Red

Seventeen.

She despised having to think about her only daughter. It reminded her of how helpless she was. Elia shut her eyes as she took a bite of her stew. Almost two moons had passed since Ruby was sacrificed. The wolves had settled down since then.

They were clearly sated at having hunted her only daughter. "Do you think she suffered?" Elia asked.

Sten looked up. "There wasn't any sign of struggle, they just ripped her off and then dragged her body into the woods. They probably killed her on the first hit, I don't think she suffered." Sten reassured himself hating the thought of Ruby suffering a painful death.

Regardless of what he chooses she would have died to the wolves. Running into the woods would have been asking for the wolves to attack them. Sten knew that.

Anytime he felt guilt over letting her go he reminded himself of that. They would have either taken her with force or exile them into the woods to be wolf fodder.

"I hope it was painless." Elia murmured as the two moved onto yet another tense dinner with old wounds being opened.

☾

"I made you hot cocoa." Court opened the door as he came in with a wooden mug in his hand as he came over to the bed and handed it to me.

In the hot cocoa was heavy cream whipped with some marshmallow floating at the top. About an hour ago we had finished our dinner which consisted of a rabbit steak with steamed carrots. Court sat down on the bed next to me as he handed me the mug.

"Thank you." I told him accepting it.

"There is some milk in it that I bought from the village to cool it down. Cow's milk." Court informed me and I smiled at him.

"Do you still have some of the cow's milk?" I asked as I stirred the hot cocoa before taking a sip. The hot liquid was refreshing on cold nights such as these. I appreciated it very much.

"One glass left of it as I didn't purchase a lot, but you can use it for whatever if you desire." Court told me as he ran a hand through his hair, and I nodded at that with a small smile on my face.

I took a sip of the hot cocoa and gave him a smile. "Thank you." I told him and Court nodded as he sat down on the bed. I sipped on the hot cocoa and ate a few of the soaked marshmallows before I finished it and set the mug down.

"The full moon is coming, and I wanted to know if you have specific type of meat you like from there. Is there one?" Court asked as I looked up.

"Um. . . I like chicken." I murmured and Court nodded as he stretched before moving over into bed. 

"Okay, I can get you some of that, good night." Court turned over and rested his head down on the pillow before drifting off to sleep. I climbed over him to my side of the bed before turning over to face him.

He was underneath the blankets. After a little his breathing evened out signaling, he was asleep. I turned around and removed the journal from underneath the pillow and settled into bed and began to read.

The Diary of A.

I don't know what Lyk exactly want from me. He visits me each day typically with some sort of 'present' he hunted. This is the seventh day he's visited me.

Today he brought a moose with him. He clearly lives somewhere in the woods with access to a fire as he knows how to cook. He made steaks from the moose meat and let me have the pelt of the moose.

"Only thing I ask for is that you hide it if any of your family comes out. Don't want them getting brave and attempting to hunt."

He sat with me after the steaks were done. I didn't hesitate to eat them though. The last week I found out how delicious the animals in the forest were. The only time I got to eat them was when Lyk came bearing the gifts for me.

I knew he was going to ask for something in return eventually. I refused to believe he was doing this out of the kindness of his heart. After all he is a wolf, the same wolves that surround the village and hunt anyone who leaves.

I just don't know what he wants.

For all I know he will kill me later. But here he is wasting his time on me. I couldn't figure out why though. 

I'll keep updating on it though. He's bound to tell me eventually.

-A

Lyk. I wonder if Court knows who he is. I looked over at Court as I marked the page and slipped the diary back under the bed. He was still asleep and facing the opposite direction of me. Asking him about it would make him suspicious though.

The lack of dating also made it impossible to know how old A is. I shook my head as I got up and put on my night clothes and brushed my hair before climbing back over Court careful not to wake him up as I got underneath the covers.

Once I was underneath, I let myself drift off to sleep.

1567. Late update but hope you guys enjoyed! ***