Episode 11

When the girls arrived in the backyard, the image was truly terrifying. Kneeling in the middle of the patio with their dresses ripped from the back were two women. One was Sophora, but the other woman, Alessa, didn't recognize. They didn't know who she was, but later Mary would give them a clear explanation of who she was. When Alessa approached with Celia, Mary noticed their presence and approached politely, curtseying. She didn't speak to just anyone; Alessa was an Empress Nymph, a being from another world, with truly limitless powers over nature.

"Lady Alessa, it's a pleasure to see you well, and I'm glad you woke up on time. These are the two people who attacked our carriage yesterday. I'd like to explain something to you, and I want to take advantage of the fact that you are here with your sister so that you both know. It's time you know the truth. I know you are going to be scared, but I want you to know that no one here wants to hurt you," Mary said, trying not to be too aggressive. The girls looked at each other without understanding.

"Lady Alessa, we... everything you see here, apart from being the Northern Archduchy, I want to inform you that we are werewolves. Yes, we are a pack of werewolves."

"The wolves you saw last night were werewolves, that's why their large size and ferocity were so noticeable. I believe that you, as the daughter of a Nymph, should know that these beings exist. We all exist, even if normal people don't understand it," said Mary, looking gently and respectfully at young Alessa, whose eyes were wide with shock. She didn't know what had impressed her more: knowing that they were werewolves or finding out that Mary knew her great secret.

"How did you know that I am a Nymph? Nobody knows, it was a secret," Alessa stammered, not knowing how to react.

"Lady Alessa, of course, I know. We are mythological beings just like you. I could see the little signs, but I wasn't sure until I saw how old Molle had protected you, how he had sheltered you, defended you against these three wretches. Yes, they were our wolves that attacked us last night. They wanted to destroy you because you are a special being, not only for being a Nymph, but because you will occupy a very special place in the heart of the Archduke. But the envy and greed of these three wolves put your life at risk; therefore, they will be severely punished," Mary said seriously. She was furious; she couldn't believe that they had dared to hurt the Alpha's Moon, especially since Alessa was a being far more exalted than all of them put together.

Alessa was petrified. She blinked, trying to process the information. She never imagined that she would be discovered so quickly in this place, but now that they had revealed their true nature, she realized that they too could sense the essence of other supernatural beings. However, she was sure that they didn't know what her greatest virtue was. Yes, Alessa, apart from being an Empress Nymph, possessed an invaluable virtue, something that no one else could have, something worth more than all the gold in the world.

Alessa possessed the blood of life, healing, and resurrection. A drop of her blood could resurrect a person who had just died; it could bring them back to life; it could make their soul reconnect with their body and make that person open their eyes and be resurrected. However, in the wrong hands, this would be terrible; it would be a potent weapon.

Mary, meanwhile, resumed her conversation with them as she led them closer to the two women kneeling on the ground, who were crying, unsure how to excuse their terrible behavior.

"Lady Alessa, since you already know that one of the concubines was one of those who attacked you last night with her brown wolf, the one we have here, next to Sophora, is called Moria, and she is the daughter of a famous merchant from the city. She was trying to become the Archduke's concubine, but seeing your arrival, she knew that there would be no more concubines, and the ones who are here will be leaving soon. They will be sent to another place. The simple reason is that the Alpha, that is, the Archduke, only has one love, one Moon, and that is you. You are our beloved Moon," she said seriously and solemnly.

Alessa felt her heart pounding and didn't know why. She didn't understand why every time they mentioned that man, she felt a little uneasy. However, she was not willing to give her heart to anyone. She had learned too well what "a man's great love" meant, so she didn't pay much attention to it. However, what followed next left her petrified.

Strong, huge men approached with whips in their hands, impregnated with a greenish substance. As her delicate nose twitched, she could perceive the smell. Yes, it was wolfsbane, a herb that is very poisonous, especially for wolves. They were the ones who suffered the most from this type of herb and could die if they consumed it.

The first lash landed on Sophora's back, who screamed from the pain and burning, but more than that, from the sting of the poison seeping into her wounds. Moria followed immediately. They screamed and writhed in pain. It would be 50 lashes for attacking the future Moon and Archduchess. It was little for what they had dared to do at first glance, but what awaited them afterwards would be more terrifying. Yes, they would receive punishment from the Alpha himself. Mary was only enforcing the norm; what Draco decreed would be even more cruel.

Celia, who knew her sister's secret, watched the scene with fear. She could see the suffering on the women's faces, but just knowing that they could have murdered her sister in cold blood erased any pity she might have felt.

Sophora looked at Alessa, begging for mercy, but the young woman didn't have any say in the matter, nor did she want to. It was she whom they had wanted to eliminate.

The spectacle ended with the women passed out from the pain, the poison entering their wounds and weakening their wolfish ability to heal quickly.

"Lady Alessa, it's time to punish the ringleader of this. Yes, the third is Camil. She was the one who accused these fools of committing this stupidity. Now she will be punished by me personally. I will be the one to deliver her punishment. Would you like to be present?" Mary said, looking at the beautiful Nymph, who looked a little hesitant. Mary knew the essence of these beings, but if Alessa wanted to survive, she had to be stronger and command respect. She would be the Alpha's Achilles' heel and she had to know how to defend herself and make them fear her a little too.

After a moment's thought, Alessa nodded, and Celia smiled proudly. Her sister had to make herself respected by those malicious she-wolves and those to come.