2 Wanna go home

"Are you still afraid?" Leon initiated a conversation between them.

Gretta replied simply, "A little." She appeared to be irritated by what had happened earlier.

It was quiet again, with only the wind and the friction of the branches to accompany them. Gretta pondered how she would return; would it be possible if she simply left? But what was he here for, and there was no point in keeping her here.

Unfortunately, her brain didn't work well enough to think about what she should do. She had the impression that she was being kidnapped for no reason.

"Am I really that scary?"

Gretta nodded innocently, listening but her soul was missing. She felt nervous when she realized Leon was staring at her, as if she had been caught in the act of committing a crime.

"I mean, n-no." Gretta quickly racked her brain, "You're handsome, yes, handsome." But a little..." she was interrupted. She was trying to come up with alternative words to ugly and creepy but couldn't come up with anything. Finally, she just gave him an awkward smile.

Leon returned the girl's smile, knowing exactly what she was thinking.

"Who or what are you?" Gretta attempted to restart the conversation after she had forgotten her own words a few seconds before.

"What are your thoughts? Werewolves?" Leon immediately responded with a question.

Gretta remained silent. She's an adult who clearly won't obey when given candy. The werewolf only appears in novels, films, and fantasy works, and it is a well-known fairy tale in some areas. Gretta believed the creature wasn't real.

"I've never believed in such a thing; it's thick with fantasy."

"Not until you see it for yourself," Leon said.

Leon's words were undeniably true. Gretta had seen the big furry creature standing before her a few hours before. She was even sitting in front of a werewolf who claimed to be in human form.

She'd never seen a human transform into a werewolf, and she didn't want to. It would be a nightmare if she saw it.

Gretta had no idea that the mythical creature had been living near her city all this time. In a damp and dark valley like the Rhone valley.

"The werewolf has its own world, which is distinct from the world of ordinary humans. But we always live together."

The werewolf, like cities in different countries, has different divisions. Some areas are bordered by forests in the western states, while others are bordered by forests in the eastern states.

Leon had the territory of the city bordering the Rhone valley. This meant that werewolves and humans could cross the border.

It's just that the border has been closed so far to avoid a war between the two sides. Werewolves and humans are not easy to combine, as evidenced by Leon's presence in the human world. Hunters regarded him as prey.

So, how did Leon end up in the Rhone Valley? He was one of Orlin's respected high-ranking Alpha troops because he was no ordinary wolf. He has cross-border access.

He was in the human world to get away from Orlin's chaotic state. With his current status as Orlin's fugitive, he couldn't go back to that city. That's why he stayed in the Rhone valley for a few days, hoping no one would follow him across the border.

"The sun will set soon; do you want me to drive you home?" Leon makes an offer. Leon couldn't guarantee the girl's safety because when night fell, he would transform into the figure Gretta described as a monster.

Gretta stood and stared down the forest alley that stretched out because the trees were too tall to torment the branches at the bottom.

"The sun is still shining; I'll return alone."

Leon frowned, slightly surprised by Gretta's decision. Is it true that the girl dared to walk home alone?

"I'm afraid if you come along, people will hunt you down." It's almost night, so you should go hide, right? They're probably looking for you because they believe you kidnapped me."

Gretta's concerns piqued Leon's interest. She was a regular human who had never seen a werewolf before. She had also seen Leon tearing other people apart; how could she still be concerned about him rather than herself?

The human heart is indeed difficult to predict, especially the heart of a woman, which also applies to female werewolves.

"Thank you for being concerned about me, but please be cautious on your journey." Leon agreed with Gretta.

It's quite dangerous if a human sees it; perhaps it can be hidden if Leon is in human form like this. However, Leon cannot predict when he will turn into a werewolf because this is not in Orlin.

Gretta was certain that if she walked any faster, she would arrive at the city limits before the sun set. She had played in the Rhone Valley many times as a child, but never in this depth.

Half an hour had passed, either because the trees in the forest were too close together, limiting air circulation, or because Gretta was already exhausted. Even though it hadn't been hours, she felt her breath was short and exhausting.

Gretta stood up after sitting for five minutes to catch her breath. It shouldn't be that far away; she could tell her location was now frequently visited by humans.

Gretta felt a little uncomfortable around her as she continued to walk. Before the afternoon wind pierced her skin, the air temperature was not that cold.

She tried to look left and right, as if someone was watching her. Gretta returned her gaze, but no one was there.

"Perhaps it's just me," she mumbled.

She continued on her way, brushing off the strange sensation in her chest to alleviate her concern.

Gretta became aware that something had just passed behind her. She quickly turned her head, but there was still no one there. She shook her head in disbelief.

"Is this valley haunted?" She thought.

Gretta got goosebumps again as the wind blew behind her. She shifted her gaze left and right, her hand on the back of her neck.

"Please, Leon! Please don't scare me if it's you!" She yelled. Only Leon came to mind now, not wanting to accuse the man but needing a name to call.

"Do you also know Leon?" Someone whispered in Gretta's ear. Her body stiffened as she realized the unfamiliar voice wasn't Leon or anyone she knew.

Gretta turned around, braced herself, to see who was behind her.

She was taken aback when she noticed a large creature staring at her intently. It was a werewolf, but not Leon. His body size is the same, but his fur color is more brown and his eyes are black rather than green.

"Was it you, Leon?" Gretta's voice trembled. Her body was on the ground after she tripped over a tree root while backing away.

The werewolf chuckled. He kept moving toward Gretta, despite her attempts to pull back.

Gretta's fear was heightened when the werewolf smirked and bared its slimy sharp fangs in front of her.

"Leon!"