Chapter 3: The Estate

Fenrir stretched, his small mouth opening in a wide yawn, sharp teeth gleaming as he licked away the remnants of his last meal. The satisfaction of a good night's rest lingered.

He glanced around, noting the goblins still sprawled on the ground, their bodies slack in sleep—none of them standing guard.

With a soft grunt, Fenrir rose to his feet, stretching his limbs before silently slipping away from the camp. Shit, I need to go to the bathroom.

His paws moved swiftly over the earth, and soon enough, he found a secluded spot to relieve himself. Once done, he padded toward the river, the cool water inviting.

He lowered his head to drink, savoring the fresh liquid. But then, the ground beneath him trembled. A faint rumble reached his ears, followed by the unmistakable thunder of hooves and the battle cries of humans.

"Oh, shit."

Fenrir's gaze snapped back to the goblin camp. The creatures were stirring, groggy at first, but quickly reacting to the distant noise that had roused them.

Yeah, I'm not sticking around for this.

Without a second thought, Fenrir darted into the forest, his paws pounding against the earth. Behind him, the goblins' desperate cries filled the air, but he didn't look back.

He ran as fast as he could, but suddenly, a strong grip seized the scruff of his neck, jerking him to a halt.

"Well now, what do we have here? A lone wolf pup, wandering where he ought not?"

Fenrir snarled, thrashing in the man's grasp, but the hold was ironclad.

The man, wearing worn leather armor and a sword at his side, didn't flinch. His long blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail, and his grip didn't waver.

"Well, well, you're a feisty one, aren't you? You'll make a fine gift for my little sister. And look at that—you're a male! We've got a white she-wolf in need of a mate," the man said, a grin spreading across his face.

Fenrir's eyes widened in shock. Wait—no! I'm not breeding with an animal!

Then, it hit him. I am an animal… but I'm still not attracted to wolves, you freak! The thought screamed through his mind, but he knew there was no use fighting. He went limp, deciding it was better to play along, for now.

Just as the man began to walk away, a deep, authoritative voice interrupted.

"Son, what do you have there?"

"Oh, Father! Look what I found!" The young man eagerly turned, holding up Fenrir for his father to see.

"Ah, a fine-looking wolf—and a male, no less. He will make a worthy addition to our noble house."

And so, I was taken.

The goblins were dead—every last one of them. For a moment, a pang of guilt flickered in my chest, but it was gone as quickly as it came. I'd only known them for a day, after all.

Godric—that was his name—carried me the entire way. His father, Oswald, led the charge, his heavy boots thudding against the earth. At least they fed me, though. Raw meat.

I won't lie—I enjoyed it. If I were still human, the thought of eating raw flesh would've turned my stomach, but now? Now it felt… right.

The road stretched on, and as we traveled, I kept searching for that warmth I'd felt the day before. It was still there, nestled deep inside me—but there was something else, something darker, lurking beneath.

It didn't feel wrong, though. In fact, it felt as though it belonged, as if it had always been there, waiting for me to notice. Then something caught my eye—a massive presence ahead, looming large with towering walls that seemed to scrape the sky.

The design was grand, almost otherworldly, exuding an air of wealth and power. The entrance was guarded by maids in crisp black-and-white uniforms, their faces a mask of indifference.

Damn… this place is something else.

Before I could fully process everything, a blur of movement grabbed my attention. A young girl sprinted from the estate, her golden hair flowing behind her like a trail of sunlight.

"Father! Father!" Her voice rang out, high-pitched and full of excitement.

Oswald swung off his horse with practiced ease, his stern demeanor softening as he opened his arms wide. "Oh, my little girl!"

He scooped her up effortlessly, lifting her into the air. Her blue dress fluttered, her laughter ringing out as her matching blue eyes sparkled with joy.

"Oh, my brother, what is that you're carrying?" Her focus snapped to him, and before Fenrir knew it, she was standing in front of him, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Well, my dear sister," he said, his voice full of pride, "this is your gift. I promised I'd bring something, didn't I?" He gently extended his arms, presenting Fenrir to her. The girl clung to him, her excitement palpable.

"Oh, he's so cute!" she squealed, lifting Fenrir into the air and spinning him around in delight.

Good heavens, please don't try to dress me, Fenrir silently prayed, his discomfort growing as she twirled him with reckless abandon.

Eventually, she stopped, holding Fenrir close as she studied him. "I'll name you Shadow," she said, a thoughtful look crossing her face, "because of your black fur. No, wait—what about your green eyes?" She paused, then her face lit up. "! Yes, that's it! I'll name you Fenris."

"Rose, you must bathe him, walk him, and train him," Oswald said, his voice steady and serious.

"Of course, Father," Rose answered, her eyes sparkling with joy. "I've always wanted a pet of my own! And now, Luna will have a friend!" She gently cradled the small pup in her arms, holding him close. "Come on, Fenris," she cooed, "let me show you around." She carefully carried him, her steps light as she moved through the estate, eager to introduce her new companion to his new home.