A Werewolf's Unexpected Mate-Chapter 97: Aftermath and Unspoken Bonds

•Northwest Thunoa Forest•

[Ray’s POV]

"Take cover behind the trees!" I roared, my voice cutting through the forest air. Without hesitation, I delivered a powerful kick to the horse wagon, sending the frightened animal bolting away from danger just as the hunters’ fingers twitched toward their detonators.

I dove behind the thick oak trunk, pressing my back against the rough bark. The explosion tore through the forest with deafening force—a thunderous boom that sent shockwaves through the ground. Heat blasted outward, scorching the air as a fireball erupted skyward. Splintered wood and metal shards rained down, embedding themselves in nearby trees with sickening thunks. The acrid stench of burnt gunpowder and charred flesh filled my nostrils.

When the ringing in my ears subsided, I whipped my head toward my team. "Is anyone hurt?" My voice came out hoarse from the smoke.

Colt emerged from behind his shelter, wiping dirt from his face. "We’re fine, General. These old oaks took the worst of it." He patted the tree trunk, now blackened on one side.

I exhaled sharply through my nose, relief washing over me as I counted each unharmed knight. Scanning the blast site, I found no trace of the hunters—just smoldering earth and twisted metal where the cage once stood.

"We got lucky the fire didn’t spread," I muttered, running a hand through my head. My fingers came away streaked with blood from my cheek wound. "Collect what’s left of the cage. I’ll retrieve the horse. Stay alert—those hunters might have had backup."

The men nodded, their eyes still wide with adrenaline. I turned toward where I’d last seen the horse fleeing. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Frustration coiled like a snake in my gut. I’d wanted them alive. I would have made them scream for every one of my kind they’d ever hunted, extracted every secret about their operation. Now they were just ash.

A rustle in the undergrowth snapped me to attention. Following the sound, I found the horse calmly grazing in a small clearing, its dark coat glistening with sweat. I approached slowly, holding out my hand.

The animal lifted its head, nostrils flaring as it recognized me. To my surprise, it stepped forward and licked the blood from my cheek with its rough tongue.

"You’re a good beast," I chuckled, running my hand along its muscular neck. Gripping its reins, I led it back toward the others. At least transporting the cage remnants would be easier now.

[Afternoon]

•East Storage Room (Thunoa Village)•

[Kai’s POV]

Shin and I worked in tense silence after our discovery about the werewolf hunters. That conversation could wait until we regrouped with the others.

I heaved the last unconscious prisoner onto the wagon, his limbs flopping limply over the edge. "Finally done," I grunted, shaking out my fur as I shifted back to human form. My bones popped back into place with satisfying cracks.

Around me, the others transformed with similar sounds of relief, their smiles returning as the tension eased from their shoulders.

Shin stretched his arms overhead, the joints cracking. "What about Khaleed?" He jerked his chin toward the storage room where Khaleed glared at us from inside.

I flashed Khaleed my most cheerful grin before slamming the heavy door shut. The metallic clang echoed through the courtyard.

Shin raised an eyebrow. "First you greet him, now you’re heartless?"

I barked a laugh. "Chief Gareth can deal with him." I clapped Shin on the back. "We’re leaving today. Aren’t you going to miss this place?"

"Miss it?" Shin’s face remained impassive. "We’ve barely been here a day. And I don’t get attached to places—or people."

I leaned in, close enough to smell the pine resin clinging to his clothes. "But the Silverhowl troops are practically your friends now," I teased.

"Friends?" His voice turned icy. "Who said that? I don’t need friends. Only weak people rely on others."

I sighed, watching how his fingers curled into fists. "Shin. I’m your friend."

His spine stiffened. "No. You’re not." The whisper was barely audible.

I sighed deeply, watching the rigid set of his shoulders. He’d never admit how much those bonds meant to him. "You push everyone away because you’re terrified they’ll become weaknesses," I murmured.

Clapping my hands, I turned to the men. "Let’s head to the inn and regroup with the others." The men fell into step behind me, their feet kicking up dust as we left the storage yard behind. Shin walked slightly apart, as always, but I noticed his pace matched ours perfectly.

•East Storage Room (Thunoa Village)•

[Ann’s POV]

The last merchant bowed his head as he took his recovered goods, leaving behind piles of unclaimed items in the storage room. The air smelled of dust and old fabric, heavy with the weight of loss. My fingers brushed against a finely embroidered shawl—its intricate patterns now destined never to be worn again.

Philip sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know we’d all like to take these," his voice was uncharacteristically soft, "but we should leave them as respect for our fellow merchants who... who didn’t make it."

An older merchant stepped forward, his hands trembling. "We should pay our respects at their graves first," he suggested, his voice cracking. The others murmured in agreement, their heads nodding solemnly.

After a moment, Philip straightened. "Since they died here in Thunoa Village," he said carefully, "perhaps Chief Gareth should keep these items."

The merchants huddled together, their whispers filling the room like rustling leaves. Finally, a woman with yellow-streaked hair turned to Chief Gareth. "We’ve agreed you should have what remains, chief." she said, pressing a handkerchief to her eyes. "You gave them proper burials when no one else could. And... thank you for sheltering us without charge."

Chief Gareth’s weathered face crumpled. A single tear traced the deep lines of his cheek as he bowed deeply. "Thank you," he rasped, his large hands clutching a child’s wooden toy that had been left behind.

My chest tightened unexpectedly. Watching these humans show such compassion stirred something unfamiliar in me—it caused a strange, tight sensation behind my ribs.

As we exited the storage room, the afternoon sun blinded us momentarily. Across the square, Shin moved like a shadow behind Kai’s animated form. Kai waved enthusiastically while Ray and Colt stood with their men, their smiles fading as they took in our somber faces.

Without a word, we fell into step together, all heading back toward the inn in shared silence.