Bound in Shroud

Chapter 1

The Wounded Wolf (Part 1)

Azrael’s POV

Normally, I’d do anything to stay away from werewolves. So as soon as I could, I ran to a human city and hid among people, hoping to blend in and vanish. I spent five years in hiding, building my existence. But now, somehow, I’m stuck in a mess I can’t explain.

My subordinates looked away, clearly rattled, as I ended up pinned against a cold brick wall by a confused, injured wolf.

Remaining motionless, I wished to avoid provoking him, my thoughts attempting to grasp the situation.

One moment I was walking with my guards, and the next a wolf jumped out and attacked me.

I signaled my men to hold back as the creature changed, bones cracking, fur fading until a man stood there instead.

My guards stood frozen, utterly bewildered.

They never observed a wolf becoming a man; I breathed out a slow sigh as the intruder’s full weight settled against me.

I surveyed the street, seeking the reason for the wolf’s appearance, before my men recovered and transformed the situation into a disaster.

However, I could find nothing.

Just one wolf.

“Someone get the car, now!” I barked, snapping my men out of their stupor.

“The rest of you, spread out. Two of you, comb the perimeter for additional wolves. Don’t engage; watch and track their movements until I say otherwise.”

They all said, “Yes, boss!” Three of them went to execute my orders, and the rest stood guard, forming a human barrier against potential hidden attackers.

I exhaled slowly, closing my eyes as I let my head rest against the cool brick wall, the weight of the moment pressing down on me.

In silence, I offered a desperate prayer to the Goddess, hoping this was nothing more than a random, unfortunate accident.

If fate had cruelly sent this wolf to find me, I wasn’t ready.

It’s been five years since I fled, and I still haven’t mastered the power I gained that night.

It simmers inside me, wild, unstable, hungry. In exile, I never learned it; all I know is that the strength I stole by breaking my howl’s promise is waking up.

I can feel the darkness rising, bubbling toward the surface. Fighting to keep it buried, I clench my eyes shut while it whispers for the wolf in my arms to die.

I bite my lips and pray harder for the strength to hold the monster back.

“Boss, the car’s here,” one of my subordinates announces cautiously.

“How would you like us to handle it?” He stopped, unsure how to address the unconscious man pressed against me.

I opened my eyes and saw that my men had formed a protective wall between the car and me. “Simple,” I declared. “The wolf is coming with me.”

“Boss, that could be dangerous! We’ve seen nothing like this before!”

“You’ve seen nothing like this,” I corrected sharply.

“However, I have. Trust me, leaving him here would be far more dangerous if he wakes up. Now open the door and help me get him inside, quietly. I don’t want to deal with the chaos if he comes to while we’re moving him.”

Truthfully, I could have handled it myself, but I couldn’t risk losing control and shifting in front of my men.

They’d already seen more than enough for one day. And watching their boss transform would be the breaking point.

It’s one thing to witness a wolf turn into a man, but seeing me lose control and become a Wolgan?

That would be something else entirely, a nightmare they’d never forget.

The drive home was painfully uncomfortable.

My men were tense, their eyes constantly flicking toward our unwanted guest in the back seat.

My patience was wearing thin with every passing mile, especially since the unconscious wolf had decided my chest made a suitable pillow.

At one point, we tried to move him to the floor, but the instant someone touched him, he let out a low, deep growl that froze everyone in place.

The sound alone was enough to terrify even my most seasoned men. But for me, it stirred something far worse: unwelcome memories from a childhood I’ve spent years trying to forget.

“Can you hurry!” I snapped, glaring out the window as the wolf shifted again, nestling himself deeper against my chest as if we were lovers.

He did not know how close he was to losing his head, literally. One wrong move, and I might not have been able to stop myself.

“We’re almost there,” the driver announced, his voice tight as he sensed my rising bloodlust.

“Question, boss, once we arrive, what do we do with him?”

“Leave him in the car once I untangle myself from him,” I replied calmly, though my patience was thinning.

“First, everyone exits the vehicle prior to my departure. I wish to prevent injury should dire circumstances compel me toward actions I truly wish to avoid.”

“What might that be, boss?” someone asks.

I shook my head. “It’s better if you don’t know. From this point forward, act as though they encountered neither this man nor the events here. For your own safety, no one can know that you’ve seen a werewolf.”

Their eyes widened, the weight of my words sinking in as the unspoken truth settled over them like heavy fog.

“A werewolf? You’re joking, right?” one finally asked.

“No.”

“This is reality, not a film!” somebody countered.

I sighed. “There’s a thin line between what’s real and what’s make-believe. Accepting the existence of realities beyond perception makes maintaining innocence challenging.”

That drew a tense chuckle. “But boss, we’re not innocent. We’re trained to handle anything.”

I turned toward him, my gaze shifting momentarily from human to something much harsher. The laughter died instantly.

“You don’t understand the wormhole you’re standing in front of,” I hissed, my voice low and edged with warning. “Entering this place transforms you permanently. Everyone in this car is human... except for two creatures. You work for one of them. So, if she tells you to keep your head down and your mouth shut, you’d better listen.”

Silence filled the car as my men exchanged uneasy glances, the reality of my words settling in with cold finality.

I know I was being hard on them, but I’d spent two years with these men, trained them, trusted them; I thought of them as family.

I couldn’t bear to lose another one to the wolves or something worse. Once humans learn, they aren’t the only things in the world; they unravel.

“Should you seek other employment after this evening, I will not impede your efforts. But listen: if any of you poke into this man’s past or mine, I’m warning you now, you’ll end up somewhere I can’t save you from.”

Some exchanged glances; one then inquired, “Boss, what information do we require?”

“This world holds more than just stars; countless deities exist,” I stated. “If I tell you more, I’d only be putting you in danger. But know this: I’ll do everything in my power to keep each of you safe if you choose to stay.”

The rest of the drive passed in silence, and I didn’t mind. In truth, I welcomed it. I needed quiet, a space to gather my thoughts and brace myself for whatever waited once we got home.

Today’s events were overwhelming. I could only wonder what my next move should be. My belief in personal safety within this city was destroyed. I remained unsure whether his pursuit continued, using auxiliary groups to further his malevolent objectives. His influence stretched widely; that power nearly doomed me initially. It’s also why I disappeared among humans, hiding in plain sight.

Leaving with him in tow might be my worst mistake yet.

Because when I look at him, all I can see is the life I ran from… and the nightmare I barely escaped.

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