When a mysterious young woman awakens in the heart of a dense, untamed forest, she encounters two striking men with the uncanny ability to transform into wolves. Yet the true enigma is her total amnesia-she can't remember her name, her tribe, or eve...
{AN: This is a warning for readers who may be sensitive to themes of violence, death, and gore. Lila, our main character, may appear sweet and innocent, but she harbors a vindictive side that could surpass anything Qin ever imagined. With that in mind, please note that this fanfiction will not follow the same storyline as the originalBeauty and the Beasts.While characters like Qin, Bai Qingqing, and others may be mentioned, the narrative has been altered to suit this story's unique path. One significant addition is the existence of the Ocean Snake Tribe, which will play a crucial role in shaping the story's direction. My goal is to eventually lead toward the reformation of this lost tribe, marking a pivotal shift in the plot.}
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{Atlas's POV}
Atlas pressed his nose to the damp earth, the heavy scent of rain and wet leaves making it nearly impossible to distinguish anything else. The rainy season had muddled all traces, turning the already difficult search for Tanner's remains into an almost hopeless endeavor. Despite his heightened sense of smell, every step felt like trying to find a single bone lost in a sprawling field of tall grass.
He and Lyris had been scouring this part of the forest, the same place where he and Zache had first found Lila nearly four moons ago. Night after night, they returned, driven by the promise to Lila—hoping that bringing Tanner's remains back to her would offer some closure, some peace.
The news of Lila's pregnancy had both startled and grounded them. When Kael, who had initially kept his distance, finally relented and came to check on her, the revelation had been shocking. Not only was Lila pregnant, but her cubs were due much sooner than anyone had anticipated. Wolf pregnancies for male cubs only lasted two and a half moons, while female cubs took around eight. With Lila's pregnancy advancing rapidly, there was little time left. Following Lila's request, they had dug out a new room in the cave to serve as a nursery, constructing a waist-high stone wall at the entrance to keep the cubs safe once they were born.
But now, Atlas pushed those thoughts aside, refocusing on the task at hand. His ears twitched as he inhaled deeply once more, and this time, the faint, sickening odor of rotting flesh hit his nostrils. It was barely perceptible through the damp air, but it was there—an unmistakable stench that made his gut twist with grim certainty. He raised his head and let out a long, mournful howl, the sound echoing through the stillness of the night.
It wasn't long before Lyris appeared, his half turned serpentine form gliding silently through the trees, his lavender eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. "You found something?" Lyris's voice was low, tense, as he came to stand beside Atlas.
Atlas nodded, his gaze fixed on the patch of earth ahead where the scent was faint but unmistakable. "It's faint," the words came in the cadence of a wolf's growl. "But I think... it might be him."
Lyris, crouched low, let his long fingers brush the damp ground. His lavender eyes narrowed, pupils shrinking to thin slits as he focused on the direction Atlas had indicated with his large snout. "Show me," Lyris whispered, his voice barely audible, a soft hiss carried on the wind. His serpent-like grace contrasted sharply with the massive, imposing figure of Atlas, but they moved with a shared purpose.
