Chapter Text
Blood.
I can scent it faster than the others so I run ahead, ignoring the snarls of the pack leader. This is the usual path, one we follow every night as we patrol for Lord Heisenberg. After curfew in the village, around ten PM, we are free to roam and hunt until sunrise.
Any out past curfew, or charged with any harsher crimes who have been locked out at night, are able to be hunted by us. If there are any outsiders who have stumbled into the territory, we capture them and bring them to the Lord. If he has no need of them, then we feast.
Tonight we hunt a man out past curfew. His scent is strong, blood heavy on the ground, which tells me he was a criminal. They will cut those who commit the worst crimes, to give us a trail to follow and make it harder for them to escape. This trail is more than usual, sunk deep into the mud, so he must have done something horrible.
The thought excites me.
I’ve grown used to this life, even if I hate most of the pack and wish to flee from them if I could. I don’t remember before, I only know the pack and what Leader and the Lord have taught me, but something has always scratched at the back of my mind.
I’m not easy to control and it annoys them.
This fact is extremely apparent when Leader bites at my heels, snarling as I growl at him even as I fall back into line.
We won’t make it now. No doubt the prey will make it to another territory before we can catch it. I’m fast but I cannot run beyond how fast the pack as a whole can go. Leader doesn’t like that I’m better, most of the pack doesn't, and they make sure I do not utilize all of my abilities anytime we hunt.
It hurts the pack, I know it does, but they must be the strongest in the eyes of the others apparently.
Leader seems pleased now that I’m behind and he picks up the pace, realizing what I already have even though he doesn’t seem to care much. My obedience is more important than fresh meat to him and that fact makes me want to rip his heart out with my teeth.
To push the idea down, my eyes search the area around us, trying to figure out where we are. When I spot a certain type of tree and a few small farm houses in the distance, a low burn of satisfaction burns in my chest.
The dark lady’s territory grows near and the pack is terrified of her and her daughters.
Lord Heisenberg tells us to fear her, always spinning stories of his sister’s violent temper and bloodthirsty nature. He tells to never go on her grounds unless we wish to die and yet, I’ve never felt afraid. The idea of visiting her castle is an exciting one.
While the others always flee once we get near the line, I have my curiosity begging me to move closer.
I’ve never been this close. Normally on hunts that lead out this far, Leader keeps me harshly at the back or has me scout out along the sides so I do not tread beyond the border. He doesn’t trust me to keep myself in line, after all.
Maybe I really am stronger than they let me believe.
I know I’m powerful, I know I could beat them at hunting in any arena, but the way I’m kept, the way I’m treated, makes me wonder if I really am just a wayward pup who needs to be taught.
Maybe they just don’t want me to get myself killed, even if I drive them crazy most days.
Sometimes I’ll think these things, wonder if I’m too hard on the pack or if I just do not realize how much they do for me.
Then Leader will snarl and snap or one of the boys will bite at me or they will try to force me in with the other women and I hate them all over again.
Shaking my head, I try to refocus my efforts. I need to help my brothers, no matter my own personal feelings, to take the prey for us all. It’s what the Lord has taught us. He always tells us we must be one with the pack.
It’s been drilled into my head, ever since I fought the pack the first time. I refused to be caged to the den and they realized I would kill any who tried to touch me. Lord Heisenberg told Leader to add me to the hunting party when I wounded ten and killed one.
I was punished for that, harshly, but once I healed, Leader did as he was instructed
He wasn’t happy about it but he didn’t try to argue with the Lord. Still, I’m treated as an insolent pup, he holds my violent reaction in the beginning against me and has never trusted me.
Leader wanted me to be in the dens.
The men always try to keep the women hidden within the pack’s main territory to keep them safe and available to them. It’s disgusting, we do not need to breed like humans to reproduce and yet they insist upon it. Most women in the pack will not fight it, in fact the other women seem happy enough with the arrangement as they do not need to do anything more than relax when not caring for the young.
Anytime I spent in the dens showed me just how differently I felt compared to the rest of them.
I didn’t think like the men, I didn’t think like the women, and I fight against the traditions and rules of the pack entirely. So much so that I’ve mauled many others more than once, so violently that those hit by my claws have never bothered me again.
It’s exhausting.
Lord Heisenberg never interferes with my place in the pack. The only time he did so was that first incident, that first punishment, but now he just allows Leader to do as he wishes.
Usually, that means I was the lowest lycan in the pack, making sure I was only given what food was necessary and outcast by most of the others. A few were kind to me, some who didn’t care how I was and didn’t try to force anything.
Those few I liked well enough would bring me extra scraps to eat, pelts to sleep upon, and showed me places to get my own water sources.
They were kind but they all eventually fell in line once Leader saw what they were doing.
Abruptly, the running stops. So much so that I nearly trip over my own hands as I slow down. Leader looks in each direction carefully, cautiously, and I realize we are edging closer to the line. I can smell so much more than usual, see the different trees that have been planted to visually show the line, and then I spot him as well.
The man is crawling on the ground, his legs still on our side, but only just. More blood has coalesced beneath him and I realize someone else has already taken the first bite.
The buzz of flies fills the area for a moment, followed by a manic giggling as one of the lady’s daughters circles him. Leader snarls as she sinks her sickle into his back, dragging him completely onto their side with one harsh swipe.
Her eyes flickered up, giving a sly grin as she removed the blade and licked along the metal.
“Too bad, Toothy. You’re always too slow when they make it this far.” Her voice was smug, vibrant, and I was confused as to why I understood. “Go on, you’ve lost this fight.”
With that, she lunged forward a bit, bursting into flies and circling back to the man on the ground when she got to the border line. Leader froze, fear vibrant in his eyes, before he dug his claws into the ground and howled.
The order home was followed quickly, the others wanting to flee as much as Leader did. Still, going home meant going back to the den.
The den with no fresh meat.
The idea was infuriating and disappointing. While there was always food to share within the den, it was all days old. I’d only get the scraps as always and when there was no fresh meat, it meant I would get even less.
My stomach rumbled sadly at the very thought.
Leader sped off into the trees, head low to the ground. It was always a mild pleasure to see him put in his place but this time, my own hunger overruled any joy I would have gotten from it.
The others follow after him quickly, rushing to get away from the girl as she happily drank from the wound she’d created. I kept to the back line, walking slowly along with them until they ran deeper into the woods.
They were distracted with their own disappointment and fear so I took the chance I had to double back.
My curiosity could not be contained this time. Not when I was so close, not when there was nothing good waiting for me back at the den.
I went back to the territory line, keeping low to the ground and hidden between the trees. The girl had stopped the bleeding on the man, material wrapped around where she’d wounded him. Though his hand was now also wrapped and I noticed she was gnawing on a finger while she stood close by.
The scent of blood overwhelmed me when the wind blew my way. It drew a low hungry whine from me, against my better judgment, and the girl stopped all movement at the noise.
Within a moment, her sickle was freed from the spot on her hip and she had whipped around, teeth bared at the trees. The expression faltered when she spotted me and confusion hazed her eyes.
I’m sure I looked quite like a scolded dog, my body pressed close to the ground while I stared longingly at the body. Another whine escaped when the man groaned and the girl put her foot on his throat to silence him.
“Well hello there.” Her voice was gentle, curiosity filling it as she tilted her head. She came closer when she was sure the man wouldn’t move and I carefully crawled a little closer to the boundary line. “Are you hungry, hm? Why didn’t you run away with the rest of the pack? Even a starving dog will flee from me.”
I didn’t have much of an answer, though I tried to give some kind of garbled response.
Lycans only spoke in our own created language and through body language. Lord Heisenberg would occasionally speak their human language but only lycans who were more evolved could understand him.
I’d never understood why I could when my own body was more wild than most.
My arms were slightly longer to allow an easier time running on all fours while my back legs were bent in a canine manner. It was why I was so much faster, I could run like a wild wolf while the others had more human-like limbs.
My features were still human-like but with a wild edge and I knew to many, I looked like a humanoid version of the feral wolves that occasionally ran through the edge of the forest. The hair along my body was also more like fur, thicker and warmer than the others. It ran on my head like normal but the line of it down my spine and the fur along my forearms and legs was much more pronounced compared to the rest of the pack.
These differences seemed to intrigue the girl as she knelt down to get a better look at me. My ears twitched as she hummed, her eyes bright when she spotted the movement. I knew they were longer and more pointed than human ears and she seemed to like them.
“You’re so peculiar. Would you like a bite? I’m waiting for my sisters to arrive and even if I give you a treat, there will be plenty of blood left for us all.” She grinned, giving me a little wink that made my head pop up happily.
The sudden movement made her manic giggling pick up again and the sound, the sparkle in her eye, made that itch in my head even worse. Each time she spoke, each time she treated me like something more than a pack grunt, it made that sensation more pronounced.
Why did I understand her? Why did I want to communicate with her so badly?
The questions vanished from my mind when she lashed out with her sickle and cut off one of the man's legs off at the knee. He screamed, body convulsing before he went limp as she tied the wound off tightly to stop the bleeding. When she was done, she came back over and tossed the limb to me. It was over the line, on my side now, so I didn’t need to contain myself any longer.
I caught the leg mid-air, biting into it so ferociously I felt my teeth scrape bone. The meat peeled off so easily I growled a moan at the taste. I was never given such good cuts. Normally I ate what was left on the bone, gnawing small hunks of meat off until all I was left with was the marrow to drink.
To have a leg to myself, especially one so fresh and still warm with blood, made me want to howl or cry with joy.
The girl’s excited clapping made its way into my ears a moment later and I glanced up at her as I took slower bites of meat. She looked absolutely delighted, eyes bright and smile wild as she watched me eat. Blood slid lazily down my jaw as I tried to give her a wolfish smile in return, to let her know I appreciated the gift, and it just made her squeal in what I guessed was joy.
It seemed the dark lady’s daughters were not as horrible or as dangerous to us as we’d been told. That or I was just interesting enough to make her more curious than blood thirsty.
Either way, I was incredibly pleased with how this was going.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak once more, the sound of flies filled the air again. It was louder this time and I tensed when I realized it would be the other two daughters. One was kind to me but I still needed to be careful until I knew how the rest would react.
When they formed on either side of their sister, the other girls looked curiously at the scene. One was more stoic and stern while the other looked aloof and almost tired in a way.
“What have you found, Daniela?” The blonde said. Her eyes held that cold stoic glint but they seemed to warm when the first girl bounced excitedly.
“Dinner and a dog!” She giggled, squirming when the third girl, the brunette, playfully patted her on the head. “I was chasing him alongside the lycans, the usual game I like to play when they come close enough, and he crossed over onto our side just enough for me to bite.”
“You patched him up quite well.” The brunette spoke with a high pride in her voice, so much so Daniela puffed up with a soft blush on her face. “Plenty to bring home to mother. Though I see you’ve fed some to the dog.”
“Yes! Well, I didn’t plan to. The others left when they saw I’d stolen the kill but this one came back after a minute or two. She didn’t run away and I’ve never seen a woman one out this far before, so I wanted to see if she was smarter than the boys.”
“And is she?” The blonde tilted her head, eyes critical as she looked me over. It made me want to roll over to show my belly in submission, to show I meant no harm, but I refrained. Instead, I sat up fully and stopped eating to give them my attention entirely. “It seems she just might be.”
“Oh, she definitely is! This one understands what we’re saying.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Hmm.” The brunette moved closer, so fast that I growled low in my throat but didn’t flinch away. It sparked laughter from her this time, less manic than Daniela and much lower in tone. “Oh I like her, she’s braver than the other lycans too.”
“Yes. Uncle Karl said they’ve been trained to stay away from us, that he instilled a deep fear of us so mother would stop killing them, and yet here she stays.”
“She’s smarter, braver, and she looks much different. I think she’s special.” I puffed up at that, proudly baring my teeth in a grin. It brought out that manic giggle again as she came as close to the line as she could. “Can I see those fangs? Please!”
I tilted my head, a bit confused, but then bared my teeth again. This time I was sure to pull my lips back even further as I leaned my head forward. She squealed happily, hands reaching out to cup my jaw.
The touch was sudden, a bit of a shock, but as soon as it registered, I was pressing down into her hands with a low purr. Another joyful sound erupted from her and this time, she slid her hands up to ruffle through the fur like hair on the sides of my head. As she scratched around my ears, I melted down even more, leaning so much forward that I was only being held up by her.
“Karl’s gonna be mad you crossed the line without permission.”
“Oh shut up, Cass! No one’s going to tell him and I doubt this giant puppy is going to get me in trouble.” Daniela turned back to me after sticking her tongue out at her sister. “You won’t tell, right?”
I shook my head no and then settled more firmly into her hold.
“Gods, she really does understand us.”
“Told you! You have to trust what I say, Bela.”
“That becomes difficult, sweet sister, when you enjoy telling us such tall tales.” The blonde came forward and kissed Daniela’s forehead, much to the redhead’s delight.
“Okay, enough being cute, we need to figure this out. We should tell mother, right?”
“Yes, we should. She’d definitely want to know about this.”
“Especially if she can steal her away!” Daniela grinned, looking between her sisters as she went back to rubbing and scratching behind my ears.
“We can’t just take her, though. Uncle Karl would be furious and while mother would enjoy that, Mother Miranda would not be pleased.”
“She was super upset the last time she had to break up a big fight between them.”
“Well.” Cass drew the word out with a sigh. “Last time we did help her with the fight and we did destroy a good bit of the homes on the outskirts of both our territories.”
“That’s fair.” Bela winced at what seemed to be a reminder of a bad time and I watched them carefully, wondering what they may be planning. “We have to tell mother and when we do, she will definitely wish to have her. Karl having such a special beast would not sit well with her.”
“I do enjoy killing lycans but we can’t just cut a bloody trail through the pack, unfortunately.” I huffed at that. I wished they could do so, to rid me of such a place I had to return to, and the brunette grinned widely at my expression. “Like that idea do you? Well, it seems like getting her to join mother may be even easier than anticipated.”
“Of course she wants to leave that stinky pack. She’s different and they probably don’t appreciate that. Especially since uncle Karl doesn’t seem to realize what he has here. She was in the back of the hunting party, I barely noticed her before she came back alone.”
“So he’s treating her like she’s just another mutt?” Bela scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Of course he would ignore such an opportunity to evolve a special lycan. Anyone with eyes can see she’s not the normal beast he produces.”
“Mother will definitely want to know about her.” Daniela nodded with a sure huff, bringing out a rumbled sound from my chest. She grinned at the noise, patting me gently on the head as she finally pulled away from me. I grumbled at the sudden loss of attention but she just tapped the bone still covered in meat at my hands to remind me I still had something else to look forward to. “So we tell her what I found, explain it, and then we’ll come back and try to find her again with mother!”
“Or mother could call a meeting with Mother Miranda so uncle Karl will have to bring her before them both.” Cass bounced her head side to side as if weighing the options. “Either way, it works in our favor.”
“Definitely. We can inform her over dinner, which we should be attending soon. This one needs to be butchered right away.” As Bela spoke, she slid her sickle smoothly into the man’s shoulder and Cass followed her lead. “Come on, Dani, we’ll see her again soon.”
I whined softly at the idea of them leaving. If they went, I’d have nowhere else to go but back to the den, back to the pack and their aggression.
“Hush, little dog.” Daniela smiled softly, leaning forward to pet my head again. “We’ll be back soon and we’ll bring mother next time! If it all works out, we can take you away from the pack so you can stay with us instead.”
A low whimper left me but I nodded. I understood, I knew it would be for the best and if this was a chance to escape, I would take it. She smiled, bouncing on her toes once more before she started to turn into her cloud of flies.
“Bye! We’ll be back!”
And with that, they were gone. They moved so quickly it felt like I blinked and all four bodies had disappeared completely.
When I was alone, I flopped back down onto the ground to finish my meal. Each bite let the confusion of the moment sink in further, that itch intensifying so much I almost wanted to slam my head against a tree.
I could fully understand a language I didn’t think I could speak and I didn’t know why. More than that, I fully understood what they meant and the way they expressed such things, as if I’d been around humanoids instead of lycans.
Another thing was how they referred to me. I’d always hated how the pack treated me like the other females but when the girls called me a woman and such, I felt so deeply uncomfortable. It was so confusing since they didn’t try to cage me like the rest of the pack did, they were just speaking of me.
Even beyond that, why did the dark lady’s daughters feel more safe and bring so much comfort to me? Why did the idea of being within the castle feel more like home than being back at the den did?
Why did I suddenly crave meeting the lady?
Who was I? What was I?
I was a lycan, as far as I knew. I didn’t have a name as I was one of the pack, only the strongest and most evolved of Lord Heisenberg’s creations got their own names. Even Leader’s name was more of a title. Yet I knew I was someone, I had been more and I was more than just a part of the whole.
By the time I’d finished my meal and made it back to the pack, my head was throbbing while it spun with such thoughts.
Leader came closer to sniff at me. It was invasive, an obvious curiosity since I was so much later than the others, and he sneezed harshly when he smelled what I was sure was Daniela’s scent. His eyes glared at me but he didn’t do much more than nip at my side to get me to head deeper into the den.
He knows his control is fickle on a good day and at that time, we were all hungry and discouraged. At least I’d had the leg Daniela gave me since when I got to my usual spot to sleep, all I found to eat were rotten scraps of fat and tiny bits of sinewy flesh.
I pushed it away, feeling my stomach turn after the meal at the line, and instead, I curled into the furs I’d piled into a nest of sorts.
Everything ached, my heart was thundering at the possibilities of the future, and I didn’t know how to contain it all.
So instead I closed my eyes, letting the exhausted confusion lull me into sleep. As I did, I gnawed almost subconsciously at my arm, old scars suddenly itching with each passing moment. I slept with my teeth pressed against my skin, the scent of the daughters still fresh on my fur, and slipped into a deeper slumber than I’d ever had before.
And in my dreams, I remembered.
I remembered running in the woods away from humans but they weren’t right. They were dead, vicious and fueled by instinct. Their teeth sunk deep into my limbs and my chest as I fought them off, my blood slick against my flesh as I ran even faster.
I remember living in a human world where I was small and soft and weak. Broken. The town I fled from housing such awful people, ones who watched as I was beaten and maimed by a man I’d called father. Mother had died and he blamed me. None of the villagers wanted to challenge him since to them, he was kind and helpful and so many others had loved my mother too. I was seen as a demon, a killer, even as a baby.
I remember the vindication I felt when they all died, one by one, and the flames that destroyed my old home. I remember the pain, the broken bones and ripped skin. The malnourished hunger pains, the fiery burn of the bites of those monsters that destroyed the village as they hunted me down.
Yet I didn’t die, I was spared by some kind of karmic joke as I stumbled from one monster to the next.
I remembered tripping into the territory as I ran, half dead and exhausted. The lycans found me, they bit me and changed me.
I wasn’t eaten since they thought I could be another woman for them, another to breed more young, and I became so much more than they could have ever imagined.
I remembered how I thought I could live happily, how I’d be free, and then the pack and Lord Heisenberg took all of those chances to escape such horrible things once again.
Still, I had to thank them for something. With their bite, I became everything I wished I could be.
Larger, stronger, faster. I could fight back now, I’d never be forced to do anything ever again. I’d never let another break me down as my father once had. My senses heightened so that I could always see and hear and smell any dangers along my path.
Yet that liberation was stolen from me when the change also took away my mind. My past, my identity, all of it was erased so I would integrate into the pack. It was part of the bite, part of the type of beast we were, and it was why I was so different.
I’d never fully succumbed.
I remembered those first few horrible days. How I’d try to speak, spitting out my name like a prayer and lashing out at anyone who came near me. As the lycans venom sunk deeper into my veins, my mind withered and forgot, it lost so many things one by one. My body changed in one day but my mind took nearly a week to break, little by little, until I was a lycan puppet in Lord Heisenberg’s hands.
I remembered so much more.
I remembered it all as something in my mind fractured and broke, a lock shattered as it allowed the flood of memories to escape.
The lycan’s venom must have not worked as intended. Instead of destroying my mind and remaking it entirely, it just pushed it all down into a little box.
A box that was now entirely broken open.
I woke with a snarl, lashing out but my claws only met the fur blankets I had pulled around me. A deep loathing for my pack mates spread through my veins as I looked around the den, grinding my teeth now that I wasn’t so unaware. It was too early for Leader to be awake and the Lord would never bring any specific instructions for us unless something happened so I took the moment to carefully sneak out.
Each step was careful, silent, until I made it out of the main territory. All the others were sleeping and the more evolved of Heisenberg’s beasts all lived closer to his factory.
The moment I knew I was safe to run, I took off, heart thundering in my chest as I pushed my body to go as quickly as I could. I needed to make it to the line, needed to find the girls and flee this hell.
As I ran, the cool breeze on my face and the burn of my muscles helped to clear my mind. By the time I stopped at a stream to drink some water, I felt more alive and more like myself than I had in months.
The joy of the feeling quickly drained away when a howl broke the peace of the morning. Deep and enraged, Leader’s call to arms was an obvious signal to find me. None were supposed to leave the den territory alone, especially not at this time of day.
They’d come for me and they’d drag me home with their teeth if they had to.
I didn’t let them gain any ground. Pressing forward, I kept myself pointed to the territory line with the vague hope that they’d be there.
I needed them to be there or to come back quickly, at the very least.
The race was harsh as I ignored the trees and brush around me. By the time I broke through to the line, I was aching and bleeding from some thorn cuts I’d gathered along the way. The closer I got, the more my mind raced and my scars burned as if those teeth were sinking in again.
As if I were about to be changed once more.
I collapsed as soon as I touched the trees brushing the line, panting harshly into the dirt. The pack was far behind but I knew they’d catch up soon. I’d hidden my scent as best I could, hopping in puddles and jumping through trees to disperse my fur, but it wasn’t much.
Time passed and I could feel the pack breathing down my neck. They’d arrive soon, Leader would have worked out where I was by now, so I gave up trying to keep myself hidden.
Instead I sat up, threw my head back and howled as loudly as I could.
“Is that her?” The voice nearly made my collapse as I cut off the howl. Cass and Dani appeared first, landing right in front of you, while Bela came a moment later. The eldest was scanning the trees, no doubt keeping an eye out for the pack. “Was that for us?”
“There are no other lycans around, it had to be for us.” Bela sounded a bit distracted as she refused to stop looking through the trees.
All three girls had their hoods up but I could see the worry on Daniela’s face from where I was sitting. Cassandra nudged her sisters, nodding towards me as I dragged myself up to stand. I stood at the same height as Cassandra, while Bela was taller and Daniela just a bit shorter. They all shifted forward when I wavered, the claws of one hand digging into a tree.
I pointed at the line with the other, eyes bouncing between the girls as I waited for permission.
“Oh! She wants to cross!” Daniela sounded absolutely delighted, moving even closer until she was right on the line.
“We could take her to mother now, I suppose. She was interested last night.”
“Yes.” Bela finally looked at her sisters then. “Maybe showing her would convince her to call Mother Miranda. She did say we needed more proof of how special she is. If we show that she requested to follow us, that she came willingly, it may help.”
Daniela held her hand out then and I noticed that they were all wearing long sleeve dresses beneath the cloaks. I knew they didn’t like the cold, why I remembered that I didn’t really know but as soon as I did, I reached out to warm her hand between my own.
I was steadier now, able to stand without falling and she seemed to appreciate the help.
“Will you follow us home, little beast? If we give permission and you want it, then we won’t be in trouble for bringing you over the line.” Dani grinned, starting to take a step back as I took one step forward.
I wanted to answer with more than just a nod, I wanted them to know I was so much more than they even realized.
So I paused after that step, closing my eyes and letting my tongue slide over my teeth as I tried to make my mouth form the words. It had been so long since I’d spoken, I knew I’d spent at least eight months with the lycans, but eventually it came back to me.
“Y-es.” The word was stilted, my fangs much larger than my teeth used to be and my tongue unused to forming words within this mouth. I sounded like I’d swallowed gravel, the tone much rougher and deeper than it had been before, but it was nice to hear my voice exist within the world after so long.
The girls froze at the word, eyes wide. Daniela’s jaw was dropped as she leaned closer, her hand gripping mine even tighter.
“She spoke."
“Holy fuck.”
“She said something! Lycans don’t speak!”
“Uncle Karl did say they couldn’t form anything beyond lycan speech once their minds have been recrafted by the venom. It seems her mind was never altered.” Bela sounded flabbergasted, eyes sparkling as she reached forward and gently pet along the side of my head. I purred, tilting into the touch. “Now you must meet mother, she’ll be so delighted to know something so special has come to her door.”
“Yes!” Daniela said the word as she burst forward, letting go of my hands to instead hug me around the middle. I returned the embrace, purring loudly when she broke into those giggles of hers.
“Ugh, Dani.” Cassandra huffed as she moved forward, rolling her eyes even as she also reached forward to pet the other side of my head. Her own expression was alight with curiosity. “We’re all going to smell like wet dog.”
I growled playfully at her and she snorted, making the growl drop as I gave her a toothy grin.
The moment broke when another fevered howl, this one much closer, rose from the trees. I flinched, snarling as I turned my head back towards the territory and protectively tightened my hold on Daniela.
I could scent them now, the wind on our side, and I took a step back with Daniela still pressed against my chest.
“Close.” The word was growled, the redhead bursting into flies and reforming on my back instead, her arms wrapped around my neck.
“Let’s go then! They can’t cross since we didn’t invite them.”
“If they do come closer, we can kill them.” Cassandra grinned, teeth bared in an almost feral grin. A part of me wanted that to happen but a larger part just wished to flee the area.
“No starting wars, Cass. Let’s just get back to mother.” Bela shook her head, though her smile betrayed her stern tone. “Follow us.”
As she waved at me, they led the way as I kept Daniela on my back. I walked as I normally would, with all four limbs on the ground, and she seemed delighted that I could carry her without any issues.
They didn’t seem to be in too much of a hurry and I enjoyed the slower pace. It allowed me to take in my surroundings, to grow used to the new scents and sights all around us.
The buildings were cleaner, the homes less run down, and even the plant life seemed more vibrant, more alive. I felt like I could breathe easier without the smog of the factory lingering in the air. It seemed that any pollution from Lord Heisenberg’s territory stopped at the line, as if those trees had created an actual wall.
“Are you hungry?” The question startled me a bit, I’d been so lost in my observations. I realized Bela had asked when my stomach let out another low rumble and I nodded, a bit sheepishly. “Have you not eaten?”
“Not since… leg.”
“All you had to eat yesterday was the leg I gave you?”
“Mh. Only get scraps..” I growled a bit, the sound easing when Dani scratched the fur along my neck. “Bottom of pack.
“Makes sense why you hate them. Maybe we can get you some food before we go to see Mother Miranda.”
“It works well in our favor.” Bela sighed, completely shocked. “Uncle really doesn’t know what he has with you. Not only does he not realize how special you are, but he also allowed those mutts to make you so low that no one would have found out if you hadn’t gone back to see Dani.”
“How much do lycans need to eat normally, anyway?” Cass tapped her chin, looking back at me for a moment. “Do you need a lot?”
“Healthy amount is three meals, good amount of food. I get maybe half or less of good amount.”
“So the leg?”
“Maybe half one good meal size. Whole leg would have been good for whole meal.”
“Aw, I should have given more then.”
“No.” I chuckled softly, bucking my back a bit to playfully jostle Daniela. She gifted me with that giggle of hers in return. “Was good, more food than usual. Very happy, thank you.”
“She’s improving the more she talks.” Bela seemed almost proud in a way. “We just need to work on your sentence structure.”
I nodded but my brow furrowed a bit at the comment. She tilted her head at the expression, bumping my side to get my attention a moment later.
“What is it?”
“Don’t like… mhhn.. Not she.”
“Oh. We thought you were a woman, are you not?”
“Don’t think so? Still confusing but… Not woman, not man, just lycan now.”
“Well we understand that well.” Cassandra beamed, smiling wider than I’d seen so far. “I’m quite the same. I’m just me but I enjoy using she and her so I can match my sisters. Shall we use they and them for you instead?”
I perked up, nodding happily. All three giggled back, seeming quite pleased with themselves as well.
“I’m glad that was worked out, it would have been rude to continue using something that made you uncomfortable. Thank you for telling us.” Bela patted my head as she spoke, sparking a light purr in my chest.
“Speaking of rude!” Dani’s voice was loud right by my ear but I tried not to flinch. “We never asked for a name! Do you remember your name?”
Oh, well. I hadn’t even really thought about that yet. I’d be able to use my name again, I’d be able to feel like myself again.
“Yes.”
“Well, that settles it entirely. They never fully mutated, though their body seems even more mutated than the usual lycans in the pack.” Cass hummed, eyes hazing as she went to think of how I could have come into being. “I’m not sure what would have stalled the venom, or nullified it enough that it didn’t remake your mind.”
“I’m sure mother will have a better idea. Mother Miranda would be able to work it out, as well.”
“True, maybe I can help them with it.”
“Enough of that!” Daniela huffed, ruffling her hands through the hair aside my head. “What’s your name? So we know what to call you.”
“Micah.” It felt right to say it out loud again and I sighed happily. My name being out in the world felt like a puzzle piece sliding into place, like something inside me clicked and I was even more sure of who I really was.
“Any surname? We could try to research a bit more to see if you’re from any families we may know around the villages.”
“Vokinthall.” My mothers last name was the only one I’d recognize for myself. My father could rot with his lineage dead and gone. My mother would have hated how they treated me, how things went after her death, and I believed that with my entire heart.
“Hm, sounds a bit familiar. What do you think, Cass?”
“Yea, definitely one we’ve heard before but it’s been a while so I couldn’t say from where. It’s not a family name from anyone within mother’s village, though. Maybe one of Mother Miranda’s?”
“It’s possible. We’ll find out once we discuss it all with them both.”
“Speaking of names, however, I just realized we never fully introduced ourselves.”
“I’m sure they’ve figured it out by now, Dani.”
“Still, mother would say we’ve been quite rude to not do so.”
“Alright.” Bela sighed, rubbing her forehead. They stopped moving and Dani even flew from my back to stand with her sisters. “As I’m sure you’ve realized, we are the daughters of the countess of this territory, Lord and Lady Alcina Dimitrescu.”
Dani and Cass both snorted at the deadpan tone Bela’s voice had taken on and they gave very over exaggerated bows as they each sounded off their names.
“Bela Dimitrescu, I am the oldest sister.”
“Cassandra Dimitrescu. I am the middle child, just call me Cass.”
“Daniela Dimitrescu! I’m the youngest and the best.” She squealed at the end, bursting into flies again before the other two could catch her. When she materialized on my back again, sticking her tongue out at her sisters from over my shoulder, we continued the walk.
“Are you happy now, Dani?”
“Mhm.” She just hummed her answer, having glued herself to me to steal my warmth, I was sure.
“Can you repeat our names for us? Mother would be most pleased to know that not only can you speak but you can remember things as well.”
“Hm.” I shrugged, bopping Dani with my head against hers to get her to grumble. “Daniela, Dani.” I turned to the other two, nudging Cass’s hand with my head first. “Cassandra, Cass.” And then pressed my shoulder into Bela’s side. “Bela. No nickname?”
“No, I just like Bela.” She grinned, giving my head another pat. “Perfect, this should go well.”
When we came upon the castle grounds, my eyes widened. A large fence surrounded the main grounds, wrought iron bars separating the land from the roads that led down into the village. Plentiful trees and other plant life littered the grounds and I was a bit surprised to see plenty of staff tending to what must have been a purposeful garden.
“Mother owns the entire lands and our village prospers much more than uncle Karl’s ever has. You’ll find that almost everything here is very different to what you’re used to.” Bela spoke with blatant pride, her eyes sparkling. “Behind the castle is the vineyard and a winery, though mother also has a bit of a work space within the castle itself. Otherwise we have the open garden here, a greenhouse, horse stables and hound pits, as well as a few crafters stalls that will set up along the road into the castle to sell to anyone going to speak with mother.”
“And that’s just on our own property. The village thrives, we have the lowest amount of homeless population and those that cannot afford things can just petition mother for other ways of payment.”
“Other ways?”
“Working for her within the castle in exchange for free room and board or they can agree to donate blood twice a month, every month, until they are able to get back on their feet and in return, mother will provide a sum of money for each donation.”
“It works well and we are quite strict on how to deal with criminals, which means our crime rate is also incredibly low. However, it’s not all perfect, of course. Many people live with their minds in the past since we do not keep up with the more modern amenities of the outside world so that we can remain isolated and safe.” Bela’s voice grew a bit distant then, her smile strained for just a moment before she shook it off. “Mother keeps us all as safe as she possibly can and when she needs help, Mother Miranda protects us all as well.”
I just nodded, not wanting to investigate what may have happened to cause such a look to cross her face.
If I could, I’d do anything to help protect them now as well. They’d taken me out of that hellish place, released me from my bonds to the pack and, if all went well, I’d be able to stay with the lady instead.
I’d been headed this direction anyway, when I fled my old home. I thought if I could make it to the Dimitrescu territory, she could take me in and help me heal. Then we could all investigate what had happened, what manner of beast had decimated my old town and had bitten me to hell and back.
Instead, a lycan got to me.
While I will always be thankful for the gifts that bite gave me and the fact that it may have really saved my life, I’ll always loathe the pack and will always hold a hatred for Karl Heisenberg for how he just discarded me to be stomped upon by the rest of the boys.
“This way.” Bela tapped her fingers against the front door as we reached it, her eyes soft. She must have noticed my apprehension at going into such a beautiful place when I’d spent the past eight months living in a lycans den. “Mother won’t mind you inside, I promise. If she complains, then we can just show you where you can bathe.”
I huffed a bit at that but nodded, ignoring the snickering from the girl still hanging off my back.
When we entered, I carefully walked forward and tried not to shrink down at how out of place and yet at home I felt. It was such a conflicting mix of emotions. I felt like I was too dirty, too wild to be in such a grand place and yet everything called out to me. The foyer was grand and open and yet as I looked just to the side, I could see an entry room that was warmed by a large fireplace and filled with cozy furniture.
There were mirrored staircases leading up to the second floor and beyond that were other rooms and doors I couldn’t yet see. To the other side, I could smell food cooking and knew the kitchens and dining room were just beyond one doorway.
Daniela finally slid off of my back, stretching with a pleased hum as she waved her arms around in a wide circle.
“Welcome to Castle Dimitrescu.” She gave a dramatic bow, ignoring the bored stares from her sisters. “Please make yourself at home.”
“Dani.” Bela sighed her name but then just gave her an affectionate smile. “Wait here with them, Cass and I will go find mother.”
“Okay! We’ll go sit by the fire. Come on, Micah.” Daniela reached out and took my hand, leading me to the room I’d seen. She flopped onto a plush couch once we got there and gently tapped the other side of it. “Come on, you won’t ruin anything. The maids will clean any mess you leave behind and if it’s real bad, then we can just get new cushion covers.”
Taking her word for it, I carefully sat on the couch, curling up so my head was settled on a pillow she’d put next to her. A yawn clawed its way out of me as the mixture of heat and softness settled over me.
“Comfy?”
“Mhn.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Dani giggled, her hand going to my head. She scratched behind my ear again and I couldn’t stop the loud purr that rumbled forth. “You like this a lot, huh?”
“Not used to good touch. Is nice.”
“It’s been a while since you’ve been human then?”
“Didn’t have any nice touch when I was human either.”
“Oh.” Her touch stuttered a moment and I wondered if I’d said something wrong. “Well if you ever want us to stop touching you, then just tell us to stop. If you want your head pat, then just ask to be pet. I know you’re not really a dog and you have a more human brain in that head of yours, but I also know lycan instincts are in there now too. You may remember things but you’re still a lycan now so if you like being pet, then we can do that when you ask for it.”
“Pet?”
“Exactly! Just ask for a hug or pets or for some company if you’re feeling lonely. One of us will be there to help, even mother! I’m sure she’s going to like you, and not just because you’re a special lycan.” Dani smiled and I matched it, soaking in the joy that seemed to radiate off of her. In that moment, I hated Heisenberg even more for portraying these sweet people as horrible monsters. Sure, I knew they hunted and could be bloodthirsty hunters but they weren’t blatantly evil like he’d told us.
“Lord is a liar.”
“Who? Uncle Karl?”
“Yes. Told us you were…bad. Monsters, scared us with stories. Not monsters. You are the nicest being I have known.”
Daniela’s face went on a journey. Sadness, anger, relief, and then a soft happiness that stayed there when she leaned over to hug me. I lifted up enough to hug her back, trying to comfort her when she clung to me so harshly.
“Dani?” Cass’s voice came from behind us, concern heavy within. Daniela just pulled away and smiled, patting my head as she waved off any worry. “Everything okay?”
“Yea, we just need to talk to mom about uncle Karl too.”
“Okay.” Cassandra seemed curious but didn’t push for more. “Bela is bringing her-”
“What has my dear idiot brother done now, my darlings?” The voice that hit the room was smooth, amused, and it warmed me from the inside out. Looking up, I was a bit shocked to see the lady really was as tall as Lord Heisenberg had said and yet he had lied about one other thing. Lady Dimitrescu was beautiful and did not inspire any deep fear like he’d warned of. “This is the little lycan you’ve been telling me about then?”
“Yes, mom!” Daniela brightened the moment she spotted the lady, flying over to hug her around the waist. Lady Dimitrescu warmed immediately, sliding a hand down Daniela’s back to hold her in close. “They’re special and sweet, I like them. We need to keep them so uncle can’t force them back into the pack.”
“I’ll do my best then, little bug.” The tone of the lady’s voice had softened, so full of affection it made my heart squeeze. Her eyes snapped to me when I sat up fully, trying to look at least a bit presentable.
I knew it was worthless to try. I wore nothing more than some ripped scraps of clothing over my chest that were more to keep the pack members from touching me than anything. Otherwise I was naked, coated in a mix of dirt and old blood and who knows what else.
Lycans didn’t bathe much and I’d been living with the pack for eight months, I knew I was a mess without even looking down at myself.
“Well, well, you definitely do not look like the usual mutts my brother produces in that braindead pack of his.” It wasn’t quite praise but it still made your face warm as you puffed up a bit. She gave Daniela’s head a kiss before she carefully untangled her daughter to come closer.
I noticed that she nudged all her daughters behind her when she was close enough. It was a protective gesture and my heart gave a funny twist when I noticed how all three clung to her dress just a bit.
“They’re quite different, as I explained before, mother. They can even talk.” Bela’s voice was warmer, almost lighter than I’d heard before. It held an obvious reverence, like she looked up to her mother so much and so blatantly that she couldn’t ever hide it.
“If the dog can speak, then it really is special.” I noticed she’d refused to call me a girl and something like relief spread through me as I realized the girls must have explained that as well. “My darlings, why don’t you go prepare a carriage for us and call Mother Miranda to alert her of our arrival. Even if this beast doesn’t perform to my expectations now, this should still be told to her. You like this one so even if I do not see the worth of keeping them, I would like to keep them for you three.”
The girls let out happy buzzing as they burst into a hoard of flies, zooming out of the room so quickly it made my head spin.
Then I was suddenly alone with the great lady, her presence now settling over me fully. I still wasn’t afraid of her, not like Heisenberg had tried to drill into my head, but a shiver still went down my spine when those glowing golden eyes snapped onto mine.
I ducked my head in a slight bow, trying to show I had some manners, but almost immediately, her fingers grasped my jaw to tilt my head up. She scrutinized me, huffing a moment later as she released me.
“My girls tell me many things about you. They say you understand them, that you speak and told them your name and your preferences. I trust them but I also acknowledge that they can be a bit naive. So I ask you one simple question that I need absolute honesty on.” Lady Dimitrescu leaned down, her presence threatening and bold. “Are you a trick from my dear brother? It wouldn’t be the first time he’s done something like this to try to attack as a game.”
“N-No, my lady.” The shock that slipped onto her face was only there for a split second before a cool, calm expression overtook it, but I still caught it. She didn’t think I’d actually speak. “I want to.. escape him.”
“My, my, you really can speak. I’m afraid I was convinced my daughters had been won over my voice boxes and fake movement.” She sighed, something crossing her eyes that told me this had happened before. “My brother may not truly wish for me to die but he does very much enjoy pushing my buttons to the brink of violence. I had worried you may have been his latest toy.”
“Lord Heisenberg barely… sees my existence.” The words were beginning to come easier to me, though I had to speak slowly and focus on the way my mouth moved. “Bottom of the pack, no members allowed to help me, don’t eat much, can’t sleep well, touched when don’t want to be and have to fight a lot.” I huffed, growling slightly as I thought of the boys back in the den. “My mind never left me, didn’t fully forget and now I… I remember, I remember all.”
“We will have to work on your structure, my dear, but your voice has returned quite quickly if these memories are newly released.” There was something like pride on the lady’s face and it made me grin, ducking my head to try to hide my blush. “Now, what to do with you is my next dilemma. From what the girls have said, you wish to stay here. Is this correct?”
"Yes, my lady, if I can choose, I'd rather be here." I hesitated for a moment and she caught it, one eyebrow raising curiously. "Before, I was coming here when I was bitten."
That got her attention. Her spine stiffened, eyes narrowed and I noticed her hands curling into fists. It was known that those who seek refuge in the Dimitrescu lands were not to be touched until they'd spoken to the lady, especially any who were not men. To be bitten on my way there, lost as I was in my agony, was not something she'd let go easily.
"Were you on my lands?"
"Unsure. I was hurt, dying, trying to escape a bad place. I thought I was on your side but then.." I raised my hand to my neck, brushing over where the scars of lycan fangs rested. "Took me away. There was a week where I still remembered, tried to stay me, but then I forgot. Until yesterday."
A growl filled the room, low and dangerous. My hackles raised, head bowing to the side a bit to bare my throat. I recognized the threat here, the source of power, and I didn't wish to draw her ire onto me. It must have worked as the sound cut off a moment later and was followed by a deep sigh.
"My fool of a brother's pack must have thought you were a fleeing criminal if you were bleeding while crossing boundaries." There was a tone in her voice that made me think she was saying this to try to smother her anger. "Even if you were moving into the territory instead of out of it. However, your wish to remain here will be taken into consideration. It is quite obvious you are more than Karl had ever considered and he's wasting your potential by letting you rot at the bottom of that damned pack."
Looking up at her, I caught the way her face was pinched with stress, her hand rubbing across her forehead. It made me want to rub against her hip, to try to draw out a smile and see if she laughed like Daniela did. I shook the thought away. The lady may be acting kind to me so far but I knew there was a line I shouldn't cross.
She was a lord, just like Heisenberg. I wanted to grow closer to her, just like her daughters, but for now, that felt a bit impossible.
"Mother." Bela's voice came from the doorway, her hands held behind her back.
"Yes, my darling?"
"Mother Miranda said she will be waiting for our arrival. I told her a bit about what this was about, in case she felt we needed to call Uncle Karl as well, but she just grew quiet and said to leave him out of it for the moment." That got Lady Dimitrescu's attention immediately. Her eyes narrowed, hand moving to cover her mouth as she pondered something.
"Maybe she has some idea about what is happening here. Very well." With that, I watched as the lady became the lord. Her spine stiffened as she brushed down her dress and straightened her hat. After she cracked her neck slightly, her eyes met mine. They were colder than before, a no nonsense steel entering them that nearly had me baring my neck once more. "I have one more question for you."
I nodded, scrambling off of the couch when she waved for me to follow as she started to leave the room. I stayed slightly behind her, not wanting to overstep any possible boundaries.
This woman was my leader now, not the horrid beast out in the woods who changed me, and so I would show her the respect I never truly gave him.
The girls were waiting for us by the front door. Cassandra looked antsy, shifting on her feet and fidgeting with her sickle. Bela had returned to her side quickly, standing at attention as she had been in the doorway, though her eyes were warm when she looked over at me. Daniela, however, just looked excited. She was pacing, going between walking quickly and doing little hops, and her face brightened when she spotted us.
"Mother! Should we clean Micah up before we go?" Daniela bounced over to us and by the wide smile on her face, I thought that maybe she was trying to break some of the tension that had built.
"I'd rather leave quickly. If she sees how much Karl has ignored them, then maybe she'll be even more likely to remove them from that damned pack." Lady Dimitrescu did smile at Daniela a little after she spoke, giving her a pat on the head. "Perhaps you should just fetch them a new shirt instead. One that will cover their whole torso, hm?"
"Yes, mother." The words were chirped happily as Daniela pressed up into her mother's hand before she vanished in her swarm.
"We'll go get settled in the carriage, mother." Cassandra spoke up this time. She gave me a little smile, one I returned a bit hesitantly. "That way we can go once Dani returns."
When the lady nodded her agreement, the girls left us alone once more.
"Have you ever met Mother Miranda?" Lady Dimitrescu finally asked her question, gaze trained down at me. Curiosity lit a fire in me at the way she asked, at why she may have asked. Mother Miranda was basically a ghost to me, a distant goddess I only heard about from Lord Heisenberg and the hushed growls of the pack.
"No. Heard of her a bit but I don't know much." My ears pinned back as I spoke, the intensity in her expression never faltering. "Not from the villages."
"You said you were escaping a bad place. Was it one of the towns outside of our territories?"
"Yes. I knew of lords but not a lot, just rumors and whispers."
"Yet you knew to head to my lands when you were harmed?" Her eyes narrowed, head tilted slightly. It made me tremble a little, head lifting to appease her without much thought.
"Everyone knows Dimitrescu lands are where chances can be given, even if for a price. My home was destroyed, I was dying, didn't have anywhere else so I tried to come here." From one breath to another she seemed to relax, the cold leaving her gaze as her hand came up to gently pat my head. Before I could second guess the motion, I leaned into the touch, a purr rumbling from my chest when she just chuckled.
"You're a sweet pup and I appreciate your honesty. Remember that." The lady's hand paused, waiting until I looked up at her again. "I do not do well with liars. When one lies to me, it doesn't ever end well for them, but I know you're being truthful with me."
I nodded quickly, puffing up happily at the pleased look she sent me. There was no more steel sent my way, no more cold distance, but instead a warmth that filled me to the brim.
"Here, mother, I found one that should fit but won't get in the way!" Daniela returned with a slight huff, her hair messy and cloak slightly askew. The lady fixed it for her, smoothing her hands across her shoulders until Dani was grinning and squirming happily.
A soft flannel shirt was handed over to me, the bottom of it frayed but not falling apart. It looked worn in, loved, and something about that sent a pang through my chest.
"Do you need help getting the sleeves on? Or should I rip those off? This belonged to our old gardener but she's gone now." A sad look passed over Daniela's features as she looked at the shirt before she shook it off, bouncing on her toes. "Sometimes castle staff leave us boxes of things to pass down to others who come in and need help and this was in one of the boxes! So it's yours now!"
That just made it all the more precious. While living in the pack, my only belongings were the scraps of cloth I currently wore and the few pelts and blankets I managed to take to craft into my bedding. I didn't have anything more, and even when I lived in my old town, nothing was ever really mine. All my belongings in my father's home were basically loaned to me, he reserved the right to take them away at anytime and he did so quite often.
To be given something so soft, so warm, and so previously well loved, made a low whine escape me before I could stop it.
Daniela looked a bit startled at the reaction but before she could ask about it, the lady put a hand on her shoulder. Those eyes pierced through me, seemed to sense what was going on in my mind, and her other hand was settled gently on my neck, her fingers scratching lightly below my ear.
"Go wait with your sisters in the carriage, Daniela. I'll help our guest to change." Lady Dimitrescu exchanged a pointed look with her daughter before Dani nodded, giving me a smile before she burst into flies and went outside.
When we were alone, the lady kneeled down before me. It was startling, so much so I froze and watched her with wide eyes.
"Is it alright if I remove this?" Her hand tugged at the scraps of cloth. She was so patient, waiting until I came to a conclusion and nodded my agreement. Carefully, she lifted my old covering over my head. It was folded and set aside, as if it were important, as if it were more than thrown out bits pieced together. "Would you like to keep the sleeves? They won't cover your arms entirely as the old owners arms were shorter than yours, but the shirt will fit alright with them still there. However, if you find it uncomfortable, I can cut the sleeves off before you even put it on."
It was a little staggering, the way she'd softened. Her tone, her look, even the way her hand reached out to take the new shirt, it was all so careful. She didn't care when I tightened my hold for a moment, a growl rumbling out until my hands relaxed under her own when I knew she wouldn't take this from me.
"T-Try the sleeves. I don't know if I'll like it like this." The lady just nodded and then slowly moved to help me into the shirt. While it was large and once may have been quite loose on me, it now was fitting just right, if not a bit tight in some places. It was strange to have sleeves again and while I enjoyed the warmth they provided to my upper arms where no fur lay, it also constricted in a way that was uncomfortable. "No, don't like it. Too tight, won't be able to run."
"Alright, hush, I can remove them easily. Hold still for me." Lady Dimitrescu spoke in a soothing tone and I tried to push past the mild panic that had slipped into my voice. For some reason the way the sleeves pressed down made me want to flee, to curl into a dark corner and snarl at anyone who came near. The sensation left me once I heard the tearing of fabric and air brushed across my skin.
My muscles relaxed as soon as I saw the bits of fabric in Lady Dimitrescu's hand. Stretching out my arms, I shifted my shoulders and shook, feeling how well I could move in the sleeveless covering.
"Thank you." She blinked at my words before a slow smile spread, this one open enough for me to see her fangs glint in the light.
"Of course, sweet pup. Now, can you button those or shall I?" As she waved down to the open front of the shirt, I frowned. My hands were not used to such things any longer and while I could do most things, the buttons felt so tiny as they slipped past the calloused pads on my fingers. The way my claws got in the way didn't help either and soon, a frustrated growl rumbled past my clenched teeth. "All you must do is ask for help and I will provide it, Micah."
That made me freeze, ears perked forward as my head shot up from staring at the buttons to meeting her gaze. The way she said my name melted something in my chest, made that growl slip into a purr as I took a tiny step closer to her.
"I can't, I'm not used to doing this. Not anymore. Can you, please?" My tongue felt even thicker as I tried to spit out my request, a blush flashing across my fact and heating along my neck. Yet the lady just nodded, not paying any mind to how my hands shook as she brushed them aside to start buttoning the shirt. One by one, her even larger hands somehow managed to get it done. It was almost art, the way her fingers shifted so gently so she didn't rip anything.
"There we are. I've helped my daughters many times so I learned how to work with things much smaller than my own hands. I can teach you, if you'd like." The words were offered so quickly, without any thought, and yet they meant more to me than she'd ever know.
This kindness, this warmth, was all so new to me. I craved it, I wanted to be greedy so I could keep it with me every day for the rest of my life.
"I'd like that, my lady."
"Alcina." She chuckled at my confusion, standing back to her full height as she gave a pat to my head. "If you are to be staying here, then you will be more than any simple maid or other castle staff. My daughters requested that you join the family, as you are special, and so should Mother Miranda have no objections, you will be part of our close circle when living here. Thanks to this, I do not see any reason for you to speak with my titles, though using titles in any professional spaces is a must. Instead, when we are just within the castle, call me Alcina."
An emotion I couldn't name overwhelmed me at that. While I knew Lord Heisenberg's first name, I'd never been able to speak it before, and I never really wished to now. To be given her name so willingly, so easily, and allowed to speak it, to use it, so freely?
I whimpered as I nodded, pressing into the hand that moved from where it had pet my hair to cup my cheek. As I nuzzled into her palm, I tried to impart all I was feeling, all the things I could not put into words, and she seemed to gather some of it as her thumb gently rubbed just under my eye for a moment.
"Come along, we must not leave my daughters nor Mother Miranda waiting any longer."
Shaking myself out of the emotional stupor, I hummed my agreement, following closely at her side as we went to the carriage. The girls were all sitting on one side, cuddled together with a large blanket spread across their laps.
Carefully, I climbed in after the lady, wincing a bit at the dirt that immediately smeared from my hands. Alcina's expression didn't waver, however, as she waved for me to sit next to her, giving a flicker of a smile at my hesitance.
"You can get the carriage dirty, pup, it is not a problem. Now come sit, I won't have you laying on the floor like some common cur." The girls all giggled at that, expressions ranging from smug to pleased to slight surprise. The lady glanced at them, affection bleeding out from her as she relaxed now that I'd climbed up to sit by her side. "Should this go as I believe it will, then this pup you've brought me will be joining the family, daughters."
"Yes!" Daniela's squeal of glee made me jump a bit but Alcina put a hand on my back, urging me to curl up and be at ease. So I did, settling with my head on my arms, pressed as closely to her side as I dared to be.
"You believe it will go well then, mother?" Bela questioned quietly, warmth in her eyes as they flickered to me.
"I do. Karl has wasted the potential of this one and that is something Mother Miranda loathes entirely. Any differences in the changes we provide are always to be reported immediately and it's plain to see that he is not monitoring the pack as he is supposed to be." She huffed, her hand coming to rest at the back of my neck. I froze as she absently started to scratch at the fur-line there before my body went limp under her touch. "Besides, Micah's plan in the beginning was to come to me for help. Then we would have been able to see their potential from the start. I'm sure she will side with us on this matter."
The rest of her words bled out into a pleasant hum to my ears. Alongside the sway of the carriage, the comfort of the new shirt, and her hand, ever so gentle, never stopping it's petting of my fur, I could feel myself slipping into sleep.
It was needed, I was more exhausted than I could imagine really, and when I felt Alcina move, her voice brushing against my ear so close it twitched, I was helpless to do anything but follow her instruction.
"Sleep, sweet pup. I'll wake you when we arrive."