CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Wolf and Virginia entered Wendell's office. "Wendell, where is Rupert?" Wolf asked.

"Hello Wolf. It's nice to see you again." Wendell replied.

"I'm so sorry Wendie." Wolf gave Wendell a hug. "How are you?"

"I'm fine."

"And where's Rupert?" Wolf asked again.

"He's in Kissingtown."

"WHAT? Why did you let him go?!"

"And why should I stop him? He was doing his duty after all."

"My honeymoon is NOT HIS DUTY!!" Wolf got angry again. "Why can't you all understand that I want to make it special for my bride?!" Wolf's eyes flashed yellow.

"Wolf, honey clam down please." Virginia said and put her hand on his cheek and turned his face to her. "Calm down. We can solve this."

Wendell lowered his head. "I guess I should say it now."

"Say what?" Virginia asked.

Wendell looked at Wolf in the eyes. "Rupert is doing what I ordered him. I have sent him to Kissingtown to do some preparations for your honeymoon. That was supposed to be a surprise and your wedding gift. Looks like you don't like surprises or gifts Wolf. You want to do everything on your own. All wolves think the same way. That's why people keep away from them until now. It's been months now since the royal pardon, but people can't make friends with wolves. Now I understand why." Wendell said and left the office slamming the door behind him.

Wolf felt guilty. He scratched his temple nervously. Virginia turned to her father who was in a shock too.

"Why did you call us? You knew about that and wanted to ruin everything dad?" Virginia asked.

"I didn't know anything about that Virginia. I thought that Rupert was doing it on his own. I never knew that it was Wendell's present to you."

"I don't believe you dad." She turned back on the voice of the door getting closed. Wolf wasn't there anymore. "Wolf?" Virginia called and went out to the corridor. "Wolf? Where did you go?" she went back to the office. "Are you satisfied now? He's gone! And God knows where he went! Dad, this is all you fault! And tonight there's a full moon! Didn't you think about that when you planned all this?" Virginia said angrily and looked out of the window. She saw Wolf running to the forest. "Wolf! I have to reach him!" And she ran out.

"Virginia wait!" Tony called but Virginia was already out of the room. "I didn't know about that." He said and lowered his head. He looked out of the window and saw Virginia running into the forest. Wolf wasn't on sight now. Maybe he was somewhere deeper in the forest.

Tony went out of the office and searched for Wendell. He asked the servants if they've seen him, and he knew from them that Wendell was in his room. Tony went there, and knocked the door before opening.

"Who's there?" Wendell asked from inside.

"It's me Tony. Can I come in?"

"Yes."

Tony opened the door and went inside. "Are you OK?" he asked as he closed the door.

"I guess so. I just lost my temper there. I feel guilty about what I said."

"Well, I guess Wolf felt the same. He ran to the forest."

"What? But why?"

"How should I know? Besides, you should've told me that you were planning for that present. None of this would've happened then."

"I didn't know that you had a big mouth Anthony."

"Hey! I don't have a big mouth! And quit playing innocent! You have a similar big mouth too!"

"Watch your words."

"If you really pardoned the wolves, you wouldn't have said all that to Wolf. Just a note on a piece of paper doesn't mean anything for them. You've ruined everything with a few words Wendell! And you gained yourself only one new friend."

"Who's that?"

"Queen Red Riding Hood III. She'll be very happy to hear about what happened between you and Wolf, and she wouldn't lose the chance to talk to you about a plan on getting rid of wolves!"

"That will never happen! I will not agree about that kind of an offer!" Wendell stood up.

"You better think of some way to get them back here. If any other wolf knew about what happened, I don't think that consequences would be nice." Tony said. "Besides, Virginia ran after him. If anything happens to her or the baby, I'll blame you for it Wendell." Wendell looked at Tony in amazement. "I'm sorry to say that Wendell, but you have to do something about getting them back here. If you really want to."

"Anthony, why didn't you say that Virginia ran after him from the beginning?" Wendell went to side of his bed and pulled a rope that rang a bell for a servant to come. The servant knocked the door and entered.

"Did you call Your Majesty?"

"Yes. Tell General Silverstone to come and see me right now. It's an emergency."

"Yes Your Highness." The servant bowed and left. After a few minutes a tall man with a silver hair, wearing a military uniform came in.

"What's the matter Your Majesty?" he asked.

"General, send some of you best soldiers to search for Wolf and Virginia. They are in the forest, they might be in danger."

"Alright. Anything else Your majesty?"

"That would be all."

"If you'll excuse me." The general bowed and went out.

"Why can't we go to find them?" Tony asked.

"Because soldiers will do the job better than us."

"I just hope that nothing bad happens. Virginia said that it's a full moon tonight."

"Suck an elf! I've totally forgot about that!" Wendell replied.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was almost 2 o'clock. Virginia kept running through the forest searching for Wolf. But she couldn't catch up with him. She looked around. Great! Now she was lost.

"Wolf?!" she called. "Wolf where are you?" she looked around, but he wasn't anywhere she could see or hear him. She got scared. What if she couldn't manage to go back? She started to cry. She fell on her knees and cried. "WOLF! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!" She screamed as loud as she could. "I'm scared." She said in a low voice and continued to sob.

She jumped when a hand touched her shoulder. She turned around and saw what she wanted to see. Her love, her mate for life. His hair was in a mess, and he was sweating. Wolf smiled at her lovingly. "Sorry I left you alone." He said in a soft calming voice.

"Oh Wolf! I was scared!" she threw herself on him and hugged him tightly. "I thought I wouldn't see you anymore. I thought I was lost. I…"

"Shhh. You're alright now." He hugged her and moved his hand on her back. "Everything will be fine. I've found us a place. Let's go there."

"A place?" Virginia looked at him. "But we have a home."

"You mean the palace? I'm not going back there. Wolves are not welcome in there."

"What about New York?"

"I prefer the forest Virginia. Where I can be free. I can hunt here; I can bring food for my family. I can do everything here." He saw her unsure face expression, and continued. "If you don't want to stay with me I'll understand."

"Are you crazy? How could ever say that? I will never leave you, no matter what! You are cursed to love me, and I am cursed to love you. No one can break that spell. No one."

Wolf stared in her blue eyes that seemed to be oceans, and smiled. "I love you." He said and they kissed.

"Should we go to that place now?" Virginia asked after they broke the kiss.

"Yes." They stood and Wolf took her hand and they walked deeper in the forest.

"Wolf?"

"Yes?"

"Do you know that it's a full moon tonight?"

"I know. And you don't have to be scared. I will be out hunting."

"It's not that."

"What is it then?"

"I want to hunt with you." Virginia said.

Wolf looked at her amazed. "Do you really want that?"

"Yes. Will you teach me how to hunt?"

"Of course I will!"

"And one more thing."

"Name it."

"Teach me how to howl like a wolf?"

Now Wolf was very happy. His mate wanted to be like him. "I'll teach you anything and everything you need to know." He smiled and kissed her again.

They walked for a while and finally they stopped in front of a tree. Virginia looked at that tree. It felt familiar.

"This is it." Wolf said.

"Wolf, isn't this the Huntsman's tree?"

"The very same one." He said. "You know he's dead. And no one lives here, so I guess we can stay here."

"I don't know. I'm scared of it."

"You don't have to be scared. I'll be by your side all the time."

Wolf pushed a spot on the tree and the door was opened.

"How did you know that was the door?"

"My nose told me. The huntsman's scent is still here. It's old, but it will fade after we clean up the mess a little bit."

Virginia smiled at him and they went inside.