Mate! Lucas cackled, high and insane in his mind. Our mate!! Daphne shrieked as the wolf leaped at her and tackled her to the ground. She stared up at the wolf looming over her, frozen in terror. She hissed at the pain in her neck as he removed its paw from her throat and stepped back just a bit. He growled, low and almost tender, “Mate.” Oh goddess, he was looking for his mate? He was going to kill her. “P-Please don’t k-kill me…” She pleaded, “P-Please, I…” The wolf flinched and trembled, “No. No. I wouldn’t-- Never-- I’m sorry…” Daphne wasn’t sure what to make of his sudden change in tone and demeanor. He took half a step back. “Are you hurt? Lemme see your wounds” Daphne asked worriedly. “Aren’t you… Aren’t you afraid of me?” She shrugged, “Not so long as your paws stay off my neck.” His face heated and his stomach clenched nervously. Even Lucas seemed anxious about it. “I’m sorry. I-I’m really sorry. I-I thought you were an enemy. I didn’t-- I mean--” She laughed a little, though it wasn’t mocking. He knew what that sounded like, but he didn’t know what to thinking of her laughter other than it was lovely. Her gaze turned gentle and sympathetic, “You are hurt. It’s okay. Besides, you apologized.” She shrugged again, “You’re so strong. If you really meant to hurt me, I wouldn’t be able to do much about it. Honestly, save for the scrape, you didn’t even touch me…. I guess you’re a polite and handsome, gentlemanly werewolf.” Arthur’s hands trembled with the need to touch her. He had never thought the goddess would tempt him like this, but he refrained. His hands were covered in dirt, blood, and who knew what else. He didn’t want to stain her clothes or dirty her in any way. His heart quaked at her words. He had never felt so embarrassed. His face was burning with it. Polite and handsome she’d called him. The elation was a warm, floating feeling easing his mind and her smile made him a bit dizzy. “I…” Her cheeks flushed, “Sorry… I’ve been living alone too long, so I end up talking too much when I’m around people. I'm sorry if I've offended you... I've never met a werewolf. I'm just a human.” Arthur didn't care what she was, “You are my mate.” If he could strangle Lucas for that outburst, he would, but it wouldn’t be fair. The years of isolation had made him awkward. She frowned, “Mate? What’s that?” Arthur clenched his hand, “It… My wolf told me… I thought I didn’t have a mate until I met you. Do you like me? I like you a lot.” The woman’s eyes widened and he regretted saying so much. He should have kept his mouth closed. What if she’s freaked out? “I… don’t understand. Is this a werewolf thing? Are all werewolves like this? I mean… I don't even know you, you don't even know my name--” “It’s Arthur,” he said, “...Could you tell me your name?” She eyed him warily and he did his best to stay still as she looked at him. “... it’s Daphne.” Arthur smiled at her and watched the flush of her cheeks grow.

Chapter 1 Fugitive

"Alma…Alma!" Arthur shouted as he trudged back towards their picnic spot with an armful of freshly strawberries. Alma loved strawberries.

He didn’t get a response. Instead, a pungent metallic scent filled his nose as he broke through the brush. Something was wrong.

Then he saw it-- Alma's golden blonde hair streaked with blood and dirt and clear blue eyes staring into nothing greeted him. Her little hands still twitched as if her spirit had just left her body.

Somebody killed his little sister!

“No！——” Arthur roared in grief as he tightly held Alma's body, which was still warm. Who did this? Those damn rogues?

Since then, Lucas, his wolf, broke through some wall in his mind and blinded him.

When the darkness cleared, he was dizzy with the scent of blood. Someone was screaming as his claws and teeth tore into them. They ran, and he chased them with fury until he couldn’t any longer.

No one had seen the rogues that had killed Alma, but they remembered the way Arthur had lost control and attacked anyone who had come near him.

Crazy, they called him, and he agreed. He had enjoyed waking from his rage and realizing that he’d torn into several members of the pack. The blood had been warm, sticky, and exhilarating on his hands.

They declared Alma’s death an accident and stopped investigating it. Unofficially, they blamed him, and he did too. He should have been able to protect her. What use was all of his strength if he had failed to keep her safe? The scorn of the villagers was the least he deserved. The isolation had felt right.

Cursed by the moon goddess, I say!

The Alpha and the Luna, his parents, caged him. It had been his cell where every drop of blood inside was his own from struggling with his madness. Every blow from either of them had been like a lash of corporal punishment.

It had been ten years since Alma had been murdered when they kicked him out of the house because they could no longer cage or restrain him. He’d left without struggle and found a way to fend for himself in the village.

He was learning to live with his insanity and embrace it in some ways. Two days ago, Brown Valley held its annual mating ceremony. He had not been invited, nor was he interested in going even if he did not have a mate.

He was a madman, long forsaken by the moon goddess. He figured his night was better served hunting in the forest alone. After catching his dinner, he decided to sneak back into the Alpha’s house to find some wine to go with his dinner. Everyone should have been at the ceremony, yet the Alpha Haley, the Luna Irene, and Adam, their son, had been there.

Adam had been whining about being forced to choose a mate. Arthur had always thought he was a spoiled and entitled loser. Even though he was the son of the alpha, he had never even learned how to hunt on his own.

“Don’t be a child, Adam!” Irene shrieked. “That maniac is only getting stronger. It's just a matter of time before he kills everyone and takes over the pack!”

Arthur thought it was ridiculous. He had no interest in taking over the Brown Valley Pack.

Adam huffed, “Should have thought of that before agreeing to take them in.”

Arthur’s heart clenched. He and Alma were adopted? Thinking back, it should have made sense. Haley and Irene had never proclaimed to love him or show him an ounce of kindness. Their scorn rang the loudest among the villagers, but if they weren’t his parents, where were his parents? Were they alive?

“Why didn’t you just get rid of him?”

“We tried,” Haley sighed.

“The rogues that killed Alma screwed up.” Irene huffed. “Now he’s lost his mind and has become even more powerful. You have to choose a mate quickly. You have to be the next alpha!”

Rage blinded him. When he could see and hear again, Irene was on the ground, the scent of her blood filled the air. He leaped on her. Irene shrieked as Arthur felt her arm snap in his hand. Haley gave out a shrill cry of terror, pressed against the far wall.

“Guards!” Adam yelled as Arthur darted across the room.

Arthur sunk his teeth into Haley’s shoulder, tore off a chunk of flesh, and spat it out. He aimed again for his neck as the guards yanked him back, barely saving Haley’s life as Arthur’s jaw snapped closed.

Adam had felt nothing as he struggled to get back into the house and finished what he started. Haley came out of the house to declare his banishment and treachery as blood rolled down his arm. The village had believed him, speculating loudly what they had been whispering for years.

He must have been lying about the rogue! He must have killed Alma!

Look at what he’s done to our Alpha and Luna!

Rogue!

Murderer!

Before he had managed to get out of Brown Valley, he had heard the unit of wolves chasing him. Arthur applauded the decision to hunt him down. They were part of the regular patrol based on how well they knew the dense forest around Brown Valley. They had tracked him, trapped him, and used his instability against him to nearly kill him that night, but Arthur had killed most of them and broke free.

They were two days into the chase now. He was hungry, tired, and nearly fatally wounded, but he had to keep going.

Survive, Lucas urged, giving him his strength to keep going. Survive and come back for their heads.

Alma’s face flashed in the darkness of his mind as he stumbled over the edge of an incline and slid down the other side, landing in a pool of blood-red light. He shook the dizziness from his mind and focused on the road ahead. Where it led, he didn’t know. He had never been so far from Brown Valley and had no way of knowing how far he’d gotten.

He froze as such a beautiful fragrance drifted on the wind. It was sweeter than roses, fresher than any lily, gentle and oddly calming. Was there a field of flowers nearby?

He pushed himself to his feet and staggered toward the road, following the scent into the trees. His heart lurched as a figure appeared in a blur in front of him.

It’s them! Lucas roared as Arthur shifted in a rush of power that left him reeling.

He snarled and pounced, aiming for the figure’s neck with his claws.

A scream rang in his ears as he landed on top of the body.

It was a woman.