Saved by the bell was translated to saved by the interruption in my case. Thank God for David walking in at the right time into Daniel's office. The last thing this situation needed was a complication of epic proportions. I wasn't going to be here for long anyway, being a human and all, so it's better if I keep my distance from Daniel. Even if I don't want to.Despite his secrets and deceptions, I want him anyway. But I can't.
David chatters along the way to an open field where a bonfire is set up and people are scattered all over, sitting in their own little worlds without looking at anyone else. It feels freeing somehow; even amongst all these people, I don't feel weighed down by the heavy scrutiny, like I felt in Daniel's office. It wasn't anything too bad though, but his intense gaze made me shiver. I rub my hands together and David drapes his heavy coat over my shoulders. I hadn't realised that I was feeling cold. We find a seat near the fire and I notice that he's left with a thin shirt.
"Won't you feel cold?"
He shrugs. "Our bodies radiate heat."
This makes me realise that I don't know much about their species. For some reason I hesitate, but he picks up on it.
"You can ask me whatever you want, Lin." He eases into a laid-back pose."It'll make it easier for you to understand for as long as you're here."
I can't resist. "How long is that, exactly?"
He shakes his head. "I'd tell you if I could, but I really don't know. Dan's in pretty deep shit with the council right now."
"Why?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean... he only protected me. I was the one who provoked them."
He pauses for a beat. "The real problem isn't you interfering. You aren't the first human to stumble into the woods and accidentally get into our business. The problem is that Daniel broke protocol to save you."
He sees the inquisition in my eyes and shakes his head again. "That's all I can tell you for now."
"Will Daniel be okay?" My low voice gives me away.
His eyes soften. "Now you don't worry about that. Daniel can deal. He's the strongest one here." He declares this with pride. I notice this factor — how much pride and honour matters to these people. At least some of the werewolf clichés must be true.
I place my chin on my hand in introspection and David laughs at my serious expression.
"You haven't changed a bit, Lin. Go on, ask what you're dying to."
"Can all of you change into wolves? And is it like proper wolves or do you just get stronger? Do you change when the moon comes up?"
He laughs out loud.
"Classic clichés. Okay, so we change whenever we want, and yes, it is a proper wolf. Claws and fur and all. The moon hasn't got anything to do with us, but yeah, it comes up in our ancestors' stories — beyond having moon festivals, it doesn't really mean much to us."
I take a minute to process this before asking the questions that I fear being answered.
"Does your species marry humans?"
"Do you want the answer to be yes?"
I look down at my hands at his directness but I shake my head.
"I'm just curious."
"Normally we don't. It's considered an honour thing, really. Our ancestors have had human marriages and even children. A half-wolf becomes a full wolf, but the hierarchy is a little stingy. Any trace of human blood is considered vile."
This makes me bristle in response, which he notices. His eyes narrow but he doesn't get particularly angry.
"It doesn't sound fair, but that's the way it is. We've been ostracised by humans for centuries. We're not the monsters they make us out to be — we're just... different." He sighs. "No offence to your kind, but humans hate anything that they can't understand."
I nod. Flashes of my mother appear before me and I can't help but agree. His words are the same as the old lady from the cabin, but they're delivered kindly and factually instead of with contempt.
"Do you... hate me?"
He grins. "Nah. I've always liked you, Lin. That's not something you have to worry about here either."
"But you left. All of you did, without a word." It takes everything in me to hide the tremor in my voice.
"We had to, Lin. None of us wanted to — especially Daniel, you know how he feels about you. But we had to because of some problems back then."
His grave tone makes me realise that he isn't going to give me more details than this and I absolutely refuse to ponder the fact about how Daniel still feels for me. Feels. As in, present tense.
I decide not to bother him with more questions and he goes back to his carefree chattering, reminding me how easy it was to be friends with him because of how easygoing he always was. While motioning with his hands while telling me a story, I notice the telltale glint of a silver ring on his right index finger. He notices me looking and flattens his hand so I can get a better look.
"It's an engagement ring." He admits sheepishly. Talk about adorable. The slight blush on his face tells me all I need to know about his fiancée, and I grin widely, happy for him.
"Congratulations! Why didn't you tell me before?"
He smiles and lowers his eyes, still embarrassed.
"Why on your right hand though?"
"Wolves wear their wedding rings on the right index finger. Engagement too. The only difference is that when you get married officially, you get your mate's name tattooed on your left ring finger."
What a lovely tradition. I'm about to press for more details about his intended fiancée to give him a proper ribbing, until I remember something that stops me from speaking altogether.
In Daniel's office, when he had placed his hand over my cheek and we nearly kissed, his hand had been warm. Except for a small part of his right index finger, where I felt a cold metal band.Which was an engagement ring.
David doesn't notice my moment of shock and continues his lively chatter as my heart splinters into pieces. I have no right to feel this way, yet I do.He was never meant to be mine anyway.