The 27th

Chapter 22

Every night, they ate dinner under the stars. They always sat in the same social circle; her sitting there, listening to their conversations in their foreign tongue and he remained attentive to his mate. She was thankfully, gaining weight, yet not on her own accord. Her plate, which she made herself, held less food than the smaller children in his pack ate, which concerned him. To counter this, he put extra on his plate and while she was distracted, place some into her plate. After a few weeks, her proportions grew larger but were not yet to a normal size, so he continued his harmless antics. It was never enough to make her sick, just enough to stretch her stomach back out, and he couldn't help the pride of watching her eat the food he gave her, in a way, provided for her.

They often tried to coax her into a conversation, switching to their choppy English but she usually give meek answers or just shook her head. The enforcers already saw her as part of their pack and were eager to form a bond with her. Her shy tendencies didn't help this at all. Their protective natures came out further and reached for her, but they didn't force their hand. Everything was in her hands and they were all wrapped around her tiny finger, prepared willing to do anything she asks.

While their day activities varied, they established an evening routine. They would return to their room and shower if they felt like it, separately, that is. He took it upon himself to brush her hair before she could even reach for the brush. Arias enjoyed this small act of care and intimacy but if she were to ask to do it herself, she could easily take the brush from his hand and do it herself. He would fell disappointed but he could never say no, but thankfully, she never asked and he was able to continue doing this and he was looking forward to do it tonight as well.

So, it came to her surprise that instead of entering the room like normal, he instantly halted and she ran into his back. His hand came up to her hip to hold her against him so she couldn't go around him and she was too short, rather, he was too tall, for her too look over his shoulder. She didn't think much of it until he started to shake against her, his body vibrating and a deep, almost feral, snarl escaped, rumbling against her cheek as it pressed against her back.

At that point, she fought against his hold and pushed against him, freeing herself. She pressed her back against the wall opposite of the door, watching as he stalked around the room as if looking for something, his body visible convulsing in a way she had never seen before. When he made his way over to the side of the bed she tended to sleep on, his nostrils flared and he let out another snarl, this much louder then the first. His body then hunched forward and the first set of bones snapping seemed to echo in her ears. As his body began to reset and hair sprouted, she let out a scream, which had the other enforcers running up the stairs from outside, coming to her aid.

None of them passed the threshold of the door but stood between her and what was now a hunched over figure with fur and awkwardly placed limbs, somewhere between a human and a beast. They all tilted their heads similarly to Arias did, breathing deeply and then began speaking amongst themselves, but none seemed to concerned of the humanoid on the floor just a few feet in front of them.

Though she couldn't see past the various bodies, should could still hear the vile sound of his bones snapping and grinding as they settled into their new positions. As an unearthly growl came from the animals, she tucked herself further into the wall. Osian at some point, left the doorway and came to her side and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"What is it?" Her lip trembled as she whispered to him, taking her eyes off the wall of people in front it her to look up at him in horror.

"It is Arias." He frowned, seemingly confused at her question.

"That- that thing is not him."

"It is him." He insisted, taking his arm off of her to walk back to where he was. "He shifted." He said over his shoulder. Osian then leaned his head into the room, seemingly to catch the beast's attention and called out to it, saying something she couldn't hear due to the blood rushing in her ears. The growling ceased and then men looked amongst themselves, nodded to each other and then moved away from the door. As her only protection moved to the side, her legs shook and gave out as she lost feeling in them, her trembling body sinking to the floor.

"W-where are you going? O-Osian?" She called out to him. He stood off to her left and gave her an encouraging smile.

"It is okay. He will no hurt you."

His words did not help to ease her at all, rather, she mistrusted them. She had specifically called to him for help when she obviously needed it and he left her helpless on the floors while done angry beast was coming for her. In fact, they all left her, returning to their room but not before sending her an apologetic look.

She turned her attention back to the dark room. It was now filled with shadows and void of any light as no one had turned on the light switch and the moon was hidden behind the trees. She had to watch as the horrid thing stalked through the shadows. It was huge, it's head easily above hers from her spot on the floor. It's muscles were covered in tuffs of charcoal gray and white, flashing it's sharp teeth at her when it licked its lips.

The wolf reached the threshold and at my fearful expression, lowered its eyes, it's ears flattened and lowered its body to the ground. The once proud tail was now tucked between its legs in submission. The abrupt sound of its whimper had her pushing up against the wall further. He paused but then began against, his movements much slower than before. He stopped once his cold nose was against her exposed ankle and she could feel his warm, deep breaths against her skin. She closed her eyes and clenched her fist in preparation for what was coming. He whined again and she flinched as wet tongued ran across her skin. Whining again, he nudged her leg with his nose and regretfully opened her eyes, peeking down to the beast, only to have familiar violet/ pink eyes looking back up at her with regret.