274- Bound by Blood and Moonlight
POV Aldren Valmorin:
How? How was she shifting if it was not yet the full moon?
I forced myself against the entrance, but even with no visible lock, the passage would not open. Ready to break everything until it yielded, I heard the damned Kehin’s voice:
“You won’t get in. Your witch won’t allow anyone to enter.”
The rawest animal fury exuded from my pores, my roar ricocheting off the walls.
I flew to the adjacent cell. The bastard was there, sitting on the floor.
The open passage was his death sentence.
I boiled at the thought of him tormenting her and causing her more suffering.
I did not think. The beast did not think.
I stormed into Kehin’s cell and threw myself on him, crushing the sides of his face with fury and strength. My claws pierced his skin, and his shrill screams rang out.
“Aldren, pl—” He tried to speak, groaning in pain, eyes wide, but I cut him off.
“Son of a bitch. If you had told me everything you knew, none of this would be happening,” I roared, twisting his head in a single motion, hearing the crack of bones breaking. I kept turning until blood spurted from torn muscle and the skin split completely.
I released his carcass and kicked him, sending his lifeless body crashing against the wall.
Blind with rage, I left his cell and hurled myself against the other one, where my female was. The bars did not move, even under my supernatural strength. What the fuck!
“Elowen!” I roared her name, desperate.
As if sensing me there, she parted her lips, forcing herself to speak.
“Aldren… come in, try again…” she whispered between painful whimpers.
At the sound of her words, the entrance opened.
I fell to my knees beside her and let out a guttural, agonized howl when I saw up close the state my female was in.
...
Every scream of pain that tore from her throat made my beast roar.
On that filthy floor, I gathered my female into my lap, trapping her between my arms and legs.
Her skin burned like embers, and sweat poured from her like an open faucet. Her face pressed against my chest, and her claws pierced the skin and muscle of my shoulders where she clung to me.
“You came… you…” she babbled between moans.
“Don’t say anything. Just hold me. Hurt me as much as you need to—but release your pain into me.”
“My teeth… Aldren… I feel like they’re going to fall out! Ah!” she groaned, writhing in my hold.
I lifted an arm and brought it to her mouth. She tried to pull away, her entire body trembling.
Looking at her face and seeing her suffering slaughtered me. Her eyes flickered, shifting between blue and emerald green. Her transformation was happening.
“Bite! Bite hard, until your fangs break through!” I ordered, pushing my forearm toward her lips.
“But… if I hurt you—”
“Elowen! Bite!” I roared, wishing I could rip her pain away with my bare hands.
With all my soul, I wanted to feel everything in her place. Even when nothing seemed worse than watching her suffer. That alone was already mutilating me.
Growling in pain, my female howled and obeyed my command, sinking her teeth into my skin. I felt the exact moment her fangs lengthened, piercing deeper.
“That’s it. Keep going!” As if driven by hunger, she sucked the blood from my veins. Fur began to sprout, and her slender body swelled, starting to reshape itself. “You’re almost there!”
Minutes passed before she pulled her fangs away and turned to me, blood running down her mouth and chin.
Her ragged breathing blew hot and furious against my face, and her eyes fully assumed the emerald hue.
“My skin is going to tear!” she roared, leaping from my lap and dropping onto all fours.
I could no longer hold her or touch her—her she-wolf was emerging.
Before me, her bones cracked and bent into new positions. As her clothes ripped apart, beige, gleaming fur claimed her body.
All the blood she had drunk from me accelerated the process, and I realized I needed to follow her into the transformation.
For me, it had always been easy. I simply inclined forward and took my form as a white wolf in less than five seconds. At her side, I stood twice her height.
My beast stirred within me at the sight of our mate fully transformed, discovering her animal form. The calm she displayed might have been linked to ingesting my blood during the change—there was a theory that suffering and rage neutralized each other.
You came! You’re here with me. She spoke into my mind before trotting from side to side, as if testing her own paws.
Forgive me for being late. Forgive me for not protecting you. I replied, approaching her and pressing our muzzles together.
She purred, and I vibrated in response, releasing a satisfied growl. I brushed against her, inhaling the scent of the furry neck that had just become my second favorite aroma in the world.
This feels so good. She said before lifting her head and licking the side of my face. I licked her back, returning the affection.
The most beautiful she-wolf I have ever seen, I praised her.
I missed you so much, Aldren. I was so afraid, she confessed, releasing a long, melancholic howl.
Do not cry, my little wolf. No one will ever take me away from you again.
I stood before her and rubbed our muzzles together once more, my eyes closed.
When I opened them, I noticed how the emerald version of her gaze carried the same lunar glow, though it mixed with the moisture of wolf tears threatening to fall.
They say I am a witch too, but I—
I licked her face to interrupt her thoughts.
You are this. My female. My she-wolf. My mate. I ran my tongue along the fur of her neck and ear, earning a pleased purr in return.
I loved that sound.
I sat back on my hind legs, and she followed, nestling close and rubbing her muzzle against the fur of my belly.
My giant white wolf.
My little she-wolf and mate.