Chapter 10

“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 there. Don’t worry about the dungeon too much. There is always a guard there, and we’ve never had a breakout.”

He opened the door to the house and let them enter. It was a bit dusty, but altogether, it was neat and had mostly everything they needed including a stove, a fireplace, and a bathtub. There was a pump for water inside as well. She was glad she wouldn’t have to lug water up the hill. It was no bigger than her cabin, though it had more windows. She walked around. It had almost everything they’d need to at least rest and heal up.

Almost.

Her face burned, looking at the single bed in the far corner of the room.

“Could we have an extra bed?”

Blade’s eyes widened, “Aren’t you… mates?”

Her face burned, “Does that mean we have to share a bed? I-I’m just a human!”

Blade gave her an amused look before leaving and calling someone to bring another bed. It was a bit smaller than the bed that was in the house, but Daphne didn’t mind. When he returned, there was a woman with him. Daphne’s heart swelled with relief at seeing the petite woman with glossy, curly hair and a bright smile.

“Goodness,” the woman said. “You two must be handy in a fight to escape with just these injuries…”

Blade chuckled, “This is my wife, Mamie. I asked her to prepare clothes, medicine, and food for you.”

Mamie’s eyes turned glossy as she looked over Daphne, “Poor girl… How about a bath first?”

Daphne stepped forward and was immediately pulled back as Arthur let out a low growl. He hadn’t even turned back to his human form, just wrapped his paw around her and glared at Blade, Mamie, and the people who had helped to deliver the bed.

“Arthur,” Daphne soothed, stroking his fur. “It’s okay. It’s just a bath…”

He hesitated, “I don’t…”

He huffed and released her. Blade smiled at them and Mamie’s eyes turned bright.

“How precious. I promise to bring her back cleaner than she left,” Mamie grinned, “Patrol wife’s honor!”

Blade laughed as Arthur followed her to the door of the house and sat in front of the door with a petulant and watchful gaze as Mamie led Daphne away with a gentle hand.

Mamie and Blade’s house was nearby and slightly nicer than the house they would be staying inside. The inside was warm and cozy.

“You take a seat right here,” Mamie said guiding her into a chair. “I’ll get that bath drawn and some supplies for your foot…”

“Thank you.”

Mamie hummed a little tune as she bustled around. Soon, she’d pumped and heated enough water to fill the tub.

“Your mate is very fond of you,” Mamie said, her tone was a little dreamy. “I’ve never seen a werewolf like him. Before.”

Daphne shook her head, looking down at her trembling hands, “I don't really understand much about werewolves. What exactly is a mate?”

Mamie seemed surprised, but she shook it off.

“A blessing from the moon goddess,” Mamie said. “Each werewolf is given a mate whom they are fated to love and to be loved by for life.”

Her smile seemed tinged with a memory that she wasn’t going to share with Daphne. Were she and Blade mates? Did every werewolf have the same belief about mates? Arthur had said practically the same thing.

“But could a human be a werewolf's mate?” Daphne wondered. It didn’t make any sense to think so. “I don’t feel anything as strong as what you’re implying…”

Mamie chuckled, “But you like him, don’t you? I heard Blade say you managed to calm him before he attacked the patrol… You care for him a lot, right?”

Daphne clenched her hands, “T-That’s different. He saved my life…”

Mamie shrugged, “I don’t think love is something that is the same for werewolves and humans, but it’s not all that different either.”

Daphne ducked her head. Love? Her and a murderer? So soon? She wasn’t even used to being around other people for long periods. There was no way she was starting to love Arthur. She cared about him, but how could she not after everything they’d been together? He’d protected her even though she had tried to escape him. She didn’t think that was possible, but it was hard to argue with Mamie’s logic. She remained quiet as Mamie finished setting up the bath. Daphne undressed and climbed in the warm water with a sigh of gratitude. The hot water stung her foot and other injuries a bit, but it also soothed her muscles.

Fated.

The word seemed so much bigger than anything she’d ever considered for herself. Maybe, once as a child, she had wondered if she would ever find a love she would rather die without like the one her parents had, but the treatment she and her grandmother received from the human villagers had killed that thought years ago.

When she was clean, Mamie treated and bandaged her injuries before giving her some fresh clothes. They were a bit short and a bit bigger than her usual clothing since Mamie was shorter and curvier than her, but she was grateful all the same.

“Well, it’s not the best, but we’ll get you some clothes that fit properly soon enough,” Mamie said as Daphne put on new shoes. “I’ve got some things to do and a report to make to the luna about your two. Do you remember the way back?’

She nodded, “Thank you for your help, Mamie… And your kindness.”

Mamie’s gaze softened with sympathy and she nodded, “Of course, dear.”

“Would it… be okay for me to come to you if I need help?”

“Of course! Stop by any time, and I’ll do my best to help you.”

Daphne walked back through the town towards the house they had been given. Someone cried out and her heart lurched before someone burst into laughter.

“I almost had you!”

“Not in your wildest dreams.”

The two men laughed as one helped the other off the ground and her heart calmed. Not too far from them, a pair was engaged in a fierce battle, tumbling around and clawing at each other. She should have been frozen in terror or hurrying back to the house, but she watched with an odd sort of numbness.

Maybe it was because there wasn’t any blood and it was clear that they were fighting for training rather than survival. Still, there was something different about these wolves than Arthur. They were smaller, a lot smaller than Arthur was. By comparison, they looked like wolf cubs rather than adults, and while they looked like normal wolves, they didn’t exude the sort of ferocity that Arthur or Owen had. There was something outright… savage about Arthur and Owen’s wolf forms.

She shuddered, remembering Owen’s gaze on her. The rogues with him had been monstrous, but he was the true monster. Would Arthur ever become that way? Is that what happened if a werewolf didn’t have a mate?

She turned away from the training yard and headed towards the house. She had to focus on healing Arthur, then maybe talking about the night before and coming to some sort of agreement. As the house came into view, something rattled, cracked, and screeched from the dungeon.

“A prisoner has escaped! Catch him!”

Wolves on the training pitch snarled. She heard them rushing up the hill towards the dungeon. She looked at the dungeon as a woman tumbled out from the door and a wolf burst out of a wall with a snarl. Wild red eyes shifted around as it snarled before it turned and looked at her.

Its eyes were just like the wolves from the night before.

“Rogue,” she gasped as it jerked, howled, and rushed towards her.

She turned and ran towards the house when pain shot through her foot, tumbling her forward into the dirt and down the hill. She rolled to a stop as the wolf drew close enough she could see the drool dripping from its snarling jaw. Her eyes burned, and she screamed.

“Arthur!”