"Do you want me to get on your back?" she asked, laughter already slipping into her voice.
His glowing wolf eyes fixed on her. Then he lowered himself slightly in silent permission.
She climbed onto his back, still chuckling.
"Hold tight," he warned.
She wrapped her arms around his thick fur, fingers sinking into warmth. The next second, he took off.
The forest blurred.
Melody gasped as wind rushed against her face, stealing her breath. Her laughter broke free, wild and unrestrained, as he sprinted between trees with effortless power. Branches whipped past. Leaves scattered in his wake.
For once, she was not a queen weighed down by secrets and danger.
She was just a girl riding a wolf through the woods.
And she never wanted the moment to end.
After a long run, he slowed near a stream. Water rushed over stone, cool and steady. He stopped at the bank, and she slid off his back.
In an instant, the wolf dissolved. Orionn stood before her, human again.
She stared at him, disappointment flickering across her face.
"Can you go back to your wolf form?" she asked.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you're treating me like a pet." His tone was flat. Controlled. "I'm not a pet. Would you dare touch me like that now?"
Her fingers twitched at her sides.
No. She wouldn't.
Not like this.
She crossed her arms, refusing to answer.
A faint rustle broke the silence.
Both of them stilled.
Leaves shifted. A step. Then another.
"Orionn… someone's been following us," she whispered.
"What?"
"Someone's been following us."
She hadn't sensed anything before. And judging by the way his body tensed, neither had he.
"Stay right here," he said, voice sharpening. "Don't move."
"Where are you going?" she called, unease creeping into her chest. "You can't leave me here."
"It's safer," he replied firmly.
Then he slipped into the trees and disappeared.
Melody stood by the river, the sound of rushing water suddenly too loud. He had promised to protect her.
Yet he had left.
The forest felt different now. Watching.
Then she heard it.
"Help me…"
The voice was faint, almost carried away by the wind.
Her heart tightened.
"Who's there?" she called.
"Help me…" it repeated, more desperate this time.
She moved toward the sound before she could stop herself.
Then she ran.
She burst into a clearing—
—and froze.
Figures in black stepped out from the trees, forming a circle around her. Masks concealed their faces. Steel glinted in their hands. Arrows lifted and aimed directly at her heart.
Her pulse thundered in her ears.
They lunged.
And melody immediately summoned her magic.
Magic exploded from her palms. The ground trembled as vines tore through soil, whipping around ankles and wrists. Thorns spiraled outward, slashing and cutting Roots coiled and dragged men to the ground.
"She's dangerous!" someone shouted.
"Take her before the Alpha finds her!"
They came again.
There were too many.
She summoned more power,trees bending under her command, branches snapping forward like spears, roots twisting But for every attacker she threw back, another stepped in.
They moved like they had prepared for this.
Her breath grew ragged. Sweat slid down her spine. If she pushed further…
She might unleash something she couldn't control.
Then, suddenly, they stopped.
The crowd parted.
A man stepped forward.
He wore black like the others, but his robe was heavier, Authority clung to him. He wore a mask.
When he spoke, his voice was calm. Amused.
"So, the queen has bite. Surprising. The king didn't let you rot in the palace without teaching you a few tricks."
He approached slowly, stopping inches from her.
"Beautiful," he murmured.
She held her ground.
"What do you want from me?" Melody demanded.
His masked head tilted slightly.
"Fierce," he said softly. "I like that. But, my queen…" Mockery seeped into his tone. "Fierceness won't get you far. Though I must admit… your spirit makes me want to chase you."
His voice lowered.
"And break you."
A chill crept down her spine.
"What do you want?" she repeated, forcing steel into her voice.
"I don't want anything from you," he said calmly. "I want something from your husband. And I believe I can get it… if I take you with me."
He gestured lazily.
"Now. The easy way? Or the hard way?"
Before she could answer—
A massive wolf burst into the clearing.
The ground shook beneath his weight as he lunged, slamming into the robed man and sending him crashing backward. In a fluid motion, the wolf shifted mid-stride. Orionn stood in human form, positioning himself in front of her without hesitation.
Shielding her.
"Who are you?" Orionn demanded.
The masked man rose slowly, brushing ash from his sleeve.
"Well, well, well," he chuckled. "If it isn't Orionn, the almighty Alpha of Theneros. I didn't expect you so soon. According to my information, you shouldn't have arrived for another ten minutes."
The playful Orionn from moments ago was gone.
The man standing before her now was lethal.
"I'll ask again," Orionn said coldly. "Who are you?"
The masked man shrugged. "I suppose introductions are unnecessary. My plan has failed. I'll have to leave empty-handed. My information was… incorrect."
He turned.
But orrion suddenly summoned Fire.
Flames erupted around him.
Fire encircled every masked figure in the clearing.
Melody's breath caught.
"Did he just conjure fire?"
Fire.
The element of the long-lost vampire kingdom.
The masked man tilted his head slightly.
"So the rumors are true."
He thrust his hand forward.
Water surged from the air itself, crashing into the flames with violent force. Steam exploded outward, swallowing the clearing in white heat. The fire died instantly.
"Literal fire won't stop me," he said calmly.
Silence followed.
Heavy. Charged.
The air felt thick with tension
And Melody understood one thing with terrifying clarity.
This was far from over