The sun had just risen when Luz woke up. She decided to get ready quickly and go find Aliana for breakfast in the kitchen; she didn't want to eat locked in her room.
After greeting the guard posted in front of her door, she entered the next room and pulled the teenager out of bed.
"Come on, get up. I want to have breakfast early and go horseback riding."
Aliana accompanied her to the kitchen, resigned.
After a hearty breakfast and a pleasant conversation with the Omegas in the kitchen, the girls headed for the stables.
They had to go around the training ground. As they got closer, they heard countless grunts and the sound of swords. It was impossible not to attract the attention of Luz, who was not used to such things.
Luz asked curiously, "Where are those noises coming from?"
"From the training ground," Aliana replied with an amused expression.
But before Luz could ask anything else, Aliana, aware of Luz's curious nature, explained that every day the warriors practiced combat to complete their training and be considered the best warriors among the different herds.
The creature's face reflected curiosity, and she asked Aliana to take her to the place to see what it was all about for a few minutes.
Together they stopped at a distance as they watched the large circular field with a sandy floor, where hundreds of warriors practiced fighting, some in their wolf form, others in their human form.
Luz's eyes automatically fell on a familiar figure, a huge man skillfully wielding his sword as three warriors attacked him. He wore only tight black pants that revealed the muscles of his strong legs. Higher up, Luz noticed his naked torso, with magnificent pectorals, defined abs, and strong arms. She couldn't help but feel her heart race. Was it fear or something else?
The Alpha's eyes locked onto hers with an intense gaze. Startled, Luz immediately turned her head and grabbed Aliana's hand to resume their walk toward the stables.
They walked together through different corridors and gardens until they reached their destination.
While Aliana talked to the keeper to see which domesticated animal would be best suited for the human, Luz carelessly approached a huge black stallion with a sturdy body and thick legs, who exuded an air of grandeur.
"You're really beautiful," she said as she stroked his head, and the animal seemed to enjoy her company.
Luz continued to circle him and stroke his body until she reached his head again, talking to him and flattering him as if the horse understood her. "I'd like to ride you. Will you grant me that honor?"
It was strange, but the animal immediately lowered himself enough for the child to mount him.
"What's his name? I like this one," she said aloud to the wolves so they could hear her.
The caretaker's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw the scene of the girl riding the horse, and he shouted in a terrified voice, "Watch out, that animal is aggressive!"
But the stallion was docile and let her stroke and ride him. Why was the keeper so alarmed? She felt safe on the animal and didn't understand why he was so scared.
The caretaker turned to Aliana: "I must warn you that this beast is untamable. We've been trying to tame him for years without success. Not even the Alpha has been able to tame him. This is the first time I've seen him so calm. I recommend that you choose a more reliable animal."
But Luz liked that horse. "Sir, does this horse have a name?"
"Garañón," he replied.
Luz chuckled, knowing what that meant. 'I like it. I'd like to take him for a ride. From the way you describe him, I guess he hasn't left the stable in a long time."
"At least he entertains the mares,' said the man with a laugh. "He's the only entertainment around here."
Luz blushed with embarrassment. She pretended not to hear and asked the caretaker again for permission to take the animal out.
Aliana spoke to the man and assured him that they would return with the horse at sunset. She took a mare so that the stallion would not become aggressive in the presence of another male, and with that precaution, they moved away from the herd.
The girl was overflowing with happiness. The last time she had ridden a horse was when her parents were still alive. It was one of her favorite activities, along with diving. She thought only of happiness as the stallion galloped at full speed, eager to experience the freedom of the moment.
They galloped around the herd as part of the reconnaissance so that Luz could get to know the place better, and then they entered the safe area of the forest. They visited several beautiful places. After a few hours, they headed to the clearing with the small lagoon so that their animals could rest and drink. Luz recognized this place where she had drunk from its waters when they were looking for the way home for the first time.
It was hot, and the water beckoned Luz to swim.
A little uneasy, Luz asked Aliana, "Are you sure the lake is safe? Aren't there any dangerous creatures in it?"
Aliana smiled. "There's nothing wrong with the water. I've been swimming in it since I was a puppy."
They dismounted from their horses and, after quenching their thirst, tied them to a log.
The child's heart began to race with excitement at the thought of swimming and diving, but she had no swimsuit, and the undergarments given to female wolves were definitely impractical.
"Are you sure, really sure, that there's no danger in the lake?" Luz asked again.
"There's no risk, no dangerous creatures."
"No one will see us?" she asked, even more worried. She was extremely shy about showing her body, unlike the wolves, who were used to being naked when they transformed into men, and the female wolves weren't ashamed either, but they had to be careful not to show their nakedness to others, especially when they had a mate, as the males tended to be jealous and very possessive. For that very reason, many female wolves wore a kind of thin, opaque cloth tied to one of their legs to use in case they needed to hide their nakedness after transforming. It was a clever solution to the problem.
"No one will see us, don't worry," repeated the wolf.
The sun shone brightly above their heads, while birdsong accompanied them. The subtle scent of flowers enveloped the human woman's mind in a warm and comforting embrace.
As Aliana lay down in the shade of a tree to rest, Luz approached the edge of the lake and looked at her reflection. The crystal-clear water revealed small fish and seaweed, and she was amazed. She dipped her feet in the water, still hesitating to enter the lake completely. In front of her, she saw a fish with iridescent gold and green scales swimming, and that was enough to encourage her to dive in.
She approached the grass, stopped, and looked around, still worried that someone might see her. She glanced over at where Aliana was. Luz was aware that Aliana had seen her naked several times while she was unconscious, but she still felt embarrassed. Seeing that the she-wolf was resting under a tree with her eyes closed, she quickly removed her dress, leaving only her thin white petticoat, and left her belongings on a rock. She looked around again and quickly got into the water. The impact of her warm body against the cold water made her shiver for a few seconds, and a small moan escaped her lips, confirming the feeling of cold, but she quickly got used to the temperature. She swam and splashed around like a pro, her lips curving into a smile that revealed her perfect teeth.
She quickly submerged herself in the water to dive, just as she had done with her parents. She was good at this activity. Although she didn't have a diving mask to protect her eyes, she had no problem opening them under the fresh water. She could see different creatures, all unknown to her, but beautiful. She was amazed; she had never seen such a variety of animals underwater. She swam among seaweed, crustaceans, fish, and other animals she couldn't even identify or classify. She tried to hold her breath as long as possible before coming up for air and diving back down. Two creatures that looked very much like small dolphins appeared. They approached the creature curiously, as if they understood that it was not a sea animal. They played with her and, from time to time, pushed her towards the surface, as if they were worried that she couldn't breathe.
All these new experiences filled her with joy and allowed her to forget for a moment her desire to return to her world.
In the distance, a wolf lurked hidden among the grass. It was the Alpha. He ordered that the creature be followed at all times and that he be informed of all its movements, for fear that it might escape from the pack or that something bad might happen to it. When he was told that his sister and Luz had left the pack on horseback, he was immediately concerned and decided to follow them himself. He was careful not to reveal his presence, especially to his sister, who had very keen senses, unlike humans. For this reason, he found himself faced with the difficult task of hiding not only his body but also his scent, always taking into account the position of the wind.
He saw the whole scene: the ride, the arrival at the lake, his sister resting under the tree, and Luna entering the lake. He was distressed to see her disappear beneath the surface, holding his breath, and relaxed a little when she resurfaced. Anyone who had seen him would have laughed at his extremely worried behavior.