Gutted and Lynched //Mystreet-Phoenix Drop High//

.Chapter Four.

Katelyn stood beside her friend as they examined the corpse placed against the tree, the only thing identifying her being the engagement ring she still wore from her time spent with Garroth, along with a few stray locks of her once gorgeous red hair.

Aphmau looked distraught as she usually did, but she knew they had to clean up the body to the best of their ability so they could have a proper burial. Ivy deserved that at least despite how awful she had been to her in their younger years.

Katelyn swiftly closer and rubbed the mayor's back, placing a friendly kiss against her forehead.

"Perk up, Aph. Seeing you like that makes it harder for everyone around you. We want to see that smile of yours. It's what we look forward to just about every day" she said softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

The smaller woman sighed, shaking her head and leaning into her friend. "I know, I know. I just hate seeing people like this. Everyone does. I want to resolve all of this as peacefully as possible, as quickly as possible" she murmured, wiping her already dry eyes. She'd only just stopped crying for the loss, but her puffy eyes still itched from it.

Garte soon joined them to help, having already dealt with the other corpse earlier that morning. He wasn't anything special to the town, but he helped out a lot.

"A damn shame. She was such a beautiful young woman" he huffed, running his fingers through his hair before rolling his sleeves up to get to work.

"We really can't thank you enough. No one else is really willing to deal with these things" Aphmau said quietly, leaning against Katelyn. Being the mayor, it was her job to work things out and right now, all of her attention was on finding these werewolves

"No need to thank me. You two just head on home. Another lynching is supposed to happen today. I have a feeling that people are going to get more aggressive as time goes on" Garte said, heaving the body up and over his shoulder.

They nodded, Katelyn staying by her friend's side as they headed back into town. The lynching wasn't something  Aphmau wanted, but she was forced into the practice. She would never want to hang someone, not even criminals.

Katelyn returned to her own home as Aphmau continued to hers. When she stepped in, she noticed Aaron and Zane in their usual spot, her lover focused on trying to help the other strengthen his powers.

She knew of Aaron's powers, and had long before she'd decided to marry him. The risk of having him as a husband was great, but she swore to herself that she would protect him to the best of her abilities and then some.

She smiled as she passed them, leaning down and pecking Aaron on the cheek before going to the kitchen. She usually made treats for them what Zane came over. They had been friends for a while now due to similar interests, but of course she didn't tell too many people about their friendship. Zane wouldn't hesitate to cut ties, but she would easily bond then once more with the power of her baking skills.

She went to work, making something simple for today. She didn't feel like getting too complicated so she stuck with cake. It wasn't long before the two joined her in the kitchen, Aaron sauntering up and wrapping his arms around her waist.

He peppered her face with kisses, earning a groan from the woman, but she smiled up at him.

Zane faked a gag at the cutesy scene in front of him, "tone it down. Can't you two go one minute without doing something like that?" He yawned, leaning back against the counter.

Aphmau rolled her eyes and gave Aaron a sloppy, wet kiss on the cheek before pulling away, smearing a little frosting on her friend's cheek, earning a groan from both males.

The little things like this were what kept her going throughout such harsh times. Being able to still have fun and joke around with her friends.

Of course, things couldn't stay that way forever. As if some unknown force was just trying to completely ruin her day, a knock came from the door. Aaron looked at her for a moment before following her to the door, Zane taking over the food quietly.

She opened the door, seeing another close friend of hers.

"Aph, hey. I don't mean to be a downer, but I'm sure you know it's almost time" the brunette hummed quietly.

Laurence, the resident beast hunter and a good friend. Someone she nearly fell in love with as well, though that was years ago before she'd even met Aaron.

She smiled at him, giving a small nod. "I know, I know. Come on in. We can at least have a little time to ourselves before we have to start" she sighed, pulling him inside.

Laurence rolled his eyes and allowed himself to be dragged into the kitchen, giving a polite nod to Aaron. He was glad that Aphmau had someone like him to lol after her. He wouldn't let them know, but he knew what Aaron was as well. It made him a little hesitant to leave his best friend with him, but he'd learned to just accept it.

Also, he had been monitoring Aaron closely for weeks now, ever since all of this had started. He'd made sure to place traps on him to keep him secure. Aphmau would be completely destroyed if Aaron was killed and he didn't want there for her.

He shook himself out of his thoughts as he saw Zane, watching him make frosting, adding pink dye to the mix. "Ooh, night choice Zane!" Aphmau giggled, bounding over and watching him mix.

Aaron chuckled and leaned against the wall once more. "God, I wish things could stay like this forever. No lynching, no werewolves, nothing" he sighed softly, earning a nod from the Beasthunter.

"But, unfortunately that lynching is about to happen" he mutter.
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Howdy! I hope you enjoy another chapter of this probably mediocre story. I don't got many readers right now but I hole who ever does read this gives me some feedback!