The Wolf God's Unwanted Luna

Vivian’s POV

Zaliver moved swiftly over me, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. I watched, breathless, as his hands lifted, sharp claws extending from his fingertips. Then, a cool breeze brushed my bare skin, and whatever clung to me that sickening, burning sensation began to fade. My eyes widened as he carefully peeled off my soaked pajamas, leaving me only in my black polka-dotted undergarments. I was too weak to resist, too completely drained to fight, but somewhere deep inside, a thread of absolute trust held me steady.

He shed his own shirt, but to my surprise, he didn’t remove his pants. Suddenly, an irritating tickle grew rapidly in my throat, and I began to cough violently. The fit wracked my whole body, doubling me over as my broken ribs jabbed into my organs. Then, thick and bitter, something warm rose up and spilled from my mouth. Zaliver cursed under his breath and quickly grasped one of my trembling hands.

At first, nothing changed. Then, a wave of searing pain drained away from my body. The tingling remained, but the stabbing agony dulled until I felt nothing but a deep numbness creeping over me.

My mind cleared. For the first time, I could think without the constant, blinding pain clouding everything. I let out a cautious breath, bracing for the return of that unbearable agony but none came. It was a small, crucial victory.

I was lying in a field of lush green grass that stood out sharply against the dark, gloomy sky. I didn’t dare look down at my battered, bruised body. Instead, I slowly rolled onto my stomach and pushed myself up onto my knees just like Zaliver, whose head was bowed low beside me.

His hand still held mine tightly, his long fingers wrapped around my wrist in a grip I couldn’t fully feel. Numbness had taken over nearly everything. Sharp pains surfaced sporadically, but they were manageable far better than the relentless torment from before.

"Zaliver, it doesn’t hurt," I whispered, wiping away the blood I had coughed up.

A faint tingle flickered across another rib, and I heard a muffled snap but the blinding pain didn’t follow.

Then, something else caught my attention.

A low, deeply pained grunt.

My head snapped toward Zaliver. His head was bowed, hand clenched tightly in the mud, muscles taut and trembling wildly. His shoulder gave a slight, violent shake.

"Zaliver?" I breathed, a cold, terrifying realization creeping over me.

His breathing was harsh and ragged like mine had been just moments ago. With trembling fingers, I reached out and gently lifted his chin, coaxing his face up. Absolute agony was etched across his features: eyes squeezed shut tight, jaw clenched hard, lips parted to reveal grinding teeth.

My gaze flickered across him in horror as his right leg suddenly jerked out, as if trying to shake off an invisible blow. Then came a low, guttural moan the sickening sound of both my rib and leg snapping in tandem, echoing through him.

He was bearing the pain for me.

I tried to pull my hand away, urging him to rest and release the bond, but his grip didn’t loosen for even a second.

Desperate, I reached with my other hand to help guide him down gently, but he stubbornly refused to let go or be moved. Did he need to hold my hand that badly?

I struggled more, realizing every grunt and whimper of pain I should have felt was somehow being carried by him instead. It was a strange, unbelievable relief knowing he shared my suffering but he shouldn’t have to.

"No!" he growled through clenched teeth.

"Why?" I whispered, fresh tears streaming down my face beneath the relentless rain that soaked us both. Was he drowning just like I was?

Slowly, he lifted his heavy head. Water dripped from his soaked black hair, falling across his pale face. His fierce, agonized blue eyes locked onto mine, raw pain and unyielding determination shining through the darkness. Then, despite everything, the corner of his mouth lifted into a gentle, heartbreaking smile.

"Because if taking this agony away from you means I have to go through it a million times, I’ll do it gladly," he said, his voice terribly strained.

I sobbed softly and shook my head in disbelief.

"No, Zaliver, please. Give it back. You shouldn’t "

"No," he cut me off, wincing as a fresh wave of pain wracked his spine.

I reached out with my free hand, taking his other hand firmly and resting my head against his broad shoulder.

"No. Together," I said, my voice steadier than I felt inside.

Gradually, the sharpest edges of my pain returned to me, but it wasn’t as overwhelming because he was still carrying half of the burden.

That’s how we endured the final stages of the transformation. Together, we whimpered and groaned, fingers intertwined, holding onto one another for dear life. My body was breaking and reshaping, skin hardening, blood boiling furiously beneath the surface.

Time stretched on endlessly, and I felt the frozen coldness inside me begin to crack, like the first hint of dawn after a long night. I was still sinking, but I was no longer alone. I squeezed Zaliver’s hand tightly, and without hesitation, he squeezed mine back. That simple touch gave me a strength I hadn’t known I had.

Thick fur sprouted across my skin. My hands and feet shifted fully into broad paws. I was almost there.

"I can’t help you through these last stages, baby, but I’m right here," Zaliver said softly. I felt him lift his head, but I stayed pressed against him.

"Okay."

He squeezed my hand once more before finally letting go.

A tidal wave of residual pain crashed over me, but instead of collapsing, I clenched my teeth and bore it. I could do this. I had to.

The icy chill within me began to thaw. My body stretched and changed. Sharp claws formed at my fingertips. The painful sensation of my organs settling back into place surged through me, and my teeth lengthened, a dark, metallic taste flooding my mouth.

I was becoming whole again.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!