Chapter Two

Cadon quickly grabs a rock. "Kill it!" the werewolf flinches, its eyes on me.

"Please no! I-I'll go! Don't kill me."

I can barely see him since he's moved further into the shadows but I can picture him. From his voice, he seems like he snuck out, similar to me, not where he should be. He sounds cute, too.

"WAIT!" I scream. "Don't kill him. Let him leave."

Cadon looks at me. "Leave him?"

"He's not hurting us."

"He's a werewolf!" Cadon exclaims. His face twists angrily. "He could hurt us. And it's my legacy to kill him." He grabs the werewolf and forces it into the small amount of light on the path.

He is tall, slightly bent over, and has a nose ring in. His shaggy dark brown hair covers his pointed ears and drapes over his eyes in clumps. Since he only has some of his werewolf features, he is my age. when they are born they look like us and then slowly turn into full werewolves.

"Don't hurt him," I command.

"Guys, I think you should all go home," Cadon says to our friends. "He might go berserk."

They leave and I hear them crunch through the woods, fallen branches snapping.

He looks at me. "What is up with you? You need to stop."

"You can't hurt the werewolf. He probably is out here on accident. Let him go and then he'll leave you alone."

"You don't know that." He freezes and his eyes light up. "You don't want me to fulfill my legacy. You're jealous because you think that I'll pick somebody besides you for my wife. You know what? I was gonna chose you. Now that I see how you act, I don't want you."

"You were gonna chose me?"

Rolling his eyes, he nods. "Until you defended a werewolf. Wait until the village hears about this! They'd all be soo interested in hearing about this."

"Cadon, don't tell them. I'm not hanging out with him. I'm just being nice."

"Fine. I won't tell them. For a little bit. Now let's go back to the village." He grabs me, pulling me back along the path.

He drops me off at my house, but before I go inside, he blocks the door. "Look, Del. I like you. Love you, but I can't love you if you befriend werewolves. So what do you say we move past that? Pretend we never saw a werewolf, I chose you, and everyone's happy."

"I'll think about it. Talk to you tomorrow when I get eggs." I go inside and he leaves.

The night plays in my head as I fall asleep. Soon it's morning and I collect the milk and vegetables and then go over to Cadon's. He's standing at the chicken house, waiting for me.

"What's your decision?"

"I love you Cadon."

"Good, because I've loved you for so long" He pulls me close and kisses me. Finally, my crush of several years reveals that he likes me back.

I kiss him back, and then I hear footsteps. I quickly let go and look around. Cadon's dad is walking toward us. I quickly step away from Cadon. Having someone interrupt a kiss is awkward, especially if it's a dad. At least for me.

"Cadon, my boy!! This lovely young lady is who you are betrothed to, am I right?"

"Yes, she is."

Cadon's father has huge arm muscles and a bushy mustache and beard. His stomach pokes out, bloated from all the food. He looks almost friendly, especially with his voice, which I've never heard angry.

"Congratulations! Now, about that werewolf last night," I shoot Caodn a look. Did he really tell his father about me saving the werewolf? "You said that you didn't manage to kill it in time. We'll have to go find it. Sound good? Maybe the day after tomorrow."

I tense and start collecting eggs while he talks.

"I can't go tomorrow, because I have to travel to Omarkel for important matters, but after that, I'll be home and ready to hunt," he continues.

"I'd love that," Cadon agrees. "Do you think he'll be out without other werewolves? Don't they always go in a pack?"

"Since you didn't see any other werewolves, I believe that he sneaks out without a group. So maybe we'll get lucky and he'll be alone again."

"I hope so."

I grab the last eggs and hand him the few vegetables. "I have to go. Mom should have breakfast ready."

"Bye, Del."

"Congratulations, Delayah. Soon you'll have the name of the biggest and best werewolf hunting family."

I go inside. Already the boys are up and scarfing down breakfast. I grab some of the bacon and eggs before they eat it all.

"Delayah, I need you to go into the village. I'm running out of fabric for the dress I'm making for Ms. Ariel. I'll give you some coins. And bring Darrin with you," She points to my second youngest brother.

He grins at me, his cheeks puffy with mashed egg.

After breakfast, she gives me the coins and we walk into town. "Can we stop by the candy store?" Darrin asks.

"Maybe, we have to get the fabric first."

We live far out of town and it takes two miles to reach the fabric shop. "Hello, Delayah," Renee says. "What are you looking for today?"

"Mother needs more fabric for Ms. Ariel's dress."

"Ah, did you hear about the werewolf attack? Ariel's boyfriend's house was targeted two nights ago."

"That's awful!" I exclaim.

Once a month, there is a moon called the werewolf moon, and it's when the werewolves are completely active. Almost every time after a werewolf moon, we hear of someone who had been the prey.

"Was anyone hurt?" I ask.

"I don't know. Those folks live so far out of town, and they keep to themselves mostly, so it's impossible to tell. Has your mother talked to Ariel recently?"

"I don't think so."

As we talk I grab the white fabric and Darrin stares longingly at the candy dispenser. "Oh, come over here and take a piece of candy, Darrin and grab some for your brothers too," Renee says. Her wrinkled face crinkles up in a smile as he scoops an oversized handful up and pockets it before grabbing another.

"Darrin!" I exclaim. "Why do you need that much?"

"For me and then two of the pieces in my pocket are for the other two boys."

We laugh. "Make sure to give them more than just one each."

I pay her five coins for fabric and we leave. "Candy shop now?" Darrin asks.

"No!" I giggle. "You already have candy! It'll last you days!"

"No, it won't! It'll be gone by tonight!!"

"Then eat it slowly, silly! Do you wanna go the long way home?"

"Sure. Are we gonna get anything for Deven for his birthday?"

"Oh right. What do you think he'll like?"

"Candy! And if he doesn't like it then I'll eat it!"

"Darrin, Be serious. Do you think he'll like a new shirt? Or new pencils?"

"Probably pencils and some paper."

We walk over to the everyday store and grab two new pencils and a paper book. That uses up the last of the coins and by now I'm starving again.

"Let's hurry. I'm starved."

We kick up dust as we walk along the dirt road. On this stretch of land, the stores are at one end and most of the houses in this town are at the opposite end. There are more houses past the clump of houses we're headed to. And on the flip side of the shops are even more houses, like Ariel's and her boyfriend's.

Woods line both sides of the road and even the houses. When the woods meet the houses, it curves into a circle around them like a beaker

We pass the big clump of houses, which includes Realyn's and Blak's. A while after we pass them, houses start showing up, in sparse clumps.

At the end of the houses are two small cottages, mine and Cadon's. The woods seem to swallow them and the path to Jasper and Omarkel, the towns on the other side of the woods, right beside the mountain.

We get inside and I grab some food. "Mom, I'm going on a walk."

"Ok, stay safe, I guess that werewolves won't you during daylight. Be back an hour before dusk."

I nod and head out, an apple in my mouth. I go on the same path as yesterday, but this time I can see well enough to enjoy the view. The trees are bright, deep green. Birds chirp high up in the tree, sounding carefree for a few more hours before werewolves come, scaring them. I find a quiet spot that has the perfect amount of sun and shade and I sit down. Sticks pop in a pleasant song harmonizing with the birds as bunnies land on them.

The stick cracking stops all of a sudden and I hear something breathing loudly. I glance around quickly. It takes a second time to realize that a human is standing in front of me. A minute later I realize that he has werewolf features.

My heart stops, yet I don't run. "You are the girl that saved me last night?" His voice is thick with an accent.

"I might be?" I said, leaning away from him.

He doesn't get the hint and scoots closer, his shoulder and long hair brushing against me"Thank you. It is very nice to meet someone who doesn't immediately try to hurt us. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Do you mind if I stay here and talk to you?"

"No, I don't mind."

He sits down beside me. "Is that what all humans look like?"

"I guess? I think I look pretty normal."

"I think you look cute."

I blush, not used to how blunt he is. "I have a boyfriend."

"What is a boyfriends?"

"Boyfriend. It's what you call the person you love. Like your partner for life."

"So your mate?"

"Sure?"

"Ok. I want you to know that I do not hurt people. I don't join in the attacks."

"Ok?"

There's an awkward pause. I look around, begging for some new topic. "Oh! I want you to know that the friend that was with me is coming in a few days to hurt you. He is coming with his dad, who is a huge hunter."

"Thank you for warning me."

"You're so polite."

"Thank you. Do you want to go on a walk?"

"Sure." I would ask him to not hurt me but he doesn't seem to try.

We walk along the path. I'm careful not to get too close to the thin part of the woods and I'm sure that he is making sure that we don't get too close to where he lives.

We wander around and then I decide to go home. It's been a long day and it's almost dusk. "I need to go back to my house."

"Thank you for talking to me. Wait, what is your name?"

"Del."

"Hello, Del. My name is Ben. Can we meet up again?"

"I dunno. Maybe. Bye, Ben."

I sprint along the path. Cadon is outside his house. "Del!"

I wave at him but head to my house. "Mom! I'm back but I'm going to Cadon's house!"

She nods and I scurry over to his yard. He is sitting on the grass. I sit down beside him.

"My mother has a betrothed gift for you."

Cringing on the inside, I nod. Talking to him is so hard and sometimes even awkward.

"Do you want to open it now?"

"Sure."

He gets up and goes and grabs it. While I wait I let my mind wonders about what the gift is. Gifts are always so practical here. Clothes, food, sometimes something fun, like Deven's pencils and paper.

A cat walks up to me, purring as it shoves its body up against me, wanting a back scratch.

Finally, he comes back. "Here, she says congratulations."

Wrapped in brown paper and tied with a small ribbon is a dress. I pull it all the way out. The dress is white. It's a light fabric with loose sleeves and a round neckline.

Now it clicks after a boy picks someone, his parents buy a dress for the ceremony.

"Please tell her thank you. But why did she already pick one?" For the engagement, you have the first asking, where the boy asks the girl. Three months after that is the last asking when they both know each other and finalize their engagement. Then comes the wedding at least three months after that. Sometimes, the wedding will be way sooner than that.

"It's gorgeous. Thank you." I pause and fold the dress back up. "When is it?"

"When is what?" He asks, looking at me confused.

"You know," I say, not wanting to say the word. I felt his presence right next to me.

"No, I really don't know." He said, leaning closer.

"The." I pictured the word in my head before spitting it out. "The wedding."

Cadon laughs and entwines our fingers. "You could've just said it. It's not a scary word."

"Maybe not for you," I say.

"Don't be a scaredy, Del. It'll be fine!"

"So when is it?" Still careful not to say the word.

"I think we should wait two weeks before the wedding and then get married right after two weeks."

"I think we should wait for a month at least for the double checking and then a month or two after that get married."

"Why wait so long?" He whines.

"Because I don't want to rush it."

"And I want it to be at the hall."

"Oh, Are we not having it in my yard? That's my family's tradition."

He grimaces. "That's too rustic. Your house isn't-'' He paused as if not sure what to say. "Your house doesn't exactly meet all of my requirements."

"What do you mean requirements?"

"Well, it just isn't…"

"Isn't?"

"Pretty enough."

"So you're saying that my house isn't good enough for you?"

His face flushes slightly and he responds, "not necessarily."

"Don't keep sugarcoating it."

"Fine, that is what I'm saying."

"