There was no doubt that this was exactly what would happen if she broke her word, but who in their right mind would play such dangerous games with a werewolf?

- We agree. So when can we get on the road? - Thea chewed her lip nervously, she couldn’t wait to go to the northern lands to help Adeline.

- We’ll wait for my pack and then we can move on. – he replied.

- The pack? Are you not alone here too? - Thea gasped. - And where are they hiding?

- They’re not hiding, I’m catching bliars. Actually, one of the bliars brought me here. I still can’t understand how you managed to go so far and stay alive.

- They weren’t here before, so we didn’t think it could be dangerous. – Thea lowered her eyes, burning with a bursting feeling of anger at her own father. – In any case, thank you again for coming to our aid.

- What’s your name, girl? - His commanding voice made her look up at his face.

Thea tried her best to avert her eyes every convenient time so as not to see his naked body. It was too provocative for her. And now she opened her eyes only when her chin was raised high enough.

- Teanna, but you can just call Thea. – she replied and did not forget to introduce her friends.

The man, whose name, as it became known, is Marcel, returned to his wolf form again and howled upwards, after which, after a while, numerous werewolves began to surround them from all sides – large and not very, wounded and not.

The Alpha smoothly approached Adeline, who was moaning in pain, and bent over her with his whole body so that Thea and Nicole helped lay her body on the wolf’s back. She was too hurt and helpless to hold on by herself, so Thea sat down with her, supporting her friend’s body swaying from side to side.

Nicole took a seat astride another wolf, who didn’t seem very happy to be used as a rider. For a while he grinned and growled softly, but after Marcel gave him a furious look, the brown wolf whined and fell silent.

In total, the pack consisted of seven wolves and all were like a warlike squad. The alpha ran ahead, storming any danger that might appear on their way, then those who were wounded or weakened ran and brought up the rear two strong and strong healthy wolves who could cover the backs of their relatives.

Thea’s hands got tangled in the coarse wool, holding on tighter, as Marcel ran as fast as he could, overcoming bushes, trees and thickets with ease.

Her face was blown by a strong wind, which invigorated and cooled her head a little, which was buzzing and aching from emotions.

Periodically, Thea applied magic to Adeline, but only enough to ease her fever and slightly reduce pain. It was still dangerous to give her more magic because it could freeze her. But in the end, completely exhausted and exhausted from the effects of the poison, Adeline lost consciousness and hung like a soft cloth on the werewolf’s back.

- She’s going to be all right, isn’t she? - Her words were addressed to Marcel, but he only snorted, so Thea could not appreciate his answer.

She regretted that werewolves in wolf form could not speak in a language understandable to people so that she could decipher his answer – whether it was support or he was not sure of a positive outcome.

The further they went from the place where they met, the cooler the air around them became, Thea’s body began to get chills and goosebumps ran over the exposed parts of her body. She turned her head, looking for Nicole with her eyes and noticed that she also felt this chill, so she prudently threw warm clothes on herself.

Holding Adeline with one hand, she rummaged in her enchanted bag and dug out for herself something resembling a woolen poncho, as well as a warm raincoat, which she covered Adeline with like a blanket.

They raced so fast that after, presumably, five or six hours, they left the territory of the forest, and at the same time the territory of Riliya, ending up in a place that looked like the north pole. Snow and freezing cold prevailed here.

There were practically no trees here, with the exception of tall pines and firs that could survive in such harsh conditions, and most of the road was covered with huge snow boulders.

Snow-white steam was escaping from Thea’s mouth, and her eyelashes were covered with a thin layer of frost, but she steadfastly held on and did not say a word about the fact that her hands and feet were already numb from the cold.

Despite her strong feelings for Adeline, she could not help noticing the beauty that surrounded them. It was too unlike Riliya, or Abion, and even more so Easthev. It was like a completely unknown country that miraculously found itself somewhere on the edge, where the warm sun rays did not reach.

But this was only a figurative perception, because there was an abundance of sunlight here, causing the snow cover to shimmer and shine under this soft light.

They did not stop their movement until night fell and the full moon rose in the sky, which now replaced the sun, illuminating their path and emphasizing the tiny crystals of snow forming a plump, fluffy mantle that stole everything around.

Each piece of snow crust shone like a huge diamond, creating its own symphony of brilliance and beauty. Snow-white little stars spread along the roads, glittered on the branches of the pines, enveloping them with their radiance, and the darkened places under the trees seemed even more mysterious and mysterious. The branches of the fir trees looked heavy under a thick blanket of snow and bent low, growing into huge snowdrifts.

In such an atmosphere, everything looked too fabulous, with its unique beauty and sparkling magic.

After a while, they found themselves on a remote snowy plain, which seemed to welcome anyone who was in this area. But the main treasure of this place turned out to be an unforgettable crystal-clear lake surrounded by gloomy pines.

It was amazing that in such frosty conditions there was a lake that did not freeze.

The pack came to a close distance and some wolves who were walking behind and were wounded immediately rushed into the water.

Marcel’s wolf nodded his head, prompting Thea to release him from the role of a rider and she obediently slid off his fluffy fur. She was about to lower the unconscious body of her friend to the ground, but the black wolf jerked forward, jumping into the water with Adeline.

Thea gasped, noticing how Adeline slipped off the wolf’s back and began to dive under the water and involuntarily rushed to her aid, but the wolf was faster and grabbed Adeline by the hair with his teeth, lifting her head above the water to prevent her from drowning.

Thea immediately relaxed, feeling relieved. And at the same time, she realized that the water in the lake was like fresh milk, warm and soothing.

She raised her gaze to the mirrored surface of the lake, which reflected the soft light of the moon and noticed how the werewolves one by one began to acquire a human appearance. She blushed again at the sight of naked torsos and turned away, noticing Nicole sitting on the shore, who also looked like a red tomato.

Was there any sense of shame at all among these people who flaunted their naked bodies in front of unfamiliar girls?

Among the werewolves splashing in this wonderful lake there was also one girl who, unlike men, was submerged in water up to her chin, not wanting to show her nakedness. Her gaze rested on Thea for a second, after which she immediately plunged under the water with her head.

Marcel swam closer to the shore and put Adeline’s body so that her head was on land and her body in the water. Her clothes were soaked through, but thanks to the wonderful water, they were not covered with a frosty crust.

- The water in this lake has a healing ability. – he said.

Thea and Nicole methodically looked away when Marcel came out of the water and headed for one of the trees, where a change of clothes was hidden behind a stone.

When he returned dressed, Thea was finally able to fully raise her gaze. In front of her stood a tall man, perhaps even taller than her father or Raphael. He had strong developed muscles, broad chest and shoulders, and equally muscular legs.

It was obvious that such marathon runs had benefited his body.

He had medium-length loose brown hair and golden eyes as bright as the sun.

He sat down next to Thea and looked at the lake, in which his friends were splashing like little children.

- You should take a dip too. The water is wonderful and fatigue will pass immediately. – he advised the girls.

- I’ll pass, I don’t even have any bathing clothes with me. - Nicole replied.

- Do you need clothes for bathing? - he grinned, raising his eyebrows slightly.

- Not everyone is as liberated as you. – she muttered in response.

- So, what made you come to the northern lands? - His question was addressed to Thea.

She raised her head up, looking at the star-studded sky and deep in thought.