An anxious Maggie couldn’t help but sit up. She exclaimed, and Aldrich quickly embraced her, asking, “What’s wrong?”
Maggie covered her nearly falling-off clothes, flustered. “You… you’re completely naked, and we’ve been talking for so long…”
In the moonlit forest, Aldrich was indeed nude. He kissed Maggie’s jawline and said with a smile, “Maggie, I’m a werewolf. Being naked in the forest is the most comfortable state for me.”
Maggie found herself unable to escape the sight of Aldrich’s physique. Her face turned uncontrollably red. She inquired, “So what happened next? Did you hurt your family?”
Aldrich cradled Maggie in his arms, kissing her attentively. It was at this moment that Maggie realized his actions mirrored those of the silver wolf when it had ensnared her in its soft belly.
Recalling the past, Aldrich answered, “I nearly killed my own parents.”
Maggie sensed his regret and held him tightly, tilting her head to kiss his lips. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“Maggie, you’re too kind. I’ll never forget Marvin storming in and shouting at me. He accused me of being a heartless monster. Despite more than a decade of human existence, it didn’t make me mentally strong. I didn’t deserve to be a werewolf. I should have lived in the dark, primitive wilderness, living a life of carnage and blood.”
“His words cut deep. I tried to fight the silver wolf within me. There were marks of destruction all over the house. My mother left in tears, and my father transformed into a wolf, rushing to try and calm me down. The silver wolf attacked my father, and Marvin attacked the silver wolf from behind.”
Aldrich sighed and closed his eyes. “I wanted to kill myself, to kill the silver wolf. What level of pain would drive someone to want to take their own life?”
Maggie couldn’t fully comprehend the hardships Aldrich had faced back then. Still, Aldrich’s determined will was etched deeply in her heart. She trembled as she asked, “Did the silver wolf submit to you?”
“You’re right to call it a beast. It cares about nothing, including its own life.”
Maggie clenched her fingers, her face showing concern. Aldrich used his fingers to caress her furrowed brows and said, “Maggie, the one who worries about Aldrich is truly beautiful.”
“So how did you reach the current state of peaceful coexistence with the silver wolf?”
“It was Selene.”
“Your mother…”
“What?” Aldrich inquired.
Maggie quickly shook her head. “Tongue-tied for a moment there. I meant, have you ever met Selene?”
Aldrich left a kiss on Maggie’s neck and said contentedly, “I hope to meet Selene in person someday. That would be the greatest blessing.”
“How did Selene help you?”
“My mother once again summoned the elders. I was raising a dagger to stab my own heart when they arrived. The elders were shocked. The wand they held vibrated, and on the tip of the wand was the Energy Orb of the Moon Goddess. It emitted a radiance, and the energy of an entire orb surrounded me for a full day and night. When the radiance disappeared, the Energy Orb had turned into an ordinary sphere.”
Maggie asked, “What about the silver wolf?”
“It was given a significant mission for the rest of its life.”
“What mission is that?”
Aldrich shook his head. “I don’t know. Since then, the silver wolf absorbed all of my memories, understood my emotions, and we communicated deeply. We became allies. We’ve been waiting for the day when we can meet Selene and unravel the missions that are upon us.”
Maggie fell into deep silence. Aldrich cupped her face and said, “So, Maggie, you mustn’t hate the silver wolf. Over the years, it’s been the only thing that has been interested in, willing to accommodate, and love you. It loves you, but it hasn’t figured out how to love you yet.”
“But I’m not your destined mate.”
“My love for you transcends the concept of a destined mate.”
“No, you’re subservient to Selene.”
“Perhaps my younger self would have been, but not the Aldrich of today. I have my own consciousness.” Maggie placed Aldrich’s hand on her heart. “I don’t know if I should trust you completely. Aldrich, you’re incredibly powerful, and you have a fatal attraction for me. But I can’t fully trust you, especially when it comes to the silver wolf… I fear it.”
“This time, you were frightened, Maggie. Let’s take it slowly, and someday, you’ll accept the silver wolf and me,” Aldrich reassured.
Maggie couldn’t give a definite answer. She turned her gaze to the sky and said, “The moon is gone.”
“The sun is rising on the horizon, and we can leave.”
“Wait, you need to get dressed,” Maggie reminded. “And Alisa, we need to take her back to Barrett Manor.”
Aldrich’s lips curled into a cold, cruel smile. His senses were keen, especially in the wild, and he had been monitoring Alisa’s breathing closely, the woman who pretended to be asleep and eavesdropped on their conversation.
“Wait a little longer. Charlie will bring me the attire I hid in advance.”
“Charlie? When did you make plans with him?”
“He is my loyal Beta, and we can establish a connection.”
“Why do you always talk on the phone then?”
“To adapt to humans. Also, the silver wolf repels connections with other wolves. Unless it’s related to you, it won’t allow other wolves to establish a connection.”
“It’s really high-maintenance.”
“At least you didn’t call it a bastard. Good job.”
The sun gradually rose, bringing light to the Moon Forest, but the warmth of the sun was still missing. The trees rustled, and Maggie turned to see two wolves running toward them.
Aldrich used leaves to shield his vital areas and held Maggie’s hand. “It’s Charlie and Jolie.”
The female wolf circled Maggie, saying, “Dear Luna, it must have been intense last night. Alpha has left so many marks on your porcelain skin. You look stunning!”
Maggie blushed and tried to cover the love bites on her neck, only to discover some on her arm as well, which made Aldrich chuckle.
Charlie handed Aldrich his attire. “Is Alpha done with the hunt already?”
His tone had a hint of provocation, which annoyed Aldrich, but Maggie defused the situation. “I was worried about the babies.”
Charlie and Jolie understood. “We’ll leave then. There’s still a full day until the end of the Spring Hunt!”
They swiftly dashed into the forest and disappeared from sight. Maggie sighed. “They have a great relationship.”
“Yes, they’ve been lifelong playmates, and now they’re destined for each other.”
Maggie envied them. “They’re really happy.”
Aldrich changed into his clothes. “We’re not doing too badly either.”
Maggie took Aldrich’s hand and approached Alisa, who was slowly waking up. “Alisa, good morning.”
Alisa sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Maggie, Aldrich, good morning.”
Maggie warmly put her arm around Alisa. “We’re going back to Barrett Manor together.”
“That’s great news,” Alisa said happily.
Aldrich remained silent, contemplating the dilemma: if Maggie kept choosing Alisa over him, it would be a more challenging issue than dealing with Alisa herself.