Soulmate

Chapter 17

They walked a few more minutes in the dark woods, until they found two werewolves, standing guard in front of trees and bushes. It didn't seem as if there was anything to keep safe for miles around, but as soon as they let them enter, after a few suspicious looks to the dwarf and human, Maria quickly noticed what they were keeping hidden.

Behind the bushes, there were little hut-like houses, camouflaged between branches. People dressed as villagers walked around, some carrying water, others fabricating clothes with animal hide. Little children skipped around gleefully, to stop and stare at the new arrivals.

Everyone hushed, and a faint murmure vibrated on the lips of the habitants. They seemed horrified as they realized the strangers among their leaders.

"What is this place?" Maria whispered to Nicholas' ear.

"This is my home. They live in the tradition of werewolves, the way we are meant to live." He explained with a sparkle of joy in his eyes. The man was happy to be back in his childhood home, it had been many years since he set foot in this place. It was a big contrast from the life he had with his father. Some of the wolves had even called it as living unnaturally.

Most of the villagers cherished the old traditions; such as letting their wolf side roam free throughout the woods. The lifestyle of their Alpha, and his next-in-line, who turned to a more civilized, and less primitive way of living, was shunned, and discouraged by the Pack Elders, even if it was necessary it was to keep the peace, and their income flowing.

Maria almost felt herself transported to a few centuries in the past.

Maria recognized the warriors who had attacked them in the woods earlier. They all still wore their leather armor, and they shifted into their human forms, letting their armor stretched and shrink with their bodies. A smaller wolf with golden fur, which seemed incredibly familiar to Maria, shifted in front of her while locking eyes with the girl. A younger girl, about sixteen years old with golden locks, glared angrily at Maria, who had escaped their fight earlier.

Maria ripped her eyes away from the scowling werewolf, and they continued moving forward. They walked to a bigger log house, who could have passed as a massive luxury hunting camp. The two front doors were carved carefully, with elegant designs. The windows were matching with the trees, with rims similar to tree trunks. Maria noticed a big difference between how the villagers lived, and how the higher ranks lived.

All the habitants kept their eyes on the group, until the very last second, when they closed the big doors behind them. The cabin was decorated with rustic furniture and ornaments all around. There was even trophies of incredible catches, that when Maria read the descriptions under, she noticed that these were from the hunting trips of the Alpha, and his family. There was one of a enormous moose, with his horns sharp and eyes empty. The head of the animal was almost as big as half of Maria, who wasn't really short to begin with. The creature must have been over nine feet tall. The girl could picture the heroic fight the animal must have put up for his life.

"Maria, join us in the living room."

The girl turned away, and followed the rest to an open space, with leather sofas, and chairs. She recognized the Beta, and the Third in Command dressed in their usual dark suits, who never strayed far from Louis, or Della. Nicholas took his seat near his father, and Maria chose a chair with enough room away from the rest.

She still didn't trust the wolves, ever since they had locked her away. That moment had shown her their true nature; that no matter how trustworthy she could be, monsters and humans could never coexist in peace.