He sat next to the tub and washed my hair.
I shut my eyes and enjoyed the massage. My body melted with relaxation.
“You did this a lot in the past. You would help me shower and wash my hair, and also help me choose my clothes. You took care of me like a doll,” I said softly.
I heard a chuckle over my head. “It looks like I was quite accomplished at taking care of you.”
“You certainly were.” I opened one eye and shot him a happy glance.
Rufus looked relaxed and cheerful, and the pressure he was applying was just right. He said, “I will continue being like this in the future. You will always be my doll.”
Then he lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on my eyelid.
I scoffed, acting like a spoiled girl. “Well, I’ll consider it.”
Rufus grinned indulgently and reached out to put some bubbles on my face. “I wasn’t asking for your permission. I was telling you.”
I quickly grabbed his hand. I chomped down on his smooth clean arm as if I was punishing him and said, “I’ll stay away from the kids for the next few days. Please watch over them.”
“Of course, I will. Don’t you trust me?” Rufus squeezed my waist, pretending to be angry.
I burst out laughing and asked for his pardon. “That’s not what I meant. I trust you. You’re an amazing father.”
While we were laughing, a soldier’s voice came from outside.
“Your Majesty, I have some bad news! A monster has broken into the palace.”
Rufus and I were alarmed. I quickly threw on some clean clothes and we rushed out to investigate the situation.
When we arrived at the scene, soldiers had already gathered around.
The monster was standing in a corner at the back door of the palace, its figure partly hidden and partly visible. It looked huge, like a giant beast.
When it moved, we heard the sound of steel sliding on the floor.
Rufus stood in front of me to shield me. He raised his hand, giving the soldiers the order to shoot.
I watched the shadow of the giant beast and my frown deepened. Why was the shape of its ear tip so familiar? And the sound of steel sliding… It sounded like something was attached on its feet, otherwise the noise wouldn’t come at such regular intervals.
Suddenly, something struck me.
“Wait a minute. Don’t shoot.” I hastily stopped the soldiers from attacking the monster.
Rufus asked in a baffled voice, “Why? What’s wrong?”
Instead of giving him an explanation, I looked in the direction of the figure and shouted, “Ian?”
Crystal’s POV
The monster gradually emerged from the darkness, unveiling itself at a torturously measured pace. At first, I perceived a sullied tail and then the sight of its corpulent body followed.
Overwhelmed with joy, I cried out once more, “Ian!”
As the colossal tail, paired with a metallic prosthetic hind limb, swayed vivaciously, I became more convinced of its identity. This time, I was certain that it was Ian.
The mighty tail wagged with a cheerful rhythm and a wolf’s howl reverberated in the air.
Suddenly, there was Ian, stepping out from the shadows.
He immediately noticed my presence and charged toward me.
But as he drew near, I heard someone exclaim, “It’s a wild wolf! Watch out!” As the soldiers on either side of the corridor brandished their weapons, poised to strike at Ian, my heart raced with apprehension.
But I knew that Rufus, the commanding officer, would heed my plea for mercy. “I know that wolf,” I told Rufus, my voice trembling with emotion. “I’ve raised him from a pup. He’s not a threat to anyone. Please, don’t hurt him! He’s friendly and won’t harm anyone.”
Rufus gave me a small nod and issued a stern directive to the soldiers. “Under no circumstances are you to harm this wild wolf,” he bellowed. “Any disobedience will result in capital punishment.”
The soldiers lowered their weapons and shuffled back.
Ian raced towards me with a speed that belied his artificial limb, rivaling the momentum of a normal wolf’s run.
He sprinted faster than any wild wolf and, in a blur of fur and muscle, leaped into my arms.
My heart buzzed with happiness. I hadn’t expected to find him here.
His mouth gaped slightly and his eyes, narrow and elongated, glimmered with happiness as he enthusiastically wagged his tail.
I playfully pinched his face in feigned anger and put on a stern facade. “Why did you run away from home? Do you know everyone’s been searching high and low for you?”
Ian let out a whimper and affectionately patted my arm, seeking my forgiveness.
I let out a dismissive snort and playfully tugged at his ears. “Promise me you won’t do it again. What if you get lost and can’t find your way back?”
Ian let out a mournful whine, his misty eyes brimming with tears, making him look heartbreakingly forlorn. I couldn’t bear to scold him any further.
Shortly after, Ian began sniffing around me. He seemed uneasy and was possibly searching for something.
I could tell that he was looking for Beryl. When we were in the border and he couldn’t find Beryl, he would sniff around me like this.
My heart softened at the sight of him. I reached out and patted his colossal head, offering him some much-needed comfort. “Don’t worry, Ian,” I reassured him. “I’ll bring you to Beryl soon. But first, we need to get you cleaned up.”
I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of ordeal Ian had endured. His body was caked with grime, and his fur was matted and tangled.
As I examined him more closely, I noticed a bald patch on his forelimb, which appeared to be the result of a nasty bruise.
Ian let out a mournful howl and tilted his head, fixing me with a pitiful gaze that seemed to plead, “Is it really not okay for me to see Beryl like this?”
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply