Chapter 17
THE TALL, SLENDER TREES rustled and swayed in the relentless wind, its branches creaking under its force. Helga gripped her hand tightly on the sword, her body shivering as she made her way through the eerie Ardan Woods. Despite her best efforts to move quietly, the dry, brittle leaves beneath her feet betrayed her with each step, crunching and crackling like bones.
I'll find a place to hide and take off my clothes so you can take over," she said to her wolf, her movements precise and calculated as she remained vigilant, ready to protect herself at any sign of danger. "Sounds good, we can't let that gorgeous dress ripped to shreds, after all," Stella responded with her sarcastic tone, causing Helga to scoff and shake her head. She kept walking, determined to push away the memories of her past in this place. Her focus was solely on passing the test and surviving the treacherous Ardan Woods; nothing else could ct her from that goal.
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As Helga moved further away from the gate, the trees grew tallerand began to block out more sunlight, casting shadows along her path. She was fortunate that the Alpha King had not chosen to conduct the test at night, as her chances of survival would have been slim with darkness surrounding her. Reflecting on the situation, she couldn't shake the feeling that the Alpha King had faith in her passing the test. Not only did he make her wear a dress for the announcement, but he was also waiting outside as if he already knew she would survive. It could just be wishful thinking on her part, but her instincts were telling.
cover for
"This is it," she whispered to herself as she approached a towering oak tree with massive roots, providing ample her hiding spot. She crouched down and gently set her sword on the ground beside her before methodically removing her clothing, all the while scanning her surroundings to make sure that no one else was around. Just as she was about to stripping, her ears picked up on the distinct sound of wolves approaching, growing closer with each passing moment. finish
"1. 2. 3. 4. Helga's heart raced as she counted the wolves approaching, their paws crunching on the fallen leaves and twigs of the forest floor. She nervously bit her lip, knowing that avoiding a fight in Ardan Woods was nearly impossible. This was the home of rogues, a place where countless beasts lurked in the shadows, waiting for their next prey.
"Quick. let me take control," Stella spoke urgently, sensing the approaching danger. Helga bit her lip and swiftly finished undressing before stashing away her clothes and weapons for safekeeping. She would need them again once she transformed back into her human form.
"Go ahead," Helga instructed calmly, her voice laced with a hint of urgency. "But try to buy us as much time as possible."
With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and let her wolf take over. Slowly, her human hands transformed into sharp claws, bones snapping and stretching as her body grew and elongated until she was fully transformed into a rare wolf. Her skin was now covered with a mixture of red, black, and white fur, while her golden eyes glinted with determination. Long, razor-sharp teeth protruded from her snarling mouth as she prepared to defend herself. With Stella fully in control, she focused on masking her scent as much as possible. She tried not to make a sound, hoping to avoid alerting the presence of the rogue lurking nearby. Every muscle in her body tensed, ready to act at a moment's notice. The air was thick and heavy with the smell of damp earth and decaying leaves, making it difficult for her to pinpoint any other scents that may give away her position.NôvelDrama.Org owns all © content.
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lightning g-fast reflexes, Stella evaded the attack and fled their hiding spot to protect Helga's belongings. The rogue wolf was relentless and continued to pursue her, lunging once again. This time, Stella made the decision to fight Lack and kill the rogue, knowing that their commotion would attract other wolves and it would be dangerous to face them
all at once
Despite her strength, Stella's ultimate priority was survival, and she was determined to do just that. She led herself to a larger area for their fight, and with precision, she aimed and charged toward the rogue, sinking her fangs into its throat and swiftly decapitating it. Without hesitation, she discarded the lifeless body and turned around to face the other three rogues closing in on her. They growled menacingly, ready to attack with all their might. However, just as quickly as she dispatched the first one, the other three were no match for her hidden dangerous power, a power that no one should know as it would 1/2
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put her and Helga in danger,
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Her fierce gaze, glowing with a golden intensity, made the three rogues cower before their bodies were crushed, spurting out blood from their ears and mouths. Stella let out a satisfied low growl as she reveled in her strength, but she knew she couldn't rely on this power too often. It would weaken her wolf abilities and leave her vulnerable. So, she calmly made her way toward the corpses of the three rogues and dragged them toward the first one like discarded trash. She repeated this process with any other rogué foolish enough to attack Helga wasn't sure how long Stella had been fighting, but she could see that her wolf was already exhausted and needed to take a break.
her.
"You really let loose." Helga commented, both of them staring at the dead rogues, their bodies crumpled together, almost resembling a pile of garbage. Helga knew that her wolf Stella possessed great strength, which is why she reser her shapeshifting abilities for important battles like this. However, seeing her unleash this much power wa reassuring: Helga couldn't help but feel lucky to have such a formidable wolf. errifying and
"Well, all of that energy replenishing was for this moment," Stella said, striding towards their hidden location. When they arrived, she let Helga take control again, and once she was in her human form again, Helga leaned against the tree to steady herself, listening to her wolf at the back t the back of her mind. "I'll take a break now, you can handle the rest, right?" "Yeah, leave it to me," Helga said confidently, as she gathered her clothes and hastily put them on to shield herself from the chilly breeze. Once fully dressed, she grabbed the sword and an idea struck her. She looked down at her dress, considering whether or not to follow through with her plan. In the end, she decided to shorten the hemline for better mobility. Her knees were now exposed, but she felt less restricted in her movements compared to before. "I'll just apologize to the Alpha King later," she muttered to herself before heading towards the spot where Stella left the bodies of all the rogues she had killed. She could have just hidden herself, but she believed that if other rogues saw her with the corpses, they would twice before causing trouble. "Grrrr.." Helga's defensive stance and tight grip on her sword showed just how alert she was when the wolves appeared. But as they stopped a few meters away from her, their growls became less threatening upon seeing the pile of dead wolves behind her. With a sense of relief, Helga began to relax, realizing that her plan had worked as they started to retreat.
think
She let out a sigh and sat on the edge of a half-broken trunk, clutching the pocket watch that Portia had given her before she entered the gate. There was still another hour until her test would be over, and she prayed that the rogues from earlier would spread the word of the dead wolves they stumbled upon in this vast area where she now hid. At least they would serve as a warning to stay away. But she knew better that not all rogues would be deterred by fear, especially when she heard more approaching, this time-in their human forms.