A Werewolf Fantasy
Chapter 16

When she woke up shortly before dawn, she found that she was alone in the tent but the space beside her on the mat was still warm, meaning that Danshak probably just left not too long ago.

She rolled onto her side and smiled when her mind traveled back to what she and her mate had done all through the night and a giggle escaped her lips as she remembered his reactions to some of the things she'd done to him. He'd been like a little kid in a candy store, begging for more, and she had been all too happy to oblige him.

"My lady, Edvana. Are you awake?" Seisa called out softly from outside of the tent.

"Yes," Erin replied as she rose to a sitting position, making sure to cover her nakedness with her fur blanket.

"A good morning to you," said Seisa with a warm smile.

"Seisa, why are you up so early? You should be resting," said Erin, noticing the dark circles under her maid's eyes.

"I am fine. I could not sleep much because I was afraid that we might be attacked again, but now that it dawn and we are all still alive, I feel better."

Erin sighed. This was such a difficult and traumatic time for all of them, especially those who had already lost loved ones along the way. Those were senseless deaths that could have been avoided if not for one werewolf's thirst for power. "Where is my husband?" Erin asked.

"He went into the woods with his brothers and a handful of warriors to hunt deers for breakfast."

"What? They went into the woods? Why would they do that? Don't they realize how dangerous it is for them to wander off like that? We should all stick together. What if those beastly creatures show up to attack them? They wouldn't stand a chance, they will be killed."

She got up quickly and started getting dressed. She couldn't believe that Danshak and his brothers didn't realize how dangerous it was for them to be out there in the darkness of the woods where those shadowy creatures could pounce on them and kill them.

Why were they taking such a huge risk to replace food, and why did the Prime Alpha permit them to go? They all needed to stick together if they were to survive this war and make it to Denai' Vena alive.

"Please, be calm. They are in no danger," said Seisa, soothingly. She couldn't stand to see her lady in such a state of panic. "They will return before you know it."

"I already know it and they're not back yet," she snapped at her maid. "I have to speak to the Prime Alpha right away."

She marched out of the tent, fuming and ready to fight. She'd thought that her mate was a smart werewolf - why would he put himself in danger like that? Didn't he care about her feelings? Was he being so selfish? What if he got killed? How would she cope then?

"A good morning to you, my dear Edvana," said Olna Raven. She was sitting on a straw mat just outside the makeshift longhouse that was reserved for her and her husband. "Why do you look so... troubled?"

"Good morning to you, Mother. I heard Danshak and his brothers went into the woods to hunt. Who permitted them to go?"

"Their father did. Why?"

Erin sighed. "Mother, you of all people know how dangerous it is for your sons to break away from the clan to hunt on their own."

"They are with half-a-dozen warriors, Edvana. They are safe."

"How can you be so sure? What if they get attacked? What if they get..."

"Killed?" Olna Raven asked softly when Erin couldn't continue speaking. "Why do you torture yourself so?"

"But you said -"

"I know what I said and I know that you are allowing your emotions to get the better of you. Edvana, the war doesn't end here. It ends when either the Prime Alpha defeats his brother or the other way around." "And when will that be?"

"I do not know. However, it is not wise for you to be so afraid. Fear makes us do foolish things, and now is not the time to be foolish."

Erin hated it when her mother-in-law spoke to her in parables. Hadn't she been the one that told Erin that one or some of them may not make it out of here alive? Why was she now downplaying the whole thing and making it seem as if she was overreacting?

"Oh, there they are," said Olan Raven, looking past Erin.

She turned around and was instantly overcome by relief when she was Danshak with his brothers and the warriors coming out of the woods with their kill. Erin broke into a run, her long hair flying behind her. She jumped into her mate's arms, sobbing with relief.

"Don't ever scare me like that again," she chastised him. "Don't!"

Danshak held onto her, stroking her hair tenderly and crooning words of comfort into her ear. "Forgive me, my love. Please, forgive me. I am here now."

"Don't ever leave me like that again," she sobbed.

"I will not leave you again, I promise."

Everyone in the camp was taken by surprise by this unexpected display of affection from the couple, as they were all aware of the subtle antagonism between them all this while.

How did they go from barely being able to stand each other's presence, to being so madly in love with each other? Was it the war that changed everything for them or what?

While everyone openly gawked at them, Danshak led Erin back into their tent so that they could have some privacy. He was just as surprised as everyone else by Edvana's reaction. How was he to know that going out with his brothers to hunt would upset her so much?

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you like that in public," said Erin as she began to regain her composure. "I don't know what came over me."

"You did not embarrass me, Edvana. And I am the one to apologize to you for upsetting you. Did something happen while we were away?"

"No, nothing happened. I - I just got panicked when I heard that you all went into the woods. I was worried that you might be attacked by those creatures, and if you are outnumbered..." She broke away, unable to finish her statement. Danshak was genuinely touched by her concern. He had thought that those flowery words she spoke to him last night as they made love were just empty words with no true meaning, but now he knew better.

Now, he knew without a shadow of a doubt that Edvana loved him and the realization opened up a part of him that he never knew he possessed. He immediately felt a surge of strong feelings for Edvana as he had never felt for anyone before. He knew at that moment that he loved her with all of his heart and soul, and he would do anything in the world to protect his mate even if it meant giving up his life.

He held her chin with his fingertips, raising her face to his. "If you do not believe anything else in this world, Edvana, believe this - I love you with all of my heart and all that I am," he said thickly.

"I may not know how this war will end or who the victor will be when it is all over, but I know this; I will always be by your side to protect you and keep you safe. Have no fear, my love. I am here for you."

Erin tried to speak but her chin wobbled and tears rolled down her face. What a beautiful experience it is to be the receiver of such wholesome love, the type that she didn't have to struggle to replace, or doubt first before she believed it. It was just there - pure, undiluted, and sincere, just as she had always wanted.

"I love you, Danshak, and I will continue to love you always," she whispered.

"So will I," he replied before lowering his lips to hers.