REVENGE OF THE BETRAYED WOLF

Freya scoured the herd, but Lucia was nowhere to be found. When she returned, she approached a few guards who set off through the forest in search of her. Apollon arrived at the mansion at full speed, got off the wagon and found Freya at the entrance.

"Freya, how's Lucia? My she-wolf is feeling uneasy, I don't understand what's wrong with her," said Apollon, concern evident on his face.

"My friend, she left the manor to go to the pharmacy because she was feeling ill. I scoured the village, but I couldn't find her." Her eyes reflected regret and you could read in her voice how distressed she was, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but when she left, it was just as you called me, and when I went out to look for her, she was no longer at the manor."

Apollon ran a hand over his head, feeling lost. In a broken voice, he replied.

"I'll look for her myself. I'll let my wolf out."

"Apollon I'm distressed, let me know when you've found her."

He affirmed with a grimace on his mouth, turned his back on his friend and went deep into the woods, then relinquished control to his wolf, who growled and ran as he emerged. After a long time, he arrived at a hut and, transforming into a human, Apollo followed his companion's scent. As he entered, he noticed that the place was in tatters, but the unmistakable scent of his companion lingered in the hut and this frightened him, he thought: "What's she doing here, where is she? "He moved forward cautiously, and his eyes fell with fright on a man lying naked on the ground, with a knife stuck in his chest. He crouched down and saw that he was in agony. In a trembling voice, she asked, "Who are you? "Who are you? What's happened here?"

The man, his hand clutched to his chest, saw the man before him and hope revived in his eyes. However, with a grimace of pain and a broken voice, he answered.

"Help me, don't let me die." He coughed, forcing his voice from his throat, "A damned omega came in heat, I wanted to mate and she did this to me."

Apollo felt a cold sweat run down his back. He understood now why his wolf was agitated; his mate was in danger and he was far from her to help. He gritted his teeth helplessly and asked. "Where is she? I don't see her in the hut."

"That damned she-wolf escaped, but she can't be far, she's wounded too.

Apollo's eyes darkened and, in an angry voice, he snapped.

"Your death will be painful. You'll die alone, confined to this hut, with no one to find you, I'll make sure of that." He stood up and headed for the door. But he stopped when he heard.

"Help, I've done nothing wrong! That she-wolf wasn't marked; the law obliged me to let her mate with me."

"If she told you she didn't want to be used by a filthy she-wolf, you should have left her alone. Now your punishment will be to die alone." Apollo condemned coldly.

The weight of guilt intensified in his head, and Apollo swallowed, knowing that the man's words were true. He closed the door behind him and locked it so that no one could enter. He whispered through his teeth.

"Lucia, I'm the only one to blame for what happened to you. Where are you now? It was my responsibility to look after you, and I failed you." The remorse in his mind intensified as he went deeper into the forest. His wolf emerged again and began to follow his companion's scent as it dissolved in the air.

The wolf began to howl at the sight of Lucia passed out, lying by a tree. Quickly regaining his human form, he approached her, took her pulse and realized she was alive. He looked at her swollen face, and a feeling of guilt gnawed at his soul, feeling a sharp pain in his heart. He brought his right hand to her cheek and gently stroked the swelling with his fingers.

"Lucia, wake up. It's my fault, I should have taken better care of you. Don't die, I need you in my life."

"Who are you?" stammers Lucia, her vision blurred, tears streaming down her cheeks, "I'm in so much pain."

"I'll take care of you, I promise. You'll never leave me again," Apollo assured her in a broken voice, carrying her carefully and walking briskly towards his house. Once there, he called the doctor and, while he was examining her, called Freya who, seeing her friend's phone number, immediately grabbed it.

"Hello, tell me you've found her, are you okay?"

"Yes, I found her, but badly injured. A miserable wolf took her to an old shack." she let out a stifled sigh, "My she-wolf is brave, she fought for her life."

"This is terrible, Apollo. Where is she? How is she? And what happened to that wolf? I'll make sure he gets what he deserves," Freya replied with anger in her voice.

"She's at my place, the doctor's checking her out right now, so don't worry about that nasty wolf. Lucia hurt him, and I'll make sure there's no trace of him left," Apollo assured her, gritting his teeth and squinting his eyes.

"Forgive me for not stopping him from leaving the mansion," Freya said sadly.

"You have nothing to blame yourself for. I'm responsible for what happened to her, I didn't protect her properly. I hid who I was from her, and left her on the lookout for other wolves."

"Dude, don't blame yourself. She'll be fine, you'll see," Freya comforted in a calm voice.

"Let Crono know that Lucia will be staying with me. I have a duty to protect her now, and I want her by my side as my companion. I have no intention of letting her separate from me at any time."

"All right. Take care of her, Crono won't stand in your way," Freya confirmed, acknowledging that it was best for them to be together as companions. Now, more than ever, Lucia would need support to overcome what had happened to her, and who better than her companion to reassure and comfort her.

Apollo hung up the phone and waited behind the door for the doctor to come out. When he felt the door open, he stepped aside, saw the doctor coming out and asked: "How is she, Doctor? "How is she Doctor, what did that wolf do to her?"

"Wolf Lucia will get better with care, she has to stay in bed without moving for at least two weeks. She has two broken ribs and a swollen face from a blow, but with care and rest she'll heal quickly." "Doctor, and that man didn't do anything else to you?" he expressed, his jaw contracting.

The doctor looked at him, knowing what he meant. He'd sensed Lucia's zeal, too.

"The man didn't succeed in outraging her, you can see that the she-wolf is brave. She fought so he wouldn't touch her." He laid a hand on her shoulder: "Don't worry any more, my boy, she was fine." Then he handed him some medical recipes: "Buy this and give it to her as indicated on the recipe. Now, if I may retire."

"Thank you, doctor." He reached out and took the paper, feeling relieved that Lucia was safe.