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So guys, double updates for the Radish people this week!

I posted Chapter 19 - The Blood Moon (yesterday) and Chapter 20- The Alliance is Back (today). I needed to catch up with my Radish chapters but I wanted to update here also on Wattpad so I tried to write fast!

Guys, if you haven't bought any chapters yet, please do buy Chapter 19 and 20! I swear you won't regret it. I know I've teased you guys a lot of times already. But it's happening! I swear! So please do head over to Radish and buy some chapters!

Thanks to those buying chapters! You make me write faster because I feel that it is a job and I earn from it. I love you guys!

So to thank you guys, here's Dimitrios. Haha.







*Wipes drool* *gives you tissues to wipe away your own drool*



CHAPTER 16 – THE FIRST WOLFEN

The Glenn Woods Wolfen Territory The Realm of Xathos

It was a few hours before dawn.

The party travelled the whole night and now they set up camp near the side of a mountain. It was a good spot for there was a small cave where Ailara can hide from the sun.

Ailara looked outside the entrance of the cave and watched as the Dimitrios' army was abuzz with activity. Some cooked meat that the others hunted while other warriors washed up on a nearby stream. Their king was not amongst them for he was somewhere inside the cave, checking if it was safe and if there was another entrance somewhere.

He returned a few minutes later and sat on a boulder near the exit of the cave. His gleaming black hair was wet and the curls fell across his forehead.

"There's a small heated pool near here. You can bathe there if you like," he told her. Ailara only nodded. Throughout the trip, she refused to say more than a word or two to Dimitrios. She wasn't going to start talking to him now.

But the bath sounded like something the gods sent.

Her muscles were tired and her backside felt raw after riding all night. Ailara reached for her pack and withdrew a new gown. It was the same color, black. Then, she unfastened her cloak and headed towards the pool Dimitrios mentioned.

Dimitrios halted her by grabbing her arm.

"You haven't fed in three days," he pointed out.

"I'm not hungry, your highness."

"Don't be stubborn, Ailara!"

"I'd rather drink the foulest animal blood than drink from you again," she spat.

His eyes narrowed. "Say that again," he said in a tone that clearly outlined that his patience was on its last straw.

Ailara ignored him and walked away. Before she could blink, Dimitrios was standing before her.

"All these years, you accepted Heilen's blood. But you won't accept the blood of your own mate."

Ailara threw back her head and laughed. "You're not my mate," she hissed. Then, she traced away from him and towards the pool. It was much easier this time because there were no enchantments to prevent her from doing so.

Again, the thought of escape entered her mind. She did think of escaping several times throughout the night as they rode. She can trace away but she can't cover a large amount of distance. First, because she was week since she has not fed in a while. Second, she did not know this forest well and she might end up tracing over a cliff or in the deepest part of a raging river.

Also, Dimitrios and his men would just find her. So there was no point. The Wolfen's sense of smell was the most acute. They were excellent hunters and trackers and they revelled in it.

She would just end up wasting time and energy if she tried to escape. Besides, they had Vicenzo. Who would stop them from killing her friend when she's gone?

☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾ - ☾

Ailara stepped out of the darkness and into the torchlight after a few minutes.

Dimitrios took one whiff of her scent and he was instantly as hard as a rock. He closed his eyes and inhaled once more while praying for control at the same time. It took every ounce of his self-control not to pounce on her and show her just how much she frustrated him.

"Still not hungry?" he taunted.

And as usual, she ignored him. It riled him but at the same time, a part of him recognized and revelled in the challenge. He was king and he was the strongest Wolfen. No one in his kingdom dared to ignore him or contradict every word he said.

Dimitrios shrugged. "Well then, if you change your mind... I'll be here all day," he told her. He smiled smugly.

"What?" she hissed.

"I'm sleeping here when the sun rises," he told her. "What?" she repeated.

Dimitrios wanted to taunt her and rile her just so she could talk to him. He found himself enjoying it immensely. He was thinking of a clever reply when one of his warriors walked inside.

"My king, it would be a great honor if you would join us for a light meal before we all head to our beds," the warrior said.

"Very well," Dimitrios replied. "Come, Ailara," he ordered.

"I'd rather stay," she answered coolly.

"It's customary for the Wolfen to share meals when travelling to war. This is because we think that it forges the bond between brothers. And besides, they always tell stories about the old gods. You love those myths, don't you?"

Immediately, a change came over her. Her scowl vanished and the dullness in her eyes was replaced with curiosity.

Dimitrios remembered Ailara's fascination about the old gods when they were still younger. Whenever she visited the Wolfen kingdom, she sat with him in his lessons. He almost nodded off at each and every one of them but she was always alert and fascinated.

"Which story are they telling?" she asked tentatively.

Dimitrios walked towards the exit of the cave and he almost grinned when she followed.

"You can pick this time," he told her.

She stilled for a moment and then caught up to his long strides.

"Really?"

"Yes, Ailara," he answered with a hint of irritation. He was a king and his word was law. He need not be asked twice.

"Can I pick the legend of the first wolfen?" she asked hesitantly.

Dimitrios shook his head. "You know that story is sacred to us."

"You said I can pick!"

"How about a deal then? We will tell the story of the first wolfen but then you will have to feed tonight."

She was silent for a long time as they walked side by side along the camp. Warriors turned to look at them but Ailara didn't even notice. She was very deep in thought.

"Fine, then," she said. Dimitrios was stunned at her reply. He did not know it would be this easy to make her capitulate.

"A story in exchange for drinking my blood? I thought you'd drink the foulest animal blood before drinking mine ever again?" he teased.

Ailara gave hima glare that would turn any other Wolfen's blood cold. Dimitrios chuckled and led her to the middle of the camp.

Several warriors were gathered around a fire. They all stood at attention when Dimitrios arrived. With a wave of his hand, they seated themselves once more. Dimitrios sat as well and patted an emty space next to the rock he was perched on.

"My King, any stories you want to hear this night?" one of the youngest warriors asked Dimitrios. The younger warriors went to war but didn't necessarily fight. They were mostly assigned to heal the wounded, guard the belongings, watch over the sleeping warriors, and to tell the traditional stories.

"I request the Legend of the First Wolf," Dimitrios said. He heard gasps from his men and also saw several nods of approval. Then several pairs of eyes turned to Ailara.

"It's fine," Dimitrios told them. Ailara moved closer to him and he could inhale her sweet scent once more. He closed his eyes for a few seconds.

"Why did they look at me?" she asked.

He opened his eyes and looked straight into hers. "I told you. It's because the Legend of the First Wolf is one of our most sacred stories. We don't tell just anyone. Yet here you are, a Vampyr," he answered.

"Oh."

She looked disappointed and turned to look at the fire. He placed his hand under her chin and tilted her head upwards and towards the direction of the young warrior. "They will tell the story now so listen."

The young warrior cleared his throat and began his tale.

"Long ago... Sylvan, the god of discord, was cast out of Ilyia because of his wrongdoings. The answer as to why he was cast out differs depending on who tells the tale. Some say he massacred an entire village of witches and some say he lost an important artifact. The more romantic ones say that he once loved Elune, the wife of the sun god, Rashad."

Dimitrios stole a glance at Ailara. She was listening raptly and there was wonder in her eyes. He had a sudden urge to pull her closer but he resisted. Touching her once was never enough. He always hungered for more.

"Whatever the reason was, Sylvan was punished by Rashad and exiled into Xathos. He lost his powers as well and was doomed to live a bleak life as an immortal in a harsh realm. Legends say that he was on the verge of madness."

"Why?" Ailara asked, her voice a mere whisper.

"Sylvan was the god of chaos, a warrior almost as great as Aiken and now he was nothing but an exile. He was also born as a shapeshifter. Because of his punishment, he couldn't even shift. This, along with the darkness and chaos trapped inside him, almost drove him insane," Dimitrios answered her.

Ailara was silent once more. The entire forest around them was silent as well. It was as if the forest itself quieted just so it could hear the tale of the first Wolfen.

"But Elune, the goddess of the moon, took pity on him. She gave Sylvan a sliver of his life and his powers back. She declared that on the night of the full moon, he will have the full use of his powers, even if only for one night a month..." the young warrior continued.

Ailara looked at Dimitrios with wonder in her eyes. "Is this why the Wolfen are at their strongest during a full moon?" she whispered.

"Yes," Dimitrios replied.

And then she smiled and his heart stopped. It wasn't the calculating and cynical smiles she always wore. This one was genuine and it seemed to come straight from her heart. It made her face light up and it was as if she glowed from the inside.

Dimitrios found himself staring at her. He just couldn't take his eyes off her. That smile would be embedded in his mind for as long as he existed.

"And then he saw her. His mate... Or as he called her: 'his brightest star.'"

Dimitrios saw Ailara shiver and then close her eyes. He removed his travelling cloak and wrapped it around her. He didn't need it for the Wolfen had warmer body temperatures.

He felt Ailara tense as he fixed the cloak around her.

"Thanks," she murmured.

"During the early times, women were treated as possessions in this realm. They were nothing but slaves who had to bow down to men who were considered much stronger than them."

Several warriors laughed and nudged each other. "If I said that to my mate, she would have slapped me and barred me from our bed!" one warrior shouted.

Dimitrios found himself laughing with the other warriors as well. Then, he heard something magical; a sound he heard before but was long-forgotten. It was Ailara's laugh. And once more, he was stunned speechless.

"It was different then that it is now. And it's all because of the first wolf. Sylvan treated his mate like she was life itself. He gave her his highest regard. She was his everything. It was said that whenever she was with him, his mind was clear. She drove the madness and the darkness away. She was his greatest treasure."

Ailara sighed.

"Sounds like true love," she whispered, mostly to herself.

"Do you believe in love?" Dimitrios asked her.

"I do," she answered. That answer surprised him.

"Why?"

Ailara rolled her eyes. "Like you Wolfen believe in fate and destiny... we Vampyrs believe in love. You believe that Wolfen are one soul separated into two and you spend your whole lives finding your true mate. We Vampyrs believe that in this world, two souls are created which fit together perfectly."

"But you don't believe in true mates," Dimitrios pointed out.

"Oh we do," she answered.

"You can dissolve bonds and you don't have matings—you have weddings."

She threw a wooden branch towards the fire before she answered. "As I said, there are two souls which fit together perfectly. How will you know that you fit perfectly with someone when you have not tried? It's not like how you find your mates wherein you take one look and you already know. It's different for us. We spend our lives finding our perfect fit as well. But some of my kind settle for others. True mates are infinitely more rare for us than for you," she answered.

"Fascinating." It was not Dimitrios who replied but Argus. Dimitrios glared at him for his sarcastic tone but he ignored his king.

"Do you believe you will find your true mate, Vampyr?"

For a brief moment, Dimitrios and Ailara's eyes met. Dimitrios saw that hers were filled with regret and uncertainty.

"Perhaps not," she answered Argus.

"Why not?" he persisted.

"In the eyes of the gods, I wouldn't be someone who deserves the joy of finding the rare true mate for us Vampyrs," she answered in a flat tone. Dimitrios saw the sadness and loneliness in her eyes and his wolf howled inside him. He wanted to reach out and wrap his arms around her.

"Then it's like Dimitrios. As long as he's mated to you in the eyes of the gods, he will never find his true mate," Argus spat.

"Argus!" Dimitrios hissed. His friend just shrugged.

"I know. Over and over, I've asked him to dissolve this farce of a bond that we have. He is not my husband and I am not his wife. For several times, I asked him to kill me for I know in my heart that he will not set me free. Killing me won't do anything to him anyway. I'm not his beloved true mate. He will not follow me to the grave should I die," she spat. Then she raised her finger and pointed it directly at Argus' heart.

"So don't blame me, Wolfen. Blame your king."

The three didn't realize that the story and all conversation has ceased and all eyes were on them now. Ailara looked away and Argus just glared at the younger warriors. Dimitrios raised his hand. "Continue," he ordered.

The young warrior coughed to clear his throat once more.

"Before Sylvan found his brightest star, he already accumulated several enemies. Some wanted to make him suffer for all the things he did in the past as a god. Some wanted to capture him and mock him for being a fallen immortal. When his mate came into his life, his enemies tripled. It was said that his mate, Aerine, was from the realm of Celestia..."

"Celestia? The heavens where Cosmos resides?" Ailara whispered.

"Yes. The realm of the stars, the sun and the moon."

"Then she is a fallen star?"

"Probably. Legends say so," he answered with a shrug.

"Several of Sylvan's enemies wanted his mate. First, because it would strike a blow directly to his heart and may drive him mad. If he goes completely mad, the gods would then destroy him. Second, it was said that the blood of Celestians could turn any being immortal..." the young warrior continued.

There was a pause as warriors added more logs to the fire and passed several slices of meat around. Dimitrios looked up and the sky began to lighten. It was almost sunrise and he would have to take Ailara back to the cave.

"To protect his brightest star... Sylvan created his own army. It was said that on the night of the full moon, a great black wolf will be seen prowling the battlefield. This was Sylvan in his wolf form. It was said that he channeled all the darkness and the need for blood and violence inside him and turned it into a part of him—his feral wolf. On the night of the full moon, he had his powers to shift yet he shifted into only one animal and that is a wolf."

Dimitrios felt a tug on his tunic. Ailara's pale, icy fingers were wrapped around the cloth.

"Why a wolf?" she asked.

"Because the wolf is Elune's sacred animal. She protects them. And to honor Elune for all she has done for him, Sylvan shifted into a wolf and no other animal."

"Ohh. Wow. This is all so very fascinating," she told him. Then, she turned her eyes back to the young warrior.

"On the night of the full moon, Sylvan would go to battlefields and scout for dying warriors. He would then ask them if they wanted another chance at life and if they would pledge their loyalty to him and his mate. If they agreed, he would imbue them a sliver of his power and his other identity – the feral wolf. And brothers, this is how the first wolves came to be."

"Aye," several warriors piped up.

"And this is why the Wolfen are known to be the best, strongest warriors," Dimitrios whispered to Ailara. She nodded to him, her eyes shining with tears.

"That was beautiful," she whispered.

"We are all descendants of the first warriors—the finest warriors in all of Xathos. We are brothers. We revere our mates like how Sylvan revered Aerine. We honor the moon for it is because of Elune that we are at our strongest. We honor the wolves for they are part of us – our feral side," all the warriors said together as one.

Dimitrios smiled at Ailara's shocked expression. It was the first time she heard the words which all Wolfen lived by.

"Your legends and your culture are very beautiful," Ailara told him.

"Aye. We are a people steeped in tradition and the old ways," he told her.

"What happened to Sylvan and Aerine?" she asked.

"They ruled Xathos for a long time. They vanquished the demons and Sylvan kept his Aerine safe. And then when Aiken and Selene returned, Sylvan aided Aiken in the way with his army. Aiken lifted his exile and he was able to return to Ilyia once more."

"He lives there with his mate now?"

"According to legends, yes. Sylvan loved Xathos but it is a very problematic realm. He wanted to stay in Ilyia with his mate for it is much closer to the heavens. Also, he stepped down from his throne as king and a number of wolfen kings reigned after he was gone."

"The demons they mentioned... I really think those are Cerran. And they could have returned once Sylvan was gone and there was nothing to stop them."

"Probably."Dimitrios shrugged. "These are legends though. We aren't sure if everything is true or if it's just a story people tell their children; stories that were passed from generation to generation."

"A part of it may be steeped in truth. A story wouldn't be that beautiful or have much of an impact if it was all lies," she said with a small smile. Dimitrios smiled back and he felt a current of electricity shoot down his spine.

"And that ends my part of the bargain. We have to go inside the cave now before the sun rises."

She nodded and stood. The moment she did, the other warriors stood as well. They would head to their beds and prepare for the journey once the sun sets once more.

"And you still have to feed," Dimitrios told Ailara as they entered the cave.

He heard her heart stop and then resume beating at a furious rhythm. Dimitrios smiled for he knew that he affected her the same way she did him.

This is going to be an interesting night, Dimitrios thought.





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Let me know your thoughts on this chapter! Please comment below. Haha. I actually loved writing Sylvan's legend here. And there's another legend about him on Chapter 19!

Please do head over to Radish! Some advanced chapters there can already be read for free. And I do hope you buy some chapters as well.

Thanks again, everyone for all the support!