Chapter Nine

Gwyneth and Kiran strolled through the city connected to his castle. Only a gigantic wall separated the city from the large estate, while a second stone wall encircled the entire city. Kiran had no sense of urgency. It was even more enjoyable because he could walk beside his mate, who observed everything like a child venturing into a new world.

Yet Gwyneth’s attention was momentarily diverted by a stall displaying an array of unfamiliar sweets before she obviously found herself captivated by another selling exquisite jewelry. She moved on to a stall brimming with food items, and Kiran noticed how she was hopping from one area to the next. Kiran watched her with a smile, his heart pulsating in a way it had never done before. Their connection had deepened rapidly, and his feelings for her had intensified.

Many onlookers observed Gwyneth with interest. Her appearance and energy were unlike anything they had encountered before, but Kiran didn’t mind. As long as they refrained from making unkind comments, he paid them no attention.

He followed behind her at a leisurely pace, and after a while, Gwyneth seemed to notice. She stopped and turned to look at him, and he gave her a small smile.

“Found something interesting?” he asked.

“I got distracted,” she admitted.

“It’s fine,” he reassured her. “This is a new world for you. You can explore.”

“But I shouldn’t.”

“All right, then what are we looking for?”

Gwyneth scanned her surroundings and crossed her arms as she turned her head. “Are there any of these oracles of yours here?”

“There are a few in the city, yes,” he confirmed.

“Where?”

“Down that road. Do you want someone to tell you about your future? You know they always warn you not to ask,” he explained.

“I want to see if they can tell me how to get home!”

Kiran felt a pang in his heart when she said it. He didn’t want her to go home, but he couldn’t lie or deny his mate anything. Secretly, though, as they walked down the street, he hoped that the oracle had no answers for her.

As they ventured further into the city, the streets became narrower and darker. Kiran would have preferred that his mate didn’t venture into this area. In the shadows, lurked not only The Dark Wolves but also shady individuals, and Gwyneth appeared so petite compared to the wolves in town. Despite her skills as a human fighter, he could easily carry her away, as could anyone else.

“Here?” Gwyneth inquired as they stood in front of a door adorned with a small symbol of a bottle carved into the wood.

“Yes,” Kiran replied. “This is the best one in the city that I know of.”

She opened the door, and they stepped inside, with Kiran closing the door behind them.

“What? No sage or long fabrics hanging down the walls?” she teased.

“Why would there be?” Kiran asked, not understanding her reference.

“Oh, no reason,” Gwyneth replied, and she began to explore the small house. The first section featured a small living room with a staircase leading up to the next floor. A woman descended from the stairs, dressed like any other woman from town.

“Oh, hello,” the woman greeted them with a smile. “And what can I do for you and… the king?”

The woman smiled at Kiran, and he returned the smile, recognizing her.

“Just me,” Gwyneth clarified.

The woman turned her attention to Gwyneth, and this time, her gaze held an intriguing quality. “Well, well, someone isn’t where she’s supposed to be.”

Kiran and Gwyneth shared a glance, and it was obvious she was as taken aback as he by the woman’s statement.

“Mirana, are you suggesting that she’s not from here?” Kiran asked, looking at Mirana for clarification.

“You could say that. This one is far, far from home,” Mirana responded as she descended the last step of the staircase and moved toward another part of the small house. “Let’s talk in the kitchen.”

“I told you I was telling the truth,” Gwyneth said with a smile before following Mirana.

Kiran smiled as well, albeit with a touch of trepidation at the idea of his mate being a time-traveling woman. Nonetheless, it was a relief to finally have an answer.

Never doubt our mate again, his inner wolf urged.

I learned my lesson, Kiran admitted.

He followed Gwyneth and found Mirana already waiting by a large, round kitchen table with some tea prepared. She offered Gwyneth a cup, but she declined. Kiran took a seat beside Gwyneth, and Mirana observed their proximity.

“Found your mate?” she inquired.

“It seems that way.” Kiran chuckled, a sense of happiness in his heart.

“I should have known a great king would have an extraordinary mate,” Mirana commented.

“Sorry, can we focus here?” Gwyneth interjected.

Mirana shifted her attention to Gwyneth and appeared more serious now. “Of course.”

“You know I’m not from this world, yes?” Gwyneth began.

“That is quite evident from the way you dress,” Mirana noted.

“What do you mean? These clothes are from here.”

“Yes, but no woman would wear them or have hair like yours,” Mirana explained.

“Never say never.”

Mirana smiled, obviously developing a liking for Gwyneth, but then she redirected the conversation to the matter at hand. “My guess is you’re here to ask me if I can help you go home, aren’t you? Unless you intended to come here.”

“I did not. I was meant to go back in time, but in my own world,” Gwyneth replied.

“Why?”

“To correct the mistakes that humans have made throughout time, which eventually led to the destruction of our planet. However, things went awry on the night it was supposed to happen, and I ended up here instead.”

“I see…”

“The ability to transform isn’t possible in my world. We rely on technology and machines. We have weapons much more effective than swords and spears. But there are no gods, werewolves, or even witches,” Gwyneth informed her.

“Or maybe they exist to a degree you do not understand.”

“I might agree with the witch thing to some extent, but nothing more.”

“Does this world scare you, Gwyneth?” Mirana inquired.

“Just Gwyn… Wait, I didn’t mention my name,” Gwyneth remarked, her astonishment apparent as she looked at Mirana, who responded with a reassuring smile. “That’s… freaky.”

“Does it scare you?” Mirana inquired again.

“It’s… new. New things can be frightening,” Gwyneth admitted.

“But what if you got to know our world? What if you came to appreciate all that it has to offer?” Mirana posed.

“It isn’t really what I’m focused on,” Gwyneth replied.

“No, but what if that is what you should focus on?” Mirana suggested.

“What?”

“Becoming a part of this world.”

“Are you implying, or are you not implying, that you can help me?” Gwyneth pressed.

Mirana studied Gwyneth for a moment before sighing. She sat up a bit straighter and then shook her head. “You can’t go back. Only forward,” she finally stated.

“Is that a yes or no?” Gwyneth inquired more forcefully.

Mirana simply gazed at her, which made Gwyneth groan.

“Mirana?” Kiran interjected. “What is it?”

“Can I go home?” Gwyneth implored.

Mirana tapped her finger against her teacup and then nodded. “It’s… possible.”

“It is?” Kiran asked.

“How?” Gwyneth questioned.

“What are you willing to sacrifice?” Mirana posed.

“Sacrifice?” Gwyneth echoed, sounding taken aback.

“Your fates are intertwined in more ways than one,” she explained, her gaze shifting from Kiran to Gwyneth. “You two aren’t just bound by the bond between you. You’re here for a reason, Gwyn. Your way home is through Kiran.”

“Me?” Kiran asked, baffled.

Gwyneth glanced at Kiran and then directed her attention back to Mirana. “How?” she inquired once more.

“Kiran fights The Dark Wolves, but the answers he seeks about why they exist can be found through you,” Mirana elaborated.

“This is starting to sound like one giant puzzle. I’m Kiran’s answer, and he is mine?” Gwyneth sought clarification.

“Yes.”

“In what way?” she probed.

“The ones responsible for it all, the ones causing these troubles for Kiran, are your ticket home.”

“And who are they?” Gwyneth pressed.

“I cannot tell you.”

“Why not?”

“Because some answers even I don’t possess. Kiran is aware of this as well.”

Kiran nodded thoughtfully and rested his elbows on the table as he contemplated Mirana’s words.

“So, if I help Kiran find these people who are behind it all, they can show me a way home as well? How is that possible?” Gwyneth asked.

“Because they don’t belong here either,” Mirana replied.

“What?” both Gwyneth and Kiran responded in surprise.

“Yes, neither Gwyneth nor these people should be here, but they are.”

“Can they go back and forth?” Gwyneth inquired.

“I don’t know. I just know you will find what you seek there,” Mirana explained.

Gwyneth pondered this information as she sighed and leaned back in her chair before nodding resolutely. “Thank you,” Gwyneth expressed her gratitude and stood up.

Mirana offered her a small smile, and Gwyneth left the room. Kiran quickly followed her, surprised by her swift exit. Once outside, he gently grabbed her arm and spun her around.

“Gwyn…”

“This is good news,” she said, although her tone carried a trace of fear.

“Are you sure?” Kiran asked, his concern evident.

“Yes, I wanted answers, and I got them. Seems like you have sought your own at some point.”

“I wanted to know who they were as well, but Mirana couldn’t tell me that. No one can. I don’t know why.”

“Is that why you two seemed close? You came often?”

Kiran looked away, feeling a bit put on the spot.

“So you got your future told naked?” she asked, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

“Is that a problem? I can promise you it is different for wolves when we find our partner. They are the only one we see.”

“If you say so.”

“So, it is a problem?” he teased with a faint smile.

“What? No!” she quickly defended.

“You humans are affected by the bond, too. It seems to take hold even faster than I expected,” he explained.

“What do you mean?” Gwyneth asked.

Kiran stepped closer, his warm hands resting on her hips, and he noticed the desire returning in her eyes. “It means we don’t like to think about others having touched what we now see as ours,” he explained. “I wouldn’t be thrilled to meet your former lovers either, if there have been any.”

“There have,” she admitted.

“Well, no chance of me running into any of them.”

Gwyneth rolled her eyes. “Is this now a problem? That I’m not a virgin?”

“Not at all. Should it be?”

“Some people in my world can be bothered by it. Often because they love to be hypocritical.”

“Interesting. But it isn’t the case here. It’s not important how many or how few people you’ve been with before meeting your mate. Once we find our mate, we will never look at someone else, and neither will they.”

“With certainty?”

“With certainty,” he affirmed.

“Well, I think the humans from my world could learn a thing or two about loyalty from you wolves then,” she laughed, and Kiran relished the sound.

Unable to resist any longer, Kiran closed the distance between them and kissed his mate. Their kiss quickly turned passionate as he pressed her against a nearby wall. Gwyneth moaned softly, leaning in to the embrace for a moment.

“We have work to do,” she whispered, pulling away.

“Can’t work wait?” he asked.

“No, this is for both our sakes.”

Kiran sighed and reluctantly pulled back a little. “Then I guess we’ll have to wait to explore the rest of the city.”

“Yes, let’s go back,” Gwyneth agreed.