Forgotten

Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

The Wolf growled as it moved closer towards Dauphine, its teeth were barred and Kale could feel the anger and vengeance in its mind. He could only watch, helplessly, as he was about to kill the one person that meant everything to him.

Dauphine took a deep breath, trying to calm her heart before it hammered out of her chest. The Wolf had been Kale all along! That beast she had seen in the forest, the beast who had attacked her and almost killed Pete; it was Kale. She let it sink in.

Her heart broke, but she ignored the pain it caused, rather she hoped, no, she silently wished that Kale didn't do any of that on purpose. She turned back to the situation at hand. "Kale?" Her voice was a whisper, but it still pierced the Wolf's mind. Kale found himself calming down despite the danger he was imposing on his true love.

Dauphine called his name again, this time reaching out her hand towards the Wolf.

She knew she was reaching for an animal that would likely murder her in cold blood, but she needed to try at least and if her experience with those coyotes were to be believed, she didn't only have power over flora, but fauna as well.

Kale watched in disbelief as Dauphine motioned to touch the Wolf. It growled taking a bite at the air in front of her hand.

Dauphine yanked her hand back in shock. That didn't go like she had planned in her mind. She clutched her hand, trying to make sense of her thoughts. Maybe she was doing it wrong, this obviously wasn't Kale.

When Pete had changed he was in complete control of his wolf. She had said things and the wolf had reacted like Pete would have if he were a human.

She took a deep breath and reached her hand towards the Wolf again. "Hey boy, shhh. It's okay, boy." The Wolf closed its mouth, seemingly shocked that she was trying to converse with it. She adjusted herself, resting on her knees she held out her hand again, "Are you a good boy? Can I touch you, boy? Can I pet you?" She continued to talk in a soothing tone and to Kale's amazement the Wolf seemed to calm down.

Dauphine kept her hand a few inches in front of the animal and continued her tender comments. After a few seconds, the Wolf moved towards her, allowing her hand to touch him. Her hand now lay softly on its snout, their eyes locked together; she didn't dare look away, afraid it might break their connection. "Hey, it's okay. You're a good boy, right?" She picked up her other hand and softly placed it on the Wolf's neck. She let out her breath as the Wolf remained still.

Kale felt his heart slow down, and as he calmed so did the Wolf. He watched Dauphine as she relaxed too, moving closer to the Wolf, still talking, her words comforting the Wolf somehow.

She smiled, silently relieved. Placing a small kiss on the Wolf's snout she whispered to Kale this time. "I love you."

Kale wanted to touch her, to show her he could hear her, that he knew what was happening, knew what she was saying. He wanted to kiss her and suddenly he was thrown into the foreground of his mind. The wolf licked at her face, fulfilling Kale's desire to interact with her. He was suddenly in control and something inside of his mind broke. The Wolf no longer made any noise; it was like he had vanished completely.

Dauphine giggled as the rough wet tongue licked across her face. It had worked, she had tamed him. She felt pleased that her craft was growing and she was getting more confident in her powers. "Kale. Can you change back? Will you change back?"

Kale moved forward, he whimpered and licked at her hands. He could change back, thinking about it, he could easily shift between wolf and human now. He knew he could because the Wolf was gone, whatever had tied the vicious animal to that witch was gone, their bond was broken, he was free, and still a wolf. Esme's words floated into his mind, "True love." She had been right, of course. She was always right and he knew that when she finds out about this she'll have that look on her face that made you feel bad for not trusting her almighty wisdom.