Chapter 4

"guest."

Rowan's face darkened.

"Do I need to explain to you that I'm accommodating a guest in my own home?"

Finn glanced at his hand, which was still around Lydia's.

"The person you need to explain to is not me."

Rowan's jaw tightened, and he forced out a low growl.

I took a step forward.

"Finn, I can handle this. You can go back now."

He looked at me, and only after I nodded did he put away the map and leave.

Rowan stared at his retreating figure, his voice cold and hard.

“There are no problems between my partner and me that he mentioned.”

Lydia then gently struggled.

"It's my fault."

She straightened up, holding onto his arm, her eyes gradually reddening.

"I was only thinking about my own fear and forgot that this is where you and Clara live. I should go back to the East Wing. I can't let you two have a fight because of me."

She had just turned around when Rowan grabbed her.

"Since I've agreed to let you stay, I won't kick you out."

"But Clara..."

"She won't make things difficult for you."

He answered for me before turning to look at me.

"It's just a short stay. You won't mind, will you?"

I watched him take Lydia's hand.

He has already made his promise and comforted her. Now that he's asking me, there's only one answer he's willing to hear.

"Your guests, you take care of them."

Rowan paused for a moment, then his expression softened.

"Of course, I won't make you feel uncomfortable."

I didn't say anything more and walked up the stone steps alone.

Behind her, Lydia whispered that she was cold.

Rowan immediately took off his cloak and wrapped her in his arms.

When I woke up the next day, the other side of the bed was already cold.

I heard hushed voices coming from next door.

I got dressed and went out of the room, and saw Rowan squatting in front of Lydia, loosening her boot laces.

There was a ring of red marks around her ankle from being strapped in.

"You weren't feeling well last night, why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought I could just bear it."

"If you feel unwell in the future, just say so. You don't have to endure it."

He told her to put her feet on the cushion and got up to find another pair of shoes.

I stood at the doorway, my fingers slowly tightening.

I haven't heard him say those words to me in a long time.

Hurried footsteps echoed down the stairs.

Irving caught up, his face grim.

"Luna, something happened at the river mouth. The patrolmen who escorted the tribesmen back to the village last night did not return. The villagers went out to search for them after dawn and found bloodstains in the river bend."

I immediately turned around.

"Where are the people who filled in for the previous ones?"

"Not yet."

Rowan also came out of the room.

After listening to Owen's words, he frowned: "Take two people to check it out first. Clara knows the river well, let her guide you."

I looked at him.

He added, "I'll be there shortly."

Lydia reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

"Rowan..."

He turned around and helped her up: "Sit down first, don't walk by yourself."

I didn't wait any longer.

“Owen, take the ropes and blankets. Have someone inform May that there may be wounded.”

When we arrived at the river mouth, the morning fog had not yet dissipated.

The guards who were supposed to patrol the river and clear out the traps were sent to retrieve something for Lydia and haven't returned yet.

I transformed into a wolf and searched for bloodstains along the riverbank. Owen and two others followed behind, using their spears to push aside the dead branches obscuring the path.

We found the missing person below the river bend.

The patrolman, his leg injured in a trap set by an animal, leaned against the rock face. The mother and child he was escorting, too afraid to cross the forest alone, stayed with him there all night.

The child huddled in his mother's arms, his lips white from the cold.

Irving pried open the bear trap and helped the wounded man to his feet. I walked back the way we came, looking for a place for them to rest.

While crossing a narrow, rocky slope, the child slipped.

His mother reached out to pull him, but couldn't get a hold of him.

I lunged forward and used my shoulder to push him back down the rocky slope, but my left front paw stepped into the dry grass next to me.

The metal suddenly closed up.

A sharp pain shot up my front leg, and I collapsed to the ground with a scream I couldn't suppress.

"Don't move!"

Irving lunged forward, parted the dry grass, and his expression changed instantly.

The teeth of the animal trap are inlaid with silver.

A burning pain pierced my bones in waves. My instinct was to break free, but the place where I was being held was so painful that my vision went black.

Irving held my shoulder down, and the other two people helped to open the clamp.

By the time those rows of teeth finally loosened, I didn't even have the strength to stand up.

After regaining human form, the wound lay across his left wrist, and blood dripped down his fingers.

Irving took off his coat and wrapped it around my arm.

"I'll take you back first."

I looked up and glanced at the road I had come from.

The only traces left in the woods were our footprints.

Rowan did not come.

When I returned to Mei, my sleeves were soaked with blood.

She cut open the cuff and saw the wound. Her face darkened, but she didn't ask any questions. She immediately ordered someone to boil water and fetch a clean cloth.

The medicine was brought to my lips, and I drank a few sips, but my hands still trembled uncontrollably.

“The bones aren’t broken.” Mei held my uninjured hand. “But it’s a silver wound, and it’ll heal slowly. Don’t use your left hand these days, and definitely don’t turn back into wolf form to travel.”

I nodded, rested my forehead on her shoulder, and finally, tears fell.

When she cleaned my wound, I tensed up in pain, and several times I wanted to pull my hand away, but I gritted my teeth and stopped.

"Tell me if it hurts," Mei said softly. "You don't have to bear it."

I heard the same thing next door this morning.

I closed my eyes, but the tears just kept falling.

After our wounds were treated, the guard who was supposed to return to the stone fortress to deliver the message arrived.

He stood by the door, remaining silent for a long time.

May looked up: "Where's Rowan?"

"Alpha asked if Luna's life was in danger. I told him, as you said, that the bleeding had stopped."

"Then what?"

The guard glanced at me.

"The group that went to the old house has returned. Miss Lydia saw the things her mother left behind and kept crying. Alpha said... he'll stay with her for now and come see Luna later."

The room fell silent.

I looked down at my bandaged hand.

A few days ago, I reminded him that the guards at the river mouth could not be transferred.

He said he would only be there for two days.

This morning, he told me to go and rescue people first.

He said he would be there shortly.

Now he knows I'm injured.

He added that he would come later.

Mei gripped my hand tightly and turned to ask the guard to make another trip.

"No."

My voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible.

"Let him go and rest."

After the guard left, Mei wiped the cold sweat from my forehead and raised the pillow so I could lean back more comfortably.

"Stay with me tonight."

"good."

I looked out the window at the mountain road leading to the stone fortress, and after a moment, I spoke again.

"May, please tell Finn to move that horse to the carriage."

Her hand stopped.

"You still want to stick to the original schedule?"

Nine more days.

My luggage is in the west tower, the route to the coast is confirmed, and there are people waiting to welcome me there.

I don't want to leave any more days for what Rowan calls "later," and I don't want to waste my life waiting for wolves that don't belong to me.

"Please reserve a spot for me first."

I placed my uninjured hand into Mei's palm.

"Before you leave, please check my injury one more time. If I can get a ride, I'll go."