Arthur's POV
Murderer! They called me. Lunatic!
I agreed.
Since Alma, my little sister, was killed ten years ago, Lucas, my wolf, broke through some wall in my mind and blinded me. It was my fault. We had just been on a picnic. I should have been able to protect her, but I failed. Had I not left her alone for just those few minutes, she would still be alive.
She had been brutally murdered, I knew, but the world had turned dark as the fury had taken over.
When the darkness cleared, I was dizzy with the scent of blood. I had lost control and attacked anyone who had come near me. They ran and I chased them until I couldn't any longer. They screamed as my claws and teeth tore into them.
I was a madman, long forsaken by the moon goddess.
The alpha and luna, my parents, caged me. Every drop of blood inside that cage was from my struggle with my madness. Every blow from either of them had been like corporal punishment: well-deserved.
They kicked me out of the house when they could no longer cage or restrain me.
I didn't know who killed Alma until two days ago during the annual mating ceremony of Brown Valley Pack.
I had not been invited, nor was I interested in going even if I could find a mate. I just wanted to sneak back into the alpha's house to find some wine to go with my dinner. Yet Alpha Haley, Luna Irene, and Adam, their son, had been there. I waited outside but overheard them arguing.
“Don’t be a child, Adam!” Irene shrieked. “That maniac is only getting stronger. It's just a matter of time before he kills everyone and takes over the pack!”
Adam huffed, “Should have thought of that before agreeing to take them in.”
My heart clenched. What had Adam just said? I was adopted? What about Alma?
“Why didn’t you just get rid of him?”
“We tried,” Haley sighed.
“The rogues that killed Alma screwed up.” Irene huffed. “Now he’s lost his mind and has become even more powerful. You have to choose a mate quickly. You have to be the next alpha!”
It was them! They killed Alma! In a flash, rage blinded me. When I could see and hear again, Irene was on the ground, the scent of her blood filled the air. I leaped on her. Irene shrieked as I felt her arm snap in my hand. Haley gave out a shrill cry of terror, pressed against the far wall.
The patrol came, and I escaped the house then the village. The patrol tracked me and used my instability to lead me into a trap that night, but I killed most of them and broke free.
They had been chasing me for two days now. I was hungry, tired, and nearly fatally wounded.
Survive, Lucas urged, giving me his strength to keep going. Survive and come back for their heads.
I shook the dizziness from my mind and focused on the road ahead. Where it led, I didn’t know. I had never been so far from Brown Valley and had no way of knowing how far I'd gotten.
My heart lurched as a figure appeared in a blur in front of me. I snarled and pounced, aiming for the figure’s neck with my claws.
A scream rang in my ears as I landed on top of the body. It was a woman.
Mate! Lucas cackled, high and insane in my mind. Our mate!
What could Lucas be talking about? I was a cursed man. I deserved no mate.
***
I shot up quickly from the ground, frowning at the cloth that pooled over my lap, and brought it to my nose to take a deep breath.
Had it all been a dream? Where was I? It was late. The forest was dark. I looked around and found the dying embers of a fire nearby.
At the least, I wasn’t dead.
Lucas huffed, She was born for us just as we were born for her. We have to find her.
His words were strange, but it brought back just enough of my senses to remember that the woman I’d leaped on hadn’t been a part of the patrol.
I wouldn’t say that I was convinced, but at the very least I had to thank her. I didn’t remember ever being treated so kindly, let alone by a stranger.
I should probably also apologize for scaring her half to death in my hazy state. I got to my feet and stomped out the fire, feeling refreshed. The cloth that bound my wounds was streaked red, but I felt no pain. Drawing my hand over the cloth, I could barely feel where the horrible gash had been.
I was healed. But how could it be possible? Who was she?
I folded the cloak up neatly, cradling it in my arms as I walked. I lifted my nose to find the path she’d taken and followed it with sure, silent feet through the forest until I reached a small cabin. It looked old and weathered, and if I hadn’t been following her scent, I may have thought it was abandoned.
I approached the door and found a lock on the door. I lifted it to take a look and winced as it cracked in my hand. I hadn’t meant to break it.
Cautiously, I opened the door and peered into the cabin, only to find the woman lying in bed, seemingly asleep. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of her lying in a pool of moonlight. Her glossy black hair looked like a tranquil lake under the full moon and her expression was tranquil, unbothered, unafraid in her sleep.
She looked too beautiful, too ethereal, to be real as if she had descended from the moon goddess’ domain for a time.
I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t want to breathe with fear I might disturb her and the goddess would call her home.
She twitched in her sleep and her eyes opened, looking toward me through the darkness. Her amber eyes seemed to glow in the moonlight.
“Who’s there?” She startled me, but her voice was angelic.
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
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