Hey guys, thank you for all the beautiful comments on this story so far! I'm blown away by all the positive feedback and am so glad you guys as almost as thrilled as I am for this story! @xcyson has been helping me edit the 12 chapters I've typed up and Property of a Gordon. She now has access to my account because of this. So she's helping respond to comments and look for typos and whatnot. If you happen to spot one in this story, just @ me or her. She's a wonderful person, so don't be afraid to talk to her haha. Enjoy the chapter!

The ride was uneventful. There was complete silence except for when the wind became playful, rustling our clothes and the trees' leaves. Sage hadn't said a single word, not yet explaining what he desired from me.

The sun had become tired long ago and settled down for the night, allowing the moon a turn to shine. The moon was our guidance, giving us light in the darkness.

"We will set camp out here for the night," Sage commanded, his voice shattering the silence.

The men pulled their horses to a stop before sliding off and tying them up. I dropped from Sage's horse without his help before letting Todd out of the bag.

He zipped off, surely to inspect the place. I wasn't worried because I knew he would be back within a few minutes. Todd never ventured far without me and knew better than to stray.

We were in the middle of a large clearing surrounded by red oak trees and little patches of bushes here and there. There was no wildlife to be seen, all hiding from the predators: humans.

Sage slipped off his horse and tied her up, stroking her muzzle. I watched curiously, noting that she seemed elated to have his attention. He was murmuring to her, a light smile on his face as he did so.

Sage adored his horse, more so than anyone I had met. It was odd, seeing a man have so much affection for an animal who was more than happy to return it. His horse pressed her head against his, closing her eyes when he rubbed her ears.

"Odd, isn't it, Todd?" I asked softly when I felt fur being pressed against my leg. I didn't have to look down to know it was my little one rubbing against me.

Sage spotted me and patted his horse one last time before he began walking over. When he was within reach, he began talking.

"We're going to spend the night here. We'll eat in the morning and then set off. Another two days of this and we should be there.

For the night, you will be sharing a tent with me," he explained and I gave him a look.

"I would rather spend the night lying on the grass than sleeping with a stranger," I told him, and he frowned in return.

"I would rather you did too. But I cannot risk you escaping on me or the King hearing that I treated you poorly," he said and I tensed. The King?

"Are you going to tell me what I'm doing, or are you going to continue to leave me in the dark?" I asked, brazen accusation in my words. He needed to tell me sooner than later.

"Yes, after I've helped my men set up camp," he replied and proceeded to leave me, joining the others.

It didn't take them long to set up the dark tents and place a large pile of wood in the middle. It became clear to me that they were used to this and worked together efficiently.

"This is our tent," Sage said, holding up the black flap for me, a lantern in his other hand. I hesitated before stepping in.

There were covers on the bottom for cushioning, but other than that, it was empty. I found myself sitting next to the edge of the tent, realizing how little room there was.

Todd had been right on my heels and was now sniffing the tent, darting around it. When Sage came in he bared his teeth, his ears flattening against his head.

The only source of lighting was the one the lantern provided, which was dim. I could see the outline of Sage but not much else.

"It's alright, my little one," I coaxed, beckoning Todd over with a finger. He was more than happy to crawl into my lap but kept his eyes on Sage.

"How does it work? Can you not truly tame animals?" He asked, pointing to Todd who was still baring his teeth.

"Animals are similar to us, only superior in nature. It takes them a while to get used to people, just as we take some time getting used to strangers. Todd would be equivalent to an introvert," I explained, running my nails along Todd's back.

He momentarily forgot about Sage and focused on me once again, chattering. "Then you cannot tame the animals for others? They are only tame for you?" Sage asked.

"It's not just for me; it's around me. Wait," I told him and pulled Todd close, whispering in his ear and supplying him with an abundance of affection.

"Do you have food?" I asked him and his eyes flickered before he pulled a piece of slim, dried meat from his pocket.

"Hold it out in your palm, face up," I instructed, the movement catching Todd's attention.

Todd crept over to Sage, his body hunched together. I watched as Todd inspected the meat before snatching it up. After devouring it, he climbed over Sage, searching for more.

After seeing Sage's startled expression, I laughed. "I didn't do anything to Todd; my talent is more natural than that. Todd is willing to love anyone who offers him food."

Todd's nose was now planted at Sage's pocket, nudging it forcefully where I assumed the rest of the meat was. He started chattering excitedly at Sage, who was trying to pull back his smile.

"Todd, my dear, leave him alone," I said, and he crawled over to me once again, disappointment in his eyes. Todd loved food and the person who fed it to him more than anything.

"If you don't know how my talent works, then why am I here?" I asked Sage, both of us sobering up at the question.

"Because you're our only hope," he said quietly, his words as grim as his expression.

I couldn't imagine what I was hope for if it was enough to worry him and the other men, so I asked: "And just what am I the hope for?"

He was looking at the entrance of the tent as if he were elsewhere. He was quiet for a moment before saying, "Have you heard of King Sandalius?"

My body tensed at the name, the air chilling around us. Todd noticed my sudden mood change and began growling. Or possibly, he too knew what danger the name held.

"Everyone has," I responded, not sure what to say. If this involved King Sandalius, there would be no kindness where I was going.

"And you've heard about his . . . primal side?" He asked, his eyes flickering to me.

"You mean the fact he's half-animal?" I clarified as if it wasn't a big deal.

Everyone had heard of King Sandalius and his legendary story. He was abandoned as a child by his parents who left him in a basket in the middle of a forest.

He had cried and cried, but his parents weren't the ones who'd answered him. The wolves showed him compassion and took care of him instead. They had been his family, the ones who'd fought for and protected him.

He'd grown up with them within the forest until a group of hunters found him. By that time, he was a strong, teen boy. The wolves fought to keep him-he was one of theirs-but in the end, they were all slaughtered.

The boy was taken in, and the King and his wife took a liking to him. They adored the boy and welcomed him into their home, as they couldn't have children of their own. They helped him learn the ways of their society and taught him about the love of humans.

However, Prince Sandalius quickly became very well-known. When two people came to the castle demanding that he was their son, they were turned away and denied access despite their pleading.

They were desperate to get their son back for unknown reasons, maybe because of the guilt that clawed at them every night. So they went to seek the help of an infamous witch who promised to give the boy back to his parents.

The witch went into the castle as a guest and when she was close enough to Prince Sandalius, she revealed herself. She then told the boy she would give him back to his parents, the ones who raised him.

She changed him into a wolf and said his parents were the wolves, the only ones who had ever treated him as their child. She said it would teach humans that animals weren't the problem: they were. Prince Sandalius would remain human, but when his primal side took over, he would become the very creature that raised him.

What the witch didn't expect was for the Prince to handle it poorly. His primal side began taking over more often than not, and in a rage, he killed the King. Humans became more fearful of the wolves than ever and began hunting them with a passion. They tried to kill Prince Sandalius as well, although it failed miserably.

Now, he was King and ruled over thousands of acres of land. He did so well, but only because he was feared by all. Guests hadn't been allowed near the castle in years, and from what I had heard, servants were recently running away too.

"Yes, he is half-animal. And you're expected to tame that half."