Wild Howl Woods

The door creaked open again.

Selene looked up, startled, just as Ronan stepped back into the room. This time, he was holding a folded towel and a soft-looking bundle in his arms.

He approached her slowly and knelt beside the bed.

"You should get cleaned up," he said gently.

Selene blinked. Her eyes landed on the towel and the fresh clothes in his hands.

Her lips parted in shock. "That’s... a towel? Like the ones back home?"

Ronan nodded. “It may not be as advanced as your world, but some things are shared between realms.”

She stared at him in disbelief. Modern comforts? Here?

He stood and extended a hand to her. “Come. I’ll show you the bathhouse.”

She hesitated, but something in his calm, patient eyes made her fingers reach out. She placed her hand in his.

He helped her up and led her down a warm hallway lined with fur tapestries and glowing stones. When they arrived at the bathhouse, her breath caught.

The bathroom wasn’t primitive at all.

Smooth stone walls shimmered with natural veins of silver light. A large hot spring-like pool bubbled gently in the center, with steam curling upward and soft flower petals floating on the surface. Carved wolf statues poured streams of clean, warm water into the pool from their mouths.

She was stunned.

Ronan handed her the towel and clothes. “Take your time. I’ll wait outside.”

She stared at the pool as he left, her body aching and dirty from the earlier chaos. With a deep breath, she undressed and slowly stepped into the warm water.

As soon as she sat down, she felt her body relax. The warmth sank into her bones, easing her fears, if only for a moment. She looked down at her abdomen. The glowing symbols were still there, soft and golden against her skin.

Her fingers brushed the mark.

[System Notice: Mark of the Chosen Womb – Active.]

Her chest tightened.

She remembered what the doctor told her before — that her womb on Earth was useless.

And now? Now she was apparently chosen.

Chosen for what?

Ronan returned just as she stepped out, fully clothed in the new robe. He helped her dry her hair gently, surprising her with how careful he was.

Back in the room, they sat in silence for a while.

Then he finally spoke.

“You carry a divine womb.”

She turned to him slowly.

“It’s not just a name,” he continued. “You’re marked by the ancient system. And every major Clan knows what that means.”

“What does it mean?” she asked quietly.

He looked at her seriously. “It means you can awaken powers through... intimacy. Through bonding. The kind that connects souls, not just bodies.”

Her throat went dry. “You mean—”

“Yes.”

He looked away for a second, giving her space. “Some Clans will want to worship you. Others will try to control you. Some might try to destroy you.”

Her hands gripped the robe tighter. “And you?”

“I want to protect you. If you’ll let me.”

Their eyes met.

His hand moved gently to her waist, stopping just above the glowing mark.

“May I?” he asked.

She gave a slight nod.

His fingers brushed the edge of the mark, and a strange heat bloomed beneath her skin. She gasped softly, shocked at how her body responded.

[System Alert: First Mission Unlocked.]

[Objective: Form an intimate bond with your current protector – Ronan.]

[Reward: Enhanced physical resistance + basic beast-speech.]

[Warning: Delay in bonding increases risk of hostile pursuit.]

Her heart pounded.

“This is crazy,” she whispered.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” Ronan said softly. “But if you want to survive here... you’ll need strength.”

She swallowed. He was right. This world wasn’t safe and it wasn't hers either.

Ronan stood up and walked towards the doorway, giving her one last look before leaving.

“You should rest,” he said gently. “You must be exhausted.”

His voice was deep and warm, like a calm night breeze.

Selene stared at him. Even though she didn’t fully trust anyone here, there was something about Ronan that made her chest feel… safe.

“Okay,” she whispered.

He gave a small nod and walked away, closing the door behind him.

She lay down on the soft furs, eyes staring at the ceiling. The room smelled of wild herbs and forest wind.

But no matter how cozy it felt, her heart wouldn’t calm down.

After a few minutes, curiosity got the best of her.

She sat up, quietly pushed the door open, and stepped out.

The compound was grand — more than she could have imagined.

Tall towers built from dark wood and gray stone stretched into the sky. Strange glowing lights hung from trees. Warm fires burned inside open halls, and laughter echoed softly in the distance.

She walked carefully, still barefoot.

The people she passed had beast-like traits — some had furry ears, others tails, claws, or sharp golden eyes.

They looked at her as she moved.

Some bowed politely.

Some stared openly.

A few whispered to each other.

One man even sniffed the air as she walked past.

Everything was beautiful. Wild. Untamed.

Then she saw her.

Ivy.

The girl from earlier.

Ivy was standing with another woman now — tall, pale, and graceful. Her long silver hair fell like silk down her back, and she wore a soft white fur dress. Her amber eyes narrowed when she saw Selene.

They walked toward her slowly.

“You’re still here,” Ivy said coldly. “Roaming like you own the place.”

Selene opened her mouth to speak, but the silver-haired woman stepped forward.

She didn’t wait.

She grabbed a handful of Selene’s hair and yanked her forward.

“Don’t get too comfortable, outsider,” she snapped. “This is my place. I’ve been promised to Ronan since I was born. You? You’re just a tool.”

Selene winced, trying to pull back. “Let go!”

“Make me,” the woman sneered.

[System Notice: Target Identified. Name: Seraphina – Wolf Clan Elite. Status: Betrothed to Ronan since birth. Relation: Ivy’s closest friend.]

[You have gained a second rival.]

Selene’s heart raced. Her hands grabbed at Seraphina’s wrist, but the woman was stronger than she looked.

Just then —

“Stop!”

A young maid rushed toward them. Her wolf ears twitched anxiously as she hurried over.

“Lady Seraphina! Alpha Ronan is looking for her!”

Seraphina froze. Then with a scoff, she let go of Selene’s hair, brushing her hands as if disgusted.

“Don’t think this is over,” she whispered.

She turned and walked off, Ivy following closely behind.

Selene stood there, trembling. Her scalp stung. Her heart pounded.

The maid quickly dropped to her knees. “I’m sorry, Miss. Alpha Ronan asked me to come find you. He said you’d gone missing.”

Selene blinked, still in shock.

“I’ve been assigned as your personal maid,” the girl continued. “Please let me escort you back to your chambers.”

Selene nodded slowly. Her fingers brushed over the place where Seraphina had grabbed her.

They walked back together.

She stayed quiet the whole way, her mind spinning.

[System Notice: Warning. You are now being targeted by two clan rivals.]

[Note: Infertility from your original world does not apply here. Conceiving is possible.]

Selene gasped. “Warn me next time!” she whispered under her breath.

She touched her stomach, feeling the warmth of the mark still glowing faintly beneath her robe.

“So I really can…”

Her thoughts trailed off, fear and wonder mixing inside her.

The maid walked quietly beside Selene, guiding her back through the stone paths and torch-lit corridors of the Wolf Clan’s compound.

She opened the door to Selene’s chambers and stepped aside.

Selene entered slowly, glancing around. The room was the same — warm, quiet, lined with soft fur and golden light. But something felt… off.

She turned back to the maid.

“Where’s Ronan?” she asked.

The maid lowered her head quickly, guilt in her voice.

“I’m sorry, Miss… I lied,” she said softly. “I had to. Mistress Seraphina wouldn’t have let you go if I told the truth.”

Selene blinked in surprise. “You lied… to protect me?”

The maid nodded. “Mistress Seraphina is like that toward anyone she sees as a threat. Especially to Alpha Ronan.”

She looked down, rubbing her hands nervously.

“But Alpha Ronan gave me orders to look after you. He said you’re not to be harmed. Ever.”

Selene stepped forward slowly, her heart still shaken from the attack.

She reached out and gently held the girl’s hand.

“Come,” she said. “Sit with me.”

The maid’s eyes widened in panic. She shook her head.

“I can’t, Miss! I’m not qualified to sit on your mattress!”

Selene smiled gently. “I’m asking you to. Please.”

The maid hesitated. Then, carefully, she sat at the edge of the bed, hands in her lap like a nervous child.

Selene was about to speak again—

[System Notice: Are you about to ask her about the prophecy? Because it really seems like it.]

Selene rolled her eyes and ignored the voice.

She looked at the girl beside her.

“What’s your name?” she asked softly.

“Lana,” the girl replied. “My name is Lana.”

Selene nodded.

“Lana… what is the prophecy?”

The maid’s face turned serious. She looked down for a moment, then lifted her head and spoke slowly.

“The prophecy…”

She took a breath.

“The clans have waited for a sacred woman known as the Chosen Womb. A woman not born, but sent. She is said to carry the power to restore balance to the beast clans… by bearing the heirs of each dominant clan.”

Selene listened, her heart pounding.

Lana continued.

“Through sex. Through breeding. Through blood. That’s how the power passes on.”

She looked at Selene gently now.

“And by uniting those heirs, it's believed she can bring peace to the clans. True peace. But that power can only awaken through you, my lady.”

Selene stared at her. “Me?”

Lana nodded.

“Yes, Miss. Our land has chosen you.”

She paused.

“But there’s one problem…”

Selene’s chest tightened. “What is it?”

Lana looked hesitant, then said softly,

“We don’t know if your body can carry beast heirs. You look fragile… and you’re human.”

Selene’s eyes widened.

“You… you know I’m human?”

“Yes, Miss,” Lana said with a slow nod. “We can sense it. And… you’re not the first to come like this.”

Selene sat frozen.

“What?” she whispered. “You mean… there are other humans out there?”

Lana gave a quiet nod.

“There was one. Long ago. The first woman the land ever called.”

Selene leaned in, heart racing.

“What happened to her?”

Lana’s eyes dropped.

“She died. During childbirth.”

The words hit Selene like a stone. Her whole body went cold.

She gripped the fur beneath her fingers. Her voice shook.

“I can’t die again… I don’t even know if I died before…”

Lana gently reached out and held her trembling hand.

“But there’s a way,” she said quietly. “A way to make you stronger… strong enough to carry beastly children.”