"I told you! They have two moons~!" Danteleon has been nagging Hedwelch about it. The moons are bigger in this sky. While Danteleon is overwhelmed with excitement as he tries to reach the moons, Hedwelch is cautious in this new environment as he carries Acro.
The temperature in this world is lower than on Earth and it's tempting me to love this place already. It looks like the whole world is a neat forest. The countless stars are visible through the naked eye. The center of all these attractions is the glowing chateau surrounded by a faded giant sphere which adds to the glittering of the forest.
Meanwhile, I hold the same hand who created this world. "What do you think?" she asked.
I might grovel and worship her. "You mimicked the world of pishnies, aren't you?"
"Of course, not! He was my master so this is an inherited art."
I laughed at her reasoning and praised her, "It's really wonderful~ Perhaps excluding the parts Afvshaganifs made."
And now she's the one laughing. The kids are running through the grass. Such carefreeness excites me too, consequently, I chase them and drag them down on the grass. "Seriously!? Your clothes are not for playtime!" she exclaimed from a distance. There are other wolf pups playing and sliding on the hills of grass. Danteleon and Hedwelch are amazed for a reason that the others aren't white.
Finally, inside the castle ground, elegance is all over the place. There's a sparkling and long chandelier of a crescent moon above, the hall is wider than the common, and there's a sketch of a huge magic circle on the smooth floor that confuses me. The rest are common luxurious furniture for a ball; tables, seats, and couches which make this occasion humanly. The other werewolves are wearing formal attires, too. But I think I should've worn a masquerade to filter my identity!
"Look, the silver wolves are here."
"What is he doing here?"
"He should be exterminated, right?"
"What about Alpha Biaco? Is he coming, too?"
Some of these gossipers are already glaring at me and my kids. The wisest choice would be to wait for the Alphas to lift my expiation before standing here.
"Dear," I looked at Dandeline when I heard her tender voice, "you've been suppressing something. Don't be bothered if they try to hurt you as long as I'm here."
"Dan, I don't want to impair the mood here. My presence only is enough to make that happen—"
"It's just you again being humble. If the mood is ruined, then that is their decision." She pulls my chin for a kiss on my cheek. I touched it while looking at her with wide eyes! She says, "Focus on me." My lips were deterred by stutter so I turned around, leaned on the wall, and glided downward slowly as I smile on my own.
"Aaarrrfff~"
"Hess—! What are you doing!? Get up from there!" She pulls me up on my arm.
"I just can't believe you could display such affection in public~"
"'Twas only a kiss!" And now she's embarrassed, too.
A jubilant woman greets me with a tight hug. "Hessuel! It's great to see you again!" she said. Her weight told me when I was stooped down because of her.
"Sherizzah!" She has turned into a charming plumpy young adult. "Are you not strict anymore?"
"I won't be happy to meet an old friend with a stern face! Are they your twins? Time flies! I remember the panic we had when they were born."
Meanwhile, Hedwelch and Danteleon have been silently observing the werewolves.
Sherizzah asked for our invitation and she read it. "The moon invited the silver wolves? That's perfect! I'll take you to your table."
On the table, a mini-fountain of fruit drink is flowing and we pick our own glasses to scoop. Sherizzah mixed a piece of tablet in my drink and I haven't tasted it yet when the extreme spice of the water's scent itched my throat.
"It's a special mint to make strong drinks. That might itch your throat and leave you hoarse later," she informed, and then whispered, "But just pretend that your throat hurts throughout the celebration."
"What? Why—?"
"Trust me." Then she sat properly again. "It was the first kind of wine I tasted after my legal age! Toast~!"
I can't swallow this drink anymore. With a glance, Dandeline understood that I'm in need of help as Sherizzah is acting weird. She casts a quick enchantment on my glass and then the mint disappeared. I was casually drinking when a girl pulls my cloth.
"Silver wolf, let's play outside," she orders instead of inviting.
"Me? Why?"
"My mother said."
"Maestrelia! You're probably asking the wrong silver wolf," Dandeline said to her.
Sooner, Lanasia joins the table and says, "I'd like to introduce my daughter! Maestrelia, your Aunt Dandeline's boys are these."
"There's two of them!" The girl is the same age as Hedwelch and Danteleon. I gave them permission to play outside under Sherizzah's voluntary supervision.
More familiar faces—from the people whom I thought were long dead—join the table; Phatinni, Manjiro, Linly, and their children. I'm impressed that she dedicated her life to the werewolves, too. My focus decreases within this circle—the table of my acquaintances who aren't among the crowd of derision—that is when this occasion felt welcoming. But I had to pretend that my throat itches!
After the refreshing reunion, the werewolves behave whilst some in the wolf form howl when the two awaited Alphas arrived. Matheo has a white cloak on his right shoulder and Elibur has a black and grey cloak on both shoulders. Not a single guest inside this hall spoke when Matheo began the proclamation:
"Welcome to this phenomenal gathering. On this day and onward, we shall see the Moon Goddess personally. We extend our gratitude to the mages who made this possible and to the moon priestess who dedicated this world for us. We are now free from the threat of humanity. We are free to consume all the ends of this world, the land we call our own. This will be the beginning of our new lives. We have plenty of reasons to rejoice!"
Elibur unleashes a magic circle above his palm and it fires up a spiral fire that detonates falling glitters. The werewolves made sounds by clapping and howling. And then Elibur turns over,
"Moreover, the Moon Goddess herself shall elect new Alphas. There will be new packs and no more Vengeance or Moon's Order packs. All that was put into extinction shall be restored. Worthy she-wolves shall be called by the moon to breed red, golden, and silver wolves." I shivered when I caught his glance. "Hence, this will be our last reign. It was an honor to lead these packs." They humbly bow their heads, the two Alphas who made this day possible.
The hall was filled with sounds again. The feasting began, there were she-wolves who perform as usual that was meant to praise the Alphas until a werewolf approaches Dandeline and Linly at our table. "Moon priestess, it is time."
I watch them proceed to the center of the magic circle on the floor. Dandeline summons her spellbooks in the air in one swipe and then the huge magic circle of the floor glows. "Mrs. Lanasia, what is this?" I whispered.
"A spell Dandeline created which allows the Moon Goddess to set feet on this planet even without a vessel. Linly's life is still connected to the goddess so her life will remain. The whole spell is written in this enchast which consists of 5 spellbooks. She's amazing, right?"
"No need to question that," I said. I follow the glowing lines of the magic circle on the floor and accidentally met Hrista's gaze, standing in front of the line. Her hair covers a big portion of her face, then cuts the gaze on her own. "Mrs. Lanasia, I know this is sudden to ask but may I know what happened to Ms. Hrista after she was arrested?"
"It was made known to our knowledge that Afvshaganifs allowed her to cross the world. Hrista did not violate any rule except her oath with former Luna Maia. As a result, we surrendered her to the former Luna and as her punishment, she was battered and humiliated in public. There are only a few, or perhaps zero werewolves who risk entertaining her presence now."
I saw Hrista walking out of the hall alone. Even her dress isn't akin to this event. A flash of light caught my attention in the center of the hall again. The chandelier swings and rattles like a windchime and later, winged steeds pulling a silver chariot are descending spirally. It remains in the air which highlights its majesty.
"Mrs. Lanasia—"
"Quiet."
"... Sorry."
The light inside Linly walks out of her body in an image of the human, then gradually as the light diminishes, the woman's body became visible. I couldn't stop the tremble of my hands when I lay eyes on a gorgeous woman crowned with a replica of the crescent moon. Her dark and long hair screams power. But her gracefulness invites intimacy. Most werewolves were brought down on their knees, even mine are giving up. Everyone's total opposite is Dandeline, she's standing firmly in front of the goddess as if this wasn't her first encounter with such glory.
The Moon Goddess says to Linly and Dandeline, "I accept this dedication." The two magical women nodded for tribute. The goddess looks around at the congregation, then speaks with the voice of a gentle wind, clear and penetrating, "This will be the beginning of your new life. Those who will not live in the past are my children. Come! Look upon me and you shall be forgiven no matter your color."
She's extending her arms to everyone. The first ones who approach her are those in wolf form and when we witness her compassion, the number of werewolves coming closer increases. Nevertheless, I remain on my feet whilst I watch them. She blessed all of her children with joy. It's true that the goddess elected four new Alphas and mated she-wolves breeders of the extinct breed. Dandeline was among the females chosen to breed silver wolves.
I only made my feet move to the goddess when she called me. I was hesitant to hold her hand when she offered but as I do, all the guilt I feel vanished—and ill-feeling purged. She declares, "Silver wolves will no longer be deprived from the werewolves." Such good news caused me to share smiles with Dandeline.
I hug her in excitement and it doesn't bother her at all. She embraces her other children and chats with them, and some werewolves perform for her before she visits the outside of the chateau where the playing pups are.
I hang out with my mate on the second floor of the castle's balcony hallway while we watch the goddess chat with the werewolf pups on a grassy hill.
"So," she speaks, "will you stay here?"
"I can cross worlds anytime~ I hold my father's transport key."
"Silly. I'll go wherever you take us. I am retired starting today."
"The awaited day of seniors."
She bumps my hips with her hips and I ambush a kiss on her lips. At first, I thought I like older women but now I love younger ones. Someone from behind cleared his throat to cut our cheesiness. "Can I borrow the silver wolf for a while, Moon Priestess?" Elibur inquired.
She gave me willingly with the hopes of saving Elibur's trust. "I'll watch over the twins," she informed.
I come along with Elibur as he leads the way. "Ehem—! Uhm, where are we going?"
"There's no need to pretend your throat hurts, your howl does not impose threat anymore."
"... Great."
We came inside a silent chamber of councils yet we're the only ones here. "Automatically, according to the goddess, you are now free from the punishment. You must first sign this agreement," he taps the paper on the table, "before we formally proclaim you acquitted."
"I see..." I pick the quill. I never did this after the decision of the werewolf councils to exile me. He's the only council in this chamber. So I read the statement first—
"In addition, that will be the proclamation of the new life of silver wolves."
"Sr. Elibur, we haven't reconciled with one another so I might understand. If you're putting me into your scheme, you better just stop."
"No... You did it to yourself."
My vision of him doubles! The sudden and extreme weakening of my body brought down all my weight on my knees!
"The real trigger is in the quill," he revealed. I already dropped the quill when I almost faint. There's something I desperately need... something I must find to refill my strength that disappeared. "The curse will take effect on the holder in an instant, and for you to understand the curse, you should read the agreement carefully. That is what entrepreneurs do, right?"
Atrocity is still around even with the goddess's presence! While on my knees, I look straight at the door until Elibur stands in front of me.
"Let me clarify the agreement. You can only be released from that curse once you signed."
"Your contact includes the annulment of my mate bond with Dandeline! Really!? How did you know about me!? You're not Elibur... I know who you are."
I grabbed the leg of one chair and smashed it onto him before I sprinted to the door. Unfortunately, a magic circle lits up and explodes scorching fire at my arms! I lost attention to Elibur when he blew at my face with the force of his raging blaze. I was thrown into the wall and my balanced dropped. Before he could approach me, I shift into my wolf and howled. He grips his head while magic circles are sparkling on his hands. I took the chance to bump my head into him and he skids. I attacked him again while switching to my human and hurled him on the table.
["Stay... out of my way,"] I commanded.
And then I scurried to the door but what I reached was the wall. This exhaustion is draining my capacity to move longer! I grope for the door until I found it and it won't open! Kicking nor pushing didn't work. I was in position with my silver claws when Elibur strangles me from behind!
"You're underestimating me."
I felt the stab of his claws in my back and he casts me on the table! My strength is not enough to lift myself. He hikes and walks to the table.
"Have you forgotten that I was the only one who can defy your howl? Have you forgotten how thick is my guard?" He punched me in the face with his blazing fist again and again. "I know what you need," he said and pulled out a piece of flesh from his coat.
Unexpectedly, he shoved it into my mouth! He's pinning my wrist with his other hand and sole on my left arm, pushing him is nary a solution to get him out above me. The flesh is stuck with my tongue, every drop of my sweat tells how much I resist this! "Swallow it. Until you sign the agreement, you will stay as you really are... a living weapon, a monster, the natural enemy of werewolves. Swallow it!!"
His hand covering my mouth is heating up, and unintentionally, I swallowed the piece of flesh. That's when he sets me free but I cough roughly so many times and I even tried to spew it out. It was all futile in the end.
"Now, silver wolf, sign... or become a werewolf beast for the rest of your life."
The craving for the unknown was found but not quenched... I want more... The way I see Elibur isn't the same as a second ago... he has what I need, and I might die resisting it. "No. I don't want to hurt anyone..." yet I already did. I just found myself ripping and devouring his flesh.