King of Wolves: Kingdom of Fairytales, #9

By J.A.Armitage and B. Kristin McMichael

What happened after the happily ever after?

You all know the story of your favorite fairytale, but did you ever wonder what happened after the fairytale ending? Well we know. Not all afters end up happily, sometimes the real adventure starts much later...

The forests of Elder are filled with people that change into wolves on the full moon. For Castiel, the haunted woods that the big bad wolf once roamed is anything but scary. He's spent the past few years of his life making a home in the woods and loving every minute of it. While he isn't a wolf, he's befriended them and found they make great neighbors, even if many in the country still see them as the monster they once were.

Unfortunately, the change to the new winter season has brought a sickness to the wolves Castiel counts as friends. When his wolf friends need help, Castiel is there to lend a hand and to try to get his mother to see that something is wrong. The only question is, can Castiel convince Little Red Riding Hood that the wolves need help before something terrible happens?

My name is Castiel, son of Red Riding Hood, and this is my story.

Lighting-fast reads you won't be able to put down

Fantasy has never been so epic!
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.A.Armitage
• Release date: Nov 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9781989700167

Book preview

26TH FEBRUARY

The weather was perfect for a run. It was cold enough that most people would need a coat, but not me. Winter season wasn’t entirely done yet, but the cold never bothered me. I ran a bit warmer than most, and it had only gotten worse over the past few moon cycles. I didn’t need to heat my small hut anymore as I was always warm. My fast-paced jog meant I was already sweating, even without my shirt on. The chilly winter breeze was perfect as I chased the lithe wolf, still beating me in our last turn toward home.

Running was simple, like the people of Elder. We lived in harmony with each person playing their role assigned by our leader, The Red. We traded for what we needed, and everyone took care of themselves. I’d never really known any other sort of life, but the one I was given suited me, preferring as I did, to live my own life with my own rules. I took care of myself and didn’t need anyone else to do it for me.

Since I was fifteen, every morning and every afternoon, I’d jogged around the local woods. At a full out run, I could do the southern trail before breakfast, and as long as I got out before the sun started to set, I could make the northern trail before it got completely dark. Both paths allowed me to monitor the woods between the two peoples of Elder. Three seasons ago, Red ordered me to start making the runs I now do daily in trade for items I didn’t have at my hut. At the time, I refused, but now I do it without needing to be reminded. The Red had asked me to keep an eye on the wolves, but I felt something more than that. I belonged in the woods and running made me feel alive, not that I’d ever tell her that.

I preferred the simple life of the forest to anything else. Where there were no machines for people to fight over, no money to be used, and every person you met didn’t use magic. In fact, not many people ventured here at all, and that was the way I liked it. I hadn't actually ever left the borders of Elder, but I had no reason to. All I knew of the outside kingdoms came from the few outsiders that ventured into Elder when I was growing up in the tree village, and they didn’t make our forest a stop on their way through. They always worried about what might be lurking in the woods, which for the most part, was nothing. Almost every day I was alone as I crossed the pathways that I ran. Well, I wasn’t completely alone; I had my wolf beside me.

The young wolf raised his head into the air and sniffed. Taking a deep breath, I took in the fresh forest air also. I could smell the faint scent of a river, elderberries, and a rodent of some sort nearby not to mention my wolf friend.

Not today, I told him, sure that he wanted to chase whatever prey it was. I’m always in enough trouble as it is.

The wolf shook his head. I was pretty sure that was his way of saying he didn’t agree with me. It wasn’t his butt getting in trouble every time he decided to eat something he shouldn’t. The Red would be knocking on my door, scolding me and making me make retribution for his latest folly. He’s just a wolf. Grabbing a pine cone off the tree I just passed, I took aim and hit the wolf on his head as he pounced in front of me.

Not today. I tried to add more authority to my voice.

The wolf dropped back alongside me and nipped at my leg. He knew we didn’t get supper until we finished our run.

Running in the big bad forest seemed to intimidate most people, but not me. I loved the fresh air and all the scents of the world around me. It was pure. It was nature: not metal or magic, just life. Contrary to what everyone thought, the evil forest was just a forest. The area I patrolled was the safe zone between the wolves and the tree people. No one crossed it on purpose, and the few that I found just needed to be set back on track because they were lost. It was a simple job and something I actually liked, but I’d never tell Red that.

A wolf howl in the distance made my companion perk up his ears, but I kept on my track. It wasn’t anything to worry about. I have no idea when it started, but I’d always had a deep connection to the animals in the woods. That howling wolf was at least two towns away. It wasn’t going to come anywhere near us and the buffer zone I patrolled. The wolf beside me whined as he didn’t have the same sense as I did.

It’s not a problem, I reassured him. The wolf trusted me and kept pace with me.

As I scented another smell, the wolf veered again to the left, like he was going to go off to chase something else again.

Beat you home? I challenged, raising an eyebrow at my companion. The wolf yipped his agreement. Without hesitation, the wolf took off.

The trees passed by as I quickened my pace to catch up with the blond wolf. He was fast, but I knew he was pushing it. This was the max speed that he could run. I was just getting going.

Within moments I was neck and neck with the wolf. He whined as he noticed me beside him, jumping the logs that littered the forest floor and ducking the low-hanging branches. I grew up in the woods, and this was like home as much to me as it was to him. Elder was mostly forested. Only the southern region had farms, but I didn’t need to patrol there. The wolves stuck to the forest, and so did the tree people I grew up with.

Ten more strides, and I pulled ahead of the wolf. He nipped at me but wasn’t close enough to get a piece of me. As I ran faster, he wasn’t going to get a second chance.

The wind and trees whipped by me as I ran, easily dodging trees and bushes. As I pushed faster, it felt like I could be a bird getting ready to take off. I was part of the forest just like every creature around me and the wolf that still pounded behind me at my heals. I focused on my pathway home and picked up my speed. This was home, and I knew every last piece of the woods I was running through.

The scent I smelled before hit me harder, and I knew exactly who it was. Just as I burst through the pine trees that kept my small place hidden, I saw her at my doorway.

I skidded to a halt, and my wolf friend ran past me. His tongue was hanging out as he turned back to mock me while he ran full force into the hooded person standing outside my doorway. Her back was turned to us, but it didn’t matter. Red was agile and nimble as ever. She sidestepped the wolf barreling at her and let him run into the door, knocking it open.

I see some things never change, Castiel, Red commented as she turned to me.

Honey brown eyes assessed me like I was being analyzed from head to toe. Red had a way of doing that to everyone. She didn’t need words, just a look, and I was back to being a boy of only eight winters.

Anyone not from Elder would have never thought to look twice at the small lady before me. She stood barely taller than a one-season oak tree. Most of the people of Elder were shorter, but Red was exceptionally short. I could look her eye to eye by my tenth winter season. Now I had to look down to talk to her, but it didn’t matter. The authority that came from her made me feel like I was that little boy again, but could finally look her in the eye. I had a feeling it would be like that my whole life.

Do I get an invite in? She waited while I tried to remember words.

I waved my arm to