The Demon Lord's Fiona

"I am lost," I whispered, standing in the middle of the dark woods.

I had been following the stag for nearly an hour. I was exhausted as I hadn't eaten in days. My hunger drove me to pursue the prey, knowing it would provide me with enough food to sustain myself for weeks.

Enduring days of starvation was not unfamiliar to me. I had experienced even worse conditions before I became a rogue. However, one positive outcome of leaving the pack, or rather being expelled from it, was the freedom to search for food on my own terms.

As old memories flooded back, I trembled, remembering the despair I had once endured.

However, the old man who had taken me in amidst the solitude of the forest had given me numerous warnings about the deceptive nature of this particular forest. We were no longer in the wolf realm. The ruler of this sinister forest possessed a power that surpassed that of any known species.

I wondered if that stag I had seen was merely an illusion or a deceitful ploy by the demons, just as the old man had cautioned.

As I found myself now lost within the depths of the foreboding forest, fear began to envelop me gradually. The old man had strictly forbidden me from venturing towards the northern region of the forest, as that marked the territory of the demon lord.

I spun around, startled by a rustling noise nearby. After chasing the stag for such a long distance, it would be a waste to return empty-handed. Besides, I couldn't survive another week without food. The forest's freezing temperatures signified there were hardly any animals in the area where I was staying temporarily.

The old man, who couldn't hunt anymore since his wolf had died, would also struggle to survive without food for another week. This thought made me desperate to catch the stag.

I caught sight of the stag again, standing in the distance amidst the shrubs beneath the towering trees. The sunlight filtering through the forest's canopy illuminated the animal, making it seem otherworldly.

I was just a low-ranking beta. Could I really capture this magnificent creature? I pondered this for a moment before shaking my head, berating myself silently. Male betas my age could easily hunt down a whole herd of stags. If only I weren't like this, I sighed heavily.

I made an attempt to approach the animal, making an effort to remain silent. However, I was taken aback when the stag looked directly at me, our eyes meeting. I came to a halt, feeling as though I was rooted to the spot.

"How?" I questioned myself internally, wondering how the stag had managed to spot me so easily despite my efforts to remain hidden and quiet in my wolf form.

The stare from the stag sent a shiver down my spine. There was something unusual about it, but I couldn't retreat any further. Without wasting any time, I leaped at the animal from behind the bushes where I had been hiding.

I was filled with horror as I witnessed the stag's horn transforming before my eyes. Nevertheless, I had already launched the attack, my body flying through the air, halfway towards the animal I believed to be my prey.

To my surprise, the stag's horns shifted into two massive black wings, and its body transformed into that of a human. The man seized me by my neck, causing me to growl in his grip.

I locked my eyes with the man, who possessed the most beautiful but chilling pair of eyes. The tinge of red hue in the iris shimmered like a volcano in the darkness.

The man's ethereal presence emanated an otherworldly allure. With a timeless visage, he possessed a striking handsomeness. His chiseled features were sculpted with an aristocratic elegance, framed by raven-black hair that cascaded in loose waves around a face both haunting and captivating. His skin, as pale as the glow of the moon, was flawless and smooth, seemingly untouched by the passage of time.

"You repulsive creature!" The man said calmly. His voice exuded a strong sense of authority and disgust. However, I couldn't help but notice the alluring tone.

How could someone like this even exist? I wondered if it was just a figment of my malnourished mind. Regardless, the reality of the situation became apparent as I felt slender, long fingers digging deep into my neck. I struggled to breathe as my body fought against the grip.

The man forcefully threw my wolf form to the ground, using his boots to pin my neck down. His massive black wings vanished into his back as if they were a mere illusion.

"Master," another male voice chimed in, and through the haze of my blurred vision, I saw a well-suited young man briefly appear and bow slightly to the man who was tormenting me.

"Have you brought back the pup?" the attractive man from before asked, still pinning my neck with his leg, leaving me too weak to resist.

"I apologize for my failure, Master," the other man replied, placing his hand over his chest and continuing to bow. "The mother unexpectedly appeared. It was impossible to bring back the pup without harming the mother. However, you had ordered not to harm her."

"That's correct. I am pleased that you were able to control yourself, Caspian," the Master said, sounding satisfied with his butler. "Where are they now?"

The butler suddenly lifted his head from his bow and gave his master a mischievous yet charming smile. I saw the other man for the first time and wondered if they were trying to outdo each other in appearing otherworldly.

The man was the same height as his Master. Raven-black hair, neatly combed and falling just above his collar. His eyes, an entrancing shade of deep amethyst, held an ancient wisdom and a captivating intensity. He possessed an impeccable posture that exuded elegance. His sharp, angular features were flawlessly sculpted, emphasizing a chiseled jawline and high cheekbones that added an aristocratic charm to his countenance.

I couldn't comprehend the topic of the conversation between the two men, as they completely disregarded my presence.

"A pup? Puppy?" I wondered. "Did they come to the woods to capture stray canines?"

I couldn't believe how ridiculous that sounded to my ears, given the caliber of the two males before me.

The energy emitting from them surpassed any alpha I had encountered before. My face turned bitter, recalling the memories of meeting the alphas in my past. It felt as though the old wounds on my body had been reopened. Before I could delve further into my thoughts, the pressure on my neck became unbearable.

The butler spoke again, his smile growing wider, admitting, "I felt extremely ashamed to approach Master without bringing anything with me." I couldn't help but notice a sinister undertone to that smile. "Therefore, I lured the mother and her young one to accompany me to Master."

Immediately after the butler concluded his statement, I witnessed a horrifying sight as a tremendous roar shook the entire forest. The animal I had presumed to be a mere canine finally emerged, causing me to tremble in sheer terror.

A colossal, malevolent being pounced directly towards us. Its visage resembled the mouth of a penguin, filled with razor-sharp teeth that covered every inch of the cavity, even extending to the roof. Its face resembled that of a shark, while its immense body resembled that of a dog.

"What the hell is this?" I exclaimed silently in my mind, my sanity hanging by a thread.

The Master blankly stared at his butler, as if he were accustomed to his butler acting like a psychopath. Suddenly, I felt the pressure of the boots being lifted from my neck. The Master stepped back as the monster lunged forward.

With my body deprived of oxygen, I could no longer sustain my wolf form. As the man released me, my body slowly shifted back into my human form. The Master furrowed his brow, surprised to discover that the wolf had been a female all along.

His eyes locked onto the woman before him, who sat there nursing the fresh bruise on her neck. My once long, blonde hair, which used to flow like liquid gold down my slim waist, now appeared disheveled and scattered like a broom due to lack of nourishment. The radiant strands framed my slim and undernourished features.

I had a complexion that was even paler than a sheet of paper. Gradually, a thin, white fabric covered in numerous marks of dirt became visible on my body. Prior to that, the Master had observed my back, where the bones of my spine were visible through my skin. It was possible to count my ribs. The frail lines of my body suggested vulnerability.

The creature's eyes glowed, observing the weak prey seated in front of it. Just as the monster was about to tear me apart, the Master suddenly approached, touching its forehead with his index finger.

Instantly, the creature stopped, and its aggression vanished. A young pup, similar to the monster, emerged from the woods and curled up next to its mother's paws.

The Master picked up the pup and held it in his arms, while I stared at him in astonishment. I had never seen such a magical scene before. It was hard to believe that the man could appear so ethereal even while cradling such a gruesome creature.

The man handed the pup to his butler, instructing the mother to leave. Without any protest, the violent creature immediately departed.

Finally, the man turned to me, giving me the most intense gaze I had ever encountered. If looks could kill, I would have been torn into pieces right then and there.