Chapter 123 - Fighting Together

[ Zhou Ancestral Mansion: Thirty Minutes Ago… ]

Intruders attacked the mansion and already chased Kira to capture him but Marceline was still sound asleep inside Kira's casket, oblivious of what was happening outside.

While she was inside the casket, Marceline began to see something– a strange dream. It was about Kira's past. She saw different memories related to Kira's past.

She didn't know why she was able to see some events that already happened in the past. It was playing in her mind like a series of flashbacks. She felt that she was watching the love story of Kira.

Was this the effect of Kira's magical casket? Marceline's presence might have triggered something inside the casket or the other way around.

In her strange dream, (Yeah, she assumed that it was just a dream.) she saw Kira smiling at her as he extended his hand as if he was inviting her to come over and hold his hand.

Marceline was about to walk over to hold his hand but someone appeared, taking Kira's hand. She was mistaken! Kira was not smiling at her but at the lady behind her.

She was wearing a red velvet dress. Marceline didn't see her face, only her back. Kira looked so happy as he gazed at the lady intently. The love and devotion could be seen in his scarlet eyes. He was smiling at her.

But for some unknown reason, Marceline's heart skipped a beat after seeing his charming smile even though that smile was not for her, but for the woman he was holding in his arms.

Surprisingly, she didn't get jealous at all. But she was curious to see the woman's face. 

'Is she Selene? Kira's first love?' Marceline mused to herself.

"Kira…" she called his name but Kira didn't respond. He didn't even glance at her.

At that certain moment, she realized that she was invisible to their eyes. They couldn't see her nor feel her presence at all.

Soon enough, the scene in front of her changed. She saw Kira and the lady in red velvet dress kissing each other passionately. Her heart jumped with excitement rather than being hurt and upset. She felt like she was the one being kissed by Kira. This was so absurd!

Marceline shook her head with her closed eyes, trying to calm her emotions. When she opened them, another scene was being shown to her– a fighting scene!

Someone was fighting Kira, attacking him using a sharp dagger.

"Kira be careful!" She screamed, giving him a warning but Kira couldn't hear her voice. Marceline was just a spectator who couldn't intervene between the two.

Something was wrong when Kira saw the face of his attacker. He was put in a state of utter shock. Marceline felt like she had seen this or rather she had heard about this incident.

'Why am I seeing this? Is this Kira's past? A part of his memory?' Marceline asked herself.

"Noooo!" Her heart sank the moment she saw the woman stabbing Kira on his chest. She wanted to run and hold Kira but she couldn't proceed further. 

There was an invisible barrier that was stopping her from getting near them. No wonder she couldn't hear their conversation and their voices. She could only watch their actions.

It was so hard to explain but she could feel the woman's pain and sadness. 

'Why? Why am I seeing this? Why can I feel her emotions… her true emotions?' Marceline's tears fell from the corners of her eyes. She didn't want to cry but… the woman's emotions were affecting her. 

'She's crying inside… her heart is heartbroken and in pain… but Why? Why did she do that to Kira? I could feel her sadness… as if she didn't want this turn of events…'

While watching the scene in front of her, Marceline heard a woman's voice. It was just a faint sound but she heard the words clearly.

'Wake up… we have to protect Kira. He's in danger.'

'WHAT?! Kira is in danger… No! I have to save him!'

Marceline's willpower and the urge to protect Kira awakened the strongest beast inside her– Stella, her white wolf!

*****

[ Northleaf Timberland Forest: Present Time…  ]

GROWL!

The loud, menacing and feral growl of the giant white wolf echoed in the entire forest, intimidating the other werewolves present in the area.

The sudden arrival of this white wolf astounded and baffled everyone out of their wits! Even the five werewolves who were charging in his direction came to a halt upon seeing the great white wolf. 

'The legendary white wolf appeared tonight during the full moon. Is the Moon Goddess back?'

The werewolf fighters including Cedric peered at their surroundings, searching for the Moon Goddess. When they didn't see any sign of her, they moved their gaze back to the beautiful white wolf standing before them.

The white wolf was shielding Kira from them. This action caused a great shock and puzzlement to the werewolves.

'She's the one we encountered last time! She is the white wolf residing in this forest!' One of them spoke to his comrades upon recognizing the white wolf. She's none other than Marceline! And her wolf's name was Stella.

'So this is she… the guardian of this forest,' Cedric spoke up, giving her a scrutinizing gaze. He tried to communicate with her through a mind link.

'We didn't mean to intrude here… in your territory, so please don't be upset.' Though Cedric was an Alpha, he tried to humble himself in front of this white wolf.

He could feel the immense power radiating through her. This white wolf was not someone they could afford to offend. The full moon intensified her power and strength.

Even if they combined their powers, Cedric was not certain if they could win against her. He had never seen the true power of the white wolf yet.

Besides, they were not here to pick a fight against this great white wolf. They were here to capture that pesky bloodsucker! He wanted to relay this to the white wolf whom he thought was the guardian of this forest.

'We came here to catch that vampire. He is hiding at your back. He is dangerous and ruthless. He already killed five of our own.' Cedric was asking permission for the white wolf to allow them to make some moves now.

They had to attack and capture Kira while he was still blind. His eyes were hurt after being exposed to the ultraviolet lights. They thought Kira was vulnerable and weak at this moment so it was the right time to capture him.

But Marceline didn't move from her spot. She was still in a protective stance, shielding Kira. Her amber eyes were glowing with rage.

From her lowered lids, she shot a commanding look at them. 'Back Off!' This was her response to Cedric.

The other werewolves didn't know what they should do under these circumstances. It seemed that the white wolf was protecting the vampire.

But why? They couldn't understand her motive. She was a werewolf so she had to be on their sides, not Kira!

The werewolves were on the standby move, exchanging glances with one another. They were waiting for their Alpha's command. But they just hoped that Cedric would give in and ask the whole team to retreat.

They could sense great danger by just looking at the angry white wolf. Aside from being a white wolf, she was a Female Alpha! Their survival instinct was telling them not to challenge her.

'This is my last request… please don't get involved with our fight. We just wish to capture that vampire. Hand him over to us.' Cedric warned her, intimidating her with his own aura.

This time Marceline showed them her sharp teeth, her eyes burning with rage as she stepped her one foot forward. 'WHOEVER TRIES TO LAY A HAND ON HIM, shall go through me FIRST!'

Cedric already lost the last strand of his patience! He hated the fact this white wolf was protecting and defending a vampire. She chose him over her fellow werewolves.

Now, he didn't give a damn to this white wolf! She wanted to fight them just because of a mere vampire?! Then he would give it to her.

'ATTACK NOW! CAPTURE THAT VAMPIRE AT ALL COSTS!' Cedric already gave his final order. Though they were afraid of the white wolf, they had to follow their Alpha's command.

All the werewolves charged in, leaping forward as they launched a simultaneous attack against Kira and Marceline. They divided themselves into two groups– one group attacking Marceline and the other one capturing Kira. Cedric also joined them by targeting Kira.

Whoosh!

Everyone moved at their full speed, swinging their claws, and opening their mouth to take a bite of their opponents.

Running paws, fierce and menacing growls continued to echo in the forest.

Thud! Thud! Whimpers! 

Several werewolves were thrown out a few meters away after bumping Marceline's wolf head-on. She was just blocking, dodging, and throwing them away from their current spot. Her werewolf's instinct didn't want to kill them so she was not giving them a fatal attack.

Meanwhile, Kira was also fighting back with his eyes closed. He might be blind for the moment, but he could still detect their movements by the use of his other senses.

He felt it… Stella's presence. He knew that the werewolf who protected him a while ago was Marceline.. She was fighting by his side! This thought gave him another source of power, making him more stronger than before. He has been recharged because of Marceline's presence, fighting along with him!