~Aurora~

　　I am lost.

　　I have fallen and I can't get up either.

　　The nightfall is closing in so quickly that it is overwhelming me. Soft sniffles of mine were heard by nothing but trees and wet soil and the air around me. How did I even end up in this situation?

　　All I wanted to do was save my comrade and not throw her into potential risk of death. That is a tragic loss from my end as well, as the leader of our team.

　　You might think I'd be composed because I know the whole map, right?

　　Well, towards the map ended towards the exit. Meaning, we have been traveling at least half a mile in complete blindness. Without knowing where the real exit was at all. It was overwhelming for me.

　　This forest...The darkness...it scares me. Nightfall especially pushes the emergence of dark creatures. I could be mauled by a werebear, eaten and ripped to shreds by other rogue wolves, dark creatures and wild animals. I didn't want my life to end this way. It is...scaring me.

　　Suddenly, nothing mattered to me as I sobbed for a brief minute. As a young werewolf without a wolf, I was just a helpless human.

　　After a minute of getting my emotions out, I calmed down significantly. I have to get out of here. I don't care if I don't win this trial. I am confident that my points will be assigned based on my performance. And I've performed quite well, if I may say so myself.

　　For now, I have to find a place to hide myself. Maybe dig a burrow like they suggested in the books that I've read. I have to keep myself safe from being detected by stronger predators.

　　I was limping my way towards a boulder. Its height was twice as mine. It will make a great silhouette for me if I dig a burrow opposite to the moonlight that fell on top of its head. Right. I have to start digging. Pulling my dagger out, I wiped my sweat and tears from my face and began my work.

　　"Argh!" My shoulder injury suddenly made me jolt! I woke up long after sunset, meaning I was unconscious after the dangerous fall. At least I was alone after the fall, no one else could have survived it I bet.

　　My right shoulder has given up on me. I can't use it. So I have to use my recessive hand to dig the burrow for myself. Ugh, this is going to take longer than expected, I think.

　　I was too engrossed in my activity to notice a gaze staring right at me. The predator was a big wolf, its eyes not having me out of its sight even once. As it breathed out, mist gathered around his flared nostrils.

　　Who might that be?

　　It started moving towards me, my back was facing the predator.

　　Out of the blue, I started feeling warm air on my neck. It dawned on me. My death is so close, fanning breath down my nape.

　　Struck with confusion, fear and love for my life, I dropped the dagger to the ground. It made a clink sound, I bet the predator's ears twitched at the sound I've just made.

　　However, the fanning on my nape had stopped. I heard few familiar sounds, the heat from the big, furred creature had disappeared from my back as well. Curiosity had got the best of me, and I dared to turn around.

　　The familiar sounds...belonged to the wolf I had befriended in the dark forest. He's a contestant, the big, white, fluffy wolf.

　　"It's...you..." I've visibly relaxed, my ass finally collapsing on the ground. The wolf moved its jaw to try and communicate with me. A blunder, as usual.

　　However...this time, I didn't have to understand the wolf behavior for him to talk to me.

　　That's because the wolf...he had started shifting.

　　"Hey..." I uttered in disbelief.

　　And then...my eyes widened as big as saucers.

　　"No...way..."

　　I really wish I was imagining things, but I wasn't. It was the man I know, he is indeed the contestant...

　　"Odin...Blackwood?"

　　The tiniest of smirks lifts one corner of his lips as he calmly puts his hands in his pockets.

　　"Odin Blackwood, Heir to the alpha of Stormchaser pack." The way my jaw dropped, yet the corners of my lips raised were incongruent to each other. A part of my heart wished it was someone else, but the other part...

　　I was simply glad someone familiar was here to save me!

　　The memories we've made in the forest, running and surfing through the floors of the dark forest. His big wolf body covering me as I felt too tired and fell asleep in the middle of nowhere. His protecting nature when he sensed threat around us.

　　I can't believe Odin Blackwood is the first friend I've ever made...

　　I scoffed with a smile, "You..."

　　"That's me, Aurora Fangborn."

　　"So you knew about me all along. And not fucking once told me you were Odin Blackwood? The contestant?" He shrugged his shoulders after my tough remark.

　　"Well, let's take it as though I didn't feel like revealing myself to anyone." The way he is still so calm and composed is boggling me.

　　"I should've known. It's only you who stays calm even if there was danger around us." He bounced his shoulders again,

　　"Guilty,"

　　"Well. You don't seem too happy knowing it's me who came to help you. What's up?" Adding to his response earlier, he said. I slumped on the boulder as a result. The terrific pain that jolted through my body only elicited one small hiss. It was as if I had gotten used to the pain in my body whatsoever.

　　"Whoa, are you alright?" I crushed my eyebrows together. The pain was...overwhelming after all. It dawned on me after I realized I was too happy to see someone apart from myself, and that I temporarily ignored the pain in my body.

　　"Well, shit." Odin quickly whipped out a small glass bottle with the healing potion. I widened my eyes, upon his hand holding the bottle reaching out towards me.

　　"Odin, no. That's yours. Besides, we are so close to the exit anyway—" even speaking was forbidden by my body as I cut myself off. I looked up at Odin, who was now crouching down to my height. But he was significantly taller compared to how I had slouched against the boulder.

　　"Exactly why, Aurora. You should take the potion. Like you said, we are definitely close to the exit. But it is still a mile or so away from this point. I've sent my comrades away and stayed back because I heard a commotion from the cliff. And I was right. Something did happen."

　　"Odin, please. I'm holding you down because you're helping me right now. You shouldn't be. You should be with your team instead!" I stated my need adamantly. However, the annoying and calm smirk returns to his face.

　　"And...what if I say no?"

　　It made me go numb.

　　I caught myself staring deep into his mellow eyes. How have I never noticed that his hazel eyes remained unchanged? The kindness in his eyes was similar to the white wolf I have befriended. His blinks are slow and assuring, his head tilted the same direction his wolf would have tilted it. It was so, so adorable. Like always...

　　"Even if I'm a wolf, I can't read your mind and know your intentions right now, because we are not ma—" Odin cut himself off, thinking he was going a little too far with his joking statement.

　　I blinked after staring at him for a couple of seconds as well. My thoughts were clouded with the way I described him in my head.

　　From up this close...Odin Blackwood didn't look as bad as I thought. It's just that he doesn't lose his cool even if the situation demands it for any normal person. For example...when he openly admitted to breaching his vault at the past trial. Even I had a strong opinion on him!

　　But the moment I realized the caring, protective white wolf was him...I came to a conclusion that he's not just level headed all the time. But it is that he possesses a praised quality of knowing themselves better than the rest of the world. Knowing that one has never done something wrong and if accused, not swayed by it...it takes some real guts.

　　What's with all these men around me!?

　　Ever since I've moved to the lycan kingdom for the trials, every person around me - especially the men - tend to make me jealous!

　　Their success, their valor...

　　Oh, jealousy is a strong word. It doesn't even reflect what I'm meaning to say.

　　These men, they inspire me.

　　Right now, I'm looking at Odin speaking to himself in a soft voice while tending to my open wounds and bruises which aren't taken care of the healing potion yet. He is my inspiration as well. No one has ever cared for me this openly and sacrificed their own resources. For me. It is a special feeling, almost sacred.

　　I'd never want to lose his valuable friendship. He is a good man.

　　"Thank you, Odin. I owe you a lot."

　　"No, you don't. It's basic leader responsibilities, right? Besides, I've started seeing you as my little sister. A cute little sister who is always pushing forward no matter what. It's admirable, Aurora Fangborn. Especially after losing your parents..." When the topic was grazed, his eyes have saddened for the first time. I've never seen his eyes grow so gloomy before.

　　"Hey...is everything okay?"

　　"Yes. It's just that it reminded me of my mother's death. She was a beautiful white wolf as well." Excitement suddenly grew within me as I asked,

　　"When can I meet her!? Promise me to take me back to Stormchaser pack and make me—"

　　"You can't meet her, Aurora. She's not...here anymore." The sadness in his voice made me understand what he was talking about.

　　"Oh my Goddess. I'm sorry, Odin. I- I didn't know."

　　Suddenly, his smile returned as the sunshine in his hazel eyes had come back as well, "I'd be concerned if you knew, Aurora Fangborn. She died way too long ago. The world doesn't even remember her name."

　　"I- I will. What's her name? I bet it's pretty."

　　"It is. Her name is Aurora Jane Blackwood." My eyes widened, "Same as mine..."

　　"Yes. Kudos for noticing." Ugh. What a mischievous man. But, Odin had healed me and elevated my mood while I was sobbing in helplessness just moments ago. That is a drastic change in my moods, but I'm extremely glad and grateful that he's here.

　　However, someone's presence was felt not much after we were done talking. The silence between us three was painstakingly deafening.

　　I wonder why.