Chapter 34: The Alpha’s Skin

Azura’s POV( in Rhydor’s body)

The warriors were still kneeling, their heads bowed in respect. The children were just staring at us with huge, saucer-like eyes. Even the ones who were too young to understand the words could feel the heavy energy vibrating in the room.

I stood there, trapped in Rhydor’s massive body. It was weird; I could feel the sheer weight of his authority settling over me like a heavy, invisible cloak. It made me feel tall, powerful in a way I’d never imagined.

For a heartbeat, nobody moved. It was like the whole world was holding its breath.

But then I felt him. He was standing right in front. And he was absolutely livid.

"Azura."

His voice was quiet. He didn’t scream. He didn’t growl. It was just a command wrapped in silk, but it was sharper than any blade.

He’s furious, I thought, my heart thumping against Rhydor’s ribs. He’s about to explode, but he’s too proud to do it in front of the kids.

"Come with me," he said.

I didn’t argue. I just gave a stiff nod and followed my own body out the door.

As we walked away from the orphanage, I could feel eyes burning holes in my back. I knew it was Liona. I could feel her confusion and her worry radiating off her, but I didn’t look back. I couldn’t. How do you explain to your friend that your soul just jumped into the man you’ve been complaining about for weeks?

We walked in silence until we hit a quiet, tucked-away corner of the pack grounds. No guards. No kids. Just us.

The second we stopped, Rhydor spun around to face me.

"What the hell was that back there?"

I folded my arms. They were so big and muscled that it felt like I was hugging a couple of tree trunks. It was actually kind of intimidating.

"Did I stutter?" I said, trying to keep my voice flat and cool. "I said exactly what you heard."

He let out a sharp breath through his nose. Then, he tilted my head and smiled. It wasn’t a nice smile. It was the kind of smile a wolf gives right before it bites.

"And who gave you permission to do that?" He stepped into my personal space. "Who told you that you could just go around opening new orphanages when we already have one for all orphans?"

I felt a hot flare of anger in my chest. "All orphans?" I repeated, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I tilted my head, looking down at my own face. "Are you sure you know what that word means, Rhydor?"

His jaw tightened.

I took a step forward, using his height to loom over him for once. "Because from where I’m standing, I still see kids sleeping in dirt alleys. I still see them begging for scraps. I still see them being rejected by the people who are supposed to protect them."

He froze. "Rejected? What are you talking about? That orphanage accepts every wolf in this territory."

I let out a short, mean little laugh. "Then maybe you should stop reading those fancy reports on your desk and start using your own eyes. Those kids back there? They’re orphans too. The only difference is that they’re omegas or low-ranks, so your ’official’ house doesn’t want them."

The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on. That one hit him hard; I could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes.

His voice came out lower, rougher. "Don’t you dare accuse me of being a bad leader."

"Then don’t give me a reason to," I snapped back.

We just stood there, staring at each other. It was the weirdest thing I’d ever experienced, looking into my own eyes, seeing my own face, but knowing a completely different soul was behind them.

Then his tone shifted. It got quiet. Dangerous. "If this is really for the kids... I won’t shut it down." He paused, his gaze boring into mine. "But next time? You talk to me before you act. I’m the Alpha, Azura. I don’t like surprises."

He turned on his heel and walked off before I could even get another word in. "I won’t say it again!" he called back over his shoulder.

I stood there for a minute, just watching him walk away in my body. It was so strange to see myself move like that, so fast and aggressive.

Then I heard footsteps behind me. Fast ones.

I turned around and saw Liona sprinting toward... well, toward my body. She was chasing after Rhydor, thinking he was me.

Before she could reach him and say something she’d regret, I moved. I was surprisingly fast in this body. I reached out and caught her wrist. I tried to be gentle, but Rhydor’s "gentleness" was still pretty strong.

She spun around, looking startled. When she saw it was the Alpha holding her, she turned pale as a sheet. She froze, her eyes darting around in total panic.

From the looks on her face, she’s probably wondering why the Alpha is touching her.

She yanked her hand back like I was made of fire. "A... Alpha..." her voice was shaking. "Look, I’m not... I’m not that kind of woman! I don’t... I don’t do stuff like that!"

I blinked. It took me a second to realize she thought I was hitting on her. My stomach did a somersault of pure cringe.

"Oh goddess, no," I groaned, rubbing my face with his big hands. "Liona. Stop. Sit. Just... please."

She started backing away, shaking her head. "I... I really need to go find the Luna. We have things to do..." She turned to run.

"Liona!"

My voice, his voice, came out way louder and sharper than I meant. She stopped like she’d hit a wall.

I looked around quickly. Nobody was nearby. I stepped closer and dropped my voice to a whisper. "Liona, look at me. It’s me."

She frowned, looking at me like I’d lost my mind. "Alpha... are you okay?"

I took a deep breath. This was going to sound insane. "It’s Azura, Liona. I’m inside here."

Silence. She stared at me for three long seconds, then she let out a nervous, awkward laugh. "That’s... that’s not a very good joke, Alpha. You almost had me."

I swallowed. I had to tell her something only we knew. "Remember the first time you took me to see those kids? The ones you hid and provided for?"

She went stiff as a board.

"We snuck out at midnight," I continued, watching her face. "You almost broke your ankle tripping over that loose fence board near the garden. You cursed so loud I thought the guards would hear us."

Her breath hitched. Her hands flew to her mouth.

"And you told me..." I finished softly. "You said that if the rest of the world wouldn’t protect them, then we would. Just us."

Liona’s eyes went wider than I’d ever seen them. She stared at me, stared at the Alpha’s face, his amber eyes. But I could see it in her expression; she was finally hearing my voice underneath all that muscle.

"L... Luna...?" she whispered, her voice cracking.

I nodded once, feeling a huge wave of relief.

She staggered back a step, looking like she was about to trip over her own feet.

"What in the Goddess’s name is happening?" she hissed, looking back and forth between me and the direction Rhydor had gone.

She just stood there, looking at me in total shock and awe. The reality finally hit her. I was wearing the Alpha’s skin, and the world had just turned completely upside down.

And I pray it won’t cause problems in the future, and only the Goddess knows what that future holds.