Chapter 17
Ethan
I woke up before the sun rose, anxiety pulsing through my veins. Today was my wedding day to Abutre, a day I had awaited with so much joy, but which was now tinged with the shadow of Javier”s threat.
I got up from the bed and walked to the mirror. My ice-colored eyes reflected the soft morning light, highlighting the paleness of my skin. My normally unruly blond hair was tamed by the special paste that Abutre had ordered for me. The silver strands shone under the light, creating an interesting contrast with the blue color of my eyes.
My suit, carefully placed on a mannequin, was a work of art. The impeccable white fabric was adorned with embroidery in golden lines, which formed arabesques and geometric designs. The elegant cut of the suit highlighted my slim figure, while the gold details added a touch of sophistication and luxury.
I wore white shoes, with gold soles, which completed the look. They were comfortable and elegant, perfect for the occasion.
As I dressed, my thoughts turned to Vulture. He had been my safe haven throughout the ordeal with the alphas. Your love and support gave me the strength to face my fears and move forward.
I looked in the mirror once again, admiring the final result. I was ready to marry the man I loved, and nothing, not even Javier”s threats, could stop me from being happy.
A soft knock on the door brought me out of my reverie. It was time to leave for church. Upon arriving in front of the house, I was faced with a magnificent sight: a white carriage, adorned with flowers and golden ribbons, was waiting for me. The coachman, dressed in an impeccable uniform, bowed and helped me board.
The carriage was spacious and comfortable, with white velvet seats and gold details. The windows, covered with lace curtains, allowed me to observe the scenery as I walked towards the church. At every corner, every street, anxiety grew in my chest.
Vulture was not with me in the carriage. He had decided to meet me at the church so we could have our ”first look” at the altar. The idea filled me with emotion. I couldn”t wait to see him, to feel his touch, to hear his voice telling me he loved me.
The carriage stopped in front of the church. The coachman opened the door and held out his hand to help me get out. I took a deep breath, straightened my suit and walked towards the entrance, ready to meet my destination.
Every step towards the church felt like a weight on my shoulders. Anxiety, which was once a flame of joy, now turned into a sharp feeling of butterflies in my stomach. The sky, which minutes ago displayed welcoming tones, was now covered with gray and threatening clouds. A strong, freezing wind howled through the trees, shaking the branches like skeletal fingers.
The city, nestled in the middle of the mountains, was known for its sudden changes in weather. But at that moment, the wind seemed like more than a whim of nature. It was a foreshadowing, a warning that something bad was about to happen.
My steps faltered. The church, which once seemed like a sanctuary of peace and love, now stood like a stone monster, menacing and imposing. The flowers that adorned the entrance looked wilted and lifeless, as if the joy had been sucked out of them.
The wind increased in intensity, lifting the hem of my suit and ruffling my hair. I felt a chill run down my spine. The fear, which I had tried to keep under control, was now exploding in my chest like a time bomb.
I looked back toward the carriage that had brought me there. The coachman watched me with a worried expression. For a moment, I thought about going back, about running away from that place. But something was stopping me from backing down. It was the love for Abutre, the promise of a future together.
I should have listened to my instincts…
I pushed open the church doors with shaking hands, the howling mountain wind silenced by the thick stone. The darkness of the interior was a relief to my eyes, now accustomed to the dim light of a cloudy day. And then, I listened.
A soft, familiar melody floated in the air, each note resonating with a promise of comfort and safety. It was Abutre, playing the piano. I recognized the song instantly: ”I will find you anywhere in the world, because my love for you is my guide.”
My eyes filled with tears. The melody was a beacon in the darkness, a reminder of the love that united us. With each note, each chord, the melody pulled me forward, giving me the strength to continue.
I walked slowly down the hallway, guided by the music. With each step, the melody became clearer, more intense. My eyes adjusted to the dim light, and I could see Vulture”s silhouette sitting at the piano, with his back to me.
He was dressed in his wedding suit, elegant and imposing. His fingers danced over the keys, creating a melody that spoke directly to my heart.
I stopped a few meters away from him, not wanting to interrupt the music. I closed my eyes and let myself be enveloped by the melody, feeling Abutre”s love envelop me like a warm hug.
When the song ended, Vulture turned to me. His eyes, normally so bright and mysterious, held an intensity that took my breath away. He stood up and walked towards me, a soft smile on his lips.
— Ethan — his voice was nothing more than a hoarse whisper. - You are handsome.
“You too,” I replied, feeling my heart pounding in my chest.
He extended his hand to me, and I took it. Together, we walked towards the altar, guided by the melody.
The music stopped, giving way to an expectant silence. Javier, the justice of the peace, waited at the altar, his eyes fixed on us as we approached. The tension was palpable, like an invisible thread stretched to its maximum, about to snap.
Javier began the ceremony, his deep, solemn voice echoing through the church. He recited the traditional words, talking about love, commitment and the union of two souls. But when he reached the crucial moment, the moment of ”yes”, he stopped abruptly.
His eyes, once impassive, now burned with a mixture of anger and frustration. He looked at us with hatred and contempt, which made me shudder. The silence stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity.
Vulture shook my hand, conveying security and support. But I could feel the tension in his body, the anger contained in his gaze.
— Javier — Vulture called, his voice cutting through the silence like a sharp blade —, proceed with the ceremony.
Javier didn”t respond. He continued to stare at us, as if he were fighting a silent battle with us. His eyes fixed on me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
— Javier — Abutre repeated, his voice now more impatient — we are waiting.
Finally, Javier broke the silence.
— I can”t celebrate this wedding — he stated in his voice full of venom. “Ethan can”t marry you.
His words hit me like a punch in the gut. I felt my legs wobble, my heart race. The church began to revolve around me.
A sharp thump echoed through the church, interrupting the tense moment. The doors slammed open, revealing three imposing figures. Asaph, Aleph, and Andrey, Javier”s brothers, entered the room, their golden eyes shining with an unearthly intensity. I believe it couldn”t get any worse.
A murmur of astonishment ran through the church. The guests looked at each other, startled by the interruption and the threatening presence of the newcomers. Javier”s brothers were acquaintances, and their arrival did not bode well.
Asaph, one of the twins, stepped forward, his eyes fixed on me.
— Ethan — his voice was serious and deep — you”re not getting married today.
I felt a shiver run down my spine. It was the second in just that short moment, maybe the third shiver and now my body was shaking completely. The presence of Javier”s brothers intensified the fear and insecurity that already consumed me.
— Who do you think you are? asked Vulture, interposing himself between me and the intruders.
— We own this omega — replied Aleph, with a cruel smile. — And we came to take Ethan back home.
— Ethan isn”t going anywhere with you — Vulture threatened, his voice firm and determined.
— That”s what we”ll see — growled Andrey, the strongest of the three, his muscles contracting under his clothes.
The tension in the church was palpable. The guests moved away, fearing the imminent confrontation. I felt trapped in a nightmare, surrounded by enemies on all sides.
A guttural growl echoed through the church, followed by the sound of bones breaking and skin tearing. Before my eyes, Javier”s brothers writhed, their bodies transforming into furry, ferocious monsters.
Three white wolves, with golden eyes glowing like embers, stood in the men”s place. Its bristling fur, sharp teeth, and exposed claws were a terrifying sight. The air was filled with the smell of wild animals.
I was paralyzed, unable to move or speak. The shock of the transformation froze me in place as fear gnawed at my insides. Vulture, at my side, stood firm, his eyes fixed on the wolves, ready to defend me.
The wolves advanced, their growls echoing through the church. The crowd screamed and scattered in panic, seeking refuge behind benches and pillars. I felt like a cornered rabbit, with no way out, no escape.
Vulture pulled me behind the altar, protecting me with his body. He turned into a white wolf, no, he was silver, I”m almost certain, his golden eyes glowing with the same intensity as his enemies. A guttural growl escaped his throat, challenging the others.
The church turned into a battlefield. The howls and growls of wolves were everywhere as the guests fled in terror. I huddled behind the altar, hands shaking, tears streaming down my face.
Chaos reigned in the church. Vulture fought valiantly, but the combined strength of Javier”s brothers was relentless.
I saw Vulture fall, his silver body being overwhelmed by the white wolves. His golden eyes, once so full of life, lost their shine. A howl of pain and despair escaped his throat, before being silenced forever.
My heart broke into a thousand pieces. The sight of my beloved, dead before my eyes, devastated me. I felt an unbearable pain, an emptiness that consumed me from the inside.
Javier, in his human form, approached me, a cruel smile plastered on his face.
— Now you are mine, Ethan — He stated and his voice was full of triumph. — And no one can ever separate us.
My eyes filled with hatred and despair. I wanted to scream, to fight, but I was paralyzed by fear and pain. Javier reached out to touch me, but I recoiled, disgusted.
- Never! — I screamed, with the last strength I had left. — I”d rather die than be yours!
Javier laughed, a cold, cruel sound that echoed through the now empty church.
— You have no choice, Ethan — He said, grabbing my arm tightly. - You belong to Me.
I was dragged out of the church, leaving Vulture”s lifeless body behind. The sky, now completely dark, seemed to mourn my loss. Rain began to fall, washing away the blood and violence of the battle.
I knew my life would never be the same again. Vulture was gone, and I was in the hands of my worst enemy.
As Javier dragged me out of the church, the image of Vulture, lifeless, replayed in my mind like an endless nightmare.
— Vulture! — I shouted, my voice filled with anguish. — BUTREEEEE!!!
A guttural roar escaped my throat, a sound I had heard before. My body contorted, bones breaking and muscles tensing. I felt the excruciating pain, but it was insignificant compared to the suffering in my heart.
When the transformation was complete, I was no longer the human Ethan. It was a giant white wolf, with golden eyes burning with fury and despair. My animalistic instincts took over me, and I lunged at Javier, knocking him to the ground.
He screamed, surprised and scared, as I bit and scratched him. His brothers tried to attack me, but I was stronger, faster, fiercer. I fought with the fury of a cornered animal, the pain of loss giving me supernatural strength.
Amidst the chaos, I managed to escape from the church. I ran aimlessly through the forest, guided only by instinct and pain. The torrential rain lashed my fur, mixing with the tears that flowed from my eyes. My lungs burned, my paws hurt, but I couldn”t stop. I needed to escape, to hide, to heal.
Through the rain mist, I saw a familiar figure: the cliff. It was the place where Vulture had confessed to me as my alpha, the place where we had shared moments of love and happiness.
I climbed the steep trail, my claws gripping the wet earth. Upon reaching the top, I was faced with a view of the city. A howl of pain and despair escaped my throat, echoing through the night.
There, on the top of the cliff, in the cold, relentless rain, I cried my grief. I cried over the loss of Abutre, the love of my life, my alpha. I cried for the life we ??had planned together, the dreams that would never come true.
A guttural, primal growl erupted from deep within my soul, echoing across the hill. It wasn”t just an animal sound, it was a war cry, a promise of revenge. Each note vibrated with the pain of loss, with the fury of betrayal, with the unwavering determination to bring justice.
The wind carried my growl away, beyond the cliff, into the streets of the damned town of Mist Hill. It was a warning, an omen, an echo of the fury building inside me.
Yes, I wanted to take revenge on them all, I wanted their lives to end with just the force of my thought. My children, the only things I had now and I knew I would only have them if I gave in to Javier.
I lost everything that day, that was the truth. I lost my love, the only person who didn”t use me and who didn”t turn me into an object of pleasure.
I could swear revenge and go down the cliff killing anyone in front of me, but no, that wouldn”t change anything, that wouldn”t bring my Vulture back.
I looked down and the drop would be fifty meters, if I was in wolf form, maybe it wouldn”t kill me, but in human form, it would definitely kill me.
Without thinking twice I looked up at the sky.
— Vulture... Nicolas Carter, I”m leaving, I won”t stay in a world where you don”t exist.
I threw myself off the cliff, and I was willing to die, only then would I meet my true love.