Larissa: I Owe You My Life

I was safe.

But how?

Who saved me?

Only the Moon Goddess could have helped me now. Only she could have turned that lunatic monster into a coward.

'Moon Goddess… Thank you. I'm sorry for cursing you earlier. I'm so sorry...'

A soft, grateful smile found its way to my lips as I tried to stand firmly and leave the place.

But then, once again, a sudden chill ran down my spine.

Someone was watching me.

I could feel it. A pair of eyes drilling into me from behind.

I turned, slowly.

And froze.

A massive wolf stood just a few meters away.

It was a majestic yet terrifying wolf. A heartstopping, terrifying wolf.

Golden eyes locked onto mine, holding me in place, as if its gaze alone could command the world to stop and bow.

Its sleek black fur shimmered under the sunlight streaming through the trees, every inch of it radiating power. I had seen wolves before—Alpha Mark, even my father—but they were nothing like this. Nothing this intense. Nothing this... divine.

My heart raced, thundering against my ribs. My breath caught in my throat. I was utterly overwhelmed.

I had barely escaped a monster, and now I was staring at another. But this time, the beast was so mesmerizing to my eyes. One who looked strong enough to kill me in a single breath, while I was in awe of its appearance.

Whoever this beast was, I could now tell from its gaze that it hadn't come to save me.

It came to finish me.

I blinked sharply, praying that the ancient, powerful beast standing before me would vanish when I opened my eyes again.

But he was still there.

The wolf took a single step forward, and the ground beneath me seemed to tremble with his weight.

'Run!' The voice in my head whispered urgently, but my whole body refused to move.

"Please stop..." My voice trembled, thick with fear and desperation. I tried to turn, to run, but it was useless. My legs wouldn't move. It felt like invisible chains had wrapped around me, anchoring me in place.

I couldn't look away.

His golden eyes locked onto mine with a frightening intensity, as if he could see straight into my soul. As if he were reading every secret thought I'd ever had.

I'm doomed. No one can save me now.

"Please, sir... kind sir... kind wolf... please don't eat me," I whispered in a pleading voice, barely able to breathe.

With every slow, deliberate step he took toward me, I fought to take even one step back. But my legs wouldn't respond. Fear had gripped my body completely, paralyzing me.

"You can't kill innocent wolves in this sacred city!" I blurted out, my voice rising in desperation. "And you definitely can't kill me, I'm a guest at the Moon Festival! The king will punish you if you hurt me!"

It was all I had left, words. Maybe, just maybe, fear of authority would stop him where brute strength couldn't.

And then,

He stopped.

My heart leapt. 

'Thank God. This beast is afraid of the king?'

A flicker of hope stirred in my chest, but the beast's piercing gaze never wavered. The longer I stared into his eyes, the more my head began to pound. It was like my very thoughts were being pulled apart.

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision. I couldn't hold back the fear, the pain, the helplessness anymore. It all came pouring out.

"Oh, you benevolent wolf... I owe you my life... Please, let me go," I sobbed, my voice trembling with fear and desperation.

To my astonishment, he let out a soft growl. Not threatening, not angry. It almost sounded like, "Hrrrr. Go."

Was it real? Had I imagined it?

No. It was real. My legs—trembling and heavy—finally stopped freezing. I could move again.

"Thank you," I whispered breathlessly. "Thank you so much for your kindness. Mr. Wolf… you can return to your human form now, so I can remember you and keep my promise..."

I stopped mid-sentence.

Another growl rumbled from him, low and firm, like he was saying, "Hrrr. No. Just go."

I swallowed my words, bowed my head in gratitude, and turned.

At first, my legs moved stiffly, dragging beneath me. But then adrenaline surged, and I began to run faster, harder, desperate to leave the forest behind.

But as I ran, the past came rushing back.

The memory of that night. The night a rogue wolf attacked Brittany and me. The fear. The blood. The screaming. It all returned in vivid flashes. 

My tears fell harder, soaking my face. My cheeks burned, and my chest ached with every breath.

Then,

I saw the street. I was safe.

...

I gently wiped the tears from my cheeks, feeling a bit calmer, and glanced down to check myself. 

My breath caught in my throat when I saw the state I was in—my skirt was filthy, smeared with dirt and streaked with blood in several places.

Nausea rose up again, tightening my chest.

The image of that greasy man, slicing off his own wrist and tongue, flashed through my mind like a sick nightmare I couldn't escape. I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head, desperate to push the horror away.

I had to keep moving.

I hurried to the street and stopped a taxi. The moment I sank into the back seat, I exhaled. A small wave of relief swept over me, though it didn't last long.

As the car pulled away, my thoughts began to spiral again. 

The ancient wolf.

That massive, terrifying beast.

His golden eyes. The force of his presence.

Even now, the memory of him gives me a cold shiver down my spine. I can still feel how the air thickened around him—how my lungs struggled to take in a breath. 

His power surrounded me like a storm cloud, fearsome, yet oddly familiar.

'Wait, wait, that wolf... was the one who helped me escape earlier,' I wonder. My heart stuttered. 'Oh my god. How had I not realized it sooner? He'd saved me...!'

How could I be unaware of that? The majestic wolf that had mesmerized and terrified me actually helped set me free from that greasy-pervert-faced man!

"Excuse me, young lady, where are you headed?"

The taxi driver's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I blinked, startled, and looked at him through the rearview mirror.

"Silver Cliff Hotel," I murmured. "Please."