A Werewolf's Unexpected Mate-Chapter 35: Trust and Doubt

Ovelia’s POV

A sudden hush fell over the dining table as my tears caught the candlelight, tracing shimmering paths down my cheeks. The clatter of cutlery ceased mid-bite, all eyes turning toward me. Before I could wipe the tears away, strong arms enveloped me - Ace’s familiar scent of pine and leather wrapping around me as he pulled me against his chest. His heartbeat thundered against my ear, steady and reassuring as his large hand rubbed slow circles between my shoulder blades.

"I know these are happy tears," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion, "but... every drop feels like a knife twisting in my chest." His embrace tightened almost imperceptibly, the way it always did when he was fighting to control his own feelings.

I buried my face deeper into his tunic, the fabric growing damp beneath my cheek. "I’m sorry," I choked out between shuddering breaths, my fingers clutching fistfuls of his shirt. "I can’t seem to stop."

From across the table, Chief Gareth’s deep chuckle rumbled through the room. "This is your doing, love. You went and overflowed her plate like she’s one of your winter-storage jars."

Mrs. Melinda’s chair scraped against the wooden floor as she rushed to my side, her hands fluttering anxiously. "Oh Lia, I’m so sorry! I just—" Her voice cracked, "You were so thin, and you hesitated before taking seconds, and I thought—" The genuine distress in her normally cheerful tone made my chest ache.

Pulling back from Ace’s embrace, I wiped my face with my sleeves, managing a watery smile. "No, Mrs. Melinda, please don’t apologize." My voice came out thick but sincere. "I was crying because... because your kindness reminded me of having parents." The admission hung in the air, fragile as a soap bubble."

My true family, the ones who sacrificed themselves to hide me. I long to see them again. Just thinking about them brings tears to my eyes, and now I can’t stop crying.

"Don’t cry, Ovelia. It would sadden them to see you in tears." Lady Firera’s voice whispered through my mind like wind through autumn leaves.

I tried to smile, but my lips trembled like a leaf in a storm. "Thank you for trying to comfort me," I thought back, though the words felt hollow against the gaping wound of loss that had just reopened.

"Lady Ovelia..." Ann’s whisper was barely audible, but when I turned, the raw concern in her usually composed eyes undid me anew. I reached for her, pulling her into a crushing hug. Her arms came around me tentatively at first, then with surprising strength as she returned the embrace.

"A," Philip’s voice cut through the moment, "perhaps you should take Lia to visit her parents when this is over."

I felt Ace’s entire body stiffen behind me, his forced chuckle vibrating against my back. "We’ll see," he deflected smoothly, but I knew what he was thinking—those monsters who had treated me as livestock didn’t deserve to be called parents.

Releasing Ann, I turned back to see Chief Gareth and Mrs. Melinda exchanging a look before simultaneously drawing deep breaths. Mrs. Melinda’s eyes glistened as she pressed a hand to her chest. "Oh sweetheart, I thought I’d truly upset you."

Chief Gareth reached across the table, his work-roughened palm upturned in invitation. "For however long you need," he said, his voice the gentlest I’d ever heard it, "you can consider us your parents."

Something warm and bright blossomed in my chest, pushing back against the sorrow. As my tears finally slowed, I placed my hand in his, giving it a grateful squeeze. "Thank you," I whispered, the words carrying the weight of a thousand unsaid emotions.

The rest of the meal passed in a comfortable hum, Philip regaling us with merchant tales—some so outrageous we howled with laughter, others bittersweet enough to make Mrs. Melinda dab at her eyes. For the first time in years, I felt... anchored.

Later, as Ann, Mrs. Melinda and I gathered the empty plates—their edges sticky with honey glaze and speckled with herb crumbs—a quiet contentment settled over me. The warm water sloshed in the wash basin as we worked, our laughter mingling with the clink of porcelain. For this fleeting moment, in this cozy kitchen scented with rosemary and woodsmoke, I was simply a daughter among family.

Ace’s POV

As Ovelia, Ann, and Mrs. Melinda entered the kitchen, Chief Gareth, Philip Ray, and I resumed our discussion about our plans for tomorrow.

Philip tapped his fingers restlessly against his tankard. "So what’s the plan for tomorrow morning?" The ale sloshed as he set it down too hard, his keen eyes darting between us.

I traced a finger along a knife scar in the table’s grain. "We’ll interview every bandit victim sheltering here." My claws extended just enough to catch the wood. "Someone must have seen something useful."

Chief Gareth’s chair creaked as he sat forward, the fire casting shadows across his weathered face. "I’ve been housing survivors at my inn. Good folk, all of them—farmers, merchants..." His fist clenched. "They’ll speak freely to me.

Ray’s low growl vibrated through the table. "Our Crimsonheart reinforcements should arrive tomorrow." The words hung like a blade suspended mid-air.

Philip’s head snapped up. "Backup?" His nostrils flared as he studied me. "Since when do simple merchants have connections to royal troops?"

The lie tasted bitter on my tongue. "We don’t. The letter mentioned they were going to investigate here and help us." I kept my breathing even.

A tense silence stretched before Philip exhaled sharply. "Well... that’s fortunate." His tone suggested he believed none of it.

Chief Gareth pushed back from the table. "Enough for tonight." His voice carried the weight of command softened by exhaustion. "We’ll regroup at dawn."

The kitchen door swung open, releasing the scent of lavender soap and warm bread. Ovelia emerged with Ann and Mrs. Melinda, their sleeves still damp from washing up.

"Stay here tonight," Chief Gareth announced, gesturing toward the staircase. "We’ve two rooms availabe upstairs—one with a marriage bed, another with bunks for four." His wife nodded vigorously, her silver braid catching the firelight.

My throat tightened at their kindness. "Thank you for your kindness, Chief,"

Gareth’s calloused hand gripped my shoulder. "When you began helping us deal with the werewolf bandits, I knew you were risking your lives. So, what I’m doing now feels like a small gesture of gratitude,"

Mrs. Melinda dabbed at her eyes with her apron. "Bless you all for coming to our aid." Her voice trembled like a plucked harp string.

Ray’s sudden grin cut through the solemnity. "Philip, Ann and I will take the bunks." His elbow jabbed my ribs. "The married couple gets privacy."

We all nodded in agreement, but I caught a glimpse of Ovelia; her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Just then, I watched as Philip began to ascend the stairs.

"I’ll grab our things from the wagon," Ray called out.

"I’ll help you. Ovelia and Ann, you two head upstairs; we’ll bring your things up," I offered, my tone cheerful, trying to ease the tension.

"Thanks, A and R. And thank you too, Chief Gareth and Mrs. Melinda," Ovelia said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.

We exchanged warm smiles, and Ovelia and Ann started up the staircase. Ray and I stepped outside to fetch our things from the wagon.

•Outside Chief Gareth’s house•

We stepped into the crisp night air, the sudden cold a shock after the stuffy warmth inside. The wagon stood like a shadow beast in the moonlight, its contents jumbled from our hasty arrival.

Ray rummaged through saddlebags, his voice muffled. "I hope Kala delivered the letter to the palace," The carrier pigeon’s name came out strained. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

It would be a tremendous help if Kala reached the palace in time. We desperately needed more information about the bandits and why the Crimsonheart Kingdom had sent backup.

I hefted Ann’s pack, the leather straps biting into my palms. "If Kala arrives at the Kingdom tonight, the letter will get to the palace in time." The weight of our precarious position settled on my shoulders heavier than the supplies. "But it’s nearly impossible for her to return here quickly; it takes two full days to travel back to Thunoa Village,"

Ray paused, a shirt half-folded in his hands. Moonlight caught the worry lines around his eyes. "If the Crimsonheart reinforcements arrive here tomorrow, it’s alright if Kala doesn’t return immediately. We can just ask them directly," His attempt at reassurance fell flat.

A rustle in the nearby bushes set my fur on end before I saw him—Khaleed, slinking along the village perimeter alone. His patrol route took him suspiciously close to our wagon before he vanished into the shadows between cottages.

"Why’s he out here alone after dark?" My whisper came out as a growl.

Ray’s eyes glowed gold in the darkness. "Why indeed."