He Regretted Dearly When I Let Go

It all started because the wolf-mother who raised me snagged a thread on Eleanors favorite dress C Eleanor, Benedict Thornes childhood sweetheart.

In a fit of rage, Benedict summoned the butchers. They hacked off my wolf-mothers four paws, then tossed her into a vat of sulfuric acid.

I cradled her dying body, screaming at Benedict. I told you I was raised by wolves! How is this any different from cutting off my own mothers limbs?

But Benedict just stood there, a cold mask on his face, shielding Eleanors eyes as he looked at me. Youre nothing but a stray my stepmother picked up from God knows where. Dont try to fool me with your wild tales!

My wolf-mother, her body mangled and bloody, still struggled to inch towards me. I crawled to her, pulling her into my arms. I stayed with the Thorne family to repay their kindness, for giving our pack a sanctuary. You chased after me for hundreds of miles, unwilling to let me go, but I never imagined it would lead to this.

That night, clutching my wolf-mother, I bowed deeply before Aunt Marthas memorial tablet. Aunt Martha, the Thorne familys animal parks now span the continent. They no longer need my ability to command animals. I should have left long ago.

Just as I was about to blow the bone flute hanging around my neck, she stirred, trying to stop me.

Wolves repay kindness. The Thornes took in old, sick, and injured animals, giving the pack a home. I knew she didn't want me to destroy the Thorne legacy unless absolutely necessary.

The vet shook his head, looking at the bones, flesh melted and cracked by the concentrated sulfuric acid. Theres nothing we can do.

Doctor, she used to be the fastest wolf in the forest. To not reattach her limbs isnt that condemning her to death?

My sobs tore through me. My wolf-mother reached out a mangled limb, trying to wipe away my tears, then recoiled, realizing she had no paws. She curled into a pathetic ball of despair.

I stayed by her side all night, eventually crying myself into a tormented sleep.

A loud bang ripped through the quiet. The main door was kicked open. The butler dragged me, pulling me to my knees before the grand hall of the Thorne Estate.

Eleanor lay limp on a plush chaise lounge, her face meticulously made up to look fragile and injured, barely clinging to life.

I started to rise, but Benedicts hand lashed out, delivering a brutal slap across my face. Eleanor went to survey the wilderness and was bitten by these ungrateful beasts! Tell me, was it your doing?

He gestured to a nearby iron cage. Only then did I see it held several wolf pups. They were severely beaten, their fur torn, barely alive.

Suppressing the throbbing pain and swelling on my face, I crawled towards the cage, intending to free them. But the butler yanked me back several feet.

Benedicts eyes narrowed. You dont care about the person injured because of you, but you rush to these animals aid! Bury them alive!

I dragged my body, struggling back to the cage. One of the pups wore a leg band I had personally fastened. I had delivered them myself in the forest. Their soft paws had rested in my palm, as if telling me not to worry.

But their plaintive whimpers tightened a knot of bitter sorrow in my chest. I grit my teeth, glaring at Benedict. They didnt hurt Eleanor! They said they saw her being kidnapped, and they scared off the attackers, saving her!

Benedict paused, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

Eleanors tears immediately began to fall in rivulets. She stepped forward, grasping Benedicts hand. It was definitely these animals that hurt me, Benedict. Why would I lie to you? Shes just trying to play her old tricks again. Who can understand what animals are saying?

If she truly understood them, and yet allowed her venomous snake to bite you, wouldn't that just prove she intended to harm you?

Benedict shot me an angry look, then ordered the entire cage to be moved to the back hill of the villa.

Before, to find a cure for Benedict, Id let that snake bite me countless times, only to find it was never venomous. And I couldnt understand why an usually docile snake would suddenly attack Benedict.

Before I could speak another word, Benedict lunged forward, his fingers tightening around my throat, as if to choke the life out of me. Then how did I get poisoned? Selena Thorne, theres a limit to how much you can lie! If Eleanor hadnt brought the antidote, I would be dead.

I tore his hands away, arching my back and leaping onto the cage like a wolf, snarling, scaring everyone away. Whoever dares touch them will have to step over my dead body!

Benedicts eyes widened at my feral posture, and his voice softened. I truly dont understand you. Why are you so fixated on these animals, even mimicking them?

A bitter ache bloomed in my chest. He used to love my affinity for animals, letting me keep all sorts of creatures in the villa, even complimenting me, saying I was as cute as a little wolf. But ever since he was bitten by that snake, all my animal companions were sent away, leaving only my wolf-mother by my side. And now he claims not to understand me.

My eyes red, I kept them from approaching. Then, a sharp blow landed on my head. My vision went black, and I collapsed.

When I woke again, a searing pain tore through my scalp. I clutched my head, rubbing it frantically. I heard a familiar, cold voice. I told you to go easy. Why isn't she awake yet?

The butler bowed apologetically, then, seeing me stir, quickly alerted Benedict.

He took three long strides to the bed, paused just before sitting, and sneered, Now you feel a headache, do you? You were so stubborn just now. Those animals are dead. Go apologize to Eleanor properly, and this whole thing will be over.

I grabbed the hem of his jacket, my voice trembling. Benedict, why are you doing this to me?

A flash of indifference crossed Benedicts eyes. He yanked his hand away. Martha was a homewrecker who caused my mothers death. Youre her illegitimate child, and you released a poisonous snake to bite me, hoping to seize my familys fortune. What else do you expect me to do to you?

I told you, if you just behave, Ill let you live comfortably in the Thorne household. But you insist on defying me for these creatures, time and time again.

Aunt Martha wasnt a homewrecker! She and your father only met after your mothers suicide, because of their shared love for animals C

With a crash, Benedict swept all the cups and dishes off the table, cutting me off. Are you going to tell me your wild tale of being raised by wolves again? I must have been out of my mind to believe you before!

He slammed the door shut, his face etched with fury. Watching his retreating back, my heart turned to ash.

Years ago, Aunt Martha, during a wilderness survey, stopped a hunter from shooting me. She approached me cautiously, only to discover I was a naked girl. I bared my teeth and growled at her, but she simply extended her hand. From that day on, she taught me to read, to walk upright, and used the Thorne familys wealth to expand a vast wolf sanctuary. In return, I used my unique ability to communicate with animals to help her gather rare data, making the Thorne family a global leader in animal research, securing many patents. She brought me back to the Thorne Estate. Years later, Benedict and I fell in love. He held my hand and swore he would marry no one else.

Until his childhood friend, Eleanor, returned from abroad. She brought several doctored photos, supposedly showing his fathers affair with Aunt Martha. Then, Benedict was suddenly poisoned. After that, he transformed, treating me like an enemy.

Aunt Marthas assistant, the only person I still trusted, entered the room, her face grim. Ms. Thorne, Ive investigated everything. You need to brace yourself.

The assistant handed me a stack of documents. One by one, the photographs made me nearly stumble!

When we married, Benedict had sworn to me. The Thorne family would only send orphaned young and animals incapable of hunting to zoos for care, never exploiting them for dangerous performances.

But the documents revealed that in recent years, the Thorne family had been constructing animal parks everywhere, claiming to champion animal welfare, yet capturing rare animals to expand their collections. The photos showed various animals crammed into tiny cages, unable to stand upright. Trainers forced tiger cubs to jump through flaming hoops with whips, and monkeys to hold their breath underwater. Cheetahs had their fangs and claws removed for photoshoots. Brown bears were restrained by steel chains, immobile, their bile extracted daily. Cheap, useless animals were euthanized. The valuable ones were sold at low prices to circuses. Many of the poor, powerful beasts in the photos were my childhood companions. I remembered the exhilarating freedom of running through the forest with them. Now, their eyes held nothing but terror. A forest fire had destroyed their habitat, leaving them severely injured. I had believed the Thorne animal park could be a safe haven, never imagining I was personally sending them to hell.

The original wilderness sanctuary had also been developed into a hunting ground for the wealthy. Seeing them holding up animal heads, proudly displaying them for the camera, I finally couldnt stomach it anymore and threw up.

I had failed them

The assistant, worried, helped me. Ms. Thorne! Protecting animals was Aunt Marthas lifelong mission. Now, its up to you.

I clenched my jaw and nodded. I had to take my wolf-mother, blow the bone flute, and let the Thorne family reap what they sowed! My wolf-mother was locked away in a room. I limped to the door, only to see a trail of blood leading from the room to the back hill of the villa. A cold dread gripped me. I rushed there. Before I even left the main house, I heard Benedicts voice from the room. You want wolf fur? Ill find you another. Why C

Eleanors voice, sugar-sweet, oozed, That old wolf dragged those buried pups back into the house, making a bloody mess everywhere! It scared me half to death when I stepped out! Of course, I had to let off some steam.

Benedict, doesnt this wolf-fur bikini look good on me?

Benedicts voice grew thick with desire. Little devil, you look best without anything on.

I violently kicked the door open.

Eleanor, clad in a bikini made from my wolf-mothers fur, the same color as her pelt, was swaying provocatively against Benedicts waist. I lurched forward, maddened, intending to rip the fur from her, but then I froze, seeing the bone flute on her chest. My eyes burned crimson. I lunged, my hands clamping around her throat.

Eleanor! Whats that around your neck?

Eleanor choked, her veins bulging, unable to speak.

Benedict seized the opportunity, pulling me away with a rough shove. Selena Thorne, have you lost your mind? Its just a dying old wolf! Ill catch you another one, wont I?

Around Eleanors neck was a bone flute, made from my wolf-mothers bones. It was identical to mine. This flute could command animals. Years ago, my wolf-mother had intentionally twisted her tail, allowing me to fashion it. I had only ever told Benedict about it. Now, he had told Eleanor, and even allowed her to kill my wolf-mother.

Eleanor, on the chaise, feigned gasping for breath, yet a faint smile played on her lips as she raised an eyebrow at me.

Ignoring the human mannerisms I had painstakingly learned over the years, I reverted to instinct, falling to the floor with a mournful howl, my nails digging bloody gouges into the polished wood.

Benedict recoiled in alarm. Eleanor, surprisingly, leaned closer, cupping my chin to examine my face. She suddenly turned to Benedict and said, Oh dear, Selena is under a wolfs curse. Thats why her behavior is so wolf-like.

Furious, I seized Eleanors wrist, attempting to snatch the bone flute from her neck. Benedict, who had been wavering, saw me redden Eleanors wrist and immediately ordered his men to restrain me. Eleanor winked at me. This curse isnt hard to break. I learned a lot from the tribal elders in the rainforest. She had them force me into a darkened room. In the suffocating blackness, deafening gongs exploded in my ears. I shrieked, clutching my head in agony. A blinding light pierced my eyes, like a sharp sword thrust into my eyeballs.

I was raised by wolves. For fifteen years, my hearing, sight, and smell were hundreds of times more acute than a normal persons C just like a wolfs. Benedict had always known this. He once pretended to be a ghost, screaming next to my ear, and that single sound caused my eardrums to bleed, landing me in the hospital for seven days. He had been so remorseful, slapping himself until his face swelled, weeping openly before me. But now, because of Eleanors baseless accusation of a wolfs curse, he was doing this to me.

My eyes burned so fiercely I couldnt open them. I could only scream into the void. Benedict Thorne, you know I cant stand bright light or loud noises! Do you truly believe in a wolfs curse?!

Amidst my panic, a cold voice echoed in my ear. I dont believe it. But you bruised Eleanors hand. This is your punishment.

The gongs crashed, one wave after another. The butler brutally forced my eyelids open, exposing me directly to the blinding light. Benedict caught my collapsing body, his lips pressed tight as he saw the blood flowing from my eyes and ears. Take Mrs. Thorne to bed. Then, he took Eleanors wrist, which I had reddened, gently massaging it and blowing on it.

Benedict took Eleanor to the hospital to examine the scrapes on her neck. After Aunt Marthas passing, Mr. Thorne had fallen into a deep depression. Barely recovered, he now hobbled in, leaning on his cane, trembling. Seeing my dreadful state, he faltered, then collapsed to his knees. Selena, I have failed you, and your Aunt Martha. I raised such an unworthy son, Benedict!

I know you have the ability to command animals, which is why they stayed peacefully in the sanctuary. And those wild creatures treated us kindly because of your commands, allowing us to collect experimental data, securing the Thorne familys standing in the scientific and business worlds.

Seeing the old man kneeling before me, I drew a sharp breath, enduring the pain as I spoke. Now that Aunt Martha is gone, and the pack harmed, I wont stay here for anything.

Selena, its all my fault. The Thorne familys legacy cant be destroyed by Benedict! Ill disinherit Benedict and forbid anyone from helping him. Please, dont leave. Help the Thorne family one more time, wont you?

I coughed up a mouthful of blood, my fingers tracing the bone flute around my neck. Eleanor has already made a bone flute from my wolf-mothers blood and bones. Go beg her. After all Benedict said shes a hundred times better than me.

I no longer listened to his pleas. A faint smile touched my lips. I raised the bone flute, blowing with all my might. A resounding wolf howl pierced the sky. Mr. Thornes face went ashen. Its over, its all over

Within minutes, muffled thuds shook the Thorne family gates.

BANGBANG!

The next second, the gates burst open!

Through a cloud of dust, a pack of wild wolves, standing taller than men, roared!