Daphne's POV
It has been a long day. I couldn’t fall asleep. What happened today kept lingering in my mind.
Damn, Carl! He ruined my day first, and I still wasn’t sure what I would do with the next day looming on the horizon.
What about the werewolf who attacked me? I wasn't sure if he made my day better or worse.
Was he a real werewolf? Had I been hallucinating?
I remembered the word he growled before he collapsed, "Mate"
Was it someone he's looking for or he's being attacked for?
It seemed like he hadn't meant to hurt me, despite having cut me with his claws. He was severely injured. I wasn't even sure if he would make it until tomorrow. My heart was filled with sympathy and sadness for his suffering, so I decided to heal him with my blood.
My blood could heal wounds, but no one, not even my grandmother, knew that. I had found out by accident when I was twelve and discovered an injured fawn. I had accidentally cut myself and dripped blood into the fawn’s wound. It had gotten up, nuzzled me, and sprinted away as if it had never been injured to my shock. I was grateful. It was an incredibly useful ability for a girl like me living in the forest alone.
The deeper I thought, the worse my headache grew.
What was I going to do? Marrying Carl was out of the question. Running was my only option, but what if I encountered another werewolf? One that meant to hurt me?
My brain was about to explode. It was turning out to be the worst birthday of my life.
Then, I felt something nearby. It wasn’t the wind, but something warm, alive, and moving.
It was someone. Someone in my house. I drew tense in my bed, my heart pounding as the person moved through the cabin, though they didn’t draw closer to my bed. Was it Carl?
“Who’s there?” I asked with as much force as I could manage.
I had to do something! I looked around to search for a weapon.
Something shifted, and I stared through the dimness at the sound. Moonlight spilled through the window and slowly a figure stepped out of the shadow. Moonlight danced and raced around a man’s silhouette as he approached.
I snatched the scissors from the bedside table and held them out between us.
Two glowing red points looked at me across the room, and I gasped.
The werewolf was here.
“Oh, It’s you…” I lowered the scissors a bit with relief. “I’m sure I… locked my door. How did you get in?”
“I broke it,” the werewolf blurted out and looked a little nervous. He seemed like he hadn’t had much interaction with other people. “Er… I’m sorry. I-I can fix it. It was an--”
I frowned at him and swung my feet over the edge of the bed, “Well... There’s not much to be done about it, I suppose. I’ll take your apology...”
He stared at me, dumbfounded. “Aren’t you… Aren’t you afraid of me?”
I shrugged, “Not so long as your paws stay off my neck.”
His face turned red. I could see he was nervous. “I’m sorry. I-I’m really sorry. I-I thought you were an enemy. I didn’t-- I mean--”
My heart softened and I set the scissors down.
“You were hurt,” I said gently. “It’s okay. Besides, you apologized.”
I shrugged again, “You’re so strong. If you really meant to hurt me, I wouldn’t be able to do much about it. Honestly, save for the scrape, you didn’t even touch me… I guess you’re a polite and handsome, gentlemanly werewolf. However, I never thought werewolves really existed until I met you.”
"You think I’m polite and handsome?" He seemed to be embarrassed at my compliment.
“I…” My cheeks warmed, “Sorry… I’ve been living alone too long, so I end up talking too much when I’m around people. I'm sorry if I've offended you... I've never met a werewolf. I'm just a human.”
I couldn't help thinking to myself that Carl could learn something from this werewolf, namely how to apologize, be handsome, and be polite.
He didn't seem to care what I was or what I just said, simply blurting out, “You are my mate.”
I frowned, “Mate? You said that before you passed out. But what’s that?”
He clenched his hand, " … My wolf told me… I thought I didn’t have a mate until I met you." Then he looked up into my eyes, asking eagerly, "Do you like me? I like you a lot.”
I blushed at his frantic expression of affection, but he hadn’t answered my question. “I… don’t understand. Is this a werewolf thing? Are all werewolves like this? I mean… I don't even know you, you don't even know my name--”
"It's Arthur," He cut quickly. "...Could you tell me your name?"
I eyed him warily, and he looked like he's trying his best to stay still as I looked at him.
"... Daphne. My name's Daphne" The flush of my cheeks grew somehow.
"Daphne… What a lovely name." He smiled at me warmly, almost dreamy.
His smile encouraged my curiosity, "I still don't quite understand. Does every werewolf have a mate? I’m not a werewolf, so how could I be your mate. And I have a fiancé..."
Sort of. Never mind that I was planning to run away somehow.
“A fiancé?” Arthur growled.
"…Yes.” I was shocked at his change in demeanor, but somehow in my heart, I still believed he was not going to hurt me. “I'm supposed to marry him tomorrow: my 18th birthday."
It wasn’t going to happen if I had anything to say about it.
"No. You can’t! You are mine!"
I didn’t know what to say. He calmed himself a moment later.
"Sorry. I have difficulties… controlling myself, especially my wolf, Lucas. "
How strange that his wolf had a name too.
"Why did you say you thought you didn't have a mate?"
“I--”
He then tensed and sniffed. His head turned sharply as if catching a familiar scent in the air. Arthur growled and his eyes flashed red as he turned towards the window. He pressed his body against the wall and leaned towards the window to scan the surrounding trees.
“W-What’s wrong?” I asked.
He sneered into the dark, “Wolves are coming.”
"You are shaking. Are you afraid of them?"
"No. My body shakes because of the rush of an impending fight and a yearning for blood. It's not something I can control."
I gulped down at his words. How could he be so into blood and fighting?
Daphne's POV Werewolves? It was already surprising that Arthur had found my little section of the woods, but there were more of them? Were they dangerous? Based on Arthur’s reaction and the fury on his face, they likely were. He left my cloak folded on the table before slipping out my front door. I didn’t see him, but I felt his presence outside the cabin. I crossed the room to look outside, hoping it would ease the slowly growing anxiety in my heart. The forest was quiet. The night was still. It wasn’t normal. There weren’t even frogs ribbiting or the hum of cicadas. I turned and doused the flame of my lamp before darting back to my bed to grab my scissors. My stomach was churning, and I felt all of my senses straining to find the danger lurking in the darkness. There was something out there. I was sure of it, and I didn’t need werewolf senses to know it. Something glinting in the dark in the dark. They
Daphne's POV "Ohh! This is nothing. I’ve experienced much worse. Don't worry." Arthur hushed me and nuzzled my head, “You are only human. You wouldn’t be able to keep up. And you are my mate. It’s my duty to protect you. ” “I told you I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I shook my head, “You must be mistaken.” “I would do anything for you.” It seemed like he didn't hear or care what I just said. Suddenly, his gaze darted around then he turned to look back. His shoulders were tense and I felt his apprehension. The wolves weren’t right behind us, but it would only be a matter of time. "Daphne, We should really get going. " “I-I have to heal you first.” “What do you mean?” I walked around him and kneeled beside his leg. He turned his head to watch me as I swiped my fingers across the open gash on my arm and smeared my blood in the wound on his leg. The flesh and fur
Daphne's POV “…Daphne? Daphne!” I struggled to breathe. The air gurgled and bubbled in my chest and I turned, coughing to get the water out of my lungs. It gushed hot and desperate out of me as my stomach trembled and I struggled to breathe. “Thank the goddess,” a voice said softly. Warm hands pat my back and pulled me close. I hissed in pain as the person gripped my arm. Then, I recognized the voice. I couldn’t remember exactly why. Everything was fuzzy and blurry. Had I hit my head? Warmth embraced me, “I was worried you wouldn’t wake up. Are you okay?” Arthur. I remembered the wolves in the forest and the crazy idea to tie us to a tree trunk and go over the waterfall to escape. I coughed, looking nearby and seeing a piece of the trunk on the bank nearby. I let out an incredulous laugh. We’d actually survived the waterfall? Apparently, the idea had been crazy but successful. I couldn’t hear the
Daphne's POV He was insane. Dangerous, unstable, and obsessed with me. I tired very hard push him away from me, "It's not about Carl! We just met a few hours ago, but lots of crazy things happened. I don't even know who you are. Who were those werewolves behind us? And why? How am I supposed to be with you when I don’t know anything?" “I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Oh goddess, I… I could explain everything. ” He stepped back, acting like a child who knew he made a large mistake. I whimpered looking up at him as the rage and madness vanished from his face, replaced with panic and concern. “But you were going to kill me!” I cried. Arthur’s face lost all color and he recoiled sharply. “I’m sorry…” His shoulders slumped and his eyes seemed glossy as if he was going to cry as he sunk to the ground and put his head in his hands. He trembled and his hands clenched. "Do you love him? I mean your
Daphne shook with terror. She shot to her feet and stumbled, her legs had lost all strength. She stared at the wolves, her heart hammering. If she could run, would she be able to? There was no way she could get rid of one wolf on her own, let alone dozens of them? They seemed to multiply in the night. Were they drawn to the scent of her blood, or could they sense her impending death?The grey wolf sniffed and stomped his foot, “A human?”The other wolves growled at her, seemingly aggravated by the grey wolf’s anger.“How dare a human intrude on my territory?”Daphne trembled as the wolves behind him began to growl, drool dripping from the jaws as they bared their teeth hungrily and stared at her.“Kill…”“…Meat.”“I’m starving.”Why couldn’t they speak like Arthur and the grey wolf? The other werewolves she’d encountered d
Brother. The word seemed to echo in the night as the gray wolf disappeared into the forest. What did that mean? He pushed that thought away. Owen was gone now. The rogues lay slaughtered in around them and Daphne was safe. He took a deep breath of relief. He had never known such terror as when he’d woken up to find her gone from their little camp. Her scent had been strong enough to follow, so he assumed she hadn’t been gone long. Why had she left at all? Didn’t she know how dangerous the forest was? He wanted to ask her, but he couldn’t get the words together around the relief of her still being alive. He turned sharply to look at her as the scent of her blood cut through the haze of his easing panic. She had been hurt before they’d gone to sleep. Had he been too late to keep her from being hurt further? Would she be okay? Her heart beat was beating too fast. “Daphne? Are you alright?” Daphne shuddered as the gray wolf
“My name is Blade,” the dark-skinned man said with a polite smile. “I’m the leader of this patrol… Usually, we’d have more space for visitors, but we’ve been getting more people lately, so I’m sorry in advance for the accommodations.”Daphne shook her head, “It’s better than the forest and we’re grateful.”Blade nodded and led them further into the city. They passed through the busiest part of town and headed up a hill. Nearby was a sturdy-looking building and a large field where werewolves seemed to be training. Between them was a modest house that reminded her a bit of her little cabin. A pang of longing went through her at the thought. What would become of all her books and things? Would someone find it and move in? Had the werewolves destroyed it?“That building there is the dungeon,” Blade said, pulling her out of her thoughts. “And the training grounds are over
Arthur lifted his nose. Daphne was getting closer. He had been waiting at the door of the house they’d been given in since she left, half-fearful that she shouldn’t return and on edge about how long it took her to return.She smelled nice, clean, and relaxed. There was a hint of medicine in the wind that made him relax a bit. Daphne’s injuries had been treated. Arthur stood and headed towards the scent at a light run to meet her on the road.In the distance, he heard a struggle and the sharp snap of metal coming from the prison. He hurried toward the ridge that overlooked the prison as the wall burst open with a snarl.The stench of the rogue pissed him off, but the anger turned to fear as Daphne’s scent caught his nose. The rogue twitched and turned his head towards where Daphne was. She turned to run as it lurched into a run and Arthur roared, rushing forward as Daphne screamed."Arthur!"The rogue snarled mid-leap as Arth