Chapter 40

"A re you sure this is going to work?" Wulfric asked, staring at the thick line of trees at the end of the Lone Road. His eyes burned from lack of sleep. He'd sent two Growlers to the druid's cottage to meet with the Nightstalkers' messengers in case they didn't return by the deadline. He'd hoped to distract her with several orgasms to get her to calm down enough to sleep last night. But by the time she'd written letters to different Hunters and he'd finished with the Growlers, it'd been well-past midnight. They'd both fallen into bed with a groan, and she'd insisted they leave before dawn.

Light just starting to come up, but a thick tower of trees formed a wall in front of them. The Lone Road appeared to continue on the other side.

Scarlet pulled out a cylindrical whistle with holes on one side and arched a brow. "How do you think the Hunters get in and out of the forest to spy on Busparia?"

She blew into the end and several notes flowed together. Wulfric's ear twitched in recognition of three different birds of the forest. How one instrument could overlap three sounds, he had no idea.

But before she put the whistle down, the trees on the road moved toward them. The dirt of the road rippled as the roots moved with them, allowing a space just wide enough for them to ride through one horse at a time.

He followed her, his stomach in knots at the thought of facing his old life. Scarlet had been so focused on getting to Demerel and the queen that he hadn't had a chance to tell her he'd lived there once upon a time.

Shoulders tense, he turned the horse Knox had loaned him on the Lone Road. The winter palace was visible, but where he'd expected to see the town, there was simply a pile of rubble and ash.

"The town is gone," he said into the stillness. No birds sang on this side of the forest. There was no sign of life at all. No rodents rustling the grass because there was no grass. Nothing but dirt turned black as if by a fire.

Scarlet nodded slightly ahead of him, but didn't turn to face him. Her gaze remained on the castle.

"When the queen's curse exploded, the spell settled over everything. Like a bomb going off, it destroyed everything."

"Except the castle," he said.

She nodded, but didn't continue. They reached the outskirts of the town. Piles of ashes and broken timbers were all that was left of the cottages. He swallowed as they turned onto the major thoroughfare, and he spied his parents' shop.

He pulled the horse to a stop and swung down.

"What are you doing?" Scarlet asked, finally turning to him.

He didn't answer. Memories of running through the shop while his pa argued with a customer flooded him. His ma insisting on him learning his sums so he could help. He looked down the street to where the tavern had stood, where he'd stared out the window at the beautiful brunette girl in pigtail braids.

His eyes stung as he remembered when they'd finally ran into each other—literally—at the market. He glanced back to the shop, not wanting Scarlet to see whatever might show on his face.

"I just need a moment," he said softly, staring at the rubble of his former life.

"Do you want me to stay? If not, I'm going to scope out the castle."

He nodded, still not turning to look at her. "That's fine. You can see if the gates are open or if we need to find another way in."

"Alright, but yell if you see anything suspicious."

"You do the same," he murmured, but she probably didn't hear him. She'd already turned her horse and continued on the road.

He pressed his hands to his eyes and ground his teeth. Within a few deep breaths, he had himself under control and dropped his hands. A flash of light caught on the edge of his vision, and he glanced over.

His heart twisted painfully as he took a few steps forward, and he strode the few steps, kicking a pile of ash and broken lumber to reveal the shop's sign. Half gone, but the faded green letters & SON were still visible.

His family legacy, fading away with each passing day. He had dreamed of passing on the business to his own son, but fate had cruelly denied him that chance. His daughter was all that remained, a reminder of the love he had lost when Mara succumbed to the fever. Once this trip to the Winter Palace was done, they'd return to Hartsgrove and finish getting the treaty approved by the people. When the Feral Forest was secure, he could go into Busparia with other Growlers and Hunters and find his daughter.

A shrill shriek pierced the air, and he spun to the road. A thick, ominous cloud engulfed one side of the walls, casting a dark shadow over the destruction. Broken stones and crumbled bricks littered the ground, a stark contrast to the grandeur that once stood there.

He jumped on the horse and raced to the cloud.

The shriek wasn't Scarlet, but he knew. Where there was trouble, she'd be there.

It took too many precious minutes to reach the castle's wall, the stone blackened but strong and solid. He raced along the edge of it and rounded the corner to see the black cloud coalescing into a darker figure.

A monstrous creature, its form rippling with foreboding black shadows, towered above them like a dark tornado. It loomed at least the size of a horse, dwarfing Scarlet and her steed in comparison. With one hand gripping the reins and the other brandishing a dagger, she faced the looming beast with unwavering determination. Her face was etched with grim resolve, unflinching in the face of fear as she prepared to do battle. He was proud of her for controlling her shift and not succumbing to the rabbit or deer.

Then the black clad figure grabbed her hand and yanked her off the horse. The dagger did nothing as if simply flying through air. But the unexpected movement made Scarlet cry out as she jerked her hand away and went flying.

The dagger clattered to the dirt, and she shifted in midair to a little red rabbit. Her clothes fell to the ground, and she burrowed inside them to hide from the shadow creature. It floated to her pile of clothes, and Wulfric roared.

The creature turned to him, and he didn't even think. He shifted, his clothes bursting as he launched himself at the villain. The shadows wrapped around him, and the air grew thin. The shadows began to choke him, and he clawed and swiped.

The thing held him above the ground with a hand on his back leg. A hand… The thing was mostly shadows, but there was something solid within it. Wulfric closed his eyes as it swung him around, pushing past the dizziness and focusing on feeling the body.

He took a deep, slow, tight breath. White spots pushed on the edge of his vision. There . He found the creature's body and dug his claws in. The shrill shriek reverberated through him, making his teeth chatter. With jaws open wide, he ripped into flesh that tasted of death and decay.

He tore it away as that piercing shriek filled the air. His head vibrated from the sound as he took another bite and dug his claws mercilessly into the black void. He couldn't see anything through the blackness, couldn't feel the ground. But he had to find the weak spots, the jugular, the primary arteries…

He tore bite after bite, never letting go with his left hand so he could maintain a tight grasp on the elusive shadow thing's body. The screaming turned to moaning, and then he felt the body rip into two pieces in his mouth.

The shadows burst around him, and he drew a deep breath as he dropped the few feet to the ground. He shook his head to clear the dizziness and turned to where Scarlet had huddled next to the wall.

Instead of a scared little bunny, a beautiful red wolf stood with hackles raised, ready to pounce. When she finally saw him through the dissipating shadows, her fur smoothed and she sniffed the air.

"Wulfric? Are you alright? Is it gone?"

He grinned wide and bounded to her side. She took a step back, then they circled each other. Why was he always so sex focused after a fight? Damn, her scent was even better like this. He sniffed under her neck, and he wanted to howl that she let him that close to one of her most vulnerable places. Growlers were fiercely territorial over their weak spots.

Her wet nose nuzzled behind his ear, then over his back. He licked her side down to her haunches. A cold nudge at his crotch made him yip, and he turned to see her licking around his hidden cock.

Hidden no longer, his body knew his mate was here, sniffing for more. He chuckled as she dipped her head again, licking around his shaft as it grew and made itself known.

"Watch it, bunny, or I'll mount you right here, right now."

Her eyes flashed golden green and met his, the spark of mischief clear even in this form.

"So? My heart is still racing from that—that thing, wolfie. Maybe I need a good fuck to get my head back in the game and away from the shitty way I shifted and hid."

The sparkle dimmed as she grew serious. He licked her cheek and nuzzled under her ear.

"You did what you had to to survive, love. It's nothing to be ashamed of. You were just waiting for me to show up."

"Psh, I don't need you to fight my battles for me." Her words echoed in his head as she turned away with head high. He barked and nipped her tail, making her snarl and turn back to him.

"I know, bunny, but we're a team. We're stronger together, remember? Not just because we were mated, either. Side by side is how we're going to see this through, alright?"

He stared at her, unblinking, and waited as she thought through it. Then she shivered and dipped her head low, a natural sign of submission among Growlers.

He nuzzled her head, nudging it higher so they were equal. He didn't want her submission unless she was underneath him. His shoulder nudged hers as he tried to draw closer, the scent of her arousal and excitement making him lick his lips.

Then she whimpered. "Wulfric, please."

He growled, and she dipped her head again and licked between his legs. With a groan, he closed his eyes, not because of the darkness but because she was the light. She'd brought so many changes into his life, joy and life and light primary among them.

She tried to suck his cock, but Growlers didn't do that. Too many teeth scraped down his shaft, and he jerked back with a hiss. He met her eyes, and they were alight with that mischievous streak once more. Laughter echoed, and the joy spread through him unable to be contained.

He pounced, and they rolled in the dirt, the laughter drowning out the memories of the shadow monster. She landed beneath him with all four legs flat on the ground. She pressed up and back with her back legs, and he eased off her. She looked over her shoulder and wiggled that ass, lifting her tail and arching her thick red brow.

"Well? What are you waiting for?"

He grinned and licked another vulnerable spot, making her freeze her wiggling and moan. Then he mounted her and rocked forward until his dick found its way home.

She panted as Wulfric filled her completely, the stretching burning so good. He paused barely a moment to let her savor the feeling before he was thrusting in and out at a pounding pace.

Her eyes went wide, and she used her forearms to push back into him, trying to drive him deeper and deeper with each thrust.

"How do you like that, bunny?"

She moaned, and her eyes fluttered. They were barely in the shadows next to the castle wall, out in the open of what used to be the town, fucking for anyone who could see. Not that there was anyone outside the castle, but the thought of others watching made her pussy drip and pulse.

"Fuck yes, just like that, wolfie."

"You like being my bitch? Taking that big dick as I pound into you like an animal?"

She gave the low keening cry of a wolf as her pussy clenched. Yes, yes, yes.

"Fuck, yes," he hissed in her mind as he thrust deep.

"You like it too, wolfie. Is my pussy tighter as a Growler? Think I could take you as a fucking rabbit?'

He growled, and the thrusting grew erratic. She pushed back against him, trying to take it deeper than ever before. The knot at the base grew bigger, and she knew he was close.

Fuck, so was she. Too soon, she was chasing that orgasmic high and ready to fling herself off the edge of oblivion.

He thrust harder, the knot stretching her entrance wider. The wetness helped, but she still craved that burn and stretch. Some animalistic glutton for punishment pushed her on, and she pressed back harder.

The knot pushed in, making her scream and clench with release. He roared, still thrusting, but now unable to withdraw. Each time his knot tried to leave, it made her convulse harder, triggering her orgasm to keep going. Her vision went red. Her body quaked, and still he thrust, reaching the entrance to her womb and making her scream.

He tensed and thrust deeper, holding himself still as he swelled. She shook uncontrollably as his gushing heat flooded her. Pulse after pulse, it stretched so much it hurt. But the orgasm overshadowed the pain, and she clenched on him with every pulse.

Her back legs couldn't hold herself up anymore, and she collapsed onto her stomach, all four paws tucked under her. Wulfric followed her down as he licked behind her ear and crooned in her head.

"Fucking hells, love, that was—that was something else."

She chuckled, her eyes fluttering closed. " Best fuck ever?"

He chuckled, the vibrations making her clench around him. "Definitely. I've heard knot sex is other worldly, but didn't believe it."

He settled his paws on either side of her, his back legs wide as his entire body sheltered hers.

"Unfortunately, I've also heard the knot takes a long time to go down."

"So we're stuck like this?"

"Yes. Sorry, bunny, I know you wanted to get into the castle as quickly as possible."

She yawned and wiggled, feeling the delicious stretch of him still within her. It's fine. The castle's not going anywhere. "Besides, I could use a nap."

He huffed a laugh and licked her Growler jaw. "Sleep then, and I'll keep watch."

When Scarlet opened her eyes, she was back in human form, naked but with her cloak covering her as the sun approached the tree line. She stretched and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, but didn't see Wulfric or the horses. The tracks in the dirt led around the wall, so maybe he was scavenging for food, finding a safe place for the horses, or searching for the best way inside.

She beat the dust and ash out of her clothes, then slipped them back on. When Wulfric still hadn't returned, she followed his tracks to the side servant's entrance, losing them on the cobbled courtyard. She searched with her heightened senses, but couldn't hear or see anything outside the massive castle keep.

The stone seemed to stretch endlessly as she circled the castle. Each step made her tension rise, gnawing her insides like a ravenous beast. If she were Wulfric, where would she be? The servant's entrance door stood open, and her stomach growled.

She sighed in relief. Yes, of course he would try to find food. All men were led by their stomachs or dicks, after all.

She pulled out one of her daggers and pushed the door open with a creak. She winced at the sound, but nothing stirred. A thick layer of dust coated every surface. Dishes still sat in the sink, maggots long gone but their carcasses still scattered around. She stepped inside, searching for signs of life, tracks in the dust, or any aura or sound.

No sign of Wulfric or that he'd been here. A gnawing fear demanded she search every room downstairs before tracking the upper floor to find him. She felt tied to him by the magic of their mate bond. It spurred her inside the eerily still room.

A quick search showed the pantry well past the rotten phase. She guessed maybe two or three months, which didn't make sense. The curse blast had been six months ago, and if the queen was still in residence, there should be food aplenty. Servants too, for that matter.

She searched the larder, the cellar, and the icebox, but there was nothing worth eating. She pulled out a piece of dried jerky from her pocket and ate it as she walked on silent feet to the servant's stairs. She opened the door and listened, stretched her senses but felt no one near.

She let the door swing shut and went to the next door.

A shiver raced down her spine as the memory of the last time she was here filled her mind. The clanging metal of battle in the courtyard. The magical smoke and fire on the roof as the king and Knox had battled. Following the injured king and queen upstairs to their rooms…

She shook her head and pushed open the door to the short hallway. A murmur came from the other side, and she crouched as she swallowed the last bite of her jerky. She peered inside through the small circular window in the door.

The ceiling was painted with a scene of the gods and goddesses eating at a feast. Tapestries hung on the opposite wall, a thin layer of dust barely muting the vibrant colors of the battle scene. Golden drapes hung along the windows, pulled back with red silk. Although the sun would set soon, the room was lit by magical sconces on the walls, casting deliberately glows on the scene on the ceiling.

Gilt trimmed chairs with red upholstered cushions had been pushed along one side of the dining table, leaving the closest side free of chairs. The long, wooden dining table was littered with vials, potions, magical burners, herbs, jars, and piles of ingredients. Much of it was covered in dust too, but a flurry of activity at the far end of the room caught her by surprise.

A yellow and red skirt writhed on the floor. Clearly the queen was kneeling on the floor, but Scarlet found it odd that the queen would wear the same dress from the spy image in the mirror. As she stared, she thought it might have even been the same dress from that fateful day six months ago.

A fiery fury surged through Scarlet like lightning in her veins pulsing with each breath. She fought to control the burning rage within, knowing that she couldn't simply charge in and end the queen's life, no matter how her hands ached to do just that. Countless people relied on keeping the queen alive to undo the curses.

Scarlet pushed the emotions aside and slowly pushed the door open. The hinges were silent, thank the gods, and she slipped inside the room on quiet feet. She hugged the wall until she reached the buffet table and listened.

"Ah, just like that. Thank you so much, Gus. That's bloody brilliant. Now if Jaq can just put the spoonful of wormwood dust in… yes, I know it stinks and you don't want it to dirty your beautiful shine, but you're doing such a great job. I couldn't have managed it better myself, trust me. You boys don't even miss a speck!"

Scarlet frowned and peered through the window. There were other people in the room? She couldn't sense them or see any auras, but she needed to know how many before she launched an attack.

The queen leaned back on her haunches and clapped.

"Well done! I knew you could do it!" She looked to the side and her gaze collided with Scarlet's. Her jaw dropped, and she scrambled to her feet.

Scarlet felt ice slither through her body, pushing aside the red hot emotions as her daggers hung limply in her hands. She remained frozen in place as the queen rushed forward, trying to process what she saw.

"Oh gods, praise be Borga, you're here. How did you get past the shadow monster? Oh thank the heavens. Finally, someone to talk to, someone to help! You don't know how lonely the past few months have been without…"

The queen frowned and stopped a few feet away, a wrinkle in her forehead making her so much more relatable. Bella had scowled and cursed at rowdy patrons to keep them in line at the tavern, but now, standing in front of Scarlet with a defeated look on her face, she seemed more like the tired and worn-out tavern owner at the end of a long night than an evil queen who summons monsters.

"You… you were there. When he died," the queen said, her eyes flashing and her fists clenching at her sides.

Scarlet held her daggers at the ready by her side, but she wasn't sure what to expect. It sure hadn't been this, though.

The queen was a ghost. Nearly translucent, but exactly like Leopol.

Fuck.