Paul - His villa“Dan, you’ll be in charge until I get back.” I throw another shirt in the small suitcase.“Why do you have to leave now? Tomorrow night is a full moon. You’ll miss it.”I slam shut the suitcase and turn to him. “Do you think I don’t know? Do as I ask and stop questioning me.”What am I supposed to say? That I told Laura to wait, but she insisted she would go alone? He will mock me or even resent me for leaving the pack on such an important night to protect a strigoi. “At least put Alin in charge. He has done it before.” Dan follows me through the room as I’m scouring after a tent. My wolf likes to sleep on the grass, me not so much.

Paul - Sohodol CanyonAs I stretch my numb limbs, the sun shines on my face. I grimace, wondering how I ended up sleeping on the grass. My wolf is happy with the outcome, my back not so much. Scrubbing my eyes, I see Laura’s face from last night. She looked so lonely and scared of being alone, so I remained outside, not even getting my sleeping bag. I’m such a retard sometimes. I guess the splinter from the bark does not fall far from the tree.(In Romanian, the saying “The splinter from the bark doesn’t fall far from the tree” has the same meaning just that instead of the proverbial apple is a splinter from the bark.)Under the generally well-dressed Paul Mateescu, the cool-headed CEO, still lurks the adolescent who watched his mother forsake his father for a wealthier man. I vowed nev

Paul’s wolf - Runcu villageI have no other option than to grudgingly accept being petted and laughed at. My self-esteem is lacking, not being able to even raise my ears again. The only good thing is that my pack isn’t around and that my human has declared this area off-limits to all wolves. I’ll die of embarrassment if any word of this comes out.After the little girl leaves with her father, I flick my tail, creating the momentum to shake my whole body. My instinct tells me this way I get rid of all those humiliating fondles and scratching, but I know the moment will remain there like a scar for life.“Come on. Let’s go to the shop where the girl went missing.” Laura starts walking in front of me, and I follow.Humans claim that wolve

Paul - Sohodol CanyonI go through the woods nude, holding Laura in my arms. She's still weeping, but more softly, and she's not shivering as much as she used to. I know just the place to help her feel better and get rid of the obnoxious stench of blood that has coated both of us from head to toe. All I can hope for now is that I don't happen to run across any hikers.When I look down at her, she seems vulnerable as she puts her face into my chest. I always end up with her in my arms. As much as it pains me to see her like this, I don't want to let her go. But it's impossible to remain like this forever because this moment is fleeting like any other.As we approach a clearing, I glance around for any danger. My sense of smell can be deceiving near the stream. Luckily, the only things I see are the trees and the rive

Paul - His villaThump! Thump! My heart beating is the only thing I hear as I stare at Laura. As she closes her eyes in acceptance of her fate, a tear falls, crawling down her cheek. Unfortunately, it can’t wash away what she is and what she has done.Ion Corvin's voice fades in the distance. His comments will not change anything. While he was the Alpha of the Muntenia pack, my father was particularly concerned about wolves dying from an unknown strain of rabies. During my rule, I had to put down two of my own. If Laura is responsible for these deaths, most of my kind will want her dead. Oh, la naiba! I should wish her dead as well.I’m mad, yes, but at myself. She looks so small, standing there and awaiting her fate. All my instincts shout at me to wrap my arms around her and hold her close. I want to m