Chapter 30

UNEDITED-

Annabelle POV-

The morning after my head injury I felt fine. As I sat up in bed, I lifted my hand to feel how my wound was doing.. I can't feel a scab or anything so I'm guessing it's pretty much healed. I can just feel the stitches.

I began plucking out all the ones I could feel.

I'm glad I heal fast..stitches annoy me so much. I'm glad my regeneration is speeding up.

I had thought about what I would need to get ready for my trip.. not sure exactly what I'm going to take since I don't really own anything.

I'll just go see what Marcus is doing..

I walked to his hut along the busy dirt paths.. I heard his laugh before I see him.. I rounded the corner to see Marcus and Gigi chuckling together outside.. She playfully punched his arm before he saw me an spoke..

"Annabelle.. how are you feeling?" he smiled holding his hand out for me to shake..

"Much better thank you" I smiled back shaking his hand firmly.

"Marcus told me about your accident-" Gigi smiled too placing a hand on my shoulder.."You really must be careful" she said with worried eyes..

Has she lost faith in me already?..

because I tripped?..

I don't even care.

"I will" I nodded..

I can't remember why I came here.. maybe I was just bored..

"Anyway my love I must get going." He pecked Gigi's cheek before turning to me "Annabelle.. will you walk with me?" He asked..

"Of course" I replied "Take care Gigi" I called back and we started walking.. a few minutes passed of general conversation before I found myself at a familiar house.. it's Kya and Jax's place..

I could hear the clanging of metal getting louder as we made our way around the back of the hut..

The short teddy bear dropped his equipment by his anvil and walked over to us..

"Annabelle.. how are you dear?" he asked smiling warmly at me.. he didn't even say hello to Marcus yet..

"I'm good thank you Jax.. How's the family doing?"

"Thank the Gods they are alright aswell.." he beamed back..

Marcus interjected.. "I didn't realise the two of you had met already.." he laughed..

"You know what the missus is like Marcus.. she'd have the whole pack over for supper if she could".. I can tell Jax feels like he's stepping on egg shells.

Why should it matter if I get close with other people?.

"Indeed.." he said taking a breath in thought before continuing.. "Anyway.. is it ready?" he asked.

"Yes, of course, I have it right here.." Jax replied as he retreated behind a large stack of scrap metal.. I heard some clanging, then he re-emerged gripping a sheethed sword.. Compared with him this thing was massive.

"I asked Jax to make you a weapon you'd be proud to carry.. it is large enough to use in lycan form, and light enough for you to carry when your not.. is that alright?" he turned to face me..

"Wow, Marcus.. Thank you.. and Jax I don't know what to say.. it's beautiful..I'm honoured" Jax walked closer handing me the sword which was bigger than my leg. I held it out Infront of me on both hands to get a better look.

"You don't have to say anything.. I'm honoured that you will be wielding my work".. Jax hummed, smiling behind his perfectly shaped mustache... he's such a warm guy..

The pommel of the sword has a silver snarling Lycans head. The handle is wrapped in black and dark red..

It is a heavy sword, and I'm sure if I was still human I would not be able to throw this around.. but I'm not human. The strap was also dark red..

I unsheathed the sword bringing it straight up.. in line with my face to admire the perfect glint of the blade.. it's a mirror finish.. Oh I'm in love.

It really is a masterpiece.. colour me impressed.

"It's perfect".. I swung the sword around before sheathing it.. "Thank you again.. I hope some day I can repay you"

"No need, I'm just glad you like it" Jax beamed again.. he is so lovely.

"Well I must get going.. Annabelle, see you tomorrow" Marcus said goodbye to Jax, and with that, Marcus was gone..

Jax invited me for supper, which is weird because he said it was always Kya inviting me.

I declined anyway.. I need to pack some clothes for this trip. Since I've been here people have been kindly donating things to me. I've accumulated a decent amount of clothes, a few washcloths.. some towels.

----

It's two days travel time..the worst part was the walk through the forrest to the horses.

I was surprised when I saw Florence would be joining us. She didn't really look at me throughout the whole journey. Stealing occasional glances when she thought I wasn't looking..

We stopped for the night by a stream.. After eating around the campfire with the group, I couldn't see Florence so decided to stay in my tent until the morning.. The whole trip was agonising.. watching the back of Florence's head bobbing up and down on her horse.. wondering what's going on inside it..

Luckily the Four men we brought with us carried all of our stuff. Well Florence carried her own.

I obviously had my sword close by my side, I know first hand that the Skrill or the Capturers can pop out of anywhere.

I am not going to be captured by anyone again..

---

A huge wooden fence surrounded a place much like Marcus and Gigi's. With huts scattered around creating a small village like aesthetic. It would be difficult to find if you didn't know where you were going. Even I can't smell them from a distance.

Two huge men stood by the gates in leather armour..

Marcus introduced us which instantly changed their expressions from menacing to inquisitive.. their eyes darted between me and Florence. They didn't ask which one was the 'Lycan girl' and let us through the gates. One of the men entered before us. probably going to tell the Alpha of our arrival.

We all dropped off our horses handing them over to some men that walked out from the gates.

Following Marcus's lead we entered. Another man appeared to guide us.

People in the village stopped dead in their tracks as soon as they saw us, each one began following behind us.. I guess I was warned about this..

It's not right that good people should have to live in these conditions..

I've seen where Bea lives, I can only imagine what kind of resources the king has at his disposal. Resources he gladly keeps for himself.

I don't mean this place is dirty or anything, it's just very rural.

We made our way to a dirt courtyard in which a large man who looked about 50 stood with his chest puffed out. He looks very tidy, clean shaven with dark hair, shaved sides and long on top.

I could see his mate marks clearly.. it reached like a branch around his neck finishing on his jaw.

My senses automatically indicated the dominant presence of an Alpha, being around pack for so long I've learned to sense the difference.

A tall slender woman stood next to him.. she looked around the same age, her hair was dirty blonde tied in a tight bun. Her high cheek bones and hazel cat eyes make her look like a super model. Her mate mark resembled his but with more intricacy, more femininity.

Another younger woman stood beside her, they look like they could be sisters. Her hair was tied loosely in a plait over her shoulder.

Florence stayed a good 20 feet back with the rest of our group.. I'm guessing she doesn't want an introduction.

"Hello Marcus.. I'm glad to see you made it" the older guy boomed in a deep voice, offering a hand.

Marcus closed the distance and shook the man's hand and I followed standing next to him.

"Harold.. it's been awhile" Marcus smiled releasing Harold's hand..

"That it has" he replied..

Without another word he approached me holding out his hand for me to shake..

"And you are?" he smiled..

"My name is Anna" I answered politely shaking his hand.

"It's lovely to meet you Anna" he pulled my hand up and planted a light kiss on my knuckles.

I just smiled back, I didn't know what to say next.

I'm glad he just carried on talking after releasing my hand.. "My daughter will show you where you'll be staying.. relax tonight.. tomorrow we will talk"

"Thank you for your hospitality" The least I could do was thank them for the bed.

The younger woman walked a few feet closer to us reaching out her hand for me to shake..

"Nice to meet you, my name is Lucy" she sounds as chirpy as Mav.. kinda makes me miss her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Lucy" I said shaking her hand.

"This way" she smirked releasing my hand after a few too many seconds slowly shaking it.

I've seen so many people look at me that way.. I'm not cocky, I just call it how I see it.

Maybe I'm a little cocky but it's in my blood.

----

I'm glad the huts they gave us are all near each other. We are on the outskirts of the village like camp. Which I'm pretty glad for because everytime I've been out so far.. people have been following me like I'm the Messiah.

It didn't take me long to get to sleep. Once my head hit the pillow I was out cold.

I didn't even eat anything.. I was glad when I woke up and smelt baked goods and sweet fruits. I lazily followed the scent to the door. Outside on the floor were four various shaped woven baskets. I quickly brought them inside upending the contents eating some as I did.

One had different kinds of cakes, one fruits, another of bread and one of pastries. I guess it's breakfast time..

After 10 minutes of eating I heard knocking on the door of my hut. I finished my mouthful wiping my sleeve across my face as I made my way outside.

I wasn't about to invite anyone in.

I was relieved and then slightly nervous when I saw it was Florence..

"Are you alright?" She asked sincerely, looking up at me.

"I think so.. do you want to come in?" I asked when I saw her do her usual check to see if anyone can see us talking.

"Yes, please" She hummed somewhat nervously, her crystal blue eyes meeting mine again..

I could spend an eternity waking up to those eyes..

She walked inside, I offered her a chair by the table that was now completely full of food I hadn't got to trying yet..

"Would you like something?.. I can't eat all of this" I said gesturing to everything...

"No thank you"..

"Come on.. don't you want to try something?" I asked as I sat on the chair opposite her on the square wooden table picking through the various options, holding them up for her to see.

"I came here with a message from Marcus" she sounds cold.. distant..

"First eat.. then you can talk"

She rolled her eyes before replying "Fine" she huffed.

Her eyes scanned the table before landing on an iced pastry.. I watched her face change from moody to blissful as she chewed. There's no denying whoever baked these are artists.

She finished it off after a few minutes seemingly enjoying it.

She always says 'no' when she means 'yes'.

"I did come here to say that you have 15 minutes to get ready for the meeting, but now you only have 5" she smiled..

Does she think she won something?

"No problem, I'll just get dressed and we can go" I said nonchalantly, getting up from my seat.

I walked over the the clothes I'd unpacked last night and placed on the bedside table.. she just sat their flustered not knowing what to do.. "You can wait outside if you'd be more comfortable". I watched her breathe a sigh of relief before getting out of her chair and facing me looking blushed.

"Thank you" she said smiling still red as she walked to the door, leaving me to get changed..

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NOTES-

I feel like sometimes I rush over details,

If you want more descriptions of things just say :)

I hope you enjoyed.