Chapter Fourteen

This time I wasn't laying in the carriage but sitting on it. They even gave us some cushions and took off our sacks after two hours of riding to a safer place. Ophelia was sitting next to me and across from us was a guard. The king wasn't anymore in the same carriage as me. I didn't know why he was in the first place.

Even though I despised him, I did kind of miss his presence and his alluring scent. Ophelia openly chatted with the guard even though he only replied with: "Yes", "No", "Stop talking" or "That's non of your business". I found it quite amusing as she tried to have an open conversation with a man. In Estreia they would have made them partners already for asking inappropriate questions.

"What do you think of that?". Ophelia turned her head to me and waited for a response. "I'm sorry, I was daydreaming", I answered sheepishly. She rolled her eyes and faced the werewolf again.

"You look quite old." Ophelia studied him with her index finger tapping on her chin. "What do you mean with old?", the werewolf replied. "You seem older than me", she continued. I listened to their conversation. I was now invested on knowing the age of this werewolf. He did look older than Ophelia. I would say Ophelia is around my age. He already had some wrinkles forming around his eyes and some on his forehead. His hair on the other hand didn't had any single white streak, which you would have spotted easily since he had dark brown hair.

"I am 67", the werewolf replied. My eyes nearly bulged out of my face and my mouth gaped open. Ophelia had the exact same reaction. "Wait what how?", I asked. His gaze met mine. "Werewolves age differently than other species."

"That's interesting." I looked at Ophelia and seemed to be in deep thoughts. "I read about that werewolves stop aging till they find their mate", she said. I looked at her not quite understanding what she just said. What was a mate?

"That's not quite true. We age way slower when we reach the age 25. After that we could be alive for 100 years without finding our mate and we'll still look like 27 and - wait why am I even talking to you", he closed his mouth and looked away from both of us. Ophelia huffed in frustration.

For the rest of the ride I sat and thought about the word they both have mentioned. Mate. What was a mate. Is that the same thing we Fairies have with our Partner? But why wait so long and not just choose the best option? I wouldn't have the patience to wait such a long time to be together with the perfect person for me. I would much rather get a good option and make memorable things with them.

I drifted away into a slumber and was soon being shaken awake by two cold hands. Ophelia stood in front of me and waved in front of my face. "Wakey, wakey we're at the safe place were will spend the night. They have a lake nearby and I'll sleep in the water", she informed me. I yawned and she giggled at my response. I have the feeling that she feels way more secure and safe around the werewolves now. The weak and scared girl disappeared and she was once again the independent woman I met.

I got out of the carriage and looked around. They placed some tents around a fire and some of the guards were sitting on tree stems and laughing with each other. Ophelia went to the lake to get some sleep and maybe even eat some fishes.

I debated about going to the fire camp or just lay done and sleep on the ground. My stomach began gurgling and I knew my answer. My legs began moving and I found myself in front of the group of werewolves eating their flesh and laughing.

"Excuse me. Do you have some berries?", I asked them. They all stopped talking to each other and their attention was on me. "Berries? Do you think we as werewolves eat berries", one of the werewolves laughed out loud. "Werewolves need meat, fairy. Meat makes us stronger. No wonder you're weak", another werewolf commented. They all laughed and I felt embarrassed for even asking.

I quickly scurried away as I felt humiliated. Did every species think we were weak? I went over to a guard which was stationed near the forest. "I'll search some food."

"You need the permission of the king to enter the forest", the guard replied. "Let him kill me then." With that sentence being said I made my way into the forest and began searching for food. I found some bushes with berries and began picking them. I tasted one and it was bitter and I quickly spat it out.

"Werewolves are ignorant", I said to myself as I let the berries fall off my hand. I found another bush and tasted the berry. It's flavor was sweet and it reminded me of strawberries but it wasn't one. I picked some more and ate them all. I felt the need to shift into a bird.

The only thing stopping me from shifting is the fear to be caught but why would I give up on using my ability in secret? Quickly I let the dress fall onto the ground and let the tingles spread through my whole body. The feeling felt euphoric and it was addicting. I imagined myself as a tiny bird which flew over the forest and feeling the wind between my feathers. I let myself fall to the ground as I shifted into a bird.

I looked to my left and right and saw a beautiful pair of orange wings. I got excited and spread my wings ready to fly. I breathed in and jumped with my tiny legs and began fluttering with my wings. Soon I found myself gliding over the forest, enjoying the wind and the woodsy smell.

I circled around the camp the werewolves had made and decided to listen to their conversation.

"Why did the king even bring this awful girl and her friend."

"He should have killed her when he had the chance."

"I would have loved to see her limp body hang on the rope."

Tears began forming in the brink of my eyes and I fluttered away to a tree which was near my clothing pile. Silently I cried to myself, knowing that this time that I'll be stuck in this kingdom will be horrific. People would constantly bring me down and wait for the king to make the decision to let me rot in the woods.

Maybe the king only brought me along to pleasure himself like the other werewolf? I was considered a toy in this community. Soon I'll be a soulless person stuck in a damaged body. Unexpectedly I shifted back and fell down onto the ground. I winced as I made contact with the ground but didn't move and continued laying there. I was out of energy.

I felt my body give up and I found myself falling asleep.

Shouting noises made my eyes shot open. "Where is she!", a voice growled. I looked to my side and saw that my dress was still laying there. I quickly got up and dressed myself and hid behind a tree. Even though I knew that werewolves had pretty good senses I still had a slight hope that they'll leave me alone for tonight. I wouldn't even dare to escape. I just want to be alone.

I slid down the tree and buried my head between my knees. I dug my bare feet into the ground and felt the cold dirt. Doing this made me always feel more connected to the nature. Feeling every slight vibration, hearing every single animal which was near me. The feeling of freedom.

Soon I felt the ground vibrate and I knew that someone was running around the woods. I kept my head buried between my knees and didn't want to face the person. Sniffing sounds made my ears perk and I knew that they found me. I wish I would have the ability to mask my scent. My life would have been much easier.

"Found you", I heard a husky, deep voice say. I heard the steps of the person nearing me and soon saw two pair of shoes in front of me. I didn't look up and stayed in my position. "You really are trouble, aren't you."

"Can I stay here. I won't escape", I said with my weak voice. My voice was still hoarse due to my crying session and I didn't want him to see ma tears stained cheeks or puffy red eyes. "No", was his reply. "As I already said you belong to me. You listen to me and do what I say."

I let more tears stream down my face. I would be never considered a real being. They saw me as an object, a toy they could play around with.

"Please..", I whispered. The response was him yanking me up and me letting my head hanging. I don't want him to me as a weak person. Enemies could never know your weakness. They could use it against you. If he knew how much impact his words or the things the werewolves have said had to me. He would use it against me. He would make me feel worse than I am already.

I ripped my arm away from his hold and stared into his eyes even though I didn't want to. His face held anger and frustration. "I said I'm staying here", I shouted. I was surprised that he didn't even bat an eyelash or hit me for disrespecting his orders. Standing up against a king was considered betrayal. But how could I betray him when I'm a full blood fairy?

He showed me his canines and his eyes turned darker. I crossed my arms and stared at him without breaking the eye contact we held.

Was I probably going to end up killed? Probably.

Did I care? No I didn't.

He broke the eye contact and tugged at his black hair. "Never forget that you are weak", he spitted out and turned around leaving me in this forest. My heart ached but I was proud of myself for standing up for myself.

As soon as I didn't smell his scent anymore I climbed up a tree and rested my upper body against the stem. I gazed up the sky and saw millions of stars shining down upon me and I smiled to myself enjoying this view. My eyes fluttered close and I drifted into a slumber.