White Stag

Chapter 8~Leviathans and werewolves

"Prove it," I blurt out. This better not all be part of some elaborate prank. If werewolves really exist, pigs must fly.

Axel turns around slowly and begins pulling off his shirt. I cover my eyes. "Why the hell are you taking your shirt off??" I ask, half-laughing. Peeking through my fingers, I watch him pull his pants down. My eyes widen when I notice his nice arse. Wait, what am I thinking?

"I don't want to rip my clothes," Axel answers and grins at me. He sets the torch down so that it's upright then he takes a deep breath, calming himself.

I pull my hands away from my eyes. Axel's bones are shifting; A gruesome sound echoes through the cavern. Axel lets out an growl and closes his eyes. I watch, unmoving as he falls on all fours and grips the stone floor with his fingertips. Claws puncture through his skin and silver fur starts sprouting from his pores. His face elongates into the face of a canine and when he opens his mouth, his teeth are growing into sharp points.

Just as my impatience is running out, there is a large, silver wolf standing in front of me. I stumble backwards. This can't be real. Then I remind myself that I'm in an underground cavern, I drank poison and lived, and my hair turned white. Anything is possible in this place.

The wolf opens its eyes and the pupils constrict in the light.When it raises its head, I can still see Axel's features in the wolf's face. Axel slowly pads forward. I tentatively reach my hand out to stroke his cheek; instead of the harsh fur I was expecting, it's soft. "Wow," I say in awe. I have never experienced anything as magical as this.

Questions flow into my mind. "What... how?" My words stumble as my jaw falls open. I have so many questions for him.

When my hand drops, Axel pads back to his clothes. His long claws softly click against the ground. I turn away as he begins shifting back to a human A few minutes later, he grunts. "Let's go back upstairs. I assume you're hungry."

~

After pushing the statue back into place, we wander to the dining hall and sit at the mahogany table. I can't help bursting out in laughter. Axel shoots me a questioning look.

"It's just that... last time we sat here, we weren't exactly friends." I bite back a grin and look at him through my eyelashes. Axel breathes through a slight laugh.

"Before we start dinner, we should talk about what will happen when your transformation is complete." Axel looks me straight in the eye. "Do you get headaches a lot?"

I freeze. Thoughts about brain cancer, tumors, and radiation therapy fire through my brain. I shake my head to clear it. "Yeah, I get them a lot."

Axel seems to be happy about my answer, but I feel worried. My hands tangle in a sweaty mess under the table. Do I have to tell him that I'm dying?

"Those are your antlers coming in." Axel suddenly reaches forward and rubs his hand on the top of my head.

"Here. Feel right there." Axel grabs my hand and guides it towards the top of my head. I gasp as I explore two tiny nubs that are about the length of toilet paper rolls.

Axel pulls away. "You will also be able to heal people. I can help you with that, but you will need less-" Axel's words are interrupted by a loud thudding coming from the other side of the front door.

"Open up! I know you have her," a familiar voice says. Axel growls in response. He angrily stands, shaking the glassware on the table and almost shattering it.

He thrusts open the door and sneers. "Leviatha Why are you here?" I cautiously peer around Axel, and when I get a glimpse of the person standing there, I feel ecstatic.

"Apollo!" I yell, running into his arms. I can't believe that he came for me. This place is just too weird for me. I don't belong here. I step back from Apollo when his arms remain stiff at his sides. His eyes are trained on Axel. My hands breifly brush against a soft material; yet I think nothing of it.

Axel snarls at Apollo. "Get away from him, Arabella. He is one of them." It takes me a second to realize what Axel is talking about. I grab Apollo's hand to examine his back. When I see the glorious, golden wings folded behind him, my eyes water.

Apollo yanks his arm away from me, making me flinch. He glances at me with cold eyes. "As son of the Leader of the Leviathans, I order you to surrender the White Stag to me and end this war."

My mouth drops open. "Apollo, what's going on?" Apollo doesn't acknowledge me. Axel grabs my arm and yanks me back inside. He growls loudly.

"Get off wolf territory, now, bird." If Axel was in his wolf form, his hackles would have been raising. I feel more tears prick at my eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me, Apollo? We're best friends," I ask shakily. A tear finally slips down my face.

"Were." Apollo sneers. "Once I found out you were the White Stag, things changed." Apollo looks down at Axel. "You have been warned. This means war, mutt."

Apollo unfurls his wings and gives them a giant flap. In a second, he's gone.

I have an urge to chase after him but Axel slams the door shut. He mutters something about a pack but I'm not listening. Everything becomes dull and blurry. I reach up to touch my eye and laugh at the sight. There are tears running fully down my cheeks.

Out of nowhere, warm arms engulf me. Axel shushes and rocks me back and forth, whispering in my ear, "I'm here for you."