Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 162: Until the next moon

"Crossbreeding isn’t something new for us wolf folk," he said, "We’ve tried with ghouls and witches too, but humans yield better results even better than pure breeding," seeing the expression on her, Cynric sighed, "I see that look right on you. You’re thinking to yourself that it doesn’t make any sense but go figure. I suppose, nature does what nature wants," the Alpha took a deep breath and studied her face again, "You will make an amazing mother," he nodded while affirming.

"How would you know?" Arabella struggled to mutter those words.

"You’ll have to be!" his traits somewhat twisted before hardening in place, the soft outlook he’d donned until then completely gone.

The sudden way in which he’d hissed that statement caused her to flinch, her hand darting up to wrap around her pendant for comfort as per her usual. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Cynric took note of her action and commented on it, "That won’t do out here. You’ll need to get rid of it,"

With one of his own hands, he reached for the necklace, but that was when she doubled down, clasping her second hand around the first and turning away despite the searing pain that shot up her neck due to her head being locked in place.

The Alpha’s eyes captured an expression they had yet to witness on Arabella. Her own irises soldered on his, void of any and all fear they held before as her features cemented a firm look full of resolve.

"Unhand it," he ordered, "Wolf folk never wear jewelry,"

He grasped her hand, but she yanked it, pulling away harder with very little care for her neck which might have easily snapped under his grip.

"It’s my mother’s!" her voice still cracked but her words were crystal clear, "And I am no wolf woman,"

In reply, and contrary to what the young woman expected, Cynric did not grow angrier or more violent. In fact, the total opposite happened as his traits mellowed a tad.

"Fair enough then," there was a sort of feeble grin that adorned his features, "You are not a wolf woman yet," he put emphasis on "yet" after taking his hand off hers, "But just because you won’t howl at the moon with us, that will mean in no way that you are any less a wolf woman. You’ll still be one of us very soon. You better make peace with that,"

Being reminded of her fate sucked the fierceness that had suddenly overcome her, draining little by little until nothing but never-ending dread remained.

"You know, the more I look at you, the more I regret giving my word," he drew closer again, "I never was a patient creature," he shook his head, eyes deep into her own, "Perhaps... We could...," he leaned in, caressing more of her face.

"But you did give your word out,"

A stern, yet warm voice emanated from behind him as Cherreka stood carrying a small basket in hand.

"What do you want, old hag? Can’t you see your Alpha is busy?" head halfway turned, he glared in her direction, all the traces of warmth escaping his features.

"I wiped the snot off your nose, boy. Don’t you give me that tone!" she walked towards them.

"Perhaps I should rip that tongue out of your head to set an example for the rest," he growled while still holding Arabella.

"Or perhaps you could get out of my way so that I can tend to her wounds. Do that before you break her jaws too, how about that?"

In the heat of the moment, Cynric hadn’t even noticed how Arabella winced in pain in his hold. His fingers dug deeper into her flesh, gradually pressing on her jaw bones.

The Alpha whisked his hand right that second and stood up at once watching as the young woman brought her own hands to massage the sore spots he left behind.

"Honestly, a new brain is what you are in need of, not an example, boy," Cherreka knelt before Arabella, placing the herb basket by her feet.

"Keep calling me boy, wrinkle bag and see how much patience I still have for your shenanigans,"

Eventually, Cynric resigned to leaving Arabella in the caring hands of Cherreka. The first action she took was to rip the fabric of the pants apart in order to better reveal the cut on her calf.

"Don’t be afraid, please," the old woman decided to reassure her considering the manner in which she recoiled, "I’ve been using these herbs on myself for nearly a century now and never suffered for it. At worst, they’ll sting a bit and then it’ll be over,"

Arabella clamped up completely, still clutching at her pendant while only staring at the content of the basket. There was a tuft of green then a red one next to it, a tangled, bushy mess of small blue leaves and a grinded thin powder.

The process did indeed sting, but Arabella did not complain a single time.

"The blue herb is necessary to clean the wound and is very effective at that whereas the green and red one must be crushed tog-"

"What will become of me?"

Arabella had mumbled those words so meekly, it’d sounded like she declared defeat.

"Oh... Well," Cherreka settled the herbs back down and sighed, "First, you will be marked by the Alpha. I won’t lie to you, that part will hurt. Even more so since you are human, but the pain can be dealt with. After that he’ll wait until the next moon rises for the bite to take effect before... Mating you,"

"I really don’t want to stay. I really don’t want all of that to happen," she shook her head. A small glint lit up in her eyes, prompting her to reach for Cherreka’s hand, "Would you please help me leave? Please," she begged.

With her second hand, Cherreka patted Arabella gently, "I practically raised Cynric and that bond between us might as well be the only reason he does not strike me dead for speaking to him the way I did, so don’t be fooled. That is as much as his courtesy with me will extend," the wolf woman took the green and red herbs then began mushing them together, "Choosing a mate is a very sacred matter among us wolf folk. No one in their right mind would dare interfere with it. Especially since he is the Alpha. It would mean a direct act of treason and a figurative spit in the face,"

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