Episode 8

"Do you need assistance?" Ezra approached her door and noticed she was struggling to zip up her dress.

"Should I fetch your handmaiden?" he asked. Esmeralda retorted, "It's just my zip," unable to meet his gaze. Her shyness overwhelmed her, making her recall how the mere thought of him had previously aroused her. She was intensely paranoid that he might somehow overhear her explicit thoughts about him. It had been a while since she had heard her wolf snarl, and it felt as if her inner desires were about to burst forth, craving to consume Ezra. The sensation left her flushed and flustered. "I'm not an expert in dresses, but I can handle a zipper," Ezra replied, wearing a smile as he entered her room to assist her.

Esmeralda let out a soft gasp as she felt his gentle hands brushing against hers. She met his eyes through the mirror, surprised by the smile adorning his usually stern face. "There, the zip has been conquered," Ezra declared, satisfaction evident on his face.

"If only you could conquer my body in the same way," Esmeralda thought, quickly swallowing the audacity of her own thoughts before they escaped her lips. She turned and smiled back at Ezra, determined to dismiss her unruly musings.

"Shall we?" Ezra asked, extending his hand.

"We shall," Esmeralda replied with a smile, accepting his hand. Together, they left her room to join the festivities of the party.

***

Sean held an electric lantern as he knocked on the black door, but there was no reply. He cautiously opened it, only to find the room engulfed in darkness and heavy with the unmistakable scent of blood.

"The generals are gathered in the war room, my king," Sean announced, stepping into Antonio's bedroom. On the bed lay the lifeless, drained bodies of naked women, remnants of Antonio's eventful night.

"Those power-hungry bloodsuckers better bring me good news," Antonio groaned, rising from the bed and removing the lifeless hand of one of the women from his torso.

"They bring news from Esteria," Sean replied.

Antonio donned his robe and walked toward the window, its curtains tightly drawn, shutting out any trace of sunlight.

"Do you remember what it was like to live in Vestetia, Sean?" Antonio mused, his hand reaching for the curtains. With a slight opening, rays of sunlight poured into the room. "To walk out and about in darkness, basking in the light of the red moon. Without fear of death. This world isn't home," he lamented, his words filled with longing.

Sean instinctively retreated into the shadows, avoiding the searing touch of sunlight.

Antonio's skin began to burn and sizzle, filling the room with the scent of charred flesh. "My lord, do you have a death wish?" Sean questioned, concern evident in his voice.

Antonio sighed and closed the curtains. "Perhaps, Sean, perhaps."

Antonio reached for the intercom phone on his table and dialed. Within seconds, the maids entered his room, swiftly removing the lifeless bodies and attending to the clean-up. One of the servants headed to the bathroom to prepare a bath for Antonio, who sat on his chair, opened a blood bag, and poured its contents into his chalice.

"Is there anything else, Sean?" Antonio inquired.

Sean stood at the edge of the room, appearing stiff as if burdened by something on his mind. After a moment's hesitation, he spoke up. "Regarding the wolf princess, tonight King Aaron is hosting a ball in her honor."

"Yes, and you are to take a few vampires, kidnap her, and bring her back here," Antonio commanded.

"But, my lord..."

"What? We've already discussed this, Sean. Do you doubt your ability to execute this mission successfully?"

"No, my lord, I can handle it."

"Very well, you may leave."

"Yes, my lord," Sean acknowledged, bowing before exiting the room

***

Everyone fell silent as Ezra and Esmeralda made their entrance into the room. The weight of all those eyes on her made Esmeralda yearn to escape. The pressure to embody the perfect wolf princess was overwhelming. She instinctively squeezed Ezra's arm, causing his muscles to tense. He glanced down at her, offering a reassuring wink, and silently mouthed, "You look beautiful." As they reached the center of the room, he bowed to her and stepped back, allowing her father to step forward and take her hand. After spending so long away from her kind, she was now back among them, living in their midst. And on the next full moon, she would undergo her ritual as the princess of the Effiong wolves, running freely through the woods with her fellow wolves.

"Good evening, as you all know, my daughter, your princess, has returned," her father addressed the crowd. "It is with immense pleasure and joy that we celebrate her homecoming today. No longer a little pup, but a wolf, next in line to the throne. Cheers!"

The entire hall erupted in applause, howls, and cheers. Esmeralda felt a wave of delight wash over her, basking in the warmth of such a heartwarming reception. Amongst the crowd, she caught sight of Ezra, his eyes fixed intently on her, accompanied by a gentle smile. He raised his wine glass, nodding in her direction. She returned the smile before being enveloped by her eager subjects, all vying for a chance to speak with her.

After an hour of socializing and dancing, Esmeralda slipped away to the balcony, where the faint glow of the waning crescent moon illuminated the compound below. She could sense her wolf spirit purring, akin to a contented kitten, as she basked in the moonlight.

"What a night," she murmured to herself.

Esmeralda turned around, finding Ezra standing behind her.

"Are you not enjoying yourself, princess?" he inquired.

"No, I am. I just needed a little break, that's all," she replied.

Ezra smiled, understanding her need for solitude.