In the forest again

As the days went by, Alorea and Clingy travelled back towards the palace of the the giant alpha. On their way was more hurdles than they had earlier surpassed.

Forest demons and spirits, all the creation of the foggy wolf intended to keep off wanderers from the borders of her home. Some tries to kill them, some tried to rob them of the box which contained the claws of power. More dangerously, there were some who were ready to do just both.

This kept off for the most part of the journey until finally they both emerged to the last village before the city where the palace was. It was the same village they had visited earlier when they were still finding their way to the palace some days before.

"We are here again..." Alorea muttered.

"I guess that now, you will agree that we better get our disguises." Clingy mentioned.

Sure. Alorea had nothing against that idea now. She never had anything against it, just that the first time when he suggested it, she was barely listening to him.

Right now, she could not bear to ignore him. Partly because they needed the disguises now more than ever since they were in the most vicious village where the giant foxes operate. Secondly, the feeling of fear and submission was not leaving her body yet. She could still feel her hair stand in fear each time Clingy looked distressed or stared at her without a smile.

He no longer struck her as a servant. Instead, she felt as though he was her master, who was helping her from his own goodwill. He was no longer weak, he was no longer frail. Infact despite the fact that his size remained the same, she felt like she could depend on him for her life. He had saved her life several times, it made him feel so wholesome. He was so scary yet so admirable, and her heart fluttered to the thoughts.

"Alorea??"

She jerked off her imagination as he called her name the second time. There was a time when she felt disrespected when he called her by her name. But now all she felt was some form of submissive gladness. And she managed to smile.

"Of course. Anything you want..."

She could see the glint of suprise on his face, trying to understand why she was suddenly so friendly with him.

"Then let us get to work."

They both approached the village from their position. As they reached a point, he stopped her again.

"Stay here." He said, almost seeming like a command. Even if it was, she was ready to obey. "They may not recognize me if I go alone. But with you, we may be in trouble..."

But that was not true. The soldiers had held up pictures of both of them for the village people to see and beware. So how was her presence going to be the reason for their identification when his face was also literally handing at every wall.

"The painters did not paint me well. The people may not easily recognise me, but they were able to capture your beauty perfectly. If they see you with me, your charm would give us away."

As he retreated, he smiled at her and Alorea could feel herself swimming in the ectasy.

What was this? She thought. She was actually having feelings for someone whose status was below hers. That was what was happening right in front of her eyes and she could not stop it. She was helpless.

She was not able to keep her eyes off his back. He looked appealing even as he walked away.

All her life, she had rejected men. Powerful men. Strong men. Handsome men. Princes and kings. Alphas. And now she was falling in love for a servant?

"Alorea..."

She heard an awry voice call behind her, low and serene. As she turned around in fright, there were nothing but two glowing eyes beneath the dark of the forest.

"Who is it..." She said out. Who was it this time? It could not be Siarra. After what happened with Clingy, there was no way she would dare to show up in the front of Alorea with any evil intent.

Then who could it be? Her sister?

Alorea tightened her fists in preparation for the approaching pair of eyes as it came closer at her, taking a step after the other.

When it came out, it was a boy. A familiar boy.

"Flur...." Alorea murmured, finally recognizing the aura of her wolf. How did she ever miss it?

"You are back.." Flur said, coming closer.

"What are you doing here? I thought you had given the boy his control back." Alorea noted.

"I had. But when I felt your presence in this place, I knew something was the issue. It became worse when I discovered that you are travelling with a dark energy as companion."

"Dark energy?" Alorea muttered. She could not understand the statement. Who was Flur referring to as dark energy??

"The man who travel with you... He is not what you think he is..."

Alorea thought about those words. Clingy had proven time and time again that there was more to his identity than just a random servant who could not defend himself. He had done things that no one else would have been able to do, of course he was not whom she had thought he was. That was why she was now falling for him, slowly and slowly. His suprising personality was just beyond her resistance capacity.

"Be careful with him." Flur said again. The glowing eyes were now fading slowly, losing the light in them.

"I do not understand..." Alorea muttered. Clingy had been her only friend, her only partner, the only person who had been on the same side with her. She had always suspected him but it had always been proven wrong. After all that, why should she be scared of him again?

"Explain!" She demanded. But Flur did not plan to spend the day with her.

"I have to go..." The boy's legs crept back into the dark forest. Soon it disappeared and the searching glares in Alorea's eyes could not follow him anymore.

Alorea stumbled forward to chase after him but a very strong hand grabbed her shoulder from behind.

"What are you doing?" Clingy said. He was back with their disguises already.

"No... Nothing..." She stammered. She could not bear to say anything to him. She could not even look him in the face, how was she supposed to suspect him as warned. He had total control over her, she could not resist it.

"Stand still." He dressed her in a red wig which was almost as long as Alorea's real hair. It was the kind of hair which female giants loved to wear and would never be found on a lady who came feom the night wolf kingdom. Then he attached to her nose, a dark spot.

"Everyone knows how beautiful and spotless the princess of the night wolves is. They will never suspect us if you put this on."

For himself, he brought a moustache which made him look older and wiser. There was surely no way anyone would take him for a slave.

"Now, let us go and enjoy the night."

He grabbed her hand and smiled, staring into her eyes. And for that, she could only return a glad smile.

Then they went, with the claws of power hidden carefully in her large dress, into the village of the giants.