There they were, in all their mighty glory of being the best fighter in the pack with their strong wolf forms, before Ella's eyes- before the only person they tried not to know.

They were not thinking about it anymore though. Their focus was on the intruder they did not detect. Alex, Zyll, Rin and Len were acting much more hostile against the intruder though. They did not like the feeling that they get with him.

"Hello Princess. Happy to see me?" He asked in his oh so smooth, alluring, and sexy baritone voice.

Ella remained there frozen though as she stared at all the wolves gathered before her. Her gaze slowly drifted to Jem and felt tears spring up to her eyes as she saw her 'buddy'. They'd been together for who-knows-how-long and he did not even tell her when he appeared before her not as his wolf but as a person.

She collapsed to the grass and hang her head. It was too much- too much to take in all of a sudden. She closed her eyes.

It's all a dream. Once you open your eyes, it'll all go away.

She thought and made sure to pinch herself. It did hurt, so she opened her eyes slowly and still found the group of wolves standing in front of her, on full alert.

No.

And in desperation to escape the predicament she was in, she did one thing that seized everyone's attention. She slapped herself.

They all snapped their heads towards her and watched her tremble slightly. Ella lifted her head up and watched them through glassy eyes.

"No.. This isn't true.. No.." she repeatedly murmured.

Ella heard a whimper and turned to her wolf buddy- No, scratch that- Jem in his wolf form as he took a step closer to her. She immediately took a step back too- away from him.. from them.

"See, dear princess? You don't belong here! You belong with me." The unknown man that suddenly popped up said in a mocking voice as he chuckled darkly. "Now why don't you leave them and come to me?"

"What's happening here?" Ella whispered, as she asked no one in particular, currently ignoring the intruder.

*Ella.. I'm sorry I wasn't able to tell you sooner.*

Jem's voice rang inside her head. Ella jolted and held her head as she cowered. Jem felt guilty as he frightened his mate, though he did not mean it. He was right all along, knowing the truth would only scare her.

"You.. You were inside my head that night.. How did you do that?" Ella asked and looked up to Jem warily.

*It's because of.. our bond.*

Jem answered as he averted his big wolf head. He did not care anymore. Ella deserved to know the truth. Come what may but he's not about to spout more lies to her again. He felt incredibly guilty now that Ella had known he was the wolf she saved years ago and the wolf she trusted so much.

"What bond?" Ella asked again.

"Well, it's just a trivial matter, my Queen. Shall we go now? This drama's getting kind of boring." The man said as he planted a hand on his waist and regarded Jem disapprovingly.

Jem let out a fierce growl as he turned to the man while accompanied with Ella's "Shut up!"

"Now tell me about this bond that you're talking about!" Ella demanded vehemently.

*It's the connection between two souls that forms when having mutuality between them. When you trusted me, that was the time the bond started to form. I don't know why it's strengthening though for me to be able to access your link.*

Connection between two souls. Trust. Strengthening bond. Is it because I am falling for him?

Ella slowly pieced together.

But he doesn't know I am feeling like this, does he? He said he did not know why this 'bond' thing was strengthening.. so maybe it's because..

"You know about my other side.. You knew I was like you.. Why did you not tell me?" Ella whispered, barely feeling the power to summon her voice.

*I was.. I was scared you'd hate me.*

Ella closed her eyes and tried to take it in. He did have a point but still it was definitely impossible for her at the moment. She turned away and slowly pushed herself up. Everyone just stood there and watched her every move.

"And you? Who are you?" She asked the spectating man, her voice turning icy cold.

"I did tell you once right? I am the man destined for you. Your soul mate, as humans liked to call it, given you've been with them for many years." He said as he made graceful gestures fit for a prince.

"Don't you have a name? All. I. Want. To. Know. Is. Your. Name. and not who you think you are to me." Ella stated harshly.

To Jem and the others, it was like she was a whole new Ella, different to how they knew her she was.

"Oh! I am thrilled that you're interested to know my name. Well, let me formally introduce myself. I am Elzer, only son and lone prince of the.. Vanirs." he finished with an evil snicker.

Beware of Vanirs, Ella. There are bad people out there who wants to hurt us.. They are the Vanirs. Oh sweetie, I swear no Vanir can ever touch you. I swear it on my life.

Ella remembered her mother's words and she took a step back as she felt incredibly alarmed. Before her was a Vanir her mother warned her so much not to get acquainted with.

"What's wrong, my love? Did I surprise you?" He said in a soft and sweet tone.

Alex and Zyll immediately stood in front of Ella and growled as their lips curl up into a snarl while Rin and Len guarded their sides.

"What's with the hostility? I am not here to hurt your princess. In any case, I am here to ask for her hand."

*No way are we gonna let you take her!* Alex screamed as he tapped Elzer's mind.

*You're never stepping past us! Not now, Not ever! I swear it on my royal duty to protect our lone princess!* Zyll burst and charged at Elzer.

Elzer only scoffed at him as he raised his hand and flicked it to the side. As he did that, there was an unseen force that pushed Zyll from his side that sent him tumbling away.

"Zyll!!" Ella cried as her familiar tumbled away. She heard another fierce growl and she snapped her head back to Elzer and found Alex charging forward too.

Like Zyll, he was sent tumbling away, only it was to the opposite side, as Elzer did the gesture again. He shook his head in mocking sorrow as he regarded Ella and the others smugly.

"Can't you see the difference in our strengths? Why don't you stop struggling and just hand me over what I want?" Elzer proposed. This time, Jem had stepped in front of Ella. He was not about to let the mangy cur take what was his and definitely NOT his MATE.

"Oh! Is this the discourteous recreant that dared to lay hands on you, my dear princess? Shall I execute him for you?" He asked with a sinister smile as the wind suddenly picked up and the atmosphere got quite heavy.

Ella felt incredibly alarmed at the aura he was giving off and so she did what her instincts pushed her to do. She unleashed a slim beam of white light that pierced through the shoulders of Elzer and sent him immediately on his knees.

"Dare to do that and I'll definitely kill you next time." she sneered, her eyes glowing gold, and glared.

"Tch. You can't escape from your fate, you know? You are bound to be mine sooner or later. It's already been said by the augur. I shall come back to claim you as mine, dear princess." were Elzer's parting words as he vanished like a bubble just like how he had appeared so suddenly.

They all remained there, still on alert, before Ella let out a sigh and her orbs returned to their usual shade. The others had shifted back to their human forms too after they had collected some clothing.

"Ella.." Jem tried to call her but she only spun on her heel and walked inside the house. She definitely needed some time alone and think through the events that just unfurled before her.

**

Several seconds, hours, and days passed, Ella would still not talk to them. She would only go out of her room when she wanted to eat. They didn't want to force her into anything so they all let her be.

Jem, however, was different from everyone staying calm. He was on the edge from that night and was slowly losing his sanity. He couldn't bear the coldness of his mate's attitude. He was already used to her cheerry, bubbly and kind self and thinking he was one of the reasons she changed tortured him to no end. He did not like her giving him the cold shoulder, nor did his wolf.

His wolf had, countless of times, told him to go up there, tear the block of wood that obstructed his way to his mate and just settle things already but he begged to differ. Right now, Ella needed all the time that she wants to process everything she just learned in one go, though accidentally and He respects her wishes.

"Jem, calm down, will you?" Levi told him as he paced for the thousandth time across the living room.

"I can't calm down, Lev. My mate is up there and alone and maybe fuming about why I lied to her! Heck! It wouldn't be a surprise if she hates me now! Ugh! Why the hell am I so stupid?! I should've told her the night she first shifted!!" Jem exclaimed as he clawed a handful of his golden locks and slumped on the couch, feeling extremely miserable.

"She WHAT?!!" Everyone present burst altogether as their eyes practically bulged out of their sockets. That's how shocking her being a werewolf was to them.

"Now it just got worse. Ugh! Stupid!" Jem face-palmed at his slip-up and re-told the time he accidentally and instinctively knew Ella was a werewolf.

"I knew she was an Aesir but I didn't know she was a werewolf too." Alex mused as he processed the new info he received.

"That must be the reason why the council was so against with Queen Elise marrying Princess Ella's Father!" Rin concluded as she gently hit her open palm with her closed fist.

"So then.. that would make her..." Len started and let the sentence hang.

"Most probably, yes. A half Aesir and a half Werewolf." Zyll continued.

"Little punk's pretty bad-ass then!" Levi exclaimed excitedly. "Who knew such a fragile looking girl that would make you think just a mere squeeze could break her would turn out to be someone so powerful?"

"Yes. It's all so amazing but I still can't see why she loathes werewolves so much." Jem somberly muttered and he held his throbbing aching head with his hands.

"Why don't we show her how wonderful it is to be a werewolf then?" Jenny suddenly pipped up and suggested. Everyone turned to her and she slowly leaned back, wary of their snickering expressions and evil laughs.

"I almost forgot you were such a genuis LITTLE SIS!" Jem exclaimed and hugged her. He spun around the room feeling the excitement creep up to his bones, making him tingly and giddy.

"We plan tonight!" Jem announced after he had set the dizzy Jenny down and garnered a loud chorus of 'Yeah!' from everyone.

While Ella upstairs jolted at their loud voices and wondered to herself just what they were up to again.

Another update! I'm bored so I decided to write another chapter. I hope to receive your loving comments and votes soon, okay? Ciao~

xoxo,

Halloween Godspell