Ella’s POV
We walked faster now after seeing the fire, without needing Kevin to motivate us. We got to the settlement fifteen minutes after we saw the fire they had lighted up.
The people living there were gathered round the fire, talking and laughing as if they were having a family gathering. They were not more than thirty-men, women and children-round the fire and I wondered if that was all they were.
It was no wonder the fire was burning brightly as it was for us to have seen it from the far distance we had. It had to be wide for them all to be able to sit round it.
They didn’t notice us immediately and it wasn’t until we got closer to them that they did. They jumped up and glared at us as they saw us. Fear was written all over their faces and some of the men brought out swords from behind them while waving at the women and children to get behind them and get to safety.
The women and children though ushered to safety still huddled at a far distance and peeped at us, curious to know what was about to happen.
I sighed, wondering who they were and how rough the lives they had lived were for them to react that way immediately to strangers.
“Who are you and what do you want?” A man stepped out of the crowd and I assumed that he was the leader here. He also had the biggest sword in his hand and fiercest scowl.
I hoped he wouldn’t get to raise the sword at anyone and would wipe off that scowl faster than it came. They couldn’t match up to us in strength even with their weapons and there would be a bloodbath if he lifted the sword even by an inch.
I looked back at the werewolves and saw them at alert. They didn’t want to fight these people but were ready to fight and kill them all if they were attacked.
I groaned at the horrible sight in my head.
As the doctor and pharmacist that I was, I didn’t want any bloodshed, at least not from strangers who did nothing to me and only believed we were barging in their space.
It had been long that I felt like my profession and didn’t want to feel that at the moment, not when my pack would be responsible for the injuries of those I would later feel indulged to treat and patch their wounds up.
“We are travelers and would like to rest a bit here for a while.” Kevin replied.
“Liar!” The man hissed, his eyes flashing with intensity at Kevin and his lips twisted with a harsh sneer.
I could sense trouble brewing and knew I had to find a way to stop it before it escalated out of boundaries. Kevin hated being hissed at or called a liar and the man had done both.
I winced as I saw the vein in his neck ticking with fury and moved closer to him, slipping my hand in his.
“Let me handle this.” I whispered to him.
He glanced at me and finally nodded. “Any insult directed at you and I will rip off the lips that say so.” He whispered back.
“You won’t have to do that.” I smiled at him, knowing it was something he could do that. “I can take care of myself, remember?”
He hissed, hating it anytime I reminded him of how strong and independent I was. “I know you are but I’m your mate. I’m meant to protect you.”
I smiled at him, knowing that we both couldn’t win this argument. We were too stubborn to do that. “We are meant to protect each other.”
He raised his lips slightly at me in exasperation but didn’t say anything else again. I turned my focus away from him and sighed as I realized the strangers had their eyes on me. They were definitely waiting for an explanation from us.
“He is right. He is not lying. We are travelers and we came here to rest because we saw the fire you made.” I raised by my hand up in a show of surrender. “We mean no harm and would appreciate it if you let us stay and then we would be out of your space.”
The leader looked at me studiously and didn’t reply immediately as he had done to Kevin. My heart slammed with nervousness in my ribcage as I wondered what would happen next.
Would we be allowed to rest or pushed to a fight? I prayed for the first one.
“She is right.” He suddenly announced.
Just like that, the people nodded and the murmurs went round the crowd that I was right. I wondered what was wrong with them. Did they have a prejudice against the male gender? I had said the same words that Kevin did and they had believed me while they had labeled him as a liar.
Not that I was complaining but I wanted to know what happened.
The leader saw the expression, the mix of relief and confusion on my face and smiled. “Your mark made us believe you.” He said, looking at the slave mark on my wrist.
I had forgotten all about it. I should have known that it would be seen by all when I raised my hand up. I had no idea that the slave mark that I hated would help to stop an unnecessary war tonight.
“What about it?” Loki asked.
Without a response, they all rolled down their sleeves and bared their wrists to us. The slave marks were bold on their skins that it was no wonder they had covered it up.
Oh good, I sighed, we had found ourselves a family of escaped and probably wanted slaves. No wonder they had been hostile and wanted to kill us at first sight.