A Werewolf's Unexpected Mate-Chapter 38: Heart’s Compass

Ace’s POV

The warm water cascaded over us as I stood motionless, lost in thought. Since bringing Ovelia on this mission, every shared moment had revealed new layers to her—her quiet strength when facing danger, her genuine joy in simple pleasures, the way her nose crinkled when she laughed. A strange warmth bloomed in my chest whenever I caught her smiling at something I said.

My fingers absently traced the soap suds running down my arm. The memory surfaced again—that day in the woods when my wolf had recognized infant Ovelia as my mate. Had I ever truly loved Eliana? Or had I simply been chasing the ghost of that destined connection, mistaking familiarity for real affection?

The more time I spent with Ovelia, the more my feelings for Eliana blurred at the edges, like ink spreading on damp parchment. Did I even understand what love was supposed to feel like?

"You don’t have to answer," Ovelia’s voice pulled me back. She reached past me to turn the shower knob, her arm brushing mine. "I’m finished with your back." Her tone was light, but I didn’t miss the undercurrent of sincerity beneath it.

I inhaled sharply, the steam-filled air thick in my lungs. Now wasn’t the time for emotional turmoil—we had a mission to focus on. Yet when I turned and saw her standing there, water droplets clinging to her eyelashes, I couldn’t stop myself from drawing her into an embrace.

"Ace," she murmured against my chest, her voice muffled. "You’re hugging me again." She pulled back just enough to meet my eyes. "When it’s just us like this... I don’t know how to describe what I feel. I think... I love you as an older brother?" The confession came out haltingly, her brow furrowing in confusion.

A loud burst of laughter escaped me before I could stop it. "As your brother?" My voice cracked with disbelief.

Her cheeks pinked. "I’ve never had one, so I’m not sure! Maybe just as a close friend?" She twisted her fingers together, the soap long rinsed from them.

Her flustered expression made my chest tighten. Gently, I cupped her face. "Don’t force yourself to define it," I murmured, leaning closer. "Especially not as siblings." My lips brushed against hers—soft, questioning.

She jerked back like she’d been burned, her wide eyes reflecting equal parts shock and bewilderment. "I-I shouldn’t have said that!" Her hands pressed against my chest, keeping distance between us. "Ace, you promised! Friends don’t—"

"I promised to try," I corrected, unable to suppress a chuckle at her indignation. "When we’re together like that, I see you as my wife, not just a friend."

Her mouth opened, then closed. "That’s not fair," she finally managed, though the spark in her eyes betrayed her.

She was right—it wasn’t fair. She deserved more than my divided heart. Until I faced Eliana again and untangled this mess of emotions, any bond between us would remain incomplete. The realization settled heavily in my stomach, even as Ovelia’s warmth lingered on my skin.

The steam clung to our skin as I turned the shower knob, the pipes groaning as the water cut off. I forced a smile for Ovelia’s sake, grabbing two folded towels from the shelf. The terrycloth felt rough against my palms as I handed her one.

"We’ve been in here long enough." I said, keeping my voice light. "We should get dressed." My fingers brushed against hers as she took the towel, sending an unexpected jolt up my arm.

"Thank you," she murmured, wrapping the towel around herself with quick, efficient movements. The fabric swallowed her slender frame, damp strands of hair clinging to her shoulders.

We stepped onto the bathmat, water dripping onto the wooden floorboards. The morning air felt cool against my damp skin compared to the shower’s warmth.

Ovelia rummaged through her travel bag, the contents rustling. "Ace," she asked without looking up, "what’s our plan for today?"

I pulled a clean tunic over my head, the fabric still carrying the faint scent of lavender from the palace laundress. "You and Ann will stay here," I said, fastening my belt. "Ray and I are interviewing bandit victims at the inn."

She nodded, buttoning her dress with quick fingers. "I understand." Her hands paused at the last button. "Be careful out there." The words came out quiet but firm. "I’ll help Mrs. Melinda with breakfast."

My gaze caught on her bare forearm—the angry red wound exposed without its bandage. A sharp pang of concern shot through me. "Wait." I caught her wrist gently. "Your arm first."

Her skin was warm beneath my fingers. She looked down at the injury, then back up at me with those wide eyes that always seemed to see too much. "Thank you," she whispered, the vulnerability in her voice making my chest tighten.

I crossed to our medical supplies, the wooden floor creaking underfoot. The bandages were neatly rolled beside a small jar of healing salve. The ointment’s sharp herbal scent filled my nose as I unscrewed the lid.

Ovelia sat on the edge of the bed, hands folded in her lap. I knelt before her, carefully cleaning the wound with a damp cloth. Her breath hitched when the cloth touched the tender skin.

"I think I can manage my wound treatment later this afternoon to avoid bothering Ann," she said, watching my hands work.

The salve glistened as I smoothed it over the injury. "Sure, but it’s not that serious. You can treat it in the morning and evening," I said, wrapping the bandage snug but not tight.

Her smile when I finished—small but genuine—made something warm unfurl in my chest. "Thank you, Ace."

The hallway was quiet when we stepped out. I glanced at the closed door across from ours—no sounds of movement from Ray and the others. The old floorboards groaned under our weight as we headed downstairs.

Ovelia’s POV

The wooden stairs creaked under our feet as Ace and I descended into the main hall. Near the front door, Mrs. Melinda stood adjusting the straps of a woven basket, while Ann waited beside her, already dressed in a simple but clean tunic.

"Good morning!" My voice came out louder than intended, bouncing off the stone walls.

Mrs. Melinda turned, her round face lighting up. "There you are! Your daughter’s been up since dawn, pestering me about market day." She patted Ann’s shoulder affectionately.

Ann’s cheeks pinked, but she stood straighter when our eyes met. For a heartbeat, I forgot this was just pretend—she looked at me with such open warmth that my chest tightened.

"I’d love to help with the shopping," I blurted out, already moving toward them. The tiles felt cool under my bare feet. "Ace too."

Mrs. Melinda clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! With four of us, we’ll be done before the noon rush."

Behind me, Ace made a small choking sound. "Why am I—" he began in a hushed tone, his fingers brushing my elbow.

I turned to find his eyebrows nearly touching his hairline. "Because we’re family," I said simply, reaching up to smooth a crease in his tunic.

The corner of his mouth twitched. His hand rose, fingers threading gently through my hair in that way that always made my scalp tingle. "Guess I’m going to market then," he murmured, his breath warm against my temple.

Sunlight blinded us momentarily as we stepped outside. The village square had transformed overnight—where yesterday stood empty dirt now buzzed with colorful stalls and chattering villagers. The scent of ripe fruit, sizzling meat, and fresh herbs mingled in the warm air. My fingers found Ace’s sleeve without thinking.

"It’s... bigger than I imagined," I whispered. The palace markets had been orderly, controlled. This was chaos—beautiful, overwhelming chaos. A vendor shouted about his melons. Children darted between stalls, their laughter sharp and bright. Somewhere, a lute played a jaunty tune.

Ace’s hand covered mine where it clutched his arm. "Stay close," he said, though his eyes sparkled with amusement. "Wouldn’t want to lose my wife in the crowd."

Mrs. Melinda was already forging ahead, calling back, "First we need flour—the baker’s stall is just past the spice merchant!"

Ann fell into step beside me, her shoulder bumping mine. "Have you really never been to a village market before, Lady Ovelia?" she asked quietly.

I shook my head, unable to speak past the sudden lump in my throat. The colors, the smells, the press of bodies—it was everything I’d read about in books but never dreamed I’d experience. Ace’s steady presence at my back, Ann’s quiet companionship, even Mrs. Melinda’s bossy instructions... This was living. Not just surviving.

Ace’s POV

The morning sunlight caught Ovelia’s face as we walked through the market, and I found myself staring. Her eyes sparkled brighter than the dewdrops on the market stalls, her smile so wide it made my chest tighten. After these past days together, I’d learned to read her expressions like my favorite book - and right now, every line of her face sang with pure, childlike wonder.

Our next stop was the butcher’s stall. Fresh cuts of meat glistened under the morning sun, their rich red hues promising hearty meals. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the sharp tang of curing spices in the air.

"Let’s get our ingredients now while everything’s fresh," Mrs. Melinda declared, rolling up her sleeves. The morning light caught the silver streaks in her hair as she moved between cuts of meat with practiced ease.

Both Ann and Ovelia nodded eagerly, their matching grins making them look more like mother and daughter than I’d ever noticed before.

"Here, let me take that, Mrs Melinda," Ovelia said suddenly, reaching for the basket Mrs. Melinda carried. Her movements were quick and determined.

"But Mother—" Ann started to protest, but Ovelia had already snatched the basket away and was now shoving two others into my hands with a mischievous grin.

"You’re strong and chivalrous, right Ace?" she teased, her eyes dancing. "Can you please carry these for us?"

I heaved an exaggerated sigh, but couldn’t suppress my smile as I took the baskets. The weight was nothing compared to the warmth spreading through me at their cheerful antics. Nearby, Ann and Mrs. Melinda exchanged amused glances, their shoulders shaking with silent laughter.

"Thank you," Ovelia whispered as she brushed past me, so quiet I almost missed it. The soft sincerity in her voice made my fingers tighten around the basket handles.

Ovelia’s POV

After selecting our meats, we moved to the vegetable stalls. Crisp greens and vibrant produce filled wooden crates, their earthy scent mingling with the morning air. I ran my fingers along some carrots, marveling at their perfect straightness.

"Mrs. Melinda," I asked, "where do all these vegetables come from?"

"Oh, we have large gardens behind the village," she answered, expertly selecting the best carrots. "And for meat, we hunt in the surrounding forests."

"That explains the reasonable prices," Ann observed, testing the firmness of several tomatoes.

Ace’s brow furrowed. "What about travelers? Do they pay the same?"

Mrs. Melinda shook her head. "Vendors mark up prices 20-30% for outsiders, but everything’s negotiable. If they charged too much, we’d just gather our own food outside the village."

"So the market is more about convenience then?" I pieced together.

"Exactly," she nodded. "Hunting and foraging takes time we don’t always have." She began counting coins to pay the vendor.

Ace’s face lit up. "After our mission, I’ll bring back products from here for the palace kitchens."

Mrs. Melinda beamed. "That would help our village tremendously!"

Next came the fruit stalls, a riot of colors and shapes. One peculiar yellow fruit caught my eye - oblong with strange ridges running its length.

"Ace, what’s this called?" I held it up curiously.

"That’s a star fruit," he answered, a note of pride in his voice.

"Star fruit?" I turned it in my hands skeptically. "It doesn’t look like a star."

"Mother," Ann interjected excitedly, "when you slice it sideways, the pieces look like stars!"

"Let’s try one!" Mrs. Melinda encouraged.

The vendor expertly sliced the fruit, revealing perfect star-shaped pieces. My hands trembled slightly as I accepted a slice, sharing the rest with the others. The first bite exploded on my tongue - sweet yet tangy, like apples and grapes dancing together.

"It’s wonderful!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my delight.

Ace’s POV

Watching Ovelia discover simple joys never grew old. Each new experience made her shine brighter, like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.

"Your wife is delightful," Mrs. Melinda murmured beside me. "She finds wonder in everything."

I could only nod, my throat unexpectedly tight. The basket handles dug into my palms as I fought the urge to pull Ovelia into an embrace right there in the market.

Our shopping complete, we returned to the house with light steps and lighter hearts.

•Chief Gareth’s House•

The smell of brewing coffee greeted us as we entered. Chief Gareth, Ray and Philip sat around the dining table, their conversation pausing at our arrival.

"You’re all awake!" Mrs. Melinda announced. "Ovelia, Ann and I will prepare breakfast."

The two women exchanged bright smiles before disappearing into the kitchen, their laughter trailing behind them like music.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," I said, taking a seat. "How long have you been up?"

Ray ran a hand through his sleep-tousled hair. "Barely five minutes. You caught us mid-yawn."

I chuckled, but my mind was already turning to our plans for the day. The comforting clatter of pans from the kitchen mixed with the low murmur of conversation at the table, creating a perfect moment of peace before the work ahead.