Chapter Four- Alpha Wolf

Razoul searched for criminals, trying to ignore his recollection of last night and the impulses of his new wolf side. He wanted to growl and eat raw meat and found it hard to resist them. He focused his attention on his duties but the attitude of his men was not easy to ignore. They were afraid of him; he could see it in their faces and he could even smell it.

He moaned to himself as he went to patrol the palace alone later on. He didn't like the sharper senses; they were distracting and smelling the fear of his men actually excited him which scared him, not that he would admit it.

"Razoul?"

The captain turned and bowed. "Princess," he said.

"I'm sorry I bit you. I…couldn't stop myself."

"I don't blame you. Like you said, you couldn't help it."

"I spoke to Father and he said he recalled smelling me as a leader, an alpha as wolves would call it."

"Yes," he said slowly. "I also recall that scent. I…wanted to be near you, to guard you."

"Father said the same thing. Perhaps we could share a larger cell and see how we interact with one another."

"An intriguing idea, princess. I agree with your decision."

"Good. Father is already having a large cell prepared for tonight."

"Princess…I am having trouble with my wolf side. I'm feeling urges to growl and eat raw meat and the sharper senses are distracting. My men are afraid of me. I can smell their fear and it…excites me."

"That could be the full moon wolf side. I grew excited when I smelled Aladdin's fear during the eclipse. Last night, I was angry at being locked up and the silver was hanging over my door."

"I heard your anger and it made me afraid."

"It seems I am an alpha. It will be an interesting night."

"Indeed."

"All three of you together?" Aladdin asked Sultan.

"Yes. Razoul and I smelled a scent from Jasmine that indicated that she is an alpha wolf, a leader. We both want to be near her to guard her. That being the case, it is best for us to share a larger cell. I already have guards preparing one. You will be in charge of the key and the silver like last time."

"Yes, your highness," Aladdin said.

The dungeon was prepared with food, water, pillows, sheets, and piles of straw. The pillows, sheets, and straw had been placed in three separate areas in case the three of them did not get along and wished to sleep alone. Sultan observed the set-up and turned to the guards. "Well done. Take up your positions for night shift." They bowed and, as they left, Sultan smelled their fear which excited him just as it did for Jasmine and Razoul who were already in the cell. "I do hope they get over their fear," he said to them. "The scent excites me and I'd rather not feel that way."

"After tomorrow night, you and Razoul won't feel excited by the smell. I likely will," Jasmine said, a little annoyed with how the curse worked.

"Why?" Razoul said.

"It's the curse," Jasmine said. "I alone possess the ability to turn others, full moon or not and will want to do so. The difference is that I will be in control of myself on the non-full moon nights, although Father did say the urge is quite strong."

"Are there any records on this curse? I mean, you both know a lot about it."

"I read about the curse's story and the entry following it, but nothing more," Sultan said.

"I read every scroll," Jasmine said. "They were journal entries written by every prince and princess who experienced it. I'm thinking of writing entries as well. I may have different experiences that the others didn't."

"Have the others bitten people?" Razoul asked.

"Yes and they expressed the same regret and guilt I feel."

Razoul could hardly believe his ears. A curse had been put on the royal family that targeted the youngest member. Yesterday's eclipse activated it and Jasmine had turned into a wifewolf who desired to bite humans and acted like a wolf. She had bitten the Sultan and himself and both had transformed last night. He had felt the desire to turn others but the silver on his door stopped him from ramming the door and the angry growls from Jasmine also kept him in his cell.

The clink of chains alerted the trio to Aladdin's approach. They moved further into the cell as the young man closed the door, locked it, and draped the silver over the door. He then stood at the door and Jasmine smiled slightly. He wanted to actually see her transform and she agreed as she would be locked up and the silver would stop her from trying to get at him.

Jasmine breathed harder before howling with the others following suite. Aladdin stared as Jasmine grew taller and her muscles enlarged before her hair turned to fur and spread down her body. Growls came from her mouth as her nose and jaws pushed out into a muzzle. Claws sprouted from her fingers and her ears gained points and moved to the top of her lupine head. Her legs and feet conformed into a wolf's back legs and paws while a bushy tail grew out. Her eyes glowed a solid red and she snarled as she clearly only thought as a wolf. Aladdin was entranced at seeing three two-legged wolves in the cell and then backed away as Jasmine turned toward him and actually charged the door. Her muzzle slipped between the bars and snapped at the air, growling and snarling as she clearly wanted to bite him. Aladdin slid along the far wall and ran once he was clear of the door.

"Okay, bad idea," he said as he went upstairs. "She actually risked the silver just to try and bite me. Well, now that I know how she transforms, I'm satisfied."

Jasmine backed away from the door ad whined at feeling weak and ill. She had smelled a human and wanted to bite him, despite the risk. She missed and now had to deal with the consequences.

She staggered to the meat and seized the largest and bloodiest piece she could find. Her eyes focused on the two males as she ate. Both were on their hands and paws, heads bowed, tails tucked, and hunched down to look smaller. Their body language was clear to her. They acknowledged her as their alpha and would follow her lead. Their deference gave her confidence and she tossed meat to them with a low growl for them to eat. They laid down and began to eat while she went to get a drink. She felt better now that she had eaten; she no longer felt weak and ill. She still wanted to bite someone and hated being confined but did not want to go near the things that caused her weakness and illness. She could order the males to ram open the door, but that put them at risk and, as alpha, the safety and well-being of her pack members was of utmost importance. She went to a pile of straw and laid on it, the relative softness feeling good to her.

One of the males, black like her, slunk toward her with ears folded and tail tucked. He barked softly to her and she answered with a confident bark. He laid down between his alpha and the door, determined to protect her from any danger. The white male, after a drink, joined him. Jasmine closed her eyes, knowing her pack members would fend off any threat and if they bit someone, all the better. She would have more members to protect her.