Freya's POV
I rode on Eric's back as he raced through the trees.
In order to avoid being spotted by Robert and the others, we abandoned all possible modes of transportation and opted for the most primitive way of running to Snowland.
After about an hour and a half of running, I finally insisted that Eric take a break.
"Eric," I said. "You need to take a break. I have some water."
He stopped, and I slid off.
After he caught his breath, I climbed back on, and we continued our run toward Snowland.
As we approached Snowland, I could feel the temperature dropping visibly around us.
The wind and snow raged, and the once-white Snowland turned silent. The cold wind whistled, blowing snowflakes like a dream. The mountains in the distance loomed in the wind and snow, resembling a quiet painting of heaven and earth.
"We're here," Eric said softly. I slid off him, and Eric quickly transformed into human form in front of me.
We hurried across the snowy plains, my footprints leaving deep and shallow trails in the white snow.
Clad in a heavy down jacket, I could no longer feel my fingertips in my gloves. I traveled along the edge of the snowfield, one step at a time. Snowflakes fluttered in front of me, but my gaze remained fixed ahead.
"Are you sure this is the place?" Eric asked.
I nodded. "Yes, I'm sure."
In my dream, Kingsley and those rogues had encountered an avalanche in this very area.
Suddenly, I saw the shadow of a clump of trees, as if it were a natural shelter from the wind and snow.
I quickened my pace, hoping to find some clues under that patch of trees.
Stepping into the thickly wooded area, I found some snow-covered tracks and followed them with worry and unease.
I sniffed my nose carefully, trying to recognize Kingsley's scent.
Suddenly, I felt the marks on my neck begin to emit a warm sensation, letting me know I was heading in the right direction.
The silence in the snow was shattered by the sound of my footsteps, and Eric followed me cautiously, ready to confront any enemies that might appear straight on.
Suddenly, an agonizing howl cut through the night sky, causing my heart to skip a beat.
"That sound is..."
Surprised, I glanced in the direction of the noise, only to discover a wolf huddled in the snow, its fur stained with blood.
I approached quietly, noticing that one of the wolf's front legs was twisted and unusable, its eyes revealing a sense of helplessness.
My heart skipped a beat again when our eyes met. The wolf seemed to recognize me, slowly moving toward me and nuzzling its head close to my arms before falling into a deep sleep.
It appeared to have been waiting for me for a long time, bracing itself in the snow. Only at this moment, upon seeing me, did it finally let go of its guard.
Immediately afterward, I decisively removed my own scarf and carefully draped it over the wolf's body.
"Freya, is this wolf supposed to be..." Eric asked, looking at the wolf incredulously.
I nodded with difficulty. Although I couldn't believe it myself, the burning mark on the back of my neck and the familiar scent of this wolf told me it was Kingsley.
I just didn't understand why Kingsley couldn't change back to his human form, and his wolf form was now even no different in size than a normal wolf.
But, for now, the most crucial thing was to get Kingsley out of here.
Eric transformed into his wolf form again and gestured for me to place Kingsley on his back. Carefully hugging Kingsley, who was now in wolf form, I gently placed him on Eric's back and quickly transformed into a wolf as well.
"Are you okay?" Eric asked me with concern as he turned his head.
I knew what he was worried about, and I nodded towards him, saying, "Don't worry; I can still handle this part of the journey."
"Alright then, next, I will take you to my pack to settle down first, where Alpha Kingsley will receive treatment. However, to cover your tracks, I will help you disguise your appearance before arriving at the pack and claim to the public that you are my mate, Marian, and Kingsley..."
Eric frowned as if considering what Kingsley's new identity should be.
I glanced up at the unconscious Kingsley and suddenly had a mischievous thought.
"How about we just say he's my pet! Let's call him Kim."
I followed Eric quickly to his pack. Our arrival didn't arouse anyone's suspicion, and I smoothly entered Eric's house with him.
"I need to meet with Alpha Craig first and inform him about my return."
Alpha Craig had returned to his pack after delivering his daughter, Mavis, to the Shadowmoon Pack and receiving a promise from the king.
I looked at Eric who had changed back to his human form and was fully dressed, and I nodded.
After Eric left, I sat quietly on the edge of my bed, gazing at Kingsley, who was still unconscious, lost in deep thought.
Eric didn't keep me waiting for long, and within moments, he returned with an unfamiliar person behind him.
I was instantly alert, wondering if Eric had reneged on his agreement with Mavis and me.
Eric noticed this and quickly explained, "This is my sister and assistant, Amy. I brought her here to assist me in treating Kingsley."
I relaxed at his words and then greeted Amy. "Sorry, I was just so worried about my pet."
Amy gave me a mischievous wink and said, "It seems you really love your pet, Ms. Marian."
She then followed Eric's instructions, and together they walked over to Kingsley to begin the examination and treatment.
Kingsley's body bore wounds of various sizes, and an hour had passed since the bandaging was completed.
After carefully assessing Kingsley's physical condition, Eric approached me with a grave expression. By now, Amy had already been instructed by him to go out and fetch some medicines, leaving only the two of us in the room.
"Well?" I asked anxiously.
"It's hard to tell. It seems that at the moment he was on the brink of death, Alpha Kingsley's power was compelled to seal up, transforming him into what he is now-a normal wolf."
"And how long will this last?" I inquired, a worried frown on my face.
"Not sure. We'll have to wait until he wakes up first. Perhaps once all his injuries have healed, he'll return to normal," Eric declared seriously.
My gaze couldn't help but linger on Kingsley who was now a wolf, filled with concern.