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Chapter 1 — Mate

Daphne's POV
"You are marrying me tomorrow!"
I bit back a cry as Carl jerked me back and around to face him. He was just as ugly now as he had been months ago. I pulled away from him, but he held me firmly.
"Let go of me."
His lips curling in a disgusting sneer, “Don't you fucking run away from me! Tonight you will leave your stupid cabin and move in with me. Am I clear?”
Again with this. My stomach turned in disgust and anger. Carl, my supposed fiancé, was the son of the chief of the village near the cabin I used to live in with my grandmother. A feral gleam of possession had been in his eyes since the day we met.
I pulled away from him sharply, slipping from his grip and glaring at him though I could feel a tremor of fear go through me. I could almost hear my grandmother’s prayers that I wouldn’t still be living alone after she passed. Maybe she thought being married to him was better than being alone, but my heart knew better.
This man would never care for me beyond what pleasure he could get from seemingly own me. Maybe once I had considered making my peace with finding some measure of peace in the village, but that was before he tried to force himself on me.
The arrogant pig.
“Why would I take orders from you?"
He flushed, "How dare you speak to me like that, you witch!”
A murmur went around the crowd around us. I refused to flinch at the word. I’d heard it all my life. I should be immune to it by now. There was fear and disgust in that word, but he was only using it to try and get his way.
To keep me silent and get control over me.
“I’m not a witch.”
His shoulder trembled with rage, the way it always did when I was too calm for his liking. He raised his hand as if to strike me, but it was an empty threat. I stared him down, almost daring him to do it in front of his future subjects.
I may be a witch in their eyes, but he had been proclaiming me his intended for years, saying that he would cure me of my evil ways. In some ways, his possessiveness was a protection, but it wasn’t enough of a protection to make me want to join the village as his wife.
The people of the village threatened to burn me on a pyre to protect their lives, but no one had the stomach to follow me into the woods to find my cabin or attack me, whispering about traps and telling themselves that so long as I didn’t do anything to them and left quickly, then it was all fine.
I turned my heel as Carl began to shout, “You have nothing but that pretty face! If it weren’t for me and my family—if your grandmother hadn’t begged me to marry you--"
I felt the twinge of pain and the rush of the wind around me as I turned and struck him across the face. His face bloomed with a slow-forming bruise.
“Don’t you ever speak of my grandmother!”
Carl was frozen, seemingly shaken by my fury. I took his stunned silence to escape. No one stood in my way.
He shouted after me, “I’ll make you pay for that, you bitch!”
I took the familiar path from the village to my cabin, through unmarked roads and muddy underbrush, sliding over steep slopes and rushing through streams. I hadn’t passed the outer bounds of the village when the tears of grief welled in my eyes, burning and falling down my cheeks, rushing away in the wind. I had no memories of my parents; both of them had died when I was too young to know them. My grandmother was the only family I had ever known. It hadn’t been a full year yet since her death, yet it still felt like yesterday.
We lived in our lovely cabin tucked in the forest for years, only going into town for rare necessities and what we couldn’t grow or forage in the forest. I met Carl several times over the years. From the first time he saw me, he had been interested, proposing marriage when I turned 18 by sanction of his father though we knew nothing of one another.
My grandmother urged me to agree, but she never listened or didn’t care to listen to the way he grew ruder and meaner as we got older. She may have thought she was doing me a favor, but I would rather live in the forest alone for the rest of my life than marry him.
Still, his words worried me. The maddened urgency in his eyes made my heart clench with fear. Maybe they did know where my cabin was. Maybe he would just come early in the morning and drag me away the next day.
The fear the villagers had for me and my grandmother was nothing compared to the fear they felt at the thought of being expelled from the village.
What should I do?
What could I do?
I’m not a witch. I didn’t know magic or much of how to defend myself…
I can to the edge of my favorite spot in the forest. The small meadow filled with fragrant flowers always calmed me. I used to come here when my grandmother and I argued.
It was usually about leaving our cabin and going somewhere we could live in peace inside of a human village.
I worried my lip. She was gone now… Other than my memories, what was keeping me here? I turned back to look at the path that would take me to my cabin.
Were those memories worth whatever life Carl had planned for me?
I shuddered. No. Running was my best option. I had a head start as he was sure that I wouldn’t think about running. But where would I go? Deeper into the forest?
What about all the dangers my grandmother spoke about out there?
I started to panic when the crunching and rustling of grass and bushes drew my attention. I froze as the metallic scent hit my nose, horrifying and familiar.
Blood.
My heart was about to jump out of my chest.
I held my breath and turned slowly.
Glowing red eyes stared at me out of the face of a wolf much larger than any beast I had ever seen before.
Our gazes met. He growled and lunged at me before I could even think to run.
I shrieked as the wolf landed on me, forcing me to the ground. It loomed over me, jaw open and snarling. One of its paws was on my throat, cutting into my skin. My heart raced in my chest as I braced for death. It could kill me as easily as I could kill an ant. My eyes darted over the beast, but the sight only made me more afraid. Dirt and blood matted every inch of its fur. Some of the blood seemed fresh, still wet and oozing out of it.
An injured animal was the most dangerous, I knew that.
I jerked my gaze to look up into its glowing blood red eyes. For a moment, I was dazed. They weren’t like blood at all, but glittering like rubies resting in a sunlit pile of gold. I’d never seen such beautiful eyes. For a moment, I forgot the pain in my neck and the fear rushing through my veins.
Then, the wolf spoke. Its voice tinged with anger and disbelief.
“What?”
Its voice was deep and masculine. I would have said attractive if I wasn’t terrified. Wolves couldn’t speak. The realization struck me like a bolt of terror through my chest and I barely sucked in a breath.
Not a wolf. A male werewolf.
“P-Please don’t k-kill me…” My eyes burned with tears, “P-Please, I…”
The wolf flinched, pulled his paw off me as if I had burned him with my words.
“No. No. I wouldn’t-- Never-- I’m sorry…”
My heart was hammering, but it slowed realizing that he wasn’t going to kill me. My fear turned to confusion slowly before I winced at the sting in my throat from where his claws had dug into me.
He growled, low and almost tender, “Mate.”
What did that mean? His eyes turned dreamy, then hazy before they rolled back and the full weight of him dropped on top of me knocking the wind out of me with a loud huff.
I twisted and struggled to get from under the wolf, shoving his weight off me and dragging my body from beneath him. As I struggled free, twigs and leaves fell from my hair and onto him. Light rippled over his skin as the blood and dirt-matted fur vanished leaving behind bloodied skin. With a final shove, I shoved him onto his back and got from under him. He landed with a little wheeze of pain.
Cautiously, I leaned closer to see his face. Mud was streaked over his cheeks, but it did nothing to detract from how handsome he was. He couldn’t have been much older than me. His jaw was sharp and masculine and all the ferocity of his wolf form seemed eased as he lay there unconscious.
What was I supposed to do? Why was he covered in blood? Where had he come from?
Who was he？

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Chapter 2 — Murderer

Arthur's POV
Murderer! They called me. Lunatic!
I agreed.
Since Alma, my little sister, was killed ten years ago, Lucas, my wolf, broke through some wall in my mind and blinded me. It was my fault. We had just been on a picnic. I should have been able to protect her, but I failed. Had I not left her alone for just those few minutes, she would still be alive.
She had been brutally murdered, I knew, but the world had turned dark as the fury had taken over.
When the darkness cleared, I was dizzy with the scent of blood. I had lost control and attacked anyone who had come near me. They ran and I chased them until I couldn't any longer. They screamed as my claws and teeth tore into them.
I was a madman, long forsaken by the moon goddess.
The alpha and luna, my parents, caged me. Every drop of blood inside that cage was from my struggle with my madness. Every blow from either of them had been like corporal punishment: well-deserved.
They kicked me out of the house when they could no longer cage or restrain me.
I didn't know who killed Alma until two days ago during the annual mating ceremony of Brown Valley Pack.
I had not been invited, nor was I interested in going even if I could find a mate. I just wanted to sneak back into the alpha's house to find some wine to go with my dinner. Yet Alpha Haley, Luna Irene, and Adam, their son, had been there. I waited outside but overheard them arguing.
“Don’t be a child, Adam!” Irene shrieked. “That maniac is only getting stronger. It's just a matter of time before he kills everyone and takes over the pack!”
Adam huffed, “Should have thought of that before agreeing to take them in.”
My heart clenched. What had Adam just said? I was adopted? What about Alma?
“Why didn’t you just get rid of him?”
“We tried,” Haley sighed.
“The rogues that killed Alma screwed up.” Irene huffed. “Now he’s lost his mind and has become even more powerful. You have to choose a mate quickly. You have to be the next alpha!”
It was them! They killed Alma! In a flash, rage blinded me. When I could see and hear again, Irene was on the ground, the scent of her blood filled the air. I leaped on her. Irene shrieked as I felt her arm snap in my hand. Haley gave out a shrill cry of terror, pressed against the far wall.
The patrol came, and I escaped the house then the village. The patrol tracked me and used my instability to lead me into a trap that night, but I killed most of them and broke free.
They had been chasing me for two days now. I was hungry, tired, and nearly fatally wounded.
Survive, Lucas urged, giving me his strength to keep going. Survive and come back for their heads.
I shook the dizziness from my mind and focused on the road ahead. Where it led, I didn’t know. I had never been so far from Brown Valley and had no way of knowing how far I'd gotten.
My heart lurched as a figure appeared in a blur in front of me. I snarled and pounced, aiming for the figure’s neck with my claws.
A scream rang in my ears as I landed on top of the body. It was a woman.
Mate! Lucas cackled, high and insane in my mind. Our mate!
What could Lucas be talking about? I was a cursed man. I deserved no mate.
***
I shot up quickly from the ground, frowning at the cloth that pooled over my lap, and brought it to my nose to take a deep breath.
Had it all been a dream? Where was I? It was late. The forest was dark. I looked around and found the dying embers of a fire nearby.
At the least, I wasn’t dead.
Lucas huffed, She was born for us just as we were born for her. We have to find her.
His words were strange, but it brought back just enough of my senses to remember that the woman I’d leaped on hadn’t been a part of the patrol.
I wouldn’t say that I was convinced, but at the very least I had to thank her. I didn’t remember ever being treated so kindly, let alone by a stranger.
I should probably also apologize for scaring her half to death in my hazy state. I got to my feet and stomped out the fire, feeling refreshed. The cloth that bound my wounds was streaked red, but I felt no pain. Drawing my hand over the cloth, I could barely feel where the horrible gash had been.
I was healed. But how could it be possible? Who was she?
I folded the cloak up neatly, cradling it in my arms as I walked. I lifted my nose to find the path she’d taken and followed it with sure, silent feet through the forest until I reached a small cabin. It looked old and weathered, and if I hadn’t been following her scent, I may have thought it was abandoned.
I approached the door and found a lock on the door. I lifted it to take a look and winced as it cracked in my hand. I hadn’t meant to break it.
Cautiously, I opened the door and peered into the cabin, only to find the woman lying in bed, seemingly asleep. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of her lying in a pool of moonlight. Her glossy black hair looked like a tranquil lake under the full moon and her expression was tranquil, unbothered, unafraid in her sleep.
She looked too beautiful, too ethereal, to be real as if she had descended from the moon goddess’ domain for a time.
I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t want to breathe with fear I might disturb her and the goddess would call her home.
She twitched in her sleep and her eyes opened, looking toward me through the darkness. Her amber eyes seemed to glow in the moonlight.
“Who’s there?” She startled me, but her voice was angelic.

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Chapter 3 — You are mine!

Daphne's POV
It has been a long day. I couldn’t fall asleep. What happened today kept lingering in my mind.
Damn, Carl! He ruined my day first, and I still wasn’t sure what I would do with the next day looming on the horizon.
What about the werewolf who attacked me? I wasn't sure if he made my day better or worse.
Was he a real werewolf? Had I been hallucinating?
I remembered the word he growled before he collapsed, "Mate"
Was it someone he's looking for or he's being attacked for？
It seemed like he hadn't meant to hurt me, despite having cut me with his claws. He was severely injured. I wasn't even sure if he would make it until tomorrow. My heart was filled with sympathy and sadness for his suffering, so I decided to heal him with my blood.
My blood could heal wounds, but no one, not even my grandmother, knew that. I had found out by accident when I was twelve and discovered an injured fawn. I had accidentally cut myself and dripped blood into the fawn’s wound. It had gotten up, nuzzled me, and sprinted away as if it had never been injured to my shock. I was grateful. It was an incredibly useful ability for a girl like me living in the forest alone.
The deeper I thought, the worse my headache grew.
What was I going to do? Marrying Carl was out of the question. Running was my only option, but what if I encountered another werewolf? One that meant to hurt me?
My brain was about to explode. It was turning out to be the worst birthday of my life.
Then, I felt something nearby. It wasn’t the wind, but something warm, alive, and moving.
It was someone. Someone in my house. I drew tense in my bed, my heart pounding as the person moved through the cabin, though they didn’t draw closer to my bed. Was it Carl?
“Who’s there?” I asked with as much force as I could manage.
I had to do something! I looked around to search for a weapon.
Something shifted, and I stared through the dimness at the sound. Moonlight spilled through the window and slowly a figure stepped out of the shadow. Moonlight danced and raced around a man’s silhouette as he approached.
I snatched the scissors from the bedside table and held them out between us.
Two glowing red points looked at me across the room, and I gasped.
The werewolf was here.
“Oh, It’s you…” I lowered the scissors a bit with relief. “I’m sure I… locked my door. How did you get in?”
“I broke it,” the werewolf blurted out and looked a little nervous. He seemed like he hadn’t had much interaction with other people. “Er… I’m sorry. I-I can fix it. It was an--”
I frowned at him and swung my feet over the edge of the bed, “Well... There’s not much to be done about it, I suppose. I’ll take your apology...”
He stared at me, dumbfounded. “Aren’t you… Aren’t you afraid of me?”
I shrugged, “Not so long as your paws stay off my neck.”
His face turned red. I could see he was nervous. “I’m sorry. I-I’m really sorry. I-I thought you were an enemy. I didn’t-- I mean--”
My heart softened and I set the scissors down.
“You were hurt,” I said gently. “It’s okay. Besides, you apologized.”
I shrugged again, “You’re so strong. If you really meant to hurt me, I wouldn’t be able to do much about it. Honestly, save for the scrape, you didn’t even touch me… I guess you’re a polite and handsome, gentlemanly werewolf. However, I never thought werewolves really existed until I met you.”
"You think I’m polite and handsome？" He seemed to be embarrassed at my compliment.
“I…” My cheeks warmed, “Sorry… I’ve been living alone too long, so I end up talking too much when I’m around people. I'm sorry if I've offended you... I've never met a werewolf. I'm just a human.”
I couldn't help thinking to myself that Carl could learn something from this werewolf, namely how to apologize, be handsome, and be polite.
He didn't seem to care what I was or what I just said, simply blurting out, “You are my mate.”
I frowned, “Mate? You said that before you passed out. But what’s that?”
He clenched his hand, " … My wolf told me… I thought I didn’t have a mate until I met you." Then he looked up into my eyes, asking eagerly, "Do you like me? I like you a lot.”
I blushed at his frantic expression of affection, but he hadn’t answered my question. “I… don’t understand. Is this a werewolf thing? Are all werewolves like this? I mean… I don't even know you, you don't even know my name--”
"It's Arthur," He cut quickly. "...Could you tell me your name?"
I eyed him warily, and he looked like he's trying his best to stay still as I looked at him.
"... Daphne. My name's Daphne" The flush of my cheeks grew somehow.
"Daphne… What a lovely name." He smiled at me warmly, almost dreamy.
His smile encouraged my curiosity, "I still don't quite understand. Does every werewolf have a mate? I’m not a werewolf, so how could I be your mate. And I have a fiancé..."
Sort of. Never mind that I was planning to run away somehow.
“A fiancé?” Arthur growled.
"…Yes.” I was shocked at his change in demeanor, but somehow in my heart, I still believed he was not going to hurt me. “I'm supposed to marry him tomorrow: my 18th birthday."
It wasn’t going to happen if I had anything to say about it.
"No. You can’t! You are mine!"
I didn’t know what to say. He calmed himself a moment later.
"Sorry. I have difficulties… controlling myself, especially my wolf, Lucas. "
How strange that his wolf had a name too.
"Why did you say you thought you didn't have a mate?"
“I--”
He then tensed and sniffed. His head turned sharply as if catching a familiar scent in the air. Arthur growled and his eyes flashed red as he turned towards the window. He pressed his body against the wall and leaned towards the window to scan the surrounding trees.
“W-What’s wrong?” I asked.
He sneered into the dark, “Wolves are coming.”
"You are shaking. Are you afraid of them?"
"No. My body shakes because of the rush of an impending fight and a yearning for blood. It's not something I can control."
I gulped down at his words. How could he be so into blood and fighting?

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