The Amorous Mate

Chapter 24: Wolf Attacks

“What is it that made this place as if it was sacred for you, Matthew?” Riding in a canoe, Chelsea curiously asked Lord Matthew. The canoe, lulled by the waters of the river, was moving calm and mellow. After that question, she dipped her hand into the crystal water, touching its chilling temperature.

Lord Matthew presented to escort Chelsea back to the Chesterfield city. It was supposed to be Gwyneth. It always should be, because she was the one being tasked by the lord for that job. However, earlier, when Chelsea finished her training and personal tutoring session with Beatrix—and when she said that she needed to head back to the palace soon—Lord Matthew ordered Gwyneth to stay in the Mansion. Instead her, Lord Matthew was the one who stood and went outside to escort the princess.

At first, she did not agree to the lord’s offer. She said, she preferred Gwyneth to be her escort back to the city because she was a comfortable talker and light to be with as company. However, the stubborn Lord Matthew insisted. He reasoned out that he needed to go to the city too, for some business matters he has to take care. Chelsea was left no choice but to sigh and accept the fact that she will be with the lord.

“What do you mean?” Lord Matthew asked; an answer to Chelsea’s question.

“I mean that mansion. The Silver Feather. You would not be stupid deciding to erect that kind of big mansion away from the city unless there’s a big reason why, isn’t it?” As the canoe cruised to the silent river, the strike of moon light passed through Princess Demeter’s face.

For Lord Matthew, it was the only beautiful thing he could watch in that very moment. Because, it was her face which he could only see. The woods surrounding the river were dark, and the water was black. The only source of light for this voyage was the moonlit of the crescent moon, and a red-beaming light from the fire dancing inside the small lantern attached at the canoe’s head. The cold wind breezed. Chelsea felt the chilling sensation brought by the wind. She shivered.

“What do you mean? I have built the Mansion only because I want it. Do I have to have reason why I want it hidden from the people?” Lord Matthew reasoned.

“I am not stupid, Matthew. The center of the civilization is in the Chesterfield City. If you are a wise man, you would not build that mansion hidden in the forest. Instead, you would want it built in the center of the spotlight. To show off. To boast your power.”

“What if I do not want? Boasting my power, I mean.”

“Cut the crap, Matthew. You are a man of business, aren’t you? Beatrix taught me few things about the kingdom’s economy too, you know. And I am not stupid not to know that such kind of property can increase a businessman's worth and value. And I am certain that when a businessman's worth and value rises, their presence to business will flourish too. That’s the sense of connection and power, I know you know that.”

While listening to Chelsea’s explanation about her view of business, Matthew was busy paddling the paddling-board so that the canoe will move and sail.

“That is a surprise, I may say, Chelsea. You are quite decent in wits despite the truth that you are not a true noblewoman.” Lord Matthew smiled.

Hearing his compliment, Chelsea scoffed. Annoyed, she looked at the deeper, darker sides of the woods—at the clusters of huge trees and grasses not far from the riverbank.

For a moment, she saw a quick passing line of flickering light hiding at the shadows of the woods. But, it suddenly disappeared the moment she blinked her eyes once again.

She thought, maybe it was only a light emitted by an insect or a wild animal that is inhabiting the place. She ignored it.

“Are you surprised? We don’t know, but, maybe I am more than intelligent than you. That I knew more than what you know, Matthew,” she boasted.

Matthew was not surprised from the sudden claim of Chelsea. Instead, he smirked, as if he was mocking her.

“If that was a challenge, your Highness, I don’t think I have to accept it. Defeating a princess means lessening their nobility while adding mine. I don’t think you would want that to happen,” Lord Matthew reasoned.

“Huh. Jokes on you, Mr. Baron Lord. Never underestimate a woman’s wits.”

“Hear, hear. I never said I am underestimating any woman, Chelsea.”

“Oh come on! Let’s stop pretending you are not one of those big, fat gentlemen who thinks women are not capable of everything men are capable to do!”

Looking at Princess Demeter’s face, one could say that she was mad at the moment. Her hearing Lord Matthew’s subtle judgement about women’s value seemed to enrage her. That is why she did not hesitate to start an argument with him.

“Chelsea, I have never said you are someone less capable than us.”

From his paddling, Lord Matthew shifted his sitting position. She faced Chelsea who was sitting at the back part of the boat. To defend his self over the argument, she looked intently at her while explaining that what Chelsea was thinking from his words, was not his intended meaning.

“I have never said that, Chelsea,” he again defended.

“Yeah. You never said that—directly. But you yourself knew you’ve subtly given us a remark that your mind and wits and smartness and knowledge was way better than mine. Than us, women.”

“Chelsea, what kind of immaturity is this?”

“Ah, now you are subtly telling me that women are immature?” Chelsea asked, irritated.

“I have never said that to represent women in general!”

“Blah, Blah, defense here, defense there. Toxic masculine everywhere,” Chelsea childishly remarked to Lord Matthew.

“Chelsea I . . .”

Lord Matthew winced. He bit his lower lip to control his anger. Pulling huge amount of courage, he hesitantly cut his words. He closed his eyes. He heaved a deep sigh, controlling his rage. He admitted defeat.

“I am fascinated how your question about the mansion lead you to your remark about us being the bad toxins of the society,” he said.

Hearing that from him, Chelsea’s stares averted back to the woods. She hid her face, because it was hard for her to suppress her emerging smirk. She knew she was winning the argument.

As her stare travelled back to the woods, she saw another pass of striking light appearing in the shadows. Those were a pair of dim, circular light.

However, just like earlier, she decided to ignore it.

“That just prove women’s wisdom, Baron Lord,” she reasoned.

“How many times would I tell you, I did not tell women are not smart. Have you even—”

“If you just answer my question truthfully about your mansion, we wouldn’t be having this kind of argument, Matthew”

Defeated, Lord Matthew sighed. He placed the paddle board inside the canoe so that their transport would only move in an neutral pace.

The wooden sound of the clicking board and the canoe’s body echoed in her ears. It was the only sound she could hear from the surrounding, because the whole river and the forest were still silent: a kind of silence that can make anyone sit in their place uncomfortably; a kind of silence suggesting someone’s espionage.

“Fine,” Lord Matthew muttered. It disturbed the silence of the surrounding.

Chelsea notice how the Lord’s eyes shifted on a certain direction. He was observing something from the silence while pretending he was having a conversation with her.

Seconds after, his gaze shifted back at her. “I have made that house only because I want a place I could find resort to, whenever I am nothing but exhausted from my life full of pretentious noblemen and women.”

That still, silent moment, Lord Matthew was facing Chelsea. His back covering the lime light of the lantern in the canoe’s front. She too was facing him. Seeing the totality of his handsome, attractive face, Chelsea secretly swallowed a small lump on her throat.

Her gaze was glued at the Lord’s pinkish, plump lips. However, her gaze was stolen when from her peripheral sight, she noticed another passing streak of light. Those streak of light are always in pair. Yet, this time, Chelsea recognized that the light seemingly resembled a dreadful pair of eyes.

“Matthew, did you see—”

Chelsea’s words were again cut. Her body froze in shock when Matthew subtly touched Chelsea’s hand that was holding the edge of the boat.

His soft, yet manly fingers sent a thousand bolt of electric current in her body. Her heartbeat raised even faster. And, a tormenting warmth crept from her chest until her neck.

“Shh . . . stay quiet, Chelsea.” Lord Mathew whispered.

From their touching fingers, Chelsea’s stares crept up to his eyes. She felt even more heat when she saw that he was staring back at her. His eyes does not have any sense of flicker or shine. It was all dark. Serious. It was hypnotizing, pushing Chelsea the wanting of her face nearer to him.

“Wh-What are you doing, Matthew?” she asked in whispers.

Still staring directly at Chelsea’s eyes, Lord Matthew slowly leaned forward.

“Matthew, I . . . I think this is wrong,” Chelsea complained.

However, Matthew continued to lean forward.

When his face was only about a few inch away from her, she finally admitted defeat. She closed her eyes. Slowly, she pouted her lips as if waiting for a kiss.

Yet, minutes has already passed, but Chelsea did not feel any soft lips touching against hers.

“When I say you have to jump out from the canoe, you shall do it,” from silence, Lord Matthew whispered near her ears.

Chelsea opened her eyes, a bit shocked and embarrassed. When she saw Matthew’s stares piercing hers, she quickly withdraw her pouted lips.

She had the sudden desire of being swallowed by the river, because of embarrassment. She wanted to peel off her lips with a sharp knife only because she assumed he would kiss her.

“Wh-What? What do you mean jump?” she asked, wanting to clarify what Lord Matthew whispered to her just a while.

“Just jump,” Lord Matthew whispered.

“Wh-Why?”

“Now!”

From that scream, Matthew forcefully pushed Chelsea away from the boat. It caused her to stumble and quickly plunge into the cold water.

She later realized that Lord Matthew did that pushing because someone has lunged an attack towards their boat.

As she gasped for air, she heard the muffled crushing sound of the boat’s ruining. It was ruined from the impact of the thing—or creature—that has attacked them.

Swimming, she saw that Lord Matthew was now fighting against something in the water. It wasn’t an alligator, or any creature of the river, because she could hear it grunting as if it was a dog. Sometimes it was whimpering in pain made by Lord Matthew’s wrestles.

Far distance in the dark woods, pack of howling noises erupted. Chelsea realized the one who had attacked them was the creature he was most frightened at.

Wolf—or werewolf.

By the guide of the dim moonlight, she swam to the riverbank. When she was safe, she looked back at Lord Matthew.

Still, he was having a dread wrestle with a werewolf. It seemed that he has no mere intention in escaping from that fight.

“Matthew! Get away from there! You cannot defeat that monster!” she shouted, worried.

Her attention was all focused at him and his fiery fight. However, she does not know that two wolves were already behind her, lurking in the dark, looking at her as if she was a subject for prey.

She was able to notice it, only when she heard their raging growls.

Soon as she looked back, she was able to see the wolves. Their eyes were sharp. Their rabid mouth was growling, spitting transparent saliva. Both of their furs were gray-coated. Their sturdy paws were accompanied with sharp nails.

Tears escaped at Chelsea’s eyes. Because of her fear, she had unconsciously took few steps back, as if that would help her escape away from the wolves.

She wanted to speak—to scream so loud, asking for help. Yet, her mouth were glued and her throat were dried and seemed swollen.

Now, one among the two gray wolves stepped forward. Its eyes were sharper than the other one, and its body were comparatively bigger than the other.

It growled.

Chelsea shook her head. She mouthed a, “please, no. Not me.” But her own voice had betrayed her too. It had ran away from her.

The Gray Wolf lunged. With its mouth widely opened, teeth are exposed from Chelsea’s sight, the wolf jumped towards her.

Chelsea admitted her destiny. It will be her end. She was about to close her eyes to accept her miserable destiny, but when she noticed something that has erupted above her, from her back, she held her breath. She was flustered.

There was another wolf in the area. It was different from the gray wolf that was about to attack her. It was black—and bigger.

The black wolf lunged towards the gray wolf that was in the mid-air, about to attack Chelsea. From that, the two wolves met with a clashing impact. They rolled on the ground with the gray wolf shrieking in pain because the black wolf’s fangs were buried in its body.

Seeing the opportunity, the black wolf bit the gray wolf even stronger. Biting, it strenuously shook its head. The gray wolf cried even louder. Its flesh from the black wolf’s strong bite were excruciatingly ripped.

The gray wolf has still managed to escape. It can still stand despite the fact that near its flesh near the hind leg were brutally torn.

Now, the other gray wolf growled. However, it was not a fool to attack the shadow-colored wolf, when witnessing how powerful the wolf was.

The black wolf was still, angry at them. Under the silver moonlit of the crescent moon, the black wolf howled.

Chelsea has learnt once in one of their discussions in highschool, that the way the wolf communicates through each other, was through loud, long wolf howl.

Hearing that, the gray wolves yammered both in panic and fear. Without any hesitation seen from their eyes, they started running away from Chelsea’s front. They went towards the middle of the wood, hoping for their escape.

For a moment, Chelsea felt her lungs easing from its deep breaths. She sighed. For a moment, she felt safe.

However, the black wolf was still near her. It was still growling. Enraged, it was staring towards the direction where the gray wolves escaped.

Chelsea could still feel its bloodlust.

“H-Hey there,” Chelsea suddenly muttered. Not knowing why her steps were leading her to the black wolf, she was both curious and wary.

Chelsea felt a string of connection to the wolf. Even though she was uncertain, even though she was scared, she went to the wolf—and slowly, she touched its body. She caressed its drenched fur. She tapped it as if trying to calm its fury.

“It’s . . . alright. Everything is fine now,” she hesitantly said.

She made her voice in calmed whisper, as if she was attempting to lull its rage.

Feeling the gentle caresses of Chelsea’s hand, the wolf closed its eyes. For a moment, the wolf submitted from her caresses. She does not know why she was doing that, but it felt that it was the right thing she can do.

After perhaps quick seconds, the wolf’s body suddenly stiffened. It growled. And then, not knowing the reason why, it ran away from her. Peculiar, the wolf plunged back to the water—from where it has come from, perhaps.

Chelsea attempted to follow the black wolf, but someone called her. Its voice, full of worries.

“Princess Demeter!”

She traced the source of the calling. Until she saw Gwyneth, running towards her. Beside her were two buffed men that seemed like they were Gwyneth’s hired body guard.

Then, from the dark sides of the trees, she heard sounds of hasty yet almost silent footsteps. She felt fear from it, traumatized.

“Do not worry, your Highness. They are warriors from Silver Feather,” Gwyneth explained the footsteps. Then, to assure Princess Demeter’s actual state, she asked, “Are you okay?”

“Gwyneth? What are you doing here?” she curiously asked.

“We were called by our Alph—Lord Matthew, I mean,” Gwyneth answered.

Chelsea was curious into knowing how Lord Matthew supposedly called them. The mansion was too far from where they were already, so a cry of help is almost impossible. But when she remembered what had happened to the Lord, panic suddenly stroke through her.

“M-Matthew—” he whispered— “He was in danger earlier!” she turned towards the river, then scanned through the place where Matthew fought a wolf until its death.

However, the river was now back to its serene flow. The crescent moon reflected through the water. There were no more wolf and Lord Matthew who was having their wrestling at the cold river.

She was about to call him, for his name, when not from afar, Matthew was already emerging from the water.

“I am fine, your Highness. You shall not worry,” Matthew said as he confidently walks towards the river bank.

She was about to run to him with joyful smile when she saw and realized something. Her cheeks burned in red and quickly, she turned her stare away from him.

One of the men accompanying Gwyneth brought out a folded white robe. As if he was a boy scout that is always prepared, he gave the robe to Lord Matthew.

“A-Are you okay, Matthew?” Chelsea asked, still embarrassed.

“I am,” Lord Matthew coldly answered.

Chelsea then chuckled, suppressing a chortle. “That wolf who attacked you, it seemed it has some burning desire to see your ripped body. It has totally undressed you,” she joked, even though she too could hardly get the picture of Lord Matthew’s completely nude image in her head.

Hearing Chelsea’s mock, Gwyneth and the two men that were listening to their conversation has secretly pursed their lips. They do not want to react, but because of Chelsea’s joke, the suppressed laugh penetrated their control, and escape from their sealed mouths.