Howlers #5

Lizzy turned her body around after confirming that what she saw in the reflection of the mirror was indeed Connor, the lover she loved and missed so much. She never thought that her lover would come at this crucial moment. The girl ran into the young man's arms with sobs, her arms wrapped tightly around the young man's neck.

Connor welcomed Lizzy's embrace enthusiastically and lovingly. His hands wrapped tightly around Lizzy's slender waist, he kissed the scent of Lizzy's body deeply. The mixture of scents from other people instantly made his heart rustle, but Connor didn't want to end the hug, if he could he wanted to hug Lizzy forever. The beautiful girl in his arms should be his, the young man thought.

"How did you get to this place and find me?" Lizzy asked without letting go of his embrace.

"Fate guided me, Lizzy," Connor replied softly.

Her hands cupped Lizzy's pale face, then she kissed her lips with longing and pent-up anger. They did it for a long time until their kiss finally broke with a gasp.

"I have so much to tell you," Connor said.

"I'll listen to everything at home, Connor. Now we need to get out of this hut, out of this forest." Lizzy buried her face in his chest again.

"No way, you have to stay here," Connor replied desperately.

Connor let go of Lizzy's embrace, the girl looked like she was about to protest but Connor quickly signaled her to be quiet. The young man shifted his focus to the items he bought before coming to this place. The young man took out one long-sleeved dress, several warm coats, wheat bread, meat, and bottled drinks. Connor ordered Lizzy to put on the dress first, by the time he arrived, Lizzy was naked and it seemed that the girl no longer cared about her nakedness.

Silently, Connor began to light the fire and cook the meat he had brought. A delicious aroma wafted into the dimly lit cottage. Lizzy, who had not put anything in her stomach for days, was suddenly very hungry.

"Eat," Connor pleaded gently as he offered a portion of whole wheat bread and meat.

They sat opposite each other at a small, worn table. Lizzy was a vegetarian by nature, but at that moment she didn't refuse the meat Connor served. The girl ate with great gusto and messiness. Connor felt a deep sadness towards Lizzy's behavior but all he could do was silently observe the girl.

"You're good at surviving without food for days." Connor spoke after Lizzy downed her drink.

"Answer me, why do I have to stay here?" Lizzy urged Connor without responding to the young man's previous words.

Connor turned his face away from Lizzy's exposed shoulder. That mark, the mark of ownership made by Alaric made his heart bleed.

"You're the one, Lizzy." Connor looked at Lizzy with a look of real sadness.

"What do you mean?" Lizzy placed the glass on the table with such force that it made a sound.

Connor never answered her question. The young man staggered backwards clutching his head, his hands clenched into fists and within seconds the young man had hit the shelves on the wall and made a mess of the objects there. Lizzy gasped as she watched it all happen without her understanding why.

"Alaric has merged with you and you are his, Lizzy! Look at that mark on your shoulder!" Connor slammed all the plates in front of him. Frustration made him act spontaneously without calculation.

Lizzy touched his shoulder lightly. "Do I really have no chance at all to go home? To meet my parents?" she asked desperately in between the sadness that was starting to set in.

"Alaric won't let you go so easily, Lizzy. I know what kind of wolf he is." Connor looked at Lizzy blankly.

"You say that as if you've known that person for so long."

Connor walked over to Lizzy and stood right in front of the girl's face.

"You remember when you had the ambition to write a werewolf and human love story? You always asked for my help to find out about everything you wanted. I did it easily because I was a watcher, Lizzy. Watcher for Alaric."

Lizzy covered her mouth with both hands when she realized that.

"Why didn't you ever tell me? What were you hiding again while we were together?"

"Because I didn't want to worry you at all, Lizzy. I know you would restrict me from being a watcher if you knew. But, I've been sworn loyalty by Alaric and that oath binds me to continue being on his side. In fact, it doesn't even matter if he takes my own mate. I'll still stand by him faithfully." Connor's words sounded like thunder in Lizzy's ears. The girl collapsed on the rough wooden floor, completely helpless before fate.

Connor fell to his knees beside Lizzy. The two humans who loved each other were rendered helpless by the Moon Goddess' game.

"We shouldn't be dealing with the Moon Goddess because we're not her people, but why is that damn god involving us, Connor?"

"I'm sure there's a point to all this, Lizzy."

"Screw that, I just want to cut ties with Alaric and move on with my life with you!" Lizzy pleaded with a sob that left Connor helpless.

"Even if the bond can be broken, we still can't move on together." Connor shook his head meaningfully.

The dimly lit cottage was colder than ever, the emptiness adding to the chill. The sound of wolf howls in the distance made Lizzy clench her fists, hatred rooted so strongly in her.

"Those rogues led us to this fate," Connor said quietly.

"I was saved by Alaric when those rogues nearly consumed my body, not much different, you had a similar fate. The difference is, you were destined by the Moon Goddess to become a Luna, while I'm a watcher."

Lizzy did not respond when Connor spoke.

"I miss my family," she said hoarsely.

"Your father stopped at nothing to find you, Lizzy, you're a lucky daughter."

"And my mom?"

"It's hard to say this, but your mother has been very ill since losing you. But she's a strong woman like you, I believe she'll survive."

"Take me to them, Connor, please," Lizzy pleaded with a sob.

"Your temporary presence won't make them happy, you'll only add to their pain when you have to leave again."

"That's just what you're doing right now, Connor. You came to see me just to add to the pain I'm going through." Lizzy turned her face away from Connor's pitiful gaze.

The two humans were silent with their own thoughts, the sound of a long, echoing howl brought them back to reality.

"That howl belongs to Alaric. It sounded like an emergency alert." Connor snapped out of his reverie and walked toward the door warily.

"What's going on?" asked Lizzy who suddenly felt concerned about Alaric's state out there. Her gut feeling was that something bad had happened. Somehow her feelings became connected to Alaric, the girl still did not understand

"Hunter. They've been after the Silver Hammers Pack for a long time."