ã€ŠFenris: The Lost Ritualã€‹


 Chapter 1: Lone Wolf

    In a tavern, sitting at the edge of the room there sat a hooded figure, face down trying their best not to cause any attention. "Where am I again, damn all these towns are starting to look the same, I better ask for directions and update the map ". The problem was who to ask without causing any suspicion. Bards were playing cheery music but that was just noise to the hooded figure preventing them from thinking what an annoyance those bards were.

    The hooded figure had an urge, a powerful urge to tell them to shut the hell up suddenly the doors of the tavern were busted open it seemed like they didn''t have to say anything at all because at the moment the bards stopped playing, people drinking and barkeeper stopped serving there was a moment of silence.

    Five individuals in armor strolled in, their heads turning left and right like they were looking for something or to be more accurate someone. Finally one of them spoke up, he seemed to be the group''s leader because he walked in front of the rest.

    "Listen up we''re part of The Hunter''s guild and we have reasons to believe that one of those mutts is hiding among you now if you''re not one of them you have nothing to fear just got to check everyone here! You don''t mind right." He said giving a cynical smile, he then turned around and gave the nod to one of his associates, The man pulled out a dagger from his side and gave it to the group''s leader.

    He spoke up again "This here is a silver dagger we''re gonna place it upon your skin, if nothing happens then it proves that you''re human if not well then we''re going to prepare a stake fire just for you" he smiled again cynically.

    "Silver, really? They''re using that old superstition. Well, I guess I have nothing to worry about then", the hooded figure thought, leaning against the wall and watching the show. The leader went ahead and started with a woman, she looked to be in her early twenties, and she showed no fear.

    Why would she, there was nothing for her to worry... "Ahhhhh!" She screamed as soon as the dagger was placed on her palm. This made most in the bar restless and anxious.

    "She''s one of them a freak, a monster!!!" a stranger said, "By the gods, she''s disguised herself as one of us, let''s burn her at the stake right now", another stranger yelled. Soon the entire tavern was uproared with hateful comments they no longer saw her as a person, they all glared at her like she was some demon.

    "You''re wrong I''m human, I''m one of you please you have to believe me " she pleaded with tears running down her face. "LIES!!!.", don''t fall for her trickery she is a monster and if we let her live she''ll come for your loved ones in the night, ripping them to shreds", the leader of the hunters said.

    Everyone in the tavern started to approach her, some with weapons, some with broken glasses the rest with broken wood made from the chairs they were sitting on. The girl looked absolutely terrified there was nothing she could do, she was surrounded. She could try to run but to where all the exits had been blocked. She tried speaking to them once more but nothing came out of your mouth, all she could do was cry knowing what her faith was.

    The Hunters rushed at her, binding her arms and legs, she resisted but it was no use. One particular tall member of the hunter group placed her on his shoulder. "We''re going to burn her at the stake if anyone wishes to see this monster die for threatening the lives of you innocent folk come along!" the leader yelled.

    They all cheered in unison following the hunters out of the tavern was the brutal execution, even the barkeeper left with them. After a few minutes, the tavern was empty, well not ''completely'' empty; only one individual remained, the hooded figure who was dumbfounded by what they saw. "What the hell was that!" the hooded figure exclaimed in disbelief. "There''s no way that girl was like me I would sensed it and even if she was silver shouldn''t have done anything to her", the hooded figure said.

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    They noticed the dagger used was on the floor, it must''ve fallen off during the chaos. They picked it up and observed it. "Huh this seems pretty normal to me, I''m not seeing any runes or enchantments this doesn''t even look like silver". They placed their finger on the blade. "Ah", they felt a burning sensation, it was quite painful but they''d felt worse before, and then slowly the burn started to heal. The hooded figure looked at the dagger more closely, noticing a drop of liquid easy to miss if not paying attention, it also seemed like the blade was slightly burnt in a way.

    They placed the knife on a table then a sizzling sound was heard removing the blade they found a blackish mark left on the table. "Some kind of acid or something, a nice con it''s amazing how humans can be fooled so easily", the hooded figure said.

    Moments later laughter was heard from the tavern door, coming in was one of the men from the hunter group he was slim and had black hair. He then saw the hooded figure holding the dagger, he locked eyes with them showing a stunned expression. There was silence for a few moments, the hooded figure simply dropped the dagger and walked leaving the tavern. Leaving the tavern the hooded figure saw the girl who had been falsely accused tied to the stake, they hadn''t begun burning her yet they were still fetching wood for that.

    She lost her voice in the tavern but now she couldn''t stop screaming and crying begging for mercy. "What a shame, but that''s just how humans are", the hooded figure muttered. They were walking away from the execution trying to avoid attention, they soon entered an alley. Up ahead they could see two men that belonged to the ''hunter''s'' group, they looked behind where they came from another two more men also blocked it.

    Coming forward between the two was their leader, he was a bald and muscular man with no defining features, honestly if it wasn''t for the armor he was wearing he''d be quite forgettable. "One of my men informed me you uncovered our little trick. Unfortunately for you lad, we can''t exactly let you go after that, don''t know who you might exactly you might blab to.", the leader said, giving that cynical smile he gave more than once in the tavern.

    The leader then nodded to all of his men, they all unsheathed their swords from their waist they started to approach the hooded figure. The hooded figure was quiet not saying anything, then their claws started to grow, they didn''t just grow, they became thick and solid, gaining a slight tint of black to them. One of the men came forward and started to speak, "We''ll make this qui¡ª", before he could finish a slash appeared on his face diagonally, it was deep going all the way to the neck. He dropped dead, blood running from his lifeless corpse.

    The hooded figure stood above it with blood in his, and his claws more visible to the rest of them. They were stunned for a while, but then the leader yelled, "Kill him now he''s the real deal!!!". The remaining four charged toward him with their swords. One try to swing his sword vertically at the hooded figure caught him by the neck holding him in the air and crushed hisneck quickly.

    Another tried to swing his sword at the hooded figure this time horizontally, the hooded figure caught the sword they bled but their hand still remained intact, the hooded figure broke the sword in half and used his broken half and stabbed the man attacking them at them blood spilled and they fell down choking.

    The leader witnessing the death of all of his men was frightened, it showed as he was shivering he tried to flee but the hooded figure caught him by the neck and held him against one of the alley''s walls. The leader struggled with allhis might but it was useless. For the first time the leader got a close look into the hooded figure.

    They had glowing yellow eyes but that wasn''t all they also had abnormal teeth with their incisors elongated and their canines. "You''re a you''re a ", the leader tried to speak but was having trouble due to his neck being choked. "Yeah a werewolf", the hooded figure crushed the leader''s neck and let their corpse fall to the ground.

 Chapter 2: Fenris

    Five corpses were scattered along the alleyway, among them a hooded figure looking at them.

    The figure removed their hood, revealing a dark brown-skinned man with gray eyes and long curly hair reaching his neck. He was about 1.8 meters tall, with a slightly muscular build. He appeared to be in his late teens or early twenties. Even he didn¡¯t know for sure.

    This man was Fenris, a werewolf who had been on his own for quite some time.

    He looked at his clothing and grunted.

    ¡°Damn, now I¡¯m all covered in blood.¡± It wasn¡¯t that Fenris minded. Not at all. He¡¯d seen and spilled blood countless times. The issue was not having a change of clothes. If he walked out of the alleyway in the middle of the day with his clothes drenched in blood, someone was bound to notice, and he didn¡¯t have any more coin to buy new ones.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Fenris thought as he looked at the corpses. Maybe he could salvage the situation.

    Moments later, at the execution site of the falsely identified werewolf, there stood a man in robes watching the already burnt corpse.

    ¡°Hey buddy, I¡¯m here for my payment,¡± a voice called from behind. The man dressed in robes turned around to find Fenris wearing the armor of one of the men he had killed.

    ¡°Where are the rest of your group? And I don¡¯t think I remember you being with them,¡± the man in robes asked.

    ¡°Oh, they¡¯re just drinking and whoring. You know how it is¡ªwe gotta celebrate after getting ourselves a kill, so they sent me to collect payment, which I still haven¡¯t gotten, by the way,¡± Fenris said, glaring at the man and extending his hand as if expecting something to be placed in it.

    The man in robes looked at Fenris for a while but eventually gave in and handed him a pouch. Fenris counted the coins¡ªfifty silver. This was a lot more than one might think. In this world, silver was more valuable than gold. As absurd as it sounded, it made sense given that it was a world ruled by fear and superstition about werewolves.

    Fenris didn¡¯t know how that myth started, but he didn¡¯t mind it. He¡¯d gotten away on numerous occasions because of its silly logic.

    Some believed only silver could kill a werewolf. Sure, if you managed to drive a silver sword through a werewolf¡¯s heart, they would die, but if you pierced it with iron or steel, they¡¯d still die. The same went for humans and, well, pretty much everything.

    Fenris pocketed the bag of coins and went on his way, but then he turned around and realized this was a perfect opportunity to solve his other problem.

    ¡°Hey, do you know where I can update my traveler¡¯s map around here?¡± Fenris asked the man in robes.

    ¡°There¡¯s a building with three floors not too far from here. Ask for a sorceress named Sonya. The fee is hefty, but that shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you,¡± the man in robes said.

    It took some time for Fenris to find the building; he wasn¡¯t given any directions, just a description. But he had finally found it. It was the tallest building in the entire town.

    Walking inside, he found it quite crowded. There were signs all over for various businesses, not normal ones¡ªjust the ones that cost quite a lot. There was blacksmithing, which he saw on his right, love potions, and a grimoire store. He saw people wearing dark robes, most likely mages, coming out of it, and more.

    Fenris thought it was best to ask the owner of the grimoire shop about Sonya. There was a good chance a mage would know another mage. As he entered, he found someone who appeared to be in his forties or fifties sitting at a desk.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Welcome to my store, young mage,¡± the man said with a smile. ¡°So, tell me, what kind of mage are you? Are you a Blessed One, or are you one of the Faiths?¡± the store owner asked.

    ¡°Neither. I¡¯m here looking for a mage named Sonya. The problem is I have no idea where to start. I was hoping you did,¡± Fenris answered.

    The grimoire store owner¡¯s facial expression quickly changed from cheerful and welcoming to uninterested and annoyed. ¡°Top floor. You¡¯ll find her working behind a stand with an arrow sign on it,¡± the store owner answered in a dull tone.

    Fenris began leaving. It was clear the man wanted him gone immediately. ¡°Well, should I ask about the other thing? Maybe she was here. Who am I kidding? No way would I be so lucky to finally have a clue,¡± Fenris thought as he had an internal debate on what to do.

    ¡°Young man, I seem to have noticed you haven¡¯t left my store yet,¡± the store owner said in a more annoyed tone.

    ¡°Any chance a sorceress came here with purple hair and dark robes with crescent moon patterns on them?¡± Fenris asked.

    ¡°No,¡± the store owner answered quickly.

    ¡°You sure? Those are features you don¡¯t see in your everyday mage. Try thinking back a little. Maybe she did come here,¡± Fenris asked.

    ¡°I may be old, but I¡¯m not that old. And you¡¯re right¡ªthose are special features for a mage, and I certainly would have remembered them if this sorceress came to my store. Now, if that is all, I ask you to be on your way,¡± the store owner said.

    ¡°Well, so much for that,¡± Fenris thought. Walking away from the store, he felt a little defeated. Years spent looking for her, and every time he came up with nothing. Maybe he should just abandon the search.

    It was killing him¡ªnot knowing where she was, not knowing if she was still alive. No, he couldn¡¯t think like that. If he did, then there would be no point.

    Reaching the top floor, Fenris again saw a lot of businesses attending to their customers. He also saw a stand with a sign hanging on the wall with an arrow on it, just like the rude old man described. There wasn¡¯t a long line, just two people in front. One was a mage in dark robes¡ªFenris remembered seeing him leave the grimoire store¡ªand a man with a crossbow on his back. It was finally his turn.

    Sonya was a blonde woman, probably in her mid-thirties, with green eyes. She was about 1.7 meters in height, maybe shorter.

    ¡°Good day, and how can I help you?¡± she said, giving a smile. It was kind of funny how people could smile so innocently when they wanted something.

    ¡°I need to update my map, and I hear you¡¯re the person who can do that,¡± Fenris answered.

    Sonya took a look at the map Fenris was holding. Its edges were torn and frayed, and it bore lines from being folded and unfolded many times.

    ¡°I can help you with that, and I can also help you get a new map,¡± Sonya said.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. Just update the one I have,¡± Fenris said.

    ¡°If the price is what you¡¯re concerned about, don¡¯t be. It¡¯s only ten bronze coins,¡± Sonya said.

    ¡°No!¡± Fenris said louder than he meant to. He realized what he had done. Turning around, Fenris saw a few stares directed at him. He had to fix this and fast.

    ¡°I mean, no thanks. This map has sentimental value for me, and I don¡¯t need a new one. Please just update it for me,¡± Fenris said softly.

    ¡°Of course. The fee is fifty gold coins,¡± Sonya said. Fenris handed her one silver coin.

    ¡°The process will take some time. Please be patient,¡± Sonya said. She placed her hand on the map, and circular waves appeared from her hand, spreading out to the entire map.

    ¡°I¡¯m so lucky that it worked,¡± Fenris sighed in relief.

    He wasn¡¯t lying when he said the map held sentimental value for him. After all, it was created for him by a very dear friend¡ªthe same friend he¡¯d been searching for, for years. But that wasn¡¯t the only reason for his resistance and earlier outburst.

    Creating a new map would require his blood, and there was a good chance she would be able to detect it as not being from a human. That was not a chance he was willing to take.

    ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± Sonya said.

    The process took about ten minutes. Fenris grabbed the map and looked at it. Little pictures, large diagrams, and wordings that weren¡¯t visible before started to appear on the map. There was also a little triangle among the others. That was him¡ªor, to be more precise, it was where he was.

    ¡°May I ask where you¡¯re going?¡± Sonya asked.

    ¡°North,¡± Fenris answered.

    ¡°Well, be careful. After all, winter is coming, and I hear it¡¯s quite deadly there,¡± Sonya said.

    ¡°I¡¯ll remember that. And oh, my change,¡± Fenris said.

    Sonya handed him fifty gold coins.

    Fenris began exiting the building. ¡°They haven¡¯t found the bodies yet. By the time they do, I need to be as far away from this town as possible,¡± Fenris thought.

 Chapter 3: East not North

    Leaving the building, Fenris hurriedly made his way to buy a new set of clothes. The armor he wore was bulky, uncomfortable, and, worst of all, hideously ugly. Fenris wasn¡¯t the type who liked attention¡ªhe couldn¡¯t afford it, considering what he was¡ªbut if he were to get noticed, he certainly didn¡¯t want it to be while wearing the human casket currently draped over him.

    He found a tailor¡¯s shop and purchased a shirt, a pair of trousers, and, most importantly, a cloak. The cloak was an essential item for him. Once he was alone, he opened his map. As before, words, pictures, and diagrams began to materialize, with a small triangle indicating his current location.

    According to the map, he was in the Kingdom of Pyros. Of course, he already knew that; what he truly wanted to determine was how far he was from his next destination.

    Pyros was one of the five great kingdoms of the continent¡ªperhaps even of the world¡ªeach named after a god, much like the other four kingdoms. Fenris had come here specifically to follow the trail of Luna, his friend, his savior, and, ultimately, his abandoner.

    From their many conversations, he knew she was from here. The town of her birth was only a few days away on foot. If she wasn¡¯t there, Fenris might have to give up his search altogether. He had already spent two years looking for her. She had left him without a word, leaving only a letter saying he no longer needed her.

    Why was he doing this? Why had he traveled so far for someone who didn¡¯t even have the decency to say goodbye properly? Was it closure he sought? He didn¡¯t know. All he knew was that he wanted to see her one more time.

    Earlier, Fenris had told Sonya, the sorceress who updated his map, that he planned to head north. That, of course, was a lie.

    Luna¡¯s hometown lay to the east. Once the bodies of the men Fenris had killed were found¡ªand once it was revealed that they weren¡¯t members of the Hunters¡¯ Guild but rather con men who had burned an innocent girl at the stake for money¡ªthey would start looking for him. So he had lied to Sonya, hoping to throw them off his trail.

    He¡¯d been doing this for as long as he could remember. It wasn¡¯t something to take pride in¡ªjust something necessary to survive.

    He pulled the hood of his cloak over his head and began walking, leaving the town behind. Walking to his destination would take three days, but running could get him there in half a day. Being a werewolf granted him an array of abilities normal humans couldn¡¯t even fathom¡ªsuperhuman speed was one of them.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    If Fenris started running now, giving it his all, he¡¯d almost be a blur moving through the forest, leaping from tree to tree. The thought of such freedom made Fenris smile.

    But alas, he couldn¡¯t¡ªnot now, not during the day, and certainly not with witnesses around. Any witnesses would need to be ¡°dealt with¡± to keep his secret, and Fenris wasn¡¯t in the mood for more bloodshed. He¡¯d have to wait until the moon rose to experience true freedom.

    Still walking, not yet out of town, and with the sun shining above, Fenris had a troubling thought. What if he didn¡¯t find Luna? What then? Would he return to searching for answers about his past? He might as well; his earliest memory was waking up in a field as a child, remembering only his name and little else.

    He¡¯d been about eight, perhaps nine, when that happened. Since then, he¡¯d been alone, hopping from pack to pack. But every pack he joined seemed cursed¡ªalways found by hunters, with most of its members killed and the survivors scattering in terror.

    Fenris had fled from place to place, always afraid, never understanding why the world seemed to want him dead. Was it a crime to exist? His life had changed when he met Luna, a beautiful young sorceress with an inexplicable fascination for werewolves. Fenris never understood why she took an interest in him but was grateful for it nonetheless.

    She had taught him much¡ªabout the world, about magic, about the gods that ruled over it. Above all, she had tried to teach Fenris how to truly live, not merely survive. Yet despite her efforts, survival was all he knew when she wasn¡¯t by his side.

    Then, it suddenly hit him¡ªthe real reason he was doing all of this. If he didn¡¯t find Luna, he¡¯d be utterly alone. He had no one else in this world except her. The realization was both depressing and horrifying.

    Fenris stopped in his tracks, allowing the weight of the thought to sink in. Snapping out of his daze, he noticed the sun beginning to set. ¡°Finally,¡± he murmured, a hint of excitement in his voice.

    Not long after, the sky transformed from its golden glow to a deep, star-studded darkness. The air grew colder, and a gentle breeze swept past him.

    Finally, the moon emerged¡ªnot full, but a crescent. Fenris would take what he could get.

    At night, Fenris felt more powerful than ever. He was stronger, faster, and his senses became sharper. It was as though a translucent blindfold had been removed from his eyes, his ears and nose cleared, and the weights shackled to his limbs cast off. The moonlight invigorated him.

    His eyes began to glow a bright yellow, his incisors elongated, his canines sharpened, and his nails grew thick and claw-like. Fenris looked around. He had left the town far behind and now stood alone in the forest. There were no humans in sight.

    After the stress of the day, this was exactly what he needed¡ªto relax and take his mind off his troubles.

    Dropping to all fours, Fenris prepared himself. He had to do this right, or it wouldn¡¯t be worth it.

    ¡°Let¡¯s run,¡± he whispered with a feral grin, his sharp teeth gleaming and his glowing yellow eyes piercing the darkness.

 Chapter 4: Night Run

    At night, in a particular forest in the kingdom of Pyros, a figure moved at great speed. If someone had been observing, they might have mistaken it for an animal. It was Fenris, running on all fours like a beast.

    This was possible due to his unique nature. His legs could alter their formation, allowing his knees to bend slightly backward, enhancing both his agility and speed.

    Running in the forest at night was an almost indescribable feeling for Fenris. The cool night air rushed past him, caressing his skin, while the earthy scent of the forest filled his nostrils. The moonlight filtering through the canopy created a dappled pattern on the forest floor, guiding his path.

    He felt free¡ªtruly free¡ªas if he had left all his problems behind. In these moments, nothing else existed but the thrill, the excitement, and the raw power that came with running like a beast under the moonlight.

    "Ah, what a rush!" Fenris thought to himself. He had been running for hours and didn¡¯t feel exhausted at all.

    "Okay, time to gain a little altitude," Fenris said aloud. He jumped, landing on a tree branch and digging his claws into it, then leaped to another branch a considerable distance away.

    He repeated this process, leaping from tree to tree with no fear. Even if he fell, he wouldn¡¯t sustain any injuries. The ground beneath him blurred as he raced through the trees, each stride carrying him deeper into the heart of the forest.

    More hours passed. The night sky gradually lightened, and the moon disappeared beyond the horizon. Fenris landed on the ground, a look of disappointment crossing his face. His fun was over.

    "Running always makes me hungry. I hope there¡¯s a deer nearby," Fenris said aloud. Perhaps he should have been concerned that he was talking to himself, but years of traveling alone had left him accustomed to it.

    Fenris closed his eyes, focusing on his other senses. He relied primarily on his ears to pick up the faintest sounds of the forest, hoping to catch the rustle of potential prey.

    As he stood there listening, his mind wandered back to the feeling of the wind in his hair, the thrill of running as though there were no tomorrow, and the pure, unadulterated freedom of the night. This was his escape, and he knew he would return to it again and again, as long as the moon hung in the sky.

    Then he heard it¡ªthe rustling of leaves and the faint sound of something drinking water from a pond. It was light and delicate. A deer.

    "Got you," Fenris murmured. The sound came from the west. He moved toward it slowly, ensuring he didn¡¯t scare off his breakfast. Using the trees for cover, he finally spotted it¡ªa deer with antlers, drinking from a pond, completely oblivious to his presence.

    The early morning sun had not yet fully risen, leaving the world bathed in a soft, dim light. In the gentle rays, the deer looked almost ethereal, as though it were too pure to exist in this cruel world. But Fenris had to eat.

    He prepared himself, then dashed forward. The deer reacted too late. Fenris grabbed it in a chokehold. It struggled to escape, but his grip was unyielding. With a swift motion of his claws, he sliced its neck. Blood flowed from the wound as Fenris gently laid the deer on the ground, allowing it to die.

    The deer was dead¡ªa successful morning hunt for the young werewolf. Now he could start a fire and cook his prey like anyone else. It would take some time to skin the deer and find the right wood. Or...

    Fenris bit into the deer, consuming it raw.

    His fangs made quick work of ripping through skin and meat. Within twenty minutes, he was finished. All that remained of the deer was its skeleton and antlers. He could have eaten more, but there was no need to rush.

    He stood and continued on his journey. Walking along a forest path, he checked his progress.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    "Wow, I really covered a lot of distance this time. Might be a new record. If I keep walking, I¡¯ll be there before the end of the day," Fenris said to himself.

    He recalled what Luna had told him about this town¡ªthough she hadn¡¯t said much. She¡¯d mentioned that she grew up there but had offered no other details. Fenris, who lacked the majority of his childhood memories, had always tried to pry, but Luna would smile and change the subject. Was her past truly so painful? And if it was, what were the chances she would return there? It didn¡¯t matter. This was his last clue; it had to lead him to her.

    Fenris walked from early morning until late at night. Finally, he saw lights ahead. It was a town¡ªthe one he had been searching for. He had finally arrived.

    Entering the town, Fenris began looking for a tavern. Barkeeps tended to know a lot about the towns they worked in, and he needed a place to stay for the night. While he didn¡¯t mind sleeping in the woods, tonight was different. Tonight, he needed proper rest and answers about Luna.

    He entered the tavern, where a group of bards played cheerful music.

    "Again? What do these people have that makes them so damn happy all the time?" Fenris grunted. Maybe it was the fact that they all had normal lives, that they hadn¡¯t been hunted since childhood, and that the world didn¡¯t want them dead.

    Yeah, that was probably it.

    He approached the barkeep, who was cleaning a wooden mug. Fenris had noticed that barkeeps always seemed to be cleaning mugs in every tavern he visited. He wondered if the mugs were ever actually dirty or if it was just a facade of busyness.

    "What do you want, son?" the barkeep asked without pausing his cleaning.

    "A room for the night," Fenris replied, dropping a few coins onto the counter. The barkeep eyed the coins. Fenris had overpaid, but the man wasn¡¯t going to mention it. He pocketed the money.

    "Upstairs, second door on the right. But the night¡¯s still young. Have a drink, join the crowd. Oh, and just so you know, there¡¯s a pretty girl who¡¯s had her eye on you since you walked in," the barkeep said with a grin.

    Fenris didn¡¯t even turn around. "Just the room is fine," he said flatly, showing no emotion. He walked upstairs, found the room, and lay on the bed. It was time for a good night¡¯s rest. But he couldn¡¯t sleep. Two years of searching had led him to this town¡ªthe birthplace of the friend who had abandoned him.

    He tried not to dwell on it. If he found nothing here, he would be alone in a world that didn¡¯t want him to exist. Alone with no friends or family.

    Before searching for Luna, Fenris had tried to uncover clues about his own past. All he had was a memory of waking in a field with no recollection of his identity. He¡¯d found a wooden necklace carved into the shape of a wolf. At first, he thought it was insignificant, but then he remembered a fleeting image¡ªa woman placing the necklace around his neck and saying, "I love you."

    It was hard to remember the woman¡¯s face now. Years had passed since the memory surfaced, but he remembered the warmth he had felt. That same warmth returned whenever he thought of Luna.

    Exhaustion flickered in Fenris¡¯s eyes¡ªnot physical but mental. He closed his eyes and drifted off.

    Fenris woke to find sunlight streaming through the window. Judging by the brightness, it was already afternoon. Was he really that tired? Or had he subconsciously stayed in bed, fearing what would happen if he found nothing?

    He went down to the tavern. The barkeep greeted him with a grin. "Well, look who¡¯s finally up! I was starting to think someone killed you in your sleep," the barkeep joked.

    Fenris didn¡¯t respond. The comment might have been a joke, but it struck a nerve. He¡¯d woken to the sounds of former pack members fighting¡ªand dying¡ªtoo many times.

    "I¡¯m looking for someone. Ever heard of a sorceress named Luna? She¡¯s a Blessed One. Apparently, she¡¯s from here," Fenris asked.

    "A Blessed One? HA! Unlikely, son. If we had one of those, they¡¯d be the talk of the town. This place isn¡¯t that big; everyone knows everyone. Sorry, but I think you¡¯ve got the wrong town," the barkeep replied.

    Fenris was stunned. Had Luna lied to him? But why? And why would she leave him with only a letter? He couldn¡¯t give up yet. Maybe she hadn¡¯t told the whole town who she was.

    He left the tavern and went into the town, asking anyone he could about Luna. He described her features and mentioned that she was a Blessed One. Everyone denied knowing her. The barkeep had been right. A Blessed One would have been widely known in a small town like this.

    Defeated, Fenris felt the weight of two years of searching for her settle heavily on his shoulders.

    "Young man, may I have a moment of your time?" a woman¡¯s voice called. Fenris turned to see a woman in her forties with dark hair and eyes. She was slim, and something about her seemed familiar, though he was certain they¡¯d never met.

    "I couldn¡¯t help but overhear your conversations with the townsfolk. This ¡®Luna¡¯¡ªcould you describe her for me?" the woman asked.

    "Purple hair, dark eyes, and a robe with crescent moon patterns. She¡¯s also a Blessed One," Fenris said.

    The woman¡¯s expression turned distressed as she looked away. "I think... I think she¡¯s my daughter," she said.

 Chapter 5: Lunas Not Luna

    Fenris was filled with mixed emotions after hearing what the woman said. There was confusion and a bit of hope. After years of searching for Luna, he was now standing right in front of her mother. Maybe he could finally get some answers about where she might be.

    "What do you mean you think she''s your daughter? You should be certain of it, right?" Fenris asked.

    The woman looked left and right, as though scanning for eavesdroppers. "There are too many people here. We should go somewhere more private," the woman said.

    She began walking away, and Fenris followed but suddenly stopped.

    What if this is a trap? he thought. She could be leading me to a place with fewer people so there won''t be any casualties. She could be a hunter in disguise as a helpless woman.

    Life as prey had made Fenris deeply paranoid. To be fair, it wasn¡¯t outside the realm of possibility that this woman was a hunter, but it didn¡¯t matter. He wasn¡¯t about to give up the only hope he had of finding Luna.

    If the woman turned out to be a hunter, Fenris would just deal with her.

    He pushed his doubt aside and followed the woman into a small house.

    "You can have a seat. Would you like anything to eat?" the woman asked.

    "No, just tell me what you know about your daughter," Fenris replied in a stern tone.

    "Very well, but you''ll still need to sit down. I have a question for you as well," the woman said.

    Fenris stood for a moment, hesitating, but then decided to sit down on a dining chair. The woman sat across from him.

    "Well, I suppose I should introduce myself. I am Rosa. May I know your name?" Rosa asked.

    There was a brief silence.

    "Fenris. Now that the introductions are over, mind telling me more about your daughter?" Fenris asked, his tone quite rude.

    "As I implied earlier, I only think she''s my daughter. I''m not sure this ''Luna'' you¡¯ve described is her," Rosa answered.

    "What makes you say that?" Fenris asked.

    "Well, for one, my daughter''s name is Andrea. The only reason I think the girl you described might be her is that your descriptions match her appearance," Rosa explained. She let out a deep sigh. "I suppose I should start from the beginning.

    "My daughter and I lived simple lives. Her father died when she was very young, so I doubt she remembers him. At the age of ten, she developed the ability to perform magic. I was ecstatic about this. I''m sure I don''t need to tell you why," Rosa said.

    Fenris understood. In this world, there were two kinds of magic: Blessed Ones and Faiths. Blessed Ones were individuals born with the ability to perform magic, and the number of spells they could learn was infinite. Faiths, however, belonged to religious groups that served a god. They had to rise in rank to be granted magic, and even then, the number of spells they were given was limited by the domain of the god they worshiped.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    For instance, a Faith who worshiped a fire god like Pyros would only have access to fire-based spells. Thus, being a Blessed One was considered far more favorable. The problem was that Blessed Ones were rare¡ªso rare that only about ten percent of all mages in the world were Blessed Ones. As such, being one guaranteed a good life, as kings, nobles, and other powerful figures sought their talents.

    "Something tells me this story doesn¡¯t have a happy ending," Fenris said.

    "It doesn¡¯t," Rosa said.

    "Over time, I began to notice changes in my daughter, and I¡¯m not referring to the usual changes that happen as children grow. Her behavior became¡­ different. For one, she developed a fascination with the moon¡ªspecifically its crescent stage. She would draw it everywhere: on paper, walls, floors, and even tables.

    "It got so bad that I had to scold her repeatedly. Eventually, the behavior subsided," Rosa said.

    "I wanted to tell the town about her being a Blessed One, but she begged me not to, saying she¡¯d be taken away. She didn¡¯t want to leave me behind. In a way, it made sense. If someone heard about her abilities, a noble could come and offer to train her, which would mean she¡¯d have to leave. Still, it struck me as odd that she thought of this at such a young age."

    "As the years went by, other strange things happened. Her hair started showing shades of purple. When I asked her about it, she claimed it was bad hair dye, but I couldn¡¯t smell any chemicals on her hair.

    "She stopped enjoying her favorite foods, didn¡¯t go out with her friends, and abandoned activities she once loved. Even the way she spoke changed¡ªher accent became foreign. Over time, I felt like I was living with a stranger who only looked like my daughter," Rosa said, her tone a mixture of sadness and fear.

    "When she turned sixteen, she left home. I tried convincing her to stay, but she refused, saying there was nothing for her in this town. That hurt¡­ a lot. Her own mother was standing right there, yet she said those words. I asked her to at least write to me, and she promised she would try."

    Rosa looked down, her voice breaking. "It¡¯s been six years since then, and I haven¡¯t heard a word from her."

    Fenris listened to every word Rosa said. He had always wondered about Luna¡¯s past, and this revelation was shocking. To learn her given name wasn¡¯t even Luna¡­ it was unexpected. He¡¯d assumed she had been abused or mistreated, which was why she never spoke about her past. But if what Rosa was saying was true, that wasn¡¯t the case at all.

    Maybe Rosa was lying. After all, why would Luna leave if her life wasn¡¯t terrible? But then again, Luna had left him even when things seemed good between them. Or had that just been his perspective?

    "I¡¯ve told you my story. Now it¡¯s your turn. Tell me, how did you meet her?" Rosa asked.

    Fenris could have refused, but seeing the sadness in Rosa¡¯s eyes made his heart ache. She only wanted any information she could get about her daughter.

    "Five years ago, she saved my life in more ways than one. We traveled together for a while, but one day, she disappeared, leaving me with only a letter. I¡¯ve spent the last two years trying to find her, and eventually, that led me here. I was hoping she might have returned, or that someone here could tell me where she went," Fenris said.

    "I¡¯m sorry, but I have no idea where she is. I¡¯m sorry about how she left you. I should have raised her better. But her leaving like that¡­ it does sound like Andrea," Rosa said, her sadness deepening.

    There was silence between them for a moment. Fenris didn¡¯t know what to say. He had learned about Luna¡¯s past but still had no idea where she was. He had failed.

    "I should be on my way," Fenris said, rising from his seat.

    "Wait. Would you tell me about your travels with Andrea, please?" Rosa asked.

    Fenris hesitated. The resemblance between the two women made it impossible for him to refuse.

    "Alright," Fenris said, sitting back down. He began thinking of ways to alter the details of his stories. He couldn¡¯t exactly tell her he was a werewolf¡ªthat would surely send her running. So, he decided he would leave out certain truths.

 Chpter 6: What Now?

    Fenris spent quite a lot of time telling Rosa about his adventures with Luna, although he had to alter some details, mostly about himself.

    Rosa listened carefully to every word. She smiled while doing so, and this made Fenris glad, even if just a little. It also helped him reminisce about the times he spent with Luna. Maybe she was worth all the years of searching.

    "Looks like the two of you have been through a lot together. I''m glad my daughter had such a reliable companion for a time," Rosa said.

    "I was lucky to have her," Fenris said, smiling softly.

    "I have taken a lot of your time. I know you didn''t find what you were looking for, but I have to know something else," Rosa said.

    "You can go ahead and ask," Fenris said. He just had to figure out a way to alter more details. It was tiring, but it felt good seeing Rosa smile. It was like he was with Luna again, and they were having fun like they always did before she left.

    "Are you just friends with my daughter?" Rosa asked.

    "What do you mean?" Fenris asked.

    "The way you spoke of her was so lovely and admirable. It almost seemed like there was more going on than mere friendship. It felt like you two were courting each other," Rosa said.

    "What? Is that¡ªhow does it sound?" Fenris felt embarrassed. He blushed, looking away from Rosa and scratching his neck awkwardly.

    "Well, if that was the case, you should know that I approve. My only problem is that you''re rude. You clearly have no respect for your elders, but I can forgive that since you came all this way looking for Andrea. There aren''t many people who would spend their time doing what you''ve done for her," Rosa said.

    Fenris was glad to hear this comment, but he was sure that if she knew what he really was, she would never utter those words. Still, it was nice to hear.

    "Thank you, but it doesn''t matter anyway since I can''t find her," Fenris said.

    "You''re giving up looking for her?" Rosa asked, looking a bit disappointed.

    "It seems I have to. I have nothing else to go by," Fenris said.

    "Oh, I see," Rosa said. "Well, by any chance you do run into her, tell her her mother misses her dearly," Rosa said.

    "I will be sure to do that. Goodbye, Rosa," Fenris said.

    He got up from his seat, left the house, and made his way out of the town. Now in the forest, with no one else there with him, Fenris let out a scream and slammed his fist on a tree beside him. The tree vibrated, leaves fell, and cracks appeared where Fenris made an impact. Removing his fist, there was a hole in the shape of his hand.

    "Damn it, damn it! All that effort and time, and I still don''t know where she is. I give up. I can''t keep looking, especially when I have no idea where to look," Fenris said.

    The question was, what now? He had spent two years looking for her. Beyond that, he didn''t really have a purpose. His worst fear had come true: he was alone.

    Traveling the country, Fenris continued his usual routine, keeping to himself, trying not to attract attention, and never staying in one place for too long. He had been doing this since he was a child. It was quite lonely, but what other choice did he have? It kept him alive.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    A few months later, Fenris was seen in another tavern, but his face wasn''t covered by a hood, nor was he sitting at the edge of a corner. No, his face had a beard that was not too big, and a mug was in his hand as he sat at the barkeep''s table. He gulped the drink in one go.

    "Hey, pour me another," Fenris said.

    "You might wanna slow down. That''s the fifth mug you''ve had," the barkeep said. Despite saying this, the barkeep still took his mug and went to refill it.

    The funny thing was, Fenris couldn''t get drunk due to his incredible healing¡ªanother trait he had as a werewolf. So, he was just drinking the beer and pretending to be drunk. He was that depressed.

    The barkeep brought him a refilled mug, and he gulped it down in one go.

    "Ah, tastes like piss. I can''t believe people drink this at all," Fenris said.

    "I can''t believe this is how you''re spending your time, my friend. You''ve fallen so low," a voice said.

    Fenris turned to his side and saw a familiar face. He growled in annoyance and then turned away.

    "What are you doing here, Buck?" Fenris asked.

    "Oh, you know, sightseeing, smelling flowers. I just happened to run into you¡ªa total coincidence," Buck said.

    "Right, coincidence," Fenris said, not sounding convinced at all. He had known Buck for a long time. He wouldn''t call them friends. No, Buck was like a street dog that, once you showed the tiniest bit of affection to, they''d follow you around everywhere you go. Yeah, that explained Buck perfectly.

    They first met in one of the packs Fenris joined. That pack was annihilated, leaving Fenris and Buck as the only survivors. They were children then, about ten. Well, Buck was, anyway. Fenris had to guess they were the same age or close.

    They went their separate ways, only to meet on separate occasions like this one. Buck always tried to convince Fenris to join a new pack he had just joined, but Fenris always refused.

    "Yeah, coincidence. But now that I found you here¡ªnot stalking you at all¡ªthere''s something I''ve been meaning to tell you," Buck said.

    "No!" Fenris said, not even turning to look at Buck.

    "That''s not fair! You don''t even know what I''m going to say," Buck said.

    "Let me guess: something to do with me joining a pack?" Fenris asked.

    "Yes, but¡ª" Buck said, but was interrupted.

    "This is your what, the tenth pack you''ve joined?" Fenris asked.

    "Eleventh, actually, but you know what they say: eleventh''s the charm," Buck said.

    Fenris stared at him for a while, trying to think of a comeback, but came up with nothing. He just turned away.

    "This one is different, though. It really is," Buck said.

    "Sure, just like the rest were," Fenris said sarcastically.

    "No, Fenris, I mean it. It''s not just about surviving anymore. The pack leader is different from the rest. He has a plan¡ªa real plan to fight back. Just meet him. I know you''ll see it too," Buck said.

    Fenris didn''t even consider it. This was Buck, after all. He was always like this¡ªwanting to cling to hope wherever he could find it. Besides, being alone worked for Fenris. He didn¡¯t know why, but every time he joined a pack, the hunters always seemed to find him quicker.

    He ordered another drink and swallowed, then suddenly he spat it out. His throat burned, his lungs felt the same, and he could barely breathe. He fell from his seat, grabbing his chest.

    "Wolfs...bane," Fenris said, barely getting the word out.

    "Well, looks like we got quite a catch today: two werewolves on the same day. The goddess of luck must be on our side," a voice said.

    Behind them, a group of four wearing hoods suddenly took them off, revealing three men and a woman, all wearing silver armor. They were hunters¡ªnot like the fakes Fenris ran into a few months ago.

    "Good job putting the wolfsbane in his cup. We''ll give you your cut once we show his head to the Hunters Guild," one of the hunters said, looking at the barkeep. The barkeep nodded and left the tavern.

    They approached Fenris and Buck, drawing up their weapons. One of them had a sword, another had a bow and arrow, the third had a whip, and the woman had a spear. Their weapons had strange markings on them. Then, suddenly, each of the markings glowed a different color.

    Fenris was still on the floor, grabbing his chest and coughing in pain. He was able to get a look at the weapons. He saw them glow and knew what that meant.

    "Damn. They have runed weapons," Fenris though

 Chapter 7: Runes

    Looking at the weapons the hunters were holding, Fenris noticed they had runes inscribed on them, and they were glowing. Runes were a form of magic where a magical spell could be sealed into an object, making whoever wielded it, mage or not, able to cast a spell through that weapon.

    There was something similar to this process called enchantment, where spells could be placed in gems, and the one holding the gem could perform magical spells as long as they held the gem or were touching the item.

    The difference between runes and enchantment was that runes were more refined; it took a certain level of skill for a mage to create a rune, and they could seal just about any kind of magic by altering the symbols. Enchantment, however, was different.

    Only certain gems could store certain spells in them. For example, a ruby gem could only store fire spells, while a sapphire gem could store ice spells.

    Fenris knew of this because it was one of the things Luna had taught him. He didn''t know what spells were stored in the weapons just by looking at them, but he knew it would be a tough fight even if he weren''t poisoned by Wolfsbane right now. The Wolfsbane poison would eventually wear off, but not anytime soon.

    He struggled with all his might and got up, resting one hand on a tool. His eyes glowed yellow, and his fangs showed. He started to growl. He was angry, which was good; anger helped him. It made him stronger, and he needed all the strength he could muster.

    "Ah, I didn''t expect this to happen when I ran into you. You must have bad luck," Buck joked.

    Fenris couldn''t even glance at Buck right now; he had to gauge the situation. The four hunters were approaching, and they had runed weapons. They outnumbered Fenris and Buck. It was unlikely that they were going to survive.

    "Damn it, well, if I''m going down, I''m taking you all with me!" Fenris yelled, bringing out his claws and positioning both of his arms to the side. One of the hunters flung the whip he was holding. It extended and grew in size, hitting Fenris in his chest and sending him flying behind the barkeep''s counter. He passed through a wooden wall and hit a stone wall. He landed in the rubble of wood and broken kegs, with spilled drinks.

    "Fenris, are you okay?" Buck shouted.

    "What a stupid question," Fenris thought. He wanted to speak the words but couldn''t. He was coughing out blood. He would have healed by now if it weren''t for the Wolfsbane in his system. After that hit, he was struggling to keep his eyes open.

    Buck brought out his claws and went for the attack. His eyes also glowed yellow as he moved to attack the hunter with the whip. But before he could reach him, an explosion happened right in front of Buck, pushing him back. He maintained his stance and looked to the left. He saw one of the hunters aiming a bow and arrow at him. The hunter released the arrow, but Buck was able to evade it. Still, the impact of the explosion sent Buck flying back.

    The four of them started to surround him, then, surprisingly, Buck had a smirk on his face. He placed his hands on the ground, and suddenly ice came from his hands, enveloping the floor from Buck to the hunters, trapping the hunters'' feet in ice. The hunters were stunned at this sight. They couldn''t believe it, and neither could Fenris. He managed to take a look at the battle every few seconds.

    "Did he just...? No, impossible. It''s just the Wolfsbane messing with my head," Fenris thought, dozing off once again. The reason they were all stunned was that werewolves weren''t supposed to be able to perform magic. Maybe they could if they were wielding an enchanted or runed weapon, but that was highly unlikely.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Buck rushed to the hunter who had the whip. They were all still stunned, and Buck appeared in front of him before they could truly process what was going on. Buck placed his hands on the hunter''s face, the one with the whip. The hunter''s body slowly began to freeze, then Buck clenched his hand into a fist, breaking the frozen hunter''s body into pieces.

    "That''s for Fenris," Buck said.

    "Jasmine, where''s the magic object that''s making him do this?" the hunter holding the sword asked. The hunter holding the spear looked at Buck. He was wearing a laced-up shirt, leather pants, and boots with mud on them.

    "I can''t find it," the hunter said. "He doesn''t seem to have any, Jasmine," one of the hunters said in a frightening voice.

    "That''s impossible!" the hunter with the sword said. "Levi, set us free from this ice!" he called, referring to the hunter with the bow. Levi aimed the arrow at the ice and fired. A huge explosion sent them all flying to the edges of the tavern, breaking the ice in the process.

    They all got back up quickly and were ready to continue the fight. Levi aimed at Buck and continuously fired explosive arrows toward him. Buck was incredibly fast and agile and managed to evade every single one of the arrows by bouncing and leaping side to side.

    At the rate this was going, the entire tavern was going to be destroyed. The tables and seats were all broken, and one of the wooden pillars was also damaged.

    Buck stood a few meters from the three hunters, not taking his eyes off them for even a second. He stopped dodging because it seemed the hunter with the bow was out of arrows.

    He smiled at this fact, brought his claws out, and swiped both his arms, swinging them both in an X shape.

    Then two wind slashes appeared. The hunters were surprised once more, but not so much that they were stunned. They readied themselves for it, but the two attacks completely missed them.

    "You missed," the hunter with the sword said.

    "Did I?" Buck asked, a smile on his face. Then suddenly, the roof of the tavern started to crumble. The hunters didn''t understand what was happening until they turned around and saw where the wind attacks hit. It had destroyed two of the pillars supporting the whole tavern, with one already being destroyed by the explosions made by one of them. Only one pillar remained intact, and it was at Buck''s right.

    "I''d love to continue this, but I like not being flat," Buck said, using his claws to generate two more wind attacks to create two more wind slashes. This time, they hit the hunters. They weren''t injured, just knocked to the floor.

    The roof was still coming down on them. Buck used his incredible speed to get an unconscious Fenris out of the room he had been flung into and head toward the exit. The hunters got up from the ground, but Buck had already gone through the exit before they did. He then used one of his claws to generate another wind slash aimed at the final pillar. It destroyed the pillar, and the building completely collapsed with the hunters still inside.

    Buck stared at the destroyed building and placed Fenris down. It was night, and the destruction had caused quite a ruckus, which attracted a small crowd.

    "What happened?"

    "Was anyone still inside?"

    "Did bandits attack us?"

    They all wanted answers.

    Buck stood, staring at them for a while, not saying anything. Then he showed his fangs and gave a loud roar. They all scattered, fleeing for their lives.

    "That takes care of one problem. Now for the next," Buck said.

    Using his enhanced hearing, he listened for any sign of life in the wreckage. He didn''t hear anything until he heard a slight groan. He followed the sound and found Jasmine, one of the hunters. She was holding a spear stuck between the rubble. Buck looked at her, and she looked at Buck. It was like they were in a staring contest. Then Buck stomped on her neck, killing her instantly.

    "Whew, that could have been troublesome," Buck said. "Time to leave this place. I''m sure Fenris wouldn''t mind tagging along."

 Chapter 8: Majestic Prison

    Fenris woke up feeling a bit uneasy. He slowly opened his eyes, expecting to be in a forest or a place with wooden floors and a window for quick escape routes. But instead, he found himself in a bed too large for just one person, surrounded by stone walls, floors, and ceilings, with a chandelier containing numerous gems.

    "Where am I? I don''t remember getting here. The last thing I remember was getting hit by that whip. Was I captured by the hunters and taken to this... majestic prison?" Fenris thought.

    It seemed unlikely. He had heard tales of werewolves who were captured but not killed, and none of the stories ever mentioned being woken up in a room fit for a prince.

    It didn''t matter how he got here¡ªhe had to escape. He got up from the bed, bare-chested, only wearing trousers. Not a problem for him, but he did notice a white shirt laid out on the bed. Were the people who brought him here expecting him to wear it? It didn¡¯t matter anyway, not with the shirt¡¯s color.

    "White? Ah, why even bother?" Fenris thought. It was easier to get blood stains on white clothes, so he had never cared much for them.

    He looked for a window and found a rose-colored one. Looking through it, he saw he was about 30 feet high. Below, he noticed about ten guards. "I could make that jump, but the guards are a problem. I could take them out, but I have no idea if there are others. I''d like to get out of here without causing a scene. The people who brought me here may not know I''m awake," Fenris thought.

    He exited the room and found himself in a decorated hallway. Closing his eyes, he used his ears and nose to figure out where people were, so he could avoid running into them.

    He heard heartbeats above him and decided not to go that way. Instead, he chose to go below. Anytime he heard a heartbeat or smelled someone near, he would hide or take a different route. Then, suddenly, he smelled some scents that were somewhat familiar to him.

    "Werewolves here? Are they prisoners? Maybe this really is a prison. If it is, I can only save myself," Fenris thought.

    Searching for the stairs and avoiding as many people as possible, Fenris eventually found a door. He entered and discovered a room that seemed to be a workshop. Weapons, armor, and papers with writings were scattered around.

    Fenris looked at the papers and noticed they were covered in runes. He also found these runes inscribed on the armor and swords. "This must be a mage''s workshop¡ªquite unorganized, though. Luna was always so neat and tidy with her things," Fenris thought.

    Suddenly, he heard a heartbeat behind the door. This startled Fenris because he had expected to hear footsteps first, not just a heartbeat. There was nowhere to hide except...

    A woman walked into the room. She had short, messy hair, was brunette, and had baggy eyes. "Did someone touch my stuff? I keep everything in a perfect system."

    "It was probably Buck. I swear, no one gets under my skin the way he does," the woman muttered as she headed to a table.

    Fenris, who had been hiding behind the door, grabbed her neck from behind. "Don''t scream. You''re going to tell me everything I want to know¡ªwhere am I, how many guards are here, and how can I escape?" Fenris whispered into her ear.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    The woman used one of her hands to touch his face, and suddenly, his entire body was electrified, causing him to let go of her neck. She started to cough, then sent out a telekinetic wave that threw Fenris into the hallway, crashing into the wall. "Ah, what is it with people throwing me around like a ragdoll lately?" Fenris thought.

    He unsheathed his claws, and the sound of them hitting the wall was so loud that it would surely grab attention. It looked like he was going to have to fight after all.

    "Fenris, you''re finally awake," a voice called out. Turning around, Fenris saw Buck coming out from another path, accompanied by two others. From their scent, Fenris could tell they were also werewolves.

    "Buck, you escaped. Any idea how to get out of here?" Fenris asked.

    "Escaped? Fenris, buddy, this isn¡¯t a prison," Buck said.

    Fenris wasn¡¯t exactly stunned. He wasn¡¯t a fool¡ªthis didn¡¯t look like a typical prison. But he was still jumpy, as he had no idea how he ended up here.

    "The wolfsbane I drank at the tavern... it should''ve left my system in a few hours, but it''s a different time of the day here, meaning I''ve been out for more than a day. What happened?" Fenris asked.

    "Oh, about that. I may have given you a little more wolfsbane¡ªtiny droplets, just to keep you asleep," Buck said.

    "YOU DID WHAT?! You could''ve killed me, you imbecile!" Fenris yelled. He was justified in his anger¡ªwolfsbane wasn¡¯t a sleep sedative; it was poison to all werewolves. If they were fed or inhaled it in gaseous form, they would die a painful death.

    "He almost did. I had to burn it off from your system," a voice said.

    Fenris turned around to see the woman who had thrown him into the hallway.

    "You must be the most ungrateful patient I''ve ever had," she said, hands on her hips. "I heal you, and this is how you repay me?"

    Fenris didn¡¯t reply; he just turned back to Buck, giving him an uncomfortable glare.

    "You say this place isn¡¯t a prison? Good, because I¡¯m leaving," Fenris said, turning to leave.

    He tried to find the stairs, but the building was like a maze. "Fenris, wait," Buck called after him.

    "I only did what I did because I knew you wouldn¡¯t have come with me otherwise. At least meet the pack leader. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯re going to regret it," Buck said, following Fenris.

    "Doubt it. I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯ll regret it if I stay. You know what happens when werewolves come together," Fenris replied, still searching for the stairs, walking through hallways and doors. Somehow, he found himself back at the spot where the woman and the other werewolves were.

    "Couldn¡¯t find the stairs, could you?" she asked with a smile.

    Feeling embarrassed, Fenris turned away and walked off again.

    "Fenris, seriously, hold up," Buck said, grabbing his arm. Fenris turned back, showing his yellow glowing eyes and growling. Buck quickly let go of him.

    "Look, even if you leave, what then? You¡¯ll just go back to hiding and being on the constant move. That¡¯s no way to live, my friend," Buck said.

    "If I stay with the rest of you, it¡¯s only a matter of time before the hunters come here. And I¡¯d rather be far away when that happens," Fenris said.

    "The hunters still found you when you were alone. If it wasn¡¯t for me, you¡¯d be dead by now," Buck said.

    "The hunters only found me when you arrived. Proving my point, I¡¯m leaving. And don¡¯t even think about trying to stop me," Fenris said.

    "If the hunters are what you¡¯re afraid of, you don¡¯t have to worry about that. I can assure you they won¡¯t find any of us here," a voice said.

    Fenris turned around once more to see a tall, muscular man with long blonde hair that reached below his neck and green eyes. He walked slowly toward the group.

    "Lycan, you¡¯re back!" Buck said with glee in his voice. The others all had smiles on their faces. They were genuinely happy to see him.

    "I''m guessing this is the pack leader Buck wanted me to meet," Fenris thought.

 Chapter 9: Lycan

    Looking at the one they called Lycan, he was quite menacing. But his appearance, terrifying as it may be, was softened by his radiant smile and good looks. He was a few meters from Fenris, and the others were smiling at all of them.

    "You must be Fenris. Buck''s told us all about his best friend," Lycan said.

    "His what?" Fenris asked, looking shocked and annoyed.

    "I''m Lycan, the leader of this group. Welcome," Lycan said, extending his hand. Fenris looked at it and just walked away.

    "He''s a rude one, isn''t he?" the woman said.

    "I told you the hunters won''t find you here, and I meant it. You leave now, and there''s a good chance that someday they eventually will," Lycan said, watching Fenris leave.

    Fenris stopped in his tracks and looked behind him toward Lycan and the rest.

    "How are you so sure the hunters won''t find us here?" Fenris asked.

    "Follow me, but first, put on some shirts and a pair of shoes. Just because we can turn into an animal doesn''t mean we have to behave like one," Lycan said.

    "Buck, show him to his room. I''m sure he''s forgotten where it is," Lycan said.

    Buck nodded and walked ahead of Fenris, then gestured with another nod for Fenris to follow him.

    They walked together in silence for a few minutes, then Buck began to speak.

    "Well, you''ve met Lycan, so let me tell you the others'' names. The sorcerer is Gwendolyn. She''s been a part of this pack from the start. Try not to get on her bad side. I¡¯ve done that a few times, and it¡¯s gotten me struck by lightning, burned by fire, and once drowned in a pool of water. The other two werewolves are twins, Alden and Aria. They can do this awesome thing during the full moon... nah, I don''t want to spoil it for you. You''ll have to see it for yourself," Buck said.

    Fenris listened without saying a word. Buck was quite the talker.

    They reached the room Fenris woke up in, but Fenris refused to wear the white shirt. Buck revealed a closet full of clothes, and Fenris picked a black shirt and some boots.

    After that, Buck took Fenris to the exit of the building. Looking at it while leaving, it was bigger than Fenris had thought. It seemed like an abandoned castle. Some parts of it were broken, and plants were growing out of the walls.

    The only thing that indicated that this place was still inhabited was if one were to go inside.

    Fenris and Buck passed through the guards, or the ones Fenris thought were guards. They had swords, and some had halberds, but no more, just leather clothing. From their scent, it seemed they were human.

    "Do they know what we are? And if they do, why are they here?" Fenris thought.

    Moving along, they ran into Lycan. When he saw them, he smiled once more. Fenris had met a lot of werewolves in his life, but none seemed as cheerful as the one in front of him.

    "Good, you''re all dressed. Take a walk with me," Lycan said.

    Lycan and Fenris began their walk, but Buck didn''t follow; he was asked to stay behind. Looking around, Fenris saw they were in a forest, but not like others. The floor was filled with grasses, and there were more trees than usual.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    In other forests, the trees weren''t so many because a lot of them would be cut down, and there was no clearing in sight. In other words, there were no signs of humans ever being here.

    "Stop," Lycan said.

    Fenris stopped walking as Lycan ordered.

    "We''re here. This is why no hunter will ever find us," Lycan said.

    Fenris looked in the direction Lycan was staring at, but there was nothing.

    "What am I supposed to be looking at? It''s just more forest," Fenris said.

    "Look again, this time using your wolf eyes. No one would be able to spot this," Lycan said.

    Fenris did as Lycan said. His eyes glowed yellow, and he could see something that looked like a wave but had a shape. It was in front of them, over them, and behind them. It covered the castle and a large area of the forest in a dome-like shape.

    "What is this?" Fenris asked.

    "It''s a barrier preventing the hunters from ever finding us here," Lycan said.

    "You reminded Buck earlier about what happens when werewolves come together. They get found more easily, but I''m sure you''ve never known why.

    In most hunter groups, they are assigned something called a seeker. They are Faiths who worship the God of Truth, and they have the power to look for anything or anyone. According to Gwendolyn, we werewolves have some kind of specific light source to them.

    When we are alone, we shine dimly, hardly noticeable, and sometimes missed. But when there are more of us together, we shine more brightly, like a forest fire.

    But thanks to the barrier, they can''t see that light source. So, I would say this is the safest place for any werewolf to be in," Lycan explained.

    Fenris was left speechless. If what Lycan was saying was true about these so-called seekers and the barrier that was preventing them from finding the werewolves, then he was done running and hiding.

    He could stay in one place without having to worry if he''d find a hunter next to him every day of his life. It sounded almost too good to be true.

    "However, this is only a temporary solution. We don''t have much room and resources for every werewolf, so we had a limit. I decided to let them enter here. We almost hit it, but Buck insisted on saving the last spot," Lycan said.

    Hearing this, Fenris was extremely grateful to Buck. He¡¯d still be alone, wandering the globe. Maybe now he could live a little more peacefully than he ever had.

    "I see that look on your face. It''s saying, ''Finally, my problems are all over,'' but it''s far from the truth. Yes, we live here without the fear of hunters, but I want to make this a reality for all werewolves everywhere, and everyone here is helping me do just that," Lycan said.

    What Fenris was hearing Lycan say sounded like pure fantasy, something that could never happen. But then again, if he was told a place such as this existed, he would think the same about that.

    "How do you plan on doing that? By taking on the entire world?" Fenris asked sarcastically.

    "What if I wanted to?" Lycan asked.

    "Well, then you''re insane. The humans outnumber us greatly. They also have magic. We stand no chance. Our only option is to hide and survive," Fenris said.

    "Well, what if I told you I had a solution for that, a way to increase our numbers?" Lycan asked.

    Fenris slowly turned to Lycan and showed a bit of disgust in his eyes.

    "Oh, you''re not one of those, are you?" Fenris asked.

    This wasn''t the reaction Lycan was expecting from the young werewolf. He thought Fenris would be curious or simply not believe his claim.

    The reason for Fenris''s disgust was because years ago, he ran into a couple of werewolves preaching about how the werewolf race was on the verge of extinction, and that in order for them to save it, they had to breed with random werewolves and humans.

    It was so revolting to Fenris, especially when they made claims like, "It was for the greater good."

    "If you''re one of those breeding creeps, I think I would rather take my chances out there than here," Fenris said, moving away slowly from Lycan.

    "No, no, no, no, no! I know what you''re talking about, and I swear I''m not one of them," Lycan said, waving his hands.

    This made Fenris feel a little easier. But if he wasn''t one of those sickos, then what did he mean by increasing their numbers?

    "Tell me, Fenris, have you ever heard any tales of an Alpha werewolf?" Lycan asked.

 Chapter 10: An Alpha

    In a grand hall filled with people wearing armor and wielding weapons of various types, a man in grey walked through the doors. They paid him no mind and simply continued conversing with one another. There were rows of seats and chairs, posters, and fliers on boards in the hall, too many to count.

    He approached a robed man in elegant robes, standing at a grand desk adorned with mystical artifacts. The robed man looked up, his eyes sharp and assessing. He gave a slight nod, acknowledging the newcomer''s arrival.

    "Blood and name," the robed man requested, bringing out a piece of paper and a knife. The man in grey picked up the knife and cut his index finger, causing blood to drip. The man in grey used the blood to inscribe something on the paper. The blood on the paper glowed a golden color. The robed man took the paper and, in exchange, gave the man in grey a carved rectangular metallic token.

    "Wait with the others," the robed man said. The man in grey left and found an empty seat, sitting in it. On closer inspection, one would notice that the man in grey was wearing a grey coat with a hood, a black undershirt, and black boots. He carried no weapons and wore no armor, except for the fingerless gauntlets on his hands, which had a gradient of both black and grey.

    After sitting there for a while, the man in grey was approached by others. "Hey, you must be new here. My team and I are looking for a new member. Mind telling us what you can do?" a man in red armor asked the man in grey.

    The man in grey looked at the armored man for a moment, then turned away, not paying him much attention. "You can at least say no," the armored man mumbled, leaving the man in grey alone.

    Hours passed, and everyone in the room was led into a staircase by people in hoods. The staircase was made of stone, and its walls appeared cave-like. The only light source was a man in a hood producing fire with his palms¡ªhe seemed to be a mage.

    They finally exited the stairs and entered what looked to be a cave. In the cave, there were stones that glowed a dim blue, and more people in hoods were present. Symbols were etched into the walls, forming a circle, with mages altering the symbols and people with weapons guarding them.

    The people who were once in the room above were now all lined up in rows. They conversed with each other, though not as loudly as they had in the hall. They tried whispering, but the echoes made it inefficient.

    A woman with red hair stood before them, accompanied by those in robes. They stood behind her. She began to speak.

    "Welcome, fellow travelers. For those of you who are new here, let me explain what is happening. Years ago, our mages discovered how to cross between worlds."

    "A remarkable achievement. In these worlds, there are unknown beasts and resources that can greatly benefit the Kingdom of Pyros. So we send people like you¡ªthose willing to risk their lives to find riches and adventures in these unexplored worlds."

    "Whatever you find and manage to bring back will be shared between you and the kingdom, depending on its value. I also advise forming groups, as I mentioned earlier. These worlds are filled with beasts, many of which we are just starting to understand. So don¡¯t think you can do this all on your own¡ªthat¡¯s foolishness and a ticket to an early grave," the red-haired woman said.

    She then brought out a piece of metal and raised it above her head for everyone to see. "I believe you all have these," the red-haired woman said. It was similar to the token given to the man in grey, who recognized it.

    "Think of this as your key, ticket, north star, and lifeline. When you enter those worlds, we have no idea where you''ll end up. Whether you''ll end up in the same place¡ªor even the same world¡ªisn''t always certain."This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    "This magic is new, so when you get to those worlds, use this. It shows you a blue line that only the owner of the token can see, leading the way home. We¡¯ve opened many portals, leaving symbols like the ones you see on this wall in those worlds, and they could be anywhere."

    "The token guides you to the symbols and notifies us, allowing us to open a portal from our side, making it possible for you to come home."

    "Do not lose yours. If you do, you''re stranded in one of those worlds with no chance of coming back. And you can¡¯t use another traveler¡¯s token to open a portal, so forget about it," the red-haired woman said.

    Hearing this, many of the new travelers clung tightly to their tokens, especially the man in grey.

    "Some of you may be thinking there will be signs of human life, but unfortunately¡ªor fortunately¡ªwe have found none. We¡¯ve only found destroyed architecture and technology, indicating that there was once life in some of these worlds, but that it all perished. Lastly, for those who have decided to team up, body contact when passing through the portal has a high probability of sending you all to the same area. That is all," the red-haired woman concluded.

    She looked at the robed mages who were altering the symbols. They stopped, began chanting words, and the symbols on the wall started lighting up one by one until a portal appeared beneath the symbols.

    People began forming groups, but the man in grey remained alone. He simply stood there, and when some tried to approach him, he gave each of them a glare that scared them off.

    He took a deep sigh. "Well, months of training have led me to this. Let''s hope your crazy plan works, Lycan," the man in grey muttered.

    Standing in the portal, the blue light illuminated the man in grey¡¯s face, revealing a dark brown-skinned man with short curly hair and grey eyes. It was Fenris.

    "Here I go," Fenris said as he stepped into the portal.

    <hr>

    A Few Months Ago

    "Have you ever heard of an Alpha werewolf?" Lycan asked.

    "An Alpha werewolf? Isn¡¯t that what you are¡ªa pack leader, right?" Fenris asked.

    "Not quite. Let¡¯s try something else. Ever heard about how a werewolf bite can turn a human into a werewolf?" Lycan asked.

    Fenris scoffed at hearing such a question from Lycan. "I didn¡¯t expect you to ask me about myths. What are you going to ask next, how we burn when we touch silver?" Fenris asked mockingly.

    "Just answer the question," Lycan insisted.

    "Yeah, I¡¯ve heard of it. And I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s a myth. I¡¯ve bitten my share of humans, and not one of them got our sharp teeth, claws, or started growing fur," Fenris answered.

    "Well, what if I told you that wasn¡¯t such a myth?" Lycan asked.

    "What if you just answered my questions instead of asking your own?" Fenris replied. This made Lycan furrow his brows a little.

    "What?" Fenris asked. "It was annoying. Just tell me where you¡¯re going with this. Enough of these guessing games. I¡¯ve never been good at them."

    Lycan took a deep breath. "Fine. Long ago, before the great cleansing, we werewolves had something called Alphas."

    "They were werewolves like us, and at the same time, not. They were faster, stronger, and being near an Alpha would make the pack more powerful than they ever would be alone. One more thing: they could turn humans into werewolves with a bite," Lycan explained.

    Fenris knew what Lycan meant by "the great cleansing." Five hundred years ago, humans all over the world decided to band together to rid the world of all werewolves. Thus began the creation of the Hunter¡¯s Guild, which operated globally, crossing borders freely without restrictions.

    There were bases located in the five great countries: Pyros, Aqua, Terra, Zephyr, and Voltana. Although they all worked together, there was competition between them, of course. It was human nature to prove superiority and to fear and hate things they couldn¡¯t control. And nothing brought people together more than hate.

    Fenris had heard of the great cleansing from Buck, who had been told by his family. Fenris thought Buck was fortunate to remember his family, even if he¡¯d lost them at a young age. He knew about the great cleansing, but nothing of this "Alpha" nonsense that Lycan was talking about, which caused him to say nothing.

    "You don¡¯t believe me, do you?" Lycan asked.

    "Not really. No," Fenris replied. "If these so-called Alphas exist, where are they, and how did they disappear?"

    "That¡¯s what everyone here is trying to find out. We believe¡ªwell, I believe¡ªthat there was a ritual that could make a werewolf into an Alpha. It was most likely destroyed during the great cleansing, but there might be a way to bring it back, and I need everyone¡¯s help here to do it," Lycan said.

 Chapter 11: Getting Answers

    Hearing all Lycan had said, a lot of it sounded unbelievable to Fenris. An alpha werewolf that could turn humans into werewolves by a bite? It wasn''t just unbelievable; it was laughable, but Fenris wouldn''t dare laugh at the man who had just offered him safe haven.

    "Okay, I didn''t think you could do it, but you''ve gotten me interested. What do I need to do?" Fenris asked. This surprised Lycan; he thought it would take more convincing.

    "So you believe me?" Lycan asked with a smile, feeling he had accomplished a task.

    "Not everything you said sounds insane, but I figure you''re going to throw me out if I don''t do what you say. I might as well earn my place," Fenris said.

    "Oh well, good enough, but I''m sure in time you''ll have more faith in what I''m trying to do," Lycan said.

    ''Sure I will,'' Fenris thought sarcastically.

    "Let''s head back to the castle, I''ll tell you everything," Lycan said.

    While walking back to the castle through the green grasses, Fenris decided to ask a question.

    "So this ritual, how did you learn of it?" Fenris asked.

    "I said we''ll discuss it in the castle. There''s a lot to unfold, and certain people are needed to do it for you," Lycan said.

    "I know, but try throwing me a bone. I''m hardly this curious about anything," Fenris said.

    "Alright, ever heard of travelers?" Lycan said.

    Fenris looked at him with a glare; Lycan was once again answering a question with another question.

    "Right... sorry, like I said, let''s discuss this in the castle," Lycan said.

    Entering the castle, Lycan led Fenris to a large room with a long rectangular table. At the end, Gwendolyn sat, and to the side was Buck.

    "Great news! It seems Fenris has agreed to join us," Lycan said to them.

    "Terrific," Gwendolyn said sarcastically with her eyes rolling.

    "I knew he would welcome the family," Buck said with a huge grin on his face.

    ''When did this suddenly become a family?'' Fenris thought.

    Sitting down on one of the chairs, a lot of thoughts went through his head: what was this place, who were the humans downstairs, and could Buck do magic? Actually, he was pretty sure he had dreamt that, and he was sure if he asked, they''d all look at him as if he was crazy.

    There was silence in the room. Gwendolyn kept staring at Fenris as if she was expecting something from him. He noticed it and was sure what it was.

    "Sorry, I''m not interested," Fenris said.

    "What the hell are you talking about?" Gwendolyn asked.

    "You seem like a pretty girl, but you''re just not my type," Fenris said.

    Hearing this, Gwendolyn''s face blushed a bright red, and Lycan and Buck could hardly contain their laughter.

    "You think I... I like you?!" Gwendolyn asked in embarrassment.

    "Why else would you be staring at me like that?" Fenris asked.

    "To get an apology from you, not because I want to court you, you fool!" Gwendolyn said.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    At this point, Buck and Lycan weren''t trying to contain their laughter and just started laughing uncontrollably. Buck even had his hands on his stomach.

    "Apologize, what exactly would I be apologizing for?" Fenris asked.

    "For choking me!" Gwendolyn said, her face still blushing a bright red.

    "Oh well, you should understand why I had to do it. I thought I was being held hostage," Fenris said.

    "You... you," Gwendolyn said, trying to say more, but she couldn''t, either due to embarrassment or anger. Maybe it was both.

    "Okay, that''s enough," Lycan said, wiping a tear from his eye. "I told Fenris I''d explain more once we got to the castle. Buck, mind doing the honors? I don''t think Gwen''s going to be able to right now," Lycan said.

    "Not at all what you want to know about, Fenris'' old buddy, just ask away," Buck said.

    It always bothered Fenris how Buck could be the way he was¡ªso happy and upbeat. He had been through a lot, what Fenris had been through; it didn¡¯t make sense. So much that it frustrated Fenris to even talk to him.

    He took a deep sigh and asked his first question.

    "Well, firstly, who are those humans down there, and do they know what we are?" Fenris asked.

    "Oh, those are just Jerry and his buddies, former soldiers. They want to be werewolves just like us. I could get into their whole backstory, but I don''t think you''d be interested," Buck said.

    Buck was wrong. Human soldiers who wanted to become werewolves were something he wanted more information on, but that would have to wait until he had more important questions.

    "What is this place? I know it seems abandoned, and I know about the barrier that hides us, but what if humans were to wander here? What would you do then?" Fenris asked.

    "That''s not likely to happen. See, this abandoned castle and the very, very huge land surrounding it belongs to a high noble in Pyros. If a common man were to even think of trespassing, they''d be executed," Buck said.

    "You have a high noble helping you?" Fenris asked in amusement.

    "Yeah, long story short, he plans on overthrowing the Kingdom, and what better way to do that than with an army of werewolves?" Buck answered.

    Fenris was shocked beyond belief¡ªhumans wanting to be werewolves and overthrowing an entire kingdom. This was a little too much for him to believe, but he asked his next question.

    He was silent for a while because he wasn''t exactly sure how to ask.

    "Fenris, you still with us?" Buck asked.

    "When we were at the tavern, I could''ve sworn I saw you using magic, so can you?" Fenris asked.

    He was expecting to be ridiculed. After all, werewolves couldn''t use magic¡ªit was common knowledge they had no Blessed Ones or Faiths among them. Although the latter was far unlikely to happen, because even if they could, being a Faith would require worshiping a God and having its knowledge of magic being given to them by priests who were human. Seeing as the world feared werewolves, Fenris doubted they''d let a werewolf join them.

    Fenris waited, but there was no ridicule or laughter; he just saw Buck having a huge grin on his face. Then Buck started to take his shirt off, showing them all his well-built body. He was slender, muscular, and had a six-pack.

    ''Is he trying to brag? I''m ripped too, you know?'' Fenris thought.

    Then suddenly, symbols started appearing from his wrists to his shoulders, to his chest, and to his back. Fenris immediately recognized what those symbols were.

    "Are those... Are those Runes?" Fenris asked.

    "Yep, courtesy of Gwendolyn right here. She really is something. I can only use two types of magic, and the spells are limited, but it''s still magic¡ªpretty amazing, right?" Buck said.

    It was amazing¡ªinscribing runes into a person was practically unheard of, and it made Fenris wonder why it wasn''t done more often.

    "Jealous? Ah, don''t worry, Gwendolyn will do the same for you," Buck said.

    "Don''t count on it," Gwendolyn said. Her face wasn''t blushing anymore, but she still had an embarrassed look.

    So far, everything Fenris was learning sounded unbelievable¡ªformer soldiers wanting to be werewolves, a noble wanting to create an army of werewolves to overthrow a kingdom, and a werewolf being able to perform magic by having runes inscribed on his body. Maybe this supposed ritual that Lycan had told him about wasn''t pure fantasy after all.

    "Right, the Ritual..." Lycan said. "Something about some Ritual, one that could make a werewolf into an Alpha. How are you sure it even exists?" Fenris asked.

    Buck was about to say something, but was interrupted by Lycan.

    "I''ll handle this, Buck. You''ve done enough," Lycan said. Buck nodded and put his shirt back on.

    "How do I explain this?" Lycan asked.

    He tossed a book to Fenris, and it looked worn out.

    "What is this?" Fenris asked, picking it up.

    "A journal from a mage, one who traveled to other worlds. I''ve been reading that for a while, and in one of those worlds, he mentioned it having numerous werewolves and a ritual to make one an Alpha. If we can get to this world, we can learn it and use it to create an army¡ªone that can overthrow Pyros and one that can take on the entire world," Lycan answered.

 Chapter 12: MAster Plan

    Reading the journal given to him, Fenris found its contents to be unbelievable, a word that was losing all meaning to him as he learned more and more about Lycan and his plan. The journal belonged to a mage, a faith who worshiped the god Astraios.

    Astraios was a god of stars, who helped his followers in navigating the world. Apparently, the mage who owned the journal was able to create portals using star constellations to other worlds. Fenris didn''t quite understand how it worked, and he didn''t care. That wasn''t the most interesting thing about the journal.

    The journal went on about the worlds the mage explored, a world where only dragons roamed the sky, a world completely covered in frost, and a world where the sun never shone. Everything in the journal sounded like fairy tales to Fenris.

    Then he had finally found it, a world where the population was low compared to the world they were in, a world littered with beasts where the residents were in constant battle, and in this world werewolves also existed.

    The mage had spent quite a lot of time with the werewolves of that world, and their population was in the hundreds of thousands¡ªfar more than the werewolves in this world, if Fenris were to take a guess.

    Reading on, the mage mentioned something about a ritual making a werewolf into something called an Alpha. A werewolf whose strength surpassed the rest. A werewolf that could turn humans into werewolves with just a bite, and instead of their eyes glowing a bright golden yellow, their eyes would instead glow a ferocious red.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    "So, what do you think?" Lycan asked. Fenris didn''t reply right away; he was deciding whether to believe the contents of the book or think of everything he read as just fairy tales. "I think this could be good fiction written by a talented writer," Fenris said, tossing the book back to Lycan.

    Lycan picked up the book and gave a soft smile. "It might seem that way, but I assure you everything written in this book is real, Fenris, and that world¡ªthe world where werewolves are¡ªI intend to find it," Lycan said.

    Hearing this, Fenris could describe Lycan in a lot of ways: insane, crazy, living in a dream world. But he kept all that to himself and decided to be open-minded.

    "How would you even begin? Can that sorceress next to you open portals?" Fenris asked.

    "That ''sorceress'' has a name, and no, I can''t," Gwendolyn replied. "Remember me mentioning something about travelers? Well, there is this new guild that sends people to these other worlds for resources that can''t be found here in this world."

    "Mages found a way to recreate the spell of the owner of that journal; they are all faiths of Astraios. The plan is to infiltrate the travelers, travel worlds, find the ritual, and use it back here. Then we can create our army," Lycan said.

    "We''ve already started. Werewolves like Buck here have already traveled between worlds."

    Fenris looked at Buck, and hae had a huge grin. It took some time for Fenris to process all this, but this insane plan wasn''t sounding so insane after all. Maybe this could actually work.

 Chapter 13: Red Hunters

    In the town where Fenris killed the fake hunters, a group of people were riding on horseback through it. There were more than a dozen of them; some wore armor, others didn¡¯t, but they all wore symbols on them. Some were on the chest of the fabric or armor they wore, some on the sleeves, and some on the back.

    It was a red wolf¡¯s head with three claw marks diagonally. They were hunters; to be more specific, they were a specific group in the hunter¡¯s guild called the Red Hunters. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for hunters to make their own groups in the hunter¡¯s guild, especially if they wanted to stand out from the rest, and these groups had no problem doing so.

    The one leading the group was a man who looked to be in his forties. He had ashen hair, a muscular build, and wore a silver breastplate. The myth of the effect of silver against werewolves was well known to most in the hunters¡¯ guild, but many still decided to wear it as armor and have it made into weapons.

    Maybe it was done as a symbol of power, or perhaps to give a message to people that they could protect them if the monsters ever went rampant. The name of the man wearing the silver breastplate was Morgan.

    He had been hunting werewolves for over two decades now. News had come to him about the execution of a werewolf in this town¡ªa young woman¡ªbut it sounded like nonsense to him. According to the information, the woman who had been executed had lived in this town all her life. He had friends and family who vouched for her, but they were all executed as well for fear they might have been werewolves too.

    The supposed hunters who found her out were found dead near an alleyway of the tavern. It was ridiculous in more ways than one because even one werewolf could slaughter a whole town of people. Morgan knew it was impossible for untrained commoners to kill an entire family of werewolves. People¡¯s superstitions could be so self-destructive.

    A young woman with ashen hair rode right next to him. The only armor she wore were silver bracelets, and she had a sword on her waist. "Father, what are we doing here?" the woman asked. This was Winter, Morgan¡¯s daughter. He had trained her in the ways of werewolf hunting since she was a child, but she had yet to kill any of the beasts. This was her first hunt.

    "You know about the executions in this town. Tell me, what do you make of them?" Morgan asked.

    "It¡¯s nonsense. Even a single werewolf would be a hassle for a trained hunter to deal with. It¡¯s unlikely a town killed an entire family of them. But we see this happen all the time. We¡¯re not law enforcers. The girl and her family are already dead, so this doesn¡¯t involve a werewolf situation here¡ªjust a group of idiots who murdered innocent people," Winter answered.

    "That¡¯s not quite true. The fake hunters were found dead not long after the innocent girl was burned alive. And according to reports from the morgue, the way they were killed wasn¡¯t ordinary. Their necks were crushed, and they had claw marks all over them, which were too far apart to be done by a wild animal," Morgan said.

    Hearing this, Winter¡¯s eyes widened. "Good, so you know what that means," Morgan said.

    "A werewolf must¡¯ve killed the fake hunters, but I wonder why. Did they know the girl who was executed?" Winter said.

    "They are beasts, Winter. You shouldn¡¯t be thinking of them as humans like us. They kill because they can. They kill because they enjoy it. They kill because it¡¯s in their nature."

    "Remember that. Just because they look like us sometimes doesn¡¯t mean they are one of us," Morgan said, with an angered tone in his voice.

    "Yes, father," Winter said, placing her head down as she continued to ride on her horse.

    It wasn¡¯t the first time she had heard her father speak this way. He hated werewolves deeply¡ªshe did as well, but not as much as he did. He would go on and on about how they were monsters and it was their duty to erase them from existence. It was truly worrisome, as he had become obsessed with that mentality.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡®If you hate werewolves so much, then why¡­ why¡­¡¯ Winter thought as she held onto the saddle more tightly. ¡®No, stop thinking about that. I have to focus on the task. I can¡¯t be distracted. I don¡¯t want to disappoint Father again.¡¯

    The group kept riding until they met a man in robes. This was the same man who Fenris had taken money from, claiming to be part of the fake hunters¡¯ group. Morgan got down from his horse, and Winter did the same.

    The man was part of the Hunters¡¯ guild, and he was a silverback. Silverbacks weren¡¯t hunters themselves, but would pay hunters handsomely for killing werewolves and presenting proof of their kill.

    Although this particular silverback seemed to have been duped twice, he had obviously never encountered a real werewolf¡ªat least not knowingly.

    He explained everything that happened that day: how a group of fake hunters used the myth of silver to frame the girl, how a dark-skinned man came for the payment, and how the bodies of the fake hunters were found in an alleyway with strange wounds on them that could not have been done by a wild animal or a human.

    "Show us where you found the bodies," Morgan demanded. The silverback pointed to the alleyway. The hunter group arrived at the scene and found blood everywhere. It was all dried now, as it had been months since the incident, but it had been left untouched. Only the bodies were removed, and it was clear that a battle had taken place here.

    The hunter group inspected the place but found nothing of use. "Triss, get down and show us what happened here," Morgan said.

    Dropping from one of the horses was a woman with short blonde hair and in yellow robes.

    This was Triss, a member of the hunter group and seeker, a faith who worshiped the God of Truth.

    "Veritas, God of Truth, whose light pierces all deception, grant us your vision. Blood has been spilled here; reveal to us the events that transpired in this place," Triss said.

    After she had said the prayer, projections of light appeared. They were all in humanoid forms. They didn¡¯t have faces¡ªonly an outline of their bodies and the clothes they wore.

    They saw five men in armor; they were colored in a blue light, and they saw another light projection in a hood; they were covered in a purple light.

    They saw the purple light projection attack and kill the five hunters, and they also heard what all of them were saying. Their voices were muffled, and it took effort to make out what they said, but in the end, Winter could hear Fenris declaring he was a werewolf before killing the leader.

    The light projection ended there.

    "Is that it?" Morgan asked, with a disappointed look.

    "Yes, that¡¯s all I can reveal," Triss said. She was panting and sweating, and it was obvious that the spell had taken a great toll on her.

    Winter went to her and let Triss rest on her shoulder. Morgan frowned at this sight but looked away from it.

    "Ragnar, you¡¯re up. Find something useful," Morgan said.

    Coming down from one of the horses was a man with very little hair and a very short beard.

    He wore no armor, just leather clothing. He walked straight past Winter and Triss. Winter, seeing him, couldn¡¯t help glaring at him. Ragnar noticed this but just chuckled to himself.

    Getting to the scene, Ragnar knelt at a particular spot. It was where Fenris had bled after stopping one of the swords with his bare hand.

    He started to sniff.

    "Anything?" Morgan asked.

    "Oh, I got something, but it¡¯s too faint. I need something more," Ragnar said.

    "He left some of his clothes behind. Will that work?" the silverback asked.

    Ragnar nodded, and the silverback brought the hood and clothes Fenris had dumped from one of the fake hunters'' armor.

    Ragnar took a big sniff from the clothes and smiled, revealing yellow glowing eyes and fangs in his smile.

    "Now we¡¯re talking. I got him," Ragnar said.

    "Where is he heading?" Morgan asked.

    "East," Ragnar answered.

    Morgan nodded and faced the rest of the hunter group. "Red hunters, we¡¯re going east. Ragnar will lead the way," Morgan said.

    After that, Morgan, Winter, Triss, and Ragnar all got back on their horses. Triss needed a little help getting back on her horse, and Winter helped her.

    When they were all ready, the hunter group rode full speed ahead to Luna¡¯s hometown.

 Chapter 14: Fenris Vs Buck

    In the abandoned castle, Buck, Lycan, Gwendolyn, and Fenris were all sitting. They had just explained their plan to Fenris: the plan to journey into other worlds to locate a ritual to make one into an Alpha werewolf.

    "Now Fenris, I know you told me you were interested before, but after hearing everything, I need verbal confirmation from you."

    "Are you in?" Lycan asked. Fenris thought about it. It sounded insane; it was insane, but it also felt possible. No more running, no more just trying to survive. If they could pull this off, then they could actually fight back. He felt a type of excitement he had never felt before. Was this hope?

    "I''m in. Dammit, this entire thing sounds crazy, but I''m in," Fenris said.

    "YES! I knew you''d come around, friend. This calls for a celebration!" Buck said, getting off his seat.

    "Terrific," Gwendolyn said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Great, happy to have you, Fenris. We should start talking about the next steps for you," Lycan said.

    "But I have a few conditions," Fenris said. The room fell silent; this was unexpected.

    "Wow, you really are full of yourself," Gwendolyn said. "Conditions? We are offering this to you. We don''t need you. The only reason for this meeting was because Buck wouldn''t shut up about making you join us."

    "Then consider them requests or favors," Fenris said. "Before all this, I had some, let''s say, personal quests. I''m still going to join you. I just wouldn''t be able to rest easy knowing I haven''t completed them."

    "Please, I need your help," Fenris said. There was sincerity in his voice and a bit of sadness in his request.

    "Let me hear these ''requests'' first before I decide if I can fulfill them or not," Lycan said.

    "Firstly, I''ve been looking for a mage, a Blessed One. She has purple hair and wears a robe with crescent moon patterns. If you can help me look for her, that would be great," Fenris said.

    "That''s quite an odd request, but I will see what I can do," Lycan said. "If I may ask, what is your relationship to this particular mage?"

    "She''s a friend," Fenris answered.

    "Right, a ''friend,''" Buck said, doing air quotes, which earned him a death glare from Fenris.

    "Any more requests, Fenris?" Lycan asked.

    "Yes, there is." Fenris took a deep breath. "I have missing memories from my childhood. It started when I woke up in a field I didn''t recognize. I only remembered my name and had this necklace on my neck."

    Fenris showed them the wooden necklace he had.

    "The mage I mentioned tried helping me regain those memories but left. Do you think you can help me get my memories back?" Fenris asked. This was surprising for Lycan and Gwendolyn, but not for Buck, because he already knew this from eavesdropping on Fenris and Luna.

    "Wow, I didn''t know that. That''s even more odd than your first request," Lycan said in amusement. "Missing memories? That''s going to be tricky. Not something I can help with, but someone else in this room might." Lycan turned his eyes toward Gwendolyn.

    "I have about a million things to do. Adding this will just be a waste of my time," Gwendolyn said. Lycan started to look at her with puppy eyes. She took a big sigh. "But I''ll see what I can do."

    "Good, now that''s all settled with. Let''s move on to the next step," Lycan said.

    "And that is?" Fenris asked.

    "Training, of course. No offense, but you don''t seem like a proper fighter to me," Lycan said.

    "I can fight!" Fenris declared. Lycan looked toward Buck for confirmation.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    "He does okay," Buck answered.

    "I can fight. I''ve fought dozens of hunters and made it out alive," Fenris declared.

    "And why exactly do I need to train?"

    "When joining the travelers, you won''t always be alone. When traveling worlds, you might also need to join a group temporarily to avoid suspicion. Do you know any other way of fighting without using your fangs and claws?"

    There was silence from Fenris.

    "That''s what I thought. Buck, take him down to the training area," Lycan ordered.

    "Sure thing. Follow me, buddy," Buck said, getting up from his seat. Fenris followed Buck to an open room in the castle. There were scratches and dents on the wall; it was clear that this room was used often.

    "So, should we start, or do you need some time to prepare?" Buck asked.

    "Prepare for what?" Fenris asked in confusion.

    "To fight, of course. I need to see what you''re made of and areas you need to improve on," Buck answered.

    "Are you serious? You and I have fought before, and the way I remember it, I was standing over your unconscious body," Fenris said.

    "Yeah, that was then, and this is now. Honestly, I''ve been meaning to pay you back for that, and now I have the chance," Buck said with a grin.

    "Fine. Your funeral," Fenris said as he brought out his claws. "Was I not supposed to do that?"

    "It''s fine. I want to see how you normally fight," Buck answered.

    Fenris then lunged at Buck, swiping one of his claws, but Buck evaded it. He did it again and again, but Buck kept evading.

    During this, Gwendolyn and Lycan had entered the room, observing the two fight. Well, fight might have been a strong term, as they saw Fenris keep swinging with claws at Buck, but they were evaded quite easily.

    "What is this? He wasn''t this fast before," Fenris thought.

    Fenris changed strategies. Instead of swiping his claws at Buck, he went for a lunge at Buck. Buck, seeing this, stood in place and made a fist.

    When Fenris got close enough, Buck punched him in the stomach. There was strong wind from Buck''s elbow, which sent Fenris flying across the room and slamming into a wall, leaving a huge crack behind.

    Gwendolyn, seeing this, had a smile on her face. Lycan stared at her¡ªnot in a threatening way, just with a disappointed look on his face.

    "What? Is it so wrong to take a little bit of enjoyment from his suffering?" Gwendolyn asked with an innocent look on her face.

    Fenris coughed up blood but got back up. After all, werewolves healed at an incredible rate and were extremely durable.

    "Damn, that hurt," Fenris said, wiping the blood from his mouth. "Did he use rune magic? Isn''t that cheating?"

    Swiping his claws at him didn''t seem to be doing anything, and charging forward proved to be ineffective. Fenris was thinking about what next move he could make. He looked around the room. It was quite spacious. Then, he had an idea.

    He started running¡ªnot toward Buck, but around him. He kept running in circles around Buck at a great speed. He then picked something up and threw it straight at Buck. It was debris from the wall that Fenris had been slammed into. Buck swiped it away with claws, causing small particles to enter his eyes.

    ''Now''s my chance.''

    Fenris charged right at Buck, going for a claw slash. Buck evaded it by jumping back. Fenris'' claws were inches away from hitting him but missed. Buck then kicked him sideways, causing Fenris to skid across the floor. Fenris quickly got back up.

    "THAT''S ENOUGH!" a voice echoed in the room.

    Turning around, Fenris saw it was Lycan. Lycan slowly approached Buck, who was trying to clean his eyes.

    "Man, Fenris, you fight dirty," Buck said, still trying to clean his eyes.

    "Do you know what you did wrong?" Lycan asked.

    "No," Fenris replied.

    "You went on the offensive and left yourself exposed. You didn''t even think of dodging Buck''s attack. You just kept charging without caring if you got hit or not," Lycan answered.

    "Why would I? Any attack Buck landed on me, I would just heal. I didn''t need to dodge any attacks," Fenris argued.

    "That kind of fighting is going to get you exposed on your first day as a traveler. You need to learn to fight with caution. Besides, not every attack will be easy to heal from," Lycan said.

    Fenris knew what he meant. Some wounds on werewolves could take days to heal, like being burned by fire or having their limbs cut off. The former had once happened to him, and it wasn''t a pleasurable experience.

    "Buck, how are your eyes?" Lycan asked.

    "All good, Lycan," Buck said, blinking his eyes a little bit more.

    "Fenris needs to learn how to evade. Help him with that," Lycan said.

    "No problem," Buck said.

    Lycan left Fenris and Buck and went to stand right next to Gwendolyn. Without warning, Buck let out a wind slash at Fenris, hitting right on the chest, which sent him flying across the room and landing on his back.

    "What the hell are you doing?" Fenris asked.

    "Didn''t you hear Lycan?" Buck asked.

    "I''m teaching you how to evade attacks," Buck grinned as he brought out his claws and sent two more wind slashes toward Fenris.

 Chapter 15: Dodge, Dodge, Dodge

    Fenris kept dodging the wind slashes that Buck was generating from his hands. Honestly, there seemed to be no end to them. Some hit Fenris, but caused little to no damage.

    "How are you holding up, Fenris?" Buck asked. "I''m going to stop going easy on you now!"

    "Wait, you were going easy on me?" Fenris asked in disbelief. Fenris wasn''t tired yet; great stamina was another perk of being a werewolf. He could do the training all day, but hearing that Buck was going easy on him was a shock.

    "Sure I was," Buck replied. "I''m going to count to three, then I''ll start. One, two..." Buck then began to swing his arms, not like before. This time, his arms were a blur, almost forming afterimages. The wind slashes came at Fenris rapidly, with no end.

    "Crap, crap," Fenris said as he tried his best to run away from the attacks. When the wind attacks hit the wall, there were loud bangs, hard with small cracks showing up on the wall.

    "You want to go all out, huh? Fine, it''s not like I was using all that I had before." Changing the formation of his legs, Fenris got on all fours and started running around the room. He was faster in this form, and the wind attacks kept coming at him from every angle.

    He evaded as best as he could, leaping great distances to avoid the wind slashes coming from Buck. "Good, Fenris, buddy," Buck said with a grin in his voice. "Now you''re starting to take this seriously."

    "I was never not taking this seriously!" Fenris yelled. Suddenly, Buck stopped swinging his arms, and in doing so, the wind slashes stopped as well. Fenris noticed this and stopped in his tracks.

    He was still on all fours, ready to run at any moment. Buck started to breathe heavily. ''Is he tired?'' Fenris thought. ''I''m guessing those wind attacks have some sort of limit or strain on his body. Whatever it is, I''m not going to wait for him to recover.''

    Fenris leaped from his position to Buck''s. Buck had his head down, and his hands were moving up and down. It didn''t seem like he was exhausted exactly, more like he was done carrying something heavy and was taking a breather.

    Fenris was a few inches away from Buck when he regained his composure. His eyes glowed yellow, and his fangs and claws were out. It was like a predator was in the middle of catching his prey.

    Buck smiled at Fenris. "Sorry, friend, but I''m not that easy," Buck said. He caught Fenris by the neck of his shirt and slammed him to the ground. There was a cracking noise from the floor and from Fenris''s back.

    He coughed out blood, which landed back on his face. ''He''s stronger too?'' Fenris thought. ''I could deal with him just being faster, but Buck being stronger than me?''

    ''What did he do to get such a power boost?'' Fenris quickly got up from the floor. His broken back healed quickly, with no surprise. "So, ready to admit defeat, or shall I continue just kicking your ass?" Buck asked with a huge grin on his face. "Both options are fine with me."

    "You''ve always been annoying. But you''ve become quite a cocky brat," Fenris said.

    "Cocky, you say?" Buck asked. "I''m just being confident. Nothing wrong with that."

    ''Should I just give up?'' Fenris thought. ''He was faster and stronger than me. Plus, with those wind strikes, he can attack from a distance. Since this entire thing started, I haven''t even landed a hit on him.''

    Fenris, for a second, considered giving up, but seeing Buck grin rubbed him the wrong way. ''Stop it. If this was a hunter in front of you, would you just give up?''

    ''You always found a way to defeat them because you were desperate to survive, and you can do the same with Buck.''

    Fenris kept thinking to himself what would be the best form of attack that would work on Buck. He did so for a few minutes, just standing on his two legs now. Then it suddenly hit him; maybe he didn''t have to do anything.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    "Hey, Fenris, aren''t you going to attack?" Buck asked.

    "Aren''t you?" Fenris asked back. "I don''t see you throwing those wind attacks. What''s wrong? Can''t you keep making them?"

    Buck said nothing.

    "I''m right, aren''t I?" Fenris asked. "You can''t keep generating those attacks, so that means there''s a limit. I''m right here. If you want me, then come and get me," Fenris declared.

    "Suit yourself," Buck said. In a moment, he was right in front of Fenris.

    "What?!" Fenris exclaimed. He didn''t have time to think because Buck attacked him with one of his claws.

    Fenris barely managed to dodge. He had jumped back a little. Buck''s claws managed to scrape Fenris''s chest. Blood dripped from Fenris''s chest; he was healing, but slowly.

    Claws and fang attacks from other werewolves seemed to heal slower than other injuries. Fenris didn''t know why; it just did. Buck dashed at Fenris and attacked with his claws.

    He didn''t use his wind strikes on Fenris; he just kept swiping his claws at Fenris from every direction. Claw marks started to appear all over Fenris''s body¡ªhis limbs, chest, stomach, and even back.

    Buck was careful not to scratch Fenris''s neck because that would have been deadly. Soon, Fenris was in a little pond of his own blood, if you could call it that. His wounds were sealing themselves visibly, but as a result of the blood spilled, he was standing in a small circle of blood.

    "Okay, Fenris, I think this is enough," Buck said. "Let''s just stop."

    "I''m not done yet!" Fenris roared. His fangs were visible, and he growled in anger. He was quite persistent.

    "All right then," Buck said. Buck retracted his claws into his fingers and made a fist.

    Fenris positioned his claws apart, placed one foot forward, and had his eyes on Buck. He was ready for him. Using his great speed, Buck went straight for Fenris while Fenris didn''t move from his position.

    When Buck had reached him, Fenris went for a vertical strike with one of his claws. Buck sidestepped to the side, completely evading Fenris''s attack, and gave a backhand swing to Fenris''s face.

    His body flew, bounced off the floor, and ended up being close to Lycan and Gwendolyn.

    "Not bad, Fenris," Lycan said.

    "I''m giving you a four out of ten."

    "Isn''t that a bit generous, Lycan?" Gwendolyn asked with a huge smile on her face. "He sucked. He didn''t even manage to land a hit on Buck. Honestly, Lycan, four out of ten sounds too much. Zero out of ten sounds like a more appropriate score. Ooh, wait, how about we give him a negative score?"

    Gwendolyn enjoyed Fenris and Buck''s fight more than she intended to. ''Serves him right for choking me, not apologizing, and claiming I liked him in front of Buck and Lycan,'' she thought.

    Lycan noticed this and gave her a non-threatening glare. Gwendolyn just turned away.

    "No, I think four out of ten sounds right," Lycan said. "Yeah, he didn''t manage to get a hit in on Buck even once, but he wasn''t discouraged even once. He was also creative when he threw that rock at Buck, which caused some debris to enter his eyes. His evasions aren''t half bad; we both know Buck''s swings are no joke."

    "Lastly," Lycan said, looking down at Fenris, whose body was still lying on the ground, "your indomitable will. You could''ve given up during the final moments of the fight."

    "Some may call that foolish." Gwendolyn coughed on purpose after hearing that.

    "But I see it as having the true spirit of a werewolf. So well done, Fenris. I mean, you still lost, but well done."

    "Yeah, great. Do I get a prize now?" Fenris asked sarcastically. "And Buck, how the hell did you get so much stronger than me? It doesn''t make any sense."

    "Oh, wouldn''t you like to know?" Buck asked, teasing Fenris.

    "Yeah, I would actually. That''s why I''m asking," Fenris answered. Fenris tried to get up but only managed to sit on the floor.

    The hit Buck had given him in the end was really something.

    "You''ll learn all of that very soon, but for now, let''s see if we can heal those cuts," Lycan said.

    Lycan looked at Gwendolyn.

    "NO!" Gwendolyn said quickly. "The last time I healed him, it didn''t work out so well for me, and his wounds are non-threatening. They''ll heal in less than an hour. I don''t see any reason to waste any energy healing him when I don''t need to."

    Lycan looked into Gwendolyn''s eyes; it seemed she was dead set on her decision not to heal Fenris.

    "Alright, fine," Lycan said. "We''ll work on your fighting skills another day. Now that we know what areas we need to work on, it should go differently. Come on, let''s introduce you to the rest of the pack."

    Lycan extended his hand to Fenris, wanting him to take it so he could pull him up. Fenris didn''t. He struggled to get to his feet, even though he knew that taking Lycan''s hand would have made the whole process easier.

    "Sure," Fenris said. He passed Gwendolyn and Lycan, heading for the door.

    "See what I mean about being rude?" Sarah said.

 Chapter 16: The Real Monsters

    Arriving at a small town were riders with a red wolf head with claw marks on their armor and clothing. They startled the whole town as they finally stopped before a tavern. "You sure he''s here?", Morgan asked. "This is where the scent ends and what happened in the previous town was months ago, so I doubt it, but I bet we can find clues to where he went", Ragnar answered.

    "I must say this werewolf we''re hunting seems to like taverns a lot", Winter said. "Is he an alcoholic or something?". "We can''t really get drunk, we could take barrels of beers, whiskey, or whatever but that would only do so little", Ragnar answered.

    "Can''t get drunk?", Winter asked surprisingly. "What the hell are you talking about!? I''ve seen you drunk more times than I can count".

    "Well normally we can''t but adding a little wolfsbane does the job, and when you say ''more times than I can count'' do you mean seven? You''ve seen me drunk about seven times so are you telling me you can''t count more than seven times", Ragnar said.

    "That''s quite surprising. Because from how you''ve been talking and acting I assumed you were quite well educated. Who knew a six-year-old was smarter than you are".

    "Why you¡­ ", Winter said but was interrupted. "Enough, the both of you!", Morgan demanded. "I swear your arguments are getting more annoying. It''s like I''m babysitting children".

    Winter raised her head down in shame after hearing Morgan''s comment. "I''m sorry father". Morgan didn''t reply to Winter''s apology, he didn''t even turn around as she gave it. "Ragnar and Winter, the two of you will come with me", Morgan demanded.

    "Ragnar see If you can speak up some scents from the werewolf that came here".

    "I''ll try, but like I said earlier that was months ago, this place no doubt reeks of alcohol and vomit, those two combined tend to mask up scents.", Ragnar said. "I don''t want to hear your complaints. You were put in my squad because of your usefulness you know what will happen to you If you stop producing results", Morgan said.

    Ragnar heard this grunted silently and gritted his teeth. "No sir", Ragnar said. Seeing this, winter smiled. ''Good, he deserves to be put in his place everywhere once in a while'', Winter thought.

    "Let''s go", Morgan Ordered. The three of them got off their horses and entered the tavern. It was late at night so it was quite busy. When entering, a lot of people noticed their armor and weapons. "That''s silver they''re wearing, you think those three are hunters", a customer asked. "Didn''t you hear what happened in the town closest to us a few months ago? Just because they were silver doesn''t mean they''re hunters they could be fakes", a second customer said.

    "Maybe he''s right, maybe they are fakes. I''ve met a few hunters before and none of them were as sexy as that young woman with the ashen hair color", a third customer.

    Winter felt disgusted after hearing the last comment from the customers in the tavern. It had come from a man looking to be in his fifties. He reeked of booze and was well-unkept.

    Surprisingly it seems Morgan felt the same way because he gave the three customers a death glare which showed murder in his eyes. Seeing this the three of them looked away immediately.

    ''Well, I guess he can act fatherly when it counts'', Winter thought. Morgan approached the barkeep. "What can I get you three? Our three top drinks are beer, beer, and best of all beer", the barkeep said with a huge smile.

    "That won''t be necessary", Morgan said. "We''re looking for someone who came here a few months ago. We were hoping you''d remember them".

    "Sure as long as you buy my beer", The barkeep said. "I''m not interested in buying your beer", Morgan said. "Well, think of it this way you''re paying for information, and the beer is just a bonus.", the barkeep said.

    Morgan gave the barkeep quite a glare while the barkeep just kept smiling at him. "Fine", Morgan said. He placed three bronze coins on the serving table. "Three of your disgusting beers".

    "Three beers coming right up!", the barkeep exclaimed. Three wooden mugs were placed on the serving table. Ragnar quickly picked up his and started chugging it, winter awkwardly took sips from hers and Morgan didn''t touch his.

    "Now back to the matter at hand", Morgan said. "Right, you''re looking for someone who came here a few months ago", The barkeep said. "I''ll be honest with you, not many people come to this town. Although ¡­ There was one young fella. Didn''t say much".

    "Do you know where he is?", Morgan asked. The barkeep didn''t answer and looked at the group of three. "Before I answer, mind telling me why you''re looking for this fella?", The barkeep asked. "You don''t seem to be friends of his".The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    "That ''young fella'' as you keep referring to him is a werewolf. A beast that pretends to be human, A beast whose only purpose in life is to kill innocent people, and one who only has one emotion untamed rage", Morgan said. As he did his teeth gritted, his voice was raised so much that everyone in the tavern could hear him and veins were building out of his head.

    Winter bowed her head. Her father would always get like this when talking about werewolves. "Geez, really?", The barkeep said. "I didn''t see any of that from the young fella, he was just quiet and direct, honestly I kind of liked him".

    "Do you know where he is or not?" Morgan asked. "Unfortaley, No", The barkeep answered. "He stayed the night and left the next day".

    "Do you know anything else, anything that may help us find him?", Morgan asked. "Nope.", The barkeep quickly answered. Morgan turned to Ragnar who looked to have finished his drink.

    "He''s lying", Ragnar said. Morgan turned back to the barkeep. "What makes you say that?", The barkeep asked. "Oh I just know, trust me", Ragnar said. "You could say I got a sense for this kind of thing".

    "You heard him, so please tell us anything that can help us find this werewolf. I would truly be grateful if you did", Morgan said. "Your gratitude is worth less than the coins you used to buy those beers, so not much" " the barkeep said.

    "Now you''re more than welcome to stay and enjoy the services of my tavern, but if you want to have a conversation that doesn''t include drinks or lodging, I have nothing else to say to you".

    "I see, well that is unfortunate, I was hoping not to go with the hard way this time", Morgan said. He grabbed on to the barkeep''s head and slammed it on the serving table.

    "Ragnar!". "I''m on it", Ragenar said. Ragnar went around the tavern picking up tables and throwing them all over the place. This startled everyone in the tavern.

    "What the hell do you think you''re doing!?", The barkeep exclaimed. He tried moving his head but had little success. Morgan''s grip on his head was extraordinarily strong.

    On closer look, there were runes seen glowing the color red on his breastplate. "What am I doing?", Morgan repeated the question. "I''m just doing my job".

    "Terrorizing innocent folk?", The barkeep asked. "No, hunting werewolves", Morgan answered. "No werewolves here and I already told you the young fella left" " the barkeep said.

    "True but you know more than you''re telling and by law, anyone helping werewolves no matter who they are, commoner, peasant, nobility, royalty, or even a bartender like you is an enemy, which makes what I''m doing here completely justified.", Morgan said.

    "Now, are you ready to tell me what you''re hiding or do I need to persuade you some more".

    "Screw off!", The barkeep yelled. Morgan still had his head pinned down on the table. "Just remember you chose this", Morgan said. Morgan started to press his hand more strongly on the barkeep''s head and blood started to fall from the barkeep''s nose, eyes, and mouth.

    Winter watched in horror and was left speechless. She tried to say something, anything to make her father stop what he was doing but the words didn''t come out.

    "There was someone who came here a few months ago, a stranger not from here. I think I remember him", a voice said. Turning around, Morgan could see it had come from one of the three men who were making remarks about them.

    "Yeah, I think I remember him too, dark brown skin and curly hair", another man in the group said. "That''s right maybe we would have forgotten about him but he went around town asking If we all knew a blessed one that was pretty unforgettable", the third man said.

    "Yeah, I think I saw him talking to Rosa" " the first man said. "The three of you, shut your traps!", the barkeep screamed in pain. Hearing the conversation from the three men, Morgan let go of the barkeep''s head, and his body slumped on the floor.

    Winter, seeing this, went to check on him. "Tell me, who is this Rosa you speak of?", Morgan asked. He was slowly approaching them, and they all started to panic. They didn''t want what happened to the barkeep to happen to them.

    "She''s just a widow that lives in the town, she''s harmless", The first man said. "The stranger kept asking everyone in town if we knew about a blessed one, then Rosa approached him and they went back to her house".

    "Sir she''s harmless, she''s never done anything wrong please don''t hurt her".

    "That depends on her", Morgan said. "Ragnar that''s enough". Ragnar was in the middle of slamming a large table on a group of customers. He dropped the table and walked back to Morgan and Winter.

    "Are you okay?", Winter asked the barkeep. "Like you give a damn?", The barkeep''s side. Part of the head seemed to be fractured, and blood was still running from his eyes, nose, and mouth.

    Winter pulled something from her clothing and brought out a vial of blue liquid. "Drink this it''s a healing potion, it''s a basic one so it won''t heal all the damage done to you but it will do something, you can look for a mage to heal the rest", Winter said.

    The barkeep tried grabbing the potion from Winter but kept missing. See this Winter decided to pour the potion down the bakeep''s mouth. As she did she could see the fracture slowly start to heal.

    "Tell me, where does this Rosa live?", Morgan asked. The three men gave the directions to Morgan. "I see, Excellent. Ragnar, Winter we''re leaving I found another lead".

    Morgan left, and so did Ragnar. Winter was yet to leave, she was looking at the destruction caused. He could see people trying to hide, they were terrified. She saw broken tables, chairs, and walls.

    She could see the injured barkeep still not fully healed. "Sometimes I think we''re the monsters, no the werewolves", Winter whispered to herself.

    "Winter, What are you doing? Come on you can''t keep slowing us down!", Morgan yelled.

    Winter following her father left the tavern.

 Chapter !7: I Curse You

    After his humiliating defeat from Buck, Fenris walked the castle searching for his room, or the room he woke up in. He was in pain physically and mentally. Physically from all the claw marks given to him by Buck and mentally from the fact that it was Buck who had given him his injuries.

    "How did he get so strong? Whatever he did he better share it with me", Fenris said to himself. Walking to his room he found the two werewolves he had seen with Buck earlier.

    They both had red hair and seemed younger than Fenris. If he had to guess they were in their teens. "Hey, what happened to you?"Alden asked. Fenris didn''t answer and just walked past him.

    "I''m guessing either Buck or Lycan did that to him", Aria said. "He was acting all tough a few hours ago. I never would''ve guessed he was such a weakling", Aria said.

    Fenris stopped in his tracks after hearing that. "Ah, please forgive my sister. She doesn''t know how to use her inner voice", Alden said in a panicked tone.

    "Oh what''s he going to do, attack me?", Aria asked mockingly. "If this guy couldn''t take on Buck then he''s got nothing on me".

    Fenris slowly turned his head, Alden had sweat running down his face. "See, haha, no inner voice. Sorry mister, I''ll scold her while you''re gone. She''s just a stupid kid", Alden said.

    "A stupid kid?", Aria asked in annoyance. "I''m fifteen you jerk, and so are you. Stop treating me younger than I actually am".

    "Then act your age", Alden said in a hushed tone. It wouldn''t have done anything Fenris would still have heard it regardless. "You can start by not picking fights just for the fun of it".

    "I am acting my age", Aria said. "I''m not just a coward like you". Seeing the two of them bicker Fenris was reminded that they were children and attacking them would be quite pathetic for him.

    He continued to look for his room and found it. It seemed like there was a change of clothes for him there. He didn''t know who put it there. The door opened and Fenris didn''t react much because he smelled that it was Buck.

    "Hey, how are you doing? You''re not still pouting, are you?", Buck asked. "No, just wondering how you got so strong", Fenris answered. "All will be revealed in time, my Friend. Now take a bath there''s a room here for that, and get changed for dinner. We''ll be talking about the next steps for you in this family", Buck said.

    ''There he goes calling this group a family. He''s pretty desperate'', Fenris thought. He Went into the room that Buck had shown Fenris. He got in a wooden bath filled with water.

    ''This is nice, although it doesn''t beat taking a bath in a stream''.

    Back at the town, the red hunters were in. The group rode to Rosa''s house. "Alright, Let''s do this", Ragnar said. He quickly got off his horse and proceeded to the house. "Hold on a second!", Winter screamed. She got off her horse and stood in front of Ragnar with her arms spread out.

    "Girlie, what do you think you''re doing?"Ragnar asked. "If what those men said in the tavern is true, then this woman is innocent, I won''t let you terrorize her as you did to those people in the bar", Rosa said.

    Ragnar looked toward Morgan, who was yet to get off from his horse. "Winter we need answers. Every second that werewolf is left alone people are in danger", Morgan said.

    "I understand that, just... just let me do the talking", Winter said. "She''s going to feel threatened when she sees all of us in front of her house. I''m confident I can put her at ease, that way she''ll be more willing to talk".

    Morgan said nothing for a while. He had a look on his face that said he was contemplating on winter''s suggestion. "Father, please".

    "Fine", Morgan said. "You can go talk to this woman.". "Thank you, Father," Winter said. She was walking off the front door. "But Winter make sure you persuade her to talk, if not I will do whatever it takes to get the information we need out of her", Morgan said.

    Hearing this Morgan stopped for a while, then continued walking. She knocked on the door. Rosa opened it, and as Winter had guessed she was frightened at the scene in front of her.

    She couldn''t blame her after all there were people on horses, wearing armor at the front of her house. "I''ve done nothing wrong. If you are bandits, take what you can although I don''t have much", Rosa said.

    "No, we aren''t bandits", Winter said. "Sorry for the scare, we''re actually from the hunter''s guild and there are a couple of questions we need to ask you".

    "The hunter''s guild?", Rosa asked in shock. "Is there a werewolf in town? Is it one of my neighbors". Rosa was in a panic state when asking these questions. Most people in this world were whenever it came to discussing subjects on werewolves.

    "No. But we believe one came here a few months ago. Witnesses at a tavern we just left say you brought home with you a few months ago", Winter said. "Do you remember anything about that?".

    "No that can''t be right I never¡­", Rosa stopped talking. She suddenly remembered meeting Fenris on the road when he was asking for a mage whose descriptions were similar to her daughter Andrea.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    She couldn''t tell them anything. If she did it could put her daughter in danger, as anyone who helped werewolves were considered to be criminals, and from the stories Fenris told about the two of them. Her daughter helped Fenris a lot.

    ''Maybe ¡­ maybe she didn''t know what he was. Maybe she was clueless just like me. Even if that''s the case I can''t tell them anything about Fenris it could lead them to her'', Rosa thought.

    "I never met such a person nor did I bring them to my home", Rosa said. "She''s lyiiiing!", Ragnar shouted in a mocking tone. He was several feet away from Winter and Rosa but could still hear their conversation due to one of his abilities as a werewolf.

    "How did he hear us?". Rosa asked. "Never mind him", Winter said. "Back to what we were discussing: are you sure you don''t recall meeting someone a few months ago and bringing them to your house?"

    "Please, it''s important you tell me the truth". There was worry on Winter''s face as she said this. She couldn''t help but worry about what would happen to the woman in front of her if she chose to lie again.

    "Like I said earlier I never met such a person", Rosa repeated. "Now, if that''s all I ask that you all leave my land immediately".

    "Listen we ..", Winter wanted to continue but was interrupted.

    "That''s enough winter", Morgan said. Turning her head around she found her father by her side. She wasn''t sure when he arrived. "But I just started, it only lasted a few minutes. I''m sure I can get her to talk".

    Morgan glared at her causing Winter to turn away immediately and stop talking. Morgan approached Rosa. This caused her to brace herself, she was expecting a hit from it but it never came.

    Morgan simply shoved Rosa to the side causing her to stumble on the ground and enter her home. "Stop!", Rosa yelled. "I didn''t give you permission to enter my home".

    Rosa began to hear furniture break inside the small house, she rushed in, but Winter held her hand. "DON''T. Trust me you''ll only make things worse".

    Rosa tried to break the grip on her hand but it didn''t work, Winter was stronger than she looked. A few moments later MOrgan emerged from the house holding a wooden torch in his hand which was on fire.

    "Nice house you have here," Morgan said. "Not big but quite lovely, you made it seem like a loving family resides here even though in reality it''s just you".

    Rosa knew what Morgan was implying with those pretty words. He was threatening to burn down her house. This made her shiver and tear up. This house was all that was left of her family, her husband was dead and she had no idea where her daughter was, if Morgan destroyed her house she would truly have nothing.

    "Please, I''m begging you, don''t do this", Rosa pleaded with tears rolling down her face. "I won''t have to, if you just answer my questions truthfully", Morgan said. "Where is the werewolf who was here a few months ago?".

    "I don''t know", Rosa answered. Morgan, clearly not convinced with her answer, was about to place the torch on her house. "I said I don''t know!", Rosa yelled in horror. "I''m telling you the truth, he came here but left he didn''t tell me where he was going".

    "Finally some honest answers", Morgan said. "Fine, you don''t know where he is. I can believe that but why did he come to your house? Someone said he was asking around for a blessed one. Do you know anything about that?".

    This was the question she was dreading to hear from him. She was willing to give Fenris up if it meant saving her home, but there was no way she would tell him anything about her daughter.

    "Well? I''m waiting for an answer, woman". "I .. I don''t know", Rosa lied. Morgan looked towards Ragnar. Ragnar shook his head, indicating that Rosa was lying. "Back to lying are we?", Morgan said.

    "That''s a shame, I thought we were finally starting to make some progress". Morgan threw the torch inside the house and it quickly started to burn. "Nooooo!", Rosa screamed.

    She rushed in, maybe she could stop the fire, but she was tackled down. Looking up she saw it was winter who was on top of her. "Let me go you bitch! Can''t you see my house on fire!".

    "There''s nothing you can do," Winter said. "You would just get burnt by the flames." Rosa tried with all her strength to break free from Winter but to no avail. "ANIMALS!" You''re all bloody animals. You''ll all burn for this", Rosa screamed in agony as she watched her family home being burnt.

    She was crying so much that Winter could''ve sworn she saw a little blood in her tears. "The only thing that''s going to burn is that house of yours", Ragnar joked. Winter looked up at him with disgust. "What? It was funny".

    The house was now completely on fire, Winter didn''t let go of Rosa for fear that she may run into the burning building. Moments passed and the house was completely burned down.

    Winter finally let go of Rosa. Rosa didn''t immediately get up, but when she did she didn''t run. She didn''t have the energy nor did she need to. The thing that she tried so desperately to save was destroyed.

    She slowly walked towards the ashes of her home and knelt, not saying a word. Winter looking at the scene was heartbroken. "This is punishment for protecting a monster. You have no one to blame for yourself.", Morgan said.

    He approached winter. "Never let it be said that I am incapable of showing mercy. I spared her for you, winter". He left winter, leaving her to clench her fists. ''This was mercy?''.

    "What now", Ragnar asked. "Now? Now nothing. This hunt has proven fruitless. I knew it was a longshot finding this werewolf and I took the request. We leave it and hunt others", Morgan said.

    Morgan got on his horse and so did Ragnar. "Winter! We''re leaving". Winter said nothing to her father and approached Rosa. "I''m sor..".

    "Don''t you dare", Rosa said. She turned her head to Winter and her facial expression showed anger. No, not anger it was something more; pure hatred.

    "You have taken the last remnants I had of my family. I am not a follower of any gods, but I pray to them all that they curse you for the rest of your lives".

    Hearing this, Winter backed off and got on her horse. Her head was down, she felt guilty, but that wasn''t anything new. Guilt had become her companion now. This wasn''t the first time that her father had hurt someone to get something nor what had happened in the tavern earlier.

    This was her first hunt, it had lasted a little over a month, and throughout she witnessed her father destroying things and hurting people just to get information.

    She was horrified by his actions but didn''t dare go against him. He was her father after all. He said he was doing this for the greater good to protect people from werewolves, to prevent the death of innocents that the werewolves brought everywhere they went, like they did to her mother.

    She followed her fathers and the red hunters, leaving the destruction they had brought.

 Chapter 18: Fenris Vs BEowulf

    Fenris, after taking a bath, proceeded into the dining hall. It wasn''t hard to find, seeing as they heard murmurs and a lot of heartbeats at one location.

    "Fenris, glad you could join us," Lycan said. Lycan was sitting at the head of a large table.

    On the sides were Gwendolyn, Buck, Alden, and Aria, along with other werewolves Fenris was yet to meet. "Have a seat. We were waiting for you." Fenris did as Lycan said but sat at the other side of the table, away from the rest.

    On the table was a large boar. Werewolves were technically omnivores, but they all had a preference for meat. A lot of times, they even ate it raw. But the boar on the table seemed to be cooked. Fenris guessed it was to accommodate Gwendolyn, who wasn''t a werewolf.

    "Now that everyone who is supposed to be here is here, let''s discuss our plans."

    "Fenris, your performance at the training ground wasn''t optimal, so you''ll learn how to fight properly. Beowulf will help train you." Lycan turned his head towards a werewolf who was bulky in size, had a short, scruffy, unkempt beard, and blue eyes.

    "It''s a pleasure to meet you, young one," Beowulf said. Fenris said nothing. "We''ll also have to talk about weapons. Tell me, have you ever used a weapon before?" Lycan asked.

    Fenris raised his hand and brought out his dark claws. "These work just fine. I''ve never needed anything else," Fenris answered.

    "That won''t do. You''ll be among travelers. We can''t have you sing them," Lycan said.

    "There''s an armory in this castle. When you have time, I want you to find a weapon that suits you. Beowulf can help with that as well."

    "Another thing, let''s talk about the runes you''ll get."

    "No!" Gwendolyn exclaimed. All eyes turned on her. "I thought I already made it clear I have no intention of giving him rune magic."

    "Yeah, but that was a few hours ago," Buck said. "We kinda figured you would''ve calmed down by now."

    "It''s GWENDOLYN," Gwendolyn said. "And no, I haven''t calmed down. He had his hand around my neck. That''s not something I can get past, Buck."

    "Alright, alright, you make a good point, but what if Fenris here apologizes for what he did?" Buck asked. "Then will you give him some runes as you did with the rest of us?"

    "I''ll consider it," Gwendolyn said.

    "You heard her, Fenris, just say you''re sorry and there will be no hard feelings," Buck said. There was silence for a while.

    "Okay, I''m sorry," Fenris said.

    "I will not accept such a fake apology from you," Gwendolyn said. "Something is seriously wrong with you." She stood up and left the dining hall.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "Well, that was awkward," Aria said. Alden stomped on his sister''s foot.

    "Ow! What the hell?!"

    "We''ll get to that part later. You''ll train here for some time, then we''ll send you on your first traveler''s quest," Lycan said.

    "About that¡­ humans have a way of checking if someone is a werewolf by using blood magic. I''m guessing that these travelers can do that as well, so how are you going to get me past that?" Fenris asked.

    "Don''t worry about that," Lycan said. "Remember that high noble we mentioned earlier? His name is Leon Fergus. As you may know, high nobles are nobles that have blood ties to royal families. So he has infinite resources he can use to help us. One of them is his own group of mages that are placed everywhere in this kingdom and in others."

    "We''ll give a traveler establishment which one of his mages works at, and they''ll ignore the fact that your blood is clearly not human."

    "That''s hard to believe," Fenris said.

    "I understand, but it''s true. It''s how we all became travelers."

    "I think that''s all. Now, everyone eat up."

    "Finally, I''m starving," Aria said. She quickly went for the boar with her claws. When she had a chunk of meat in her hands, Lycan looked at her. It wasn''t a look of anger, more like a look of a disappointed parent.

    Seeing this, she placed the chunk of meat on a plate and used cutlery to eat it. She seemed saddened. Fenris, seeing what just transpired, felt a mix of emotions, one of them being gratitude that Aria went for the boar first because he was about to do the same thing.

    Having spent a lifetime solely trying to survive, Fenris didn''t have time to learn table manners or any type of manners.

    He did the same as Aria and used cutlery to cut and eat the boar, a first experience for him.

    "After this, meet me outside the castle for your training, young one," Beowulf said.

    Fenris turned his head left and right. "Are you talking to me?" Fenris asked.

    "Of course!" Beowulf exclaimed. "The moon is up in the sky. Though not a full one, it''s the perfect time to test your skills and strength," Beowulf continued.

    "Yeah, but I already did that with Buck. Didn''t he tell you?" Fenris said. "I was sure he would be bragging about it to everyone."

    "He did," Beowulf answered. "But I only heard, I didn''t experience your fight. It''s important that I witness it firsthand to choose your new fighting style and weapon."

    Fenris somewhat understood what Beowulf was saying. "Just out of curiosity. Are you stronger than Buck?" Fenris asked.

    "Well, I''m not one to brag¡­"

    "Yes, you are," Aria said. Alden stomped on her foot again.

    "Ow!"

    "Stronger, much stronger," Beowulf finished speaking.

    "Great, I''ll have to get my ass beat twice today. I''m not looking forward to the second time."

    Fenris, after eating, followed Beowulf out of the castle and close to the spot where Lycan had taken him. Outside, more than half of the moon was showing in the sky.

    Fenris felt energized by this, and so did Beowulf and Buck, who were with him. Buck asked to observe, which Beowulf had no problem with.

    "You won''t be using your claws for this fight."

    "If I don''t use my claws, how do I fight?" Fenris asked. Hearing this, Beowulf started to laugh out loud. "HAHAHAAHAHAHHA! How, you ask? We will fight as men have fought throughout history¡ªwith our fists, our legs, our very bodies!" Beowulf answered.

    "Now, come to me, young one, and show me what you''re made of." When saying this, Beowulf had a huge smile on his face, and his arms were spread open, like he was welcoming Fenris.

    ''What is with this guy?'' Fenris thought. ''And I thought Buck was weird.'' Fenris made his two hands into fists. ''I can do this¡ªfists instead of claws.'' Fenris charged at Beowulf.

 Chapter 19: Bucks Origin

    Fenris charged at Beowulf with his fists, a first for him. He was so used to using his claws that it had become second nature to him. When his fist was about to make contact with Beowulf''s face, Beowulf grabbed Fenris by the neck and slammed him on the grassy ground.

    Fenris scoffed in pain. "Not good enough, young one," Beowulf said. He removed his grip on Fenris''s neck and took a step back. "Try again."

    ''He''s giving me a chance to attack him once more?'' Fenris thought. ''Well, this is training and not an actual fight, so I guess it makes sense.''

    Fenris got off the ground and brought out his claws by instinct; immediately, he retracted them. ''This is proving harder than I thought,'' Fenris thought.

    Beowulf was far bigger and wider than Fenris; his stance was quite intimidating. He was about 2.00 meters in height and was made of muscles.

    "What''s wrong? Giving up already?" Beowulf asked. "Not even close," Fenris replied. Fenris''s eyes started to glow yellow, and his fangs elongated. Beowulf, seeing this, twitched his eye.

    "You said I couldn''t use my claws. I won''t, but I am going to use this form. Is that going to be a problem?" Beowulf sighed. "The point of this is to teach you how to fight without your werewolf abilities, but if you insist, so be it," Beowulf said.

    Fenris rushed at him faster than he did before. There was a reason why Fenris had chosen this form. Whenever his eyes glowed and he brought out his fangs and claws, he was stronger, faster, and more durable.

    In this case, he retracted his claws, but the effects on the body still stayed the same. Fenris dashed to Beowulf''s side to punch him in the ribs. Beowulf caught his ribs, pulled him closer, grabbed him by the waist, and sumo slammed him. The ground where Fenris''s head landed cracked. Beowulf got up from the position.

    "That form won''t help you take me down," Beowulf said. "Lycan understated when he said your fighting wasn''t optimal. I''ve seen everything I need to see. Shall we end this?"

    "Not just yet!" Fenris got up. His skull was broken, but it healed within seconds. He jumped back a great distance. He charged at Beowulf and went for his waist. Fenris tried to tackle him, but nothing happened; Beowulf didn''t even move an inch.

    Beowulf clasped his hands together and slammed them into Fenris''s back. Fenris fell, and a loud crack was made; the impact of the blow was so great that those guarding the castle who weren''t werewolves heard it.

    Fenris struggled to get back up, his broken spine healing quickly since it was the full moon. Beowulf just looked down on him, not saying anything or doing anything; he wasn''t threatened by Fenris at all.

    "You''re like a mountain," Fenris exclaimed in frustration. "I shall take that as a compliment. Now do you surrender, or should we continue this pointless display of yours?" Beowulf said. There was disappointment in his voice; it was obvious he expected more from Fenris. Fenris saw this as Beowulf looking down on him, which infuriated Fenris.

    "No!" Fenris exclaimed. "I''m not going to stop until I bring you down." Beowulf, hearing this, smiled, "Brilliant! Truly brilliant!" Beowulf exclaimed.

    "You have a warrior''s spirit, young one. We could keep fighting until the moon disappears. Our blessing gives us the ability to do so. However, I''d rather not indulge in a meaningless fight. I will train you to become strong, and when you are done, then we will have our true battle."

    After saying this, Beowulf rushed toward Fenris, tackled him, and put him in submission. Beowulf had Fenris''s arm extended between his legs, with Fenris''s elbow positioned over Beowulf''s hips.

    Beowulf stretched and pulled Fenris''s arms, breaking his bones and ripping his tendons. "Ahhhhhhh!" Fenris screamed in pain. "Do you surrender?" Beowulf asked, still holding Fenris in submission.

    "No," Fenris said. His arm healed, and Beowulf broke it once more. "Do you surrender?" Beowulf repeated his question. "No," Fenris repeated. Beowulf repeated this process time and time again, but Fenris wouldn''t give up.

    It was quite horrific to watch, so much so that Buck turned away. It didn''t help because Buck could hear Fenris scream. An hour had passed. "Do you surrender?" Beowulf asked once more.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    "Fine, yes, fuck yes!" Fenris exclaimed. He had had enough. The continuous breaking and healing of his arm was too much for him; it was starting to drive him mad.

    Hearing Fenris''s surrender, Beowulf exited the submission. Seeing this, Buck ran over to Fenris, who just laid down on the grass looking up at the sky. "Fenris, buddy, are you okay?" Buck asked.

    Fenris didn''t reply and just kept looking at the stars. A single tear rolled down his face. "Don''t you think you went too far?" Buck asked. His tone showed anger.

    "Maybe I did. But the fault doesn''t lie entirely with me," Beowulf said. "Your friend could have given up at any time, but he chose not to despite the agony it caused him. At the beginning of this, I wasn''t impressed with him, but now he has shown me his resilience and perseverance. He will make a fine fighter. The next step will be to work on his fighting technique. Tomorrow. He''s clearly not in the state of mind to learn anything right now."

    Beowulf left Fenris and Buck and headed back into the castle. "Hey buddy, I''m going to take you into the castle, will that be okay?" Buck asked. Fenris said nothing and just kept staring into the night sky. But he suddenly nodded to Buck.

    "Alright, I''ll try and be gentle." Buck helped Fenris off the ground and placed his hand on his shoulder. "I don''t know if you can understand what''s happening, but try and follow my lead, okay?"

    Fenris slowly walked with Buck into the castle. ''Beowulf really did a number on him. Fenris''s mind is all messed up. I swear something is truly wrong with that guy; he''s a fighting fanatic,'' Buck thought.

    "Since you probably won''t understand what I''m saying, I guess I should say some things to you that you''ll probably forget," Buck said. He sighed. "I''m really glad you''re here, Fenris, truly."

    "You''re my oldest friend. Well, the oldest friend that I know who isn''t dead. What Lycan is having us do gives me hope. Every time I joined a pack, I used to fake being hopeful, but now I''m not faking it anymore. For the first time in my life, I''m actually hopeful. We can fight against the humans who have been hunting us for centuries."

    "Hell, we can do more than fight; we can win. We can make this whole kingdom ours and fight the rest of the world, help werewolves not just in Pyros but in all the other kingdoms."

    "It wouldn''t feel right not to have you here with me when that happens." Buck smiled, then looked at Fenris, who was still in a daze, his eyes wide open, leaning on Buck as he walked into the castle.

    "I know you don''t remember your family, but I remember mine. I had a Ma and pa, and older brother, and three younger sisters. My parents were both werewolves and so were me and my siblings."

    "My older brother Lucas and I, we fought a lot¡ªscratch that¡ªwe always fought. About the dumbest things, he was rude, aggressive, and was kind of a loner."

    "Honestly, you remind me a lot of him. I guess that''s why I''m so attached to you." Buck cleared his throat. "Right, back to my origin story. My family and I lived in a cabin in the woods. We barely made contact with humans, and when we did, we always hid. I thought it was so unfair how we lived¡ªalways hiding, never exploring, traveling, or doing anything¡ªwe just stayed in the same place doing nothing."

    "I wanted more. I wanted to venture out into the world and have my adventures like the heroes in the stories my Ma would read to me. Boy, what a dumb kid I was. Now I look back on those days and realize that might''ve been the happiest I''ve ever been."

    "I woke up one night to find our cabin was on fire. Naturally, being the scared kid that I was, I screamed for my mama, but she didn''t scream back. I ran outside, thinking maybe my family left."

    "When I got there, I saw the backs of my Pa and my brother. I was relieved, but I didn''t see my Ma or my sisters. Then I smelled something. I was eleven back then, so I had my werewolf abilities. I smelled something familiar, comforting, mixed with something I didn''t like."

    "My eyes followed the scent, and that''s when¡­" Buck stopped for a moment, and he was breathing heavily. "That''s when I saw them, my Ma and my sister, dead and bloody."

    "They had holes in them. It seemed like my Ma was fighting, trying to protect m

    my sister. I also noticed my Pa and Lucas had blood on them as well."

    "I looked in front of me, and that''s when I saw them, the monsters that killed my ma and sister. Those damn hunters! I''ll never forget their faces. If I ever see them again, I swear I''ll tear them limb from limb and make them beg for death." There was rage in Buck''s voice, his eyes turned yellow as he vented.

    "My Pa told me and my brother to run. We were kids, so we did. We ran, Fenris, we ran as fast as we could. I noticed my brother stopped running, so I stopped. An arrow had pierced his heart."

    "He looked at me and dropped dead, Fenris. Do you want to know what I did? I ran. That''s all I could do. My own brother died in front of me, and I just f*cking ran."

    "I don''t know how long I was running for, but I know I didn''t stop for a moment, and I didn''t look back." Buck stopped and realized he was in front of Fenris''s room. He walked him in and placed him on the large bed. "Well, after that, and some time had passed, I met you. A kid my age in a pack with no family, just like me."

    Fenris lay on the bed with his eyes closed. It seemed he had fallen asleep. "It''s too bad you probably won''t remember this, but then again, you were never interested in anything I had to say."

    Buck was about to leave Fenris''s room but stopped at the door. "Good talk, Fenris." Buck left Fenris''s room.

 Chapter 20: Fenris Past

    "Ahhh!" Fenris screamed in pain. He slowly opened his eyes. He was in a grass field, with nothing and no one to be found in sight. "Where am I?" Fenris said.

    After Fenris asked that question, he realized something else: he not only didn¡¯t know where he was, but he also didn¡¯t know who he was. Fenris, looking to be around eight years old, started to panic.

    He tried desperately to remember who he was. Wait, he could remember something. Fenris! Fenris, that was his name. Remembering that, a smile appeared on his face, which later disappeared when he realized he remembered nothing else.

    "Come on, I can do this. Remember something else, anything else." Fenris tried once more. Maybe the same thing would happen when he remembered his name, but sadly he wasn¡¯t that lucky.

    Nothing happened. Despite all his efforts, he remembered nothing. Apart from his name, Fenris¡¯s mind was a complete blank. He began to cry. "Why, why can¡¯t I remember anything?" He tried hitting his head, hoping some memories would resurface, but that didn¡¯t work.

    He wiped his tears. "Maybe I could find someone who remembers me. Yeah, maybe my family is nearby." Fenris got up from the ground and took a look at what he was wearing.

    A laced-up shirt, crumpled trousers, and no shoes. He noticed something else: a wooden necklace. "This looks nice." Fenris played with it for a while. He didn¡¯t know why, but he seemed infatuated with it.

    He stopped playing with it and decided to look for someone, anyone who could tell him who he was. He didn¡¯t know where to go and just picked a random direction.

    As he walked, he saw no one¡ªjust trees and grass. "I really hope I¡¯m going in the right direction, and not walking away from my family." Fenris could suddenly hear something. That wasn¡¯t accurate. He could hear multiple things: people talking, the stomps of horses, and drum-like sounds which were heartbeats.

    Fenris stopped. He saw nothing in front of him, to his sides, or even behind him. "What was that? Am I hearing things?" Fenris then stopped hearing the noises. Fenris then tried to hear them again, and the noises returned.

    It turns out that Fenris had the ability to turn the noises on and off. When he did choose to hear them, they were coming from a particular direction. Fenris decided to follow it.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the voices to lead him into a town¡ªwell, more like a city. With carriages, people in armor, and everyone in expensive-looking clothes. "Am I from here?" Fenris looked at what he was wearing.

    "Who am I kidding? With the way I look, my family¡¯s probably dirt poor." Fenris went over to an adult on the street. "Excuse me ¡­"

    "Sorry, I don¡¯t have anything on me," the adult said. He quickly walked past. "He didn¡¯t even let me finish," Fenris said. Fenris went around hoping to get help from someone.

    "Excuse ¡­" "Sorry kid, I got nothing for ya," another adult said. "Excuse ¡­" "Shoo, I don¡¯t want you to dirty my clothes," this time it was a woman in a pink dress.

    This went on as Fenris went from adult to adult, but they all turned him away without even listening to him. "What¡¯s going on? Why are all these people not listening to what I have to say?"

    Fenris wasn¡¯t aware that the reason why all the adults weren¡¯t listening to him was because they all thought he was a beggar. With the dirty clothes he wore, it wasn¡¯t that hard to assume.

    After trial and error, Fenris finally gave up. He sat on a water fountain and started to cry once more. He found the sound of rushing water calming. "This isn¡¯t fair, I can¡¯t remember who I am, and no one will listen to me. How am I supposed to find my family?"

    Fenris couldn¡¯t control his tears; he kept wiping his bearings, but they just kept coming out. "Hey, kid, what¡¯s wrong?" a voice said. Looking up, Fenris could see a woman looking to be in her late thirties. She had short black-green hair and seemed to be wearing clothes that were a little dirty, not like his. Another thing Fenris noticed was that she was quite muscular.

    "I can¡¯t find my family," Fenris said.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    "Okay, where did you last see them?" the woman asked.

    "I don¡¯t know?" Fenris answered.

    "Okay, what are your parents¡¯ names? Someone¡¯s bound to know them, especially if they have a last name," the woman asked.

    Fenris tried to remember, but he just couldn¡¯t. He squinted his eyes as hard as he could. "Hey, kid, you¡¯re not going to GO right here, are you?" the woman asked in fear.

    "What are you talking about? I was trying to remember my parents'' names. I can¡¯t," Fenris said.

    "You can¡¯t remember your own parents'' names?" the woman asked.

    Fenris nodded vertically.

    "What about how they look? We don¡¯t have a lot of dark-skinned folk, so they should be easy to find."

    Fenris tried to remember what they looked like, but he couldn¡¯t. "I don¡¯t know what they look like," Fenris said.

    "Wait, you¡¯re telling me that you¡¯re looking for your family but you don¡¯t remember their names or faces?" the woman asked.

    Fenris nodded slowly. Is this kid trying to scam me or something? the woman thought. She looked at Fenris. He looked sad and confused. If he is, then it¡¯s working; he¡¯s just too adorable to ignore.

    She scratched the back of her head, thinking of what to do. "Tell you what. You can come stay with me until you can remember them."

    "Really?" Fenris asked.

    "Sure, but you won¡¯t be lazing around. You¡¯ll help me with my business. I¡¯m a blacksmith. You¡¯re too young to work, but you can help me with a lot of errands I¡¯m too busy to do," the woman said.

    "So, what do you say?"

    Fenris thought about it. On one hand, it sounded good¡ªhe couldn¡¯t remember anything and he couldn¡¯t take care of himself. What the muscular woman was offering him sounded good. On the other hand, it didn¡¯t just sound good; it sounded too good to be true. He may have been a child and he may not have any memories, but even he knew that trusting a complete stranger could end badly for him.

    But did he really have a choice? "Okay," Fenris answered.

    "Great. I guess I should ask your name. I¡¯m Sarah."

    "I think my name is Fenris," Fenris answered.

    "Pleasure meeting you, Fenris." Sarah extended her hand for a handshake. Fenris shook her hand. "You too."

    Fenris then heard a large bell ringing. It seemed like Sarah could hear it as well.

    "I guess it¡¯s time," Sarah said.

    "Time for what?" Fenris asked.

    Fenris saw a large crowd of people rushing toward a particular direction.

    "Follow me, Fenris, there¡¯s something you need to see," Sarah said.

    Fenris followed Sarah and ended up in a crowd of people. There was a wooden platform, and six people were placed on it.

    They were on their knees, their hands bound to their necks, and their mouths gagged. A man stood on the platform wearing armor that appeared to be silver.

    He began to speak. "These monsters here have been disguised as one of you for years, pretending to be your friends, lovers, and colleagues. But thanks to me, their true natures are about to be revealed."

    He took a powder from his pocket. It was purple in color. He went to one of the tied people and removed their gag. It was a woman with red hair, looking to be in her twenties.

    The man rubbed the purple powder on her face. It irritated her. She shook her head violently, then her eyes glowed yellow and her teeth elongated. She let out a roar, which caused the crowd of people to scream.

    "Werewolves! Hiding among yourselves! They¡¯ve been killing children at night and pretending to be one of you in the day."

    "That¡¯s a damn lie!" the werewolf said.

    "You dare talk back, beast?" the hunter said.

    "Yeah, if you¡¯re going to kill us, I might as well say what¡¯s on my mind."

    "We haven¡¯t done anything wrong. My family and I have lived here for years. We laughed, ate, and celebrated with all of you. You never had a problem with us then. But now you find out that we¡¯re werewolves and you suddenly change face. We¡¯ve never harmed a single one of you. We just wanted a peaceful life. We don¡¯t deserve to die for that."

    "The bitch lies!" a man yelled from the crowd. "She¡¯s a monster only pretending to be human. Only the gods know how many they¡¯ve killed. Kill her and the rest of the abominations."

    "Kill them! Kill them! Kill them! Kill them!" The crowd yelled in unison.

    "The people have spoken, beast," the hunter said. "We do not accept your kind, and we never will."

    He grabbed the girl and led her to a guillotine. She was beheaded, and the crowd screamed even louder.

    "Why ¡­ why is this happening? What did she do?" Fenris asked in horror.

    "She was a werewolf," Sarah said. "Maybe you shouldn¡¯t be seeing this because you¡¯re still a kid, but it¡¯s something you need to know."

    "Werewolves are monsters who can look like us, but they are merciless killers. So be careful who you make friends with. And if you ever suspect someone of being a werewolf, report it to an adult. They¡¯ll know what to do."

    Fenris turned away as more of the werewolves were being executed. He didn¡¯t realize it, but he was witnessing how the world truly felt about his kind.