Newly Bitten Werewolf

The werewolf's name was Twila Parlow. She was a Parlow. A family name that was very familiar in her ear. A family that was involved deeply in the Blood Moon's Contract. A family that had chosen her to be a part of the bargain on this blood moon.

Was she the mayor of Ichorhold's daughter? Or was she Parlow's relative? What was she doing here in the demon world instead of staying in Ichorhold with her family?

Melva was confused. The longer she stayed here, the more she found the relatives of the families she had known back in Ichorhold. First it was Elisha, who was the daughter of the Halpines, the family that was very close to her. Now this young woman who had Parlow as a last name suddenly showed up. How could they end up here if they were from Ichorhold?

"Have we met before?" asked Twila curiously and Melva realised she had been staring a bit too long. "You seem to know me. I am sorry if we have. I do not remember meeting you."

"I believe we have not," said Melva with the same friendly manner. "I recognise your family name. Your father is the mayor of Ichorhold, right? I am also from there."

Twila's face immediately fell. Her smile instantly disappeared from her features and she looked as if she was grieving. Both Elisha and Twila were hesitant to talk about their past that involved Ichorhold. It was as though the town's name was a taboo for them.

Something bad must have happened in the past that had caused them to stay here. Although Melva had lived in Ichorhold for a decade, she had never seen the two of them anywhere in town, which meant that they had been in Nightwind since before she had come to Ichorhold.

No one had ever mentioned them either. It was as if they had never existed. Their families also had remained quiet and pretended they had no child and no other relatives. What had exactly happened?

Twila recovered from her shock as she put back the smile on her face and pretended like it was nothing. "Yes. I am glad to know that you are from the same town. I can see us being good friends."

Vance cleared his throat, deciding that this was the time for him to offer his proposal. "You are a newly bitten werewolf, right? Why don't you stay here in my manor and join our pack? I can teach you a few things."

"I am honored, Your Grace. I do not know that you are a werewolf as well. But I am not sure if I am proper to be a part of your pack. I have no idea how packs work. It will be unfair for the other members of your pack." Twila subtly glanced at Davis to get her point across.

Davis merely shrugged when Vance followed Twila's gaze, landing it on him. He seemed to refuse to say anything because his opinion did not matter in the slightest. Vance's beta was rebelling and not keen on helping the alpha.

Melva knew this would happen. Vance deserved it for forcing his opinion on others. Davis was losing his respect for him. Even Twila seemed uncomfortable with the current circumstance.

Sighing, Melva decided to be their mediator before the discomfort in the room escalated. "I advise you to let her stay in the manor for the moment and decide whether she should join the pack or not later after seeing her potential. She will be safe from harm and at the same time she will not hold back the pack. It seems to be the better option."

"I agree with Lady Melva," said Davis without skipping a beat.

It was almost as if Melva was his alpha from the way he talked and it seemed that Vance realised it as well. He was frowning at Davis' behaviour. The beta was disobeying his alpha.

Melva was afraid of what Vance was going to do to punish him for his disobedience, because Davis was a nice person. Nice people didn't deserve to be punished.

"Alright. Twila will stay here and eventually, she will join the pack," reiterated Vance authoritatively.

"Can I ask a question? I am aware that the bite has turned me into a werewolf. But why do you keep calling me an omega? What does that mean?" asked Twila after the room turned silent with Vance and Davis staring daggers at each other.

Instead of answering Twila's question, Vance made his decision without discussing with anyone, as usual. He turned to give his order to his beta. "You should teach her everything about us, Davis. You do that and I will give you the special right to decide whether she is ready to join the pack or not. It will be your decision. You have my word. The chamber next to this is reserved for you to stay for the night."

"Alright. I will as long as the final decision falls to me," said Davis with finality.

Davis sat down on the chair next to the bed as Vance took Melva's hand in his and led her out of the chamber to return back to hers. She glanced at the standing clock by the wall as they walked down the corridor. Her whole body was aching and walking took all her remaining strength away. Her fatigue from the long day she had gone through began to kick in and she wanted nothing more than a good night's sleep.

"You should take a bath first, Melva. You need to clean your wounds," reminded Vance, as if he could read her mind that she wanted to go straight to sleep the second she stepped into her chamber.

Melva groaned out loud as what she had in mind was discovered. "It can wait until tomorrow."

"No, it cannot. I will not let your wounds get infected. If you do not want to clean them, I will clean them for you." Vance now sounded like her caretaker.

"No!" exclaimed Melva in terror. She would never let him watch her take a bath, much less bathe her. She was still an unmarried woman and it was improper to be in a bathroom with a man. "Fine. I will take that bath if you insist so much."

"Good girl," praised Vance with an amused grin as if she was a little child.

Elisha was already standing by in front of her chamber when the two of them got there. She opened the door for them, looking surprised to see Vance entering the chamber behind her at this time at night. Even so, she stepped into the chamber as well because it was her duty to help Melva get ready to sleep.

"Is His Grace going to spend the night here, milady?" asked Elisha to Melva as she closed the door behind her after she came in.

"Yes," answered Vance eagerly.

"No," answered Melva at the same time.

They both whipped their heads to look at each other instantly. Melva was glaring at him and Vance was raising his brow at her. Elisha was looking even more confused, darting her eyes back and forth from Melva to Vance after hearing their contradicting response.

"Can you please prepare the bath, Elisha?" pleaded Melva.

Elisha hesitated before going to the bathroom. "For one or two people, milady?"

Vance was about to open his mouth when Melva glared at him and he raised both his hands in surrender. She quickly answered Elisha's question. "For one."

Elisha nodded and hastily left for the bathroom, as though she could sense the tension in the air and want nothing to do with it. Good for her that she could escape from this obnoxious man, because Melva was stuck with him.

"Are you sure you do not want my help? They seem to hurt a lot," said Vance playfully, taking a seat on the couch inside the chamber, hinting that he would not leave here anytime soon. Was he seriously planning to stay the night? "Or I can help change your bandage."

Melva was interested in his offer because it must be difficult to change her bandage by herself. "You can do that?"

Vance straightened his back, his posture filled with pride. "I am over a thousand years old, Melva. I learned a lot of things when I am bored."

"It is a very long time," commented Melva, blankly stating the truth because she was at a loss for words. How could anyone survive living for that long? It was a wonder that he had not gone completely insane with the large number of enemies he had. Was he not tired of fending them off all his lives?

"It is," said Vance, his face turning grim suddenly.

Melva felt sympathy for him even if there was no way he could know how much suffering he had gone through in all those years. She had the sudden urge to understand him. She wanted to know more about him. "I cannot imagine. Are you not tired?"

"I am tired, Melva. I wake up every day feeling empty. When there is nothing to look forward to, it is getting more difficult to wake up every morning. Until you came." Vance stood up from his seat and walked over towards Melva, staring right into her eyes. "I am filled with excitement each time I realise I will see you in the morning and suddenly, life is no longer boring."