Chapter 3: New Start

Layla suspected that she had died.

She always felt her body floating weightlessly, neither in pain nor comfort. The emotion hovered ominously.

She wanted to move her limbs, to open her eyes and see what the afterlife was like. But everything was in vain.

Or was it because her sins were too great, and this was her punishment? To exist in this vague void.

Ah, this is truly a cruel punishment.

Layla chuckled at herself, thinking that if given another chance, the first thing she would do is to eliminate those wretched scum. Make them disappear from this world completely!

But she knew it was just a fantasy.

Ah!!! So cold?!

Suddenly, a chilling sensation attacked Layla's mind, a relentless cold that made her feel extreme pain. At this moment, she couldn't understand why she was already dead and still had to endure such agony! Did she commit some heinous act that warranted such punishment from the heavens???

Layla was both resentful and angry at the injustice that the divine had imposed on her. However, the piercing cold pain struck again, causing her to gradually lose consciousness.

...

"Where did this wolf come from?"

While Layla was in a daze, an old voice echoed, unfamiliar and not belonging to anyone from the Western tribe.

Whose voice is this? Layla wanted to open her eyes to see who was speaking, whether it was a god or a demon from hell. However, she couldn't do anything; she could only sense herself being handled like a cheap commodity about to be discarded.

"What are you doing?"

The once violently grabbed body suddenly froze, and a stuttering voice above her head said, "Le-leader!"

Immediately after, Layla felt herself being pulled down and squeezed, experiencing a dull pain that was gradually intensifying.

"What are you hiding?"

The stern voice posed a second question.

Layla felt the part of her body being held tighten even more, and the gripping hand trembled. She was truly curious about the current situation. But her mind didn't stay clear for long, and she began to feel the drowsiness creeping in.

Once again, she fell into unconsciousness.

...

Regaining consciousness once more, Layla could open her eyes this time. However, her body still felt heavy and powerless, so she could do nothing but open her eyes.

Her hazy blue gaze swept from left to right, observing the surroundings that seemed both strange and familiar.

Strange because she had never been here. Familiar because it resembled a wolf's den, not like the paradise or hell in her thoughts.

Could it be... she was still alive?

Ah, that's right.

Layla suddenly remembered something. Perhaps she was indeed still alive because the Baron tribe's treasure always protected her.

This was the reason she scolded Leon as a fool, as the treasure was always with her.

According to Baron's tradition, when a new tribe leader took office, the former leader had to pass on the treasure to the successor for protection. So, at the age of eighteen, she received the treasure and kept it with her. It was a discreet ceremony known only to her and her father.

What they took from her was just a decoy she had set up to deceive outsiders.

Thinking about the scene where those fools used the fake treasure and were disappointed, the satisfaction of revenge made her want to burst into laughter. However, due to her body's condition, even smiling was challenging. Layla frowned, the pain in her body reminding her of every bit of her resentment. Even if they regretted their actions, she wouldn't spare them!

The Baron tribe believed in repaying a hundredfold for any grievances.

That was the saying passed down to all the people in the Baron tribe.

Injured body? No problem. As long as she didn't die, she would come back and retaliate for everything they had done to her at any cost!

Layla's deep blue eyes gradually became sharper. If her allies were here, they might tremble in fear. This was Layla's most malicious expression, and it would undoubtedly result in bloodshed and death everywhere.

However, here, there were no allies, and with her battered blaughterody, her threatening expression became ironically comical. Indeed, someone burst into beside her, saying, "Ha ha, a wolf with the expression of a house-trained dog?"

The sudden voice jolted Layla from her reverie. She turned to look behind her.

"Ah!" Unfortunately, due to severe injuries, the swift movement caused her body to ache as if a hundred thousand enemy claws were tearing her apart.

She felt like passing out once again.

"Foolish." A cold and helpless voice echoed, a large hand covering her head. The sensation of weakness as someone else took control made Layla uncomfortable, and she wanted to resist. But with her feeble strength, what could she do against a giant?

She growled, her whole body seeming to contract, trying to appear defensively even though she was weak.

"Still very vigilant, huh?" The mocking voice made Layla notice the person in front of her.

Before her was a large man, with eyes sparkling like rare gemstones, disheveled silver hair giving him a wild appearance, and sun-kissed skin that was unusually beautiful. A handsome face with rugged features.

He was the most attractive man she had ever met.

Looking back, she thought Leon was a handsome wolf, but now she realized she was mistaken. Leon couldn't compare to even one of this man's toes.

Layla suddenly felt sorry for Anna, thinking about her proud face, as if she had won the most precious thing in the world. Layla guessed that if she met this man, she might wag her tail like a female wolf in heat and eagerly offer herself as a bedmate.

The attractive man felt amused seeing a normal wolf constantly changing expressions. He playfully lifted her with a forceful hand, making the wolf move along with his arm's motion. It was like playing with a stuffed toy, something that humans enjoyed. Fun!

"Grrr!" Layla was moved, her face stunned, and she growled to warn the man to stop. She knew she had an impressive wolf form—tall, majestic, with a shimmering fur under the moonlight—many in the tribe admired her.

However, her actions didn't instill any fear in the man. On the contrary, he laughed even louder. He pulled her closer to his face, speaking casually, "Remember, I'm Bridget. Your master"

Layla:...

Although I currently have a wolf's body, I am also the leader of the Western tribe! What are you to think of owning me???

However, her objections could only be expressed in animal-like sounds. No one understood what she was saying!

Bridget: I know you like that!

Layla: howl howl!

I don't! I don't like it! Don't falsely accuse me!

Perhaps because it was the first time she had ever met such a powerful and charming man, Layla momentarily forgot her resistance.

His intense golden gaze involuntarily drew she in.

A lingering feeling, like a spider's silk, slowly wrapped around her.

This feeling was truly special.

Bridget noticed the bandage around the bleeding wound on the little wolf's chest. He spoke calmly, "Clara! Change the bandage."

Layla, still not understanding what he was saying, was surprised when a woman came in, bowed to Bridget, and then took her away. Her cold face and short silver hair made her sound obedient, saying, "Yes, Leader."

Next, Layla panicked as she was taken away by the woman. Her eyes glanced back at Bridget as if a newborn creature was being taken away from its mother's embrace.

"Damn it!" Bridget's imagination gave him chills. Mother? Forget it! He was the leader of this tribe, the strongest warrior in the East. Never would he become a nanny for a wolf cub!

He remembered the moment he saw the little wolf covered in wounds; his heart seemed to skip a beat. An invisible force compelled him to save the little wolf. So he carried her to his den and sought someone to treat her. Regardless of the doctor's sighs that it was just a normal injured wolf about to reach the threshold of death, he, Bridget, a crazy person who did as he pleased, paid no attention.

Funny. Everything in the tribe was obtained by his hand. If he had to spend something to compensate for saving a wolf cub, he would earn more. As for the complaints of the old leaders who were afraid of death and spent their days hiding in the cave, well, let them talk.

"Foolish mouths." His golden eyes became even more intense. He wanted to kill them, but it wasn't the right time.

"Bark! Bark! Bark!"

The desperate cries cut through Bridget's thoughts. He got up and ran to the source of the noise. Could it be that the wolf cub was in trouble right after leaving him? Worry overwhelmed his mind.

But when he arrived, he was surprised to see his wolf cub lying flat and covering her face. In front of her was a rudimentary pair of glasses.

If he could read the thoughts of the wolf cub, he would probably sigh at his unnecessary concern.

Because the heartbreaking howl of the wolf cub meant:

"Oh, God! Why am I so small now!!!"