A/N: So last year I started this for a wonderful and very talented and author on LJ-babydee1. Life and other projects got in the way of it's completion. Her birthday came around again and it felt right to complete this. I have not forgotten my other stuff, but this story needed to be finished. I own nothing all characters or themes are used for entertainment purposes only. All mistakes are my own and I do apologize for them now. I hope you enjoy an Happy Birthday Dee : )

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Deep in the forests of Lativia was a village very small with meager homes and even meager dwellings. The village was called L'espoir- hope in French. The villagers are a humble people that had lived their lives in exile from the great city of Kalaha.

Kalaha was ruled by a monarchy. It was prosperous and thriving. But it wasn't without its problems. The King had been married; his bride had been young, eager and very, very jealous.

She was ever jealous of her husband and the love the people had of him especially that little hope village. He would spend much time there chatting and feasting with common folks. She would follow in the shadows and watch as he was kind and generous with everyone and thought for sure he was having an affair.

So crazed she had become that after one of his trips she called him on it. He brushed it off and did his best to sate her insecurities. Even with his promises and her pregnancy, he couldn't calm her. One night after he went to bed, she left the castle and went into the darker side of the shire and met with the village witch. With tears and blood, she struck an unholy alliance with the witch and the village of Hope and it's sad people would no longer be her problem.

What seemed like months later it was reported to the King that the villagers of Hope were planning a revolution to oust him. To him that was betrayal and it broke his heart. He took the news that with great sadness and heart break which eventually turned to anger. His justice was swift and complete. The peoples of Hope were outcast, banished. All those in Kalaha that had family were effectively cut off and the citizens of L'espoir were left to fend for themselves.

It seemed as if the young Queen had won. Her husband stayed home and was nothing but attentive to her. She bore him a son and they lived in contentment until the witch came to collect on the bargain on the eve of the child's 2nd birthday. The Queen went mad, her son disappeared, and the King was left to rule alone.

The poor city of L'espoir rallied after the despair of its banishment. Nearly 10 years after the banishment the L'espoir was hit with another round of misfortune. One stormy night a young man appeared naked and bloody in the village. He spoke of a monster, a man eater that had destroyed his village. The beast allowed his escape all he had to do was promise that he leaves a sacrifice in the forest every year so that the beast would not have to enter the village and ravage the town's folk. He used that as leverage and once he healed he worked his way into leadership. He demanded they call him Chancellor—Chancellor Alexander Luthor.

The sacrifices were chosen at random, young, old, it didn't matter. Year after year the town lost one of their own to the beast and year after year they lost a little more of their soul the heavy handed rule of Alexander.

The breaking point came when the butchers' wife was taken leaving him to raise a young daughter all by himself.

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In a tiny meeting room in the home of the butcher were some of the elder men. They sat and talked about the fate of the village. The butcher was a gentleman who had a daughter who was the apple of his eye. She was 18 and stubborn to a fault. She wanted the village to survive and would fight however she could but was stuck in the confines of her gender and station.

"We need help Gabe." one of the elders spoke.

"But how, we cannot pay for it? He as all but robbed us blind." One of the others spoke, "There is no hope."

"We do have hope." Gabriel shouted. "We are hope." He spoke to the group. "I've sent letters for years to Kalaha to Chloe's grandparents; I'm not giving up on their replying."

"They haven't tried to contact her." Someone shouted. "They don't care!" All the gentleman gasped at the outburst.

"They won't reply Gabriel, it's forbidden." His friend spoke more solidly. "We were banished, they have forsaken us."

Gabriel just shook his head. "We don't know anything for sure except that we're dying. If we wait then we will surely fall into ruin. We need to continue trying to get to get word to them…"

"No!" One of the elders spoke shouted. "No one can leave the village. We have lost many good folks trying to escape. There is no hope the only certainty we have is our taxes and our deaths."

Gabe shook his head refusing to listen to his friends. "But I want my daughter to have future, to live life without the threat of being taken to sacrifice to whatever beast is out there." Gabe spoke nearly in tears.

"Sorry Gabriel," The elders spoke while standing knowing Chloe would be home soon. "We cannot. We cannot risk it." They left the home quickly.

What they didn't know was that Chloe was home and heard the entire conversation. She sighed and shook her head. Her village was dying and the elders were refusing to help, it seemed as though it was now up to her.

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Chloe snuck out of the home the same way she snuck in, through a loose window. She was constantly looking over her shoulder. In the last few days she definitely felt as though there were eyes on her and it sent shivers down her spine. She looked around one more time. She shook her head, adjusted her skirt on her dress and went into her home through the front door. "Papa?" she shouted.

"In here princess." He shouted from the living room. Gabe was sitting in a chair working on mending one of her skirts.

"Oh papa you don't have to do this you have plenty to do." She spoke taking the needlework from him.

"Nothing is too much for you," he smiled and yawned.

"Go to bed papa. You work enough butchering." She smiled as she helped him to stand. He laughed as he gave her a hug and went to his room. Chloe sighed and looked down at her shaking hands. She had never really disobeyed him tonight would be the first; she was going to sneak out of the house and find some help.

Chloe made sure her father was tucked in his bed before she went to the closet and grabbed her mothers' red cloak. As she slipped into it she remembered her mother wearing it when they went to pick flowers and smiled. Chloe felt just a little closer to her with it on. Her mother had been strong and loving and Chloe needed every ounce of that strength to do what she knew she must. Once she had the cloak and hood fit how she wanted it, she snuck out of the house, yet again.

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In the darkness he watched, waited. He had been summoned and it wasn't in his nature to decline a call for help. What he didn't count on was the scent. It was heaven but for a beast such as himself, pure hell. He was not worthy, and the scent was pure, sweet, and easily something he could find himself addicted to. Lost in his reverie he missed the movement at first. Then there it was again wrapped in such a succulent smell and wrapped in a red hooded cape, like a ripe succulent cherry and his beast was feeling very, very hungry.

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Chloe stayed in the shadows quickly making her way to the center of town. She knew the only access to leave the village was to pass the Chancellor's house. She had one more home to go before his. She paused, felt again unseen eyes on her and shook her head to steady herself and began to move forward again. Chloe was nearly past the house when she heard shouting, very angry shouting. She was going to ignore it when she heard the shouting of her father's name. She paused, and moved closer to the open window to listen.

"If you don't tell me what he's up to I will just have to take someone important you." the Chancellor shouted.

Chloe gasped her father was in trouble. She was about to move closer a gloved hand covered her mouth and pulled her into the trees.

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"Be still." the masculine voice purred to Chloe as she fought to free herself from his unbreakable grasp. "Be still." Chloe gasped as the sound rolled over her like nothing she had never felt before and she shivered. Terrified of the sensation she only fought harder and she thought she heard him laugh. She felt herself being pulled further into the darkness. Once she was immersed in darkness the voice spoke again. "Be still. I'm not going to hurt you." He purred again and his grip eased some and Chloe seemed to relax. "Now, that wasn't so hard was it? If I take my hand from your mouth do you promise not to scream?" Chloe paused, smirking inwardly and nodded. He had given her and out, a moment to possibly escape. He removed his hand from her mouth but still held her tight to his body. "Don't you know it's dangerous for little girls to be out alone at night?"

"Who are you?" she spoke tersely, starting to struggle again . "And I'm not a little girl." She spat.

"No?" his voice held an arrogance to it that was starting to really make her angry. "So you're not afraid that a big bad wolf may be lurking in the dark to…devour you?" His voice was low and the timbre seemed to carry into her bones. It resonated in a part of her she wasn't at all familiar with.

"Not scared." Chloe spoke defiantly. And it was true she wasn't afraid. She was feeling something else entirely.

"Really?" The voice spoke amused. "Hmmmm and what a tasty morsel you would make, succulent and sweet." She felt his face draw nearer to her neck his cheek resting against the fabric of the hood.

"Who are you? She whispered.

"Who are you princess sneaking around and eaves dropping on the affairs of men?" Chloe spun around in his arms to come face to cloaked covered chest with a very tall man. Her hood fell back, letting her blond curls cascade down her shoulders. She couldn't see his face but she could feel his amusement.

She scowled up at the man. "I'm a girl trying to save her home. I'm not some delicate flower and that man in there is a monster. He's sentencing our people to die, one sacrifice at a time. I can't let it happen…" she remembered the image of her mother disappearing with the Chancellor into the woods and bowed her head from the grief. "I won't let hit happen, not again. " She then scowled up at the hood covered face again. "I need...we need help" she whispered.

"Really you say he's a monster? Have you ever seen a monster?" Chloe simultaneously gasped and blushed. He reached to her with a gloved hand and held her gaze to his hood covered one and she felt as if he were staring into her very soul. "And no you aren't a delicate flower are you?" he purred softly.

"And how did you get into the village?" She asked straightening her back in defiance. "Strangers aren't welcome."

He let go of her face and crossed his arms over his chest. "They are if they're not detected." Chloe could hear the arrogance in his voice.

"Really?"

"Yes princess really." He snarked then his posture stiffened. He seemed to raise his head, "You must go…. now," he growled and to Chloe it really sounded like a growl.

"What?" she spoke as he started to pull away from her.

"Go...now..." he repeated with urgency.

"No I need..." she protested.

"To go now." He spoke and pulled her hood back over her head.

"I don't understand?" she was flustered, scared, and wanted to ask a million questions.

"And I don't have time to tell you," His voice was even more gravelly then before.

"I...," Chloe was flustered and he just nudged her to start moving away from him.

"I don't understand?" she spoke again but there was no reply. She looked up and he was gone. Chloe gasped and ran back to her home quickly. Behind her she heard shouting, "Who's out there, what do you want?"

Chloe was shaking when she entered her home. She rested her back against the door and sighed sure that she was saved from getting caught by the Chancellor and not certain how or by whom. She slowly made her way to her bedroom, her legs felt shaky. When she was safe in her room pulled off the hood and blew errant hair from her face. She shook her head and flopped onto her bed and sighed. She could hear his voice repeating in her head and it still did the strangest things to her. She sighed and yawned to overwhelmed to get up and dress for sleeping, she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep, her heart aching over her failure.

Chloe awoke the next morning flustered and afraid. The Chancellor knew her father was conspiring against him and she knew he was marked man. She got up prepared for the day, putting the red cloak in a safe place, and then made her way into the kitchen. She was greeted by the Chancellor and her father drinking coffee.

"Good morning Chloe." The Chancellor purred.

"Chancellor Luthor."

"Please amongst friends you may call me Chancellor Lex." he smirked.

"I'd rather not."

"Chloe." Her father cautioned.

"It's alright Gabriel. Even the strongest willed fillies need to be broken. She is no different."

"What?" Chloe glowered at him.

"I was talking to your father about taking your hand in marriage," he spoke staring at her in a way that made her feel utterly naked and exposed.

"And I was done listening," Gabe spoke "Good day Chancellor."

The man was pissed at being dismissed and slammed the rest of his drink down. He stood and left huffily without saying a word.

"Really?Him?"

"No princess not him, he's a pig."

"Daddy be careful. He's dangerous."

"I know sweet heart but there is help on the way… I hope."

"What?"

Gabe was silent for a moment than shook his head coming back into the moment. "I've tried to protect you but you need to know encase anything happens to me,"

"Daddy,"

"I'm making waves and the Chancellors presence here today confirms he knows. I'm a marked man."

"No!"

"And the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." He smiled directing her to sit across from him.

"But..."

"Listen another sacrifice is to be made soon. I have a feeling it might be me. I sent word through one of my contacts for help, a mercenary. If he can help he will come. If nothing else he can get word to Kalaha to send us help."

"But they abandoned us."

"Your mother had family there; she would not have been forgotten. Our village is dying if we do nothing then all is lost."

"Daddy." Chloe whispered,

"And I would never trade you off to a man to be wed. I loved your mother. I want the same joy for you." He smiled. She stood and moved to hug him. "If something happens to me...promise to marry to have babies, but do it for love. And no matter what, promise to keep fighting."

"I will daddy; oh I promise I will," she spoke crying into his shoulder.

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He had managed to get her away from the house before the Chancellor came out. The man was a beast in human clothes. There was an evil stench around that man and he wanted him nowhere near his little red riding hood. He knew he shouldn't be attached, to be so protective. But seeing her beauty and being so close to her succulent smell all but doomed him.

He would help the village if not for purely selfish reasons. Selfishness was something he was used to, it was what damned him to a life of solitude. Lost in his reverie, he watched and he waited and in some part of his mind dreamed of a future that could never be.

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Chloe and her dad tried to stay close to a routine fearing his prediction of the sacrifice would come to be. She became resolute to always wear her mom's cloak in honor and defiance.

The day of the Sacrifice, it was proclaimed the Gabriel Sullivan village butcher would be taken to the forest and given to the beast that roamed to keep it from the village. The Chancellor being the only surviving victim and the only one who had ever seen it was the one who would take the sacrifice into the woods. To keep Gabriel compliant, Chloe was taken into custody and put into a slatted wooden cell next to the sacrificial stand where the Chancellor gave his lecture every time each villager was taken away.

She sat in the darkest corner of the cell so very afraid for her family and her future.

"You really can't stay out of trouble can you?" The voice spoke to her from behind and chills ran a course down her body.

"You're here?" She exclaimed surprised and hopeful.

"I am but I can't stay."

"But my father?" She cried.

"Shhhhh, easy princess. I will do what I can... But I can't work miracles."

"Please….don't let him die." She spoke through her now falling tears.

"Don't cry." He spoke as his irrational attachment to the girl grew and he wanted to hold her in his arms and comfort her.

"But..."

"I will do my best but you really shouldn't put a lot of faith in me." His tone was full of sadness.

"Then why are you here?" She asked angrily.

"Because I'm a mercenary, it's what I do." He tried to sound cold. "Mercy comes in many forms princess." He growled. "But for me it always comes at a price."

"Then why?"

He laughed shaking his head. "I've been asking myself that very thing for years"

"And?"

"Has anyone told you that you ask too many questions?" he purred.

Chloe felt so confused by their conversation. She sighed trying to get back to the problem at hand. "Please, help my father?"

"When is the sacrifice?"

"He is turned out into the woods just before the moon is full."

Her hero cursed brilliantly and that made Chloe blush. "What?" she turned to face his shadow resting her hands on the wood.

She heard his heavy sigh and saw the weary droop to his shoulders. "Someone's coming...I must go..."

"But..." A guard came and opened the door. Chloe had glanced at him then back to her mysterious savior but he was gone. The guard led her out of the cell to where the crowd had gathered.

Torches were lit in the courtyard and someone was playing the drum a slow and agonizing beat for the march of the sacrifice.

"Bring Gabriel Sullivan to me." The Chancellor bellowed. Half the crowd cheered, half the crowd booed. Gabriel was brought forward, his hands in shackles.

"Gabriel you are hereby charged with treason. I have it on good authority that you have been conspiring against me. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Your punishment?" he spoke working the crowed. "Is to be the sacrifice for the beast!" There were loud cheers from the crowd. The Chancellor turned to Gabe and whispered in his ear. "Know that after you're gone your daughter will be mine." The crowd was noisy and Chloe couldn't be sure what the Chancellor was telling her father until he turned to face her and leered at her.

"No! Never!" Chloe shouted struggling against the man that held her in place.

"The moon is high and soon to be at its peak. It's time for me to take him to the woods," the Chancellor grinned and escorted the butcher out of the village to cheers and boos.

"Daddy, no!" Chloe tried to follow but was held back. "Nooooooooooooo!" she screamed as she watched them leave the village.

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The Chancellor took Gabe deep into the forest past the village. "This is a rare treat indeed," he hissed as he tossed Gabe aside unceremoniously. "I got to hear your wife's screams and now I get to hear yours."

"What?"

"How is it that you think I came to the village? I own the village and they all fear a monster...me". He smirked. He took off his jacket and shirt and as the rays of the moon hit where they were and Gabe watched in horror as the Chancellor began to change. He grew into a large and very angry beast with long teeth, sharp claws and red glowing eyes. Gabe stood trembling in fear... "Run"... The beast growled.

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Chloe relaxed for a minute seemingly compliant until the guard let go and she broke free and ran into the woods. She heard an unholy sound and ran towards it.

"Nooooooooo!" Gabe yelled "God noooooooo!"

Chloe was out of breath and utterly lost, but she heard the shouting and carried on. "Daddy?" she yelled. "Daddy?"

The beast stopped its mutilation of the butcher and turned his head to the sound and Gabe saw it smirk. It raised its nose to the sky and sniffed. "Deliscioussss," it hissed.

"Noooo!" Gabe shouted weakly.

Chloe thought she was getting closer when something dark and furry ran in front of her tripping her causing her to fall landing on her hands and knees in an inglorious heap. She looked up into the face of a very large snarling wolf and screamed. The wolf growled and snapped its teeth at her. Then suddenly it turned its head at some unheard sound, its hackles went up and it appeared to get larger. Chloe gasped when a shadow covered them both.

"Well, well, well," the beast growled. Chloe just screamed louder and the wolf just launched himself up at the beast who flung it off like a rag doll. It slammed into a tree, landing on the ground, unconscious. Chloe was torn; run to check on the wolf or just run. Common sense prevailed and she turned and ran. The beast was now in the hunt and howled as it started sprinting after its prey. Chloe didn't get very far as she tripped over a fallen tree branch that entangled in her skirts and the cloak.

"Leave ...her… alone!" A weak voice spoke. Chloe rolled onto her back to see her father pale and bleeding holding up a branch as weapon.

"Daddy no!"

The beast turned and charged and the weakened man. The wolf sprung to life and charged after the beast. "Run baby run, I love you," her father shouted as the monster seemed to devour him.

Screams could be heard as Chloe scrambled to her feet tears streaking down her face and she ran into the darkness. It felt like she had been running blindly for hours, her legs were weak and she tripped on some large rocks at a stream bed and landed in the water. She scrambled to her feet and tried to run further but she couldn't and collapsed near a large willow and passed out.

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The beast and the wolf fought until the beast knocked the wolf out again. When he came to, the beast was gone and lying in the leaves was the devastated body of the red hooded princess' father. The wolf moved closer to the body and sniffed. He was still alive but only by a whisper.

Gabe was deathly pale and looked up at the wolf. He whispered. "Woods...man…only hope." The wolf only blinked at him. "Save her...protect her...help."

The wolf had only one chance to save the man and hoped someday he could get some sort of an absolution for his sins. He bared his teeth and bit Gabriel on the shoulder and hoped it wasn't too late. Once he was sure that at least enough saliva ebbed into the wound he then dragged the man deeper into the woods where he couldn't be found. The wolf returned to the sight of the sacrifice and began to hide all traces of the battle. He turned, sniffed the air, and ran after the red hooded princess.

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It was very nearly sunrise, and Chloe woke feeling cold, so very cold. She felt as if the cold had seeped all the way into her bones. She was shivering and trapped in the nightmare of last night. She saw the beast and its hallow stare as it lunged for her. She screamed and thrashed punched and kicked. "Nono, get off!"

"Easy princess, easy". Chloe opened her eyes to see the cloaked man hovering over her. She stopped, her breath coming in ragged pants. She blinked several times then lunged into the arms of the man, not caring who he was or why he was there. He was solid and warm and on his shoulder she cried as she lost another parent to the beast.

He was stunned at her grip on his neck and lost at the weight of her in his arms. She was light and he was nothing but darkness and utterly unworthy to be holding such a precious treasure. His arms reflexively wrapped around her and he held her until her sobs subsided and her breathing evened out, she had fallen asleep. He gently lay her down and pulled off his cloak to keep her warm and set out to gather wood for a fire and hunt for food to eat.

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Chloe slowly drifted to wakefulness feeling warmth all around her even on her face. She wasn't sure where she was and opened her eyes to see a chiseled and scarred back facing her. She admired the flesh and even with the scars, and there were many, he was perfection.

He was stretching trying to work the soreness from his muscles. "I know you're awake and it's not polite to stare," He teased. Chloe blushed.

"Who?" She sat up and realized she was covered in his cloak. "You?" She whispered stepping from the mass of cloth.

He turned his head to look over his shoulder and Chloe gasped. She was looking into the face of an angel, rugged, dimpled chin and eyes that were warm and filled with sorrow. His hair was blond and spiky and it just added to his raw masculinity.

"Me." He smiled and nodded. "You hungry?" He spoke looking away from her. Her stomach rumbled. She stood and moved to sit next to the fire as far from him as she could.

"How did you find me?" She asked. He sighed and pulled his tunic back on. He then handed her some meat on a spit.

Chloe just watched him her eyes alight with curiosity of him and what he was offering her to eat. "Hen." He smiled bashfully. "And I'm a good tracker."

"Do...you have a name?"

"Do you?"

"Chloe."

"I'm called Woodsman."

"That's not a name."

"It's the only one I have to give," he shrugged and frowned. Chloe found that that expression didn't seem to fit this stranger. He was so handsome and enchanting. He shifted uncomfortably under her watchful eye. "You have a habit of staring?"

"Sorry," she paused. "Is my father?"

"Don't know. There wasn't a body at the spot of the sacrifice. There were drag marks as if he had been carried away by something. "

Chloe gasped and she shook her head as her tears began to fall. She tried to be brave but she was heartbroken. He frowned and moved closer to her. His presence was overwhelming. She gasped when he reached to wipe a tear from her cheek. His strong calloused hands were so gentle as if afraid she would shatter under his touch. "Then I need to get to Kalaha." She spoke turning her head to meet his gaze. "I need to get help for our people to survive."

Her determination was evident and it bothered him. An agitation that was far from rational. "You... alone in the woods?" he chuckled and shook his head moving away from her.

The tone in his voice only served to piss her off. "Who are you to judge me; it was the last thing I promised my father." She stood defiantly, crossing her arms over her chest.

He smirked but saw her unwavering glare and decided on taking the high road. He stood and raised his hands up in surrender, "I meant no disrespect princess but these woods are dangerous. There are beasts and….." He didn't get too finish as he watched her determination melt away and what was left was a sadness that nearly brought him to his knees. "I apologize." He whispered and pulled her into his chest and held her as she cried. He was lost, in his life he had not recalled ever being held and soothed. Yet here he was holding this delicate princess in his arms wanting desperately to ease her heart ache. Sighing, he scooped her up and carried her back to the spot she had fallen asleep and sat down. He covered them in their cloaks and held her whispering to her in a language he hadn't uttered in years to sooth her; just holding her until she cried herself back to sleep

Once he was certain she was fast asleep he slid her off of his lap and tucked her tightly with her cloak and with his. He moved back to the fire and sat and stared at the dancing flames, losing himself to a memory.

"But momma," the boy pleaded.

"You are an abomination a curse from the devil. You are damned and damnation will follow you!" the woman shouted at the 8 year old boy. He stood before her crying. His nose had shifted and he had grown fangs.

The Woodsman slid his knife from his boot and put the blade to the fire.

"Devil take you,boy." His father hissed. "Your curse will be the death of us all."

"I promise not to hurt anyone daddy." The boy pleaded. "I promise to hurt if they hurt…an eye for an eye." He spoke the words his parents had taught them.

"It will never be enough, no go…get out…you aren't welcome here." He hissed.

He shook his head, remembering the promises he made to his father. One was never to return the last to hurt himself if he hurt someone else. He turned that to marking his skin in remembrance of the ones he had damned. He shook his head and sighed. He had made so many mistakes in life, the one that cost him his family was one that he fought to over come and that was simply just being born. He watched his blade turn white hot and raised the sleeve over his left arm and took the blade to it, creating a hash mark on his skin. He hissed in exquisite agony. The mark sat next to the other four scars that were next to the canine teeth and claw tattoo. He was up to five scars; he sighed and shook his head in disappointment. The physical pain was fleeting but his guilt? That was ever lasting.

He looked back at Chloe and just stared at her. She was angelic in sleep; her angel to his demon. He sighed as he turned back to the fire, shaking his head. She was also hope. He learned long ago that hope was a trap and he wouldn't get snared in it again.

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"Princess." He purred. Chloe was lost in a dreamless sleep but the voice, that voice was beckoning her. "Come on Chloe wake up." She opened an eye to see him staring at her. She yawned and stretched.

"What?"

"We need to get moving if you truly want to get to Kalaha." He spoke.

"What time?"

"Late afternoon, but I want to get you far from here before the moon is full."

"Why?" she sat up and yawned again. He stood and held a hand to her to help her up. She stared at it trying to measure the level of danger of more physical contact with the nameless stranger. She then took it and he pulled her up and into his body.

"Because Princess wicked things happen in the dark." He smirked as he reached past her to grab his cloak and their bodies touched intimately for the briefest of moments. He then turned quickly to extinguish the fire. When he was sure it was out he nodded his head in the direction he wanted her to go. Taking the hint they began the trek to Kalaha. After an hour the silence between them was deafening to Chloe, he could sense her mental unrest. "Better to just say or ask whatever is on your mind before it tears you apart." He spoke smiling down at her.

Chloe blushed. "I didn't realize I was thinking that loud."

"I'm just really good at reading people."

"Before…." She struggled to even say the words. "The sacrifice, my father said he sent for a mercenary."

"And I answered his call." He spoke solemnly.

"How? Why?"

He smirked at her. "Trade secrets." He then got quite. "I've seen injustice in the world and when I know I can help, it would be irresponsible of me not too."

"So you help a lot?"

"I've been helping since I was a boy." He spoke plainly.

"And you have no other name beyond 'Woodsman'?" she asked her tone dripping with snark.

"Princess, something as simple as a name can hold great power. I have not uttered mine in so long it hardly seems real. I do answer to Woodsman." He spoke solemnly.

"I'm sorry I had no idea."

"It's alright, I'm not insulted." He smiled at her. She sighed; the smile suited him far better than a frown she realized.

"How far is it to Kalaha?" she asked.

"About 3 days on foot." He spoke. They came across a large fallen tree. He climbed over it with ease, then from the other side he reached over and easily lifted her over it. She gasped for the hidden strength in his arms and the closeness of his body.

"Thanks." she spoke shyly.

"You are welcome princess." He spoke softly staring down at her. She looked up into his face, biting her lower lip. All he could do was stare at the lower lip and he wanted nothing more than to suck on it, nibble, and taste the sweetness of the ripe fruit in his arms. He shook his head coming back to his senses. "We need to keep going. I want to get you to my friend Celine's camp before night fall."

"Why?"

"Because I need to leave you there." He spoke flatly as he let go of her and turned and started walking away.

"But why?" she asked again like a petulant child.

"Really has no one ever told you that you talk too much?" He quipped over his shoulder. Chloe blushed and ran after him.

"Once and then they answered my questions and I stopped talking." She teased. He only shook his head and laughed.

"Why does that not surprise me?" He teased.

"So is Celine..." she was baiting him.

"A friend." He spoke quietly.

"Ohh." Chloe spoke and was silent.

He shook his head knowing the peace and quiet wasn't going to last long. "She took me in and took care of me once." He spoke.

"Ohh." Chloe was surprised by his sharing.

"What no questions?"

"Are you kidding? I have a million, but I get it that you are the strong silent type, maybe someday you will trust me to tell me more."

He looked at her and shook his head. "Don't count on it princess. I'm sorry but I trust very little and very few." He spoke.

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The home they came upon was more like a shack and it appeared to be in desperate need of repair. There was a rocking chair on the front porch. They stopped a hundred yards from the front porch; the Woodsman put his fingers in his mouth and whistled.

An old woman came scurrying from the home with a bright smile on her face. "You came back?" she spoke. He moved toward her smiling and was immediately wrapped in a friends embrace.

"I promised I would." He pulled back and turned to face Chloe.

The woman turned her gaze to where his was. "And I see you brought a guest?" she spoke cheerily.

"A client." He spoke. "I'm taking her to Kalaha; she just needs to stay here over night." He spoke cryptically. Chloe had no reason to be hurt by what he said but it stung none the less. She moved closer to his friend and tried to smile.

"Well client or not, she's beautiful." The lady spoke. "And I will be happy to take care of her for you." She turned to Chloe. "I'm Celine. I would wait for this cad to introduce us, but sometimes I think he was raised by wolves the way his manners come and go." She teased.

"Very nice to meet you." Chloe spoke. "I can't say anything about his manners since he's helping me." She smiled.

"Well you should go and do whatever it is you must, she will be safe with me tonight." Celine spoke looking up at the face of her friend.

"Thank you. I will be back first thing in the morning." He turned to Chloe. "You think you could try and stay out of trouble for one night. Stay in the house, this part of the forest isn't safe for you to be out in at night." he spoke and put a hand on her cheek and stared into her the depths of her green eyes. Chloe didn't respond. "Promise?" Chloe could only nod because her ability to speak had left her. He seemed to relax then turned to Celine. "Thank you." He spoke and turned and walked away.

"Wow." The lady spoke approaching Chloe.

"What?" she asked.

"Well for as long as I've known him, he's been a man of very few words; I think he may really like you." She spoke. "Now come on, I've got a meal cooking, and he's right, we don't want to be outside after dark."

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His clothes were piled neatly under a tree. He stood naked, waiting for the moons' kiss.

"You know you're not allowed here?" a voice spoke from behind him. He turned to face a face he hadn't seen in what felt like a life time.

"I'm not here to hunt or to bother, only to pass the night…..brother."

"I'm supposed to tell him if I see you." The stranger spoke.

"Go ahead; tell him, I don't care. I haven't since the day he cast me out as an abomination; as one of the damned."

"Oliver." The man spoke in sadness and regret.

"Don't use that name! I haven't in years. I am him no longer. He's a ghost, a memory." He cursed.

"I have always been your brother. I have never been afraid of you." He spoke.

"Well isn't that sweet. Where were you when I was fighting to survive? Warm and cozy in your bed no doubt."

"What he did was wrong there is no doubt in that. Oliver he's dying. And mother…."

"Stop Clark, just stop." He spoke starting to feel the pull of the moon. "I was a little boy. I had no one! I slept in the most horrific places and did some awful things to survive. I swore then and there I would never let the weak go as undefended as I was. Tell mother I'm dead for all it matters, I might as well b…." He choked as the change began. He turned from his brother not in shame but in rage as he couldn't finish the discussion as his beast was pulled from beneath the surface of his skin and into reality.

It always started in the mouth, teeth elongating canines first. His ears were next, human skin being pulled up in an unnatural direction then it seemed to happen in an exquisite symphony of pain. From nose to jaw then arms, shoulders, hands. Then back, legs, feet and then the tail. His body temperature sky rocketed until he was covered with the thick and familiar pelt. He howled to the moon, stretched and ran, for the pain of the transformation and the loneliness of his life.

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Chloe sat at the table eating the stew when she heard it and gasped at the sound of a lone wolf howling. It was haunting and seemed very sad. The old woman watched her reaction and smirked to herself.

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Chloe couldn't fall asleep. She was tormented by dreams of a strong and scarred chest. She then would dream of tracing each and every mark on the tawny flesh with her tongue and when she tried to get that image out of her head it was replaced by him kissing her deeply and greedily. She tossed and turned and finally fell into a dreamless sleep.

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Morning came and she was awoken by a finger moving hair from her face. She opened her eyes to see him staring at her. The expression on his face was grim.

"Everything ok?" she asked.

He only shrugged. "Sorry princess but we need to get moving if we are going to the cliffs de le mort by night fall." He frowned.

She sat up and stretched. "No, it's alright I want to get to Kalaha as quickly as possible." She spoke climbing out of bed.

"Celine packed you a basket." He spoke holding it for her.

"It's yours to share only if you want to." The woman spoke sleepily.

"Thank you." Chloe spoke and took the basket from the Woodsman and then turned to the old woman and hugged her.

"Have faith, little one." She spoke. "And remember to follow your heart, it won't ever steer you wrong." She spoke and Chloe nodded. She moved to gather her cloak but the Woodsman was already holding it for her to step into. Chloe tried to fight the blush but it was impossible. He put a hand on the small of her back and led her from the home and to the woods and on toward Kalaha.

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Chloe couldn't help but feel her traveling companion was so much less friendly then he was the day before; he seemed on edge and prickly.

"Whatever made you angry really isn't my fault." She blurted. They had been walking for hours and she had enough of his terse silence.

"Really and you are an expert on my moods now?" he growled walking ahead of her increasing his pace.

Chloe stopped. "Don't be such a beast." She spoke and he stopped cold in his tracks.

"What did you just say to me?" he turned slowly and the look on his face was positively feral.

"I believe you heard me." She spoke. "But in case you happened to have just dropped all of your good sense I shall annunciate….DON'T BE SUCH A BEAST!" she stood tall; scared she may have just awakened a beast.

"I'm a beast hmm?" he spoke slowly stalking toward her. "Do you see sharp teeth? Claws?" he purred. Chloe shook her head. "Do I have a tail?" Again Chloe shook her head. "What about a man who wants nothing more than to taste every inch of you slowly and repeatedly." Chloe was beat red. "To touch you in places you haven't been touched before to hear you cry in pleasure. Do you see him standing before you?" Chloe was frozen, unsure how to respond unsure she even should. "I want you so bad it borders insanity. I don't understand it," he spoke shaking his head. "I don't even know you but I want to so much I can't even catch my breath. You tempt me like the forbidden fruit," he stood before her. "I pretend that I am noble and honorable but the things I want to do with you and too you are not in the least honorable or noble..." He leaned to whisper in her ear. "So you can walk with me in silence, or you can continue your endless chatter. But don't you ever call me a beast, because darling you may live to regret ever saying that." He spoke reaching to touch her face with his index finger but pulled back.

Chloe was furious and aroused. How dare he talk to her like that? She was so confused about what her body was telling her to do. Her brain and her mouth were immediately not on speaking terms and it was obvious with what she did next. She glared at him as she very carefully put the basket down.

"Should have known." She spoke crossing her arms under her breasts. "With that temper and those manners….." she paused and he dared her not to say what he knew was coming from her lips in the next breath. "But what does one expect….. from a beast." She spoke. Chloe turned from him an instant before he pounced and he was behind her with his hands on her hips before she could think of running. His lips were on her ear lobe nibbling, licking, and sucking with sweet sighs in between.

He growled, the feel of it reverberating down her spine. "You provoked me princess." He spoke as he began to nibble down her neck. "And there is no going back." He purred. "You can decide what I am; beast or man." He whispered. His hands reached to her cloak and began to draw it off of her shoulders. Chloe's head was swimming. She was on sensation overload and couldn't breathe. She rested her hands on his as they were removing her cloak.

"Please." She gasped. "I can't…I'm scared." And he froze instantly. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against her shoulder.

"Oh God I…." he spoke and tried to pull away from her. She held on for dear life.

"NO…please, don't run…don't leave me." She whispered and spun to face him. She cupped his face in her hands. "Please." she shook her head. "You are like this….." she spoke lacking the words. "And you came into my life at a full run. My body says you should do everything you said, and that confuses me. I've never felt anything like that before. My head says danger, danger and my heart….." she smiled. "Wants to just go along for the ride." He closed his eyes and sighed and leaned again resting his forehead against hers.

"And you were right, I am a beast. I came at you like a beast." He whispered and she could hear shame in his voice. She shook her head and moved ever so slightly that her lips touched his. It was meant to be just a promise, a reassurance. His hands left her shoulders and went to cup her face and he let her lead until he needed to take over and deepened the kiss.

Chloe was certain she was drowning but had sworn she was standing on dry land. His mouth was every bit as sinful as his body and she wanted him. She moaned into the kiss and he groaned and pulled back, again resting his forehead against hers.

"Princess." He whispered. "I am sorry for being cranky. I'm even sorrier for scaring you."

"Then let's maybe try to get to know each other, be friends, then maybe….."

"Maybe?" he asked curious.

"You can show me how to be the kind of woman you want." She spoke softly.

He shook his head and kissed her again, softly reverently. "No Princess, maybe you can show me the kind of woman you are and that maybe I deserve." He smirked. He pulled back and fixed her cloak. He bent down and picked up the basket and then held his free hand to her. She took it and he curled his hand around it and squeezed. "Come on then, we have a lot of ground to cover."

"I think no truer words have ever been spoken." She spoke softly. He looked over at her and smiled.

The rest of the day was spent companionably. He was smart, funny and shared with her an unreal knowledge of the natural world. He had stories and insight that just amazed her.

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He couldn't believe what a treasure she was. She was smart, funny and passionate, about everything. He was in awe of simply just her. She listened to him ramble and asked questions challenging his knowledge, to think bigger. And the feel of her hand in his was miraculous. It had seemed like another lifetime ago when he felt the kindness of human contact, especially from a woman.

He thought back to his mother or the woman that took him in, the little lost child from the woods. She had hugged him, rocked him, loved him until the day he became one of the damned and was tossed aside by them all. He shivered from the memory.

"Hey…you alright?" she asked.

"Sorry," he smiled as he led her through a thick bramble of trees. They came to a small clearing in a bed of wild flowers.

"Amazing." Chloe spoke.

"This is a good a place as any to stop for lunch." He spoke. He pulled off his cloak and spread it out like a blanket. "Look, I know that Celine gave you the basket. I can go and hunt for my food."

"Don't be ridiculous. I can share." She smiled and sat down on his cloak. He joined her and watched as she opened the basket. There were flasks of water and some game meat wrapped in parched paper. She opened the meat and set it on the cloak in between them. "Go ahead and eat." She smiled brightly and he dug in.

"How much farther to the cliffs?" she asked.

"We should be there before night fall; we can set up camp and cross tomorrow."

"C-c-cross?"

"Yes, cross, there is a rope bridge we will have to take," he shrugged.

"B-b-b-b-ridge?" she asked.

"What…are you afraid?" he teased surprised that the tiny dynamo would be scared of much.

"Me noooo, don't be silly." She protested.

"Princess, I will be with you the entire time, I won't let anything happen to you." He spoke softly.

"I…." she stammered. He reached and touched her face.

"We aren't there yet and won't be taking it on until the morning. Don't panic before its necessary."

"Oh that was reassuring." She smiled.

"Sorry, still working on my social grace." He teased and Chloe just laughed.

They finished lunch and packed up the basket and walked hand in hand on ward toward the cliffs.

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The sun was setting when they arrived and he worked quickly to set up camp, including the fire. Chloe looked over at the cliffs and the towering waterfall. "Where is the rope bridge?" she asked over her shoulder at her guardian. He stood from the fire and went to look.

"Well huh, what do you know?" he spoke. He looked around and the saw what was left anchored to the rocks. "Apparently it's now a rope swing from here to there."

"What?" Chloe spoke and leaned forward more and the Woodsman reached for the back of her cloak and held on.

"Easy there princess." He spoke and pulled her back.

"But it's so far." She whispered. He guided her to the fire.

"It may look like a great distance from here, but I promise when we take this on tomorrow it will be easy." He smiled. Chloe just looked up at him and shook her head in doubt. They sat and had a good dinner and then he made her a bed with his cloak.

"But won't you be cold?" she asked.

"I really don't get cold." He spoke. He was about to say something else when his head snapped over his shoulder and he turned to face something. He moved slowly and backwards to Chloe. "Not a sound, not a peep." He told her as he reached toward her and pulled her into the cradle of his body. He held her close as two large dogs came into view of the camp.

"Dogs," she barely whispered.

"Wolves." he replied. Chloe could feel his muscles tense. The creatures moved to the edge of their camp and stared at them. "Don't break their gaze, it's a sign of weakness and you…we are not weak." He spoke slightly loud. The larger of the two wolves made a step toward them and the Woodsman moved to a stand, as he put her subtly behind him.

"What are you doing?" Chloe asked.

"Shhhhh." He spoke as he stared and cocked his head at the beasts. "Sometimes I can communicate with animals."

"I…is this one of those times?" she stammered.

"Absolutely and you if can be silent for just a moment more, they will leave us alone."

Chloe snapped her mouth shut and just watched him, the lines of his face, his eyes his entire demeanor all changed to something she had never seen before. It was eerie. She gasped when the pair of wolves left as quickly as they came. She just looked up at him in awe.

"Nothing to it." He spoke sitting back down. Chloe just stared.

"Again with the staring?"

"Well you just performed a miracle."

"No Princess, I'm not a miracle worker. I'm just a man with a hidden talent."

She shivered. "Well, I hate to admit that I'm scared. But I'm scared." She spoke staring into the fire.

"How about this, I will hold you, and stay awake in case any other forest creatures try to come to camp while you sleep."

"But don't you need sleep?"

"Not really, and if I fall asleep I sleep light, I will hear if there's trouble." Chloe nodded. He moved and lay down by the fire. He patted the ground next to him and Chloe moved to lie in the cradle of his body. And since the night her father died, she slept in peace.

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The man in the pile of leaves began to stir. He was disoriented, sore and hungry. Oh he was so hungry. He shook his head to shake free the cob webs and one word popped into his head—Chloe.

His heart ached, his daughter, his little angel, was being chased by the Chancellor. Was she alive, did she survive? Did the mercenary find her? Then it dawned on him he should be dead. He reached for his chest and his belly and they were pristine, no gashes from the beast. The Chancellor was the beast. It was all coming back to him at once and he gasped. He remembered the attack and the sheer agony he went through. He was hit with another dose of pain and passed out.

He tried to move but he was still pretty sore. "I don't think you're ready to move yet." A voice spoke. Gabriel looked up to see a brunette man in tunic and pants and boots leaning against a tree. "The names Clark, you've met my brother, he was the one who saved your life."

"What?" Gabriel spoke.

The man frowned at Gabe. He then reached for a satchel he had slung over his shoulder, removed it and tossed it to the man. "Here are some clothes." Gabe took it.

"Why are you here?" he asked Clark.

"Because my brother has spent his life thinking he was a monster, that he was damned. I know he's not, but he doesn't believe me…I failed him."

"So?"

"He's going to need help, but not sure he's ready to accept it."

"And?"

"In helping you, I help him and maybe just maybe he will forgive and accept me." He spoke. "Now get dressed, we have a lot to talk about." He spoke and turned his back while Gabe got dressed.

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Chloe woke the next morning with lips peppering her face with kisses. "MMMM," she moaned.

"Good morning." He purred as he nibbled at her neck.

"It is." she smiled.

"When I very first saw you in your red cloak, I thought you were a ripe succulent cherry. I must say you definitely taste as sweet as you look." He grinned.

"And you are a charmer." She spoke kissing his lips.

"Did you sleep well?"

"I slept good." She spoke and he frowned. "What?"

"You want to talk about your nightmare?" he asked. Chloe sat up and shook her head.

"Chloe you just lost your dad in a very traumatic way, it's ok to have nightmares."

"But I …"

"You're human." He spoke factually. No one could ever argue that point with him. Just ask his family.

"I don't want to think, 'cause when I do I miss him. I need to remember why I'm doing this. To keep the promise I made."

"But Princess, you are also a daughter, one who was well loved. He was ripped from you. You are most certainly with in your right to grieve. Don't bury it; trust me on this; from experience it doesn't work." He spoke looking at her with tenderness and grief.

Tears were sliding down her cheeks. "What…." She couldn't ask.

He closed his eyes and sighed the next step he was taking he had never ever taken before and it terrified him. "When I was 8 years old, my father found out I was different. An abomination and he evicted me from my family, from my home. I was forced to go and live on my own,"

Chloe gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh god."

"I was adopted by them when I was a toddler. I was found in the woods." He spoke still amazed he was telling this story. "And when I became…I cried every night. I was so scared and alone." He whispered. Chloe moved from the position she was in to straddle his lap. She stared in his eyes and kissed him for all she was worth. "I'm sorry for YOUR loss," she whispered.

"And Princess, I am so sorry for yours." He spoke and cupped her cheek. She rested her head on his shoulder. "We make quite a pair you and I." she sniffed. He cupped her face in his hands and sighed.

"I think no truer words have ever been spoken." He smiled. Chloe laughed. He then got quiet, eerily quiet. "I have been on my own longer then I can remember not being. I may not have manners or even a great temper. I may not even be easy to talk to….."

"Hey,"

"But I will never ever hurt you. On what little honor I have I promise you that." He whispered.

"And someday I hope you will see that you are so much more than you think you are." She smile kissed his cheek and just held him, needing to feel his strength as much as he needed to feel hers.

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"So you are telling me that your brother is a werewolf?" Gabriel asked the dark haired man.

"Yes." He spoke. "Our parents were clan leaders of a small band of nomads that live in the forest. "Woodsman and I were both found alone in the forest and adopted by them."

"That seems improbable."

"I know, especially us being the same age." He shrugged. "Anyway, when my brother turned 8 is when he transformed partially, in front of my mother. People fear what they don't understand and in their ignorance cast him out of the village to fend for himself."

"What?"

"Being only 8 myself, I had no way to fight against it. He saw that as the ultimate betrayal. I swore then and there to find him and protect him. But he disappeared, evaporated. I have run across him rarely over the years, and most recently found him again…heading in the direction of Kalaha."

"So he has my daughter?"

"That I do not know." He spoke. "If he did, she is safe, he truly is honorable."

"And he bit me?" Gabe asked.

"Yes, the curse is real and to save you he has given you his curse, his perceived burden."

"What does that mean?"

"I have been tracking him for a long time, again never crossing his path. He has from what I have gathered, bitten five. You being the fifth." He sighed. "He believes himself to be damned and with each bite, the damnation pulls him further from the hope of redemption."

"But I'm alive and so grateful." Gabe spoke shaking his head.

"As are the others." Clark spoke. "He is so angry with me he won't listen. When I saw him last, I tried to tell him that our father is dying. With the hard look at his mortality, he wanted to apologize to him, to try and make amends for his sins."

"What sort of man can do that to his son and expect forgiveness?" he paused. "And why don't you call him by name?"

"One who is afraid of death would expect forgiveness," Clark spoke. "And to him a name holds power. He's refused himself a name since he was outcast. I have used it when I see him because to me he is and always be that. He keeps the word sacred to him, it meant absolute love and absolute betrayal."

Gabe was silent trying to take it all in. "And how am I supposed to help. You said that maybe I can help?"

"You need to get through your first change." Clark spoke. "And then we go to Kalaha. Woodsman is in danger and if he has your daughter she's in danger as well."

"What is going to happen in Kalaha?" Gabe asked.

"There is unrest in the city." He spoke. "I have heard whispers of there being a revolution stirring against the king."

"If there is a revolution there is no help for our town, and the Chancellor wins." Clark nodded.

"When is my first change?" Gabe asked.

"Tomorrow night, I would suggest you eat and rest." He spoke. "I will watch over you to keep you safe, after your first night, we must go." Gabe nodded and yawned suddenly feeling very, very weary.

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The Chancellor paced in his home, fuming. His hunger was unsatisfied and the beauty that was to be his prize for killing the butcher was missing. His second in command only watched, terribly frightened of the man.

"I need her!" he shouted. His eyes changing from human to beastly and back.

"Sir, there was no sign of her or the wolf you mentioned. There was no sign even of the butcher."

The Chancellor stopped and looked at the man coldly. "Unacceptable!" he hissed his teeth forming fangs. The man gasped. "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." He glowered. "You will be in charge until I get back. I will have my prize with me."

"S-s-s-sir. Your eyes." He spoke. The Chancellor hissed and closed his eyes and they returned to normal.

"You tell anyone of what you saw and you will be the next sacrifice do you understand?" the man only blinked. "I have very loyal servants in the village; they will get word to me if anything is said.

"Yes," gulp, "Sir." He spoke shaking.

"Good." He spoke and left the room to go and pack, he would leave. He would finish off the butcher and drag his prize home kicking and screaming if he had too.

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They packed up the camp and he could feel her trepidation. "Princess," he spoke as they walked to where the rope swing was. He set the basket down and pulled her into the warmth of his body. She was shivering. "Don't be afraid." He looked into her green eyes and smiled. "Not only do I have the ability to speak with animals…." He grinned as her gaze seemed to shed the fear and lighten with abject curiosity. "But I am stronger than most. No harm will come to you."

"Promise?" she asked.

"Definitely." He spoke and kissed her nose. He turned from her and took his cloak off and set it aside. He picked up the rope and then turned to face her. "Come here princess." He purred. She smiled and stepped into his personal space. He wrapped the rope around them both and then the rest around his wrist. "Now wrap your arms around my neck." He spoke and she complied. "On the count of 3." He spoke in her ear. She nodded. He backed up several steps. "It might be even better if you wrapped your legs around my waist." Chloe just snorted. "Really." He spoke and nipped at her ear. She let go of his neck, hiked her skirt up to her knees and hopped up. He caught her legs and wrapped them around his waist. She again held onto his neck. He kissed her cheek. "Here we go…" he spoke. "1…..2…..3" he spoke and ran as hard and as fast as he could and launched them over the edge of the cliff with Chloe feeling like her stomach just landed in her throat.

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Woodsman lay on his back with a giggling blond lying across his chest. "Woweeee." She spoke then she raised her head to look at him. "That was…..fun." she smiled.

"Fun?" he grinned up at her.

"Yeah, I mean…" she blushed thinking about how intimately she was holding him.

"Easy princess, I was only teasing." He spoke and sat up which shifted her onto his lap and she gasped.

"Ohh!" she whispered and blushed as she stared into his eyes then her gaze drifted to his lips and she licked her very dry lips. That was all the invitation that he needed as he leaned and kissed her gently. He then pulled back.

"I think you have to be the sweetest thing I have ever tasted." He whispered. He looked at her face, it was flushed and her lips were swollen from his kiss. His inner wolf howled with pride. "Princess if we stay here like this, I may forget myself and our mission. Kalaha is actually just a day and half from here." He spoke looking at the disappointment on her face. "Don't be sad we aren't there yet." He spoke standing and sliding her down his body. "Besides we still need to get through the Whosen forest." He frowned.

"Whosen?"

"Yeah it's an old traveler's nick name, never know Whosen it." He smirked. "Robbers, beggars, thieves and the like, it's not an easy path." Chloe gulped. "We just defied death and survived. You think I would let something hurt you now?" he teased and tapped her nose with his index finger. Not on your life." He took her hand in hers and they started walk toward the ominous forest.

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"Good grief, things are so much clearer now." Gabriel spoke as he and Clark headed toward Kalaha.

"Welcome to the world of the Lupine." Clark spoke and Gabe looked over at him. "No I am not one, but I have done a lot of studying. Along with trying to find my brother, I also wanted to find his family so that they knew what happened to him and for him to stop feeling so alone and damned."

"And did you?"

"No unfortunately. I think I'm more likely to find a leprechaun then of any real evidence that the lupine pack exists."

Gabe was silent. "This is just amazing, like I feel years younger." He spoke. "More alive, more just everything. Too bad changing hurts… a lot." He frowned.

"There is an upside and downside to everything I suppose." Clark spoke.

"Sorry I'm just amazed; I hope my daughter will be ok with this."

"Gabe you are alive and breathing, that will be more than a miracle for her." He spoke and then the two continued on in silence.

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Chloe and the Woodsman walked hand in hand for hours. He couldn't help but feel like they were being watched the deeper they went into the forest. At first it was just the feeling that the forest itself had eyes and the creatures were merely curious at who was entering.

The sun had disappeared by way of the canopy of trees and the underbrush had gotten thicker slowing their progress. Suddenly a shiver slid down the Woodsman's back and he stopped and raised his head and looked around listening.

"You ok?" Chloe asked. He turned his head again and pulled her to stand behind him. Suddenly from the dense trees they were surrounded by wolves. "Uhhhohh." She whispered with a death grip on his hand and arm.

"Shhh," he spoke squeezing her hand. "It will be ok." He tried to reassure her. She looked at him strangely as he concentrated his gaze on the wolf at the head of the group. He sighed and turned to look over his shoulder to look down on her. "We are being taken captive and moved to their camp." He spoke.

"What?" she screeched.

"Just stay close and we will be ok." Chloe nodded not sure if he thought she would try and turn and run which would have been eternally stupid. He pulled her to his side and they walked hand in hand with the pack of wolves circling them guiding them to where they wanted them to go.

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What seemed like forever they were deeper into the forest and inside a camp. There were huts surrounding a central big fire. On the furthest end of the huts there was the tallest hut which appeared to be more ornate then the rest.

"What in the world is going on?" she whispered against his shoulder. He shook his head as they were taken to a hut just off to the right of the big hut. They were guided in by one wolf that left quickly and the door closed behind it. Chloe moved away from her traveling companion to look at their surroundings to seek an exit or a lamp. She found a lamp and turned it on. She looked at the man she had been walking with and he was pale with a damp sheen of sweat on his brow.

"Are you alright?" she asked him. He moved away from her and rested his hands on the wall of the hut.

"I….I'm fine." He spoke his voice was very gravely.

"You're scaring me." She whispered. He turned to face her and sighed. He held his hands out to her and she walked into his embrace.

"You will never have to fear me princess. Whatever happens, don't be afraid. I will NEVER hurt you." He whispered against her temple. She pulled back to look up at him. "I promised a long time ago that I would never utter this word again for it marked my betrayal by those who said they loved me." He frowned and traced the side of her cheek with his index finger. "I told you once that names held power, I give you mine and know you will always hold power over me." He whispered. She just shook her head not understanding. "The only other person to use my name out loud is my brother." He frowned. "I give you my name now…..you can call me Oliver."

Chloe studied his face, "Oliver?" she whispered trying the name out on her tongue. "It suits you." She smiled. He blushed, that was the only color in his face. "Are you sure you're ok?" He nodded and led her to the bed in the room and sat down. "Do you know who they are or what they want?" she asked. He opened his mouth to speak when the door was kicked open and a stone on a chain was tossed into the room. Chloe stood to go and get it.

"Get it away from me!" he shouted. He stood and moved to the furthest side of the hut away from her. She picked it up and held it to her eye level staring past it to look at him.

"What?" she spoke and he turned his back on her. She tossed the amulet on the bed and moved closer to him.

"Please, get it out of here." His voice was soft and husky. She heard the urgency in his voice and she turned to the bed. She grabbed the amulet and went to the door. She looked at it from top to bottom and found a crack at its bottom. She took the amulet and began shoving it under the door until it was out of the hut. She cheered inwardly at her success and then turned to face Oliver.

"Stay there, don't come near me." He pleaded again. He was crouched down with his back toward her.

"What?" she spoke and took a step.

"Please princess, stay away." He spoke. His voice sounded so full of pain. Chloe looked at the man that had been her companion for many days. She shook her head. This was it, the moment in her life that would truly define her as a person. She saw him in agony could hear it in his voice but he wanted to save her from whatever was going on with him. She could do as he asked and forever wonder what she was truly made of or ignore his plea and be there for him.

She had been drawn to him since their first encounter. Like the proverbial moth to the flame. He captured her attention like no other. If she were honest, he swooped in and stole her heart like a champion thief. She had had courage to leave her village to find help, would this take any less courage? It seemed like a lifetime to roll everything in her head but her final decision took only a second. Whatever he was protecting her from, he needed her now more than ever.

Chloe took a deep breath and moved to him slowly, not wanting to frighten him. She wanted to give him time to adjust to what she had intended.

"Please, don't." he begged. Chloe slowly got to within arm's reach when she crouched down to his level. She reached to him slowly and put her hand on his shoulder. "Please." He pleaded again.

"Oliver." She spoke softly. "When I was afraid, you were there for me." She paused. "Whatever it is? I will be here for you."

"I'm a monster Chloe. A beast that's damned. I don't deserve you…you are an angel." He whispered. The pain in his voice was nearly her undoing.

"Oliver." She spoke with firmness hoping to convey strength and hope. "Right now I'm just as scared as you are. Don't you think that together facing things is better than doing it alone?" He shook his head and turned to face her and she gasped. He moved further away from her and sat with his head down on his knees.

"No…no." she spoke. Her heart broke for him. Her hero had had eyes that looked oddly like the wolves that were holding them captive and he had extended and pointed canine teeth. "I wasn't…I'm not afraid. I was just surprised. I was only surprised." She spoke and moved to his side and sat down facing him, the sided of their legs touching. "Please, look at me." She whispered. He only shook his head. She reached and put a hand on his knee. "Please," she begged. "Have a little faith in me?" She could hear him sigh and then very slowly lift his head to face her. She reached and cupped his cheek. "Thank you." She spoke softly. He leaned into her touch. "What was that amulet?"

"Moon stone." He whispered. "Our hosts are trying to draw out my beast."

"This is how you could talk to the wolves on the other side of that canyon?" she asked and he only nodded.

"Why aren't you screaming and running away from me?" he questioned. "I'm one of the damned, not worthy, not deserving."

"Stop it Oliver." She spoke her heart breaking for him. She moved and pushed his legs down and then straddled his lap. "Please don't say that you are a damned. Would a damned man go around the country and help those in need? Would a damned man take the time to escort a scared heart-broken woman to another city?" she spoke. "And would a damned man show compassion or heated passion for a woman he just met?"

He smirked. "I'm damned, not dead. And you are beautiful." He spoke. He closed his eyes trying to fight against his nature.

"Are you in pain?" she asked.

He nodded. "Trying to fight the beast within. It wants out."

"Do you know who the wolves are?" He shook his head. "My guess is that they know or knew the ones we saw earlier."

"Are they human like you?"

"I really don't know." He spoke shaking his head and a shiver went through him. Chloe slid off his lap.

"Come on lets at least lay on the bed."

"No, I need distance from the stone, please." Chloe stood and went to the bed and pulled off the bedding and brought it to where he was and made a make shift pallet. She lay down and he lay down next to her. She then rested her head against his chest.

"What do you think they will do to us?"

"I don't know, but I do need to get you out of here so you can get to Kalaha."

"What about you?"

"I have nothing left in me Princess." He spoke sadly. He raised the sleeve on his left arm and showed her. She reached to trace a finger over his tattoo.

"Are those knife marks?" she asked him. She looked up at him and his eyes were back to normal, he only had the fangs now. He nodded.

"Those are punishment for my sins." He spoke lost in thought.

"Five?"

"Those are for the five I have bitten, the five I have damned." He frowned. Chloe turned on her side to face him.

"No..I'm not buying it." She spoke.

"My bite is infectious." He waited for her fear or anger and when he saw none. "Damnit don't you know that you should be afraid of me?"

"When you give me a reason, I just might." She fought back. "Were the ones that you bit in trouble?" she asked. He looked away. She wrapped her arm around his chest and buried her face in his neck, hoping he would feel her faith in him. "Then if your bite saved a life, that makes you a hero not damned." He turned his head and looked down at her a look of wonder on his face. He turned on his side to face her. He looked at her with a complete look of wonder. "What?" she asked nervous about his gaze.

"I'm just simply amazed by you." He whispered and leaned and kissed her forehead. "Thank you." He smiled. She leaned and kissed his lips gently. He smiled, relieved his fangs retracted. She yawned. "Rest Chloe," he spoke. "I'll keep watch." She turned her back to him, snuggled into the cradle of his body, yawned again and the drifted off to sleep.

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Chloe slept and dreamed. She dreamed of being in a dark forest and being escorted by a tall wolf, her protector. She dreamed she was being chased by a monster and only getting to Kalaha would be their salvation. She felt warm, so warm and she couldn't remember if she fell asleep by the fire again. Something moved underneath her and she couldn't remember the floor ever moving.

"Princess I need you awake." The husky voice spoke. She opened an eye to see Oliver staring at her.

"What's going on?" she spoke yawning and sitting up with him.

"Someone is coming," he spoke and stood and pulled her to a standing position. Chloe felt the warmth of him and the cool of her fear all at once. He again put her behind him as he stared at the door. In a minute three tall men entered.

"Who are you? What do you want with us?" he shouted. They didn't respond they just grabbed him and Chloe. The kicked and shouted, but the men were strong as they were taken out of the hut.

0000000

At the fire at the center of the village a two tall seats were placed on a small dais. There were a crowd of people gathered and two stakes in the ground on the other side of the fire. Chloe and Oliver were dragged there and forced onto their knees and then tied to the stakes. Chloe screamed in horror as his shirt was torn from him.

"Leave him alone!" she shouted as two of the men kicked him in the ribs. "Leave him alone!" Tears were streaming down her face as his abuse continued. A drum began to beat and the men pulled back, as did the crowd.

"Ollie." She pleaded as she tried to face him. He didn't answer only coughed and groaned. "Please Ollie?" she cried.

"I'm….k." he coughed. He was able to lay on his back sort of and look up at her. "I'm ok." He coughed again. "You need to get away from here!" he wheezed. "Get away from me,"

"But?"

"Promise me, if you see the opportunity… run." He pleaded.

"But?"

"Head north. All the tree tops face north, from the wind. That will take you to Kalaha don't stop running until you are in the city gates."

"And you? I don't want to leave you!" she cried.

"To save your village you have to." He shook his head. "I can face whatever happens here. You princess gave me salvation gave me hope. If I die then I die with a lighter heart, thanks to you. You're a miracle." He coughed.

"But I don't want to leave you."

He coughed and groaned again. "To survive?" he spoke as their gazes locked. "You have to. Please, live Chloe. Live for me." He tried to smile. She closed her eyes and sighed, then nodded. Shouting came from the other side of the fire and two men came at the pair.

Chloe screamed as one of them grabbed Oliver by his hair and pulled him to his knees.

"Let him go!" she shouted. The man pulled a bag from a pouch on his waist and pulled the amulet out. "Noooo, he doesn't want it….No…." she shouted as he put the cord around his neck. The other man came and cut the rope from Chloe's wrist and pulled her to standing. She was crying as she watched Oliver scream in agony as he fought his beast.

"GgggrrrrrRunnnn," he growled. Chloe watched in horror as her handsome….friend? Hero? Shed his human skin with a bone cracking transformation and became the wolf in her dreams. Chloe was stunned, shocked. But common sense overcame her fear and she elbowed the man who wasn't holding her very tight spun on her heal and ran, ran as if her very soul depended on it.

Oliver felt her leave, his heart shattering seeing the fear on her face, the fear of his beast. He lay on his side recovering from the forced transformation. "Step away from him." A feminine voice spoke. The men stepped back as a tall regal looking woman came around the fire and knelt at his side. She reached to touch his head and he growled at her, curling his lip.

"Easy." She spoke soothingly. He only growled louder and snapped at her nearly biting her. One of the men came up and blew a powder into his face, in a second he was unconscious. The woman looked up at him with an angry stare. "Back off." She growled at the man.

"Well?" A man spoke approaching from behind her. He crouched at her side and put a hand on her shoulder. "Is it him?" he asked.

She turned to look him in the eyes, hers filled with tears. "Yes husband it's our son. He is home."