Ella’s POV
“When did you escape?” Rok, the assistant community leader asked the newcomers.
“Two days ago.” The response came.
“Why?” Rok insisted.
“The nobles are harassing the women and it’s getting too much. We all thought it was peculiar to one household until we realized that they were acting the same way.” One of the men in the group stepped forward and said. “They had all gone crazy because they know we don’t have much choice because of the slave marks and can’t survive in town with it. We eventually snapped and escaped when we heard that they were harassing the kids.”
“That is sad.” I muttered under my breath.
“It is.” Avila replied. I was talking to myself actually but I knew she had overheard because she was close to me. “The thought that they would experience more than they have suffered because of the mark breaks my heart more.”
“I wish there was a way to clean the mark without having to go to the jungle and risking your life.”
“Maybe there was.” Avila sighed. “We have not actually tried or thought of any other way asides going to the jungle. You brought some strange plants from that river the other day. Maybe we can find some use for it and hopefully, one of them would clean the mark and give everyone the freedom they wanted.”
She was right. There were some strange plants that I brought with me that I hadn’t seen before or knew of what they were used for. I had planned to analyse them when I get home or show granny when I get to visit the blue river pack and ask her if she recognized them and what her opinions were on them.
I hoped that Avila was right that one of the plants would be able to clean the mark. I knew they would be happy if they could walk nd work freely in the town again. Hiding here forever definitely wasn’t going to make them happy. I didn’t have to be told that they weren’t happy and only doing it because they didn’t have a choice.
“Maybe.” I nodded. “Let’s do that. Let’s find an erasing potion for the mark while we cure them of their diseases.”
She smiled. “I’m going to miss you when you leave. Let’s do that. We are going to get busy but it is going to be fun too.”
I nodded. I couldn’t have agreed more with her. It was going to be fun.
“Speaking of leaving,” I began, turning to Avila. “I need to tell Kevin that we would no longer be going home tomorrow. Wish me luck.”
She chuckled. “You don’t need luck, girl. You have that man wrapped around your pretty little finger.”
I knew she was right but I still needed luck. That Kevin was obsessed with me didn’t mean that he didn’t know how to be angry anymore. Moreover, that was what I was trying to avoid, making it seem like I was being inconsiderate and making a fool of his heart. Hearing Avila speak my fears out loud certainly didn’t sit right with me.
I got to where Kevin was and all my remaining confidence which wasn’t even up to half of what I needed flew into the air. He was with Rok, Liam and Andre and my tongue suddenly got tied. I didn’t know how to begin.
Avila really should have wished me luck. Even if I didn’t need luck to deal with Kevin and make him understand, the other werewolves I was staring at at the moment certainly weren’t wrapped around my fingers. I didn’t want to make them agree out of duty because I was the Luna and I didn’t want to feel guilty that they were here against their desires as well.
I considered going back and telling Kevin when he was alone and leaving him to find a way to tell the men and shook my head against the idea. I wasn’t a coward. This was my idea and I was going to deal with it. I wasn’t going to make Kevin sort out the mess and listen to the grumbles the men might make. That simply wasn’t me.
“Do you want to see me, my love?” Kevin asked, smiling at me when I stood there without saying anything.
I swallowed. “I want to see all of you.”
Liam, Rok and Andre looked confused and curious at the same time. I could tell that Kevin was also curious but he hid it well.
“Is there a problem, Luna?” Andre asked.
“I… I don’t think I want to go home today.” I had said it. I believed that was better than me saying we wouldn’t be able to go home today like I was trying to impose my will on them.
I noticed the slight wince and frown on Andre’s face and felt guilty. I almost took back my words but there was something important I needed to do even if I hadn’t promised Avila that I would help her.
“Why?” Kevin frowned.
“Are you missing us already?” Rok grinned.
They both said at the same time and I wondered who I was going to reply first.
“It’s because of the new slaves, right? It’s because they are sick?” Andre asked, looking at me.
I gulped. I didn’t expect Andre to be the one to figure out my reasons and be understanding. I had expected him to be the one mad at me among all of them.
“They are sick?” Rok asked, his eyes shining with disbelief.
“Yes.” Andre and I said at the same time and I smiled at him.
“How did you know?” I asked him.
“I saw huge red welts on the skins of four of them.” Andre said.
Huge red welts? I didn’t know their reactions were that advanced. I wondered if there was an endemic outbreak in the town. It seemed like Avila and I would have to work twice as hard as fast as we had imagined.
“How bad is it?” Rok asked me.
“It’s very bad. Those I see who are infected couldn’t stop scratching at their skin. My guess is that it has something to do with the slave mark as they were scratching their wrist or their hand and if they stay here everyone with the slave marks would be infected in no time.”
Rok looked alarmed. “Really? I have to inform the customer leaders.”
“I hope you don’t conclude on chasing them away though as Avila and I would start working on a cure for erasing the slave mark without having to go to the jungle and risk their lives. That way, everyone gets to be safe from the disease and also would get the freedom they have all wanted.”
“The point is we would be here for more days.” Andre noted.
I smiled at him. I already knew that he was going to complain.
“Thank you.” Rok sighed. “We wouldn’t have chased them off though because they don’t have anywhere else to go. I only wanted to inform the leaders.”
Kevin sighed. “The men wouldn’t like this but they wouldn’t object to waiting for more days if it meant saving lives.” He turned to Rok. “Since we are on the subject of erasing the slave mark so the people can go to town and move freely, what do you say to teaching them some combat skills to protect themselves and avoid being taken as slaves again and getting rebranded?”
“Excellent idea. Thank you.” Rok smiled at Kevin. “I guess I have a lot to say to the leaders.” He said and walked away.
“I hope you get the cure as fast as you can, Luna.” Liam said, a wistful look in his eyes.
I nodded at him, promising him that I would. He wasn’t the only one who wanted to go home. I walked away from the guys, eager to get to Avila and get to work.