Episode 17

“Kenya, wake up.”

“Humm.”

“Open your eyes.” Kenya felt annoyed as Ale, her human, kept nudging her to open her eyes. She lazily and reluctantly obeyed.

The black wolf slowly opened her eyes, and she was shocked to find many people staring at her. It looked like a concert Ale once watched in Chicago.

Kenya stared innocently at the people there, including a handsome man who looked at her intensely, as if he wanted to devour her alive.

“Don’t act recklessly, Kenya,” Ale whispered in warning.

“What do you mean?” But Kenya didn’t understand the hidden meaning behind Ale’s words. She backed away fearfully, her legs still wrapped in something white.

Because of her fear, Kenya recklessly transformed into a human, shocking everyone present.

“Don’t, Kenya!!!” Ale screamed in her mind.

“Da– darling?!” Zach muttered weakly as he watched the wolf he had saved transform into a human someone he was certain was his mate. But Ale had to face the misfortune of being completely naked in front of many people.

“Close your eyes, all of you!” Zach ordered. He immediately rushed to Ale to cover her naked body. All of Zach’s soldiers quickly shut their eyes.

“Leave this place!” Zach continued. His troops immediately walked out.

Zach swallowed harshly at the sight of Ale’s naked body, while Ale tried to cover her private parts.

“Take this.” Zach lowered his gaze, handing clothes to his mate.

Zach turned away while waiting for her to dress.

Ale was about to leave, but after only a few steps toward the door, Zach grabbed her arm.

“Kath, darling…” Zach pulled Ale into his arms, hugging her tightly. He had missed the girl so much. His long wait had finally been fulfilled. Ale was startled, her eyes widening.

Ale struggled against Zach’s embrace. Zach realized Ale’s strength was far greater than before. Usually she would remain still, especially in moments when he had slept with her she would struggle but eventually give in.

“Let go, you’ve got the wrong person!” Ale said coldly. Zach loosened his embrace, his heart throbbing in pain.

“No, you are Kath, my mate.” Zach insisted, hugging her again even as Ale kept trying to escape his hold.

“I am Ale, not Kath.” Ale shoved Zach hard, startling him with her changed behavior.

“Nonsense. You are Kath. I know you very well. Don’t you remember when I slept with you?”

Plaaak.

Filled with anger, Ale slapped Zach’s cheek. How dare he claim they had slept together? Zach touched his reddened cheek how dare this woman?!

He looked at his mate sharply, but she glared back fiercely. There was no longer love in her eyes, no warmth only cold, untouchable emptiness.

“My mate is dead,” Ale hissed sharply.

Zach froze for a moment. Meanwhile, Ale walked away from him.

“Mom!” Ale was startled by a voice. Through the door crack, she saw a small child she loved dearly.

“Zale, sweetheart.” Ale approached her daughter.

“Mom.” Zale looked at her with longing and hugged her.

“My sweetheart.”

“How did you end up here?” Ale asked her daughter. So many questions stormed through her mind. How could her daughter be here?

“Dad saved me when I got lost,” little Zale said.

“What?” Zach stared at Ale with loving eyes. Ale, however, refused to look at him at all.

“Mom, that’s Dad,” Zale said, pointing at Zach. Ale was speechless.

“He’s not your father!” Zach’s heart pounded loudly. So Kath was her mother… Could Zale be his daughter?

“Let’s get out of here.” Ale pulled Zale’s hand to leave immediately.

“No, Mom, I don’t want to…” Zale struggled, still pointing at Zach.

“Come on.”

“Stop! Zale is my child?” Zach blocked Ale’s escape.

“No. Move!”

“Kath, darling…” Zach continued to coax her, trying to stop her from leaving.

“Guards, close all exit doors,” Zach ordered.

“Damn it!!!” Ale cursed angrily when she tried to open the door but found it already shut by the guards.

“Don’t curse in front of a child, darling,” Zach said, walking toward her.

“Open this door!” Ale banged on it repeatedly, trying to force it open. Zale looked frightened.

“Hey, you black haired one, open the door now!” Ale pointed at one of Zach’s men.

“I’m sorry, this is Alpha’s command.”

“You…! I’m going to choke you!” Ale approached the guard, ready to grab his neck.

“Shhhh… darling, there’s a child here,” Zach said softly.

“Beta, take Zale away from here.”

“No, my child!” Ale ran toward Zale, who was already being lifted by Beta but Zach held Ale back by her waist.

“Mom!” Zale screamed.

“Let go, damn it,” Ale hissed viciously.

“Stop cursing or I’ll take you right here,” Zach warned. Ale instantly fell silent.

Zach yanked Ale’s arm roughly as she continued struggling to break free.

From afar, Keona watched them. She clenched her fists tightly. How could her sister be here and how could she still be alive?

***

“Luna Amarylis.”

“This is my mate.” Luna Amarylis, who had been knitting a warm sweater for Zale, was startled when her son appeared, dragging a woman along with him.

“W–what?” Luna muttered in confusion.

“She is Kath, Zale’s mother, who is also my child. Before I cast her out of the pack, I made her pregnant first.” Luna Amarylis froze, overwhelmed by the situation.

“You’re insane, huh?!”

Plaak.

“I’m not the woman you slept with. And one more thing don’t you dare hurt my daughter.”

“Darling, I would never do that.”

“Dear, is it true you’re his mate?” Luna Amarylis touched Ale’s palm, but Ale quickly pulled her hand away.

“No. I have nothing to do with his mate. My mate died eaten by a wild beast.”

Ale walked away from Zach. Zach released her wrist. He watched Kath from afar with sorrow, his heart aching once more. This was all his fault.

If you'd like, I can also make a smoother novel-style rewrite, a more emotional version, or a proofreading-only version.