My Mate is a Wolf (English)

"What to do, Father? I don't wanna die!"

Screams from the werewolves threw the situation into an even more chaotic phase. They were running, looking for a shelter, with parents putting their children's safety as the top priority.

North Land was originally a peaceful and quiet wolf island. There was never a conflict.

Until that unfortunate event occurred. The vampire race from Cadhia Averlands entered North Land by accident. Wreaking havoc everywhere.

"Wolf King, help us! Please solve this problem!" cried one of the palace guards.

The wolf king remained still. Seeing the chaos ensue in his country. Occasionally, he would glance at the wolf queen who couldn't do much.

"What do you think, My Queen? Can you come up with a solution? The safety of our kind needs to be ensured. How did those vampires enter the werewolf territory?" The wolf king asked.

For a moment, the queen was silent. She turned to face her personal maid. "There is nothing I can do, My Husband. Everything is out of control and too sudden. I can only hope for the help of the gods," she replied.

A loud bang on the table could be heard. The king was mad, thinking his wife was useless. His jaw clenched. With a piercing reddened gaze and sharp nails, the wolf king was about to pounce on his queen.

On high alert, the wolf queen hurriedly took cover behind her knight. "What are you intending to do, Your Majesty?"

"You are useless! As a queen, you should be able to come up with something! What will become of our people? Do you want the werewolf race to go extinct?!" The wolf king snapped, frightening his wife.

Selena immediately fell on her knees, begging for mercy. However, unfortunately, the king's emotions could no longer be controlled. He ordered his guards to drag Selena away to a certain room where she would be left alone without friends. Abandoned with no certainty.

Selena pleaded one last time. She was weakened, unable to withstand the immense strength of the king's guards. Of course! The king had stripped her of her internal power. She was now nothing more than an ordinary werewolf with no special abilities.

In the cramped room, Selena curled up in silence. Calling her mate's name in her heart. No, not the wolf king, but someone else.

Filled with determination, Selena shifted into a wolf and tried to squeeze through a very narrow gap. She nearly gave up, but upon remembering her mate's name, she refused to back down easily. She breathed a sigh of relief when she finally managed to escape.

"Oh, that hurts." Several wounds were visible on Selena's body, quite deep and surely painful. Paying no care, she immediately ran to find James in the midst of war.

Again and again, Selena was shot. Stones were being thrown in her direction. She even fell and was stepped on, but she managed to save herself. In her desperation, a man came and grabbed her hand, pulling her somewhere. At least, they may be safe from the war.

"James?! Is that you? Thank goodness, I thought you were dead-"

James pressed his index finger against Selena's lips. The couple hugged each other. They rarely met because the palace rules were very strict.

"I'm all right, Sweetheart, but what about you? Look, you've got so many wounds here. How did you leave the palace?" James' question made Selena's tears fall in an instant.

"The king locked me up in a room because I couldn't help him. He's so cruel, James. I hate him even more! He's selfish and he always hurts my heart," Selena answered.

"Heartless bastard! Could it be that he also seizes your internal power?" Selena nodded weakly, making James furious.

"Never mind, Dear. Forget about him. What matters is that we're together now. Instead, I'm happy, I'm finally free. We can get out of here and live happily ever after!" Selena's eyes twinkled as she spoke.

However, it wasn't the same with James. His expression looked solemn. He was worried about something.

"Stay here first. I'm going to fetch you some medicine. You're so weak because your internal power was taken away. Don't move around too much," James said in a cold tone.

Selena stared, a bit taken aback by the sudden change in her mate's attitude.

Not long after, James returned with herbs. Selena laid on her back. Her wounds were pretty deep. Blood kept flowing, and for a split second, James was held in panic. However, Selena assured him that it was only a small wound.

"I'm scared the wolf king might find you here. Our relationship would be discovered and there is no doubt you would be severely punished. I can't even imagine that. It's awful," James said, streaming out the worries deep down in his heart.

Selena snorted in response. Truth to be told, there was no longer any concern about the king. Such feelings didn't exist at all. What's left is only hatred and longing for separation, but the circumstances had never allowed her.

"This sin that I have committed is indeed serious, Dear. I cheat and play behind the king's back. My mate is an ordinary human. If one day this affair is discovered by him, I'm ready to accept all the consequences. What matters is we can be together in the meantime. Until then, I won't run away." Selena burst into tears again, making James didn't have the heart to see her in that state.

"You have sacrificed too much, Sweetheart. Don't do anything stupid again for our love. Go back to the palace and do your duty as a queen. Don't give up yourself for me," James whispered.

"What do you mean, Dear? I don't want to go back! I'd rather die than return as a queen." Selena refused harshly. There was too much trauma and suffering that she had endured.

Since childhood, Selena preferred a normal life like an ordinary human. Play, hunt, enjoying her life to the fullest without having to think much. Unfortunately, at her late father's request, she was forced to become the wolf queen. The current wolf king turned out to be a ruthless and heartless man.

That was why Selena had no offspring from the king. She always refused him.

"Okay, if that's what you want. I'll do everything I can to protect you. Don't let the palace find out. Come on, we're out of here. To my house," James said.

Both of them silently left, trying not to be noticed by anyone. James' house was quite a distance away. Selena felt exhausted and couldn't walk anymore. James then carried Selena until they reached his house in the middle of the forest.

Selena panted. Her wounds reopened. James ripped the fabric from his shirt and used it as a bandage.

"Wait here, okay? I'll go hunting for food." James excused himself. Selena didn't worry about being left alone since the place was definitely safe. She simply needed some rest.

"This is my oath, Your Majesty. I will never again set my foot in the palace. All this time you have always treated me as you please. I'd rather be an ordinary human without a title of nobility. I hate you, Your Majesty! I hope you die soon and be replaced by someone else!"

Rumbles of thunder echoed shortly after. Selena wondered because the weather was still very bright just now. She went outside and checked. It was raining blood.

"Is this the blood of my people?"

*

If it's really the blood of my people, then the werewolf population will decline. What should I do? Why is this happening so fast? Selena thought.

All by herself, Selena slept for a long time because she was so tired. She didn't even realize that James had returned from hunting. She was startled when James gently stroked her hair in an attempt to wake her up.

"Are you home, Dear?" Selena shifted despite the stinging pain from her wounds.

"How is it? Do you feel better now?" James replied with a concerned look that was locked on Selena's wounds.

"I saw-"

"You must think it's the blood of your people, don't you?" James stopped her mid-sentence.

Selena slowly nodded. "Tell me if I'm wrong."

James nodded in response to the wolf queen. "Yes, you are right. We are on the verge of extinction. Tell me what solution you have in mind," he replied sadly.

Selena gave him a faint smile, her eyes seemed tired.

"I can't let North Land exist without werewolves. As a queen, this is my greatest guilt, James. I have no idea who started it. The war keeps going. It's almost certain that the werewolf race will be wiped out soon," she said, now with a pair of burning eyes.

"Are you thinking of returning to the palace and carrying out your duties as a queen? I've been thinking about that for quite some time. It's the only way for me, you, and the werewolves to survive. At least we can think of a way out. Discuss it with the king," James enthusedly said.

Selena spat in disgust. She hated it when James mentioned the wolf king, a selfish werewolf who had never considered her feelings. "I have sworn that I will never go back! Stop talking about it!" she demanded.

"Then, what will you do?"

Selena grabbed James' shoulders and turned him to face her. As best she could, she challenged James' beautiful pupils with her seductive gaze. Many ideas crossed his mind about how to protect the werewolves, but he felt that he had no right to interfere. He was only a human.

"Marry me, James," Selena said with hope in her voice. She looked deeply into James' eyes until the man gulped. Did Selena really want this?

"What?" James stared, his eyes widening in shock as he heard Selena's request.

"I'm sorry, Sweetheart. It looks like I can't fulfill this request. You know yourself, the relationship between an ordinary human and a werewolf is forbidden. I'm scared of being punished," James said miserably.

Selena flashed him a dry smile. "Why are you scared? Wasn't it me who'd receive the punishment?" Selena asked in a weak voice.

James quickly shook his head, holding his mate's hands in a firm grip. "That's easy for you to say, Selena! I love you so much! How could I let you be sentenced to death? Don't be silly!"

Selena burst into tears. She was confused, not knowing what else to do.

"Even so, my status is still that of the wolf queen. I don't want North Land to come to an end. Can't you help me? Just this once. Please marry me and carry on this bloodline." Selena kept begging.

James averted his gaze, trying to persuade Selena to find another way. "Don't be like this, Selena. Please try to understand. You can marry a pure werewolf, not me! That's the only way," James stated.

Selena's eyes widened. She was disappointed upon hearing her mate's words just now. How easy for him to ask her to marry someone else.

Selena sobbed bitterly. "Do you not love me? Why does it feel like you want to get rid of me?" she questioned.

James swallowed hard. His heart rumbled. On one hand, he really wanted to be with this woman forever. On the other hand, he wished he could forget Selena right this instant. Not only was his safety at risk, but Selena's life was also in grave danger. Her punishment would be crueler than her mistake in escaping from the palace.

"Why don't you answer me, James?"

James took a deep breath. "I do love you, I love you so much, but ...."

"I'm worried sick about you, Selena," he whispered, "but I definitely can't marry you. Not only had I betrayed the king, but the gods might be furious as well."

Selena cried in her mate's arms. Her heart was shattered. She felt useless as a queen. She couldn't find any way out. What's the point of her still being alive?

"If only my parents weren't selfish. I want to live as a commoner. No pressure, no confusing tasks. I wanted to be free since I was a child. Playing with friends. But, my father insisted that I had to be the next queen. See now? The king is a tyrant! I can't take it anymore," Selena stated, recalling her past.

"It's fate, Sweetheart. You can't go against the gods' will."

"You're defending them, James? I'm suffering here! Where is your heart?" Selena snapped out of anger.

"No, Sweetheart, that's not what I mean. I'm simply telling the truth. We are not God, we are merely mortal beings. All fate is laid in God's hands," James coaxed, trying to make Selena understand. Selena, who was a little annoyed, turned her back on the man.

James couldn't be ignored. He came closer, kissed Selena's neck, and whispered something into her ear.

"You're serious?" Selena's expression suddenly changed.

"I'll think about it, Sweetheart. Please give me some time," James pleaded.

Selena pouted. "How long will I wait for you to decide? Don't take too long, James. Look at the bloodshed out there!"

"I don't know. I'll try as soon as possible," James replied, kissing Selena's forehead affectionately.

"Okay, I keep your promise," Selena said in cheerful tone.

"But-"

"I'm willing to die with you, James. Even if the wolf king and the gods punish me, I don't mind as long as I can bear our children. Descendants who will one day become the leaders of this nation," Selena cut him off.

"You are now nothing more than an ordinary werewolf. Your powers were taken away by the king. How can you withstand that punishment?" James inquired.

"Marry me." Again, those words slipped out of Selena's mouth.

"Oh, come on! I don't think that's the solution!"

James felt puzzled about what he should do next. He was afraid that Selena would be angry if he refused her request. However, on the other hand, the punishment of the gods awaited them both. What to do now?

"Fine, I'll marry you," James finally said.

"You're serious?" Selena's eyes twinkled. James hesitantly nodded, his heart tinged with doubt. Is this the best decision?

"I'll call the elders of the werewolf race to marry us off," James said.

Selena smiled. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Although this will be very different from the party you had when you married the king. Just a simple ceremony, nothing in comparison," he added.

"I'm fine, I'm prepared for it and I'm happier with you."

*

James reached for the hands of the woman in front of him. His gaze was intense and fixated on her stunning figure. There were only a few witnesses in the room.

"I choose you, Selena, to be my wife and the mother of my future children, and I promise to be faithful and accompany you in hardship and joy," James said firmly in one breath.

Selena casted a smile of happiness. "I also accept you, James, as my husband and the father of my future children. I promise to stand by your side in the good and the bad." Selena made the same vow.

*