Destiny

Chapter Nine - Aedan

He waited by the front gate of Dawn's house - a miniature cobalt-blue house with a white roof and framed windows. The meticulously trimmed bushes that stood along the gate and patches of flowers regularly filled the area in front of the house and attracted all of the werewolf's attention. He possessed more knowledge in herbs and medicinal plants rather than flowers, so he took a note to ask Dawn about the names of blossoms that embellished her front garden.

Adjusting the strap of his leather satchel, Aedan thought that the trip to the meadow he had in mind would aid Dawn to live through the loss of her job. Even if he hadn't the slightest idea of the rare plants that he had mentioned the night before.

What plants would she consider as rare?

The Perennial Crimson-Root Bittercress! Definitely!

Although, he had to make sure to avoid long exposure to this plant and inhalation of its spore that could result in a sleepless night he didn't wish to have.

What would happen if his wolf took control over him once again?

It would be a complete disaster, and I would have to drill my way down into the ground, Aedan snapped in his mind.

Losing control wasn't an option.

There was no room for mistakes, so Aedan took a deep breath and blew it out swiftly through his lips. He tugged his dark coat tighter around himself and run a hand through his inky curls. Aedan hoped his attire for the day out was appropriate for the occasion with his loose dark-blue trousers tucked into his boots, a dark laced-up shirt and a dark woollen coat, that seemed too small for him. Perhaps, he needed to pay a visit to a seamstress on the Main Street of Wolfbourgh the next time Isaac had errands for him, Gabriel and Idris.

Aedan had left his cabin right when the dawn started to break to be there at Dawn's house like he promised. The chilly, late autumn air was stirring and freshening as Aedan trekked the semi-naked forest. The sky was a soft plum in colour, idly lightening as the sun switched places with the moon. The moon was a dull waxing crescent in the morning sky, and werewolves knew that it wasn't long until the Beavers Full Moon. And the next full moon, the Cold Moon, would mark the start of winter and the end of the year.

The werewolf was excited but nervous at the same time; the boy was going insane since last night. It felt as if he had experienced the most varied kaleidoscope of emotions.

He was going to meet a human, and it wasn't Matthew - it was Dawn. He had met a few humans before, but they were unimpressive. The girl, on the other hand, intrigued him as no one else had before.

The second most intriguing thing he found was the nature in all of its aspects. And the third was the world beyond the borders of Starleten. Perhaps, the latter could easily merge with the second because it was as unwilling to be encapsulated as nature was.

Dawn emerged from the back of the house, at last, clothed in a deep-blue dress that billowed around her as she walked in between the flower beds towards Aedan. Her beige coat was unbuttoned as if she wasn't feeling cold at all. Long, chestnut-brown hair cascaded in waves over her shoulders down to her waist. A basket woven of wood splints poked from her side, and there were two red apples in her hands.

As she approached Aedan, she tossed one of the apples at him. "Catch!"

Aedan's reflexes screamed at him, and he caught the apple effortlessly. He noticed Dawn gaping at him. "I used to play ball a lot with my brothers," he cleared his throat as his voice had gotten stuck in his throat.

No option to slip in anything she wouldn't want to know.

She shook her head, "It's good to see you today," she said, her almond-shaped eyes glinting in the pale sunlight.