She hurredly got dressed, taking away the first vulnerability. She was no fighter by any means, her encounted with the human men taught her that, but at least she was less exposed this way.
Her clothes had warmed from the heat of the fire and the comfort was indescribable.
A scent caught her attention after she pulled her hat onto her head, concealing her hair.
A plate had been left at her bedside. Meat, bread with butter and a cup of water.
Aurelias eyes grew wide as she pounced at the plate. She inhaled the food wand water as if she had mever seen fine delecacy.
Back at the Eclipse Pack, Aurelia had a diet of hardbread and porridge. She only ever had scraps of meat from Claudia whne she could get them. This was the same for all the omegas. Low borns didn't meed meat or goodness like the high born wolves.
But this plate was all for her. And when she was done she used her towel to wipe her face. Her stomach hurt from eating too fast but she didn't care. Who knew when she would find such a meal again. The thoight of bwing back on the streets Downstride terrified her.
As if the sound of her satifcation were a calling, Aurelia heard a knock at the door by the fireplace.
"... Hello?", Aurekia called sheepishly.
"May I come in?", the velvet voice called.
"...yes."
Aurelia sat with her back against the headboard of the bed. The door opened and the fire illuminated the side of the mans face.
"Come with me."
"Tell me who you are", Aurelia blurted. She was less scared at the thought of the Fae eating her. She stood up and faced him at the door.
His eyes were anywhere but on her. He stood back out of the doorway, gestured down the hall.
"Come with me and I'll tell you". He waited for Aurelia to most. Hesitantly, she obliged.
As she walked toward him, she could smell pine and sandalwood. He smelled devine. She approached and he walked ahead, following his own direction. He wore a long blck overcoat, with a white shirt and black pants, seemingly not feeling the chill in the air away from the fire.
Aurelia looked around to find herself practically in a tunnel lit by braziers. She followed his domineering figure as the hallway twisted and turned.
It smelled damp and old but the warmth of the fires made it feel safe, and the mans scent made her want to follow him further.
They arrived at an opening in the tunnel, a room lined with shelves filled with hundreds of books, a large fireplace of stone and candles on candelabras scattered around the room. In front of the fireplace were two leather sofas facing eachother with a low wooden table between them.
The man walked over to one of the sofas and motioned for Aurelia to sit opposite.
He stood until she sat facing him.
"My name is Avilas. I wish you no harm I promise. I-" he spoke softly, his gaze avoiding Aurelias eyes.
"Why did you bring me here? Where are we?", Aurelia asked as she looked around the room. She was grateful to be near the fire, if nothing else.
"I brought you here because those...", Avilas wrinkled his nose and his eyes grew dark.
"...vile creatures were going to do unspeakable things to you. They had already begun and you were already wounded. I brought you here to keep you safe. We are in an underground tunnel system just outside of Downstride."
Aurelia studied Avilas. As he talked she watched his lips and saw a flash of his brilliant white teeth. There, were utterly perfect elongated sharp canines and it added something devilish to his appearance.
"You said you knew everything about me...", Aurelia already had so many questions but unsure if her life would last long enough to find answers to them all.
Avilas finally met her eyes again, and this time did not look away as he spoke.
"Your name is Aurelia Harlan. You have been orphaned since you were five years old, born into the Eclipse Moon Pack." Avilas studied Aurelias face, but gave nothing of himself away.
"Your hair is sapphire with magical charms that are saught after by humans. You left your pack -of that I'm unsure why- met a Fae in Halen forest who spared your life but gave you those darling scratches down your back. You arrived in Downstride 36 hours ago, where you were tricked by the gatekeeper Gayna-"
"Her name was Lyla, and what did you say about my hair?", Aurelia cut him off. Her hair, is that why that lady wanted it?
"No, her name is Gayna. The phrase 'Lyla sent me' is a code amongst the people of Downstride to attack outsiders. You passed the gate tests of not being a magical creature but you were easy prey for them to get you. And Pierce Place isn't real. You would have spent all night looking for it."
All Aurelia could do was stare at Avilas with her mouth agape. Was she really that readable, or had Avilas been following her for some time?