Vengeance of the wolf princess

CRASSUS POV

The black car glided smoothly along the road, carrying Crassus and Estella back to their villa. The trip from Sheila's estate had been quiet, with Estella deep in thought as she gazed out of the window, processing everything they had discussed about the wedding.

Crassus, on the other hand, appeared perfectly at ease, one hand casually resting on the steering wheel while the other occasionally reached for hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

When they arrived, the grand gates opened automatically, and the car rolled into their villa's private driveway. Crassus parked and swiftly got out to open the door for Estella.

"Come," he said gently, taking her hand.

They stepped inside, the familiar warmth of their home embracing them.

Crassus turned to her and held her hands firmly. His dark eyes locked onto hers, full of quiet reassurance. "Don't worry about anything," he said. "My mother is handling all the wedding preparations. We only need to go for a fitting in five days. That way, the tailor can make any necessary adjustments in time."

Estella nodded, exhaling softly. "That's a relief. I didn't expect your mother to take charge so quickly."

A smirk tugged at Crassus's lips. "She enjoys these things. And trust me, once she decides on something, there's no stopping her."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek mobile phone before placing it in her hands.

"For you," he said.

Estella blinked in surprise. "For me?"

"Yes," he confirmed. "In case you need to reach me when I'm not around." He guided her to the couch and sat beside her, his hands gently positioning the phone in her palm.

"Let me show you how it works."

Patiently, Crassus walked her through the basics—how to turn it on and off, how to answer calls and send messages, and even how to use a few applications that might be useful to her. Estella listened intently, occasionally testing out what he taught her.

"See? It's not that complicated," Crassus said with a satisfied nod.

Estella smiled, staring at the device in her hand. "It's fascinating," she admitted. "I've never had one before."

"Now you do," he said, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "And if you ever need me, all you have to do is press this." He guided her finger to his saved contact.

Crassus noticed the way Estella's gaze had become distant, her expression unreadable as she sank into deep thought. Something was weighing on her mind, but she wasn't saying anything. She looked a bit down, and he didn't like that.

"I have something to show you," he said, stepping closer. "Come for a run with me."

Estella blinked, pulled from her thoughts. "A run?"

"In your wolf form," he clarified. "It'll help clear your mind."

She hesitated, her brows furrowing. "I don't—"

"Trust me," Crassus interrupted gently. "It'll be worth it."

Still, she looked reluctant, so he added, "Before you shift, pack a change of clothes in a small bag. You'll need them later."

With a small sigh of defeat, Estella nodded and walked to another room. Crassus waited patiently, listening as the soft rustling of fabric and movement filled the silence. A moment later, she emerged—not as a woman, but as a magnificent wolf.

His breath hitched.

Estella's wolf was breathtaking. Her fur shimmered like silver under the moonlight, a blend of deep gray and streaks of white, and her eyes, the same striking shade as before, held a quiet intensity. But what stunned him the most was her size. She was almost as big as him—a rarity among female wolves. No one in his pack had ever reached this size.

Then he remembered.

The crown-shaped birthmark on her waist.

Of course.

That explained it.

She held the small bag carefully in her jaws, the strap secured between her sharp teeth, and looked at him expectantly. Crassus, who had already shifted, met her gaze, his massive black wolf standing tall before her.

His wolf's voice rumbled in his mind. She's incredible.

Crassus couldn't disagree. With a small tilt of his head, he signaled her to follow, and without hesitation, Estella obeyed.

Excitement buzzed through him as he took off into the forest, his paws pounding against the earth. The night air was crisp, the trees rushing past them in a blur. He pushed his speed, expecting to leave Estella behind, but—

She kept up.

Shock rippled through him. No female had ever matched his pace, but Estella ran beside him effortlessly, her powerful limbs carrying her forward with ease. Crassus grinned inwardly, his wolf howling in delight. She's perfect.

After a while, they slowed, emerging into a quiet clearing bathed in moonlight. A lake stretched before them, its surface glistening like liquid silver.

Crassus shifted back first, standing bare under the night sky. He glanced at Estella's wolf and caught how she immediately turned her head away, pretending to focus on the trees, the lake—anywhere but him.

He smirked. She was shy.

But he didn't call her out on it. Instead, he grabbed the clothes from their bag and dressed swiftly. "You can shift behind that bush," he said, pointing to a thick area of foliage. "I won't look. Promise."

Estella hesitated before padding behind the dense greenery. Crassus turned away, keeping his promise as he listened to the sound of her bones shifting, her wolf form melting back into human.

The rustling of leaves and the soft crunch of earth beneath light footsteps signaled Estella's return. Crassus, leaning casually against the trunk of a towering oak, turned his gaze toward the dense forest she had disappeared into moments ago. His blue eyes flickered with quiet interest as she emerged from the shadows, her form fully human once more.

The moonlight filtering through the canopy bathed her in a silvery glow, accentuating the way her dark hair tumbled over her shoulders. There was something ethereal about her presence, something wild yet delicate. He studied her for a moment before speaking.

"What do you think about this place?" His voice was steady, a contrast to the untamed wilderness around them.

Estella exhaled softly, her gaze sweeping across the landscape. "I like it," she said, her lips curving slightly. "It looks like it came straight out of a fairytale."