Jemima took Joy to a place she had not noticed since arriving at the village. A building hidden behind a few trees just after the Enclosure. The interior was similar to that of a cathedral in the human world. With glass paintings of a dove and the sunrise and a cross. The only difference was that there was no podium, but chairs filled the entire room.
"This is my second favourite place in the village," Jemima said.
"What's the first?"
"The herb garden." She huffed a laugh as they sat down. "I came here a lot when we were lying to you. It's always been a safe space for me. It was hard to watch you trapped here. Even if it isn't a prison, the fact that it was against your will made me so angry."
"Adonis told me about your past. And how you got kidnapped."
"That was the worst thing I'd ever been through. And I was mated to a member of the enemy pack," she snorted.
"Did your parents really not trust him?"
"They tried not to show it, but they didn't completely trust Donny. And as clueless as he is, he didn't see it. He thought they accepted him whole heartedly."
"What about you?"
"I accepted him the second I smelt him." She smiled to herself. "The same with Jude. But Reid and my parents were sceptical. They tested him so many times and got information about the Blood Moon pack out of him, and my baby thought they were just instructions from his leaders, you know?"
"Your baby?" Joy smirked. "Never thought I'd ever hear you use such a term of endearment."
Jemima returned the smirk, pointing around the Cathedral. "Safe space, remember? But if you tell anyone, I will deny it."
"My lips are sealed." Joy air-zipped her lips, locked them, and even threw away the key.
"It was a hard secret to keep from him. I didn't want him to feel any differently about them. Or to feel like an Outcast, so it took time for me to tell him. When I eventually did tell him, he was c-rushed." Her voice cracked. "I'd never seen him so devastated. He felt safe with us, and we deceived him. And then we deceived you."
"But we forgave you guys. I mean, that's why we're still here right?"
"Took a lot of convincing. For both of you." She laughed. "Jude loves you, Joy. I'm sure you know that. And you love him too, even if you don't want to admit it. I just hope one day, you'll be able to trust him as much as you love him, and the same with him."
"What do you mean? He doesn't trust me?"
"He doesn't trust himself. He doesn't think he'll be able keep you here if you decide you want to leave. He's afraid of losing you." She let out a huff. "Anyways, this is a place to come to if you need guidance. We don't really have a preacher or priest because we believe the Creator can hear us directly. If you pray, He listens and He will help you out." She stood up. "I'll give you some time. When you're done look for me. I want to show you my third favourite place in the village."
"Okay." Joy exhaled, glancing around the Cathedral.
"Umm... so umm... it's Joy. It's been a while since we last spoke. A very long while. I'm all grown up now, not that You don't know. You know everything. Anyways, I really like this place. It's so cool that there's a place like this. I'll do my best to protect it... like how my my mother did." She inhaled sharply, clenching her teeth to stop herself from weeping. "H-How is she? I bet she's doing good. Please tell her that I understand... and I forgive her..." A stray tear escaped one of her eyes. "And I miss her... And I'll do my best to trust Jude. And I'm really happy to be part of the Blue Moon pack..."
***
"What are we doing out here?" Joy asked Jemima as they stepped outside the Blue Moon gate. "Is it even safe for us to be out here?"
"Probably not." Jemima shrugged. "But once I spray this mist over us, it will cover our scents."
"Okay, but why are we out here anyway?" Joy closed her eyes and scrunched her face as the mist kissed her face. It felt fresh, and smelt like spring. Flowers and soil.
"We are going for a hunt." Jemima wriggled her eyebrows as she sprayed the mist over herself.
"A hunt?"Joy's eyes widened. "You said we were going to your third favourite place in the village and you took us outside the village."
"We are still technically in Blue Moon territory, just not necessarily inside the village. Don't worry, we're safe." She tried to reassure her. "We'll hunt around here. Close to the gate."
"Won't the men realise we left?"
"They will. They'll be out here any minute now so let's get this started before were sent back." It took her a moment to shift into her large black wolf. "Joy Nora, Nora Joy," she introduced her wolf.
Joy grinned at the wolf, then let out a small huff. "Ready Rieka?" She asked her wolf who simply swapped places with her in response. The brown wolf sniffed the air and shook it's thick fur.
"Okay, make sure you stay close to me." Jemima instructed. "We'll run through those woods." She used her nose to point behind them. "Then I'll show you how to catch hares."
"Bunnies?" Joy whimpered.
"Hares," she corrected, a bit of sternness in her voice. "If you say bunnies it sounds cute and youll become attached, next thing you know they have names and we won't be able to eat them."
"H-ares," she whispered.
"Good, now follow me." Jemima started for the woods. Her pace was slow at first, checking if Joy was following. Once Joy caught up their speed increased.
Joy exhaled as she felt the cool wind slap her wolfs face. Her fur flew as they bolted through the woods. Keeping up with Jemima was tricky, but not impossible, and soon they were at the same pace, even grinning at each other. Their paws connecting with the earth causing bits of dust and debris to rise.
They had not been running for long when they each detected a familiar scent. Each scent specific to its wolf.
"I love that smell," Jemima rumbled.
"Me too," Joy agreed.
Ash and Bobby, Krii's wolf, appeared next to them.
"You girls decided to have fun without us?" Krii mumbled.
"We knew you'd catch up," Jemima responded as they all slowed down.
"Are you okay?" Jude asked Joy.
"Yeah I'm okay. I'm just a bit worried about the bunnies."
"Hares," Jemima hissed. "If you say bunnies you'll become attached."
"Right. Hare," she whimpered.
"Okay, there should be some around here. So, keep your eyes open and your mouths shut," Jemima instructed.
"Yes ma'am," they spoke in unison.
'Quiet.' She snapped her teeth at them. 'Use your heads if you want to speak.'
'Guys.' Joy whispered into their heads. 'I think I see one.'
'Babe, you don't need to whisper.' Jude told her.
'Okay, but do you see the bun-hare?'
'I'll go get it.' Krii leaped before they could stop him.
He pounced onto the poor unsuspecting creature, grabbing it by the neck with his paws.
"Guys, no this is wrong." Joy moved towards Krii. "Adonis Krii, you let go of that bunny."
"I told you not to call them bunnies," Jemima rolled her eyes. "I guess we have another vegetarian in the family now."
"Look, I'm just saying, can't we eat something cooked? You know, on a plate. Something we didn't kill ourselves." She looked between the three of them.
Krii was still holding the hare and he fought the urge to roll his eyes.
"Hypocrite," he mumbled. "So, what am I supposed to do with this?" He gestured to the hare.
"We can keep it. As a pet," Joy suggested.
"Release it. Right now," Jemima told Krii who obeyed and they watched the hare scurry into a burrow.
"Why?" Joy whined. "Khaya would have loved that."
"No, Khaya would have eaten it." Krii stuck his tongue out.
"Shut up Adonis Krii."
"I think it's time we go back now," Jude finally spoke.
***
Joy could not help but enjoy the bathtub that was available to her in the Enclosure. A lemony scent filled the room as she strolled in wearing a bathrobe. The tub was filled to the brim with bubbles, and streaks of steam floated in the air.
"How could he make me suffer to bath when there's a tub here?" She shook her head. She still could not believe it, and she was not going to let him live it down. She dipped her toe into the water. The hot water stung her skin at first, massaging her as she settled. She released a deep huff and closed her heavy eyelids.
An image flashed into her mind. The red eyes she had seen in her dreams. It was the first time she was seeing them since she had arrived at the village. They looked so real she thought their owner was right there. Her eyes snapped open and she threw a punch at the head leaning close to her. A grunt and hiss, followed by a string of curses echoed through the room.
"What the heck Joy?" Jude muttered, rubbing his jaw.
"I'm sorry," she gasped, covering her mouth with her wet hands. "I'm so sorry, I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
"Why did you punch me?"
"I'm sorry. I freaked out, I didn't know it as you." She pressed her lips together. "Wait a minute." Her eyebrows furrowed and she sank deeper into the water so that only her head was showing. "What are you doing in here?"
"You were so quiet and when I knocked on the door you didn't answer. So, then I came in to check on you."
"Yeah right," she scoffed.
"Come on, we're mates. And besides, I wouldn't try anything weird, I was genuinely concerned. I'm going to wait until you completely trust me."
"I don't care, get out." She tried to hide the embarrassment on her face with a mask of irritation.
"Okay, but are you okay? You seem flustered."
"Well, because you're in here while I'm in here. Anyone would be flustered in such a situation. Now get," she splashed some water on him, "out."
"Okay, okay, I'm going," he chuckled and stepped out of the room.