Chapter 15

"It wasn't Wolf's deepest desire to turn into a human. It was mine."

These words echoed out, carrying to all ears available. Twitchy released a gasp of shock while Granny watched on silently. Jack looked on in disbelief, unable to process what she said. "No, but Red! I-I really-"

"I'm sorry Jack, okay?" Red turned to him. "I didn't choose for this to happen, but it did. I didn't want any of this to happen, but it did."

"Obviously you did, because Wolf is standing over there right now as a human!" Jack snapped, angered at this new playing field Red set up where Jack was only a pawn and Wolf the King with Red at his side playing the Queen.

Red looked angry, "Look, it doesn't matter okay? What happened happened! We can't change the past so we have to find a way to change it for the future!"

Wolf only stared, unable to speak.

Red glanced at him guiltily before turning back to Jack, "Can we please just drop it?"

He glared, "Fine!" he spat, storming away into the cave, limping. He glared back to Wolf, eyes throwing knives of hatred.

Wolf continued to stare blankly at Red. She looked to him for a moment, finally shifting away, unable to hold his eyes.

As Red started to walk back into the cave, Wolf stumbled away, taking off into the forest.

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He tripped over things a pup would, landed in a huge puddle of water, but still he kept going, not caring that he was wetter and colder than he'd been since he got out here in this storm. His breathing came out in gasps as he ran, stumbling over random things in his way. He didn't care that he hit a small landslide, sending him tumbling down the hill, covering him with debris.

Red wanted him to become a human? Red? Of all people why her? Why would she want him to become a human? She knew how much he hated it!

It made no sense.

He continued to lay there, staring hopelessly up to the sky. The rain pattered against his skin, dulling him to the cold. He didn't care about anything right now; his mind was too busy, a flurry of activity to seek the reasoning behind Red's deepest wish.

A sigh escaped him. Closing his eyes, Wolf allowed himself to sleep in the falling rain.

Until a thought grabbed him, making him shoot up from where he lay.

Was Red in love with him?

. . . Nah.

(**)

Red waited inside the cave for Wolf to come back. She sat with her arms around her legs, breathing out shakily, nervously awaiting his arrival. Would he be disappointed in her? Angry? Upset? Would he even be able to look at her?

Doubtful.

She could imagine the expression on her face when she looked up to see him standing over her. Her eyes widened, staring at him in near confusion as he knelt before her. Red prepared to come up with a list of excuses to defend herself when she stopped, catching the cold gleam in his eyes.

He reached his hand forward, holding the side of her face he scratched. She stared up to him with widened eyes, blinking, trying not to make a response when he brushed his thumb along the claw marks.

With unexpected movement, Wolf entrapped her in a hug. Red didn't take any time to wonder his motive, only leaned more into him, eyes closed as his arms held her. His deep voice spoke, "I don't know why you would want me to be in this form, and I can tell you like it as much as I do. It's enough for me to put my trust in you."

Red's heart melted. She pressed her face into Wolf's neck, sighing softly as his hands held her back firmly. "I owe you that much," he whispered to her. "I owe you everything."

She lifted her head, looking to him, "What do you mean?"

Guilt flashed in Wolf's eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, shame coloring his features, "I-"

"Hey look the sun's coming out!" Granny called, walking to the end of the cave. She smiled at the couple, who hastily split up from each other, neither looking to the other. Red glanced at Wolf, giving him a small smile.

He didn't return it, features dark from the past.

"When do you think we can leave?" she questioned openly.

"We're pretty much stuck. The rain washed away any scent the witch would have left behind," Wolf said quietly. "We'll have to think of something else, find a new lead."

Red nodded, "Jack," she called, "Do you remember anything about the area where the witch kept you and your sister?"

Jack sat up, rubbing his head, his face still blackened by the bruises Wolf gave him. "Not much. It was dark out when we escaped and I couldn't see much." The boy furrowed his eyebrows. "There was a river though. I remember accidentally falling off a drop into it. She couldn't find me after that."

Granny's eyes shot open. She stared at him, "The Wishing River!"

"Wishing River?" Red asked, raising her eyebrows.

"If you come across it by accident or with pure intentions and swim in it or drink from it, the river will grant your most desirable wish."

Red and Wolf exchanged a look, both thinking the same thing. Could that turn him back into a wolf?

Granny went on, "At the time Jack wanted to find help and get away undetected. The river made sure of that. He found help didn't he?"

Red blinked in shock, wondering at the amazement of it all. "How did the river become that way?"

"The river began thousands of years ago when a league of fairy godmothers decided to create a river that would grant pure wishes. Back then there weren't a lot of godmothers to go around, so they enchanted the river for people who really needed help," Granny informed.

"Some river," Wolf said, blinking.

Red addressed her grandmother, "Granny, do you know the way there?"

"Of course I do," she said proudly. "We'll leave right now. You kids ready?"

They all nodded, getting onto the bikes. Jack's dogs leaped into their side-along car, shaking out their fur to dry it. Twitchy jumped in, happily being smothered with kisses and whines.

"I'll drive," Red offered, eyes bright with their new adventure.

Wolf nodded, allowing her to get on first. Granny asked Jack, "Were there any falls where you jumped?"

"I landed right in front of one," he answered back.

Granny smiled, "Perfect. I know exactly where we're going. Follow me Red!"

With a wild scream of excitement, the team drove to Wishing Falls.

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you shall all be pleased to know that I finished this story, like, I finished writing it. Dont worry you still have like 10 chapters after this xD