Page 12

The Next Day

T he only time I get to see Ivy is in small glimpses or brief—very brief—words before being called back for my chores.

However, after finishing the washing, I hang it out.

I woke up extra early this morning, hoping to get my chores finished early.

I had been building up courage all day, and now it is nearing. I am already talking myself out of it.

As I set the basket down on top of the empty washer, I wander into the kitchens to see Clarice. She is going over staff rosters.

Stopping next to her, I glance around at the cooks preparing for dinner. Even though I know I have two hours before I am needed back here, I still hesitate, chewing on the inside of my lip, trying to find the words.

The entire time, all I can think about is Mrs. Daley’s reaction when I asked her, and the punishment I received for thinking stupidly that now that I had shifted, she would allow it. As much as I despise remembering that place, I find myself sucked back into the past.

“Mrs. Daley?” I whispered behind her, making her jump as she stood at the kitchen counter sipping the fresh brew I had just made her.

“What is it?” she snapped, and I flinched at her bitter tone. Her eyes narrowed at me, and I instantly regretted thinking of asking for anything.

“I um… I wanted… I,” I stuttered terribly, trying to force the words out.

“What is it? Spit it out before I lash you,” she snarled.

“I wanted to know if I might be allowed to shift and go for a run. I will be quick, and I will stay close to the orphanage,” I whispered, dropping my gaze to the floor. Mrs. Daley laughed and gripped my shoulder, making me peer up at her.

“Where is the other rogue?”

“She said she would cover afternoon tea for me if you allowed it. And I finished all my chores, even changed your bed linen and made you that banana pie you like, it’s in the fridge,” I told her, hopeful.

How fucked up is hope? It will destroy every desire you ever have when you are repeatedly shown how cruel one can be. Now I always question the intention behind every good deed because they never go unpunished.

“Oh, in that case, of course. Go on.” Mrs. Daley looked at the clock above the door, and so do I. Excitement bubbled within me, and I felt giddy. She was really going to let me go!

“Be back at 4 PM for afternoon tea; you earned it,” she told me.

“Thank you, thank you, Mrs. Daley.” I almost cried at how happy I felt as I rushed off to tell Ivy. Ivy told me not to ask, that she would never allow it, but I had to try so she agreed to cover for me if needed, and Mrs. Daley felt generous. It must have been knowing that we made her favorite pie.

“Stay close to the forest line, Abbie. Don’t wander,” Ivy told me with worry in her eyes as I stripped my clothes off behind the garden shed. Ivy stared back at the orphanage worriedly.

“She said yes,” I reminded her.

“I know, but it isn’t like her, Abbie. Maybe you should stay.”

“Probably because she knows next month, we won’t be her problem and is feeling generous,” I tell her, too excited to find fault with Mrs. Daley’s permission.

I shifted and darted toward the trees while Ivy went to finish the afternoon tea for the kids.

However, when I returned, Mrs. Daley was waiting.

I could see my clothes waiting in a pile behind the shed.

Happy, I moved toward her, seeing Ivy in the kitchen window, who waved and smiled at me.

Only then did we both spot the patrols rushing up the side of the orphanage building.

Their sight made me halt, and my tail tucked between my legs.

“There she is, she tried to run, filthy fucking mutt tried to run, and now she has come scampering back,” Mrs. Daley said, pointing to me.

My eyes widened when I saw they had the kids skipping ropes in their hands.

I whimpered, backing up and glancing at the window to see Ivy’s horrified expression in the window as they stalked toward me.

I turned my gaze to the four patrolling men and backed up when they used the kids’ skipping ropes as whips, caging me in and giving me nowhere to escape, and I couldn’t even shift, or I would be naked.

My wolf yelped and whined as they lashed me repeatedly when I heard Ivy’s blood-curdling scream reach my ears.

“No, no, stop. Stop! She didn’t do anything!” Ivy screamed.

Lifting my head, my fur was ripping out everywhere, the grass-covered in white, gray, and brown fur when the skipping rope lashed across my snout and eye.

I yelped loudly before weight crushed. Ivy had tossed herself over the top of my cowering form.

Yet, they didn’t stop, and they just whipped her too while Mrs. Daley laughed and told them to hit us harder.

A hand grips mine, jolting me out of the memory. “Abbie, are you okay, dear?” Clarice asks.

“Yes, sorry,” I tell Clarice, staring back at her. I go to walk off, losing my courage as memories assault my mind.

It isn’t worth what will happen. I will shift later in my room .

Turning away, Clarice doesn’t let go of my hand. Instead, she pulls me back to her. “Abbie, what is it? Did someone hurt you? You’re as pale as a ghost,” she says, peering up at me worriedly.

“No, it’s nothing. Want some help?” I ask her, looking at what she is doing.

“No, but you finished all your chores, so you can have some time off. Are you sure there isn’t something you need?” Clarice asks. I nibble my lip, trying to remind myself Clarice isn’t Mrs. Daley.

I open my mouth to ask but close it again.

“You want to go for a run?” she asks, and I nod, wondering how she knows.

“I have seen you looking at the forest every time you have gone out there. You don’t have to ask Abbie if you want to go.

Just tell me, and I will let the guards know so they can make sure you’re safe.

There are bears out there, so remain in the guard’s perimeter,” she says. I swallow, glancing at the door.

“You won’t punish me when I return?” I ask, hating how pathetic I sound.

She looks appalled. “Honey, why would I punish you?” she chuckles, shaking her head.

“No reason. I just wanted to make sure it was okay. I don’t want to get in trouble,” I admit.

“Go for a run, Abbie, and if anyone tries to punish you for it. They will deal with the king and me,” Clarice says. She nudges me toward the doors leading to the clothesline.

“Go on, have fun. I will let the guards on duty know you’re out there,” she says.

I nod, yet I refuse to get excited. Instead, I am still hesitant.

Even as I approach the forest’s edge. Glancing around nervously, I wait a few minutes to see if any guards suddenly rush into the forest to search for me and drag me back, but I see no one.

Stripping my clothes off, I lay them on a nearby fallen tree.

Falling onto my hands and knees the dirt squishes between my fingers as I focus on the shift.

Feeling the first tremor, it slivers up my spine, fur grows along my naked body then starts twisting and morphing as I take shape and body of my werewolf form.

My hands, and feet are replaced with paws and claws, my face elongates, and my tailbone twitches as my tail zips out.

Shaking out my fur, I stare at my paws before becoming distracted by the swish of my tail.

It takes me a good five minutes to stop from chasing the damn thing as it eludes my teeth.

Stretching, I sniff the air. The scent of pinecones and damp soil invigorate my senses, and my hearing perks at the crickets and tiny insects in the forest. I shoot off, darting between the trees and jumping over logs.

Nothing feels more refreshing than feeling the dirt beneath my paws, the air brushing through my fur as I rush through the forest, cackling my head off. I feel free, alive, and so energized.

After about ten minutes of running, however, I hear the foliage move, and the wind changes direction, making me halt. I pick up an unfamiliar yet familiar scent that is harder to pinpoint since my sense of smell is ridiculously strong in this form.

Twisting, I look for the intruder while scampering backward when a huge Lycan steps out from between the trees.

I drop my head before turning it, baring my neck to the beast. I feel like I am about to wet myself when the huge, terrifying thing walks toward me, making a whimper escape me as I shrink lower to the ground.

“Don’t be frightened, Abbie, it is only me,” the voice says, and my ears twitch.

His voice is gravely and distorted from him being in this form.

As I lift my gaze, he crouches before me, pulling a backpack from his huge furry shoulder.

He unzips it, and still, I can’t place where I recognize the voice.

I back up when I see him open the bag and reach inside.

“I won’t hurt you,” the Lycan says. Hearing a wrapper, I peer at his hand in the backpack, and he pulls out red candy clouds. Gannon? I think.

“Recognize me now?” he chuckles, and I bob my head as he opens the packet. He pinches one between his claws and holds it out to me, and my wolf instantly sniffs it before licking it.

Gannon laughs as my tongue swipes his fingers.

Then I realize what he is doing when my nose brushes his furry knees.

Overrun by my senses, I don’t realize he is drawing his hand closer to himself until I am practically between his legs.

I freeze, and he sits leaning against the tree when his hands suddenly grab me, making me yelp loudly in fright.

“Shh, I won’t hurt you,” he grouches and I quickly quieten. He sets me on his lap, his claws running through my fur as he brushes it.

“Well, aren’t you a little ball of fluff,” he laughs, stroking my fur like I am a damn pet, yet his claws feel nice raking through my thick coat.

After a few minutes, I relax, realizing he is just petting me, and not going to punish me.

I find the burly scary man comforting for some reason, yet I can’t explain it.

I simply feel safe with him near. Although, when he rubs my ears, I start purring like a damn cat and try to scramble off his lap, only for him to drag me back and nip at my ear with his sharp teeth.

“Stop; I don’t care if you purr. I can purr, too,” he laughs, purring at me, the noise rumbling from his chest is loud. My wet nose presses against the center where it is loudest before I can stop myself, feeling its deep vibration, then his fur goes up my nose, making me sneeze.

Gannon laughs, and I lick his chin, mortified at what I did. I freeze, which only makes him laugh harder.

“It’s fine, Abbie; she-wolves are attracted to dominant males; I expect you to act accordingly,” he laughs. “It doesn’t bother me,” he says before licking my face and my eyeball, making my lashes stick together, and I have to blink to un-stick them.

“See, it doesn’t bother me,” he says. My nose picks up the delicious scent of the clouds when I lay my head across his lap, my nose sniffing the air before my face is in his bag, sniffing around.

I am never shifting again! Urges are impossible to control, I merely have to think something, and I am acting on them.

My teeth pull the candy bag out, my tongue slips in the little bag, licking up the sugar when Gannon takes the bag, pouring some in his hands, my wolf side going berserk on the damn things, even licking his fingers and claws clean like a pig.

Gannon doesn’t seem to mind, his hand on my rump while he lets me lick the sugar from his palm and pouring more in his hand.

“Want to run to the river with me?” he asks when I finish eating the entire bag. I look up at the sky, knowing I should be heading back. Gannon looks up as well.

“The men can get their dinner. I already told Clarice you’re with me and told Damian. They said it is fine,” Gannon tells me. I listen, my ears trying to gauge how far away the river is.

I can barely hear the water, so I knew it is a fair distance, but he is already getting to his feet, and I slide off his lap.

“See if you can keep up,” he says, grabbing his bag and tossing it over his shoulder. He then shoots off between the trees, laughing. Instinct kicks in, and suddenly; I’m darting after him as if he is my prey.