Chapter 34

His fellow fishermen and some passersby greeted him and he responded cheerfully. He seemed to be quite popular around here and that calmed my initial worries about who he might truly be.
I noticed how some people stared at me because of my damp clothes and scattered look. I don’t blame them at all. I would stare at me too.
“My wife sells fruits in the village market,” said Albert. “But I’m sure she must have returned home by now. She cooks the best meals!”
I liked how his eyes lit up when he spoke about his wife. He must really love her.
“I hope she’s as accommodating as you are,” I said quietly.
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that,” he assured me. “My wife is an angel. We Delta wolves are naturally caring. It’s right there in our blood.”
“You’re a Delta?” I asked.
“Yes. What about you?”
I sighed. “I used to be a Beta but I lived as a Delta in my uncle’s home. Then I got mated and became a Luna… but now, I don’t even know what I am anymore.”
Albert gave me a sympathetic smile. “Don’t fret about that,” he said softly. “Nobody cares about ranks in the village. That is why life here is simple. This place is a melting pot for everyone who wants to escape the strict life of living in packs.”
I smiled. “I think I’m going to like this place very much. I wonder why Sasha chose to live alone when she can live here instead.”
“Who is Sasha?”
My good mood soured immediately as the image of Sasha and Hazim having sex in her kitchen, crossed my mind.
“Never mind,” I said. “She’s someone I used to know.”
We strolled past the busy streets and I admired the village houses. There were different kinds of houses here; bungalows, townhouses and cottages.
“Who runs this place?” I asked.
“Nobody,” said Albert. “We hold meetings twice a month to discuss the welfare of villages. During these meetings, we decide on the prices of goods and services, and remind ourselves of the simple rules that govern the village.”
“Which are?”
“Be kind to each other, be helpful to strangers, do not steal and never kill another werewolf unless your life is threatened by them.”
“Nice. And does everyone abide by these rules?”
“Most of the time,” he replied honestly. “Defaulters are expelled from the village and forbidden from returning unless they can prove that they have repented.”
“Wow… I’m impressed.”
“Ah, here we are!” He said delightfully. “Home sweet home!”
I looked ahead of me and saw that we had stopped in front of a cottage that looked almost the same as my triplet mates’ home in the mountains. Ugh! Why must everything remind me of Dominic and his brothers?
“Your home is lovely,” I said, smiling at Albert.
“Wait until you see the inside,” he boasted. “It’s a homely home, I promise. You’ll love it here.”
His excitement was infectious and I couldn’t wait to go inside with him and see his happy place. I wondered if his wife was just as cheerful as he was.
He dusted his shoes on the foot mat outside the cottage door and encouraged me to do the same. He said his wife couldn’t stand dirty shoes inside the house and I understood that. I wouldn’t let people walk around inside my house with dirty shoes either.
“I’m sure I look like a mess,” I said and giggled self-consciously.
“I agree,” he laughed. “But don’t worry, we’ll get you cleaned up. My wife will, not me,” he added and winked at me playfully.
“Silly old guy,” I muttered. I have never made a friend so quickly like this before and I was thoroughly enjoying my newfound friendship with Albert.
He knocked on the door twice and opened it without waiting for his wife to respond first. I was surprised that the door was unlocked. Was the village really that safe?
“Darling, I’m home!” He called out as we entered the cottage. “I brought someone home with me.”
I clasped my fingers in front of me nervously, waiting for his wife to show up. In the meantime, I looked around the living area quickly, appreciating the neatness and warm furnishings. Albert was right, his home was indeed homely and welcoming.
“Is that you, my love?” A woman said from somewhere inside the cottage. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
She showed up with a bowl of apples in her hands and when she saw me, the blood drained out of her face immediately. The bowl slipped from her hands and landed on the hardwood floor with a loud crash. It broke into pieces and the big juicy apples scattered all over the place.
“My darling, are you ok?” Albert asked, rushing over to where his wife stood.
She was staring at me as if she had seen a ghost. Her reaction disturbed me. I knew I was a mess right now but that was enough to get this kind of strong reaction from her.
“I can leave if you don’t want me here,” I said. I didn’t want to be held responsible if this old woman suddenly dropped dead from a heart attack due to my messy appearance.
Please, don’t leave,” said Albert quickly. “I’m sure she’s just surprised to see you, that’s all. Isn’t that right, darling?”
“Do you not recognize me, Jade?” The old woman whispered.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end when she mentioned my name. How did she know who I was?
“Do you know her?” Albert asked his wife. He too was as surprised as I was.
“Yes,” she replied in a shaky voice. “I know her very well.”
I squinted and looked at her from head to toe, trying to figure out who she was. Now that she mentioned it, her voice did sound kind of familiar. I lifted my eyes to hers again and suddenly, recognition hit me in the gut like a fist.
“Lattie!” I gasped.
She nodded slowly and tears gathered in her eyes. Albert was intrigued. He looked from her to me and back again.
“What’s going on here?” He asked. “What does this mean?”
“It means I’m about to be banished from this village tonight because I am going to kill your wife.”
“What the –“
I didn’t let Albert finish his question. I screamed from the depths of my belly as my bones began to reshape into my wolf form. I was so mad and hungry to taste Lattie’s blood in my mouth.
Albert stepped in front of me when he saw what I was about to do. I knocked him out of my way and went after Latti with all of my strength.