CHAPTER 47
“OH... STARS.” Lenore was the first to speak once her eyes landed on Ryker’s body. His open stare was void of life. Queasiness made her knees weak, and she nearly fell over. She could still hear his loud, boisterous banter in the butcher shop as if it were yesterday.
Edmund caught her before she hit the frost, steadying her as the light faded from his claws. Even in their werewolf forms, he still towered over her—eleven feet tall while she barely reached seven feet five. He turned her away, acting as a barrier between her and the gruesome sight.
“Don’t look,” he said, his voice thick with concern. “Are you hurt?”
Lenore’s nose twitched, trying not to inhale the scent of blood that drenched Edmund’s fur. Her ears lowered. “How can you ask me that? I’m worried about you!”
Edmund ignored her, leaning down to sniff her carefully. A short, warm huff of air from his nostrils ruffled her silver fur. Satisfied, he pulled back, his mismatched eyes softening as he scanned her.
“You managed to control your form.” A faint, teasing note entered his voice. “You’ve come a long way... whelp.”
Lenore stared at him flatly. The fur between her eyes creased. “Edmund! How can you joke right now?”
“You look like you’re about to either vomit, or faint—possibly both. I’m just helping keep you levelheaded.”
“That’s not enough to distract me from you!” Lenore’s claws gently brushed against the tips of Edmund’s blood-soaked fur, grimacing at his wounds. “I need to treat you. You’re bleeding as we speak.”
“We’re werewolves. I’ll heal before the frost claims everything here. If I die from a few scratches, don’t even mark a grave for me.” He stretched his neck from side to side, a grunt of pain escaping him as his joints cracked. “But I admit, this fight was a bit of a challenge.”
When the worry didn’t leave Lenore’s face, he sighed softly and stroked the top of her head. “Thanks to you, I don’t have to deal with anything worse.” He glanced down at his claws—the pure light covering them beginning to fade. “How did you even know about this?”
“It wasn’t me. It was—” Lenore paused when she looked up, realizing the white raven had departed. “It was the white raven. It came back to help.” Her tail softly swayed side to side. “It helped me. I wouldn’t have been able to turn without it.”
“I’m indebted to it then,” he murmured. “It kept you safe.”
“And it helped me save you.” The blood on his fur kept her from fully leaning in, but she butted her nose against his cheek in a silent gesture of affection. They both looked down at Edmund’s claws.
“To think I’d be holding a remnant of what Ieric used in the war…” Edmund flexed them in awe, a shimmer of light rippling through before fading. His ears perked up. “So that’s why they called Ieric’s claws moonlight itself.”
“I can’t think of anyone more worthy,” Lenore whispered, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
Edmund groaned, in spite of his tail wagging a little faster. “Lenore, you barely know any other werewolves at my level of skill.”
“It doesn’t matter. You were given this gift, so it’s the truth!”
“Enough praise,” Edmund muttered. He grabbed his own tail, forcing it still in his grip as he tried to recollect himself. He turned back toward Ryker’s body, his gaze turning solemn. Lenore watched as he moved to the corpse, bending down to slide Ryker’s eyes shut.
A heavy silence followed—a moment for the werewolf Ryker used to be. Slowly, Edmund stood up, his gaze hardening like the frost around them.
“There’s no time to waste,” he said, gesturing for her to follow. “Ryker came alone but we can’t risk staying here any longer.”
One last glance was given to Ryker before Lenore peeled her eyes away. The blood-stained ground was already disappearing underneath spreading webs of frost. “I’m ready.”
“To Kyrie—my sister’s pack then. We’ll be going to Noctaia,” Edmund said. He glanced down at himself. “We’ll clean ourselves on the way.”
“I know you were the one wounded and bleeding, but... I think I’m dying.”
Lenore’s tail dragged behind her, each step she took a little slower than the first. Needle-like pain ached through her paws, and she winced in reluctance with even the slightest movement.
She was back in her wolf form—the long journey and fight had worn her down, and she was certain the moon’s blessing was the only thing keeping her from crumpling to the ground.
In front of her was Edmund, now in his wolf form, as he led the way through the wilderness.
Whatever wounds he’d taken from Ryker were already gone—or nearly so.
“You sound fine for someone who’s dying.” Edmund snorted in amusement. “Come on. We’re almost there.”
Lenore glared at the back of his head. “You could’ve warned me from the start that getting to Noctaia would take two and a half days!”
“I thought you remembered. That’s why I didn’t want you going with Gwyneth without a proper plan.”
“That was a high stress situation!” Lenore’s ears lowered. “I forgot about that completely. You should’ve reminded me.”
“And have you lose morale? Besides, I tried to give you as many breaks as possible.”
Lenore whimpered, sad enough for Edmund to halt at his own pace. He turned around, looking her up and down before letting out a small sigh. He drew close to her and gently licked her cheek.
“I promise we’re almost there. You’ll have time to get the rest you need before the Lunar Ball.”
“Which is tomorrow.” Lenore sank to the ground. “Is that still going to happen? If the white raven managed to warn all the packs and mark the Lucyn, why would anyone show up?”
“If there’s a chance to tear out the enemy with gathered allies, that’ll be it. With the boon of the full moon, there’s no better time… for werewolves and the Lucyn.”
Her claws dug into the ground. “It sounds like it’s going to be a war.”
“It’s the reality. And the sooner we make it to Noctaia, the faster we can prepare ourselves for it.” Edmund’s head lowered to her level, giving hers a light nudge. In a fond, exasperated tone, he asked, “Do you need me to carry you again?”
Lenore’s paws went over her muzzle, unsure if she even wanted to move anymore. Tomorrow held an inescapable nightmare from which one couldn’t be woken from. A phantom smell of blood overwhelmed her nostrils.
But the path was already set, and they needed to go. “You already carried me multiple times. It gets too uncomfortable sitting on your back for too long.” Her tail curled around her leg. “If we’re almost there, I can manage.”
“Are you sure?”
“Mostly,” Lenore sighed, then gradually rose to her paws. A thought came to mind, helping to distract her pain temporarily as she followed Edmund from behind. “Remember when we were being chased by that amphroga when we first met? And then I blacked out?”
“... Yes?” Edmund’s ear twitched.
“What did you do that made Brynn know you were my fated mate?”
Edmund’s tail fluffed up instantly, greatly entertaining Lenore by his body’s betrayal as he tried to keep a collected tone. “I don’t remember that part. Everything was up in chaos.”
“You’re lying!” Lenore barked out a laugh. “Tell me, please? It’ll be an excellent distraction from everything. The Lunar Ball stories were fun, but this is better!”
“No. Use your energy on walking.”
“Edmuuund, please!”
“Lenore—” The embarrassment in his voice was undeniable now. “That’s all in the past. We’re together now, so it—it doesn’t matter.”
“It’ll help me reimagine that memory to something way more pleasant.” Lenore ignored the sting of her paws as she sped up to be by Edmund’s side. With as much cuteness as she could muster, she threw in one more, “Pleaaase?”
“... After we kill Arisa, I’ll think about it.”
The mention of Arisa sobered Lenore up. She nodded, eyes flitting down to the ground. “Mm. Then it’ll be a story to look forward to if we somehow make it through.”
“We will make it through. And we’ll have more than just a memory to look forward to.” Edmund glanced at her from the side. “We’ll be getting married.”
It was Lenore’s turn for her tail to fluff up. “H-how could you say that so casually, and be all shy about what you did when I lost my senses?”
“Because what I’m talking about will be a statement of fact.”
“It’s more than just a statement of fact—we’ll be exchanging vows, declaring our love, kissing in front of everyone, and... everything else that follows.”
A pause came after.
“Well. It’ll be something to look forward to,” Edmund mumbled.
Lenore couldn’t meet his eyes, too flustered to speak.
Edmund slowed down. “Speaking of…”
“Speaking of?”
The tip of Edmund’s tail flickered. “I don’t know how much time we’ll have alone together once we get to Noctaia. So...” He stopped to look at her. “I want to kiss you.”
A ripple of shock ran through her fur, hairs standing on end as Lenore jerked to a stop. “Wh—now? Stars, you’re throwing one surprise after another at me!”
Edmund let out a little huff. “Is it really a surprise? I think I’ve been obvious about wanting affection from you this entire trek.” He sat down on his haunches, sulkily lowering his head. “Although half the time you’ve been rebuking me.”
“Half those times you tried to get too close to me, you wolf!” Lenore shot him an unamused look, pulling her tail tight against her haunches as she sat down. “Someone had to keep it together!”
“Ugh…” Edmund’s head sank lower. “Fine. Putting that aside… come here so I can kiss you.” He shifted back to human form with outstretched arms, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. Even with his eyes averted and a faint frown on his face, every fiber of his being told her to hurry.
A subtle puff of air left her nose, soft and fond.
She stepped forward into her human form, nestling deep into Edmund’s firm embrace.
The warmth of his body enveloped hers. As his hands settled against the small of her back, he pulled her closer, and she reached up to his shoulders with her own hands.
Lenore smiled up at Edmund, warmth blooming in her chest when she saw the unveiled adoration in his eyes.
The peace of the forest faded beneath quickened heartbeats and shared breaths before they leaned in, eyes closed, their lips meeting.
Edmund held her tight, their kiss sweetened in the fragrance of their love.
The innate bond tugging at both their chests fluttered in honeyed contentment, keeping them in each other’s presence even as they slowly pulled apart.
Lenore stood on her tiptoes still, peppering Edmund’s lips with a few light kisses after. She smiled at him, a soft, giddy chuckle let out from under her breath as she stared up at his dazed expression, soft with a warmth that glowed across his skin.
Lenore leaned in to whisper, “I love you,” for only him to hear.
Delight gleamed in every line of his face. “I love you too.” He cupped her cheek, sighing as his forehead fell against hers. “... I don’t think I could go back to how everything was.”
“What do you mean?” she asked. She raised her hand, gently running her fingers through his dark blue locks.
“Not having this.” Both of his hands cupped her cheeks, his thumbs brushing against her lips. “I know you’re scared, and I can’t lie that I don’t have my own fears.” A soft kiss was planted at the corner of her brow. “I just hope this is comforting you as much as it is for me.”
“It is.” Lenore’s cheeks burned hot under his touch.
“I thought I’d really be a monster for the rest of my life.
I think I understood a little bit of what Ryker was saying just before he attacked.
It’s different but… I thought I was going to be someone who’ll always be trapped in that cage of what I—and others thought of me.
” Her hands lowered to his chest. “You made me more than just happy, Edmund… you made me feel so loved at my darkest time.”
“And I’ll keep loving you through it,” he said softly. “And when we make it through.”
A small laugh slipped from her, and then a quiet sound of cheer. “You’ll love me forever and ever?”
Edmund laughed, a low and deep rumble. “You don’t even need to ask. It’ll be impossible not to.”
Lenore’s heart skipped a beat. Her hands gripped the front of his coat as he pulled her into a kiss again, holding her flush against him. The lingering heat of each other tingled on their lips as they pulled apart.
“Am I so distracting that I have to be the one to remind you we're still on a mission?” she teased.
“What have you done to me?” Edmund groaned, reluctance slowing every one of his actions as he separated from her.
“Nothing but love you,” Lenore continued to tease. “But at least you’ve given me enough of a break to recover some energy.”
Both of them shifted back into their wolf forms. He turned his head to glance at her, a touch of longing clinging to his gaze. “I’m not going to let you leave my side after all this, you know that?”
“Good.” Lenore followed as Edmund led through the overgrown forest. Tall grass grew wild where only Edmund seemed to know the way, and moss covered almost everything.
Large beams of light scattered across the heavily shaded area, dappling their coats of fur in a constant battle of light and dark.
“You said we’re almost there, right? How much farther is it? ”
“About six hours.”
“Six,” Lenore repeated, then quietly again. “Six…” Her legs wobbled.
“I’m kidding.” Edmund let out a dry chuckle. Lenore’s ears lowered while relief washed over her.
“Oh stars, you nearly had me faint—”
“It’s four and a half hours.”
Lenore stood where she was for a good moment, her lower jaw hanging open. She shook herself out of her stupor, a long, resigned sigh following after.
“Edmund. Please learn the definition of ‘almost there.’”