CHAPTER THREE

The gravity of the windy atmosphere of Arleta, echoing and continuously itching our ears, wrapped us up with rage until it woke both of us up at the same time.

"What a violent wind!" I whimpered, blinking to see the clear brightness of the day.

Arleta could contain a great number of creatures but would harm or disturb whoever wouldn't adapt to the cold, snowy, and entirely strange nature of the land. It was like a cursed space of the woods.

I yawned.

Last night?

Then, I realised my hands had been on Angus's chest, all through the night. I began to wonder if he had even demanded sex from me that last night.

Angus had always been a friend. He wouldn't do anything to hurt me. I could see the way he had been treating me—just as his sister—or some kind of a lover.

But, I wasn't comfortable. Maybe not yet.

"Huh!" I sighed, taking my hands off him. I formed a smile on my face at him and received the same from him.

"Ellie?" Angus called, his voice alluring to me. But I wouldn't just give in easily. "Have you recalled what you did last night?"

"What's that?" I asked him, my hands raised up to my lips as I tried to hold a yawn.

"You've been silent for a long while…" Angus answered me and continued, "I almost thought you were thinking about an injury on your body."

"Oh!" I exclaimed as I forced myself to say the truth. I was still troubled, even though I had slept over the memories of my hurtful past. The thoughts still kept hovering over the borders of my heart and wouldn't stop reverberating. I didn't know he brought it up again.

Indeed, Angus could sense my feelings about my past. He seemed to expect me to have started asking him more questions about himself, which would make him think I really desired him. And, as he would always do whenever he fished something, he snapped. I didn't know all about him.

"Ang…?" I called.

"Call me Angus." Angus demanded, spreading his arms as he stood up.

Suddenly, Angus approached me and embraced me, and I felt the cold touch of his hands. "Do you know you have to cheer up. I have promised to kill your past and affect your future…"

"Yeah…" I said, trying to take his hands off. "I guess I'm not in for this, Angus."

"Why not?" Angus questioned. "Don't you trust me?"

"I don't know all about you." I revealed, my voice soft anyway.

His first words really re-echoed in my ears, making me interrupt, "I notice you saying you can kill my past. Do you know my past, and how much can you erase from it in my heart?"

"Haha…" Angus laughed and returned his chin to the normal shape again. "I have wolfish eyes."

"Wolfish?" I asked, my hands supporting my jaws very firmly, an expression of a deeper interest in his words.

"Yes," Angus returned. "I know how it all happened."

His words caught me.

Then, I pushed my brows forward very softly but rapidly to express my amazement. "How did it happened…? Were you by any chance one of those who…"

"Huh?" Angus reverted quickly.

"Tell me everything." I demanded, my voice much louder than his.

"Who did what?" Angus questioned me back, his words rushing out speedily and at length. "There was a ferocious and heartless pack that still lives up to this time. The Alpha of the pack wanted to recruit me as one of their members by bribing me with a beautiful woman for me to marry, then…"

Immediately I heard the marriage plan earlier, I knew Angus wasn't a small man. He was experienced as well, and I could know from the way he spoke with me. But, my mind also traced that to his spiritual powers rather than what he could do on his own.

"Continue, Angus…" I requested, my eyes brightening at his face. I began to blink my eyes as the fragments of his words hit my ears.

"The Alpha told me all the packs in Arleta wanted to enthrone a woman as Queen, and that…" Angus explained, adjusting as he laid his hands on my bare laps. "I mean, anyone that would be her mate must go through the attacks of the dark forest. There was a muddy area that was very dark, watery, and dangerous to inhabit, but whoever must take that future luna as a wife must pass through the woods and must not die."

"Could anyone escape death in such a dangerous land?" I questioned, my lips joined together as my teeth stood stiff, an expression of my aggressive willingness to leave Arleta. "I can't wait to leave here."

"Almost impossible," Angus said.

"To leave Arleta or what?" I asked him bluntly, turning my eyes away.

"No, I mean escaping death…" Angus explained. "Like you just said."

"Impossible!" I objected and smiled broadly. "How is it possible? I am sure bloodthirsty wolves must be there, who can not but pounce on whichever prey they see."

"True," Angus assented. "Don't take this as just a story. I could tell you who lived in that forest for years and still keeps living till now."

"I love your pranks." I remarked on his rather unbelievable words. "But, I don't understand you yet."

"They aren't pranks, baby." Angus retorted with a low voice. "They are a real life secret. And, why can't you understand me?"

"I don't know," I said, folding my arms together.

"Well, I know a lot about this forest. I have been living here for years, that's all I can say about me." Angus expatiated, his both eyes fixed on my face. "Arleta's dark regions are all alive."

"Does that mean that dangerous land is still in existence?" I asked, my voice breaking as I expected him to say no.

"It is," Angus replied. "Even more vastly, the wolves are increasing every day, birthing and nursing their betas, and training them to be attackers."

"Ah!" I interjected. "Why are they interested in just attacking people?"

"They claim to be serving the forest goddess." Angus revealed, lowering his voice as if he was keeping it secret.

"And, why would the goddess be after humans?" I questioned.

"It's a long story, Ellie…" Angus explained. "When the forest goddess was first living as a Queen Luna of the pack, she made a demand of a mate as her husband, but no one was willing to fill in that space. So, she became furious and committed suicide, vowing to ruin families who possibly would have issued out a man for her while she was alive."

"Pathetic!" I retorted. "I wonder how my family got entangled in her web, anyways, and it pains me to the bottom of my heart."

"Hmm…" Angus reacted, slowly approaching me. I guessed he sensed the strange frown on my face. "What's really wrong, Ellie?"

"Arleta wouldn't be enough to contain those painful secrets when spilt out." I let out, breathing softly. "I will never agree if anyone tells me to remain in Arleta for the next three months."

"Oh!" Angus retorted. "Do you have a plan?"

"What if?" I answered, questioning him back. "What if I just meet myself in another world?"

"It happens," Angus revealed.

"Really?" I asked, already intrigued by his suiting response. "I would love to leave Arleta."

"You want to be free from the forest goddess?" Angus asked me.

"Not only her." I replied, my lips spreading in unease. "I can't help staying in a dangerous and harmful land. I can not stand the teeth of the threatening wolves, as well."

"You have a point, though." Angus commented. "I wouldn't stand against your dreams."

"Dreams?" I returned. "No, they are my plan. I will leave and start another life, elsewhere, wherever I appear."

"I would like to depart with you, though." Angus said, his voice sounding lovely in my ears.

"Why not?" I said, as I faced the wall and sneezed. "Sorry, I don't know what will happen later."

"What if I was sent to you just... secretly?" Angus asked, leaving my mouth open agape.