Under the Moonlight.

Chapter 14 : The warning.

As Prem rested his forehead against Boun's, soaking in every ounce of warmth from their reunion, a flash of memory crossed Boun's mind.....a memory that explained why he had returned today of all days.

(Flashback [Chapter 11:Torment,,,at the village square..])

The morning light filtered through the dense canopy of the forest as Boun slipped away from his pack's territory. He couldn't shake the pull, an aching need to see Prem. It had been too long, and every moment apart was like a shard of ice in his chest. 

Determined, he moved silently through the woods, his senses alert as he made his way to the village. When he reached Prem's home, his heart fell; Prem wasn't there. Disappointed but not deterred, Boun retraced his steps, moving deeper into the forest, searching for any hint of his beloved.

And then he heard it.....Prem's voice, strong and defiant, echoing through the trees. 

Boun paused, every fiber of his being focused on that familiar sound. He followed it, creeping closer until he was hidden among the thick foliage at the edge of the village square. 

There, he saw Prem, standing tall before the gathered crowd, speaking with passion and pride. The villagers' judgmental stares couldn't dim the fire in Prem's eyes. Boun's chest swelled with pride and love as he listened.

Prem's words rang clear: every declaration, every defense of their love, and every sharp retort against Dave's vile taunts. 

When Dave sneered and asked filthy, invasive questions about Prem's personal life, Boun's hands clenched into fists. He wanted nothing more than to tear through the crowd and shield Prem from every jeer and insult, but he held back....for now. Prem's courage, the strength of his words, held him in place.

Only when Prem walked away, his head held high despite the cruel taunts, did Boun move.

 He remained hidden as Dave and his cronies began to leave, their laughter grating on his ears. Rage simmered just beneath his skin, and he knew he couldn't let this go unanswered. 

Silently, he stalked them, his movements as fluid and deadly as the predator he was.

Dave was the first to notice. He turned, sneering at the sight of Boun.....still unclothed from his transformation, his eyes blazing with fury. "Aw, what the heck is this?" Dave scoffed. "Did you escape from a mental hospital, freak?..... No clothes?"

The words barely registered. Boun's rage boiled over. In one swift motion, he pinned Dave against a nearby wall, his grip unyielding. 

Dave gasped, his airways constricted. Boun's eyes blazed. "Looks like you forgot my bite, didn't you?"

Dave's confusion morphed into fear. "W-who are you?"

Boun's lips twisted into a cold smile. "Who am I?" he echoed, his voice low and deadly. "Good question." 

With that, he drove a punch into Dave's gut, the impact reverberating through the alley. Dave's friends backed away, their bravado crumbling.

Boun stomped his foot down near Dave's shoulder, pinning him further. "I'm your grim reaper," he snarled. "I'm here to break that filthy mouth of yours.... How dare you insult my Prem?..." He struck again, the crack of bone echoing. "Do you think you can spew your filth and walk away?... Prem is mine. His life, his breath, even the way he moans beneath me...it's none of your business."

Recognition dawned on Dave's pale face as he connected this fearsome human form with the black wolf that had terrorized him before. Trembling, he stammered, "Y-you're... you're that wolf??..."