Rapunzel

20

Noah awoke to see his mate and the pup playing around, though the small wolf seemed to be moving slowly and limping. Raising his nose, he took in the scents around him and realized that a faint trace of blood was mixed in with the pup's. 

He understood then that she was so overprotective of him because he was hurt. Noah linked his father to tell the Fae Royals that he needed a healer out here. Maybe he could get her to trust him and the others if she saw them heal her pup. Just a few moments later, his father let him know that a group was on the way. 

Fifteen minutes passed before the Royals, and some wolf warriors, came out of the woods carefully. The wolf that he knew was Zel, snarled at them all, pushing her pup back behind her. Noah jumped down between her and the group. He whined at her, inching forward.

She stared at him, watching with wary eyes as he came up to her. He nudged her towards the creatures, but she held her ground. The pup under her whimpered and the creatures all looked at him. 

"She has a pup?" Iridia asked, eyes wide.

Noah turned to face them and nodded. His eyes landed on the healer, and he walked up to her. She was an elder Fae and laid a hand on him, searching for injuries. He shook her off and tilted his head towards his mate. 

The she wolf snarled when the male wolf led one of the creatures over. The healer's body slunk back a step out of fear. Zel's wolf lowered her body and curled so that the pup was not visible anymore. 

Noah linked the warriors, asking one of them to hurt him so that he could show that the woman could heal him. Maybe then Zel would let her closer to help her pup. The warriors all looked between themselves until one stepped forward and brought out his claws. 

Zel snarled when one of the creatures attacked the wolf that she saw as a possible mate. The creature jumped back, eyes on her as she stalked forward a few steps. Her eyes snapped to the wolf when a light came from the creature beside him. Blood fell from the claw marks in his side. The creature pressed her hands to his side, not touching the wound, and light crawled over his body.

She watched as the wounds healed instantly. Shock coursed through her and she uneasily pawed at the ground. Her pup inched forward, seeing what the woman could do made him curious. She eyed the creature and followed after her pup, hackles raised in case anyone made to hurt her or the pup. 

The creature bent to be at their size by the time the pup had wandered up to it. Looking back at the she-wolf, who nodded him on, he whined at the creature, rolling to show her his injuries. The light came back to her hands and she gently picked the pup up, cradling him as her magic healed him. Once finished, she set him back down.

The pup stretched and then barked happily, prancing around before running up to the she wolf and yipping at her. She nudged him with her nose, but she sent a grateful glance towards the creature that helped him. The other wolf wandered over and gave her muzzle a lick, causing her to step back. 

She cocked her head at the wolf, studying him carefully. He would make a good mate, and he is powerful enough to protect them. Making her decision, she lowered her eyes in submission and then stepped back up to his side. She would now have to do what he wanted of them, be it to move to his pack, or stay. 

Noah was amazed that she had chosen to be his mate. He didn't think the bond affected her still, but he was now aware that it did. A usual she wolf would not have chosen so quickly, and would most likely have gone for the warrior who had hurt the wolf that she thought was most powerful. To know that she'd chosen him confirmed that she was still connected to him.

He nodded at the group in front of them and then nodded his thanks to the healer. As they walked off, Noah looked at his mate, but saw that she was waiting for him to decide where they would go. Her pup was standing between her feet, his eyes watching the group leave. Carefully, he made to follow the group, and she was right behind him.