Chapter 12

She was much warmer when she woke up than she remembered going to bed, curled into something soft and furry.

Wait.

She opened her eyes with a gasp and turned her head out of the patch of golden fur in her face. The bed creaked with their combined weight and she was all but crammed against the wall beneath the window. She couldn’t say she was uncomfortable, but she was definitely annoyed.

He was far too big to be sharing this, or any, bed with her in his wolf form.

She glowered at his large body covered in golden fur that gleamed in the morning sun streaming through the window.

He was several times larger than the average wolf, his eyes glowed like rubies, and his fur was like melted gold. When she thought back to all the trouble that had followed them over the past two days, questions sprouted up in her mind, but she was certain that Arthur was extremely special.

She’d have to figure out how to talk about all of that after she’d managed to free herself from the bed. She tried to slip from under his leg, but he growled softly and tightened his grip on her.

She let out a huff and nudged Arthur.

He turned his head, nuzzling her with a little rumble.

“Hey, good morning.”

Arthur’s eyes fluttered open and he yawned, “Good morning…”

His voice was calm, a little drowsy.

She drew her courage and asked, “Why are you being hunted by your pack? Considering I was involved in your hunt, I think I have the right to know.”

Arthur flinched, his eyes became more aware and his gaze searched her. Would he tell her? Was it worse than being a murderer?

“…I don't want to lie to you, but I think you might hate me if you learn the truth.”

Daphne scoffed, “Oh? I think the point of that has long passed.”

Arthur averted his gaze, seemingly incredibly uncomfortable, “I… I’m sorry.”

“Ever since you came into my life, I’ve experienced nothing by trouble. I’m being hunted. I’ve been forced to leave the home where I lived for twenty years and attacked on multiple occasions…”

He let out a little whine of worry, “I… I’m sorry, Daphne--”

She sighed, “But I don’t hate you.”

Arthur lifted his head with a little hope shining in his eyes.

“You’ve… always protected me, and you’ve saved me more than once, so I want to try to trust you, but that can’t happen if we aren’t more honest with each other.”

Arthur looked away seemingly considering her words.

She was still terrified of Arthur. He had a demanding streak that could prove dangerous for her. He murdered and seemed to enjoy it or at least lost himself in the carnage with burning red eyes. He was terrifying, but when she had called for him, Arthur had come to her rescue.

For him, it seemed that simple, so it made sense to try to understand him.

Arthur had trust issues, but they were both in the middle of a pack of werewolves, outnumbered and reliant upon the pack’s kindness. They needed to at least be able to trust each other if they meant to stay together and protect one another.

“Okay.”

Arthur nodded his head and shifted back into his human form in a whirl of light.

Naked, warm, and closer than anyone had ever been to her before, Daphne’s face burned with embarrassment. She averted her gaze and got out of bed, careful to give him space. She turned her back as Arthur rolled out of bed.

“I’ll find something to wear.”

She listened to him wander around until he found the clothes they’d been given and he got dressed. When she heard him sit on the edge of the bed, she turned around as he sighed and lifted his gaze.

He watched her for a moment before he pat the bed beside her.

“Sit with me?”

Daphne sat beside him and waited, patient as Arthur seemed to war with himself about where to start. His hands clenched and unclenched before he took a deep breath.

“The wolves that were chasing me were from the Brown Valley pack’s patrol forces. They ... think I'm crazy.” He scoffed, “Of course, that's true, I won't deny it, but the pack thinks I lost control and killed my sister. I didn't!”

Daphne placed a hand on his. He glanced at her and she nodded.

“I believe you.”

Arthur nodded and sighed, “I didn’t kill her, but I didn't protect her, either, so I took the pack's punishment... I found out later that she was murdered by pack's alpha and luna when they were trying to kill me.”

Daphne gasped in shock. It would make sense that he trusted no one after all that.

“When I found out, I attacked them and was banished from the pack.”

“Well… why are they still chasing you?”

He gave her a wry, wolfish grin, “Because they’re afraid I’ll come back and finish the job.”

Daphne wasn’t sure if he just admitted that it was his plan or not, but hearing it all now changed a great deal about how she’d viewed Arthur.

He may kill, but she couldn’t call him a murderer. It had all been self-defense. To have the leaders of his pack orchestrate his death, kill his sister, and put out a manhunt on him was unforgivable.

Her heart swelled with anger, “How could they do such a cruel thing? They’re the leaders, right? Can’t you just tell everyone the truth?”

Arthur shook his head, “No one will believe me. I'm a monster, and I often lose control... I don't care what they think of me, but Alma… didn’t deserve that. She was so young and... I couldn't do anything...”

His eyes seemed glossy and lost in despair. She could almost feel his despair and guilt. His anger at the situation wasn’t just aimed at the alpha and luna, or even the pack he’d left, but at himself. She knew what it felt like to be whispered about and feared due to suspicions. She knew what being shunned was like and being powerless to do anything about it.

The human village never believed anything she or her grandmother had said. They hadn’t cared about her innocence in the slightest, but the human village had never issued a manhunt against her or her grandmother. They seemed content that she just interacted with the village a little as possible.

She couldn’t imagine what she would do in Arthur’s position

Arthur looked at Daphne’s hand on his and felt something in him ease. No one had listened to him. He had been content to let all of his emotions burst out of him in fits of rage and violence. It had been his only means of expression before, but Daphne seemed interested and he couldn’t help himself from telling her the truth.

“After I lost Alma, things got worse for me, and I had a hard time controlling myself... But sometimes, I lose myself and I enjoy it. I like to be with my wolf, to hunt, to kill... I’ve accepted that... Maybe I was born to be a horrible rogue, knowing only to kill... But then I met you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I don't know how to describe it... You make me feel at ease. Your scent, your voice, your touch...” He averted his gaze, a blush painted his cheeks. “You keep me aware and warm... Don't leave me, Daphne. Don't...”

Daphne wasn’t sure what to say. She was afraid of Arthur's murderous nature, she found herself sympathizing with the poor man. She could understand his pain, and she wanted to help him. Arthur, for all of his issues, had protected her and saved her life.

“Arthur, you need to learn to control yourself," Daphne said, squeezing his hand. "We're going to live in this wolf pack’s village for now, but eventually, you’ll need a normal life as will I.”

Arthur looked at her with a stiff expression.

“I don't understand the meaning of a mate yet, but you are my savior, my friend, and partner in whatever trouble we’re in now. I won't leave you again...”

She leaned closer to embrace him gently. His body lost all tension and he leaned into her with a little rumble of contentment as she stroked his hair.

“I need your help, and you need mine. We’ll be just fine if we work together, okay?”

Arthur closed his eyes wishing that Daphne would always hold him like this. He’d never felt so at peace.

He’d do anything to stay this way with her.

Anything.

His stomach growled and his face heated with a blush. Daphne chuckled a little and pulled back with a teasing smile.

“Hungry?”

Arthur nodded, averting his gaze as she laughed.

There were provisions in the house, so they served themselves quietly and ate in companionable quiet. Something about their relationship had changed. Daphne could feel it.

Maybe they had become a little closer. Daphne carried her plate to the sink.

“I’ll dry if you wash?”

Arthur looked a little nervous, but he nodded and grabbed the washrag. He dunked the plate into the water and it shattered. Daphne’s eyes widened as his face turned bright red.

“M-Maybe it was already cracked?” Arthur said and grabbed a cup.

The ceramic crumbled to pieces in his hand and Arthur winced. Daphne took the washrag.

"Maybe… it would be better if I washed?"

His shoulders slumped and he nodded before heading to sit at the table. Daphne winced at the remains of the plate and cup, yet she wasn’t surprised. Arthur was huge in his wolf form and incredibly strong. Some of the cutlery was bent a bit and Daphne wondered just how strong Arthur was.

She finished the dishes as Arthur stood, shifted into his wolf form, and growled at the door.

“Arthur, what—”

A knock sounded on the door as Daphne dried her hands. Daphne stroked Adolf’s golden fur on her way to the door.

“Calm down, Arthur.”

She opened it and found Blade on the other side. His chest had been bandaged.

“Hi, Blade.”

“Miss Daphne,” he nodded. “The alpha wants to see you.”