“Why indeed?” He turned to tend his cook pot.
“You asked about me…” Angelica felt oddly uncomfortable, as if she had said something unkind. “You have told me nothing of yourself.”
“I am no one.” He turned to look at her. “My name is Larne and I live here alone because it suits me.”
“Have I offended you?”
“Why should I be offended?”
“In my ignorance I was rude about someone. You must think I am a spoiled child.”
“Have you not been spoiled all your life? It is what people say of Princess Angelica.” His brows arched, seeming to mock her.
“Do they?” She was shocked. “Why?”
“They say you caused much trouble by running away into the woods as a child. Servants were beaten and punished because you were lost and your father feared for your safety.”
“I never knew that…” She looked puzzled, and then ashamed. “I am sorry for it, if it is true.”
“It is true.” He gave her an unflinching stare.
“But, I never intended they should be punished for my naughtiness. It was not fair.”
“Life is seldom fair.”
“Will people be punished because I have run away this time?”
“Yes, of course. What does it matter? Servants may be beaten for no one cares about them—do they?” His eyes seemed to accuse her, making her feel ashamed.
“I care!” Tears started to gather in her eyes. “I do not want them punished because of me.”
“Then you must return and do your duty, princess.”
“But, that means marrying a man I have never met.” She felt the sting of tears for it would break her heart to marry a man she did not know—and must fear if the tales told of him were true.
“If Prince Harlan knew you did not wish to marry him, he might set you free of your Uncle's bond.”
“Do you think so?” She looked at him with consideration.
“You will never know unless you try.”
“You are telling me to go home, aren't you?”
“I am telling you nothing—except that your breakfast is ready.”
Angelica sat at the table and ate; Larne’s words had gotten through to her in a way she had least expected. Her Uncle was a harsh man, but he had not treated her ill until he had demanded that she marry for the sake of the kingdom. After she had finished, she got up stood, lost in thought, not noticing her benefactor had left and washed the dishes with water he had heated on the fire. Remembering her labours from the previous night, she fetched fresh water and began to wash the shirts she had mended.
Her work done, Angelica’s thoughts returned to the man who had given her the shelter of his home. Where had Larne gone and who was he? Thinking about he'd told her, she knew she had to go back to the palace. If servants were being punished for her sake she must put a stop to it.
She hesitated outside the bedroom door and heard a strange sound—almost like the snuffling of an animal—perhaps a wolf? An icy shiver ran down her spine; she breathed deeply, then pushing the door open, she saw Larne was sleeping in the bed but did not appear to be resting. He tossed from side to side, moaning and crying out in his dreams. The sound she had heard must have come from him.
“Larne, wake up,” she said and shook his shoulder. “You are having a nightmare.”
He sat up and snarled his eyes more yellow than deep topaz now, his teeth sharp and pointed. For a moment she shivered with fear, he seemed more wolf than man. In an instant he was wide-awake and the fierce look fled from his face.
“Why did you wake me?” he demanded. “It might have been dangerous.”
Angelica gasped as she saw the ridge of brown fur on his hand. She drew back, staring at him in shock as the tales her nurses had told her of men who could change into wolves at will came into her mind. Could Larne be one of those creatures?
“Who are you—what are you?”
“You should go from here. Forget what you have seen.” He sounded bitter, defeated, as if hiding some terrible hurt.
“Are you a man-wolf?”
“Where have you heard such tales?” Angelica blinked and looked again at his hand and saw that the fur had disappeared. Had she really seen it—or had she imagined it? Was her fear simply something the servants had taught her?
Larne was not evil! Whatever he was, she would not believe ill of him!
“Go back home, princess and forget me.”
“It was you in the forest,” Angelica said realization dawning. “You watched as I set the pup free then you guided me here.”
“I took pity on you because of what you did,” Larne said and looked angry. “I made a mistake. Go now, before I change into a wolf once more and eat you!”
“You would not harm me,” she said. “Tell me why you are like this—did someone put a spell on you?”
“It is a curse I was born with,” Larne said and his eyes glinted. “My father was cursed and his before him. We are doomed to roam the woods by night as wolves, while by day we return to our man-shape. But we belong nowhere…”
“You must be so lonely…” Angelica caught her breath. His admission had touched something deep within her, awakening feelings she had never dreamed of and she could not help wondering about what it would be like to be loved by such a strong mate. He was so fierce and wild at times, and yet, there was something about him that drew her as a moth to a flame. She caught herself looking at his mouth, becoming aware of a deep hunger inside, a need to feel his lips on hers. His body pressed close. “Was your mother a wolf or a woman?” she asked and turned aside, afraid that he might see her feelings reflected in her eyes.
“We may mate only with humankind,” Larne told her, making her turn instantly to meet the strange, distant look in his eyes. “But once the truth of our nature is discovered…what woman would want to live with a creature such as I?”
“If she truly loved…” Angelica got no further for Larne seized her, crushing her in a punishing embrace. His lips took possession of hers, his tongue invading her mouth, teasing her, tasting her. She felt as if she were swooning, being drawn into something so strong and powerful that she gasped as he let her go. “Oh…”
“If you had wandered in here by yourself I should not have let you leave before we mated,” Larne told her, his eyes burning fiercely. “I release you only because of what you did for the wolf cub. Go now or I shall carry you to my bed and make you my mate…”
Angelica backed away from him, her eyes wide and fearful. She turned suddenly and ran from the cottage, hearing the howl of the wolf-man as she fled in terror from his lair.
She began to run in blind panic, though she was not certain what she was running from. Was it fear of Larne or of herself?
Angelica had been wandering for hours when she heard the sound of hunting horns. She stood still, hesitating as she recognised the sounds. Her Uncle's men had hunting dogs and they had been tracking her. If she ran from them now they might track her scent to the cottage in the woods. They might find Larne—and if he were in his wolf form the huntsmen would kill him.
She stood perfectly still waiting until the hunting dogs came to her. The sound of their excited cries as they surrounded her brought the huntsmen soon after. Her Uncle was among them for he loved to hunt with the other nobles of his court.
“So we have found you, Angelica,” he said, looking down at her from his horse. “You have caused me a deal of trouble, girl!”
“Yes, uncle, I know,” Angelica said. “But it was my doing and none other. You must not punish the servants for my wrongdoing.”
Prince Fendi frowned. “Will you do as I bid, and marry Prince Harlan? If you promise not to run away those servants who were to be beaten shall be spared.”
“I promise. I shall return with you now, and I shall do my duty.”
“Very well, I shall send word to the kingdom of Harldine that the wedding will be in two days.'
Angelica bowed her head. She allowed
one of the huntsmen to help her mount behind him, holding on to his surcoat as they rode back towards the palace. If it was her fate to marry Prince Harlan then she must accept it—there were other, worse fates.
Angelica allowed her servants to dress her in her finest robes. She was wearing the jewels her mother had left for her, diamond rings on her fingers and pearls about her neck. Her hair was dressed in curls on top of her head, one ringlet allowed to fall onto her neck. She held herself proudly as she left her chamber for the last time and went down to the banqueting hall where all the nobles had gathered to see her wed to Prince Harlan.
Angelica was trembling inside. What would Prince Harlan be like? Could he be as cruel and wild as everyone said?
“Here you are, niece,” Prince Fendi took her hand, drawing her to the dais where a priest was standing. “It is time for you to do your duty, girl.”
“But where is Prince Harlan?”
“He was delayed by matters of state,” her Uncle said. “He has sent his cousin to stand proxy. You will be wed then you will leave immediately to join the prince at his court.”
“But…” Angelica's voice trailed away as her heart sank when the young man dressed in peacock finery stepped forward to take her hand. It was not too late! She could refuse to go through with the ceremony, tell her Uncle that she would marry only when she found someone she could love. If she did that he would punish the servants. Even though she felt as if her heart were breaking, she must keep her promise—the promise she had made to Larne in her heart. Instead she choked out, “Is there to be no feasting?”
“The feasting will begin once you have gone,” Prince Fendi told her. “Come, give your hand to Prince Rupert, and the ceremony will begin.”
She obeyed, feeling numb. She was not even to be feasted by the court. Her Uncle could not wait to be rid of her! He did not care what happened to her!
Angelica held back her tears as the brief ceremony took place. She did not speak as her uncle kissed her and told her to be a good wife to her husband. It was as if she were in a dream, as if none of this was real. She longed with all her heart to be back in the woods with Larne—but he had sent her home, told her she must do her duty! There was no escape for her.
“Come, Princess,” Prince Rupert said. “We must hurry for we must be in Harldine before night falls.”
Angelica nodded her face pale. She allowed him to help her mount her palfrey and lead her away from the palace and all that was known to her.
“We must hurry,” Prince Rupert looked anxious. “There are wolves in the woods, when night comes it can be dangerous.”
Angelica shivered, she had not forgotten Larne and the kiss that had thrilled yet terrified her. She had wondered so many times what kind of a curse had made him a creature that could never find true happiness.
“I do not fear wolves, sir,” she told Prince Rupert. “I have heard tales that my husband is a cruel man—wild and bad…”
“You should not believe all you hear,” Prince Rupert told her. “It is true that he has rages at times, but he is not mad and is never deliberately cruel.”
Angelica said nothing; she was becoming more and more nervous of meeting her husband, but did not want her escort to know how frightened she was.
They had been riding through the woods for more than an hour when the howling started. First there was one, long, mournful howl that sent shivers down her spine then the cry was taken up from different parts of the woods, as if the wolves were passing a message. Angelica felt that they were being watched and she saw her companion's nervous expression.
Suddenly, she saw a group of wolves just ahead of them, but they were not looking at the travellers. Instead they had grouped around something lying on the ground. Angelica realised it was a large wolf that had been pierced through one eye with an arrow. She could hear the fearful groaning noises coming from it as it lay in pain.
“Stop,” she cried and jumped down from her horse.
“Princess, you must not!” Prince Rupert cried but Angelica ignored him.
Her heart was beating fast as she ran to the wolf. Surely it was her wolf? The man-wolf that had guided her to safety…Larne. The other wolves parted as she approached them. They looked at her from their yellow eyes and one or two showed their teeth but not a one made an attempt to attack her as she knelt down by the injured wolf.
“Oh Larne…” She wept as she saw the blood trickling from his left eye. “I fear they have killed you…” She heard a guttural sound in his throat. He was trying to speak to her but she was not sure she had understood his meaning. “You want me to pull the arrow out?”
For a moment the wolf opened his other eye. Angelica knew what she must do. She took hold of the arrow and drew it out, slowly and steadily, her stomach twisting with nerves, because she knew it must be hurting him dreadfully.
At last the arrow was out. She broke it in two and threw it away, tears flowing from her eyes as she saw the blood seeping from the damaged mess that was all that was left of his eye. She bent over him, laying her face against his face, her tears soaking into Larne's fur, running into his damaged eye, as she stroked him with her hand.
“Forgive me for hurting you,” she said. “I wanted to help you. I love you…”
Larne opened his lone good eye and looked at her then made a growling sound.
“I can't leave you,” she wept. “Please let me stay with you. I want to care for you, to love you, and stay with you.”
“Come, Princess, you must leave now,” Prince Rupert took her arm. “You have done all you can”
Angelica struggled as he drew her away. Her heart was breaking. Larne was lying there as if he were dying, unable to raise his head to look at her. Yet she knew he had told her to go. Perhaps he wished her to leave him to the wolf pack, for they were his only friends.
“Goodbye, my dearest Larne,” she whispered as she mounted her horse. “I shall never forget you I love you more than my life itself.”
Angelica looked around the apartments she had been given. Prince Harlan lived in complete luxury; she had everything she could possibly want. Smiling servants were anxious to please her, bringing her delicious foods and wonderful clothes to wear.
However, she had seen nothing of her husband. She was told that he had been called away and would see her in the morning. It was a reprieve. She had dreaded the moment, but for now she could only think about Larne and grieve for his hurts. Would she ever see him again? Her duty was here at the palace, but she longed to be free – free to roam the forest with the man she loved, whether he be in human form or wolf.
She heard a slight noise behind her and turned, a shock of surprise and then delight going through her as she saw Larne standing there. He was wearing his leather breeches and one of the shirts she had darned and washed for him, and he had a patch covering his left eye.
“Larne…” she cried and went towards him, her hands outstretched. “Oh, my love. Are you in terrible pain? How did you come here? When I left you in the wood I thought you were dying.”
“I should have died had you not come to me,” Larne told her. “You have the healing touch in your tears, Princess Angelica. You made me live.”
“I am so glad I was able to help you,” she said. “But should you be here?” She glanced over her shoulder, fearing what might happen to him if he were found in her apartments.
Larne smiled. He reached out for her, drawing her into his arms and gazing down into her face before he bent his head to kiss her. His kiss seemed to draw her very soul, his tongue delicately licking the line of her lip, making her moan with something she vaguely recognised as desire.
“Did you mean it when you said you loved me?”
“Yes,” Angelica sighed as he released her. “I loved you from the first. I want to be with you, to stay with you, be your mate—but I fear what might happen if Prince Harlan returns and finds you here. We should go quickly, before he comes…”
“I do not fear any man or beast if
you truly love me,” Larne said touching her cheek. “You do understand what you have done?” She shook her head, eyes widening in wonder. “It is night and I am still a man. You saved my life and your love broke the curse. I am no longer forced to hunt with the pack at night. I can stay with you without harming you with my teeth and claws.”
“Oh, Larne…” Angelica's eyes misted with tears of love. “I am so glad, but we must leave…” She broke off as the door opened and a servant entered. Angelica gave the girl a haughty stare.
“What do you want? I did not give you permission to enter.”
The servant was looking at Larne. She looked startled, then fearful, glancing over her shoulder as if she feared something. “My Lord, I did not know. Forgive me…”
“It is all right, Sara,” Larne said. “You may go. Your mistress will send for you when she needs you.”
“Larne?” Angelica looked at him as the servant hastily left and closed the door. “She knew you? Who are you?”
“Have you not guessed, my dearest?” Prince Harlan asked. “We were wed some hours ago. I meant to come myself, but I was stuck in my wolf shape and could not change so I sent Rupert to bring you home…”
“You are Prince Harlan….” Angelica stared at him. Suddenly, everything made sense, all the tales and the mystery that surrounded him, the way he had protected her in the woods—the way he had told her that she should do her duty. “Why did you want to marry me, Larne? I shall always think of you as Larne.”
“It is one of my names,” Prince Harlan said. “I watched you in the woods so many times. I saw you tending the animals and birds you found injured and I fell in love. I did not think you would marry me, so I offered your Uncle a treaty he needed with Harldine. But, then you ran away and I found you in the woods…'
“Oh, Larne,” Angelica cried as she went to his arms. “I am so glad that it all happened the way it did, for if I had met you and not known you…” She quieted as he kissed her, her body melting into his as he picked her up and carried her to the bed. “I love you so…”
Prince Harlan smiled at his bride as he lay down beside her, his hand reaching out to stroke her soft white skin. “You are so lovely,” he said. “I could not tell you how to break the curse for love must be given freely…”
The Princess and the Wolf Page 2
