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
Arthur lifted his nose. Daphne was getting closer. He had been waiting at the door of the house they’d been given in since she left, half-fearful that she shouldn’t return and on edge about how long it took her to return.She smelled nice, clean, and relaxed. There was a hint of medicine in the wind that made him relax a bit. Daphne’s injuries had been treated. Arthur stood and headed towards the scent at a light run to meet her on the road.In the distance, he heard a struggle and the sharp snap of metal coming from the prison. He hurried toward the ridge that overlooked the prison as the wall burst open with a snarl.The stench of the rogue pissed him off, but the anger turned to fear as Daphne’s scent caught his nose. The rogue twitched and turned his head towards where Daphne was. She turned to run as it lurched into a run and Arthur roared, rushing forward as Daphne screamed."Arthur!"The rogue snarled mid-leap as Arth
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 aft
Rex had been the alpha of the Sharp Armor pack for a long time, yet he didn’t think he had ever faced an issue like this. Rogue attacks were becoming more frequent, and several of the packs in the area were finding themselves having to deal with them, including his. In the past, there weren't many losses as his patrolmen usually outnumbered the rogues in the area, but lately, there had been casualties.The other packs had complained of the same issue.His patrolmen came back saying that the rogues had moved with purpose as if they were organized, and their organization had only been increasing over the past few months.It had been horrifying to hear and unbelievable, but he couldn’t ignore it. Rogues were supposed to be unorganized and lost to their passions and instincts. They were dangerous because they had no reservations against slaughtering anyone in their way and were made stronger by their bloodlust. Having such power become organized was a pr
Blade gasped as Daphne’s jaw opened in shock. She couldn’t believe what Rex had said. Didn’t he just say he wasn’t sure about Arthur’s control?“You want him to join the patrol?”Daphne and Arthur looked at each other. Arthur was just as surprised before turning a suspicious glare at Rex.Rex grinned, “We are very short of people recently. Rogue attacks are increasing, and our patrolmen are often injured. The cubs in training are still too untrained to fill the spots. Blade tells me you’re very strong. It’s an obvious decision.”Arthur scoffed, “You just want to use me as a tool.”Daphne had to agree. Though it wasn’t the worst thing Rex could ask for, it wasn’t very polite.Rex shrugged, “Think what you want. The forest is full of rogues and very dangerous. We can shelter Daphne for free because she's just a fragile human. But you…”
Just before dawn, as promised, Daphne sent Arthur off to the training field. It was nerve-racking to let him go alone, but she did because Arthur was adamant that he wouldn’t risk her getting hurt again. She made him promise at least three times to keep in control of his anger, behave, and remember that they needed the safety the pack could give them.Despite the promises, she was still uneasy. She spent the morning cleaning the house and organizing things to keep herself calm, but the cottage wasn’t that large. She wandered around the house and took stock of the little bit of land behind the house that was fenced in. Maybe it had been a little garden.She poked and prodded the earth and weeded the area. Soon, she lost herself and her worry to the work. It was about lunchtime when she heard the front door open.“Daphne?” Arthur called.“Coming!” She washed her hands and hurried around the side of the house until she ent
“Out of the way!” The doctor yelled, forcing his way through the crowd. A group of werewolves followed him, forcing their way through. Daphne watched Mamie follow, holding Blade’s hand as they carried him away. She was going to follow them, but Arthur remained standing in the middle of the town, staring after them with a strange expression on his face.“What happened?” Arthur said nothing, staring. “Arthur?”“We encountered two groups of rogues. The smaller group lured us ahead, while the group behind us attacked... They were very cunning.”Daphne frowned, “But… But Mamie said that rogues couldn’t cooperate, let alone plan. They can’t even communicate—”“I don't know.”Daphne froze at his tone.He looked a little strange, his palms clenched tightly as if he was trying to restrain himself from losing control. He seemed different from t
Arthur woke up alone on the ground. The ground was wet as if it had rained or water had been spilled nearby, but his fur was mostly dry. The scent of blood mingled with something spicy and flavorful. Whatever it was, it made him turn over with a little growl of hunger and open his eyes slowly. Something sizzled in a pan and he heard the rustling of clothing. He frowned and looked toward the source of the sound, before rising to his feet and shifting to his human form so he could open the front door. Daphne turned to look at him, looking a little harried as she stood at the stove.He frowned, “Daphne?”She blinked at him, seemingly uncertain before turning back to the stove. She turned again with the skillet and set out breakfast on the table.“How are you feeling?”Arthur rolled his shoulder and walked to the table, “Good.”“You didn’t come back…” Daphne met his gaze, “What…
Arthur was in a bad mood, but as Daphne held onto him, she couldn’t help but laugh. They’d left the cottage about an hour ago and they hadn’t gone for. If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn he was walking in circles just to avoid leaving.“Oh, Arthur, it won’t be that bad.”“We deserve at least a month,” Arthur grumbled walking through the forest.She laughed, “Is that why you’re walking so slow?”He didn’t answer and she laughed harder, leaning into the warmth of his glossy, golden fur. He’d been grumbling about heading back to deal with the mess of the werewolves and vampires for the past few days.“We don’t have to go back,” Arthur huffed. “You don’t think Nicole can’t handle those cowards?”Nicole would just as soon kill half of the pack leaders than put up with bullshit from them, but that wouldn’
Morning came slowly, waking Arthur. Daphne’s scent filled his nose and he turned to look at her, grinning at her sleeping face. As if she felt him looking at her, her eyes snapped open and their gazes met. Arthur turned, pressing his lips to hers, unable to resist the need to be closer to her, to be sure she was still his Daphne.Daphne sighed, pressing into the kiss with a little sigh. The sound sent heat through his blood until need and desperation pooled in his hips and he felt his cock swelling.Daphne gasped, as he angled his hips against hers. She looked up. Arthur’s face heated. He was going to apologize, to make some sort of excuse, but he didn’t get a chance.In a flash, he was on his back with Daphne hovering over him. He was a bit shocked at her speed and strength, but his wolf growled in contentment. Did werewolf mates tussle with one another? He’d always imagined it as sweet and gentle, but the urge to flip them over again an
Arthur chuckled at her thought. Did she think he wanted to talk about it now? He was running on adrenaline and relief. As soon as he got somewhere he knew was safe for them both, he’d probably collapse, curled around Daphne.“I haven’t changed much, Daphne.”“That’s not true,” Daphne said, “You have more scars.”Arthur shrugged, “They’ll be gone in a few days.”“Not on your skin,” Daphne said, sliding a hand over his chest as she looked up at him, “In here.”His heart sped up as their gazes met. He wanted to protest, but he couldn’t find the words. She was right. So much had happened. He’d been so used to not thinking about it before Daphne, then worrying about it with her, that losing her had left him floundering.She stepped back, taking his hands and leading him towards the house.“Come on. Let’s take a bath. I th
Arthur opened his arms trying to sweep her into his arms, but she lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him and sobbing into his shoulder. Fear filled him and anxiety. He didn’t know what to make of her sudden apology or what he should say in response.“I’m so sorry, Arthur! I should have never gone! I shouldn’t have left you. I should have made Mamie and the others leave me behind, at least they would have been alive.”Arthur’s eye burned with an unfamiliar sensation. He didn’t remember the last time he’d cried or if he’d cried at all, but the tightness in his chest felt like it was going to burst. It sounded like she was regaining her memories, but had she regained all of them?She hiccupped, “The baby… It wasn’t your fault. I…”Arthur tightened his grip on her with a relieved sigh, burying his nose in her neck.“Daphne,” he whispered. “You r
Daphne didn’t speak as they watched the fire rage, burning through vampire and werewolf corpses and surrounding John as he panicked, limping as if his leg had been injured. Daphne narrowed her eyes as he tripped on nothing.He tumbled, head over heels onto the duchess’ body, and shrieked, drawing back as the fire began to devour him.“No! Your Majesty, please!” John crawled towards them. His face twisted with desperation and terror.Daphne didn’t look away, meeting his gaze as he realized that there was nothing he could say to escape his fate. His expression turned determined as he got to his feet and tried to shake off the fire that had reached his jacket. He tore it off but another burst of fire started on his pant leg and he went down again.“That lesson about tying your boots properly,” Nicole said lightly, “That is why.”Her lips twitched into just a bit of amusement as he began to scream a
Daphne rushed to where his body stopped, pulling him onto his back as tears fell down her cheeks.“Just hold on!”Owen’s hand grabbed hers as she settled her shaking hands over the hole in his chest. Blood was bubbling up and pooling around them. Her magic warmed and stuttered trying to close the hole.“Run…” he gasped before his last breath escaped him and she could no longer feel any spark of life in him.“No…” she sniffled. “No! You can’t–”A snarl drew her attention from above. Osborn had shifted and started to barrel down the side of the hill towards her. She lunged aside, barely dodging his attack, and grabbed her sword, turning into his next attack as he skidded, turned, and lunged at her again.His claws met her blade and shoved her back and off her feet. She tumbled back and landed hard on her arm.He was too strong f
Arthur ran towards Osborn, snarling at him. Osborn didn’t seem worried, watching and waiting for him before moving at the last possible moment. He shifted into his human form so Arthur’s attack, just barely missed him before shifting back into his wolf form to snap his jaws at Arthur’s leg.Arthur shifted mid-air and rolled across the ground. His heart was hammering. If he hadn’t, there was a good chance that Osborn would have taken his leg off or at least wounded him seriously.Osborn was nothing like Owen. He had to be more careful. Osborn chuckled and turned towards him.“Hello, nephew… shame your mother manage to get you out in time… I’m impressed you have a bit of battle awareness.” Osborn laughed, dark and furious. “Next time, I’ll just take your head.”Arthur got to his feet, eyeing Osborn. They watched each other before he heard the duchess’ footsteps.&ld
Tom looked up in horror.He couldn’t believe it, but there was no mistaking Osborn even with his missing eye. He was wearing the same armor he’d gone to battle against the vampires in though it bore the signs of battle. Behind him were other werewolves in the same armor, glaring across the clearing.How could he be alive?His heart lurched as Arthur got to his feet and shifted into his wolf form at Daphne’s side. He’d been overpowered by a half-vampire woman. Arthur didn’t stand a chance against Osborn! What were they going to do?Even with the Royal family’s ability to control wolves, Arthur didn’t have the years of combat experience or the deep-seated rage that Osborn did. His legs felt weak as he turned to look at the others who looked confused and had started to engage the turned werewolves.It was uncanny and deeply disturbing to see Osborn commanding them. What would Dean have thought of his brother now
Her tone was as sharp as a blade. She seemed to glide towards him and swung at him, barely missing his shoulder.She was much faster than he remembered. He felt the force of her swing as it missed him and knew she’d gotten stronger too.“Daphne! Stop. I don’t know what they’ve done to you, but this isn’t like you–”“You don’t know anything, murderer!”His gut clenched and for a moment he heard the furious chants of the Brown Valley pack at the back of his mind.He pushed those thoughts away and dodged another attack.“You killed my son!” Daphne screeched.Her words struck him. His blood ran cold, “What?”Daphne growled at her, “Don’t play dumb, werewolf. You were happy to sleep with me but you couldn’t bear the thought of half-vampire son, could you?”The bubbling joy of hearing that she was pregnant died as the rest o