The First Wolves

31. THE YELLOW HEADBAND

Progress through the forest had been compromised by a significant drop in temperature. This mainly affected the members who hadn’t reached their wolf spirit yet, and the pups. The small portions of food that was distributed, and the ever increasing incline as they neared the mountain had all contributed towards the pack’s struggles. Despite the sympathy that Conri had for the more vulnerable members of the pack, he was forced to increase their pace. The enemy were gaining on them, and getting to the mountains first had never been more crucial to their survival. Expectedly, Fidella tried to find as many solutions for her pack members as she could. She ensured that the pups rode on the backs of the wolves, so that their natural body heat would warm their precious young ones. She also made sure that any person who was still waiting for their wolf spirit travelled in a set of three, so that they could share their body heat. Although times were physically hard, everyone kept their mood high by discussing the first meal that they would eat in the mountains, the songs they would sing, and the stories they would tell. Other than Conri and Fidella, the only other wolves who were impervious to the difficulties on the journey were the mated couples. Jerrick and Jenny always walked side by side with his arm over her shoulder, and her arm around his waist, with little June strapped to her mother’s body in a blanket. Likewise, Otto and Holda walked hand in hand, the tingles reminding them how fortunate they were to be a whole family once more. Anna stood tucked under her father’s arm, and Adal liked to race ahead to see the next part of the journey. Thus it was with all the fated couples, who were too lost in their mates to notice the external obstacles. Andre carried Melissa on his back when the terrain was too challenging, and she whispered of her love for him for the entirety of their journey. He was slowly bringing her into the centrefold of the pack, breaking down her defenses. Rufus was overly attentive to Ivy, he was desperate to protect her. Since she hadn’t reached her wolf yet, her mate was shielding her from the cold and hunger by covering her body with William’s, and trying to give her half his portion of rations that she refused to take. These observations reinforced Conri’s faith in the moon Goddess’ bonds and plans, and this comfort made the guilt of pushing them to their limits sting less forcefully.

On the second day, they had finally reached the base of the mountain. Otto and Rufus advanced first, trying to find the most accessible route, even though the ascent was steep. Although specific areas were perilous, Otto and Rufus had found a network of paths that led to a collection of caves. Conscious that danger was advancing towards them like ravenous predators fuelled by hatred, Conri gave the order to begin the climb, pairing the weakest members with the strongest. Ivy was the most confident climber, her feet were assured and her body was nimble, but she also had a unique ability to anticipate how the land would shift beneath her feet before she made her next step. Even though her skills were impressive, it was a reminder to them all that her talent had been acquired in the deepest rung of hell on earth. With the help of all the pack members, Conri was proud to see that by the afternoon everyone was settled, and the provisions were in the process of being organised. Winnifred had even started stretching the animals’ furs so that they would be used for warmth in the coming days.

Conri could only want one more blessing; heavy snow fall to block the advancement of the army, and keep his pack safe until the end of winter. His hope soon became the pack’s hope, so before bed their prayers were offered to the Goddess to send a wall of white to protect them. The next morning, the pups ran outside, disappointed not to see the speckles of lace falling from the sky. The pack ate their breakfast of elk and raisins in the morning, and the comforting reassurances that the snow would come soon spread through each member, alleviating their worry. On the second day, early in the morning, Conri could hear a loud confrontation where Iselda had placed the guards on the path the night before. Rushing to investigate, Conri was surprised when he saw one werewolf and one human, demanding to speak to the Alpha and Luna.

“We need to see the Alpha. I’m not being turned away just because I have a human with me, one who is clearly injured!” The tall wolf stubbornly stated.

“I’m Alpha Conri, what do you want to say to me?” Conri treaded the line between assertive and interested, even though he didn’t feel that either of them were a threat.

Swinging his heavy braid over his shoulder, Madla stretched himself to his full height and reached out his hand. Annoyed by the guard, he wanted to assess the Alpha before submitting to him, but Conri’s aura made that impossible. He lowered his head in respect.

“You should say to him that his guard is an arrogant turd, and he is lucky we didn’t throw him on his arse.” Majesty, his wolf, growled in the back of his mind.

“I am Madla. I used to be a gladiator at the House of Heaton. This is Caius. I think your Beta will know him.”

“How do you know who my Beta might be?” Conri asked, suspiciously.

“Your posters are in every town, the drawings are very accurate,” Madla answered, watching as the Alpha frowned.

Caius stumbled next to him, the exertion finally catching up with him. Madla had been impressed that he had kept up for so long. In their arduous journey, he had come to the conclusion that Caius was a human with the stamina and heart of a wolf.

“Follow me.” Conri replied.

He walked ahead, but was prepared for an attack from behind him the entire time.

The moment he turned towards the cave, Conri mind linked Fidella, Ewan, Pepin and Winnifred, needing them to help identify the two guests. Everyone replied confirming that they were on their way, but Winnifred was distracted on route.

“Someone had taken the ginger out of the spice chest I brought. May I retrieve it before I meet you, Alpha and Luna. It has healing properties that we might need at a later date. It is vital that it isn’t wasted.” Winnifred asked through the link, happy when they gave her permission to seek out the thief first.

Waiting at the entrance, Madla seemed agitated. He looked at the sky often, taking in deep breaths to ease his frustrations.

Ewan arrived first, smiling at his friends, before doing a double take at the sight of Caius. Once belief had taken root, he ran towards his dad, who squeezed him with a ferocity that indicated he wouldn’t let go any time soon.

“Dad, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean what I said.”

“I know son, I’m so proud of you,” he insisted, before hissing at the pain in his stomach, immediately causing Ewan to let go, and inspect the wound.

Fidella and Conri were pleased to see the old hurts were healing. Ewan was always weighted down with guilt when he spoke of his dad. Both alphas were aware that they had to thank Caius for his warning at the temple. If it hadn’t been for him, their entire pack would have perished. Pepin, who had arrived, mid reunion, watched from the side, allowing them to enjoy this time of reconciliation. He felt the presence of a debt he could never repay, and didn’t know how he would broach the start of a thank-you to his friend. Caius had given his youth from a life that was significantly shorter than a wolf’s. He could already see the grey hair that was covering his head. Despite this cost, Pepin could see that having a bond with Ewan made Caius feel repaid tenfold. Caius was family.

Coughing to get Pepin’s attention, Conri motioned to the wolf who stood beside him. Unprepared to recognise a person that had been a fleeting part of his past, he paused in confusion, trying to pair the face and name together. Madla. It was the wolf that Aoife had managed to free from Magnus’ rule. His braids shone with silver strands, making it seem that the years had made him wiser. Pepin reached out to shake his hand, the smooth texture of his skin contrasted with the calluses on his palm.

“I never thought I would see you again. Why did you not jump on a ship when Aoife gave you enough time to escape?” Pepin probed, curiously.

“I-“ Madla began to explain, but stopped when he saw the much older Winnie clinging to the stone in the cave.

Diverting her attention to the provisions once more, before acting on her Alpha’s request to join him, Winnifred searched for the ginger spice. Worrying that it had been taken for a practical joke, she was already mourning the loss of all the great things it could have done. The strong fragrance was all over the cave, and the waste was annoying her endlessly. Unbelievably, the root was exactly where she had left it, there was no indication that it had been disturbed, but the scent still effused from the cave as if it had been scattered everywhere. Her wolf, Arwen, was becoming loud and agitated. Presumably, because she hadn’t acted on her alpha’s request. The spicy tang of ginger became more prevalent as she approached the entrance. Intoxicating her mind, she felt dizzy and nervous with excitement as the ribbon of reason that remained in her head pulled her to the conclusion that she was about to meet her mate. Stepping over the threshold of her old life into a better future, the scent of ginger was as powerful as smoke. It blinded her to the presence of anyone else. She could only focus on the glow that her mate exuded. The sight of him stole her breath away as she gripped the stone wall to stop herself from falling. After all these years, her mate was within reach, but her heart was hesitant. She wasn’t the girl he once knew, and if he was expecting that, she knew that he would be overwhelmingly disappointed. Despite her own inner voice holding her back, she realised that he was the man she had wanted for all these years. Breaking her thoughts, Arwen growled at the scent of blood that diluted their mate’s more alluring call. Instinct revived her as she raced to Caius, concern motivating her actions.

“Mate” She softly sighed, before searching for his wound.

Caius felt all his emotions shifting slightly, as he watched Winnie looking at him in disbelief. The only way he could describe it was like having a locked box within him where all the answers to every question he ever needed to know had been stored away, and the key had been out of his reach. Winnie was that key. His world suddenly became vivid, now that he had found his answer to all the whys he had never managed to figure out on his own. Knowing that she was the reason for all he would do from this point on brought him comfort he had never known before. Although he could see her desire for him when she had whispered ‘mate’ as if the word was made of glass, her need to tend to his wounds warmed him further. He was not as patient as she was, his urge to hold her was overshadowing his pain and weariness. Reaching for her chin gently, he held her in place, searching into her eyes.

“Am I your mate, Winnie?” He asked her, needing to be sure, uncaring that he was human and that this was unheard of.

She nodded shyly, fearing ridicule and rejection. Instead, he pulled her forehead into his chest, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

“All this time. The Goddess brought us together when I was sixteen, you were eighteen. We were in front of each other the whole time, until we weren’t.” Winnie considered the unfairness of it all, the happy mating she might have had if Cornelius, her first master, had lived.

“Maybe you’re right, or maybe the Goddess just wanted us to have a shared past, so that we could better appreciate the gift we have been given now.” Caius suggested.

Winnifred supported Caius to the small camp she had created within the cave. Getting some clean strips of cloth, she washed his wounds, and praised Madla’s stitches before tightly wrapping the vinegar-soaked bandages around his abdomen in an effort to keep any infection at bay. Tingles made her hand shake every time she touched his skin, and even though this wasn’t the appropriate time, she couldn’t help but appreciate the muscles that had formed on his body in their years apart. It would rival many of the wolves she knew, not that it mattered to her, for she only cared for his heart.

“I think the Goddess has finally picked the perfect punishment for you, matriarch. To be mated to a human will always be a one-sided bond. He’ll never feel the tingles, or notice the scent that was made to appeal to him, and I even wonder if he will feel loss if you die before him, since he won’t feel it when your souls knit together. Now you will know a fraction of the pain I feel when I think of my sister.” Lydia mocked her.

Peering at Caius, she hung her head in shame. He had no idea of who she had become, and this was sooner than she had wanted to reveal her darker side. She didn’t intend to keep secrets from him, but she knew once she told him everything, he would never look at her the way he was now.

“Has the Goddess gifted you with a mate?” Caius asked the smug-looking she-wolf.

“Not yet” she replied defensively.

“Maybe not ever, if you feel it is your place to question the sincerity of the Goddess’ gifts,” Caius countered, curtly.

He didn’t know why the she-wolf had such animosity towards his mate, but Winnie looked crestfallen, and it was his natural reaction to defend her. No matter what had happened in the past, to purposefully try to ruin the first moments for mates who had just found each other put the younger wolf in the wrong. Ignoring the huffing she-wolf, who stormed away embarrassed, he focussed on Winnie, surprised by the lone tear that dripped off her chin. Using his thumb to tread the journey of the drop back up her cheek, he was surprised by her reaction. She looked at the tears on his fingers as if she couldn’t accept that they were her own.

“You didn’t need to do that. She’s right. I don’t deserve a mate. You have been stuck with me.” She uttered dejectedly.

Caius opened his satchel that stored his most precious items, the things he had never shared with another soul. Not even Ewan. Some of the contents had changed over the years, simply becoming less important to him as his perspectives changed with age. He was explaining this to Winnie as he laid the items on her blanket: a lock of Ewan’s baby hair, the socks Aoife had made for her son, the letter that confirmed his own father’s death, and lastly, a yellow headband. Winnifred stroked the material with her fingertips, remembering how she had wrapped it around Caius’ bloody knuckles the day he left.

“I have looked at this headband every day, since the day I left the House of Heaton. When I was hurt in battle, the touch of it soothed my pain. When I needed counsel, it calmed my thoughts. When I was weak, it gave me strength. I do feel the tingles, it reminds me of the breeze that kisses my skin dry after bathing in a crisp, cold lake. Your headband would smell faintly of fresh bread, and I assumed it was from the kitchens, but when I lean into your neck now, I smell it just as strongly as I did then. I may not feel these sensations as strongly as you do, but my soul has been bound to yours for many years.” Caius vowed, meaning every word.

Praying that she had finally been forgiven by the Moon Goddess, she couldn’t help but lean against her mate. Believing every word that he told her, she surrendered her self-condemnation in exchange for the comfort found in his arms and the love found on his lips.