A Werewolf Fantasy
Chapter 22

Because of Olna Raven's ghastly injuries, she was unable to shape shift into her human form in the final hours of her earthly life. She died in her werewolf form and would be buried as such on the spot where she drew her last breath. It was the Prime Alpha's wish that that place should be her final resting place.

The burial ceremony was a somber affair that took place just after midday. Her sons dug the ground where remains were deposited, and a mound of sticks and stones was raised on the spot.

After the funeral, everyone rested beneath the shades of the surrounding trees, while the injured were treated by those who were not severely wounded during the battle.

Erin had changed into her human form and the sight of her body horrified her. She was covered in cuts and bruises and every bone in her body ached. To her relief, Seisa had survived.

She was barely injured because she had spent much of the night hiding underneath a pile of clothing in one of the wagons along with a handful of other servants who had taken cover in other wagons too.

Seisa had applied some healing salve on Erin's wounds, but she could not replace anything to give her mistress to relieve her pain.

"I could go into the woods and peel off some willow bark for you," said Seisa, seeing how Erin was in so much pain. "It will greatly reduce the pain you are feeling now."

"I would kill for a Tylenol right now," Erin groaned.

"What did you say?" asked Seisa.

"Nothing. Just don't go into the woods by yourself. Find someone to accompany you, a guard, maybe. I'm sure many people will be in need of that willow bark from the looks of it."

"You are right, my lady. Let me see if I can replace a guard to go with me," said Seisa dashing off.

"Where is your maid running off to?" asked Danshak as he came to sit beside her. His wounds had been patched up with poultices and leather bindings.

"To get willow bark," replied Erin. "You look like a disaster."

"Have you seen yourself?"

Erin laughed and winced at the sharp pain that cut through her sides as her muscles moved in response to her laughter. "Ugh, I have never been in so much pain."

Danshak gingerly cradled her in his arms and stroked her hair tenderly. "I am so sorry that you had to go through this horrible experience. If I had known this would happen, I would not have let you travel with us. Your father would have brought you to Denai' Vena and avoided this terror that my uncle unleashed on us."

"That does not seem realistic, does it? What makes you think he wouldn't attack all the other clans and villages while he is after us? And now that he knows that my father is loyal to the Prime Alpha, I'm afraid that Quandagh will be his next point of attack."

She shuddered involuntarily at the thought of her mother and sister, and everyone in her village being devoured by those relentless beastly creatures that had nearly snatched her life away from her.

"That is why we need to defeat Nikjin and protect every other clan that has not been attacked," said Danshak.

"If we do not survive this war, then it may as well spell the end of all werewolves because I know Nikjin will turn everyone into his minions who will only respond to his orders and never question his authority."

Erin exhaled deeply. "I wish last night would have been the end of this crazy war. I can't imagine going through that nightmare again.'

"Do not worry, my love. Once we arrive at Denai' Vena, you will be protected by an army of warriors. No one will be able to get to you, I promise."

"And what about you? Will you be protected too?"

“Edvana, my love. You know it is my duty to fight beside my father and my brothers. I cannot hide indoors like a coward while my kinsmen fight to protect our home.”

"Is it cowardice to stay with your mate when she needs you the most?" Erin asked brokenly. "We have barely had time to know each other, Danshak. We are newly married."

"But Edvana, you know these are peculiar times," said Danshak softly. "We will have no marriage if one or both of us dies. I cannot turn my back on this fight. When the war is over, you and I will have all of the time in the world to be together and lie in each other's arms for endless hours."

"That sounds beautiful, Danshak, but if you will not stay with me under the cover of safety, then I will stand by your side and fight with you against our enemy."

"Please, Edvana. Do not say that. I need you alive."

"And I need you alive too. Did you see how broken your father was this morning when he lost his mate? At least he got to spend over thirty years with her before that demon killed her, but look at us. How long have been together? Don't we deserve our own slice of happiness too?"

"But Edvana, we cannot be happy with this dark cloud of death hovering over our heads. Please, I beg you, my love. Please, I need you to promise me that you will stay behind with the other she-wolves when we get home. I cannot bear the thought of losing my mother and my mate to Nikjin. I could never survive that."

His words brought back the memory of Olna Raven's words during the final hour of the Prime Luna's life. She had begged Erin to stay here and console Danshak as he dealt with the grief of losing his mother.

And although her mate sounded brave as he talked about fighting to keep her safe, she knew he was hiding his emotional pain with anger. She knew he was the type that dealt with grief with physical activities, in this case, combat. "All right,” said Erin. "I will stay safe behind your guard of warriors but on one condition."

"And what is that?" he asked, sounding a bit relieved.

"That you promise to return to me in one piece." Danshak chuckled. "I shall try my best."

Erin smiled against his chest and marveled at how their relationship had transformed so quickly within a short time. Only a few days ago, they could barely stand the sight of each other, and now, they couldn't stand the thought of not being together. One minute they were both resisting the idea of being true mates and the next, they were madly in love with each other and cannot imagine life without one another.

This was the kind of love Erin signed up for; straightforward, genuine, and drama-free. They didn't have to go through many ups and downs or fight and bicker over silly things before finally realizing that they loved each other.

She had never found such love stories endearing because she couldn't fathom why two people who loved themselves would need to put each other through multiple tests just to be certain if the feeling was real.

"I cannot believe that only a short while ago, we did not see eye-to-eye, and now, we do not want to be apart," Danshak mused. "It amazes me."

Erin chuckled. "I was just thinking about the same thing. I guess that's how love works."

"Love," said Danshak softly. "I never thought I was capable of feeling that emotion, but here I am feeling it." "And it is a beautiful feeling."

"I agree. I cannot wait for all of this to be over so that we can live our lives happily and blissfully as we should."

"Let that thought be on your mind when we reach Denai' Vena and you leave me behind to join for father and brothers on the battlefield. You have to remember that you have someone to live for, Danshak."

"I promise you, Edvana, I will always remember that. It was the thought of seeing you again that kept me fighting on that hill as those beats came at me. You are my lucky charm, my beloved mate."

Her heart swelled with love at his charming words that she knew to be true. She may be in the middle of a bloody war but as crazy as it sounded, she was glad to be in it with her mate by her side because his presence gave her hope for a future that they might have together if they survived.