When I explained to my dad that I was covered in Mica’s slobber to help my wounds heal, the look on my Dad’s face was classic. Except for the part where he dropped me when he realised he was touching Micah’s saliva. Thankfully with Micah's swift movements, he was able to catch me. My mother was so mad at Dad that she even asked Sally to fetch her the frying pan. My Dad retreated quick-smart. My mother is the only person I have ever seen my father fear. Seeing him bolt inside the packhouse was hilarious.
Micah carries me to my room and into the bathroom. My mother follows.
‘I’ll come back later to check on you,’ Micah says and places a kiss on my forehead.
‘Okay,’ I smile, happy knowing I will see him again today.
Sally enters my room and prepares my bed and a fresh nighty, while Bella brings up a bowl of hot soup and buttered bread for me to eat.
My mother helps me and unzips my hoodie. She frowns at the baldric I’m wearing and the shiny silver sheath inserted into it.
‘Lylah, where did you get this baldric? And is that a new knife?’ she asks, not surprised.
Knowing I can’t hide it from her any longer, I take the sheath out of the baldric, withdraw the dagger, and flourish it with my fingers.
‘It’s my birthday gift from Micah,’ I say proudly. ‘The baldric, I found whilst exploring some of the many rooms we never use.’
I place the dagger in my mother’s hands. She glides her fingers over it, ‘Is this part silver?’ she asks. ‘You know Silver is deadly to werewolves, Lylah? Wounds from silver won’t heal quickly and only at a human rate which increases the chance of killing werewolves. As beautiful as it is, I’m not sure your father would approve of you having such a weapon.’
‘I think Micah made it for me to protect myself from all beings, including werewolves. Rogues do exist, you know, Mum?’ I retort.
‘Lylah, just don’t show it to other pack members. It might cause some trouble in the pack if they know you are carrying a weapon that consists of silver.’
‘You mean you aren’t going to take it from me?’ I say, surprised.
‘Lylah, I must have taken a dozen daggers from you over the years only for you to somehow end up with an even bigger collection,’ she says and pulls my shirt up over my head.
She sighs as she sees three old daggers and my wand tucked into the waist of my leggings.
I bite my lip with guilt as I pull them out and place them beside the bathroom sink. I then grin at my mother as I withdraw the rest of my daggers from my boots.
She narrows her eyes at me and places her hands on her hips, giving me a silent look that says it all.
‘Mother of wands,’ she says and helps me into the large wooden tub.
She helps to scrub all the dirt and dried blood from my body and, of course, to her dismay, Micah’s saliva.
Now washed and dried, she pulls the nighty over my head, helps me to bed, and brings the tray of soup and bread to me.
‘Thanks, Mum. I’m sorry that I worried you so much last night.’
‘I know, sweety. I’m just relieved you are okay and had Micah with you. Now eat your soup and have a rest,’ she says and leaves my chamber.
I guzzle the soup and bread up, roll over and instantly fall asleep. As I wake, I feel my head on something warm that slowly rises and falls. My arm is draped over as well, hugging it tightly. My eyes flutter open, and I tilt my head to see Micah’s sable eyes and his dimpled smile.
‘I hope my princess is feeling better?’ he asks.
I stretch my arms and sit up, ‘I’m feeling much better. I think all my wounds are healed. I don’t feel any more pain,’ I say, inspecting myself only to find small bruises around my knees but feel no pain.
‘You slept all day and night,’ Micah smiles and sits up.
‘Is it really the next day?’
‘Yup,’ he says.
‘Wands!’ I say and jump out of bed.
‘That means tomorrow is my birthday!’ I say, throwing my fist into the air. I turn to face Micah, who is smiling. I leap onto the bed, straddle him, and cup his face, ‘Tomorrow, Micah! Tomorrow is the day we will officially be mates. I just know it!’ I beam.
Laughing happily, Micah hugs me, and with our outburst of excitement, we fall off the bed together. I land on Micah, and we only laugh further, then roll across the floor, kissing each other.
A knock on the door interrupts us. Leo and Theo enter and smirk as we get up from the floor on the other side of the bed and straighten ourselves up.
‘Mum and Dad told us to make sure you are up, to join us for some family breakfast,’ Theo says.
‘I’m up,’ I blush, brushing my messy bed hair with my fingers.
‘So we see,’ Leo laughs.
‘We will see you downstairs shortly then,’ Leo and Theo say in unison and leave the room.
I run over to my wardrobe while Micah puts his shirt on. I rummage through my clothes and grab fresh undergarments, leggings, a shirt and a hoodie. Then, I race into the bathroom and change. Once I’m ready, I find Micah waiting in the hallway outside my chamber for me. He pats his shoulder and smiles. I leap onto his back, and he piggybacks me all the way downstairs.
Laughing, we enter the dining room, and Micah helps me down.
‘How are you feeling, baby girl?’ my father says.
‘Thanks to Micah and some rest. I’m feeling great,’ I say, kissing my dad on the cheek.
I look down at the newspaper on the table before him and take it.
‘Serial Killer or Feral Wolves? Investigation continues over the two incidents that saw an entire family killed at a gathering and the couple killed who had gone on their regular nightly walk,’ I read out loud and lean over to take a slice of toast on my Dad’s plate and bite into it. ‘So, does that mean there haven’t been any more killings since the second one?’ I ask with a mouthful of toast.
My Dad crosses his arms and narrows his eyes at the toast I’m eating, ‘Thankfully, no, and Alpha Greg and the warriors have been discreetly patrolling the areas where they were killed and the outskirts of that town. Whoever was responsible seems to have moved on.’
‘That’s good, then,’ I reply.
‘As long as they don’t go killing humans elsewhere, that’s when it will be fine,’ he says. It’s clear he is still very concerned about the perpetrator.
My mother clears her throat, ‘So, changing the subject to something more pleasant. Your eighteenth birthday is tomorrow,’ she says with a smile and looks between Micah and me.
‘I’m so excited!’ I say.
‘We’re all excited,’ Amara says, ‘I’ve even packed my bag, ready for camping tomorrow,’ she laughs.
‘Whereabouts are we camping?’ Leo asks.
‘By the waterfall, I was thinking,’ Micah says.
Everyone nods and agrees.