Chapter 30
Lucy: A Journey Through the Woods
In the end, Lucy chose to walk to her grandmother’s cottage, rather than wait for someone to saddle a horse.
After all, she’d eventually have to leave the cottage, and to do so, she’d need some form of transportation.
But, all the same, she didn’t want to bring anything with her that would identify her.
She was identifiable enough as it was, wearing the blasted cape.
As the thought crossed her mind, she pulled the cloak a little tighter over her shoulders. She could remember the day Yuna, her mother, had given it to her.
∞∞∞
It was a few days before her birthday celebration, and her twin, Eden, was teasing her. “We’re going to have pink streamers,” the werewolf crowed. “And a strawberry cake. And—”
“But I don’t like pink, and I’m allergic to strawberries,” Lucy protested. “It’s my birthday too!”
“Yes, but I’m the oldest, so what I say goes,” Eden smirked.
Lucy whirled to the moderator of all their arguments. “Papa!”
“Girls.” the werewolf alpha pleaded. “Don’t fight. Not right now. And we’ve already got everything settled, Lucy. It’s too late to make any changes.”
Lucy stared at her father for a minute in abject horror, before turning and fleeing into the woods. She barely heard her father call, “Lucy!” Even if she had heard him, she’d ignore him. It was fair play, she reasoned. After all, he often ignored her, too.
She ran until she couldn’t anymore. When she reached the clearing of the glade, she sank to the ground, resting her head on her knees.
It would all be so much easier, she was sure, if she could just go through her first transformation.
Eden had had hers over a year ago and Judah had his the week before.
Maybe Thaddeus was right. Maybe she was defective.
“Lucy?” She’d been in such a deep well of self-pity, she hadn’t noticed her mother’s approach. Now, the older werewolf stepped closer to her, holding a bundle wrapped in brown wrapping paper to her chest. “What’s wrong, sweet?”
Lucy forced herself to smile. “Nothing, Mama. I just needed a moment alone.”
For a second, Yuna did nothing. Then she dropped to the ground, crossing her legs. “Very well. Perhaps we can take a moment alone together.”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “We’re not alone if we’re together, Mama.”
Yuna frowned. “I don’t know. Sometimes I think the best moments I’ve head alone are moments when I’ve been with people I love, as we just sit in silence.
” She met her daughter’s eyes. “But, then, we might be different in that way. And if you really want me to leave, I will. After I give you this.” Without another word, she handed her daughter the bundle.
“It’s a present just for you from your mother. ”
Lucy frowned at the odd wording, but then focused her attention on the package. “You could have just given it to me tomorrow, at the party. I wouldn’t have minded.”
Yuna shrugged. “This seemed like the right time.” She nudged her daughter. “Open it.”
Lucy carefully pulled back the wrapping paper, careful not to tear it. Her parents never said, but she worried about the state of their finances. If saving this bit of wrapping paper helped them save enough to put food on the table, then she’d do it.
Yuna, however, laughed. “You don’t have to be so delicate. Things aren’t so bad as all that.” She elbowed her daughter. “Go on. Rip into it like the wolf you are.”
Yuna’s words were like an ice cube going down Lucy’s back. “But I’m not one, am I?” she whispered, her hands stilling.
“What?” Yuna frowned at her. “Of course you are.”
“I’ve heard the elders talking. They’re worried. They think I should have had the change by now.” Lucy focused on the package in front of her. “They’re right.”
“Lucy Savage, you look at me and you listen well.” Yuna’s tone had gone stern, a rarity for the werewolf. “You are every bit the wolf as I am. It doesn’t matter if you manifest your wolf on the next full moon or if you never do. You are always going to be a wolf. And don’t you forget it.”
Lucy offered a tremulous smile. “You’re just saying that.”
Yuna shook her head. “I never just ‘say’ things. When I put my thoughts into words, you know it’s the truth. Just as I know that you’re going to be the greatest one out of all of us. Just you wait.” She nudged her daughter again. “Now. Stop stalling and open it.”
After a brief second of hesitation, Lucy did as she was told. When she peeled back the wrapping, she stared at the finest burgundy cloak she’d ever seen. “Oh…Mama, it’s…”
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Yuna murmured, pulling her daughter close to her. “And made just for you in mind. When you wear that cloak, remember that those who love you will always protect you. Always.”
Lucy felt tears welling up in her eyes as she remembered the horrific events of the week before. Would it still have happened if she hadn’t been wearing the cloak? She’d known Sebastian’s gift had protected her, but—
“Let me help you put it on,” Yuna said, drawing the cloak around her daughter’s slim frame. She fussed for a moment, making minute adjustments, until at last she sat back and smiled. “There now. A perfect fit.”
Lucy blushed, smiling. “Thank you, Mama. I will treasure it.”
Yuna smiled back. “I know you will.” She brushed a curl out of Lucy’s face. “Now, then, no more tears. We need to get back and help with the party planning. And don’t worry. I’ve picked out a completely different cake that’s just for you.”
Lucy offered a tremulous smile. “No strawberries?”
“No strawberries. We can’t have you having an allergic reaction at your own birthday party, now, can we?”
Lucy laughed and followed her mother out of the clearing, hoping that everything would be alright.
∞∞∞
Lucy sniffled at the tender memory. That night had been a bright light in an unexpectedly overwhelming time.
She wished she could to talk to her mother now.
She was curious what the older werewolf would have thought about Sebastian’s promise.
One thing she’d loved about her mother was that she could always care for herself, not asking her husband to fight her battles for her.
In fact, everyone in the pack knew that, though Romulus was the pack leader, he bowed to Yuna’s leadership.
He’d picked his mate for her canny and quick wit, so, no matter what problem they faced, he almost always turned to her for wisdom.
Lucy suspected Yuna would have a lot to say about her situation with Sebastian. She’d met him a few times at Farraday, but she’d made no comments about him, not even after Lucy’s confession that they were courting. And now she’d never have time to ask her.
“I’ll bet Mama would never find herself in this situation,” Lucy muttered under her breath.
“What was that?” Lucy whirled around at the unexpected voice. Her eyes widened as she saw a werewolf stalking toward her. His fur was a little grayer than Thaddeus’s, but he was nearly the same size and he gave her the same uncomfortable feeling as he approached.
“W-w-who are you?” Lucy asked, hating that her words came out as shaky as her knees.
“Name’s Issak,” the werewolf growled, stalking nearer. “And who might you be, pretty girl?”
Lucy swallowed hard. “L-l-l…Red Riding Hood,” she whispered. She couldn’t bring herself to tell this stranger her real name and, blast it, the only other name that came to mind was the stupid nickname Thaddeus had given her when introducing her to Robin.
The werewolf’s lip quirked up in a smirk. “Little Red Riding Hood, huh?” he said, reaching for Lucy’s hood. He scowled as his hands brushed against the cape, which emitted a pulse of magical energy. Lucy struggled to keep her face as unreadable as his when he growled, “The name suits you, Red.”
Lucy resisted the urge to take another step back from the hulking beast. “Do you live around here, Issak?”
“Not far.” Issak’s tone was impassive. “What are you doing out here in the forest, Red? Don’t you know there are werewolves out here?”
“Yes. My grandmother is one,” Lucy said. “I’m actually going to visit her. She’s sick.”
“Your grandmother’s sick, huh?” Issak asked. “Pity. I guess that means you don’t have time to stop and chat with me while I check your bags, huh?”
Lucy gaped at him. “My bags?”
“Don’t make this any harder than it has to be,” Issak said, giving another smirk. “So, what do you say, Little Red? Gonna let me look through your bags? Or are you going to make me work for this?”
Lucy shook her head. “No. I need to get to her house as soon as possible. I don’t have time for this.”
“Aw, but that means you won't see her today,” Issak growled.
Now Lucy took a step back, her eyes flashing with anger. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s very simple, really,” Issak said. “You’re going to let me look through them. You do it nicely, and you’ll be fine. But if you don’t, then…” He shrugged. “Well, I was never the most gentle person.”
Lucy frowned. “No. I need to go to my grandmother’s house and get there as soon as possible. That’s what I’m going to do. And besides, there’s nothing in my bag you’d want.”
She took two steps forward before Issak blocked her path.
He loomed over her like a bear about to devour its prey.
“You listen to me, Little Red,” he growled.
“You’re going to drop your bags right now.
This isn’t up for discussion or debate. Do what you’re told, and you won’t get hurt. Do you understand me?”
Lucy shivered, but she shook her head, straightening her spine as she did so. “Not a chance.”
The werewolf didn’t bother to argue with her. Instead, he lashed out at her with razor-sharp claws. “Drop the bags!” he bellowed.
She yelped and left the path, keeping a firm hold on her satchel.
She could hear the werewolf behind her, tearing through the trees and the underbrush.
Her heart pounded in her ears as she tried to track where Issak was.
With his animalistic traits, he was bigger and faster than she was.
The only way she’d be able to escape would be to…
Lucy’s eyes lit up. That’s what she’d need to do. Quickly, turned a corner, making sure she was out of sight. Then she shrugged out of her satchel and pack and tucked them into the bushes. Once she was sure that she’d hidden them well, she focused on becoming a fox.
Before she’d finished the thought, she’d shrunken into her fox form. With a small, sly smile, she tucked herself into the hedges beside her bags. She tried to breathe as quietly as possible as Issak appeared.
The werewolf snuffled along the ground, trying to catch her scent.
Fortunately, somehow, he couldn’t seem to find it.
He went around in circles twice before heading off in the wrong direction.
Lucy waited a few more minutes to make sure he wasn’t coming back, then crept out of the bushes.
For a second, she considered transforming back into her human form, but she decided against it.
She didn’t want to make it too easy for the werewolf to catch her scent, and the best way to do that was to remain a fox.
Instead, she made sure her bags were still safely out of sight.
There wasn’t anything of value in them, but since she wasn’t sure why Issak had wanted to search through them, she thought it best to keep them out of sight.
Once she was certain that they were safely tucked away, she slipped back toward the path, praying that her delay wouldn’t have any consequences.