15.| Bloodlust Rising

Yuè ventured further into the shadowed parts of the forest when he felt something squishy under his foot and looked down, his eyes widening in horror. It was the elf man's severed arm, the mangled flesh still oozing blood.

The reality of the carnage that had just taken place struck him like a physical blow, and he quickly lifted his foot and stumbled back, trying not to vomit.

He heard a low growl come from the shadows beside him and turned around just as Marcellus emerged. The massive black wolf he'd shifted into was locked in a savage struggle, his fur stained by the blood and gore of the red haired elf. Yuè remained frozen, watching Marcellus.

His crimson eyes, a stark contrast to the surrounding darkness, shimmered with feral rage as he snarled, bearing his blood stained teeth at Yuè.

"Marcellus?" His name was a breathless and fearful whisper past his lips, his blood running cold in his veins. He couldn't tear his eyes away, gaze locked with the burning red one. "Marcellus?" He called again, weaker than before.

Marcellus tilted his head, ears twitching as he inches forward, teeth still slightly bared.

Yuè took small, calming breaths. He needed to be calm so he could calm Marcellus. The red gleam of the moon shone menacingly, making his skin crawl. It was clear that Marcellus' rage was connected to it. Inching forward, Yuè reached out a trembling hand, palm upwards.

It was soft at first, the glow, but the closer he got, the brighter the strands of his hair began to shine, washing away the sickly red light of the moon overhead. "It's okay Marcellus. I'm with you." He whispered. He was close enough to press his palm against the wide expanse of the wolf's neck, running his fingers through the soft fur.

Marcellus hesitated, then nudged Yuè's hand with his nose.

But before Yuè could say or do anything else, an arrow plunged into Marcellus' side causing him to howl in pain.

"No! Marcellus run!" That was why they wanted him to search for Marcellus. Yuè was a mere distraction.

They closed in, shooting more of their silver tipped arrows into the Marcellus' back. Each impact caused smoke and steam to billow from his fur, fueling his rage.

"Keep firing!" One of the elves shouted. "Surround him!"

The moon turned red once more and Marcellus growled at Yuè, knocking him over as his primal bloodlust took over yet again. Then, he dashed for the treeline.

"That'll be enough." The violet eyed man Yuè had seen go with Marcellus earlier, stepped from the overbrush, his own sword drawn. "If I were you, I'll leave while you can."

"And why would we be afraid of you?" The midnight haired elf asked, cocking his head to the side.

The violet eyed man lifted his sword and swung it in an arc, the air crackled and it looked as though lightning had flashed.

"Ooo, fake magic tricks. I'm scared." The midnight haired elven man laughed, but then blood spurted from his mouth, and his upper half slid apart from his lower half.

In fact, all the trees within a foot distance, including his comrades, were severed in half with only one swing of this man's sword.

He looked over his shoulder, violet gaze landing on Yuè's. "Are you alright, woman?"

Yuè scrambled to his feet. "Marcellus, he is injured and Gunter, did you see him?" He asked anxiously.

"Gunter is fine. He fought off the other men and I sent him home." He sheathed his sword and turned completely. "It's best we leave Marcellus running around until he shifts back. He'll return to the mansion as he always does. Are you hurt?"

Yuè bit his lip at that. "But his injury…" He said, eyes drifting off to the place where Marcellus had vanished.

"When he's like that no one can help him, you wouldn't be able to get close enough to remove the arrows. It isn't enough to kill him." Said the violet eyed man.

"I am uninjured. Thank you for helping me." He gave the man a small bow. "I am Yuè, but I suppose you must know that already."

"Yes, I do know of you. The woman that seems to be often in trouble, a lot." He laughed. "I'm Elarion, a general of Salthelm."

Yuè flushed at that, tugging his hair behind his ear. "It is not my intention to be trouble." He apologized. "Are you sure he will be okay?" Referring to Marcellus, concern creased his brows once more.

"When I arrived, I saw that only three arrows were protruding from him. It isn't enough to kill a wolf." Elarion gave Yuè a reassuring smile. "Come on, let me take you back to the mansion."

He turned, leading the way through the forest. "Did you and Gunter go all the way out here to mate? Is that how you ended up so far from the Marcellus' estate?"

Yuè's eyes snapped to him, mouth dropping open at the question before he snapped it shut. "We did not come here with that intention. Gunter wanted to show me a place he feared since I was rather upset…"

He trailed off, remembering exactly why he had been upset to begin with. "He wanted to ease my fear by showing me his. Such awful things they did to him."

He followed behind the man slowly. "He is very sweet." He said shyly.

Elarion lifted his hands. "I meant no offense. He was completely naked, so I assumed you may have mated with him. If I were in your stead and heard I was possibly being sold to Lord Payton, I'd run off and mate too." He chuckled and ran a hand through his medium-length wispy black hair.

Yuè blew air from his cheeks at the reminder of being sold. "He shifted to bring me here. We did not mate." Although they had come close hadn't they? Yuè could still taste Gunter's cum on his tongue even now and his cheeks warmed at the memory. At the promises. "I like him." He admitted softly.

"Gunter deserves the world. Out of all of the king's children, he's the most precious." Elarion told him as he halted near a tree where a brown mare waited. "Do you need help getting on, m'lady?"

"Oh, yes please. My limbs feel like lead." Yuè let out a weary sigh. "She's beautiful. What is her name?" He allowed his hand to drift through the horse mane, giggling when it nudged its snout against his cheek.

The tall, yet slender man lifted Yuè by the waist and sat him down near the mare's rear. Her mane was long and wavy, similar to the tips of Elarion's hair. "Firestorm. I've had her since I was a little boy." He soon climbed in front of Yuè, grabbing the reins.

Yuè secured himself by grabbing onto the man's waist, shivering in the cool night air. He would be glad to return to the manor. To see Gunter and hopefully Marcellus. "A beautiful name for a beautiful mount." He leaned against the man's back in exhaustion. "Thank you again for saving me. I seem to have a knack for attracting unfortunate attention. My babà called me a trouble magnet when I was younger."

Elarion chuckled and nudged Firestorm into a trot down the forest path that led back to the mansion. "You know, Yuè." He began, his voice holding a hint of fascination.

"I can feel your strength. In that moment, when Marcellus was vicious and ready to attack you, there was a power within you that could've easily overwhelmed him and those elves. You could've stroked back and even caused them harm. Why didn't you?"

Yuè lips pulled into a thin line. "I am surprised you could sense that." He sighed. "I hate the thought of hurting others." The memory of a boy, broken and pale at the base of the river, brown hair soaked in blood flashed in his mind. "It is foolish, I know. Especially when my life is in danger."

Elarion shook his head and steered the mare toward the base of the mountain that looked ahead of them beneath the crimson moon that started fading back to its usual crisp white. "I don't think it's foolish. It takes courage to have a good heart and not let the darkness of the world corrupt you. That's rare, especially when most people would kill when it comes to self preservation. I see now that it isn't just your beauty that people should seek."

"You say such kind words." Yuè thanked him. "However my fear of harming others has allowed others to be harmed in my stead. How can I be proud of such an act." He said sadly. "Gunter was hurt due to that same reluctanceas was Marcellus."

"If they chose to save you, then it should be up to them whether it's how they perceive it."Elarion said as they reached the summit of the mountain where Marcellus' mansion was nestled into the frozen rock. The moonlight glinted off the snow and ice, making the place look like a fairytale castle. "Here we are."

Yuè remained quiet, his thoughts swirling in his head. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he had let them down. That he had been a burden and a liability. That he had been a coward who fled from danger instead of facing it with his protectors.

He had done this all his life. First with his father, who had sacrificed himself for him. Now with the wolf men, who had risked their lives for him. "It may not be my home, but I am glad to be back." Yuè said at last, forcing a smile.

Elarion dismounted Firestorm and gently lifted Yuè off the mare, his eyes filled with understanding and empathy. He watched as Yuè headed for the mansion's front door. "Home is wherever you feel it is," He murmured, voice carrying the weight of unspoken truths.

He reached for the door, only to find it ajar, blood staining its edge. A cold dread filled his heart as he pushed it open. The foyer was dimly lit by a few candles, casting shadows on the walls.

His heart quickened as he followed the trails of blood to the living room, and there, sprawled on his side near the flickering hearth, was Marcellus.

The enormous wolf lay still, his black fur matted with blood, silver arrows jutting from his side. His breaths were shallow, his crimson eyes barely open.

It was a chilling sight, a stark contrast to the tranquil beauty of the snowy landscape outside. Fear and despair clawed at Yuè's heart as he realized the danger that had befallen the one who'd both saved him more than once and dehumanized him in front of a lord.