Our marriage happened so quickly. Honestly, I didn't pay much attention to the details. My eyes were still red from crying, my mind struggling to grasp what was happening. Before I knew it, I was out of the church, now legally wed to Mr. Nikolai. The little girl who had been following Mr. Nikolai everywhere turned out to be his daughter.
What have I done? How could I marry a widower with a child? I feel like I've lost all sense of self-worth.
Mr. Nikolai asked, "Well, it's getting dark. Where do you live now?"
But my mind was still too scattered to answer his question.
"Hey, smelly girl, I'm asking you."
"Me? Oh, I'm renting a room on Str. Timișul Sec 01."
"Alright, we'll go there soon to pick up all your things and move directly to my house on Calea București."
Our car sped through the darkening streets. Inside the car, Mr. Nikolai continued to cover his mouth and nose. I still couldn't understand his behavior. Meanwhile, his daughter sitting next to me didn't seem bothered at all by my smell.
Does this guy have sinus problems?
About fifteen minutes later, we arrived at my place. Piece by piece, I packed my clothes, accessories, makeup, and other valuables into the car trunk. It didn't take long to load everything because, in truth, I didn't have many belongings.
Once everything was loaded into the car, Mr. Nikolai stepped on the gas and headed straight to his house.
The evening had already cloaked the mansion in shadows when we arrived. If the house had been any larger, I might have mistaken it for a sprawling castle. It exuded opulence and grandeur that left me gaping, trying to grasp that this was now my new home.
There were countless empty rooms. Knowing it was just Mr. Nikolai and his daughter living here explained the layers of dust settling in every corner. Strangely, Mr. Nikolai didn't seem bothered by the dusty air, but as soon as I set my things on the sofa, I couldn't help but start coughing, the dust swirling around me in a hazy cloud.
Mr. Nikolai slipped into a room, leaving me standing alone in the doorway, uncertain of what to do next.
"Clara, hurry to Daddy's room," he called to his daughter.
Clara dashed off without a word. Unable to hear their conversation, I took the opportunity to explore more of the house.
In the kitchen, I found shelves bare and jars meant for spices standing empty. Opening the fridge, I was taken aback to find it stocked with raw meat, a stark contrast to the otherwise barren kitchen.
Curiosity piqued, I wondered about their discussion in the room. Well, I thought, there's no harm in finding out, right? After all, we were legally married now, and Clara was officially my daughter.
But when I opened their bedroom door, Mr. Nikolai stopped me from entering.
"What are you doing here? Get out of my room," he snapped, quickly covering his mouth and nose with his sleeve as if a foul stench had suddenly filled the room.
"Aren't we supposed to sleep in the same bed? We're legally married."
"We're not sharing a room tonight."
"But you hit me earlier at the office to make me your wife. I thought-"
"What? You want me to apologize? Never. Yes, we're married, but I know you still haven't accepted me as your husband. That's why it's better if we sleep separately tonight."
"Hmm, okay then..."
Oh well, at least it's not that bad. I thought he would force himself on me and be rough all day. If he doesn't intend to touch me...
Well, I won't say much.
I moved my things next to Clara's room. Now our daughter's room was between her parents.
After unpacking my belongings in the room, I decided to return to the kitchen. It seemed father and daughter had already eaten. How could they eat without me? I'm hungry too!
Wait a minute...
What are they eating...
Raw meat!
They're both enjoying raw, bloody meat straight from the fridge!
How can they eat all that without feeling sick?
Oh God, suddenly long fangs emerged from Mr. Nikolai and Clara's mouths. I was terrified to the core. What is happening?
"Why are you looking at us like that?" Said Mister Nikolai, "are you so surprised? Are you afraid of us, Mei?"
Damn it! This is the first time I've seen Mr. Nikolai smile. But for some reason, that smile is far more unsettling than his usual cold expression. It's a chilling grin. Those sharp, long teeth, I'm really scared now!
Oh no! Why is Mr. Nikolai walking towards me? What does he want?
His mouth smells like blood from the meat he ate. Suddenly, he touches my hair and sniffs it vigorously. He sighed with satisfaction for a moment. What's happening to him? Wasn't he avoiding my scent all day?
"The moon..." he said quietly.
I glanced back. Through the window, a bright blue full moon was shining, its light piercing into the house.
"Let's go now. Clara, finish your meal and get ready quickly. We're heading to Mount Tâmpa."
"To the mountain? This late at night?" I asked, puzzled.
"Yes, you must come too."
"What are we going to do there?"
"Stop asking so many questions. Just come."
"Before that... could you both wash your faces first? The smell of raw meat on your breath is really overpowering."
"Is it? Sorry, Clara and I will clean up quickly. Wait here and don't go anywhere."
Clara and Mr. Nikolai hurried into the bathroom to freshen up. Soon after, we were all in the car, driving towards the dark woods, illuminated by the blue moonlight. I could sense creatures following us from behind. Shadows flitted around the car, but I couldn't make out what they were.
Five minutes later, we exited the forest area and arrived at a steep, rugged hill. The car couldn't go any further due to the rocky road, so we had to hike to the summit. Despite my love for adventure and long walks, I found myself out of breath climbing up the mountain.
It was exhausting. The air was cold, yet I was sweating profusely. Damn, I hope Mr. Nikolai doesn't vomit because of my sweat.
"Mei, stay close to me. We're in danger."
"What! What danger?"
Suddenly, a pack of giant wolves leapt out from the forest. Their claws were larger than my face.
I was scared!
Unconsciously, I clung to Mr. Nikolai's hand. It was strange; despite his usual roughness towards me, I instinctively sought protection from him at this moment of danger. He stood ready, shielding Clara and me. Among the pack, there was one large, white-furred creature, slightly taller and different from the others.
"Well, well, look who's finally decided to come out of hiding?" said the white wolf who had just appeared. Could this animal talk?
"Mr. Nikolai, I'm so scared right now. What should we do?"
My grip tightened around his strong hand, but unexpectedly, Mr. Nikolai pulled me closer until I fell into his embrace. Under the moon's radiant glow, he pressed his lips against mine. His warm kiss calmed my racing heart amidst the looming fear. Suddenly, a strange warmth emanated from my lips, flowing into his as our breaths mingled.
My legs weakened, and I stumbled, unable to stand.
"Clara, keep an eye on your mother. I'll handle these rogues," he commanded.
I watched as Mr. Nikolai flashed that chilling smile again, a devilish grin illuminating the midnight air bathed in moonlight. His nails and toes stretched unnaturally long. His eyes narrowed to feline slits, glowing bright blue. Growls rumbled from his mouth, echoing like a wild beast.
The growls grew louder. The fanged creatures surrounding us tensed, wary of my husband's bizarre behavior. His muscular frame expanded as night fell, ripping through his torn clothes, except his pants. His chiseled face morphed into that of a dog.
No!
It was a wolf's face!
In the next moment, the captivatingly strong form of Mr. Nikolai vanished, replaced by a towering white wolf emitting furious snarls at the pack of fanged creatures before him. The giant white wolf howled as if issuing a warning.
"Impossible! How can this be?"
"Die, all of you!" Said Mr. Nikolai as he jumped into the battlefield.