Chapter 30 （Nathan）A Test Of Strength
Chapter 30 (Nathan )
A Test Of Strength
I opened the door and found Simeon and Raphael standing right outside. “Nathan,” exclaimed Simeon.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, struggling to hide the anger still filling me. I didn’t want to expand on what had happened.
“Everyone has been so worried when you rushed out of the pack’s house. We’ve been searching for you all night,” Simeon said.
“It’s only in the early morning that Simeon suggested we looked here,” Raphael added.
“But I had forgotten that this house doesn’t have a knob on its door,” added Simeon.
Raphael explained, “We tried bursting through the door as much as we could, but nothing worked. I think it’s magical.”
I sighed. I was glad that my friends would worry about me. “As you can see, I am fine.”
Simeon raised a brow, detecting the hint of irritation filling my voice.
“My wolf has awoken. I feel it,” I added.
“Let’s hurry back to the Alpha,” pressed Simeon.
I looked at the man. I knew he was right, but now that I knew she was in Ichoryllia, my wolf grew even more restless. Mate , spoke the wolf in my head with need. A sudden pain assailed me, and I fell to my knees. I felt my face lengthen and cried out in pain as the muscles moved and tore. It was intense and sudden. It was happening again. My scream changed to a grunt that ended in a howl. The forest looked different, becoming a mixture of blues, greens, and yellows. But through the half-light of the branches, the creatures walking around emerged, and I easily spotted a hare leaping several meters away.
“Nathan,” screamed Raphael.
I wanted to run, but Simeon’s strong arm held me in place. I tried to pull myself away from his hold. I needed to get away. I was sure I could reach Ichoryllia in my wolf form.
“Stay here,” Simeon said sternly. A thought spread through my mind. I could bite him until he let go. I was surprised by the violence of the thought, but my wolf was right. It could work .
Then, as suddenly as it had happened, everything returned to normal. I remained on my knees, panting, sweat beading on my forehead.
Simeon looked terrified. “This is bad. You must learn to control your wolf quickly. He’s trying to take control, and you could die.”
I hoped the full change would be less painful with time. I had seen werewolves transform multiple times, and none looked like they were suffering. I stood up, looking at the forest’s colors, relieved to see them the same as usual.
“Come on,” urged Simeon. Raphael stayed close to the man, looking curiously at me.
I realized that I had no choice. I needed to return to the pack, even if thoughts of Emerald overwhelmed me. Simeon beckoned me to take the lead. The two men walked hand in hand, following me closely.
We hurried toward the pack, but something was off. We passed several pack members on the way, looking apprehensive. The subtle smell of blood lingered in the air. Something had happened.
When we arrived, the bodies of four werewolves lay in the center of the pack. People were massed around them, and the Alpha was studying them.
His gaze fell on me, his tone accusing. “You. Where were you last night?”
“I was in the witch’s hut,” I admitted.
Etienne looked to Simeon and Raphael for confirmation, and I felt insulted that he wouldn’t believe my word .
“It’s true,” he confirmed. “We fetched him a few minutes ago.”
The Alpha replied, “If it’s not you causing the trouble, then the trouble is following you. Four dead in one night and two of them have vampire bite marks.”
I was stunned. Who could be following me? Had Samantha sent people after me? A few unfortunates who wanted the reward?
The Alpha’s words drew me from my thoughts. “Let’s take care of your wolf. Then you must leave.”
I looked at him and nodded.
“We still haven’t found Summer,” said one of the men. “She’s still missing.”
Etienne pointed to two Betas. “Find her scent and follow it. Find her.”
The men nodded and morphed into their wolves. I held a deep sense of respect and awe at how easily the men were morphing, and I couldn’t wait to be able to do the same.
Simeon spoke urgently, “His wolf tried to take control when we got to him.”
Etienne’s gaze darkened. He understood the gravity of events. “Follow me,” he said before entering the main house.
We entered the Alpha’s house, but my vision blurred. The same words repeated themselves in my head: Emerald. Find her.
Etienne said, “Your wolf wants to come out. Let him, but remember you’re in charge—he’s not. You have to stop your animal side from taking control.”
I heard his words and understood what he wanted me to do, but all that made sense was Emerald and her peach scent. I was obsessed with touching her soft skin again. I wanted to make her mine so everyone would know she was mine and no one else would touch her.
“I don’t think he’s listening,” Simeon’s voice said to the Alpha, but his voice was distant.
“Mate, claim her,” repeated my wolf. Yes, we would claim her, and no one would stop us. Adrenaline surged through me. My wolf agreed and let out a loud growl. He clawed inside me, impatient. I closed my eyes, filled with animalistic desire. This was what we were going to do. We’d lost too much time already. My breathing became heavier. My heartbeat reverberated as if each beat shook me to my core. It was raw and impossible to ignore. We were going to find her and be with her forever.
I fell to all fours, my muscles moving and tearing again, but the pain was less than earlier. I let out a determined growl, gritting my teeth and embracing the pain. I would get the woman I loved and was ready to endure anything. I ignored the panicked looks on Etienne and Simeon’s faces. Their mouths were moving, but I couldn’t hear the sounds they were making. My mind was fogged with thoughts of Emerald.
I felt my clothes tear, my limbs change, and my hands and feet become paws. It was a strange feeling, but I embraced it, becoming one with my wolf. I was finally going to find her, and my wolf couldn’t be happier. For the first time, I was in sync with him and embraced his needs as much as mine. When the change was over, I opened my eyes. I was as tall as Etienne’s waist. I growled as the Alpha tried to grab hold of me.
No one would stop me from getting my mate back.
I felt a draft behind me—someone opened the door. I didn’t waste a moment and ran for the door. People gestured and shouted, but I was quicker and found my way out before they could react.
It was my first time running in my wolf form. I felt a deep sense of fulfillment. United with my wolf after hundreds of years of being separated from him.
I was free.
The wind blew through my hair. Smells were amplified but in a different way than when I was a vampire. Instead of the smell of blood, the scents of prey, wet earth, and nature intoxicated me. My hearing amplified the movements of rabbits, squirrels, and forest birds rather than heartbeats. All in all, it gave me a whole new vision of life and my surroundings. It felt like being born again—it was exhilarating.
I ran through the forest toward Emerald. I didn’t know cardinal points and directions in my animal form. My wolf was in control. He knew where we were going. My animal instinct knew beyond any doubt that we were heading in the right direction to get to Ichoryllia. I let him lead me.
Soon, I heard grunting and panting around me. I recognized the scent of the Dark Forest Pack wolves. They were mistaken if they thought they could stop me.
I kept running through the forest, but they were still on my tail. They were all smaller than me, their coats ranging from pale brown to black. I was bigger, but they had me outnumbered. Fear began to take hold of me, nipping at my stomach. My wolf form significantly amplified my feelings. I struggled to stay in control. It wasn’t like me to be a slave to impulsion.
A black wolf was close, and I could feel his hot breath. Although he couldn’t speak, I knew he was signaling me to stop. He exuded friendliness. I knew he was trying to help. I suspected it was Simeon, but I had no intention of stopping.
I kept running, the distance between the pursuing wolves and me increasing until I came to an escarpment. It was too high, and I couldn’t climb it. I turned around and found myself surrounded by a score of wolves. Anger quickly overwhelmed me.
Suddenly, a huge white wolf appeared behind them. He was majestic and as big as me, and I recognized him immediately. It was Etienne, the Alpha. He didn’t seem impressed by my growling and sent a wave of power around him. I was assailed by discomfort but remained upright and strong before him. I wasn’t going to give up. When I looked around, I saw all the wolves bowing to their Alpha.
Etienne’s voice echoed in my head. “Nathan, stop.”
“How can you talk to me?” I replied. It came so naturally that I stopped, surprised. We weren’t fated mates. How could it be that I could communicate with him mentally?
“You were born to be a king and Alpha,” explained Etienne. “That’s why you can resist my powers, unlike them, and why your wolf refuses to submit to me.”
I grinned, or however a wolf might smile, at the idea that I was standing up to him.
“Only Alphas can communicate by thought with someone who isn’t their fated mate,” he continued. “Now stop and get back to the pack.”
“Let me go. I need to find her,” I pleaded. “I’m doing well with my wolf. As you can see, he has awoken. I no longer need your help.”
“You’re ignorant. You let him take control.”
“That’s not true,” I replied, anger overtaking me again. I wanted to tear him to pieces.
“Then prove it to me. Turn back into a vampire now.”
The request seemed so simple. Yet, I had no idea how to proceed. “I don’t know how to do it.”
Etienne scoffed. “And you thought you’d go and rescue your mate without knowing how to change. Do you realize how dumb that is?”
I scowled. He was right, and it irritated me to no end. “You could tell me how to do it instead of making fun of me.”
The Alpha’s frank and without malice laugh echoed in my head. “Just think about it. That’s it. Shifting is all about being in sync with the animalistic part of you. He’s wild and savage, but if you’re in control, he will agree to what you ask. There’s nothing more to do than think about changing back.”
I was surprised that it was that simple. I expected something more complicated. I took a deep breath, pushing my feelings away as much as possible. When I felt ready, I thought about regaining my vampire form.
“No,” growled my wolf. “Mate,” he added.
I spoke to my wolf, “Come on. Let me change back. Otherwise, we can’t find her.”
But he wouldn’t listen and dryly refused to give me back control. I had thought I was finally communicating with him, filled with the same desire to find our mate. I now realized that I had been overwhelmed by those animalistic feelings. He was the one in control.
My paws moved against my will, and I lunged at the Alpha, all fangs out. I heard Etienne’s voice in my head, “That’ s what I thought.”
He gestured to the pack. Claws and teeth came at me from all sides as I fought back as best I could. I was simply a witness in my own body, my wolf controlling my every move. Even though he was controlling me, I could still feel all the pain, sharing the same body as him. I was outnumbered. Warm blood ran down my neck as the Alpha sank his teeth in, and a high-pitched moan escaped my mouth. Etienne shook his snout and threw me to the ground, my legs too bruised to support me. My side hit the rocks and earth as the other wolves launched at me. I’d never felt so weak, and my breathing was labored.
“Submit!” Alpha howled in my mind, but my wolf growled again, refusing the wolf’s authority. He’d rather die than submit. I couldn’t believe we’d die like this. It was stupid, and all without seeing Emerald again.