Wolf's Beautiful Beast

By Suzanna Lynn

What harm could come from picking a rose?

Under the silver glow of the moon, Lycus was cursed to run through Blakx Forest in wolf form. All that changed when Rapunzel set him free. Now, after learning she and Red plan to journey to the Land of Oz, he joins their adventure... oblivious to the darkness they will soon face.

Stranded in the land of Bruen, the trio hears whispers of a lost princess and a horrible beast. After sticking his nose where the king felt it didn’t belong, Lycus is forced to join the hunting party to kill the beast and rescue the princess.

Proving no good deed goes unpunished, Lycus is captured by the same beast he was ordered to slay. It doesn’t take long for him to realize all is not as it seems in the abandoned castle and there is far more to this story than meets the eye.

Racing against the clock, can Lycus save the princess before his friends are imprisoned for his mistake? Or will he be forced to choose between his beauty and the beast within?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Suzanna Lynn
• Release date: Mar 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005019006

Suzanna Lynn

Author Suzanna Lynn is a happily married, full-time mother of three beautiful, energetic children, and lives in a small town nestled in the deep rolling hills of Missouri.Growing up in the Ozarks, Suzanna spent her childhood wandering the fields and woods surrounding her home. While most children avoided the dark corners of the woods, she sought them out; imagining them to be filled with fairies, dragons and all number of creatures.Having not lost her childhood imagination, Suzanna has written numerous poems, songs and short stories that won various awards in high school and college. Her dream was to, one day, be an author.In 2014 she decided to stop wishing she could publish a book and made the dream a reality when she released The Bed Wife.That first novella gave birth to two more books, completing the series, and stirred the embers of a new five-book series called The Untold Stories. She has since published stand-alone novels, and even has several children’s books in the works.When she's not busy writing or spending time with her family, Suzanna loves to draw and paint, as well as scrapbooking. She also has been known to volunteer with her children's school, the Ladies Auxiliary, and even the local zoo!

Book preview

Some people know me as the Big Bad Wolf. A monster so vile, it terrorized a little red cloaked girl, only to end up eating her grandmother. Or a bloodthirsty creature that chases and destroys the homes of little pigs. Others say I am the Beast. A soul cursed by a sorceress who captures a young maiden and holds her up in his castle. However, the stories have it wrong—at least partially.

I am neither, yet I am all. The monstrous creature history painted me to be. My name is Lycus. I was once a resident of the Land of Oz until I was cursed by a wicked witch and doomed to take the form of a white wolf every night.

For eighteen years, I stood guard outside the tower of the young woman they called Rapunzel, waiting for her to be freed and take up her rightful place on the throne of Oz. As luck would have it, a girl named Red helped rescue the princess and I was released from the spell, finally allowed to gaze at the moon with my human eyes.

Once freed, Red, Rapunzel, and I set out to find the land of Oz. But a chance encounter with a woman living in an abandoned castle would set steps in motion that could not be undone. Soon after, I would be branded a beast, putting myself and my two new friends in grave danger.

Let me tell you my untold story.

The moon was high in the night sky as I ran through the damp forest. The air, icy and crisp. Clumps of snow littered the ground where the trees had not allowed the sun’s rays to kiss the forest floor.

I pulled in a deep breath, letting the clean, cold air fill my lungs and energize my body. Pushing my legs forward, my bare feet digging deep in the wet earth, I kicked up mud as I sped through the trees.

I felt alive for the first time in years, allowed to see the moon’s alabaster light with my own eyes.

Few would dare explore the deep, dark reaches of Blakx Forest at night. Most wouldn’t dare come close in the day. The curse of the wolves had plagued the woods for so long Timbergard had turned into nothing more than a tiny port village covered in mud.

However, I did not fear the wolves. I had been one of them for so long, I felt connected even in my human skin.

I came upon a break in the trees, revealing a canyon. The gap was far too wide for any man to jump, and the cavern so deep, one would easily perish from the fall. But not me. I ran for the edge, my feet kicking off the rocky lip. I sailed through the air, like a phantom breeze had picked me up and was pushing me across the wide expanse. Landing without breaking my stride, my feet left deep impressions in the soft soil on the other side.

I pushed on, flying through the underbrush and low-hanging limbs. The deeper into the forest I ventured, the denser the foliage became. Grabbing my arms and legs like goblins, thorns and branches assaulted me. I slowed when the warm smell of burning wood assaulted my senses. I was still a good mile away, but the wolf in me could smell it.

My hearing was acute. I could tell the wolves had migrated to this deep part of the forest. Once the job of protecting the tower was done, they were left without a purpose. They only knew one thing: destruction. They had most likely been keeping tabs on me since the very moment I stepped foot in the woods. I was now their prey, no longer part of the pack.

Stepping past an outcropping of trees, I was greeted by a burned wasteland. Blackened tree corpses lay on the scorched earth. As far as the eye could see, the ground was covered in glowing orange embers.

However, these weren’t the embers of a recent forest fire. This was a curse. A powerful spell cast to keep the wolves out of the Kingdom of Bruen.

When I first came to the forest, cursed to spend my nights as the guard dog to a hag and little girl who lived in a tower, the King of Bruen enlisted the help of a dark fairy who created a fire so hot it was considered as volatile as dragon’s breath. The magic clung to the land, keeping the embers alive for all these years.

I pulled the satchel from my shoulder and dropped it to the ground at my feet. Stooping, I opened the flap and pulled out a small metal box wrapped in spare scraps of leather. I laid the box on its side near the edge of the field and used a knife to flip several of the hot embers into the box. Once full, I closed the box and wrapped it in the tanned hides before slipping it in my pack. The embers burned hot, but the metal and leather would keep it from catching fire. That was the beauty of the magic.

I pulled the satchel over my head, bringing it across my body. I was ready to go, but the local residents of the forest had other plans.

I heard them before I saw them. The soft snap of a twig. The quick intake of breath as one of them sniffed the air. The movement of a low-hanging branch as it rubbed against another. I was surrounded.

I knew this game well. Surrounding the quarry made it an easy kill. I didn’t know if they would recognize my scent, having spent most of my time in wolf form. It might mean I smelled different as a human.

But I wasn’t going to stand around and get mauled to death either.

As the creatures closed in, tightening their formation, they created a semicircle around me, the burning field at my back. They had me.

However, what they did not know was that I was planning on an encounter with them. I only hoped my plan would work. Even more so, I hoped it wouldn’t affect me.

I pulled a vial from the pocket of my trousers. It was a mixture of belladonna and wolfsbane. Red said she had used it more than once to ward off the wolves before. This time, she made a concentrated dose.

I backed as close to the clearing edge as I could, hoping the wolves would come closer. They circled me, their teeth glinting in the moonlight as they snarled.

I took in a deep breath and held it. Swinging my arm as hard as I could, I threw the vial down in front of the wolves. A thick cloud began to rise from the shards, engulfing the area in a fog. The wolves whined, pawing at their faces as they backed away. One took off running, while another dropped, falling asleep.

In their distraction, I took my chance. Breath still held, I bolted through them into the forest. I took several long strides before daring to breathe again. The air was clean and crisp. Tearing through the underbrush, I put distance between the pack and myself, hoping they would remain distracted.

There was still no sign of them by the time I jumped the ravine, making my way into the safer part of the forest.

I knew this was the last time I would ever venture into this forest. The curse was lifted, and I was free. However exhilarating the notion was, there was also a sense of mourning. For years I had known nothing else, and I would never have to do it again.

Before long, my legs took me north, ignoring the call to Timbergard. As the sun peeked over the eastern horizon, I broke through the foliage into the tower field. Rapunzel’s prison stood before me, cold and empty. A tangled mass of hair, braided into a rope, hung from the open window—the only clue of the liberation of Rapunzel.

I knew I should head back to Timbergard. Rapunzel and Red would be waiting for me at the docks. However, the tower called to me. Like a compass’s desire to point north, the tower guided my steps. Soon I was scaling the rough brick wall, hands gripped tightly around the hair.

At the top, I heaved myself over the stone lip of the window. It was dark, and cool—the fire long extinguished.

I riffled through some of the old things strewn about the room. I grabbed the flint rocks by the hearth, storing them securely in my bag. Rolling them to fit, I stowed two of Rapunzel’s dresses. She is much smaller than Red, even for her age, I thought. At least now she will have clothes that fit.

I had all but given up trying to find anything of use when I stubbed my toe on a loose board near the window.

Blast! I cursed, leaning down to rub the injury.

What’s that? I questioned, noticing a gleam from around the edge of the loose board.

I dug my fingers around the board and pulled. It popped back to reveal a black dagger. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. It shined like dragon glass, black as obsidian. Gently, I picked it up. It was heavy, as though made from a solid piece of stone. It had intricately carved vines over the hilt and a carved rose on the pommel. It was both beautiful and terrifying.

What in the gods’ name would Gothel be doing with something like this? I said, standing. The idea of what she might have done to Rapunzel had we not rescued her made my gut twist.

Pulling my bag from my shoulder, I made to stow the weapon.

Suddenly, a loud screeching erupted from high in the rafters of the tower. Black feathers assaulted my face, and I fought off the crow.

Bloody stop! I screamed, swinging the dagger. Back, I say!

The crow racked its claws at me, pecking with its beak. I backed away, hitting the edge of the window and tilting backward.

No! I screamed, feeling my weight go back. I reached out, trying to grab anything. In the confusion, the crow grabbed the dagger, scratching my hand in the process. Flying out the window, it threw me further off balance.

In my shock, my satchel slipped from my hand. I could not stop my body from falling backward, out of the window. My hands flailed for the length of hair as I fell, trying to slow my descent. Before I had time to even consider the possibility, my body erupted into my wolf form.

Twisting in midair, I tried to catch myself but landed hard on my back, the air escaping my lungs in a puff. I gasped in the cold morning air, letting it soothe my bruised body as the adrenaline continued to course through my veins.

How did I do that? I wondered. And how do I turn back? My heart started to race. I just got my human life back. What have I done?

Become a man, become a man, I repeated. I tried imagining my body changing back, but nothing worked.

I let the panic take over a few more moments before forcing myself to calm. Rapunzel can do it, I thought. I just need to get back to Rapunzel and she can fix this.

I sniffed around, finding my satchel. Nosing it open, I found the contents inside were intact and accounted for. I snatched it up and ran for the village of Timbergard, where Red and Rapunzel would be waiting.

I approached the village treeline cautiously. Thankfully, Red’s Gran’s hut was close by and people were still wary of the forest. I managed to slip through unnoticed.

Upon approaching the shack, I saw Gran outside hanging a blanket on the line. The wind caused the fabric to fly. I trotted up to greet her but was given a blood-curdling scream in response.

She threw the blanket at me. Turning on her heel, she made for the woodshed and snatched up the ax.

Come at me, you bloody demon, she growled. I’ll make a nice rug out of you!

Gran! cried Red, tearing out of the hut, bow in hand.

Wait! cried Rapunzel, who had followed Red. It’s Lycus!

All three stared at me in bewilderment. I whined, dropping the satchel at my feet.

What happened? asked Rapunzel, passing Red to come rub my head. How did you…

I whined again, in response. I hoped she would be able to help. I didn’t want to go back to the life I had known.

Well, have you tried turning back? Red questioned, putting her bow back over her shoulder.

I snorted as I glared at her.

Sorry, I was just checking, she teased, having picked up my meaning.

Standing out here for all to see isn’t going to do him any good, said Gran, dropping the ax. "We best get him inside while we figure this out.

I practically had to crawl to get through the door, but with a bit of maneuvering, we all got safely inside.

"Without knowing how he changed, I’m not sure how to undo it," Rapunzel said.

It’s not like you knew how to remove the curse in the first place, Red offered. Just do what you did then.

What if it makes him worse?

Worse than a wolf?

Girls! snapped Gran. Stop this. The poor thing needs your help.

Rapunzel turned to me. Lie down. Try to get as comfortable as possible.

Laying on my side, I stretched out. Red moved furniture, as my size took up most of the floor space.

Now think back to when you used to transform. How your body felt, Rapunzel instructed, placing my head in her lap. Relax and will your body to change.

I did as she asked, breathing deeply as I imagined how my body used to contract and change. In the beginning, changing was agony. But over the years, I had been able to transition quickly if I didn’t fight it.

Red gasped and I opened my eyes. My human eyes. Gran threw a quilt over my body as Rapunzel continued to stroke my hair.

You did it, she praised.

Sitting up slowly, I pulled the quilt around me. I have no clue how.

Speaking of how, why did you change in the first place? Red asked.

I told them all of the run through the ash field, the wolves, the tower, the dagger, the crow, and eventually the fall that led to my change.

So, you go all wolfy whenever you’re scared? Red mused, sitting at the table.

Red, Gran and Rapunzel hissed in unison.

What? Red defended, sitting up straight. I just want to know what we’re in for on this journey.

Perhaps you should get dressed, Gran instructed, motioning toward the small bedchamber. I’ll get you a new pair of breeches, though Red will need to run into town to get you new boots.

You know, Lycus, you’re probably the most expensive pet I’ve ever had. Red giggled, heading for the door.

Seriously, Red, must you?