Tyla's body ached as she surfaced the next morning. She rolled around on the grass before she opened her eyes and realised that she was still in her bedroom. Iynx was curled on the window seat, her chest rising and falling gently. Twyla ran her hand over the sheets on her bed. It felt like soft, meadow grass but looked just like her bed. She inhaled deeply and the scent of pines still lingered. She couldn't remember what her bedroom spelt like but it definitely wasn't forest.
Twyla dragged herself out of bed and into the bath chamber. The feel of nature subsided as she moved away from Iynx and her bed. She stretched out. Her limbs were stiff from the healing and rest. She extended a leg over the chair that stood by the bath and drew her body over it, feeling her vertebrae groan. Her right leg was not as comfortable and she gritted her teeth through the stretch.
She put mint into her bath today to wake up her mind and, hopefully, her tired body. She could feel the beating it had taken.
As she lingered in the bath, her bruised body enjoying the hot water, she thought about the attack. She had been lucky. Hunter had come to save her. And she hadn't wandered straight into their pack. She guessed that there were more of them from the conversation with Iynx last night.
But what about other humans? Humans who didn't have a Hunter? Humans who would have wandered straight into a werewolf pack? Humans who had a Hunter but their Hunter just couldn't control their transformation? As much as she didn't want to agree to segregation, the border suddenly didn't seem like the worst idea. If packs of werewolves ran free in the human world around the full moon, could they stop themselves from attacking all those innocent humans? What would the alternative be? Locking them up in cellars as they did in novels she once read? With barbaric silver chains and darkness? That seemed dreadfully more savage than being stuck in a magical world where they can run free without worrying about biting a human.
But Hunter wouldn't be fighting so hard if he didn't know what he was doing. He must have a plan. He wouldn't let all those humans get bitten right? He had saved her?
"Only because you're his," a small voice at the back of her mind whispered. "What if he wants to turn more humans into werewolves?"
She clutched her necklace. "No. Hunter is not like that. Hunter is kind and caring. He saved me from those vampires when he didn't even know me," Twyla said out loud to herself.
She ducked under the water and tried to drown out that awful voice. Her hair floated around her in soft waves. It was so peaceful here. Her necklace warm even with the water that didn't get cold.
Eventually, she pulled herself out of the water and dried herself on the way to her cupboard. Iynx was still fast asleep. A breeze playing with her hair. Twyla chose a loose, comfortable orange dress. She didn't bother with shoes. She wasn't going anywhere.
Her stomach grumbled. She glared at the bell. Maybe if she looked at it long enough someone would get the message but she wouldn't have to ring it and wake Iynx. Iynx clearly needed rest.
Nothing happened.
Twyla sighed silently and waited for Iynx to wake.
By the time Hunter came back, Twyla was fully healed with no twinges or aches. She was, however, full of awkwardness. She opened the door for him and stood there forgetting every polite action.
"Good morning, Twyla," he said, politely because he was normal and not at all awkward.
"Um yes, hi. Come in."
"Would you like to have breakfast here or downstairs?" he asked.
"Here," she requested, knowing there were a few things to talk about.
They headed to the table and sat down. The silence dragged. She refused to look at him.
"I-" Twyla started.
"I-" Hunter began.
They both laughed quietly.
"You go first," Twyla offered.
"Thank you. Twyla," Hunter said and he took her hand. "I am so sorry. I should never have put you in a position that led you to harm. I should have kept you safe."
"Hunter! No! I should have listened. It was my own fault. You warned me. Iynx warned me. Arke warned me."
"Still, I should have known better. Done more." Hunter ran his hands through his hair.
"Hey. Hey look at me," Twyla whispered, taking his hand in both of hers. "It's okay. It's over. I am fine. How is Silver?"
"Silver is no longer a problem," Hunter snarled, eyes darkening.
Twyla was scared to ask what that meant.
"Why don't we get some food?" Twyla changed the subject and rang the bell.
After breakfast, Hunter took the day to picnic with her. Twyla lavished the sunlight and the fresh air. Being cooped up in her room had been getting old. She twirled around the long grass while Hunter just watched. She finally convinced him to play tag but his unfair werewolf speed made it too easy. She still tried and laughed as she got caught before she even turned around."
"Why are you laughing?" Hunter asked. "You got caught." He still have her caught in his arms.
"It's a game!" Twyla squeeled. She tried wriggling out of his grip.
"No. I think I have you caught now."
"Hey, that's not how it works."
"I changed the rules. It is a game."
"Ha! No fair," Twyla complained.
Twyla tried to turn around but Hunter was not having it. She huffed. This time Hunter laughed. She was pressed up against him. His strong arms curled around her keeping her tight. She leaned her head back and looked up at him. He was looking at her with a satisfied smirk. She stuck out her tongue. Those beautiful eyes of his were glowing golden again.
"Perfect man," Twyla whispred under her breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing," Twyla said, blushing.
"You do know I have great hearing. You are perfect."
Twyla looked away, red but Hunter had other ideas. He turned her around and pulled her chin up. She couldn't help but look into those warm eyes. He leaned down and kissed her.
Warm spread through her necklace and then her body. She sighed.
Twyla ate the last of her cherry pie that Hunter had brought for their dinner. They had eaten in her room again, both savouring each other's company.
"Hey, Hunter…"
"Yes, Twyla?"
"Are there more werewolves than you and Silver?" Twyla had more questions but she thought she'd start off easy.
"Oh, yes. My pack has a fair number."
Twyla sipped her tea.
"What is it, Twyla?" Hunter asked, gently.
"Um… Is is it not safer with the border? I mean, with Silver, he couldn't help it? He wasn't in control. So, if all the werewolves were just in the human world all the time, all the humans, you know…" Twyla rambled.
"Ah… It is okay, Twyla. I understand. You nearly died. You are right. The border keeps werewolves from attacking humans during the full moon by keeping them unable to scent those humans. That is true. Werewolves cannot control themselves during the full moon. I was… lucky. I just caught your scent and managed to focus. But it is not always the case."
Twyla had guessed all this and was glad to have it confirmed.
"I… I don't want you to see the worst in everyone, Twyla," Hunter sighed. "The Vampire King, Sebastian, he did not just create the border and drain some power. There is a reason it is called a curse. Sebastian detests anything not a vampire. So, he cursed all magical creatures. Sirens could control the minds of any creature. Human or not. Werewolves used to turn at will and control their mind during the transformation. Now we are nothing more than beasts at every full moon. He sees humans as… as food that is why he allows vampires to go through the border so much. We are nothing but a source of magic and playthings to the Vampire King."
"I want to be a part of the resistance." Twyla said. She could no longer sit back and watch.
Twyla wanted nothing more than to bring down the Vampire King.
"Are you willing to do anything for the resistance?" Hunter asked, his eyes dark brown and serious.