Inside the palace, the deep blue flames flickered, casting light on Kalle's face and outlining a hint of firmness and determination in his features.
The shadow of the giant wolf slowly approached. Its sharp claws glinted coldly in the firelight. It seemed that with just a gentle wave, it could tear Kalle into pieces.
Allen was still sleeping beside the stone coffin, his brows furrowed and his face pale. The black qi in the stone coffin kept overflowing, as if an invisible force was calling out to his bloodline.
Kalle didn't step back. He didn't even raise his short dagger. He stood upright, his eyes resolute.
The wolf shadow stopped and looked down at Kalle. A sneer appeared in its eyes that were as red as the blood moon. "Aren't you afraid of death?"
Kalle slowly shook his head. "I am."
"Then why are you still standing here?"
"Because he's my younger brother," Kalle said calmly, but his voice was as firm as a blade. "He hasn't lived enough, and I... can bear all the pain for him."
The palace fell into a brief silence, with only the faint sound of the flames burning echoing in the empty space.
The wolf shadow slowly paced. After a moment of silence, it said in a low voice, "Your blood can protect him from the curse, but the price is not just pain."
Kalle took a deep breath and looked directly into the wolf shadow's eyes. "Go on."
"You will sign a contract with the wolf clan," the wolf shadow said slowly, its gaze like a sharp blade. "Your soul will be bound to mine. From now on, every time the blood moon rises, you will gradually turn into a wolf, becoming a half-human, half-wolf being until you completely lose your self-awareness."
Kalle's pupils shrank slightly, and his fingertips unconsciously tightened around the handle of the short dagger.
The woman suddenly stepped forward and stood in front of Kalle. She stared at the wolf shadow with cold eyes. "What's the difference between this and killing him?"
The wolf shadow sneered. "This is already the mercy I can offer."
Kalle reached out and placed his hand on the woman's shoulder, signaling her to step back. His voice was calm and firm. "I accept."
The woman suddenly turned around and looked at him in shock. "Kalle, are you crazy? Once you sign the contract, you will also be haunted by the curse, and it's impossible for you to leave here alive."
Kalle looked at the sleeping Allen and a bitter smile appeared on his lips. "If he can live, even if I become a monster, it's worth it."
The woman gritted her teeth. Anger and unwillingness flashed in her eyes, but she couldn't find a reason to refute.
The wolf shadow let out a satisfied growl. Its sharp claws sliced through the void, and an ancient wolf pattern rune appeared in the air, hovering in front of Kalle.
"Drop your blood into the contract," the wolf shadow commanded in a low voice.
Kalle didn't hesitate. He raised the short dagger, and the blade sliced across his palm. Blood dripped from his palm and slowly merged into the rune.
As the last drop of blood merged in, the rune suddenly burst into a blinding light. Immediately after, a burst of scorching energy suddenly rushed into Kalle's body.
He let out a muffled groan, knelt on one knee, placed his palm on his chest, and felt as if there was a fire burning inside him. A strange and violent force surged in his blood.
The wolf shadow murmured in a low voice, "The contract is sealed."
The black qi on Allen's body slowly dissipated. His furrowed brows gradually relaxed, his breathing became steady, and the color finally returned to his face.
Kalle let out a long sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and the stone in his heart finally dropped.
But soon, he noticed something strange about his own body—his nails gradually became sharp, a faint trace of deep blue light could be seen in his pupils, and his hearing and sense of smell also became more acute.
This change was unsettling.
The wolf shadow slowly dissipated, turning into an illusory shadow and disappearing into the depths of the palace, leaving behind only a meaningful sentence: "When the blood moon descends, you will understand the true meaning of the contract."
After leaving the stone gate, the forest returned to peace, and the dawn light shone on the three of them.
Allen opened his eyes and looked around in confusion. His voice was weak. "Did we get out?"
Kalle nodded with a smile and ruffled his hair. "Yes, you're fine now."
Allen was stunned for a moment, then hugged Kalle tightly, his voice trembling. "I thought... I would never wake up again."
Kalle gently patted his back and soothed him in a low voice. "I won't let anything happen to you."
The woman stood aside and watched the two brothers quietly. A trace of tenderness and envy flashed in her eyes.
But her gaze soon shifted to Kalle's hand—the wound that hadn't healed yet slowly oozed dark red blood. Dimly, black patterns quietly emerged on the back of his hand.
The woman's eyes sank slightly, and a trace of worry welled up in her heart.
At night, beside the campfire in the forest.
Allen was sound asleep beside it, breathing steadily and with a trace of tranquility on his face.
Kalle sat beside the campfire, his palm trembling slightly as he stared blankly at the firelight.
His body had already started to undergo subtle changes. His hearing, sense of smell, and perception were far beyond those of an ordinary person. But at the same time, he could feel that there was a restless force deep in his heart, gradually awakening.
The woman slowly walked up to him and handed him a pot of water. "Are you okay?"
Kalle took the water pot, took a sip, and shook his head with a bitter smile. "I can still hold on."
The woman sat down quietly. Her gaze flickered in the campfire. After a moment, she said softly, "You shouldn't bear all this alone."
Kalle was slightly taken aback and looked at her. "This was my decision."
The woman let out a low sigh. "If one day you can't hold on anymore, don't forget that there are still people who can help you."
The campfire danced between the two of them, casting long shadows, as if quietly engraving this warmth into the night.
Kalle was silent for a moment, then smiled. "Thank you."
He knew that the contract with the Wolf King was just the beginning, and the road ahead was destined to be anything but peaceful.
But at this moment, he just quietly looked at Allen's sleeping face, felt the warmth brought by the campfire, and enjoyed this moment of tranquility.