Red the Were Hunter (Fairelle Series Book 1)

by Rebekah R. Ganiere

  Would she live to be two hundred? If she had daughters, would they?

  “Why me?” she finally asked.

  “Why not you? It was bound to happen at some point, given the prophecy.”

  “But I don’t want to be the one,” she said, almost to herself.

  “That is something, daughter, that you will need to decide,” said Angus.

  Redlynn’s heart clenched. No one but her mother had called her ‘daughter’ before.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” She stood.

  Redlynn looked at the doorway. Adrian was out there, somewhere in the woods, grieving and in pain. Maybe she could let it all go, be who they all wanted and needed her to be. She could track him, find him.

  A cry broke through her reverie. A girl ran into the dining hall, straight to Redlynn. The girl looked around wildly, apparently delirious. Redlynn pulled her close. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she clung to Redlynn.

  Hanna and Lizzy rushed into the hall after her.

  “I’m sorry,” Hanna said. “She’s dehydrated terribly. I went to feed the baby, and when I returned, she’d gone from her bed.”

  “It’s all right.” Redlynn stroked the girl’s hair.

  “Ilsa.” Lizzy walked to Redlynn’s side and laid her hands gently on the girl’s shoulders. “Ilsa, it’s Lizzy.”

  Ilsa lifted her head, “Lizzy? Where are we?”

  “We’re safe, Ilsa. Come on, let’s find you something to drink, and get you into bed.”

  Isla let go of Redlynn and clung to Lizzy instead. The girls needed another day to rest. None of them would truly recover until they were in the arms of their loving parents, though. She was going to have to take them home. And face the Sisterhood.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Adrian stood outside his bedroom, knowing what was on the other side. The pain of Blain’s betrayal had crippled him at the burial. Not wanting to see anyone, or allow Redlynn to perceive him so weak, he’d spent two nights in the solitude of his woods.

  Emotionally and physically drained, he’d returned an hour ago and found the girls preparing to return to Volkzene. He’d spent thirty minutes working up the courage to face her, but now he stood, afraid to open the door. His heart couldn’t handle hearing her say that she wouldn’t be returning.

  He’d seen how the girls needed her on the trek from the ruins. The way they looked to her for guidance, and protection. The prophecy was being fulfilled before his very eyes. She’d succeed with the Sisterhood, and they’d return to his wolves. His people would thrive again. He reminded himself that was what he’d always wanted. But for them... He’d betrayed her, lied to her. He’d done to her what he’d never wanted to. And now she was leaving.

  Taking a deep breath, he raised his hand to knock, and the door opened from within. Redlynn looked out, her eyes widened.

  “Hi,” he said.

  She cleared her throat. “Hello.”

  She had her bow, quiver, and bag already loaded.

  “I’m taking the girls home today.” She fidgeted with her bowstring.

  “I heard,” he nodded. He wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms, to feel that she was all right and unmarred by the vampires, to have her console him in his grief over his friend. But he didn’t. He wondered if it would have turned out differently if he’d been honest with her from the beginning.

  He grasped for something to say. “Did you have any problems these last few days?”

  She moved out of the doorway and looked about the room. Finally, she walked to the bed and straightened the already perfect duvet. “No. No problems.”

  His heart ached as he watched her. He couldn’t stand the uncomfortable silence and unspoken words between them. Taking several strides toward her, he closed the distance between them. She turned and let out a small gasp at his nearness. He touched her cheek and breathed her fresh scent into his lungs.

  He’d been a fool. He should’ve come to her instead of staying out in the woods. He should have taken her into his arms and claimed her as soon as they'd returned. He should have spoken words of endearment and love, telling her what he felt.

  Adrian leaned in and pressed a light kiss on her mouth. She responded to his touch, pulling him closer to her. He wrapped her in his arms, allowing her to lead. Stroke for stroke her mouth heated on his, but just as soon as it started, she pulled away.

  “Redlynn.” He held her close. “Don’t do this. Don’t go.” She was silent as she held onto him. He leaned away and tilted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

  “I need to finish what my mother began. I need to make the Sisterhood understand.”

  Adrian’s heart sank as he took in her beautiful golden eyes. He nodded. “Do you want me to come with you?”

  “Angus is going to see us to the village border.”

  At least his time away seemed to have helped her relationship with her father. “I understand.” He backed away.

  “Adrian.” She reached for him.

  “No. I really, I do,” he assured her. “You take them back safely. I’ll be here if you need me.”

  Redlynn’s brows knit in confusion, but then her face went blank. “We’ll talk when I return.”

  Adrian nodded but said nothing. Redlynn kissed him on the cheek and then stepped toward the door.

  “Wait.” He grabbed her hand and then quickly let go. “I found this for you again. I thought you’d want it.” He reached into his tunic and pulled her locket off his neck, holding it out to her.

  “Thank you.” She slipped it on and pressed it to her breast. "You seem to always have the things I care for most."

  Adrian nodded, and then turned to the fireplace. At least I could bring her that piece of happiness. He couldn’t watch her leave. His wolf whimpered and cried out for her with longing. It had to be her decision. She had to decide her destiny; he couldn’t choose for her.

  She left without another word, and Adrian stared up at the portrait of his mother. Hate soured his stomach, and bile rose in his throat at the sight of her. His father had betrayed her, but with her choice, to take the women and leave, she’d betrayed them all. Reaching up he ripped his parents portrait from the wall and flung it into the fireplace.

  Redlynn trudged through the woods with Angus and the rescued girls, confused by Adrian’s actions. The last days without him as he mourned his friend in solitude had been agonizing. She understood his need to be alone, but his having let her go so easily was less understood. She’d come to terms with what he’d done and why. And unlike with Blain, she’d forgiven him. But it seemed almost as if he’d been telling her goodbye. Like he didn’t want her to return, though she was sure he did. At least, she thought he did. Redlynn stopped walking. What if he’d changed his mind? Had her running from him turned his heart from her?

  A hollowness filled her with dread. Agonizingly, she forced her feet to keep trudging forward, away from the castle and toward Volkzene, though every part of her wanted to fly to him and feel his strong arms around her. Something stirred inside of her, and she stopped moving, clutching her heart. Something moved inside, a being that was not herself. The being squirmed, itching to be let out.

  “What’s wrong?” Yanti stopped.

  Redlynn couldn’t articulate it in words. Her chest burned and her skin prickled as a tremor skittered over her body. She sucked in air, becoming overwhelmed with the need to get to Adrian.

  “What’s the matter, lass?” Angus moved to her side.

  “I don’t know,” Yanti answered. “I think she’s sick.”

  The blood pumped in her ears. A gut-wrenching pain twisted inside her, and she cried out.

  “Redlynn!” Angus’ voice was sharp as a knife.

  All around, murmurs of the frightened girls floated around her.

  “Lizzy!” Angus called. “Keep the girls moving. Redlynn has a cramp. We’ll catch up in a minute.”

  “Is she going to be all right?” Yanti’s voice trembled.

>   “Och, aye. She’s fine. She just needs to relax for a moment. Redlynn, look at me, daughter.” Angus’ voice held a gentle but firm quality.

  She tried to concentrate on Angus, as another tremor wracked her. Something inside fought to get loose.

  “You feel her, don’t you, your she-wolf? She’s trying to get out, lass. You can’t allow that. We have to get the girls to safety. I need you to find your she-wolf, dominate her, cage her.”

  She tried to understand Angus’ words, but they made no sense as her body writhed in agony.

  “Redlynn, you must do it. Find her. Cage her.”

  Redlynn pushed past the tremors to locate the center of her pain. She inhaled deeply, focusing on her belly. The spot where Adrian had laid his hand the night they rested on the riverbank together. Then she heard it inside. The yowl of a wolf. The being inside her, trying to break free. Redlynn saw her in her mind. The she-wolf snarled and snapped, trying to tear free from the small tether that bound her in place. The wolf wanted out. She wanted to run. She wanted Adrian’s wolf.

  Redlynn tried reasoning with the wolf, tried soothing her. But it didn’t work. Another tremor ran through her and her finger bones cracked. She was close to shifting. She was losing control. Her thoughts turned to Adrian, and how she wished he was there with her. At the thought of him, her she-wolf calmed a bit. Redlynn envisioned Adrian’s eyes, his face, his body. The touch of his lips to hers, the taste of his breath on her skin. Little by little, the she-wolf backed away. Her cries died down until at last she slumbered, safe and serene.

  Redlynn’s eye popped open, and she looked down to find her fingers normal. Angus watched her with great intent. When she nodded to him, a broad smile crossed his heavily lined face.

  “Well done, lass. Well done.” He beamed.

  “What was that?” asked Yanti, wide-eyed.

  “Redlynn is a she-wolf,” said Angus. “The first of our kind.”

  “A wolf?” The young girl processed the information. A small smile crept over her face. “I wish I was a wolf. Then I’d be a great vampire hunter, like you.”

  Warmth spread through Redlynn, and a self-acceptance she’d never experienced before. For the first time in her life, she knew who she was, and she was proud.

  “Let’s keep this our little secret for now, all right?” Redlynn said.

  “I can keep a secret.” Yanti took her hand.

  Angus helped Redlynn to her feet, and the three caught up to the girls, several yards ahead. There was a buzz of nervous energy surrounding the group as they walked.

  “Red,” called Lizzy. “What do we say to our parents?”

  “We tell them that you were taken by vampires. That you were saved by wolves, and that you will fight them no more.”

  “But we’ve always fought them,” said Sasha.

  “No,” said Redlynn. “We haven’t.”

  The group reached the forest’s edge at nightfall. The lights of the huts in Volkzene village still burned bright. With her eyes opened to how much more there was in Fairelle besides Volkzene, it seemed so insignificant now. From their vantage point, Redlynn saw that a Sister stood guard on each gate. It was an improvement, but now, completely unnecessary.

  “It’d be best if I remain here.” Angus stopped inside the trees. He stared at the village, as if deep in thought.

  “If you don’t mind… I mean…” Redlynn swallowed. She didn’t want Angus to go so soon. “If you’d stay… with me…”

  Angus met her eye, and then glanced at the village. He swallowed and nodded.

  Redlynn blew out a sigh of relief. “Thank you. I’ll have to try and sneak you past the guard at the gate, but–”

  “I know how to get around them.” Angus heading down toward the side of the wooden city wall.

  Redlynn watched him leave and then turned to the girls. She nudged Lizzy forward with an encouraging smile. “Come on.”

  Word spread like brush fire from house-to-house that she’d returned with the stolen girls. Families ran into the square, screaming and crying for their daughters. The girls ran into their parents’ waiting arms, shedding tears of pain and joy. Redlynn stood off to the side, watching the joyous reunions, knowing that there was no one to welcome her or to shed tears of joy for her return.

  Lillith scanned the reunions, her eyes wide in surprise. She spotted Redlynn and headed over. Leaning against the town hall, fiery anger rose within Redlynn. All these years, Lillith had been filling them with the lies of Adrian’s mother, Irina. Did she know the truth, or did she genuinely believe the lies she’d spread? Somehow, Redlynn doubted it was the latter.

  “I forbade you to leave,” Lillith said icily. “You disobeyed a direct order.”

  “I did.” Redlynn lifted her chin, standing her ground. In her days away from the town she'd gained a confidence she'd never before possessed. She was no longer afraid of Lillith or of the town council.

  “It’s well and good that you brought home our young Sisters, but tomorrow you shall stand before the council and explain why you should not be cast out.”

  “I will stand tomorrow, but not for that.” Redlynn spat on the ground, and Lillith sucked in a shocked breath. A whisper went around the gathered crowd. The insult had been made, Redlynn wouldn't take it back.

  Turning Redlynn headed for home. She didn’t even have the desire to look back.

  When she opened the door, a fire was already lit in the fireplace. Angus had taken several herb jars down from their shelf and was preparing a pot of tea. Redlynn smiled.

  “What? You think I don’t know how to make tea?” he questioned.

  She shrugged and set down her bag. It was strange, being home. All of the things she’d held on to as hers, and cherished of her mother’s, seemed no longer important. The herbs and bottles, teacups and linens, made Redlynn realize just how out of place she had been in the village.

  “Are you hungry?” Angus paced like a caged animal. Guilt swept over Redlynn for having asked him to stay.

  “I can catch us something.” She picked up her bow.

  “No, that’s not what I meant, lass. I can more than bring us food. I just wondered if you’d eat it.”

  A thought occurred to her. “It’s hard being here, in my mother’s home, isn’t it?”

  His gaze drifted around and rested on Redlynn’s mother’s cloak and satchel that still hung by the front door. “She’s everywhere here,” he whispered. “I can smell her on everything. You smell like her, but different. Like how she would’ve been if she’d been a wolf.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what you are going through.”

  “Give it time.” He poked the fire and then poured water into the kettle.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You and Adrian. You were meant for each other. The way Raeleen and I were meant to be together. Only it’ll be worse for you because you two have a destiny together. Being parted from him will cause an undying ache.”

  “Who says I want to be parted from him?” Redlynn felt her she-wolf stir within her at the thought of being parted from Adrian.

  Angus blinked at her, surprised. “Don’t you? Isn’t that why you came here? To sort out what you are and what you want, the way your mother did?” Angus hung the teapot by the fire and put the herbs away on the shelf.

  “And you think I’ll make the same choices she did?”

  Angus didn’t answer. Pulling out a chair, he sat down in it, his weight making it creak.

  She loved Adrian. She didn’t want to squander her years in this village, wasting away like her mother. Dying a little inside each time she saw a happy couple walking hand-in-hand with their children. But being with the girls, and seeing the truth behind the lies, woke her up. She couldn’t sit by and do nothing. She owed it to the girls to bring about change from how things had been done. She owed it to her mother, as well. Maybe she could divide her time between the two places. Her days in Volkzene and her nights in Wolvenglen. Redlynn hung her head in her
hands, knowing that in the end, she’d have to choose.

  “I’ll get us something to eat.” Angus moved to the door. “I’ll stay the night with you, Red, but I can’t stay here.”

  Redlynn nodded but stayed mute. Neither can I.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The knock came early the next morning, but Redlynn was already awake. Angus came out of her old bedroom, his face stern.

  “I made you some breakfast.” She pointed to the fire. “I’ll be back soon.”

  “You want me to come?”

  She shook her head.

  “I won’t put up with them hurting ya.”

  “You’ll know if I need you.”

  Angus nodded, and Redlynn pulled open the door. She was greeted by several council members.

  “It’s time.” The mayor peered past her into the house.

  Redlynn glanced over her shoulder at Angus looming in the doorway. She shook her head, and he backed up as she closed the door.

  Stepping down onto the dirt, the council members moved away from her like she was diseased. Slowly, she trekked toward the town hall. Unlike the last morning she’d spent in Volkzene, everyone was outside waiting. Already having heard the news of the meeting, no doubt, they all wanted to be in attendance. There hadn’t been a casting out for close to twenty-five years. Redlynn walked tall, her focus straight ahead, refusing to meet anyone’s eye.

  When they reached the middle of town, the group turned right, toward the village hall.

  The room was already packed with rows and rows of men, women, and girls. All of the girls that she’d returned home the night before sat in the front. Above them on a platform sat Lillith, in the center of the largest chairs. The council members scooted around her and joined Lillith.

  Redlynn walked to the middle of the room and faced her accusers. When everyone was seated, Lillith began the meeting.