ã€ŠThe Wand and The Wolfã€‹


 1 - He Smelt Like A Disaster

    I nudged the small puppies with my snout, as they scampered around in the grass. Nearby, my sister lounged in the sun, her dark fur warming in the afternoon sun. I stretched and shifted back to my human form, bones crackling subtly, fur receding and replaced by dark brown skin.

    "Kalina, I am leaving, I have a class in 20," I threw a daisy at my sister and she huffed as the flower hit her nose. She looked up lazily at her 3 children, who were busily burying themselves in the dirt and sighed. She shifted back also and began scooping up her litter.

    "That nap was way too short, but thanks, I''m gonna go see if Ryan wants to see his nieces and nephew," she flashed me a grin as she juggled the pups, one who was attempting to shift mid-climb.

    "Have fun with that, I have done my bit for the weekend," I said catching a puppy and settling them again for her before I quickly made myself scarce. I waved to my sister as I began jogging across the field. I passed by multiple members of the pack, greeting them quickly as I saw a group of younger wolves assembling in the training area.

    "Hey!" I yelled as I caught up with them. I was greeted warmly by the younger pack members as I took position in front of them.

    "Okay, for those of you who are showing up to this session for the first time this spring," I said, eyeing a few guilty faces, "I am Kyda, I recently was promoted to a fully-fledged pack warrior and I will be over seeing your training until the end of the summer. In winter we will have the tournament of the warriors, and see how many of you can retain anything I say from here on out." I quickly quieted the whispers of excitement for the winter tournament. It was a huge deal for young wolves, a great way for them to prove themselves to the pack.

    "Okay, shift, we are starting with a nice long run," I smiled as they groaned, pulling off their shirts and trousers, all standing in enchanted sportswear designed to withstand the shift between human and wolf, courtesy of our local witches.

    I turned and began running, leaping into my wolf form mid-leap, and I hurtled towards the forest. The younger wolves yipped and barked sharply as they took after me, pushing themselves to keep up.

    ''The point of running through the forest is all about helping your dexterityandseeing how quickly you can change your plan,''I said over the pack link as I veered sharply to the right, and leapt over a fallen log. I heard some panicked barks as they quickly tried to right themselves and I ducked under a low hanging branch, hearing the satisfying whack of it hitting another wolf behind me.

    We ran for about 30 minutes, twisting and turning, ducking and leaping. At one point, I splashed through the widest part of the stream, the cool water reinvigorating their spirits. Soon, the fauna of the forest began to change. More and more brightly coloured flowers sprung from the ground and crawled up the tree trunks. The trees themselves were shifting and curling into towering masses. We had reached the heavenly thicket, home to the fairies and pixies.

    ¡°Okay, we have entered the Heavenly Thicket, keep your eyes peeled for pixies, they don¡¯t like wolves trampling on their plants. And for the love of Ozidia, do not eat anything you don¡¯t recognise, I will leave you out here!¡±I called out over the pack bond as I carefully leapt over the row of mushrooms and headed deeper into the thicket. I liked this part of the woods, the atmosphere here was electric compared to the normal serenity of the limeacre woods. The magic that was concentrated in the ground beneath us made the place hum with power that you couldn¡¯t help but bask in.

    As we reached a small clearing I slowed to a stop, satisfied with the run so far and watching the younger wolves collapse beside me in furry heaps. I sat down and shifted back, stretching out my legs.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    "That was a good run guys, we''ll take a short break and head back." I lay back in the grass and let the sun warm me. I like to be here, where you could smell the magic bearing plants mixed with the woody earth.

    "Somethings here!" One of the wolves yelled as she shifted from fur to skin. I sat up and looked over, it was Ameena a close friend of mine who was a few months behind me in training, but a far better tracker than most wolves could hope to be.

    "It may be some of the fae," I said to her as I dusted off my clothes before heading over.

    "No, this is different," she insisted, and I felt her anxiety over the pack bond. I stood beside her and closed my eyes, letting my nose do all the sensing for me, and took in a deep breath. At first, I smelt nothing but the plants around us. But slowly and surely, a warm scent found me. It was like burnt ash and lavender mixed together, strong but pleasant, welcoming even. My eyes shot open and I began walking, tracking the scent, eager to find the source.

    "Kyda! Wait!" Ameena called out and I heard her scramble through the bushes after me.

    "Where are you?" I hissed as I scoured the woods for the smell. I stilled, the smell had wrapped itself around me and I sighed heavily as I breathed it in. I stepped slowly around the tree, dread suddenly filling me as I wondered who and what I would see there.

    Amongst a patch of wild coloured flowers stood a tall, lean figure, clothed in a dark red robe.

    "Wolf," the warlock said simply, without turning around. I laughed, releasing the tension I had built up and taking a deep breath.

    "Did I say something funny?" He asked.

    "You''re not a pixie," I said and he turned around to face me.

    "Nor am I a clown," he said sarcastically.

    "We''ll have to see about that one," I said and I stepped forward, holding out my arm, "Kyda, guardian at the Limeacre pack." He nodded firmly and picked a flower growing on the tree behind me, adding it to the collection in his satchel.

    "And you are?"

    "None of your business," he said and he turned to walk away.

    "Wait! I don''t think you understand, I think we may be--"

    "Spare me, wolf, I know. It''s a two-way thing, the mate attraction, even if I''m not a wolf." I stopped, somewhat offended by his off handedness.

    "Don''t you think we should talk for more than a minute before you walk away from me?"

    "Not interested," he took a cutting of a vine and carried on.

    "Kyda," Ameena whispered from somewhere behind me.

    "Take the group back to the clearing, I want to try again."

    "Good luck!"She cheered over the pack link as I heard the faint rustle of leaves as she left. I sighed and jogged to catch up with the warlock doing his best to disappear.

    "Will you at least tell me your name?"

    "What for?"

    "For the sake of small talk," I said and he huffed and turned around. The large hood over his head obscured the features of his face.

    "I don''t like small talk."

    "Then tell me your deepest, darkest secrets," I said with a grin and he groaned.

    "I don''t like to talk at all."

    "I''m starting to get that."

    "You''re energetic," he stated flatly. I stayed put in front of him, bouncing slightly on the balls of my feet until he sighed heavily. He pushed the heavy hood off of his head, revealing tumbling dark curls and smooth brown skin. He met my gaze for the first time and I smiled as I finally saw into the depths of his dark eyes.

    "My name is Ibhan, I''m a senior apprentice. Happy?" He crossed his arms over his chest and shifted nervously.

    "Ibhan," I said slowly, "I like how that sounds," I said and he rolled his eyes.

    "I''m gonna get going now--"

    "No, wait! I won''t be so forward if you really hate it that much," I said, "I''m just trying to break the ice." He clenched his jaw and settled his hands on the strap of his satchel.

    "I don''t know what you expect from me. I don''t know who you are, I only know your name and that your aura is like a beacon, but I''m quite content on my own."

    "I don''t doubt that, I just want to get to know you. The mate attraction is not always romantic you know, maybe we''re destined to be great friends," I grinned but his scowl only deepened.

    "I am not in need of more friends."

    "Nobodyneedsfriends, you simply collect them like shiny rocks," I said and I saw the smallest twitch at the corner of his mouth.

    "Fine, I will give you some time to get to know me, but if I still don''t like you then I am going home." His voice was firm and steady but his grip had tightened on his bag. I would have to tread carefully to make this work.

    "Alrighty then, let''s introduce you to the pack."

 2 - She was as Persistent as Death

    Ibhan''s POV

    I kicked myself mentally for getting myself caught in this situation. I should have trusted my gut in the morning and never ventured out here. But, here I was, trampling through underbrush with a peppy and persistent werewolf. I took the moment to study her as she able on about her pack. She had a green aura, so in tune with the world around her that she harmonised with its energy, down to the beating of her heart. That, and the fact that she was a werewolf, meant losing her was not an option.

    "Are you listening?" She bad stopped walking and was looking at me with a strange expression.

    "No," I adjusted my bag and looked around. The woods here were plain and ordinary.

    She sighed softly and stepped back. "I''m sorry if this is all too much and I''m overwhelming you, I just want this to work out."

    She looked at you with concern. I frowned at the thought that anyone would need to be concerned for me. I was perfectly content with my life.

    "You''re not overwhelming me, you just talk a lot." She raised a brow as I said that, another smile spreading across her face. God''s, she smiled a lot.

    "Talking is overwhelming, I''ll try not to blab on too much."

    "Where are we going anyway?" I asked and she started walking once again.

    "Well, you said you don''t know anything about me. Most of my life is dedicated to the pack so I figured I''d show you around." I nodded as the trees began to thin out, eventually leading to a huge clearing, stretching out for acres in all directions.

    "This is quite the space you have here," I mused and she nodded.

    "The pack grounds are huge, us wolves need our space," she said as she waved at a group of people sitting in the grass not too far from us.

    "So," I started, hoping that some attempts at conversation would satisfy her need to know me, "what exactly does a pack do?"

    She looked up at me, a slightly bewildered look on her face. "You don''t know what a packs for?"

    "Do I look like a wolf to you?"

    "I know you''re not a werewolf, but they don''t teach you guys about other species back at home?" She asked and I shook my head. "That''s weird, we learn about the others here in schools, at least the basics."

    "Warlocks spend the majority of their lives in Ravenvein, we don''t see the need to know more about the other kinds," I said matter of factly, and I saw her frown at that statement.

    "Well, the pack is like a huge family. Most of the wolves in Raynor live here, though some live in the towns and cities outside the forest. We are all bound together by a pack bond, it allows us to communicate mentally with each other, and with people you''re closer to, like family and friends, you can feel their emotions too."

    "Sounds invasive." She laughed, a light airy sound that carried in the breeze.

    "It does but its not, no one can pry into your mind, its only what you share with them." I nodded and continued to follow her as we walked through the field.

    Eventually, a cluster of cabins and houses began coming into view.

    "We have a couple little villages like this spread out over the clearing where we live. There''s a large one up near the northern point of the pack where the royals live," she explained and I watched as she used her hands to express herself.

    "You''re staring," she said quietly.

    "I''m studying."

    "Studying?"

    "I don''t understand you."

    She huffed and sat down on the ground, patting the place next to her. It was my turn to raise a brow but she insisted. I sighed and sat across from her, crossing my legs and making sure my robe didn''t get caught under me.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    "What would you like to know?" She asked, stretching her legs out in front of her.

    "Tell me about the mate attraction."

    She took a deep breath and leant back on her hands, her skin soaking in the sunlight. After a few moments she looked my way again.

    "The mate attraction is not unique to wolves, most species have their own version. You guys have auras, right?" She barely waited a second for my response before continuing on.

    "The mate attraction is said to be based on souls. Certain souls just harmonise together in a way thats unbreakable and unlike any other bond you''ll form in your life. But, that doesn''t mean the bond is the same for everyone. I know many wolves who''s mate attraction has resulted in them finding their best friend in the entire universe, and their lovers are someone else who they also hold dearly," she trailed off a little as she looked over the field and I wondered if she was adding that last bit to reassure me or herself.

    "Auras are like that, too," I said, trying to clear the air of melancholy, the tinge of grey in her aura unsettling.

    "Oh yeah?"

    "Yeah," I shifted and stretched out my own legs, "auras are bright and powerful, they tell you a lot about a person. Every aura is distinct, even for twins, but for lovers, for warlocks, wizards and witches, auras vibrate so intensely when they are in sync that it is said to mend even the most broken of spirits." I looked over at her and a smile was playing on her face again.

    "What?"

    "What is my aura like?" She asked, leaning forward.

    "I''m not telling you."

    "Oh, come on," she pleaded, "a little hint?"

    I looked at her, allowing my mind to relax and view the energy of the world. The pulsing green halo engulfed her frame and I wondered if it was affecting me, if it was mending my spirit.

    "No."

    "Fine," she stood up and held out her hand, "we have more things to see."

    I ignored her hand, not wanting to give her any more satisfaction than I already had, and stood as gracefully as I could in my robe.

    "Isn''t that suffocating?" She asked, and I looked her over in her tank top and leggings.

    "It''s quite breathable actually, it''s my summer collection," I said dryly and she laughed as she started walking towards the villages she had pointed out earlier.

    "You''re quite the comedian, you know," she said over her shoulder.

    "I''ve heard. Where are we going now? I''ve seen the pack," I called out, but she marched on.

    "I want you to meet my family."

    I stopped walking and frowned. Wolves were so forward and so eager. I wanted nothing to do with any of this. She stopped a few moments later as she realised I wasn''t coming with.

    She sighed as she came closer. "Look, I have been waiting to meet someone with the mate attraction for the last 2 years and I''m ready for this. But I understand that it''s not the same for you, and that you need time, so I''m not going to rush you. Just, please, meet my family? They''d love to meet you even if it''s just once," she gave me a soft smile. Her sincerity was obvious and I huffed, giving in to her twice in the same day.

    "Fine, you have one hour and then I''m done with the sight seeing."

    "Excellent!" She grabbed my arm and pulled my along, and I let my mind lose itself in the glow of her aura.

    ********************

    "Okay so, one more time," I murmured under my breath. Subtly pointing around the dining table, Kyda began naming her family members again.

    "My dad, mum, my older sister Kalina, and my older brother Remus, and beside you is my little brother Robin." I nodded, trying to retain the names she kept feeding to me, as well as the food her mother kept piling on my plate.

    "Your hour is almost up, wolf," I hissed as her parents began turning towards me once again for a question.

    "So, Ibhan, please, tell us about your family back home," her mother said with the same large smile her daughter had. They both also had their hair pulled back tightly, the kinky curls meticulously contained.

    "There isn''t much to tell. I moved out of my home at 18, I''ve built my own now, I don''t see much of my parents anymore, and my older brother walked into the shadows three years ago and never came back, so I''ve no obligations to him." I shovelled another bite of food into my mouth. The meat was tender and flavourful, an appreciative change to the berries I had been eating the last two days.

    "Well, it must be nice to live alone," Kyda said from beside me, and I didnt miss the warning glance she shot to her parents and siblings. Maybe the missing brother fact was a bit much, but I wasn''t one for sugar coating.

    "It certainly is quiet, I don''t enjoy the company of other people much." I saw Kyda hide a smirk in her next bite, but her parents looked offended.

    "But you don''t mind Kyda, do you?" Her mother asked cautiously. I looked at the woman beside me and she raised a brow as she met my gaze. Damn you, wolf.

    "I don''t know anything about her, but probably." I heard a sharp intake of breath and took my eyes away from Kyda. Her father was gripping his fork tightly and I tensed my jaw. Wolves were so emotional.

    "I should be going, thank you for having me." I nodded tersely and stood up, and Kyda''s sister cleared her throat loudly.

    "Oh, where will you be staying tonight?"

    "Somewhere in the woods I suppose," I said as I looked outside. The sun was setting quickly and I wouldn''t get far before nightfall.

    "You''re leaving?" One of the brothers asked. I let their auras shimmer around them and saw tension, confusion and some anger tinting the air of some of the family members. I glanced at Kyda and her aura just seemed dull.

    "What would you have me do?" I asked, exasperated.

    "Stay the night, we have a guest room." Kyda''s mother said and her father nodded. I looked at Kyda once more but she was busily picking at her food.

    "Fine, just one night."

 3 - Stubbornness is Stupid

    Kyda''s POV

    I begged my mind to calm down and to squash my feelings down. It was overwhelming, the mate attraction, I felt intoxicated by the presence of Ibhan. But he was stoic and sarcastic, I was quickly letting go of the possibility that he would be a romantic partner.

    "This is the guest room, make yourself comfortable," I waved Ibhan into the room and he gave me a strange look as he stepped in.

    "What''s wrong with you?"

    "Me?" I asked and scoffed, "there is nothing wrong with me."

    "You have a weird look on your face," he said and sat on the bed. He undid the belt of his robe and shrugged it off of his shoulders. He was lean, unlike most of the men in the pack who were bulky and wide.

    I looked away and cleared my throat as I caught myself staring. "Do you need something else to wear?"

    "No, my tunic will do." I looked back and he carefully folded the heavy red cloak and placed it on the nightstand. Underneath he wore a black tunic shirt that came just above his knees, and loose black bottoms.

    "Right. Can I get you anything else?" I asked and he sighed, rolling up his sleeves and pulling a long slender stick from a strap on his shoulder.

    "No, I just want quiet."

    "Is that your wand?" I asked, my eyes tracking the slender, black stick. There was something engraved in a dark grey along it, some kind of intricate design.

    "Yes, it is. Can I sleep now?" I looked up at him and he spun the wand between his fingers before putting it by the pillow.

    "Are you shy?"

    "What?! No, I am not shy, wolf," he narrowed his eyes at me and I laughed and stepped out of the room.

    "Goodnight, warlock." I shut the door before he could give any more sarcastic remarks and slipped into my room down the hall before my mother could find me.

    "Ah, little sister, how nice of you to stop by," Kalina said with a grin.

    "Don''t you have to go home to your husband and kids?" I hissed and she laughed.

    "Absolutely not, his mother is visiting her grandbabies so I am off the hook for a little while longer," she stretched and lay back across my bed.

    I sighed and sat on the bed beside her. We shared a lot of features, my sister and I, but our personalities were very different. She was a gentle force, made for loving in warm ways, while I felt like I was always bubbling over with energy.

    "Was it this way for you?" I asked and she sat up, letting me climb further up the bed.

    "Like what?"

    "It''s suffocating," I started, "like, there''s so much of him in one space that I can''t get away from it, not that I want to. But I can feel his resistance."

    She gave my a sympathetic smile and patted my thigh.

    "He''s not like us, Kyda, he''s a warlock. You couldn''t have found someone more different to a wolf than a warlock. But that doesn''t mean it can''t work, just give it time."

    "You''re right," I flopped back on the bed.

    "I know," she said with a satisfied grin.

    "Tell me about you and Mark."

    "Well, it was easier for me," she said, laying beside me, "Mark is a wolf, so when we felt the mate attraction we knew what it meant and we both wanted it to work. It wasn''t before long that we were spending most of our time together."

    "Yeah, I remember, you two were kinda gross," I laughed and she swatted my arm.

    "Just you wait, little sister, you''re going to be gross real soon." I groaned and took a deep breath.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    "What if he doesn''t want me, even as a friend. What happens then?"

    "We''re not there yet," Kalina said firmly and I rolled my eyes.

    "Just tell me."

    She sighed heavily and propped herself up on her elbow. "When Mark went back to visit his family in the city and tell them about me, it was hell being away from him. The time we spent together meant the attraction was almost a fully fledged bond. It physically hurt me to see him go, but I knew he would be back. I don''t-" she paused and took a deep breath, "I don''t know what would happen if he was to leave and not come back."

    I nodded and closed my eyes. I could hear his heart beat, three doors down, and his breathing was even and shallow. He was probably already asleep.

    "Don''t worry so much, Kyda. You''re beautiful and strong and everybody loves you. Give him time," Kalina said softly after a few moments of silence.

    "Thank you," I said and hugged her warmly before she left. I lay back on my bed and tried to distract myself with books and papers that I had laying around. I would need a plan if I had any hope of getting Ibhan to stay long enough to get to know me, and I had no clue where to start.

    Eventually I slept, uneasily and agitated, and woke with the sun peaking through my blinds. Immediately my mind ached to track the smell of burnt lavender that had built up in my home overnight. I took a deep breath and pushed down my more primal instincts and got ready for the day. I pulled on leggings and the first shirt I could find before sitting down to brush my hair back into a secure bun. The tightly coiled curls took time to tame but I managed it eventually.

    I stepped out of my room just in time to see Ibhan step into the hallway. He had his robe on, but untied, and his satchel was secured on the inside this time.

    "Breakfast?" I asked, pointing downstairs to where I could hear my parents shuffling about the kitchen. He nodded quietly and I lead the way down.

    "Good morning," my mother greeted warmly, my dad briefly looking up from his book with a quick wave.

    "Hey, mama, what''s cooking?" I asked grabbing two plates. I offered one to Ibhan who frowned but took it.

    "Eggs, want some?"

    "Mhm, I''m teaching a class today, the one I was supposed to do yesterday," I said and she laughed.

    "Alright, here we go," she took my plate first, and then Ibhans, loading them with food. His face was unreadable, but he nodded a thanks to my mother before sitting down. My mother gave me an encouraging smile before making herself scarce.

    "Not a morning person?" I asked as I sat by Ibhan.

    "Not an anytime person," he muttered under his breath.

    "You do realise I can still hear you?"

    "Yes," he said with a roll of his eyes, "its very inconvenient because then you keep replying."

    I smiled and ate my eggs before they got cold. Something about winding him up a little bit was just so fun.

    "Would you like to come with me to my class? You can just see what we get up to," I asked as finished up. He sighed heavily and studied my face for a moment. I felt my cheeks grow warm but I kept my expression as neutral as I could.

    "I''m supposed to be halfway home right now."

    "I know, but I would really appreciate it if you stayed just a bit longer. I would hate for you to have regrets later," I said with a small grin.

    "I do not have regrets, ever," he replied dryly.

    "No reason to start now then, is there?" I asked and he sucked in a harsh breath.

    "Fine. Let me send a letter, I was expected home tomorrow, but I''ll stay for now." I nodded, squashing my relief and finding him some paper and a pen. He scrawled a few lines on the paper and reached into the sleeve of his robe.

    He pulled out the sleek black wand I had glimpsed last night and murmured a few unintelligible words before the shadows on the table seemed to surge forward. They swarmed over the paper and just like that, they slipped away and the paper was gone.

    I met my father''s gaze, sensing his high alert over the pack bond. Relax, please. I coaxed gently and he gave me a small nod.

    "You know, we have messengers."

    "Too slow," he said dismissively and I rolled my eyes before putting my plates in the sink.

    "Alright, let''s go, I''m meeting the kids in 10," I said and he nodded. Standing up, he pulled his robe around him and tied it securely around his waist.

    "Doesn''t it get hot in there?" I asked, immediately regretting opening my mouth as his thick brows furrowed. But, to my surprise, he smirked, an expression that made my heart fumble for its rhythm.

    "It''s surprisingly breezy in here," he said and I turned on my heel and opened the door, letting myself promptly out of the house. I waited for him to catch up before I started walking across the fields to the area I met with the younger wolves yesterday.

    I jogged ahead as I spotted Ameena, hugging her as more wolves slowly trickled closer.

    "So," she asked excitedly, "how is he?" I smiled and glanced back to where Ibhan was approaching at a slow pace, studying his surroundings.

    "Stubborn."

    Ameena rolled her eyes and sighed, "the pretty ones always are," she said as she looked over my shoulder to get a better look at him. I swatted her arm and she laughed as she turned back to join the group.

    Ibhan stopped a few feet away from me and I stepped closer, testing the waters  with every move.

    "Do you want to be introduced to the group?" I asked and he looked over at the group assembling behind me.

    "No, I''d rather not."

    "That''s fine," I said, not wanting to push him too far. "Well, you can just sit and hang out here, we''re just gonna be running through some basic drills here today. We will be shifting back and forth though, so don''t get too close." I warned and he raised a brow.

    "Are you telling me I''m going to be surrounded by a bunch of naked teenagers soon?" I laughed as I realised what he meant and shook my head.

    "The witches helped us enchant some fabrics, they survive the shift, so no one here is going to flash you," I reassured him.

    "Pity," he said as he gave me another look before walking further back from the group and sitting in the grass.

 4 - The Neediness of Wolves

    Ibhan''s POV

    I watched as she easily and eagerly commanded the group of younger werewolves before her. There was about 20 of them, listening attentively to her every word. They spread out in front of her, enough room that they wouldn''t hit each other as they practiced the motions she showed them. I gritted my teeth and looked away when I noticed that I was staring, focusing on a small patch of flowers close by.

    Standing up and dusting off my robe, I walked over and studied the small flowers. Plants were excellent conduits of magic and were known to strengthen spells and potions. I made a trip down to the Heavenly Thicket and the field of of Fae every so often just to take my own prime pickings of the more magical variety. I picked a few small buds, and put them into my satchel with the rest, the insides of the bag enchanted to stay cool.

    Hearing a loud crackling sound, I whipped around to see the group of gangly teens shift into wolf form. It was unnerving to see the way their bodies stretched, broke and reformed. But it was also fascinating how they were able to withstand it. My eyes immediately sought out Kyda, standing at the front of the group. Like her hair, her fur was black and shimmered in the morning sun. She communicated silently with her group, most likely through the pack bond she said they had, and I found myself walking closer to where she was.

    Huffing, I clenched my hands into fists and stayed put where I was. Suddenly, the younger wolves yipped and growled as they took off across the field, sprinting as fast as they could. Kyda turned towards me and padded over. She seemed more open in her wolf form than human as she brushed up against my side. I raised a brow as I watched her circle me, inspecting me from a whole new perspective.

    "What? Is there something wrong with me?" I asked as she sat back on her haunches, head tilted to the side. She let out a small growling sound and looked over the field. The young wolves were running laps, taking turns to shift between wolf and human form every so often. Kyda laid down as she watched, satisfied her charges were doing as told.

    Giving in to my curiosity, I crouched by her and gently held out a hand to her head.

    "Can I?" I asked and she licked at my hand before laying her head on the ground. I groaned, wiping my hand in the grass. "Crazy wolf."

    I rested my hand on the back of her head, surprised at how warm and soft the fur was. Her coat was thick, and I couldn''t help but run my hand down her neck, just a little bit, to feel it between my fingers. I felt a small pressure build in my mind, and realised it was her, attempting to talk to me.

    "Oh no, I don''t think so, you are not getting in my head." I said sternly, sitting back in the grass, leaning on my hands. She huffed and turned, laying her head on my leg.

    "Hey, I didn''t say you could do that," I said, shifting aside, but she just laid a large paw on my leg to and stayed exactly where she was. I sighed and gave up, tilting my head back and letting the sun pour over my face. This much sunshine was a rarity at home.

    We stayed that way for a while, maybe almost 10 minutes, before the thunder of paws on the dirt approached and Kyda stood, trotting off to meet her students. I groaned as I adjusted my legs, though they didn''t hurt, in fact, the weight had been comforting. Shaking my head, I sighed as I squashed aside the way she made me feel. It was stupid. I saw the panic on her fathers face this morning when I used my magic. This was not something that would work and it was not something I would subject myself to.

    I watched a while longer as they wolves split off into pairs, practicing some fighting moves on each other like how to get out of certain biting grips or to evade a certain pounce. It was entertaining to say the least. A lot of them were clumsy, too much limb and not enough coordination, but they didn''t seem to mind. I thought back to my training, my mother and father were my teachers, and we mostly spent the hours quietly studying old texts. Now, I practiced spells in my own time mostly, rarely asking for any kind of help.  I had just a few months more of training left before I would graduate from senior apprentice to a full warlock. That''s when I would be given permission to roam the lands freely, with significantly less chance of being consumed the the valley of Kegsus should I find myself in there.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    I stood up and once again, wandered away from the group. I stretched my arms as I headed for the trees, feeling the need for some seclusion after being out in the open field for so long. I walked quietly between the trees for a while, picking at odd leaves and petals, grinding them together in my hands and making a little concoction.

    "Mistelle vapross," I murmured quietly over my hand and the shadows swamped over the pile of palnts in my hands and it began to smoke. This combination of smells was used frequently at home. The shadows warlocks used in their magic had an intense effect on our mood, but this smell numbed all of those feelings we had, even the positive ones, it was what made us so recluse. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, letting it take the edge off of my racing mind. I hadn''t done this is a while, but something about Kyda had stirred up emotions in me that I''d rather not have.

    I heard a rustle behind me and closed my fist, smothering the plants in my hand as the shadows receded.

    "Ibhan?" I turned to see Kyda, now in her human form, standing a few feet away.

    "What?" I asked, hating the fact that the plants had had basically no effect.

    "The class is over, are you okay?" She asked, no doubt smelling what I had just been burning.

    "Yes."

    "Hey, look, I''m sorry for what I did back there, I was out of line, but its just harder to squash the wolf instincts in that form," she explained, looking flustered as she ran a hand over her hair, pulled tightly back as it was yesterday. I suppressed a smile as I realised what she was referring to and walked towards her.

    "Its fine, everyone knows wolves are... needy," I said dryly and she narrowed her eyes and swatted at my arm.

    "I am not needy, I am nice and you are unapproachable."

    "That''s exactly what I was going for," I said with a satisfied nod and she rolled her eyes.

    "Would you like to go and see the pond? Its very pretty this time of day," she said , her mind already on to the next task of the day.

    "Fine," I said, resigning myself to at least another day or so of sightseeing.

    "Your enthusiasm is infectious, come on," she held out her hand and I glanced at it and back up at her face. Nodding she dropped her hand and started walking. I felt a small pang of guilt, but I ignored it and followed her anyway.

    She walked gracefully through the woods, leaving the flowers undisturbed, the sound of her steps almost imperceptible. In comparison, I wreaked havoc behind her, swatting at low hanging branches and trampling through the undergrowth. At one point she started humming under her breath as she walked along, so comfortable in her skin and her world.

    I kicked myself mentally as I caught myself again, thinking too much about her, about the details of her mannerisms and how they just fit. Her energy was strong and I hated it.

    "We''re almost there," she said turning back to me, "quit scowling," she mock pouted as she parted two large overlapping branches. I pressed my lips into a thin line and gritted my teeth as she stepped through, narrowly catching the branches before they slapped against my face.

    When I stepped through, I felt a bit of my anger ebb away. The pond was a rich blue, surrounded by flowers of all colours and sizes. The clearing had an entirely different feel to it and I found myself wandering slowly around it, taking it all in. I brushed my fingers over the petals of a large raised flower, its pollen glittering on my fingertips.

    "You know, this stuff is great for scrying," I said absently as I picked off a small flower and put it in my bag. I turned to see Kyda leaning against a tree, watching me.

    "Do you like it?" She asked, gesturing around the clearing. I looked around once more, feeling my mind settle as I took in the view.

    "It''s peaceful," I said and she smiled, ear to ear, and sat down on the ground.

    "So, I have some questions for you," she said, stretching her legs out in front of her.

    "Do I have to answer?"

    "Please."

    I huffed and looked her over once more. She was so relaxed, so in her element. I was fucked. "Go on then."

    "Okay, so, I know you have a wand.Do you have a spell book?" She asked and I rolled my eyes and sat a few feet away from her. I undid my robe and pulled out an old leather bound journal.

    "Warlocks share very few things, but spellbooks is one of them. This one is my own that I fill with the things I''ve learnt, be it standard practice or something new," I said, turning over the book in my hands.

    "How often do you write in it?" Kyda asked and I opened up the journal to the last page I was on.

    "I wrote this just a while before you found me yesterday, I try and write something everyday, keep on top of things." She nodded as she watched me turn the pages, her eyes gliding over the words and drawings.

    "You have nice handwriting," she mused and I frowned.

    "My mother told me it''s chicken scratches," I grumbled and she laughed, a rich and full sound that caught me by surprise.

    "I think mothers are required to say that, some kind of code," she said and suppressed a smile as I thought about it. Suddenly, she sat up a little straighter, head cooked to the side as she turned her attention elsewhere. Sensing her tension, I tucked my book away.

    "What is it?" I asked and she slowly stood up.

    "Someone''s coming."

 5 - Friends Are Not For Sacrificing

    I stood up and edged over to the treeline. I could smell the presence of another wolf, but I didn''t understand why they were lurking. Ibhan stood too, and I saw him reach for his wand from the corner of my eye.

    "Come forward, let me see you," I said quietly and a shaggy brown haired wolf leapt from the treeline. With no hesitation I met him halfway, already shifted midair. I pushed the wolf aside and snapped at him, snarling as I made sure he backed down. Satisfied he wasn''t a threat I stopped to really look at him, there was something familiar about him.

    "Shift back," I said as soon as I had. The wolf cocked his head at me before shifting, the satisfying crunch filling the clearing.

    "Don''t recognise me, Kyda?" He said, fixing me with a mock pout. The man before me was tan and broad, his messy hair falling over his eyes. There was something about his scent that stirred an old memory.

    "Matthew?" I asked and he grinned, holding out his arms.

    "I was getting a little worried there," he laughed, and I stepped forward, hugging him tightly.

    "What are you doing here, I thought you moved to the upper city?" I asked and the young wolf shrugged sheepishly.

    "I may have moved back alone."

    "You went rogue?" I asked, surprised at the action. Wolves were tightly family orientated separation wasn''t a step we took lightly.

    "Yep, feels weird but it''s so much better than living that close to the courts, everyone there is so uptight." He suddenly stopped and looked around to where Ibhan stood, wand still gripped in his hand, his hood up guarding his features.

    "Matthew, meet Ibhan, a friend of mine," I said, and Matthew gave me a curious look.

    "He''s not a wolf."

    "No, I''m not," Ibhan said, stepping closer, "Nor am I a friend."

    "Oh come on, I brang you all the way out here just for us to not even be friends? Give me a break magic man," I said with an eye roll, and I heard him scoff.

    "You brang me to a puddle with flowers, wolf, that''s hardly impressive."

    "I''m sorry," Matthew stepped forward, "what am I missing here?"

    I sighed and stepped closer to Ibhan, and I could feel the heat of his glare.

    "Mr high maintenance here shares a bond with me, possible mate attraction, so I figured I''d show him around and see if he''d like to stay."

    "I''m being held here against my will," Ibhan chimed in and I whacked his arm.

    "You are not," I said, and he pushed his hood off and gave me a blank stare.

    "If I walked off into the woods right now, would you follow?"

    "Absolutely." He groaned and looked over to Matthew, "your friend is a stalker."

    "She''s a little crazy but she''s also super nice," he said, sounding a little defensive.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    "Why don''t we all go home for lunch," I said and Matthew grinned.

    "Can I come, I''d love to say hi to everyone."

    "Sure," I.smiled and looked back at Ibhan who finally slipped his wand away in his sleeve.

    "Right behind you, wolf."

    ***********************

    Lunch passed by and the day quickly turned to night as we lounged around in the living room listening to Matthews stories. My parents had been ecstatic to see him come home, after they scolded him for leaving his family in the city.

    I sat by Ibhan on the dining table, he had been quiet these last few hours, but I guess that wasn''t so unusual for him. He rolled some peas across his plate, occasionally squishing one with his spoon and, not for the first time, I wished we had a bond so I could see how he was feeling. He was so closed off it unsettled me sometimes. He looked up suddenly, meeting my gaze and I smiled. He narrowed his eyes slightly and turned back to his plate.

    "Ibhan," I whispered, and he gave some semblance of a grunt in response, "I have another question."

    "What is it now?" He muttered, squishing more peas.

    "Why are you so quiet?" I whispered back. He rolled his eyes as he put his spoon down and sat back.

    "Mothers also say that if you''ve nothing nice to say, you shouldn''t speak at all," he said and crossed his arms over his chest.

    "Touch¨¦, magic man," I said, and he shot me a withering glare.

    "Stop calling me magic man," he hissed.

    "Never," I said, picking up his spoon and squishing his three remaining peas. He looked up at me, a bewildered expression on his face.

    "How dare you squish my peas," he said in a hushed voice, not that it mattered in a room full of wolves. I burst into a fit of laughter, drawing the rest of the attention to myself as Ibhan sunk into his chair, a little bit of pink rising to his cheeks.

    Remus looked us over, raising his eyebrows and smirking. "Having fun over there."

    "Yeah, we were just talking about peas," I said with a nod and Ibhan huffed.

    "We were not talking about peas, I was asking you to stop calling me magic man," he said through gritted teeth.

    "Magic man?" My father repeated, and it was my turn to feel heat rush up my neck.

    "It was a joke, I''ll stop," I said, not missing the little grin that slipped across Ibhan¡¯s face as he got his way.

    "Ibhan, you''re kinda quiet, you should join us over here," Matthew said, gesturing to the empty seat beside him. Ibhan looked over at him and then at me as if to ask if he was really serious. I shrugged, deciding to leave it up to him to get involved. Rolling his eyes he stood, rolling back his sleeves a little as he went to sit by Matthew, my father on the armchair beside him.

    "So, when are you planning to move in permanently?" Matthew asked and I winced as I saw Ibhan still and my parents almost physically flinch.

    "That''s not been decided," he said in an even tone.

    "Ah, you want your own place?" Matthew said and I reached over the pack bond to try and stop him from probing further.

    "It''s not been decided if I''ll be staying at all," Ibhan replied flatly. I took in a sharp breath and sat back, clenching my jaw for a moment. Ibhan looked up at me, an intense look on his face, jaw set tightly and hands in fists. I frowned and tilted my head towards the door and he nodded.

    "Maybe we should step out for a minute, Ibhan," I said, and he was up in an instant. I opened the door and walked away from the house, Ibhan close on my heels.

    "I don''t like him," he said as we put a fair amount of distance between us and the house.

    "Who? Matthew?"

    "Yes," he hissed.

    "Why?" I asked and he just groaned, running a hand back through his hair.

    "His aura is dirty, I can''t explain it, it just feels wrong," he said, and I laughed.

    "Hey, don''t worry about Matthew, I''ve known him forever, he''s a good guy," I reassured him, and he sighed.

    "Your loyalty will cost you, wolf."

    "That''s a risk I''m willing to take," I replied, a small amount of anger bubbling inside of me.

    "Fine, I''ve already told you once," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets.

    "Hey! Is everything okay?" Matthew was jogging towards us and I heard Ibhan groan.

    "Go, take a walk," I said, and he gave me an odd look, maybe a guilty one, before he slunk away from the upcoming wolf.

    "Was it something I said?" Matthew asked, watching Ibhan walk further away.

    "Nah, he''s okay, he''s just not used to that kind of attention," I said.

    "Seems like a real piece of work to me, no offense," Matthew said, holding up one hand.

    "He''s just used to a different way of life," I said, and Matthew shrugged.

    "Sure, let''s leave it at that for now, hm?" I nodded and he smiled, slinging his arm around my shoulders. "Your sister brang cake and I for one would love a slice."

 6 - Warlocks Dont Take Walks

    Infuriated, I walked until I was sure I was out of listening range of the two wolves. I was on edge, irritated, and I had no idea why. Something about Matthew just unsettled me. His aura had been muddied with colours, something that was never a good sign in my experience. Auras were precise and delicate in nature a muddied aura was a warning.

    I glanced back to see Matthew put his arm around Kyda, leading her back to her house, and I felt a spike of anger flare within me. I pushed it aside and stopped walking as I found myself close to the woods again. I groaned and rolled my shoulders back, trying to relieve the tension that had built up inside of me. I had to get out of here. There was too much going on all the time, and I needed peace.

    I slipped into the woods as the sky darkened, letting myself become lost amongst the trees. I sat down on a small stump and pulled out my spell book deciding to take the opportunity to revise. No matter what happened here, I would not let it affect my apprenticeship. The sooner I was a fully-fledged warlock the better. I pulled out my wand and rested the tip of it on the page and murmured a small incantation that pushed back the shadows on the page, letting me read the words easily in the fading light.

    After a few minutes, I felt an unbearable itch in my mind and slammed my book shut. I looked around for the source of my irritation. Everything had energy and some of that energy would clash with auras, it was part of how our intuition worked. As I looked over the little clearing I had found myself in but there was nothing of interest around me. That''s when I realised that it wasn''t a presence that was bothering me, but an absence.

    "That damned wolf," I said through gritted teeth. She was imprinting on me. I needed to leave soon before I became attatched.

    I stood up and dusted off my robe. I should tell her that I''m leaving in the morning. The sooner the better. I tucked my spell book and wand away. I wouldn''t be able to focus until I was far away from here.

    I groaned as I realised I had walked farther than I anticipated. The woods were quickly darkening, and I was unfamiliar with my surroundings. Taking a deep breath I let the auras of any beings around me shimmer into my vision, guiding me around them. It took me several minutes, but I finally broke through the tree line. I hadn''t been quiet so glad to see open space before as I headed back in the vague direction of Kyda¡¯s home.

    It didn''t take long for her to appear from amongst the little cluster of houses I was approaching. She held a small plate in her hand an apologetic look on her face. Her aura shimmered with traces of pale pink, a sign of embarrassment.

    "I saved you a slice of my sisters cake," she said, holding up the plate.

    "I''m not a dog, you can''t send me on walks when your boyfriend is around," I said flatly, taking the plate from her.

    "He''s not my boyfriend, and I''m sorry," she said handing a spoon. I sighed and took a spoonful of the cake, shovelling it in my mouth. Wolves never seemed to stop eating, but I also couldn''t deny that they were excellent cooks.

    "Good right?" She asked and I nodded, earning me another one of her satisfied grins. I looked her over in the low lamp light, the shadows dancing over her athletic frame, highlighting the muscle and tone of her arms as she folded them across her chest.

    "I''m leaving tomorrow," I said, being careful to keep my face blank as I saw a myriad of emotions cross hers. She looked me in the eye, clenching her jaw and taking a deep breath in.

    "Fine, thank you for staying as long as you did," she said and she turned away, walking back towards her home. I had already tapped out of her aura, and it took every ounce of self-control I had not to tap in again and see how I had made her feel. That was none of my concern.

    There was a low level of chatter in the living room as I entered the house, and I eyed the staircase.

    "Let me take your plate, you can go on up," Kyda said, and I silently handed her the plate and made myself scarce. I slipped quietly into the room they had given me yesterday. I took of my robe and bag, leaving them on the chair in the room and sat on the bed. My head swam with emotions, and I ached for the little concoction of flowers I had to take the edge off.

    I settled for picking up my wand and silencing the sound from outside of the room, but it only seemed to amplify the sound of my thoughts. Throwing my arm over my eyes, I lay in the ocean of my mind until sleep pulled me in.Stolen novel; please report.

    ***************

    When I woke up in the morning, the house was bustling with energy, but there was some tension in the air. Ignoring it, I slipped on my robe and picked up my satchel. Checking over my belongings I secured my wand and robe and stepped out of my room. The door to Kyda¡¯s room was already open and I gritted my teeth before curiosity took me in. I headed down the stairs and almost made it to the front door when someone cleared their throat behind me.

    I turned to see Kyda¡¯s father standing in the hallway, arms folded, and a stern look on his face. She had his posture and mannerisms. Stop thinking about her posture you fool I scolded myself.

    "Say goodbye to her, Ibhan, give my daughter peace," he held out a large hand and I shook it, giving him a short nod. "You know where to find her, don''t you?" He said, already turning away from me. I let out a slow breath as I stepped out of the house. He was right. I owed her a final goodbye. I should settle her expectations before I left.

    I started walking across the field, scanning the grassy plains for her. Eventually, I saw her and a few other werewolves stretching as they laughed and talked. These weren''t students though, they seemed to be equals. I recognised one of the wolves Matthew and I immediately clenched my jaw. He was too close to her, too focused on her.

    As I approached, I slowed, not wanting to garner the attention of the whole group. Kyda looked my way and split off from the group, meeting me half-way. I couldn''t help but notice how Matthews eyes tracked her as she walked.

    "Are you really leaving?" She asked, the smallest trace of hope in her voice.

    "I have work to do at home, I''m an apprentice. I''ve already been away too long," I said, even though it was all a lie. Something told me she knew that too, the way her shoulders sagged a little and her face twitched into a small frown. She very suddenly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me and I tensed. Part of my mind was going haywire at the contact, but in a pleasant way that made me want to stay there.

    "That was a hug, you socially awkward fool," she said with a sigh as she stepped back, "It was not an attack." I rolled my eyes and stepped back out of her arms-length.

    "Thank your family once again for me, it was nice of them to let me stay." I said, not forgetting my manners lest my mother materialise there to scold me.

    I turned and started walking away, back toward the woods so I could find the Heavenly thicket. From there, I would be able to make my way home no problem. But I hadn''t taken more than a few steps before I heard a snide remark roll from Matthews lips and stop me in my tracks.

    "Kinda knew he wouldn''t stick around, he''s a warlock after all. He wouldn''t have been able to care for you," he chuckled as I turned, wand already in my hand, closing the distance between us.

    "Say that again, pup," I hissed through gritted teeth.

    "What''s the stick for?" He said with a grin, "I''m not exactly interested in playing fetch with you, you''re not my type." I stepped closer, the tip of my wand under his chin.

    "You don''t want to know what I can do to you with this stick," I said, and he narrowed his eyes.

    "Was that a threat?" He asked and I noticed little hairs sprouting across his skin. He was getting ready to shift.

    "Ibhan," Kyda called out, "don''t provoke him." Worry was etched into her features, and I grinned a little sadistically as I faced Matthew again.

    "Oh, but I want to see the little puppy bite," that was all it took to push him over the edge, and he pushed me back as he shifted into his wolf form. His bones snapped and cracked as his dirty blonde fur coated his body.

    I steadied myself, adjusting my grip on my wand. He lunged at me, and I leapt to the side flicking my wrist upwards, my other hand deep in the grass. The shadows of each blade of grass came alive, wrapping themselves around the wolf. The others snarled and growled at the sight, but Kyda held them back as Matthew struggled to free himself. He tucked himself into a ball and rolled, snapping at the shadows as they let him go.

    He came for me again, this time his jaw latched on to the end of my rope, pulling me down to the ground. I turned my wand around, hitting him spare between the eyed with the thick end of the wand and he yelped, releasing my robe. I scrambled up and he shifted into his human form, taking me by surprise as he shoved me down into the dirt. He straddled me, throwing a punch square to my cheek. My vision blurred and I bucked my hips upwards, throwing him off balance and slamming my hand upwards, his jaw clacking shut loudly as he grunted. I pushed him off and put some distance between us, adrenaline frying my nerves.

    "Come on, pup, is that all you got?" I asked, wiping blood from my mouth along the back of my hand.

    "Watch your mouth, magician," he spat out and he hurled himself at me, shifting into his wolf form again. I pushed my wand into the dirt, a large shadow mass pushing him back as I got to my feet. He growled, saliva dripping from his snout. He pawed at the ground like a bull, ready to charge again.

    "Matthew, stop!" Kyda shouted, sensing the rage that poured off of her so-called friend. He snapped his jaws at her, and she narrowed her eyes, a wolf of her ranking offended by his disobedience.

    I murmured a small incantation as he was distracted, our surrounding darkening as I pulled on shadows. I had rage too, and he would feel every ounce of it. I took comfort in the darkened field, like a little slice of home had come to me. I slashed down with my hand, a wall of shadow slamming the wolf off of his feet as he still tried to gather his bearings. He roared as his ego bruised with his flesh. I grinned and hit him again.

    "Ibhan, please stop!" Kyda called and I faltered. That was all the opening Matthew needed and he sprinted forward. I leapt back and pushed another wall of shadows, but I wasn''t fat enough. His teeth sunk into the flesh of my thigh, his claws scratching across my chest. A scream tore through my throat and I took my wand sideways in both hands and thrust upwards, the shadows swallowing the wolf and throwing him aside before I blacked out.

 7 - Claws are for Quick Kills

    I had never seen a warlock in action before. When Ibhan drew on the shadows, darkening the field, my breath caught in my throat. His powers were scary and brutal as he commanded shadows into a solid physical form. But when Matthew sunk his teeth into Ibhan¡¯s thigh, I snapped out of my daze. The scream that echoed from Ibhan¡¯s mouth seemed to squeeze around heart and throat, suffocating me. Ibhan thrust his hands upwards once more, and the shadows wrapped around Matthews body, throwing him aside like a ragdoll. His arms fell limp by his side, and I was there in an instant.

    "Hey, hey, hey, open your eyes, look at me," my words tumbled out of my mouth as I assessed the damage. The claw marks on the chest were shallow, his robe falling aside in tatters. The teeth marks in his thigh were deep, oozing blood as he lay there.

    "Get the medics!" I yelled to the other wolves who were still stunned by what was happening. I looked up as I heard a low growl, Matthew climbing to his feet once more. Something in me snapped at the site of him and I snarled. My hands were covered in blood as I stood, stepping between Matthew and Ibhan.

    "Stand down Matthew, or I''ll finish what he started," I said as he paced in front of me. He was injured, limping even, but a scorned wolf was stubborn.

    "Don''t for a second think that he did this for you, he did it for himself," Matthew¡¯s voice spoke in my mind. I scoffed and shook my head.

    "Don''t be an ass Matthew, just get out of here," I said but he came closer.

    "Let me finish him off, then we can move on," he reasoned.

    "We can ¡®move on?¡¯ Matthew, I don''t ever want to see you again," I said, and he finally tore his gaze away from Ibhan, another growl rumbling in his chest.

    "I came back for you," he said, his voice sounding pained.

    "I didn''t ask you to do that," I said, and he snarled, turning his attention to the medics who were trying to quickly evacuate Ibhan from the scene. "Don''t you dare, Matthew I will come for you," I warned him. He shot me a glare before he took off after the medics.

    "Damn you, Matthew!" I yelled as I ran after him, shifting mid run into my wolf form. My paws hit the dirt hard as I took off after him, slamming into his side with all of my weight to throw him off track. We rolled over in the dirt and he snapped his jaws at me, as a warning. I paced around him, not backing down from his challenge.

    He tried to push past me, and I growled, swiping at him with my claws. He made a hissing sound and backed up, but I could see his body tensing for another attempt. His time in the city had made him sloppy.

    When he leapt, I was ready, springing up and pushing him aside. We tussled in the grass as he tried to get me off of him. Having had enough, I locked my jaw onto his neck, teeth digging in just enough to slow him down.

    "Yield, Matthew, don''t make me kill you," I said, giving him one last chance. He growled, swiping a paw at me and I stamped it down with my own, letting my claws dig in as far as they could. He whimpered and finally stopped struggling. I waited a few more moments before releasing his neck. I shifted back into my human form, still breathing heavily.

    "You have one night in the southern medic bay," I said to him, calling for another team of medics, "tomorrow you go home." I stood up, assessing my won injuries. Nothing more than some scratches and bruises.

    "Kyda!" Ameena jogged over to where I was, "Ibhan, he''s in a bad way," she said and I immediately pushed past her, running towards to the medic bay. We had several of them over the pack and I had never been more grateful for that before now. Bursting through the door I located Ibhan¡¯s room immediately. The smell of burnt lavender and metal filled the room.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Most of his clothes had been removed, his skin still covered in a thin sheen of sweat. One wolf was cleaning and bandaging the scratches on his chest as 2 worked on his thigh. I could make out the individual teeth marks, at least 12 of them.

    "He''s not a wolf, so his recovery will be slower," One of the nurses said as she came in holding a bag of blood in her hand. I nodded numbly as I looked over the patches of his skin already mottled with bruises. "You can still hold his hand, you''re his mate so it will help some," she said with a smile, and I nodded once again. I approached the bed slowly, like I might hurt him if I was too loud. I sat on the chair by his bed and very carefully, took his hand in mine.

    His knuckles were swollen and bruised where he had punched Matthew. I ran my fingers over them gently and swallowed hard. My feelings were spiralling out of control, and I was scared. I had spent the night trying to come to terms with the fact that I would be letting him go, but I knew in that moment that I wouldn''t. I pushed his hair out of his face with my other hand, a large bruise forming on his face, his eye swelling too.

    "We gave him a sedative, he''ll be out for a little while," the nurse said to me as she finished hooking him up to the bag of blood.

    "Is he going to be okay?" I asked and she smiled again, a practiced face for worried people.

    "They got him here pretty fast, and there wasn''t too much ragged tearing of the flesh, so he should be fine." She gave me a small nod and left the room. I sat back in the chair, letting the other wolves finish their work. They stitched his thigh up and wrapped it in a thick bandage, pressure dressing on the rest.pf his wounds. They handed me two ice packs, one for his hand, one for his face, and I positioned them carefully and sat.

    I didn''t know how much time had passed before the door opened again. My parents stood there, worry on their faces as I looked up at them. They stepped into the room and warning growl left my throat before I knew what was happening.

    "Easy love, we''re not here to hurt him," my dad reassured me, and I sighed heavily, letting go of the tension I had held onto.

    "Sorry," I murmured as I turned the ice packs over. My mother came around to the other side of the bed, her eyes running over Ibhan¡¯s battered body. She had been trained as a medic before she changed to tracking when she was about my age.

    "They say he''s gonna be fine, but he''ll have to stay here to recover," she said softly, and I nodded.

    "Matthew is being carted out in the morning," my dad said, laying a hand on my shoulder and squeezing gently. I looked up at him and his face softened. "Oh, love, it¡¯s alright," he bent down and wrapped me up in his arms. My father was the only one who ever made me feel small when he held me, and it was just what I needed in that moment.

    "Tell me,¡± My mum said, reaching for my hand, "can you let Ibhan leave your life still?" She asked. I shook my head, and she gave me a sad smile. The mate bond was complex and intense, and today''s events had only reinforced its hold on me. I wandered what effect it had on Ibhan, was it equal or was it just me?

    "We''re gonna go get you some food, okay?" My mum said as she ushered dad out of the room. I took Ibhan¡¯s hand in mind once again and laid my head on the edge of the bed. I was suddenly bone achingly tired. I let my eyes close and stayed that way for a while.

    "Wolf," a raspy voice croaked, and I was up in an instant. Ibhan coughed weakly as he looked around the room.

    "I''m right here," I said, and his eyes finally landed on me. I thought I saw the briefest hint of relief on his face before he winced in pain.

    "That bastard, I''m gonna kill him," he hissed.

    "Don''t move so much, you''ll mess up the stitches," I said as I poured him some water.

    "Where is he?" He asked, still trying to get upright. I sighed and adjusted the position of his bed and handed him the water.

    "I sent him away," I said simply as he took inventory of his injuries. He looked up at me, his expression grim.

    "Still protecting him?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.

    "Don''t give me that shit," I hissed, "he was my best friend for years, years." I sat back and took a deep breath. "But when he attacked you? It didn''t matter anymore. I had my teeth on his neck," I said, meeting Ibhan¡¯s gaze, "and if he hadn''t given in I would have finished it."

    He held my gaze for a long moment, searching for something. He nodded after a long moment, running his hand over the bruises and bandages.

    "Your leg is gonna take some time to heal," I said, and he sighed, "so unfortunately you''re stuck with me." I stood up, getting ready to leave.

    "Kyda," he called, and I stopped. I hated that my heart skipped a beat when he said my name.

    "You need something?" I asked, looking back as I reached for the handle.

    "Thank you," he said quietly before he laid his head back and closed his eyes.

 8 - Recovery is a Bitch

    Three days passed and I stayed in the medic bay. They transfused more blood and fluids, while I stayed laid up in the bed. Kyda had come back with my bag and wand, and some spare clothes. My robe had apparently saved me from Matthews claws, and she had sent it for repair work to the witches who helped them enchant their clothes.

    She hung around my room quietly. She seemed on edge, but she insisted she was fine. Mostly she just sat in the chair and asked me if I needed anything. I wandered if it was guilt that kept her there. But either way, I couldn''t deny that I felt better when she was around. The mate bond was becoming harder to ignore.

    I was absently scrawling in the back of my spell book when she came in on the fourth morning. She looked at it curiously but then quickly averted her gaze.

    "They said you can get out of here today, but you still need to give your leg another week of rest at least," she said, and my shoulders sagged in relief.

    "Thank the God''s," I muttered, "I was going insane." She smiled, it was small, but it was there, and another wave of relief washed over me. Stop worrying about her wellbeing.

    "So, you still need a week of rest and the guest room at my house is available for as long as you need," she said, averting her eyes as she spoke. I was making her nervous, or was it the bond? I tried to focus on her aura, but I was too tired to tune in.

    "I''ll take you up on that," I said and turned back to my little sketch. It was just of some of the flowers I had seen in the meadow, but I liked to note down everything I saw.

    "Are you drawing?" She asked, and I looked up to see her slowly stepping closer. I studied her for a moment, she was so reserved compared to when we had first met. I sighed and handed the spell book over.

    "Don''t break it," I warned, "it''s just some sketches of the wildlife, I like to note down the new things and pictures help," I said as she traced a finger over the drawings.

    "These are really good," she said with a grin, and I felt my lips twitch upwards at the sight of her smile. "Can I?" She asked, her finger sliding under the page. I nodded and she carefully turned the page over, studying each and every detail of the sketches.

    After a few more moments, she handed the book back and sat on the edge of my bed.

    "Why''d you attack Matthew?" She asked and I frowned.

    "It wasn''t obvious?"

    "You can''t answer my question with another question," she rolled her eyes and I leant back into the pillows I had amassed over the last few days.

    "Because I didn''t like his hair," I said, and she scoffed.

    "Be serious, I want to know."

    "Why?" I asked and she narrowed her eyes at me.

    "What did I say about answering with more questions?" She huffed and I smirked. I liked it when she was a little flustered.

    "He insulted me, and then he just straight up pissed me off," I said, and she nodded slowly, seeming to slip deep into her own thoughts. "Now can I know why?"

    "Just wandering is all," she said, and she stood up. "I''ll be back in a bit to bring you over to my house, the doctors just want to give you one last check up," she said, slipping out of the door.

    As promised, I was checked over once more before I was officially discharged. The bandage on my thigh had been replaced with a much thinner and more flexible dressing. The skin was still an angry pink, but the nurse was satisfied with the progress and gave me extra bandages before she left. It wasn''t long before Kyda arrived, a wheelchair in tow.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "No," I said, and she held up a hand.

    "You are not walking anywhere, if you refuse I will leave you here," she said firmly, and I sighed. I already knew she was stubborn, fighting her would get me nowhere.

    "Fine bring it here," I asked, and she gave me a pointed look, "please." She rolled the chair around with a grin, parking by the bed.

    I swung my legs over the side of the bed and slowly attempted to stand. I hissed as my injured leg buckled, but Kyda was there in an instant. One of her hands was on my chest, the other latched onto my arm, steadying me as she led me to the wheelchair.

    "You okay?" She asked as she settled me into the chair. She met my gaze and with her this close, I could clearly see the deep shades of brown in her eyes, dark and endless.

    "Fine," I replied, reaching for my bag. I settled it in my lap before Kyda pushed us out of the room.

    "Werewolves own buggies?" I asked, eyeing the vehicle parked outside the medic bay.

    "Yes and they''re exactly for this purpose, transporting the damsels in distress," Kyda said as she stopped beside it.

    "I am not a damsel in distress," I grumbled, and she held out her hand for me.

    "Will you let me help you up?" I sighed and took her hand. It was soft and warm, and I still found myself surprised by her strength as she pulled up out of the chair. I leant into her as we shuffled the few steps to the buggy.

    Once I was in, she walked around to the other side and slipped into the driver¡¯s seat. Technology like this was rare in Raynor, mostly because it was so unnecessary, but apparently the rest of Earth required it. Bookkeeps kept us up to date with the humans and their machines while we kept to ourselves. Kyda started the buggy and we started off in the direction of her house. As we drove closer, I noticed her two brothers sitting outside. When we stopped they walked over to us, and I felt my body tense as the fight with Matthew flashed in my mind.

    "Hope you don''t mind," Kyda said, "but I''m gonna need some help getting you upstairs," she said as she waved to her brothers. Remus and Robin were almost carbon copies of their father, broad shouldered and square jawed. I sucked in a deep breath and relaxed. They were Kyda¡¯s'' brothers, not a threat.

    "Hey, man, how''s the leg?" Remus asked, opening the door on my side of the buggy.

    "Peachy," I said, and he grinned, an expression that mirrored his sisters.

    "Don''t sweat it, Robin could probably take you up the stairs alone, but I get the feeling you don''t want my kid brother to bench press you," he said, and I raised an eyebrow as I looked over at his younger brother. He was somewhat scrawny and a little more reserved than his other siblings, which was honestly a relief.

    "Is that so?" I asked and he nodded, puffing his chest a little.

    "I can even pick up Remus," he said, and I gave him an impressed nod. The kid had guts.

    "There will be no bench pressing of anyone right now," Kyda called out as she came around with my bag, "just get him upstairs in one piece please."

    Her brothers mumbled something about her being no fun as she unlocked the door ahead of us. I hooked an arm over each brothers¡¯ shoulders, letting them take most of my weight as they lead me into their house. Even though they all but carried me, I couldn''t help but groan in pain as we climbed the stairs.

    "Sorry man, we''re almost there," Remus apologised as he pulled me up another step. I nodded and focused on breathing as we finally reached the landing. From there I let them drag me into the guestroom, settling me into the bed. Remus grabbed a cloth and wiped my face where beads of sweat had begun rolling down.

    "You good?" He asked and I gave him a weak thumbs up, and that was all that the two brothers needed before they left me alone in the room. Kyda came in a few moments later with a large glass of water and a bowl of fruit. She set them down on the nightstand and looked me over.

    "You look like shit," she said honestly, and I groaned.

    "Thank you very much," I said, reaching for the glass of water.

    "Stay put," she scolded me as she swatted hand away.

    "I can pick up the glass," I told her, and she tutted, handing it to me herself.

    "You are exhausted from coming up the stairs, just stay put and let me help you. Then you can do whatever you like," she said.

    "You must be glad I''m stuck here for a few more days," I said dryly, and she shot me a sour look.

    "I would have preferred if it was of your own free will, but this''ll have to do," she said with a little shrug.

    "You could have just asked nicely," I said, and she rolled her eyes.

    "You wouldn''t have stayed, and I wouldn''t have forced you," she said, and I wandered how true that was. Would I have stayed if she asked me again?

    "Well that definitely would have made Matthew a little angrier," I pointed out and she snorted a little laugh before leaving me alone in the room.

 9 - With A Hop And A Skip

    Five long days passed with Ibhan laid up in the guest room. Remus and Robin popped in every once in a while, but he seemed content to sit by himself. I caught him playing around with the flowers in his satchel once, sorting them into piles or sketching them in his spell book. I never stayed in his room for too long though, the feelings were too much. I constantly wanted to be around him, or I found myself thinking about him when I was working or training the younger wolves.

    At night I wandered if he thought of me. Then I would kick myself for being pathetic. But I couldn''t help it, the mate bond demanded I stay close, that I know where he is and how he was all the time. When I tried to push him out of my mind, I got a headache from all the mental gymnastics it took to distract myself from him.

    "Kyda, go take your man some food," Kalina said, snapping me out of my daydream. I sighed and took the plate from her.

    "He is not my man," I reminded her and she kissed her teeth.

    "The amount of time you two have spent together? There is no way you aren''t feeling the bond yet," she said and I winced as her words hit home. "Oh, girl," she said, taking me by the shoulders, "you got it bad."

    "thanks for the support," I said, wiggling out of her grasp.

    "Talk to him, Kyda," she said, reinforcing her grip on my shoulders, "tell him."

    "Tell him what? That I know almost nothing about him other than the fact that he smells like he was made for me, and that his stupid hair is the softest thing in the world and that I need him to stay here forever?" I whispered angrily, suddenly aware of how close the guest room was.

    "Girl, you better say something or he is gonna walk on out of your life and you are gonna be the damn fool who let him get away!" she hissed back and I clenched my jaw. I hated it when she was right. I headed up the stairs before the food could get cold and knocked on the door. I was surprised to see Ibhan open it himself, leaning heavily on the frame.

    "What do you think you''re doing?" I asked. He huffed and turned to limp back into the bed.

    "I was exercising my leg," he said as he all but flopped onto the bed. I followed him into the room and set the plate on the nightstand.

    "Running a marathon tomorrow?" I asked and he shot me a sour look.

    "I have a long walk home, remember?" he said and I sucked in a deep breath.

    "Right, well, you should probably eat something then," I said and handed him the plate. I headed for the door, but stopped at the threshold.

    "What is it, wolf?" he asked and I sighed, leaving without giving him an answer.

    "Chicken," Kalina said as I came back down. I swatted her arm as she invaded my space.

    "Leave it alone, Kalina, he''s getting ready to leave and I''m not going to stand in his way. He should stay because he wants to." We stood facing each other for a long moment. I could feel her concern and her need to help through our bond. She only wanted to see me happy, and while I appreciated that, I wasn''t about to force someone to stay in my life.

    "I love you, " I said quietly, hugging her close to me. She wrapped me up in her arms and I let her hold me, gently swaying.

    "It''ll be okay," she assured me and I nodded. Letting go, I left the house and headed for the northern border of the woods where a coven of witches lived. I liked to visit the witches from time to time, they always had gossip from the citadel to share, and they made the most amazing tea. I shifted into my fur and ran, working off some of the tension as I quickly covered the distance.

    It wasn''t long before I reached the Thornwood territory. The woods here were not as heavily infused with magic as the Heavenly Thicket, serving more as a boundary between the pack and the rest of Raynor. I like that it was here, encircling us and keeping us tucked away like a safe haven. Nestled amongst the trees where small cottages and huts, each one brimming with flowers and the most intoxicating smells you could imagine, because naturally, almost all the witches here were of the garden type.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    I shifted back into my skin as I approached, and a head of messy blonde curls immediately popped out of the closest hut.

    "Kyda, my darling!" Imogen cooed. Her eyes were vibrant with energy as she looked me over before pulling me into a hug.

    "Always good to see you too, Imy," I said as I hugged her back. Witches, like wolves, were very contact friendly people for the most part.

    "Oh, do come in darling, I''ve got a new tea recipe brewing," she said excitedly, practically bouncing.

    "I really shouldn''t stay," I said, "but I can always come by another time," I reassured her as she pouted.

    "You wolves, always moving so quickly," she tutted and turned back to her home. "Come on, I know what you''re here for," she called over her shoulder and I followed her into her cottage.

    The cottage was small but overflowing with flowers and herbs and warmth. I loved coming here, it was like a whole other world. Three pots were bubbling away on the stove, and several small birds chattered in the rafters above us. Imogen sauntered over to a tall, crooked closet And rifled around inside as I drifted over to a fresh batch of flowers.

    "How''s it going with that warlock of yours anyway, hm?" She called out from the depths of her mess.

    "He''s leaving," I said and she stopped digging for a moment and turned back to me.

    "You know, I have a love potion that can fix that. I''d give it to you for free too," she said wiggling her brows.

    "Thank you, Imy, but I don''t want to force it. If he''s going, so be it," I said and she gave me a sad smile.

    "But you''ve waited so long," she said as she finally found what she was looking for. Ibhans robe had been torn badly in his fight but Imogen had done an excellent job repairing it. You couldn''t even see where it had ripped from.

    "I can wait a while longer," I said as I took the robe from her. It was heavy and warm, the fabric soft in my hands.

    "Well, if you change your mind, darling, you know where I am," she said, hugging me once again, slightly suffocating me in her curls.

    I thanked her and turned to leave, but those flowers caught my eye again. They were large and white, the petals looking almost like they were made of crystals. "Hey what are these flowers, I don''t think I''ve ever seen them before," I asked Imogen and she lit up at the chance to talk again.

    "Ooh, these are from the silver lace trees, terribly hard to come by," she said as she gently lifted one from the pile. "Give me your hand," she placed the flower in my palm and I gasped as my skin cooled from its touch.

    "Why is it cold?" I asked and she giggled excitedly.

    "Silver lace trees bloom spontaneously, and their flowers nectar has incredible healing properties, if you can brace the cold of the tree to pick them," she said and I smiled as I admired the flower.

    "It''s so pretty," I lifted my hand back to Imogen so she could take it but she shook her head.

    "On the house, darling, off you go," she said, pushing me out the door before I could argue.

    "Thank you!" I called through the window before I started walking home. I didn''t shift this time, I hadn''t brought a satchel with and I didn''t want to risk losing the flower.

    Eventually, when I reached home, I sighed heavily, suddenly remembering that I also had to give Ibhan his robe.

    I walked up the stairs with a heavy heart but shook myself out of it before I entered his room. I deserved a better chance than the one he had given me.

    "Hey," I said loudly as I opened his room door.

    "You''re back," he said dryly, until his eyes landed on what I was carrying. "Is that my robe?" He asked, sitting up a little straighter.

    "Mhm, and I got you a little something else." I sat on the edge of his bed and held up my palm, the silver lace blossom shimmering in the light from the window.

    "Is that what I think it is?" He said as he focused on the flower.

    "One silver lace blossom, from a very cold silver lace tree," I said, watching how his attention never wavered.

    "How did you get it?" He asked and I smiled coyly.

    "Ah, I can''t tell you that now, can I?" He narrowed his eyes at me and I handed him his robe.

    "You can have the flower," I said and he looked up from inspecting his robe, his expression a little bewildered, "on one condition."

    "Of course," he sighed, "what would you like, a song?"

    "No, I want you to be honest with me," I said and he sighed.

    "Wolf, I already told you, I''m leaving, there really is no point in prolonging this anymore," he said and I clicked my tongue, leaning back from him.

    "That''s a shame," I said softly, "I heard this flower is pretty good for healing things, and we both know that leg can''t get you home in one peice."

    He chuckled and I couldn''t help but stop and watch. The sound was deep and rough, and his smile was wide as he looked at me, head cocked to the side.

    "You''ve got bite, wolf," he admitted.

    "Of course I do," I said, sitting up. "Now, do we have a deal?" He eyed the flower once more and sighed, leaning back against the headboard.

    "Fine, we have a deal."

 10 - Dirty Little Secret

    I knew I would regret it as soon as I agreed to the deal, but Kyda was right. Even though I had rested my leg as much as possible, getting home would be torture. Unless I had that flower. The healing properties of the silver lace blossom were well known amongst most mages, and it was also almost entirely unattainable.

    "Okay, well, is there anything you are willing to share without me having to pry?" Kyda asked and I narrowed my eyes.

    "I dont like how you worded that, wolf, what answers are you looking for?"

    She grinned a little sheepishly and sat up. I was still somewhat surprised by how she struck up the deal. I didnt think someone like her, so bright and shiny, was capable of trapping someone into a deal. Even if it was just over a flower.

    "First of all," she started, "I want to know what on earth possessed you to attack Matthew. I know he was being an asshole, but an all out brawl? There has to be more to it," she said, very matter of factly, too. She had been giving this some thought. So had I.

    "I don''t know," I said simply, "haven''t you ever just met someone who gets under your skin?" I asked and she gave me a pointed look. "Me? No, wolf, I don''t get under your skin, I''m already deep in your soul," I said and she turned her face away. I clenched my hands into fists as I felt heat rush up to my face, realising what I had just said.

    "You''re not getting this flower," she said after a moment.

    "Fine," I sighed, eyeing the delicate crystal petals in her hand. "I was one hundred percent ready to go home that day, I was ready to go," I paused, clearing my throat awkwardly.

    "But?" she prompted, her face serious, an expression I wasn''t quite used to from her.

    "But, when Matthew said that thing, that I wouldn''t have been able to care for you anyway, it rubbed me the wrong way," I said.

    "Why?"

    "Enough questions, wolf-" I stopped as she stood and stepped towards the door. "You wolves, your bonds are strong. Your species is one of the most tightly bound in Raynor. You are fiercely protective of each other. But you think it is the only way to show love, to be loud and unforgivingly present all the time, every day."

    "So you leaving was a sign of love?" she asked, confused as she played with the edge of the flower.

    "Me leaving was a sign of mercy. The attraction felt over a bond can be fatally strong and ours was already starting. I wanted to go before it affected you too. I can deal with the isolation. It would break you."

    "I already feel it," she said softly, finally meeting my eyes. "I''ve felt it since after the first day I met you. Taking you to practice, to the pond, it was enough. I waited a long time to find my mate, I was ready to embrace you however you were," she said. "Sitting by you in the hospital was hell, I felt like a part of me was dying."

    "I didn''t know," I said stupidly.

    "Of course you wouldn''t," she laughed, "you''re not exactly the type to ask a girl how she''s feeling now, are you?" she asked. There was a smile on her face, but a sadness in her eyes.

    "Kyda, I--"

    "Don''t," she held up a hand and stopped me. stepping forward, she placed the little flower in my lap and turned to leave the room. "Now, I''m showing myself mercy, and I''m letting you go."Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    *****************************

    For the longest time, I sat staring at the silver lace blossom. Its petals glittered gently in the light of the setting sun. I traced my fingers along the edges of the petals, just as Kyda had been doing. I thought about what she had said. The bond seemed to be as strong for her as it was for me. What was I supposed to do about it? Was I supposed to accept her as my mate and stay? Or would she come with me? Would my parents even accept a werewolf?

    "Stop it, Ibhan, she said shes letting you go," I said sternly to myself through gritted teeth. I had an apprenticeship to complete.

    I flipped open my spell book. The first half was mostly common knowledge things my parents passed down to me. I had an entire section on rare flowers. It took me a few minutes, but eventually I found the passage on the silver lace blossom.

    Silver lace trees grow over the ground where large amounts of love andagic are infused. This combination gives the flowers incredible healing properties. Chewing one petal of a silver lace blossom can rapidly speed up the healing process.

    I had scrawled these notes a long time ago, and I vaguely remembered the lesson with my mother on plants. Later my dad had shown me his collection and I was fascinated by it. Closing the book I picked up the flower, turning it gently in my hands.

    Carefully, I pinched one of the petals and firmly pulled it off. It made a small snapping sound and I placed the petal ony tongue. Goosebumps erupted across the skin, travelling down my neck and across my chest. I chewed the petal and it melted in my mouth, dissolving as I did. I tipped my head back and closed my eyes. The petal had been flavourless but the after taste was sweet, like I had had a spoon of sugar. Eventually the cold faded and I opened my eyes. I grabbed my satchel and carefully placed the rest of the blossom inside.

    I moved over to sit on the edge of the bed and rolled up my trouser leg as high as it would go. I watched in fascination as the angry pink skin quickly faded to a lighter shade. I flexed my leg outwards and felt only the smallest bit of resistance. I stood up and slowly walked towards the door. The fiesta of the flower were powerful. The walk that had made me sweat this morning was now nothing. I would be home in no time.

    I turned and picked up my robe, slipping into it. I relaxed as its comforting weight settled over me and tied it in the front. I tucked my spell book into the inner pocket and ran my hands down the fabric. Whoever she had taken it to had done a good job. I grabbed my satchel and slung it over my shoulder, I needed to get outside.

    The house seemed quiet when I left my room, but you never could be too careful with werewolves. For such large creatures, they were notoriously light on their feet. I stepped outside for the first time in a week and sucked in a deep breath. A gentle breeze stirred my hair and I lifted my hood back over my head.

    I didn''t really know what I wanted to do. I had been waiting all week to get out of here and go home, but Kydas face kept popping up in my mind. The look on her face before she left my room, how defeated she looked. I huffed and adjusted the strap of my satchel and started slowly walking towards the forest. Maybe it would be best if I was to disappear right now, let her be.

    As I waded through someone the longer grass, I heard laughter. Curious, I turned my head to see Kyda with a group of werewolves, half shifted and half not. She laughed loudly as she pushed off a smaller wolf, the pup rolling dramatically away. I felt a smile tug at my lips as I watched and before I realised what I was doing, I was walking towards her.

    As I approached, I noticed some of the wolves backed off. They were whispering and eyeing me strangely. I ignored them and headed straight to Kyda. She was still seated in the grass, looking up at me with wide eyes.

    "I guess the blossom worked," she said, looking me over.

    I held out a hand for her and she hesitated. I waited until she finally placed her hand in mine. It was warm and soft and I let myself, for the first time since I met her, delight in the contact between us. I gripped her hand firmly and pulled her up to her feet.

    "Come with me," I said.

    "What?"

    "Come with me," I repeated, "come home with me."

    "Ibhan, are you serious?" She asked "a few hours ago you were ready to leave, now you want me to go with?"

    "I''ve seen your way of life, I want you to come and see mine. I want you to know me, before you let me go," I said and I saw hope rekindle in her eyes. I tapped in to her aura and it was vibrant, the edges of it shimmering with yellow.

    "You really want me to come with you?" She asked, suddenly nervous. I was still holding her hand, and I squeezed it gently, feeling little sparks travel across my palm.

    "Say yes, Kyda."

 11 - Change Of Plans

    "Say yes, Kyda," Ibhan said. He held my hand tightly in his and I looked down at how well they fit. He had never voluntarily held on to me this way. An ache in my body felt alleviated as I looked back at him. He was nervous, but watching my intently, waiting.

    "Yes," I whispered and he stepped closer.

    "Come on, wolf, say it like you mean it," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. I laughed as my mind was finally soothed that he was serious.

    "Yes, Ibhan, yes," I said with more force, "I''ll go with you."

    "I''m glad," he said, his expression was soft and I realised that this was probably the happiest I had seen him since I found him.

    "I have to go home first," I said and he hesitated, but nodded. I turned and saw that the wolves I had been with were slowly retreating. They were whispering amongst themselves, low enough that even I couldn''t hear them, none of them meeting my eyes. I shook off the unsettling feeling that gave me and started walking back home. I didn''t let go of Ibhan''s hand, and he also didn''t complain, and I accepted the small victory. If he was willing to show me his life, maybe this working out would be more than a wish or a dream. I finally let go of him as we reached home and I walked up to my room. He trailed behind and leant against the door frame as I flung open my wardrobe.

    "How long are we going for?" I asked as I eyed my various duffle bags.

    "Oh, I have no idea," Ibhan said, scratching at the back of his neck.

    "Okay," I said with a small smile. I didn''t want to freak him out and make him change his mind, so I got a mid sized bag that could hold about 3 outfits in it.

    "Kyda!" Kalina called as the front door slammed open.

    "Bedroom!" I called back. Ibhan stepped in and out of the way as my sister came barrelling up the stairs, 3 pups in her arms that she promptly dumped onto the bed.

    "I came as soon as I heard, you''re going to Ravenvein?" She asked, looking between Ibhan and I.

    "Yeah, I am," I said, grabbing her shoulders and forcing her to slow down. "Ibhan wants to show me around." She gave me a loaded look. Confusion, panic, and relief all passed between us, her feelings speaking volumes as she studied me.

    "Our parents are gonna freak out," she said and I froze.

    "Oh, shit."

    "Oh, shit, indeed," said another voice. I turned to see my father had silently appeared at door to my room; and I could sense my mother not far behind his large frame. I looked over to Ibhan who had inched closer to the bed, seemingly concerned with how close the pups were to the edge. At the sound of my father''s voice he turned and stood up straighter.

    "Dad, I want to go to Ravenvein with Ibhan," I said, letting go of Kalina and walking towards him.

    "Ravenvein is uncharted territory," he said in a measured tone.

    "I know, dad, but--"

    "I wouldn''t let her wander off on her own," Ibhan said, suddenly, "I know what she''s like."

    "Look, warlock, I know her better than you," he said and my jaw almost dropped. Never had my father spoke to someone that way.

    "Dad, I can take care of myself," I argued and he turned to me.

    "Kyda, you saw what his magic can do. You saw what he did to Matthew, you saw the way the whole world went dark," he said.

    "He was defending himself," I said incredulously.

    "That''s my point!" He said loudly and I stepped back. "Kyda, you have no idea what warlocks are capable of and I am not letting you go there."

    "This is ridiculous, he''s my mate for a reason dad, you can''t stop me," I said, "Where is all of this coming from?" but he ignored me and clenched his jaw tightly, turning to Ibhan.

    "Gather your things and leave, now, I''m sending a patrol out in 30 minutes for your ass if you''re not off the pack lands."

    "Dad!"

    "Enough! You are my child and I say you cannot go with him!" He yelled.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Ibhan looked to me, his face blank and unreadable. My chest ached as my head swam with too many thoughts for me to make sense of.

    "Kyda," Ibhan said flatly, "are you coming with me?"

    "Kyda," my dad butted in. I looked back to him, and he held out a hand for me. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, and his voice wavered. My dad was a soft man, yelling was not something he did often. "Love, please, I can''t let you go there, it''s not safe."

    "I am getting tired of you wolves assuming I won''t be able to look after her," Ibhan said through gritted teeth.

    "Ibhan, please, he didn''t mean that he''s just worried," I said and he scoffed.

    "Don''t worry about it, stay here and hold your father''s hand, Kyda, I''m going home."

    "Wait!" I said as he left my room. I followed him down the stairs where outside more wolves had gathered.

    "What is going on?" Kalina asked as she came out behind me.

    "We were worried," one wolf said, "about Kyda. She shouldn''t go to Ravenvein, it''s too dangerous."

    "So this is where the concern came from. What, you''re all here to stop me?" I asked, meeting each wolfs gaze.

    "Just perfect," Ibhan muttered, reaching into his sleeve.

    "Hey! Watch it, warlock," another wolf yelled. I stepped in front of Ibhan and eyed the crowd.

    "No one touches him," I said slowly, "or I will intervene."

    "Kyda, we can''t let you go with him, you''re family and he''s just a stranger," the first wolf said. I vaguely recognised him from training.

    "Have you all forgotten the concepts of mates?" Kalina asked, and in that moment I loved my sister more than anything.

    "We''re not letting you go, love, its too dangerous. We will bring you back," my  dad said. I turned to Ibhan, his grip tight on his wand. He met my eyes and nodded slowly, stepping away from me.

    "Kyda, don''t do it," Kalina said, frantic as she watched, "dad you can''t do this you know what effect it will have on her!"

    "It''s for the best," my dad said firmly.

    "That''s right" another wolf yelled and I growled lowly. My mind was racing with thoughts and ideas. I could run, but it was me against a dozen wolves at least. I let my eyes wander to Ibhan and I felt my heart break a little more.

    "Let him go," I said quietly, "just let him get home."

    "He really ought to be punished first," someone said, "he hurt Matthew." I snapped, pushing through the crowd and grabbing the wolf by his shirt.

    "Don''t get involved in problems that are not yours," I said and he smirked.

    "Get him!" He yelled and the wolves lunged at Ibhan.

    "Run!" I screamed and Ibhan took off at  dead sprint. I took off after him, pushing aside the wolves who were hot on his tail.

    "Remus, Robin, I need you," I called my brothers over the pack bond and they responded instantly. I looked to my right to see Kalina drag a wolf back by his collar and I shifted mid run. I got ahead of the crowd, and for a moment I ran beside Ibhan, urging him along.

    I whipped around and snarled loudly, the wolves slowing. Some tried to push past me but I snapped my jaws viciously in their direction. Remus and Robin were close behind, Remus taking up position beside me as Robin shifted to catch up with Ibhan, guiding him through the forest.

    "Don''t make me fight you, please," I called out over the pack bond.

    "How could you forget Matthew so quickly?" The wolf who had provoked the attack. "Matthew is my cousin, my blood!"

    "Ibhan is my mate!" I told him but he just rolled his eyes.

    "He doesn''t want you, or he wouldn''t be running right now," he said and I lunged forward. He staggered backwards and bared his teeth. I snapped at him once more and he leapt forward, shifting as he did. One of the other wolves took the opportunity to push me aside and he leapt over me.

    "Kyda!" Remus yelled as Matthews cousin got away. He held back the other wolves and gave me a firm nod. He was good here.

    I took a deep breath and headed after him. My paws thundered against the dirt as I chased him down, trying not to let my mind focus on what could happen if he got to Ibhan first. I leapt off of a small boulder, using the leverage to scratch at his hind legs.

    He snapped his jaws at me, slowing as the cuts smarted. He turned to swipe at me and I noticed Ibhan and Robin just a few feet ahead. I pounced on the wolf and growled, hoping he would take his last chance to submit. He swiped at my snout with his paw, claws extended. I hissed as I jerked back, narrowly saving my eye. He took that chance to push up against my chest with full force, toppling me over. He was up in am instant, hot on Ibhan''s heels.

    I hit my head heavily on the ground and shakily got to my legs. I shook off the dizziness, and started running, almost blind in Ibhan''s direction. I heard the familiar growl of my little brother and followed it as my vision cleared. He stood between Ibhan and Matthews cousin, teeth bared and stance firm. I couldn''t help but feel pride swell in chest as I watched him hold his own.

    But I saw how the offended wolf paced. He was getting ready to pounce. I crept closer, lowering myself and getting ready for just the right moment. As soon as he lunged forward, I sprung up from the bushes, slamming into his body with all my force. He smashed into a nearby tree with a sickening crunch, and he lay there whimpering.

    "Robin, go home, tell the medics he''s here," I said to my little brother and he dipped his head in acknowledgement and left.

    "Oh, wolf," Ibhan said wearily, leaning against a tree. "What did we get ourselves into?"

    I was too pumped with adrenaline to shift back, so I butted my head gently against his side, pushing him on his way.

    "I know, I know," he said, running a hand over my head, "I''m going," he said quietly. He took my about in his hands, making me meet his eyes. Sweat ran over his face, his features hardened and strict.

    "I am going home," he said, "and you have to stay. Don''t argue with me, wolf," he said sternly, "I know you like to be funny." He scratched under my chin and I huffed a gentle breath in his face. My wars perked up as I heard wolves getting closer to us once again. Noticing the change in my attention, Ibhan stood up.

    "You weren''t so bad, wolf," he said with a little smirk, "just a tad too needy." And with that, he turned and sprinted off into the woods. I felt my connection to him then, stretch thinly between us as we separated, and I lay down on the ground, wishing I was anywhere else.

 12 - Here I Go On A Walk Again

    I ran hard for as long as I could, branches and leaves slapping at my face and hands as I pushed through blindly. At one point, I slid off the embankment into a small stream. I clumsily splashed through and clambered out the other side, determined not to let it slow me. I had to put as much distance between myself and those crazed wolves as I could.

    Eventually, the scenery began to change, the flowers more coloured and their shapes more wild. I had reached the Heavenly Thicket. I let myself slow to a walk, but my body was exhausted and as the adrenaline high quickly dropped off, I staggered against a nearby tree. I slid down along the trunk and sat on the floor, squishing several types of flowers beneath me.

    "Shit and shadows," I hissed as I assessed the dirt I was covered in. I had just got this robe back. I let out a shaky breath and leant my head back against the tree. I felt a lump well up in my throat and tried my best to swallow it. But as I did, the sadness was easily replaced with anger, something I was happy enough to welcome.

    I had stuck my neck out and asked her to come with me. It was the most vulnerable I had ever felt in my life. And she said yes. She said yes and still, I was going home alone. I cursed Matthew and his existence for complicating everything since he had arrived. But I was also angry at Kyda, and maybe I didn''t have any right to be, but I was disappointed that for someone who had wanted me to stay so bad, she had let me get away.

    "On your way now, Ibhan," I muttered, dusting off some of the dried dirt from my robe, "get on with it." I pulled myself up, thankful that I had gotten the silver lace blossom when I did, or I would have been in a whole new world of pain.

    I weaved my way through the Heavenly Thicket, picking the occasional berry to eat, or flower to study. Gradually, the trees thinned as the forest made way for some large green mountains. Too tired for climbing, I found a small hollow in the base of one of the hills and decided to set up camp there.

    I had picked some large fruit at the edge of the forest and smacked on them as the sun set behind the hills. I was exhausted but also deeply torn. I had wanted Kyda to come with me, I truly wanted her to be here. I wandered what it would be like. She probably would demand we have another conversation about our feelings. As reluctant as I was to share, I was always a little glad she made me do it.

    "If you keep this up, Ibhan, you''re gonna become a mess real soon," I scolded myself as I threw the core of my fruit into a nearby bush. We were imprinted on each other, I could feel the discomfort over our distance even now. I needed to push thoughts of her aside, find a new focus and forget her.

    I turned to my spell book and flipped back to the pages on the silver lace blossom and scrawled some notes in the margin.

    The effects of the silver lace blossom are almost instantaneous, providing instant relief and exceptionally fast healing.

    I snapped the book shut quickly as memories pressed against my mind. This was going to be more difficult that anticipated. I decided that I had done enough for the day and put the book away. I opened the front of my robe, keeping my satchel slung across my body, and lay back in the little burrow. I was a warlock, I was entirely capable of forgetting one little wolf, who I had only just begun to tolerate.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ****************

    I woke up early the next morning as the sun poured over the hill tops. Sleeping in the guest room for so long had spoilt me, and I felt sore as I got off of the floor. I stretched and rolled my joints, preparing myself to get around the hills. they overlapped in little valleys that would take less time and effort to cross than climbing an entire hill. Anything to put more distance between me and some still pissed off wolves was better than nothing.

    I trudged along and twirled my wand between my fingers. I didnt get to practice shadow magic that abrasive like what I had used on Matthew so often. It had been exhilarating to let go but also frightening. Commanding shadows was delicate work, and it was rough magic like that that led to insanity. It was magic like this that made warlocks lose their sanity in the valley of Kegsus. I sighed and tucked the wand away, it wasnt like I was planning to run into some more wolves anytime soon, I just wanted to get home.

    After an entire day of trudging through the mountains, I made it to the field of the fae. Whilst most of the fae actually lived back in the Heavenly Thicket, the field of the fae was also densely packed with magic plants, without the more mellow forest that grew alongside. The plants were just as ridiculous and varied, flowers taller than me and shrubbery that clambered across the grounds. I liked it here. Plants were uncomplicated, and whilst most warlocks were not so interested in spells and potions, I had liked to learn about them as a child. How something so small and pretty could affect people in such large ways.

    I did my best to refrain from picking more flowers, I had picked plenty beforehand, and I my satchel was filled to the top with various petals and cuttings. Halfway through the field, I made camp again for the night, taking care not to disturb any hugging vines, or midnight bells, little black mushrooms that enticed nightmares so real they were thought to kill in extreme cases.

    Another day of walking brang me to Embergrave. Embergrave was one of the oldest mixed community settlements, and was the largest. I wandered through Embergrave city, trading a few rare plants for some hot bread and a bowl of rassle-flower stew. I made it through the city and over to Glass town, named that way for its proximity to the crystal cove. It was largely inhabited by crystal witches and merchants, with travellers being robbed rotten for little crystal charms.

    I pushed through the crowds to the harbour, walking up to the more armoured and battered vessels. Those would be going my way.

    "To Ravenvein?" I called out to a large burly man, lugging a box of crystals onto his ship.

    "Who wants to know?" he asked gruffly, but when he turned and saw me, he laughed. "Lost son?" he asked and I sighed.

    "I just need to get home, are you going?" I asked and he nodded, wiping sweat off his head with a dirty rag.

    "I''m going, but I don''t take passengers for free," he said with a grin.

    "Of course you don''t," I muttered, "what do you want?"

    "Something pretty," he said, eyeing my satchel. I sighed and opened up the bag. Without taking out the whole flower, I took off three petals from the silver lace blossom.

    "Three petals from the silver lace blossom," I said holding them up. I saw the surprise flash across his face before he masked it it quickly and sniffed.

    "And?"

    "And what, old man, you haven''t had a plant like this on your hands in the last ten years for sure," I said and he huffed.

    "Fine, you scrawny brat, get yourself on board, we leave in an hour, no bed guaranteed. We''ll be at Ravenvein in three nights," he said waving me up onto the ship. I placed the cool petals in his palm, not missing the little gasp as he felt the ice seep in.

    "Thank you," I said and he cackled, still cradling the petals gently.

    "Stupid boy, I would have taken you on for one of these!" he yelled and I smirked. I knew what he would be like.

    "Well then I guess you owe me," I told him as I headed below the deck, not waiting to here him excuse his way out of any favours.