By the time Ronan returned, Vivian had already washed down and wiped her body, carefully avoiding the wound dressings. She rummaged through his backpack for a shirt, finding a black long-sleeved one.
Given that her physique was significantly smaller than the Lycan Alpha's, the hem of his shirt was covered till below her knees. She retied her shawl around her waist, tucking the shirt into it.
She was fortunate to find a hair tie amongst his supplies, drawing up the volume of hair into a ponytail with two stray strands curling at the sides of her forehead.
The pain of her burns was vague and she felt much more refreshed than before. She decided to sit on the boulder near the entrance of the cave, savouring the crisp morning air and contemplating the previous night's events.
Naturally, Vivian was embarrassed out of her mind yet she wouldn't deny the fact that Ronan was quite… skilled and amazing with his mouth. The man did wondrous things with his tongue that she never even imagined she would have the pleasure to experience.
"He was so...nice," Vivian said to herself, a small smile playing on her lips. "He even asked for my permission."
Vivian was snatched from her thoughts when she heard the beastly howl of Ronan's Lycan sound in the distance. Startled by the monstrous sound, her hand flew to her chest in surprise.
Ronan's Lycan form was something she had yet to get accustomed to. Although she found her comfort when riding him, she had to admit it was terrifying up close.
"Terrifying but also…sweet."
Ronan's beastly form galloped into view through the valley, his canines firmly latched onto a small wolf by its scruff. When he reached the cave, he tossed the wolf down and gripped her with his claw dangerously tight around her neck.
Vivian's eyes expanded with a mixture of fear, surprise…and recognition upon spotting the young wolf. She immediately sprung up from the boulder, rushing over to the little wolf's side.
"Ronan, wait!" Vivian exclaimed with urgency, wrapping her arms around his neck all the while he snarled with anger at the little she wolf.
The Lycan Alpha didn't even budge an inch, almost as if his body was pure iron rock and Vivian's attempts to restrain him were futile.
Vivian was overwhelmed by his display of strength, but she inhaled a deep breath to calm herself and decided to gently place her hand on his muzzle and rub her cheek against his face.
"She's my niece; please don't hurt her," Vivian pleaded calmly, managing to pacify the beastly rage coursing through Ronan.
The Lycan Alpha retracted his claw, releasing the young wolf from his clutches.
"Thank you," Vivian expressed with a grateful smile.
She kneeled beside Avery, gathering the young wolf into her arms. Her niece whimpered in sweet relief, burrowing her muzzle into her aunt's neck.
"Sshhh, it's ok, sweetheart; he won't hurt you," Vivian said comfortingly, trying to soothe Avery.
Her niece was still too young and risky to manage long-term shifts consistently. And younger wolves around Avery's age range were prone to being ensnared in their shifts, meaning they would be stuck in their wolf forms if they were unable to control their emotions.
Hence, Vivian wanted to ensure her niece's mind would find its peace again so that she could shift back into her human form.
To lighten up the situation, Ronan transformed into his human side, concealing his Lycan half within himself again. He stood with his arms folded, staring questioningly at Vivian.
"She means no harm," the she-wolf defended but was mindful of her tone. Her gaze trailed back to her niece, tenderly caressing Avery's scruff. "She was the one who told me that my pack decided on pack mercy for me and helped me escape."
Ronan's glare softened hearing her explanation and he sighed, approaching them. He kneeled on the other side of Avery as the young wolf cowered further into her aunt's arms.
"How old is she?" Ronan asked thoughtfully. His beastly half was so accustomed to devouring trespassing shifters, he didn't stop to consider how young Avery actually was.
Of course she would be frightened to death.
"Eleven," Vivian replied, starting to hum a tune the Lycan Alpha had never heard before.
For a moment, the world seemed to still to a halt as Ronan observed the way Vivian cradled her niece both protectively and affectionately and hummed to her comfortingly.
Avery's whimpers seemed to quieten as she listened to her aunt's humming and gradually, her fur retracted and her form took on the appearance of a petite child with long golden blonde hair and emerald eyes much like Vivian's.
Vivian kept the child in her lap. No doubt she had many questions as to why her niece was suddenly in the territory of cursed Lycans, but she wanted to ensure Avery had been pacified first.
She would make a great mother. Ronan's Lycan commented and the man shut the beast temporarily out of his mind so that he wouldn't have to hear its comments.
Once Avery had settled down, Vivian pinched her niece's cheek with a disapproving scowl.
"What are you doing here, Avery?" Vivian questioned, earning a whiny squeal from her niece when she pinched her cheek. "Do you realise how dangerous it is for you to be travelling here all this way?"
Avery pouted.
"Don't be cute with me, Missy." Vivian scolded in a motherly tone and Ronan had to restrain himself from smiling.
"I'm sorry!" Avery suddenly apologised. "I was just worried about you... and even if there was the smallest chance that I would find you alive again, I wanted to try."
Vivian sighed, understanding her innocent niece's concerns.
"You've done a lot for me already, Avery. You shouldn't have come this far."
Avery shook her head.
"I had to run," her niece insisted. "They already arranged for me to be an Alpha's mate when I turn eighteen. I don't want that!"
Ronan frowned. He never approved of the customs of Moonborn wolves. Their traditions were outdated and stemmed from ignorance.
"Please, Vivian, I really don't want to go back there. I'm an omega too; you know how they'll treat me," Avery all but pleaded, her eyes wavering with hope.
Vivian couldn't ignore the cruel fate set in motion for her niece. Being an Omega of Moonborn meant a life where you were the last to eat and you were given the shabbiest rooms in the Pack house to live in.
Being an Omega of Moonborn meant you would be secured as a business deal, forced to lay with Alphas against your will when you were old enough to be mated.
Life as an Omega in Moonborn was no life at all.