return, a new neighbor had moved in.

I questioned my dad about Maria, but even he had no information. Eventually, I changed schools, leaving behind memories of Maria and her tales of the paranormal.

"Where are we going?" I inquired, my confusion mounting as I failed to recognize the room we entered.

"Wait a moment." He brought the wheelchair to a halt beside a table and retrieved a book from the shelf.

"Here. Read this. It holds your answers." He handed me the book, and I began to read.

The book recounted the story of a werewolf – half wolf, half human – detailing their evolution, a narrative resembling the beast story I'd read earlier. It explained how they lived in packs, with the Alpha as their leader, followed by the Beta and the Gamma. The Moongoddess played a role in selecting their mates, a decision determined by scent. They transitioned into their wolf forms as they reached adolescence.

Completing the mating process involved marking their mate, a part of the story I skimmed over. The Alpha's mate was called the Luna and held significant importance within the pack.

Though I didn't delve into the details, I was intrigued by the existence of other supernatural creatures like vampires and witches.

Closing the book and lifting my gaze, I found myself staring into the eyes of Anord's uncle, a sensation of fear gripping me involuntarily.

"I... I won't reveal this to anyone."

"I promise... I swear—"

"Luna." He addressed me with deep respect, leaving me bewildered.

"Me?!" I practically exclaimed, incredulous at the notion.

Luna? Me? I couldn't help but scoff, regarding the old man with a look of disbelief. While I might have come to terms with the idea of werewolves, the concept of being a Luna felt overwhelmingly implausible.

"You are the Luna chosen by the Moongoddess and destined to be Anord's mate." His words were serious, and a rush of memories with Anord flooded my mind.

"So, you're saying I'm supposed to be Anord's destined partner, his mate?" I queried, seeking confirmation from the elderly man.

He nodded affirmatively, solidifying my understanding.

"As you've now learned about our world, we welcome our queen, Ukrine Texel, the queen of the Werewolves." The revelation of this additional piece of shocking news only added to my emotional upheaval.

"But what about Anord?" My curiosity got the better of me, and I found myself blurting out the question.

"That's something you should inquire about directly. He's anticipating your presence in his study," came his response, leaving me no choice but to confront my feelings and unravel the mysteries that lay ahead.