Chapter 200 Pretty Lady
Third-Person POV:
Within moments, the little girl lying on the hospital bed had transformed into a beautiful white wolf pup.
Angela covered her mouth, hardly believing what she was seeing.
The tiny wolf lifted its head and looked around the room, blinking at the unfamiliar surroundings. Then it spotted Angela and let out a soft, high-pitched whine.
“Oh, sweetheart!”
The little wolf scrambled toward her, trying to climb into her arms. Angela laughed through her tears and quickly gathered the pup against her chest. “Look at you! Oh, my beautiful baby!”
Dr. Billy was still watching the wolf in amazement.
“I’ve heard of cases like this, but they’re extraordinarily rare. A wolf emerging at such a young age… some say it happens only once every two or three centuries.”
Angela barely heard him. She was too busy stroking Arabella’s soft white fur, relieved to find that her little body was no longer burning.
Then her fingers brushed against something unusual beneath the fur. She paused and gently parted the white hair to examine it.
Two small, distinct marks were visible on the wolf’s body. Angela’s smile disappeared.
“Doctor…” She looked up at him. “What is this? Does she have…?” Dr. Billy leaned closer to examine the marks. After a moment, he nodded slowly.
“Yes, Angela. It’s extremely rare. Only a handful of werewolves are ever born with these. According to the old beliefs, those who carry them are especially favored by the Moon Goddess.”
Angela looked down at the little wolf in her arms. “Oh, my baby…” She gently pressed her cheek against the pup’s head.
“Angela,” the doctor said quietly, drawing her attention. “You mustn’t tell anyone about this.”
She looked at him in surprise.
“The marks like these will attract unwanted attention. Right now, it’s hidden beneath her fur. Even someone who sees her wolf form might not notice it. But as she grows older, these will become much more visible.”
Angela instinctively tightened her hold around Arabella. “So, what should I do?”
“For now, nothing. Let her grow up like any other child. And until we understand more about her wolf, don’t tell anyone what you’ve seen tonight.”
Angela nodded and looked down at her daughter, who had already settled comfortably against her chest.
***
From that day onward, Angela became even more protective of Arabella. She had always loved her daughter more than anything in the world, but now she had another reason to worry about her safety.
Following the senior doctor’s advice, she began taking Arabella to a secluded part of the forest every afternoon. The land belonged to Dr. Billy and was surrounded by tall trees and a high fence. It was far from the usual paths used by pack members, and the doctor had assured Angela that nobody would enter the property without his permission.
There, Angela would let Arabella shift into her little white wolf and run around freely for thirty minutes.
According to the doctor, regular shifting would help Arabella become familiar with her wolf and gradually learn to control her transformations. Otherwise, there was a risk that she might shift in front of other people, especially when she became excited or upset.
Arabella loved those visits.
The moment she shifted, she would race across the grass, chase butterflies, and roll around in the fallen leaves. Sometimes she would come running back to Angela, nudging her legs until her mother bent down to pet her.
No matter how busy or tired Angela was, she never missed those daily visits.
As the months passed, Arabella’s fevers stopped, and she became much better at shifting whenever Angela asked her to.
Nobody in the Blackthorn Pack knew that a three-year-old girl had already gotten her wolf. Not even Rick.
Angela intended to keep it that way for as long as she could.
***
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Arabella, happy birthday to you!”
Angela finished singing and clapped as Arabella leaned forward to blow out the little candle on her cake. The six-year-old squealed happily when the flame went out.
“I’m six, Mama!”
“Yes, you are!” Angela laughed and kissed her forehead. “My little girl is growing up so fast. Now, tell me, what did you wish for?”
Arabella thought about it for a moment. Then her attention shifted to the necklace hanging around her mother’s neck. “Can I have that, Mama?”
Angela followed her gaze and touched the silver serpent locket, with its tiny ruby. “This?”
Arabella nodded eagerly. “It’s so pretty. Can I wear it?”
Angela removed the necklace and held it for a moment. Then fastened it around her little neck. “There. It’s yours now.”
Arabella immediately looked down at it, holding the little serpent between her fingers. “Thank you, Mama!” She threw her arms around Angela, who hugged her tightly.
They spent the next few minutes eating cake together. Once they were finished, Angela packed away the leftovers and wiped her daughter’s hands.
“All right, sweetheart. Time for your wolf to get some exercise.”
Arabella needed no encouragement. She hurried toward the grassy clearing and shifted into her beautiful white wolf.
Angela smiled as the little wolf shook herself and came running back for a quick cuddle. But as she stroked her fur, Angela noticed the two marks on her body.
They had grown a bit.
She gently parted the white fur to examine them more closely. Every year, they became a little larger, and Angela was beginning to worry about how long she could keep them hidden.
At this rate, they would be impossible to conceal by the time Arabella turned eighteen. She had just released the little wolf when Arabella suddenly pricked up her ears and turned toward the fence.
“Arabella?”
Without warning, the little wolf raced across the clearing and jumped over it. “Arabella! Where are you going?”
Angela hurried after her. She had lost her own wolf years ago, but she was still physically stronger than an ordinary human. With some struggle, she managed to climb over the fence and drop onto the other side.
“Arabella, come back here!” She had barely taken a few steps when she realized something was wrong.
A man stepped out from behind a tree, followed by another. Their clothes were filthy, and the unpleasant smell coming from them made her immediately recognize what they were.
Rogues.
Then she noticed more figures emerging from the bushes behind her.
Angela’s face went pale. She looked around desperately, searching for a glimpse of white fur among the trees.
“Arabella!” she shouted. “Arabella, come back to Mama!”
One of the rogues laughed. “Looking for someone, pretty lady?”