Fated Mate

Whispers of War

The scouts came at dawn, and when they arrived their clothes were ripped and caked with blood their faces were terrified. Emily was in the kitchens when she heard the noise, and her curiosity led her to the mass of bodies gathered in the great hall.

Three wolves swayed in front of Arthur. One bore a wide s***h across his shoulder which was still bleeding faintly.

"The Crescent Moon Pack," the lead scout panted. "They're gone. Wiped out."

A collective gasp rippled away among all the wolves waiting. Emily's blood ran cold.

Arthur wore an impassive look, but Emily could tell there was stress in his jaw. "Tell me everything."

"Vampires," the scout said. "A whole lot of 'em. They staged their attack at midnight-well organized, smart as hell. They knew exactly where to strike, which defenses to break first."

He swallowed hard. "We were late. They were already dead for the most part. The survivors...they said there's a leader. Big, with cold eyes. He was efficient in his commands; merciless."

Emily's stomach dropped. Theodore Shawn. It had to be.

Arthur quickly exchanged a knowing look with Victor. "How many survivors?"

"Seven. We took them to the healers' lodge."

"Good. See to your own wounds, too." In a firm, authoritative voice Arthur spoke. "Victor, double the patrols. I want scouts on every border. Margaret, get the healer's lodge ready for more wounded - this may not be the last attack."

It was as if the crowd was breaking and Emily caught Arthur's eye. A look passed between them that answered her worst nightmare. Theodore was hunting again.

---

Over the next two days Arthur labored to fortify the territory without alarming the residents. He adjusted the patrols, fortified the perimeter, and conducted silent briefings with his most trusted warriors.

Emily did what she could to contribute, but she was overwhelmed by an ever intensifying sense of foreboding. She could feel people watching her, following her wherever she went. Whisper heard that stopped abruptly when she approached.

It was not until the third day, however, that she finally caught what they were saying.

She had been coming from the gardens with her arms laden with herbs for the kitchens when she came across two warriors near the training grounds.

"-Is it just a coincidence that vampires start attacking just after she gets here?" one had been saying.

"Maybe they followed her here. The Evergreen clan was hunting her pack, They all know that."

"And now they've got her. "We're all at risk because Arthur won't send her away."

Emily's feet froze. The herbs fell from her arms, with a few of them falling to the ground, but she was too distracted. Her chest tightened and each breath became painful.

They were right. Theodore was looking for her. By staying here, she was pinning a bull's-eye on everyone. She didn't bother picking up the herbs. She turned on her heels and headed straight for Arthur's study.

Arthur was hunched over the maps when she walked in unannounced. He glanced up and his face immediately registered worry when he saw hers.

"Emily-"

"I need to go."

Arthur stood up straight. "What?"

"The vampires, they're after me, aren't they? Theodore is hunting me." Emily's voice remained steady even as her stomach was tied up in fear. "I overheard them. The wolves talking, They're right. I'm risking everyone's life by existing.Emily, that's not-"

"Don't," she cut him off. "Just don't tell me it's not true. The Crescent Moon Pack was wiped out. How many more packs have to die because of me?"

Arthur moved around the desk to her. "It's not your fault. Theodore Shawn had been terrorizing territories for a long time before you got here.But now he has a good reason to come after this one in particular."

Emily's hands balled into fists. "I can't stay, Arthur. I refuse to allow your lives to be the price of my presence, for me or your pack."

"You're not going anywhere." Arthur's voice was firm.

"You can't make that decision for me."

"Actually, I can. "You're under my protection, in my territory."

Emily felt anger flare-hot and unexpected. "I'm not a prisoner. I can leave if I want to."

"To go where?" Arthur raised his voice to match hers. "Back to Sparkling Star, whose family cast you out? Off by yourself in the wild? Right into Theodore's hands?"

"Better me than all of you!"

"That's not your decision to make!" Arthur was near now, his eyes blazing. Do you think I'd just let you walk out of here to die? Do you think your life means nothing to me, to this pack?"

"My life isn't more valuable than theirs-"

"Your life is worth everything!" The words seemed to catch Arthur off guard as much as they did Emily. He took a breath to calm himself. "You belong here, Emily. With me. With us. I'm not going to let you go."

"You don't understand-"

"No, you don't get it." Arthur's voice fell, raw with feeling. "You're not the curse you think you are. You're not a burden. You're-" He stopped, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

"You're important. To me. And I won't lose you."

Emily stares at him, and her anger clashes with something else-something warm and terrifying. "Arthur..."

"I know you're scared. I know you think leaving will keep us safe. But you're wrong." His gaze held hers. "We're stronger with you here. I'm stronger with you here."

Emily shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. "I can't stand to see any more people dying because of me."

"Then stay and fight. Guide us in preparing. Use your power to shield, not to flee from it."

"I don't know how!"

"Then learn!" Arthur's frustration was palpable. "But not by running away."

The silence between them was pregnant with everything they weren't saying. Finally, Emily turned away.

"I need to think," she whispered.

She left before Arthur could answer, her heart full of confusion and terror.

-

That night, Emily had made her choice.

She waited for the silence to settle over the land, once even the patrol routes were at their farthest points. Then she packed up the few things she had-Arthur's spare clothes, the little knife Sara had given her for protection, and that was all. She'd come with nothing, and that was how she would leave.

The moon was high as she wove her way through the shadows to the eastern border. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, but her determination did not waver. It was the right thing to do. The only thing to do.

She was twenty feet off the border when a voice halted her.

"I wondered when you'd be after one of these."

Emily spun around to see Arthur leaning against a tree, his arms folded. He did not appear furious-only weary.

"Let me go," Emily said quietly.

"No."

"Arthur, please-"

"Seven days."

Emily blinked. "What?"

Arthur pushed off the tree and walked toward her slowly. "Stay for seven more days. One week. Seven more days, and if you still go wanting, I won't hold you. I'll even find you some place where it's safe."

"Arthur-"

"Seven days, Emily. Just give me five more days." He paused in front of her, close enough so she could see the vulnerability in his eyes. "Let me show you that you have a place here. So we can face this together. If I fail, if after seven days you still think you're a burden, then I'll let you go."

Emily's throat constricted. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because I can't lose you." The confession was straightforward, candid. "Because when I see you, I don't see a curse or a menace. I see someone courageous and powerful who was told her entire life that she's nothing. And I can't let you believe that lie anymore."

Emily blinked back a tear. "What if you've got me all wrong?"

"I'm not." Arthur stretched out and softly brushed the tear away with his thumb. "But if for some reason you need seven more days to see what I see, I'll wait that long. Just ... stay. Please."

She looked down at the bag she was holding, at the border only a few feet away, then at Arthur. The longing in his eyes, the quiet desperation-it undid something in her chest.

"Seven days," she whispered.

Arthur's face relaxed with relief. "Seven days."

He grabbed her bag, slung it over his shoulder, and took her hand. Emily hesitated for a moment before taking it. His fingers wrapped around hers, warm and steady. They made their way silently back to the territory together, but it wasn't a hollow silence. It was a silence full of unspoken promises, of tender trust being built by seconds.

When they arrived at her room, Arthur placed her bag on the ground and turned to her with a full face.

"Thank you," he said softly. " For giving me -- for giving us -- this chance."

Emily nodded, not trusting her voice.

As he walked out, Emily sat on her bed, watching her palms, then the door softly closed.

Seven days. She had seven days to work out if she could actually let herself think that she belonged any place.

Seven days to decide if she could believe in anything but fear.