The Moon Curse;003

A hurricane of Jacarandas...

Strangling figs

Hanging vines

Palma De Cera fills the air as I climb and I push through.

Can I deliver us a River of Sundew?

Shirley chuckled at that line.

Sundews...yeah right.

That had been Amara's favorite song. One she insisted they sang whenever they were picking flowers since she watched the movie Encanto.

Oh memories.

The warm sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled light onto the forest floor as Shirley walked among the towering oaks and rustling ferns. The scent of wildflowers and damp earth filled her nostrils, and as always they filled her with a sense of peace.

 The forest had always been her sanctuary, a place where she could escape the troubles of the world and simply be.

As she wandered further into the woods, Shirley noticed a patch of vibrant wildflowers near a small clearing. She knelt down and began to gather a few, reveling in the beauty of nature.

Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed the soft groaning sound at first. She paused and looked around, trying to determine the source of the noise. As she scanned the area, she spotted a man lying on the ground a short distance away, partially hidden by a dense thicket. He was unconscious, his body covered in dirt, cuts, and bruises, with dried blood caked around a particularly nasty-looking wound on his leg. His clothes were torn and disheveled, hinting at the hardships he must have endured.

Holy shit. What had happened to him?

No no no Shirley, it's none of your business. Leave him be.

But does Shirley ever listen?

No she does not. 

She walked over to the unconscious stranger, her heart beating frantically.

She steeled herself and gently touched his shoulder checking for any sign of consciousness, but the man was knocked out.

There was no way she could leave him there. Not possible

Oh her mother would definitely kill her for this one.

*******

Shirley struggled to carry the injured man, supporting his weight as best as she could. Her heart raced, a mix of worry and determination pushing her forward. She knew her mother would disapprove, but she couldn't just leave him there, injured and helpless.

As she reached her home, a quaint cottage surrounded by a well-tended garden, her mother emerged from the front door, her brow furrowed with concern. "Shirley, what on earth are you doing?" she demanded, hands on her hips.

"I found him in the woods, Mother," Shirley painted, her breath coming in short bursts as she struggled under the man's weight. "He's hurt, and I couldn't just leave him there."

Her mother sighed, shaking her head. "You know better than to bring strangers into our home, Shirley. It's dangerous, especially with all the rumors about the werewolves."

"I know, Mother," she replied, her voice trembling with a mix of guilt and defiance. "But I'm a healer. It's my duty to help those in need, even if it's risky. Please, just let me take care of him. Once I'm sure he's fine, I'll send him on his way"

"You know how dangerous this is. How could you just pick out a stranger?"

Shirley sighed. She had no idea, but what she knew was that there's no way she could have left him all alone there. It wasn't just about the injuries though. 

Her mother looked from Shirley's pleading eyes to the injured man, her expression softening as she let out a resigned sigh. "Alright, bring him inside. But you're responsible for him, and if anything happens, it's on you."

"Thank you, Mother," Shirley said, relief washing over her.  She carried the man inside, preparing to tend to his wounds and nurse him back to health, no matter the consequences.

Why she was willing to risk her safety for this stranger, she had no idea.

She placed him on her bed, the smell of lavender and rosemary which filled the air soothing her nerves 

Gently, she cleaned the injured man's wounds, her skilled hands moving with practiced precision. Her brow furrowed in concentration, she applied a mixture of healing salves to his cuts and bruises before wrapping them in clean bandages. As she worked, her thoughts were a mix of worry and determination, praying that her healing abilities would be enough to bring him back from the brink.

The man's face, though covered in dirt and grime, was strikingly handsome. His jaw was strong and chiseled, and his brow furrowed slightly even in his unconscious state. Dark hair framed his face, disheveled from his ordeal. As Shirley continued her ministrations, she couldn't help but wonder who he was and what had brought him to this state.

Gradually, the man's eyelids began to flutter, his breathing steadying as he slowly regained consciousness. He seemed disoriented at first, his eyes darting around the room in confusion. As his gaze fell on Shirley, a flicker of recognition and gratitude shone in his eyes, even as he struggled to find the strength to speak.

Shirley's heart raced as he regained consciousness. The room, still filled with the soothing scents of herbs, seemed to grow tense as the man's eyes locked into hers.

He looked at her with an intensity that left her feeling both vulnerable and curious.

And then, her skin started growing, hot even as a chill ran down her spine instantly, causing her to frown.

The chill was then replaced by a growing warmth which spread through her heart all over her body, then gathered at the pit of her stomach the intensity making her to release a moan.

What was happening to her?

Beads of sweats started forming on her forehead…Wtf?

The man on the bed groaned too, "Damn it to hell" He murmured, shutting his eyes painfully.

"Oh fuck my Ill luck,"

He seemed to be experiencing the same thing too.

"What's happening? What have you done?" Shirley asked, her heart racing even as she felt a strong urge to just place her fingers on the stranger's plump lips and feel it.

Hell…

"That's a question best directed to the mother goddess" He Said, his voice hoarse but resolute.

"What does the creator have to do with this? What was that reaction?" Why was her heart beating this fast?

"That reaction ….was you and I forming a mating bond amor,"

She blinked in shock,her disbelief palpable "What are you talking about?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"The man tried to sit up, wincing in pain, "It's a mating bond. A bond that ties us together,"

Mating bond? But how could there be a mating bond if….

Oh my God!

Shirley's eyes widened in horror. Oh No this can't be happening.

"Are you a freaking Werewolf??" She screeched.

"Yea I am but …"

"You have to get out now! Right this instant" oh shit … She stood up from the bed, all the anger she had been bottling up inside resurfacing. 

How come she didn't notice? How could she have brought an enemy into their home…into her room?

Damn it …..

"I'm sorry,I can't…."

"This isn't a suggestion. It's an order I suggest you follow before I lose my temper," she snapped, refusing to look at him, "I need you to get out of this place right this instant!"

A werewolf!

She had been mated to a werewolf!

How was this possible?

How could this be possible?

"Please, I really need you to let me explain. Please. I can't leave like this"

The man pleaded, his voice laced with pain.

Shirley took in a deep breath, the healer in her kicking to the front seat. She knew he was too injured to be kicked out . She was aware.

"I don't have to listen to you. Just tell me who you are, what your name is and what you were doing on our lands to begin with".

He took in a deep breath, "My name is….Jon. 

I came from the city. I was adopted young by a human couple, but when I turned eighteen and turned for the first time,  they threw me out. So for years I've stayed alone and each full moon, I always look for a forest to wolf out. Yesterday I was attacked by a pack of rogue wolves"

He was lying through his teeth. Shirley knew this. That was one of her very rare gifts, she is like a living lie detector.

But her visitor wasn't aware of this fact.

He was lying. 

But why would he lie? When she already knew about his identity?

Which means that he was here on purpose and he needed something from the witches.

With a mental smirk, Shirley sat down beside him.

Well two could play this game.

"I'm so sorry about that," She said gently and he nodded.

"Thank you. Thank you for saving my life too. I have no idea what would have happened to me if you didn't miraculously show up,"

Lies ….

But she would be smart.

She would use his own game to find out what his intentions truly were….and he would also use this opportunity to discover information that she could use to get her revenge on the Werewolves.