42. Confrontation between equals
The black wolf growled menacingly, stretching its paws forward and gnashing its ferocious teeth towards the disfigured wolf, which was lying on the other side of the vineyard. Atwood, the wolf, had been thrown by Lucca with such force that he skidded through the vineyards and ripped a hole through the middle of the field horizontally, nearly fifteen feet away. Lucca Moretti growled in his wolf form, being in the attack position, as he stood right in front of me as if protecting me. He was simply the most wonderful creature I had ever seen in my entire life!
His fur was as black as night; he was big, almost the size of a grizzly bear; he was strong and fierce; he was certainly one to fear. You wouldn't mess with Lucca Moretti, especially when he was transformed into such a majestic and dangerous wolf. His canines protruded from his mouth cavity, his eyes reddened like two torches of an executioner's flames, and clearly he was possessed with rage. "Lucca…" I stammered, wanting so much to reach him, but I still felt the pain of the fall on my shoulder. The Atwood wolf was getting up from the ground, he was almost unable to stay upright because of his precarious condition, but even so, the weakened wolf didn't seem like he was going to give up. Meanwhile, the magnificent wolf in front of me stretched its front legs forward and raised its head upward towards the moon, which was full and whole up there, as if it were letting the wretched earth behold its supreme glory, then Lucca howled. In its lupine form, the howl could be heard all over Beadnell, I even thought the wolf's howl had reached Morpeth.
I was totally mesmerized by the wolf's majesty, he was so beautiful and imposing—so surreal. Lucca Moretti looked like a creature from the mind of a higher god.
The wolf in front of me ran impetuously towards the wolf Atwood, and in a superhuman leap, he dragged Atwood between the vineyards, and furious roars could be heard as they bit and scratched each other. I dragged myself across the ground, trying to get up and get to the horse that was still injured and lying on the ground in a pitiful position. Could this be the end of that graceful animal? I couldn't let that happen. "Please, Pegasus…" I cried, not knowing what I would do to help him. His leg was practically broken, and it didn't look like the horse would gallop again. My heart ached with pity, I was crying with fear and guilt. If I hadn't taken him with me, he wouldn't have gotten hurt.
"I'm so sorry, Pegasus. It's all my fault..." I cried some more, and the horse whinnied softly, as if understanding my pain. I ran my hand over his wound as if in reflex, and the horse was starting to breathe more calmly now, almost falling asleep. Could it be that if I ran to the castle and called for help, some supernatural being that inhabited the castle would cure me? What should I do now?
I raised my head, looking in the direction of the vineyard, where moments ago the wolves were still hanging out. Everything was silent now, and I got up in a panic, completely worried about my husband. What had happened? Why were they silent? Had something happened to Lucca? Had he died? Had Atwood killed him? "Lucca? Lucca!" I screamed in panic, starting to run through the vineyard looking for him. I ended up tripping over the branches of the vineyard a few times and falling to the ground, but I got up and kept going, calling for him in a loud voice. A good part of the Moretti's precious vineyard had been destroyed and trampled by the supernatural force of the paranormal animals when they were fighting. I called for Lucca, but he didn't answer. What would I do now? I couldn't lose him, he was everything to me.
I turned around in fright when I heard a low roar behind me. When I turned around, I saw the black wolf behind me, looking at me with eyes as red as blood. I almost fell to the ground, completely relieved by the sight of him. "Lucca, you scared me…" I ran to him, my vision becoming blurred because of my tears. For some reason, I couldn't be scared of him, I just wanted to hug him and cry with relief in his arms. As soon as I approached him, I practically buried my body in him, hugging him so tightly that I almost merged with the animal.
Lucca was dirty with grass and blood, but I didn't care, I just wanted to hug him and be with him forever. "You scared me so much…" The wolf growled softly as if in response, but he didn't attack me or anything, he just sat on the ground and let me hug him. "Whose blood is that on your fur? I hope it's Atwood's, because otherwise I'm going to be really mad at you!" I scolded him seriously. "Do you want to leave me a widow? I'm too young to be a widow!" He grunted and then placed the back of his head on my belly and lifted me up as lightly as if I were a little doll. "Ouch! What are you doing?" I grabbed his fur to hold on, as Lucca didn't even wait for me to adjust myself on his back, he just ran quickly away, taking me with him.