Chapter 26: What Happened To That Werewolf?
It felt like a ton of bricks slammed into Madeline as she was picked up. Her surroundings turned into a blur as suddenly, the feral was gone.
Madeline felt like crying from shock.
What the hell just happened?
'How am I still alive?'
'Where am I?'
"Stay here," she heard a masculine voice tell her, although she couldn't see him. He was standing behind her.
Afterwards, she turned around to see no one. A gust of wind blew at her face.
She heard a loud howl coming from the distance, and then, WHOOSH!
Xavier wiped his hands calmly.
'Xavier,' she breathed.
"You called for h—"
Oof!
"You saved me," was all Madeline said, her voice filled to the brim with appreciation and gratitude.
"Well you called for help," he pointed out.
"I didn't expect anyone would come," she admitted sheepishly.
"Tch, you have absolutely no faith," he couldn't help but facepalm.
"What happened to that werewolf?" Madeline then asked.
Xavier furrowed his brow, "That wasn't just a werewolf."
"It was a feral werewolf."
"What are the differences between the two of them?"
"Appearance wise? There aren't any. But, it's relatively easy to sense which is a feral and which is a normal werewolf. So long as you're a werewolf, that is."
"Aish, you and I both know I'm not a werewolf," she pouted.
'Hm, I didn't get to see Xavier in his werewolf form either.'
But, she did see a feral werewolf. For the first time in her whole, entire life.
She hadn't taken the time to process things.
"But... all things aside, you saved me."
"Thanks," she smiled bashfully.
"It's no big deal," Xavier nodded.
"I was meant to deal with them in the first place, so... either way I would've killed the feral anyway."
He pursed his lips, wanting to say something but unable to. Why were the words stuck in his throat?
Madeline had sat down on a nearby bench.
He sat down beside her.
"And... it was the least I could do for my friend."
Madeline looked up at him - even sitting down he was at least a head taller than her.
She looked taken aback, to the point she had to do a double take.
"You called me your friend," she realized.
"As I said before, it's no big deal so no need to make a big fuss of it," Xavier said.
He didn't look like he was frowning, but didn't seem like he was smiling either. Xavier could be confusing and vague, especially when it came to showing or displaying his emotions.
Madeline tried her best not to bring him in a hug, or to do some random gesture simply because she was glad and overjoyed he considered her a friend.
Making friends… It was difficult for her. It was why she didn't have many friends, except for Briar - and now - Xavier.
Xavier knew Adrian would most certainly be pleased with this new improvement.
So when he and Madeline returned, Madeline drenched in sweat and Xavier both looking and seeming different than before… it managed to give Adrian the wrong impression.
"What happened?" Adrian asked, his eyes round in anticipation.
"We've established that we're friends," Xavier said, unaware of Adrian's presumptuous assumptions.
"Friends?" Adrian tilted his head, hoping for more. More information as to what happened in the woods, when they'd been left alone at night.
Who knew how fast news could spread, especially when it involved the alpha and his human soulmate alone at such a time.
The dark hours, could there have been a worst time for them to be seen together?
"I saved her from a feral werewolf," Xavier explained.
Adrian paused.
"A feral werewolf?"
He seemed thoroughly shocked.
"Haven't you dealt with all of them?" Adrian asked.
"I had," Xavier nodded.
"It's becoming worse," he placed a hand on his forehead.
"We don't know what causes this, all but how it occurs during the full moon. Who knows what might occur next if humans were to be exposed to the ferals? In no time at all, humans will be turning into ferals left and right, and there'll be nothing we can do about it," Xavier sighed.
"She called for help. I heard it after I'd finished what I thought was the last of it and killed that feral too."
"How many do you think are left out there?"
Xavier exhaled deeply.
"My honest answer?"
"I don't know," he answered.
"But what I do know is..."
"My friend could've died out there."
A dark aura enveloped him - even Adrian sensed Xavier was anything but at ease. He was hissing with rage.
But…
"You're still calling her your friend."
"You call her your friend after knowing her for less than a week. But I, who you've known for centuries, you call by my name. Is it weird I find myself offended?"
"It's not the right time to joke around, Adrian."
"See what I mean! You call me Adrian!" Adrian crossed his arms in jealousy.
It was one of the moments where he was talking to Xavier as his friend, not his advisor.
One would never find Adrian speaking like this in front of everyone else. He behaved this way only in front of Xavier.
"Would you rather me call you something other than Adrian?"
"Say… brother?"
"That would be nice," Adrian admitted, genuinely liking the idea.
"I was joking," Xavier clarified before Adrian continued, insisting he be called the one thing he always wanted Xavier to see him as - a brother.
Adrian frowned.
"Fine, but come on."
"You can at least tell me what happened and how you and Madeline's friendship came to be," Adrian coaxed.
"What is this, an inquisition?"
"I just… declared we're friends, 'is all."
"Nothing more to it," Xavier shrugged.
Adrian gave Xavier a dirty look.
"Really?"
"Because if I recall… It took me centuries for you to consider me as your friend."
"You've barely known the girl for a week and now you already consider her your friend."
"Hmmmm," Adrian mused.
"Peculiar, no?"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone