Chapter １８

As the growls became stronger and louder, I prepared myself to transform but it doesn't make sense. I can't do it. In my time, I can shifts to my werewolf body anytime but this girl's body won't.

I had no choice but to run faster and keep running until the growling sounds disappeared.

"Help! Help! Somebody, please help me! Someone is attacking me!" I was like a dash in running. I am catching my breath until I stumbled on the dried trunks. To my surprise, thick rope envelopes on my toes and pulled my body up from the ground. I think I touch a trap.

"Help!" I was like a dead pig hanging in the supermarket.

As I look down, I saw a guy who looks familiar to me. It's a guy who owns a cave house and the one who warned me about this forest. I feel relieved when I saw him. He's right, it's dangerous here.

"See, I told you, you will need my help!" He shouted at me with his loud voice.

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Marco POV

"If she's my mate, why didn't shifts into a werewolf?" I whispered to myself as I transform myself back to human again.

Past Era

"What if I tell you that I am now falling for him! Will you stay and let me happy? I beg you, I want to stay!"

- Ariana -

Valkery Kingdom

"Get up! Stupid piece of shit!" August's boisterous voice hit Karls's ears.

He was his friend but he was now as cruel as the King. August was promoted as the general of the Valkyrie knights and Karl who said to be the one to take the higher position was been thrown away because August told the King about what he did by helping a crazy woman. And then by telling false stories that he was now ready to submit her to the king but failed when they didn't found her inside his cabin.

"Hey, we're friends, right? Why the hell you did this to me?" Karl asked him while August was pulling him inside the dungeon where prisoners are being tortured and locked.

August didn't bother to answer him instead he pushed him inside the cell and spit at him. He set a devilish grin before he left his comrade. Karl felt helpless inside. He curled his body into a ball and cried. He's as soft as a woman when he was depressed and hurt. Someone taps his shoulders.

" Hey, don't cry. You have a company here." He heard a soothing voice behind him.

He started wiping the moist flowing from his nose with the back of his palm and begun to sniffs. He turned his head to see who was the person trying to comfort her. It's a big man with thick brows and lips. His face was square and he had pointed eyes and his hair is long like a woman. He had weird looks if Karl rate it.

"Who are you? Are you here because you did something or they just caught you?" He asked him.

His eyes drifted to the other side behind the man and he was surprised to see much of them. He thought it was only two of them inside the cell. He began to regain his toughness as a soldier of the said Kingdom. He tightened his jaw and raised his head upward. He stood up straight and wipe out the tears left from his eyes.

"I'm Rahal, Beta of the Blue Knight Packs! This is my packs. Meet Leez, Archie, Greg, Hok, and Taz." Rahal introduced his packs to Karl.

Karl set his gaze towards them and they waved their hands to welcome him into the group. He simply nods his head.

"Nice to meet you all" he greeted them calmly.

Rahal went to his group and Karl followed. They sat forming a circle and talked about each other reasons for being caught and jailed inside the kingdom's dungeon.

Meanwhile, while Karl met new friends, he had no idea that these people are not just an ordinary human but a creature who had the ability to shifts into two different appearances. They are what we called werewolves, a body shifter during a full moon. They lost their Alpha. He was out there who was busy dealing with a beautiful maiden whom he called to himself, his found lost mate.

~~~~~~

Anika Pov as Ariana

It's him again. I know, I'm not going to trust this man that easily because he helped me get out of this trap. What if he's the one who creates this trap to make me believe that he was my knight and shining armor? Fuck him! I'm not the dumb Ariana to fall to this flowering mouth of a guy and fooled by their fake love and when they aren't contented about you, they just walked away like you didn't exist in their life. Oh, I almost forgot about my mission. What should I do first? I guess, find her parents!

"I told you, it's dangerous here!" he told me while he was releasing the trap in my feet.

I felt relieved after he took it. Deep inside, I feel happy that he followed me all the way here to make sure if I am safe or not. I tried telling myself that man is all the same but when I think about what Ergo taught us, maybe I should follow my mission to help Ariana. I had to act like a soft-hearted girl like her or else, I will stay here for the rest of my life.

I simply rolled my eyes at him. I'm not easy to get a person. I have reservations for myself.

"Well, thanks for saving my life" I mumbled and I saw him smiled.

Before I met him, I didn't realize that he looks like Argus Mateo in the future. Why did I keep seeing the same faces of him in this place? I shook my head to erase my thoughts about him. He's not even my type to reminisce his face here.

"Do you find me hot?" I was shocked by what he just said.

I gulped and set a second glance at him. I feel the sudden heat on the sides of my cheeks.

"What--did---you just ----say?" I stammered.

I felt intense pressure in my heart at those moments. What is this feeling?

I saw him chuckle.

"You're staring at me like I had dirt in my face and your eyes keep flashing, that's why!" He replied.

I had to fix my emotions about him. I am Anika and my mission is my priority first and nothing else. He can't seduce me with his looks.

"Oh, you got it wrong I guess, Mr---" I don't even know his name. We haven't had a formal introduction to ourselves.

"Call me Marco" he uttered.

"Marco! You had blood on your lips. I'm just curious about what you ate. Kind of fresh blood!" I told him my alibi which is true.

----

Marco remembered that he turned into a wolf when Anika left and he found a small rat while scaring her and he ate it. He forgot to clean himself after he transformed into a human.

"Oh, I got an accident while following you. I got hit by a swaying shaft!" He also found his alibi to keep his true identity to her because he's not sure if she was his mate or he only assuming something which seems to be far from reality.

I pressed my tightening chest after the elevator encounter. I can't believe I did it to a stranger. What will I tell Anika if she knew that I and Argus kissed? Ergo must be horrified by now if he finds out.

At last, we reached the 20th floor. Everyone gets off from inside but I'm still standing like a frosted mannequin. A strong hand cupped my shoulders and I gasp in surprise.

"Anika, are you okay?" When I looked up, it's Argus and I can't even stare at him in the eyes.

I regained my composure and tried to be cold again in front of him. I'm not easy to get the girl and I think Anika had that behavior. Argus is just a man I smooch accidentally and nothing else. I am married to someone and I have a mission here to get back to my time and to be reunited again with my husband.

"I'm okay Mr. Mateo. Oh, about the kiss, think of it as my early Christmas gift to you as an employee and nothing more!" I said with full of arrogance and stepped out ahead of him in the elevator.

-------

"Oh, wait---!" Argus tried to call her to invite her to the party tonight.

He only sighs about her cold treatment again towards him.