𝓝𝓾𝓶𝓫𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓵𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓼𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓲𝓽.

Another scream rips out of me as I close my eyes again. I can feel my muscles being torn apart, as if being ripped off of my skeleton. I clench my fingers around a side table, blood dripping from my hands. All I feel is pain. My skin feels brittle, as if it could break at the softest touch. And that's exactly what happens, my back bends and I can hear a bone cracking. The pain intensifies and a sob bubbles out of me.

I hear footsteps come closer and I squint my eyes open. Even opening my eyes takes effort, effort I never knew that action required. My stomach burns as I see Albert kneeling in front of me, his giant hand stretched forward, towards me. I push myself against the table, away from him, unintentionally hurting myself. A groan rips out of me as I slump on the ground.

"Don't touch me," I whisper, my energy drained.

"I can't do that," he whispers back, taking my hand in his. Before I can reply back I feel my leg bending at an unnatural angle, and I scream yet another time. More tears spill out and I look at Albert, whose face holds a sympathetic look.

"You did this?" I ask, my voice much deeper.

"No, of course not. Why would I do this?" he asks, looking at me incredulously.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you're with Jessica? Maybe with-" My words fall short as my other leg bends the same way the previous one did. I shake my head and cry out. The pain increases tenfold, as if someone was ripping my guts out.

"Okay, we have to take her to the clearing, I'll tell mom to not let anyone in," Riona says, running towards the living room disappearing from my sight. Albert finally stands up, taking me in his hands.

"Hey," I croak out as he runs out of the mansion, "Put me down, leave me alone!"

"Now is not the time Arabella," he grits out.

"I, I-" I try to get the words out but before I can do anything I go limp in his arms.

Albert POV

I watch her writhe in pain on the forest floor as fur sprouts out of her skin, her screams silent as her wolf tries to take over. She looks so pained, and all I can do is watch as my mind travels back to the day I met her.

***

I casually walk on the cemented pavement as I make my way to the cafeteria where Riona is waiting for me. Entering the building, the constant loud chatter and buzzing of students fill my ears.

I'm glad I graduated early.

My eyes spot the head full of black hair identical to mine, and I make my way over to her. I can sense Talon, my wolf, getting restless as I get closer to her. Ignoring him, I continue walking over to her. My shoes tapping loudly against the floor as everyone parts to make way for me. Internally rolling my eyes, I stop right behind Riona and call for her.

A delicious scent evades my nose as I narrow my eyes. I hear Riona squeal but I ignore her as I look around for the owner of the scent. She jumps on me and I catch her ease as she hugs me. Well, it's been a while since we met.

Riona steps away as Talon growls in my mind. 'There's another wolf here, other than you and Riona,' he mutters. I try to focus on what Talon said, but the mouth-watering scent clouds my senses.

"This is Jade, and this is Ari," Riona says, pointing to the green-eyed boy sitting beside her and then to the girl who sits with her forehead resting on the table. The boy nods politely, acknowledging me and I do the same. My eyes travel back to the girl, the enticing smell most powerful around her.

I observe as the boy nudges her and asks her to remember her manners. After a sassy conversation, she finally turns towards me. My breath hitches as I look at her. She has beautiful green eyes, which remind me of the forest. Her luscious brown hair is pulled up in a messy bun and she forces her full lips up in a forced smile.

'Mate,' Talon growls in my mind. I take in a deep sniff and realize that the scent is coming from her. She opens her mouth and I can feel my control slipping to Talon.

'Can you sense her wolf?' I ask Talon as I feel him concentrating.

'I can, but she's not strong and I can't seem to reach her,' That was all confirmation I needed before I snaked my arm around her waist and pulled her to me. A confused expression takes over her face, making me question myself.

Can she not sense me as her mate?

"Leave her, Albert," I hear Riona say.

"U-um, Mr. Stone, can you let go of me?" She finally speaks, her voice as soft as a cloud and melodious as an angel singing. But her words hurt me and Talon. I try to control Talon as we were in a cafe full of humans, but he lets a growl slip.

She gasps as my eyes get darker. "Albert, leave her," Riona growls in my mind.

"She's my mate," I growl back, releasing some of my aura.

"And she's human," she says softly. I can feel Talon's frustration growing as Riona speaks.

"I can feel her wolf," I snap.

"I don't know what's happening, but leave her for now. She definitely thinks she's human and so do I. So, if you really think she's your mate, leave her before you drive her away," she explains, asking me reluctantly to step back.

"I'm sorry," I mutter before running out. I walk out of the cafe. Making my way over to an isolated place on the campus. Leaning against a tree, I massage my temples, which hurt from Talon growling continuously.

"Albert," I hear Riona speak.

"What?" I growl out.

"What the hell were you doing back there?"

"She's my mate Riona, what do you think I was doing?" I ask, my tone sharp.

"Please, Albert, anybody could have sensed that she does not have a wolf, she's human. Even if she was your mate you could have controlled yourself,"

"Talon sensed a wolf in her, Riona. I knew what I was doing," I grit out, finally looking at her.

"I lived with her, in the same room, for a year. I never felt the presence of another wolf," she says.

"It's not that strong. It's almost as if her wolf is hidden, suppressed, even," I say, "If her wolf is weak, extremely weak, I doubt anyone except an Alpha would've sensed it,"

"But-" she starts but can't find words, "What do you plan on doing now?"

"I don't know, tell her that she's a werewolf?" I ask.

"Goddess, you're so dumb. I don't know why they made you the king but whatever. Leave telling her to me. Right now, go apologize, talk to her but don't be too suspicious. She doesn't know anything about the supernatural world. You can try to get close to her but I swear Albert Carter Stone, if I see as much as a scratch on her, I unleash Neph's wrath on you, King or not, I don't care. She's already suffered a lot, and I promised myself that I wouldn't let anything happen to her. So, I'm warning you, be gentle with her and please control Talon."

***

That conversation replayed repeatedly in my mind. I tried to protect and cherish her, but what's happening now... I doubt she's ever felt this much pain. Her screams fill our ears as my mom washes the sweat off of her forehead and I hold her. Her claws are coming out and digging in my wrists, but I'd be damned if I left her.

My dad is trying to give her instructions to control her breathing, and soon Riona comes in running, settling herself beside Arabella's sobbing form. In the next moment I could hear her spine break and we collectively wince as a blood-curdling scream escapes her mouth. I softly rub her back as silvery white fur grows there.

Her sobs take over any sound that the night forest produced. The sounds of owls hooting are silenced and the ultrasounds produced by the bats are stopped at the sounds of a human sobbing her heart out. The trees sway momentarily, their leaves brushing against each other, as if expressing their sorrow for the queen.

"I called Cassandra and Blakeley, they're on their way here. Darren and Luc are patrolling the clearing so that no wolf can come. Josh and Stacey have gone to the main border patrol to get both the girls through the protection line," Riona says, looking at me and I nod.

"Al-Albert." I hear Arabella whisper and I look at her. "Make it stop. It hurts too much. Make it stop. I-I can't take it anymore. Pl-please."

I brush her brown locks away from her face as I push Talon to the back of my mind. I ignore the pit at the bottom of my stomach and ignore the growing sadness in me. Leaning down, I take her fully in my arms, her torso laid on me and the rest of her body on the soft grass. I cup her sweaty face as she pants and looks at me with fearful and confused eyes.

"I'm so sorry, baby, but I can't. I can't do anything to stop this. But I know you will get through this. You are so strong, so, so strong, and you will get through this," I mutter softly.

"But it hurts so much. I don't know what's happening, but it hurts so much," she says, a few tears spilling from her eyes.

I sigh and look at my family waiting for me. They nod back at me and look back at her, wiping away the sweat with the help of my sleeve, I say, "You're shifting Arabella. Into a wolf. You're a werewolf."

DUN

DUNN

DUNNN

Yeah, so the secret is out and i've been dropping thousands of hint. i won't be surprised if some of you have figured it out yet! I've been waiting for a long time to drop this secret and no this is no where near the end of the story. It's still a long road ahead.

Anyways, if you liked the chapter, then don't forget to vote, commen and share!!

Stay safe and see you with the next chapter!

Edited by the amazing, Sarah Baker!