The Maiden and the Wolf---- *A Fantasy Romance Story*
*Chapter 10*
Elena POV
"I can't believe I'm here again..." I murmured, watching the flames of my fathers cremation framed against the evening darkness.
The fresh pain of my father's death had opened up the wounds of yesterday at the cremation of my mother. The feeling of loss was becoming far too familiar.
The only thing that was keeping me from crawling into a dark corner and dying was his strong arms around me, pinning me against his body, his chin resting on top of my head.
Dakota POV
Elena's pain felt like my own and I wished that I could make it go away, take the pain for her but it was impossible all I could do was share her misery and help her through it.
"You don't deserve to have lost so many of your loved ones," I whispered, kissing the top of her head, breathing in the smell of her hair.
"And you do?" her question took me off guard.
I shivered slightly at the memory of what I used to be like, how I treated people even the entire world and everything in it.
"Yes..." my voice was thick with guilt and sadness; a painful lump had risen to lodge itself in my throat.
Elena POV
I winced at his answer even though I knew that's how he would answer.
Disentangling myself from his arms; I turned around to face him, my brown eyes searching his for any sign of a lie or a joke but when I found none I sighed.
He went to say something but I stopped him, placing my finger against his warm lips.
"Why are you?" I whispered, letting my hand fall down over his chin, down his neck to rest on his broad chest over his heart and felt its beat increase.
Dakota POV
I had dreaded this moment for over three hundred years, the moment after I had found her when I had to tell her who I was.
Taking in a deep shuddery breath I said. "My name is Dakota, I was a Prince over three hundred years ago, you would have already heard the rest of the story, who I truly am, why I am cursed, what I have done."
Elena POV
I couldn't believe it, wouldn't believe it but it made perfect sense, it was true, painfully clearly true. At that point my love wavered just for a moment but it was enough.
He reached out his hand to touch my face but I shook my head and stepped back; he followed I stumbled and almost fell, his hand caught me but I slapped it away.
"No," I shouted, "how could you have not told me?"
"Because I knew this is how you would react!" he snarled back at me, his eyes blazing, "Elena, please."
"Get away from me!" I hissed, "You're a monster just like the legend says!"
He let out a snarl and fell onto all fours, his shoulders hunching, back paws ripping into the ground as his legs bulged. His face lengthened, teeth grew, back curved, stomach clenched upward and his chest pushed out.
The snapping of his bones echoed deep in my ears as his change was almost complete; black fur grew thick and fast ripping his clothes into tatters.
