Chapter 5: The Voice In His Head

She had spent the day wondering the castle and avoiding people.  Occasionally she’d hear a gasp from a servant as she’d pass them in the hallways, but she was used to it now.  One would think they’d be used to seeing her and know by now she wasn’t interested in eating anybody except the castle feline, though she did vow not to kill anymore of the king’s pets. 

It was getting colder, and the stone floors of the castle were starting to make her toes numb, so she headed to Philip’s chamber to rest for the night.  She would have rather gone to Morgan’s room, but the air between them felt awkward to her now that she had damaged the relationship between him and his father.  As she approached the chamber door, a familiar scent hit her nose, then she heard the giggling of the tramp that was supposedly Morgan’s betrothed.  She scrunched her nose, wrinkling her snout in a canine grimace.  Better see if Morgan’s forgiven me.  If not, there’s always the balcony over the garden.

She padded down the hallway noticing she was now able to see her breath as she exhaled.  This would normally be a welcomed sight to her, but stone of the castle added to the chill making it hard to get warm unless it was on a rug in front of a fire.  She continued her slow and methodic walk, turn after turn through the maze of halls.  Finally, one last curve in a hall brought her to Morgan’s door.  She inhaled deeply and braced herself to be rejected.  Raising a paw, she scratched three times against the wooden surface of the door, wondering if he’d hear it or if he was already asleep.  It was late, so she wasn’t sure why she was expecting him to hear her.  He should have been asleep hours ago.  She was about to walk back down the hall when the thumping of footsteps could be heard beyond the door and then the door opened.  She craned her neck to look up at Morgan as his strong, shirtless form filled the doorway.  He had thrown on a pair of trousers to open the door that remained untied.  Even so, his waistline and other things at her eye level completely filled them.  Her insides instantly warmed and she was sure her white ears were now a blushing pink.  The area under her tail began to twitch and pulse at the ideas filling her mind and the lovely smells that gushed from his room.  She laid her ears back in a pitiful expression offering a low wagging tail, making a conscious effort not to flag her tail at him, despite her wolfly instincts screaming at her to do so.  How had she sunk so low? 

“Aria!”  Cried Morgan in surprise, “I haven’t seen you all day.”  The deep rumble of his voice made her body respond in lovely ways.  She lowered her head and stared at the floor adjusting her ears to listen.  It was hard to look at him when she was certain he’d want nothing to do with her and all her instincts were reveling in his delicious scent.  Every time he moved, his muscles would flex, drawing her eyes to the tempting lines around his abdomen and just above his pant line.  “Shouldn’t you be asleep in Philip’s room?”  And there it was - the invitation to leave she had been certain would come, so she turned to go, “Where are you headed, now, little wolf?”  She stopped at the endearing title he’d given her and looked over her fury shoulder.

Does it matter?  I don’t even know why I’m still here, except to hide my smell from the greedy wolf males in the forest.  Once it’s over, I’ll go. 

Morgan frowned.  She waited, resisting the urge to let her eyes wonder.  When she turned to walk away again, he called to her, “Were you wanting a place to rest?  You are welcome here.”  He held the door open to her and stepped back in an inviting gesture.  She paused a moment again considering if she should take him up on it.  She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was imposing on his privacy, not that wolves cared about such things, but her human side did.  She knew it was warm in his room, and truthfully, she didn’t want to miss an opportunity to spend time with him, though she knew she’d suffer the whole time she’d be waiting to fall asleep.  Heaving a sigh, she turned around to walk toward the door and enter the room.  As she passed him, she inhaled deeply, letting his delightful odor fill her lungs.

The room was warm, the fire still burning bright in the corner by the window.  The same bear rug spread out neatly in front of it, called to her for a good night’s rest.  She made her way over to it, taking note how his room hadn’t changed much in the week she’d been taking leave in Philip’s chamber.  It was clean as ever.  A contrast to Philip who threw his laundry around for the maids to clean up when his man-servant wasn’t helping him undress.  His bedsheets still held the comforting aroma of pine that seemed to be Morgan’s signature along with other earthy smells. 

The soft fur of the bear rug tickled the webbing between her paw pads as she stepped onto it and walked in her little circle before flopping down in a spot she’d like to claim permanently.  She wished Morgan would fight for her to stay instead of throwing her back at Philip every time his younger brother cried out in jealousy.  He had his wench, what did he need her for?  She glanced up to see Morgan watching her and resisted giving him a tail wag.  She wasn’t his pet… even though she’d like to be... among other things.

Morgan strolled over to the large bed with an attractive swagger.  The bedsheets had already been displaced which meant he’d been laying down when she disturbed him.  A small pain gripped her chest at the thought she may have woken him.  It was quickly dismissed when he laid back against the headboard and crossed his arms over his chest and began to speak into the open air.

“I’ve been thinking, Aria,” her ears perked at the mention of her name, “I’ve been hearing the faint sound of a woman’s voice in my head when I have a strong emotion.”  Aria furrowed her brow.  She’d remembered hearing the witch talk about something like this in relation to deep emotional connections or strong relationships.  It was always in reference to mythical creatures, though, not humans.  “I wonder if Evangeline is getting to me.  I spent the day with her.”

Oh, that.  She lowered her head and rested her chin on her paws trying to shove aside the pang of jealousy creeping into her chest.  She had no reason to feel jealous.  He was a human and Evangeline was a human.  Other than the woman’s dishonesty, why shouldn’t they be together?  Didn’t all human relationships hold a tinge of dishonesty?  What man didn’t look at another woman from time to time?  Wouldn’t he if one caught his eye?  A flash of a memory crossed her mind and with it a familiar anger she must have once felt.  She struggled to grip where the memory could be placed, but other than the feelings that invaded her, she couldn’t grasp the pictures.  What was it and where was it from?  A human.  Betrayal.  Anger.

“I think it’s time.”  Said Morgan, pulling her away from her thoughts.  Only her blue eyes moved toward him.

Time for what, exactly?

“I think tomorrow I will announce the wedding.”

Oh, don’t!  She couldn’t stop the thought from forming as her head shot into the air.  Did I push him into this?  Is it because I made his father angry and set them against each other?  What about her disloyalty?  I can’t really let him marry a disloyal harlot, can I?

“Yes, it is settled.”  He let out a heavy sigh and she watched his chest fall, quietly admiring the stretching and flexing pectorals as they moved.  “I must.  I have put it off too long and if she has gotten this far in my head, there is no reason to put it off any further.”

I can’t.  I can’t let him marry her.  She’d ruin him.  She’d ruin this kingdom with her lust and greed.  He may not be my lover, but he must at least be my friend, and I can’t let a friend marry into ruin.  She pushed off the rug and slowly but purposely walked over to the side of his bed.  She was tall enough that her snout could reach over the side of the bed and with her teeth she grabbed his pant leg and tugged taking care not to agrivate her still-healing wounds from the hound fight.

“Hey!  What?”  She tugged again, successfully pulling his leg off the side of the bed and then backed away and turned to face the door.  She didn’t hear him finish getting out of the bed so she turned her head to look at him over her shoulder.  “You want out?”  Aria exhaled heavily and walked over to him and grabbed his pants at his waist and tugged hard, pulling him up and out of the bed.  A sting went through her shoulder, but she was glad he was up.  “I get it, I’m coming.”  He walked over to the door and opened it for her. 

Please tell me you’re not this dense!  She took a step and then stared at him.  She staggered her gaze, looking at him and then the open doorway a few times.  Do you understand yet?

“You want me to go with you.  I won’t lock you out.”  At this, she let out a frustrated growl.  “Alright!  I’ll come.  Just let me grab my robe.  It’s freezing out there.”  He was right about that.  She was surprised frost hadn’t built up along any of the hallways.  As soon as they stepped out of the warmth of the bedroom, their breaths rose to the air in white puffs.

She led him through the winding hallways back the way she’d come not just an hour before.  A sick feeling began to form in her stomach as they got closer to the hallway harboring Philip and Evangeline.  Aria knew the woman would still be there.  On nights like these, she’d stay until the sun rose in the morning.  Aria had been surprised none of the servants who stoked the fires and woke the family had spread the news yet.  Or if they had, why it hadn’t reached the ears of Morgan.  She wondered, again, if she was doing the right thing.  She also wondered when he realized she wasn’t asking for a bathroom break.

It felt too soon, but they finally reached the door of Philip’s chamber.  Her heartbeat sped up to a rapid pace she wasn’t sure she’d survive.  She stared at the door and then looked up at Morgan who’s face held a somber expression.

“You want back in his room?  I suppose…” as he rose his hand to knock on the door, the sounds of voices escaped from the other side.  His fist froze in the air and she knew he’d heard them, too.  Morgan lowered his hand to his side, and he stepped closer to listen, leaning an ear toward the door.  Quieter voices again emerged from behind the door from a man and a woman.  Aria recognized both immediately but would Morgan?  Aria watched Morgan’s face and body closely.  His body became ridged as the voices continued and the female began to giggle and squeel behind the door.  His eyes flashed and the muscle in his jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth together.  Finally, he backed away from the door and tried the handle.  It was unlocked.  He shoved the door open and lunged into the room with Aria behind him.  Their eyes were met with a scene of shuffling bed sheets and Philip throwing the covers over the guilty woman.