Chapter 3: Kill the Thief

- TOBIAS

Only a few things could get me furious.

Any scoundrel who dared appear in my land was dead! Even poor human trespassing, had I to draw the trigger, he was a dead man walking. But someone coming to steal my clothes was enough to make me mad.

So I trailed the woman through the woods.

The spring was a long distance away.

I needed to pass through a number of ravines and steep hills. The wind was blowing, and the leaves were falling so thick on the ground.

By the time I reached the spring, the sun was down, and the night was soon to start.

But despite the darkness of the night, I could trail her scent without difficulty. Her fragrance was a sweet, intoxicating blend of strawberry, cream, and vanilla. The nearer I came, the more intense the smell.

It was not the smell of a rogue. She was not like any roaming lycan. She smelled... like pure and innocent. It was difficult to describe.

I had encountered a lot of human beings. I was familiar with their smells, but this girl... It was something else. She wasn't like the others. I couldn't figure her out.

There was something about her that I found interesting.

Why would she steal the robe?

She might simply have asked, and I would have helped her even if she had not returned it.

Her smell was all over, but she was nowhere. I had already been tracing the track she left, and now I could no longer find her.

I paced the area, searching for where she was.

I was too absorbed with the hunt, and I never thought my wolf was coming out at all.

As I came near the spring, the moon came up, and the air was colder. The moon had been covered by clouds, and the entire forest was totally dark.

"You are flirting with fire, little girl," I grumbled. "Show yourself. Let me see you."

My vision was not blurred. It was better, and my sight was no longer impaired by the darkness. My hearing had also improved. I heard the noises of the night insects, the wind, and the movement of the leaves.

However much I tried, I failed to hear her slightest movement.

"I do not want to hurt you," I said, but the words sounded like a threat. "I just want to talk."

Now I was in the middle of the clearing.

"Unless you do not want me to tear your throat open, you had better come out now!"

There was no answer.

"Fine. Have it your way," I snarled. "You are going to see what a werewolf really is."

I was half turning into my wolf, and I could already feel my bones beginning to ache, but a sound broke in my ear with a loud cracking noise.

It was Joel, my Beta and the one who normally had my back.

"We have at last caught you, my King," said Joel, as though he had just completed a marathon. "How have you been? We have been everywhere seeking you."

"What are you doing here?"

"My King, the guards have been after you, and they told me that you were here. What are you doing out here by yourself? Is there something wrong?"

I ignored his questions and asked him instead, "Joel, did you not see a woman go by? A woman in a crimson robe?"

He paused for a moment before he replied, "No, my King, I see none but you."

"She was right here. I was chasing her, but she is gone. Where could she have gone?"

"My King, you look really upset. Did something happen?"

"A woman stole my clothes."

"What? How did that happen?"

"I have no idea, Joel. Just find her. Otherwise, you will see your head roll. You'd better find her," I ordered, and my voice was more furious than usual.

"Alright. Sure, my King," Joel said, nodding his head.

"Go, search the whole area. Look for a woman. A female lycan. A small and pretty girl. She wears a red robe, and she smells like strawberries, cream, and vanilla.

"Yes, my King," he said, nodding.

I kept searching for her, and I could not find her, no matter how hard I tried. It did not take long before Joel reappeared with two other guards, and both of them held torches. They apparently could not find her.

"Anything?"

"No, my King. Not a trace of her."

"Damn," I cursed.

I remained silent and observed my warriors.

As well-trained and powerful warriors of the Lycan race, we were able to trail any intruder with our senses. We might with ease watch and intercept those who attempted to enter, or contrive to keep other people off our ground, before they had even approached it.

It was mid-autumn, and we had reached some distance into the woods. The air was cold, and the boarders were made up of thick leaves that were dry, and they broke with a soft crackling sound with each stride. And each breath that I drew was warm. I was nearly as hot-tempered as in spring.

The warriors threw themselves on the ground and shuddered with fear. My power resources negatively affected the environment. The other elite warriors of the Lycans were able to lower the temperature eight degrees Celsius with the help of their magic. I would multiply it by an equivalent amount.

They looked frightened, but confused.

"This is unacceptable!" I growled. "I want my robe back, and whoever got it must be punished."

"Don't worry, My King. I will call in the guards to check out the place. We'll find the thief."

I hurled the scrap of cloth in my hand at his face even before he could say another word.

"Move your ass and see where this cloth must have come from," I said impatiently. "You had better shoot yourself, in case you fail to find the answer in three hours."

"Yes, My King!"

Joel shot up and disappeared into the woods with the cloth.

The other guards were gladly relieved when they felt my anger become a little less.

I called another pack of guards instantly.

"Go and find the girl!" I ordered. "She's the one who stole my robe. Search every inch of this place. I want my robe back. And kill her the moment you see her." And my voice was firm, and frustration stewed below it.

The guards looked at each other in disbelief.

My obsession with hygiene and cleanliness was a known fact. I did not even allow anybody to touch my things, not to mention using them. It was impossible to imagine that my robe had been touched and stolen by a thief.

Their minds were filled with questions that no one was daring enough to ask.

They dispersed at once around the lake and started to search.

They interrogated all those who had been around. They turned in all directions in the forest. Yet no one had seen anything. No one had any information.

And even with all their search, they could not find the thief.

Each minute, my irritation increased. The robe had been more than just a piece of clothing. It bore the records of my bloodline, a mark of the hereditary Lycan kingdom.

"I can not believe she disappeared, I said to myself. "It's more than a robe. It holds value. My dearest robe... one of our family heirlooms. Who was going to steal such a thing? And why?"

A weird feeling of fear crept into my chest as the search went on.

Whoever was the thief, had she been caught, she would have had a harsh punishment.

But I could not let something so important be lost.

Joel now wavered, saying nothing.

"We have looked all over, my King. But, to say the least, we had better call off the search now and resume it tomorrow. And perhaps we shall see her later in case she is still there. We may ask the guards to watch out."

"No," I snapped instantly. "We cannot stop. Tonight is our only chance. We won't rest until we find it. We shall never get it away now, or the thief will be away in the morning. Keep looking."

Midnight arrived. We had certainly explored the whole valley before this time, but had not discovered anything. Not even a trace of scent. Had we had the slightest scent, our finer senses would have followed her without difficulty.

Now I was alone under the moon, and the cold breeze swept along the valley.

The girl had not been away for more than a few hours. She could not have gone far. She lacked inner strength, no magic. She could not run faster than fifteen miles even in the best situation.

None could get through the surveillance of my guards. We should find the silly girl sooner or later.

Few had ever seen me in my real form. Those who had generally died. But that silly girl had not only seen my face...

She had seen me naked.

There was something odd that kept on in my mind. There was something wrong with the situation. I had the feeling that I was missing something.

What I was not aware of was that the thief was much nearer than I could think possible.