Chapter Thirty Seven

Epilogue

Months pass and the small village falls back into its old routine, hiding itself away, making their homes even more fortified … but the wolf never returned. Scarlet and Luca had restored the little cottage in the forest so it's now a liveable home. They cleared away all the spider-webs and rid the structure of all little critters – mainly due to Luca's fierce presence. The house is now equipped with water, due to the rigging of a simple piping system that was already in place, it just need a little tinkering. There was one old mattress which wasn't of much use so Scarlet salvaged all she could and sewed them a new one.
The village had searched for them, but they travelled in the wrong direction and didn't venture further into the forest then they dared too. Luca had watched from a distance just in case they had been traveling in their direction, but thankfully they hadn't.
Too the east of the cottage is a vast field of pine trees, Luca uses his lumberjack skills to cut firewood from that. He built himself a new cart, and built the house new furniture as well. Scarlet hunts with her bow (which her grandmother had packed into her bag) and she also collects berries and has managed to create a vegetable patch at the back of the cottage, where the ground is flat and didn't require any logging of trees. The patch is yet to produce more than a few carrots, but Scarlet remains determined to make it flourish – as soon as she collects seeds from the village's garden, when she secretly returns to see her brother and her grandmother.
Currently, Scarlet prepares food for their journey whilst Luca is out somewhere in the woods, doing god knows what. She wanders around their little kitchen, opening the square window on the east wall – which is a large wooden panel that opens outwards like a door. She packs them both a little knapsack each and searches for string to tie them with, on the self above the window – which she would easily be able to see if she was as tall as Luca – but as she's not, she as to reach up on her tippy toes and feel along the shelf.

"Boo!" Scarlet yelps as someone grabs her waist from outside the window. "Scared you." Luca laughs from outside whilst Scarlet lowers herself to her normal height.

"Jerk." She huffs. He leans in for a kiss which she doesn't get a chance to refuse. "You promised you wouldn't do that." She steps back to allow him entrance. He holds onto the architrave on the outside of the window and lifts himself, curling his long legs to his chest and then swings in through the large opening. Scarlet had been disapproving of the method into the house but after a while of nagging him not to, she began to bore herself.

"No, I said I wouldn't scare you in wolf form. And I'm not in wolf form." He smiles cheekily.

"Well, you're not allowed to scare me, anytime." She huffs.

"That's no fun." He comes up behind her, resting his hands on her hips and kissing the side of her neck.

"Find some other form of entertainment. Now make yourself useful, and find me some string on the shelf." She nudges him away and points to where she wants him.

"Yes ma'am." He reaches up and retrieves it within seconds. "There you go." He hands it to her with a smug grin pasted across his face.

"Are you ready to go?" She finishes her little task.

"Yes."

"Are you going to shave?" Of late he'd been letting his neatly trimmed bristles grow into a beard of a few centimetres.

"Do I need to?" He touches face.

"No … I was just wondering. Leave it if you're happy with it." She says genuinely, sauntering out of the kitchen to place their knapsacks in a small bag for convince. She drapes her crimson coat around her and adjusts her bow and quiver on her back. "You coming?" She calls out to Luca as she opens the door. He emerges and shuts the door behind him. "Did you close the windows?"

"Of course." He replies and they set off.
What would take an hour at wolf speed, takes almost the whole day walking, to reach the village. The sun is beginning to set and rays of pink and orange split through the small scattering of clouds in the west. Scarlet gazes up at the fortified wall. She'd ignored the home homesick sadness of leaving the only home she'd ever known, but now with the ominous wall casting its shadow upon the forest - all those suppressed feelings flood her system. Her breath catches in her throat and her arm flies out to hold onto Luca for support. He turns to her in alarm, but quickly surveys her unsaid thoughts that flow from her emerald eyes, and holds her until she feels steady enough to stand on her own. "Are you alright?" He asks once he steps back. She nods in response and forces a smile for his benefit. "We'll wait till nightfall, just to be sure we're not seen." Scarlet nods in agreement. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes. I just … I don't know, I suppose I just forgot …" They sit upon a fallen log, hidden by a row of bushes. "That wall was the only thing I ever knew, and I forced myself to forget when we left … sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for. You're allowed to be sad, and you're well overdue to have a little emotional outbreak. There's nothing wrong with that." He tucks her under his arm and presses his lips against her temple. They sit in each other's embrace and watch as the sun descends, listening as the forest slowing becomes devoid of birdsong - crickets taking over by beginning to hum their own symphony.
Luca leaps into the nearest tree and climbs to the top so he can peer down at the village. He returns shortly after, saying. "You ready?" Scarlet nods in response and they both climb the tree closest to the wall. Scarlet goes first, balancing across a branch before leaping onto the barricades. Once Luca is behind her they keep low and descend the stairs, dashing in between shadows until they're below Scarlet's window. They use the spikes to climb up and Luca opens the latch just as he had done before. They ease themselves into the dark room before tiptoeing over to the door. Voices drift up from down below and soon one small voice travels up the stairs, sighing in frustration and stamping their feet as they plod up the stairs. Scarlet peers out the gap in her door to see Jackson emerge at the top of the stairs, she gasps involuntary at the sight of her brother; catching his attention.
His head snaps to the right and his eyes squint to focus on the slit of blackness in between the two wooden surfaces. He conjures some form of courage deep within himself to mask his initial fright and his now building fear. Scarlet can't stay hidden any longer, she opens the door quietly and smiles a bright smile; her eyes gleaming with tears of apology and her lips stretching in joy. She raises a finger to her lips to try to prevent her brother's excitement from spilling down to ears below. He begins crying immediately and runs to his sister, flinging himself into her arms.
"Red!" Choked excitement escapes his lips in a sob. Scarlet cries as well and tightens her grip around her brother, his face buried in her neck – which she's thankful for, she doesn't know what her brother's knowledge is of Luca at the moment - what he had been told. So for the current moment, she's glad that he hasn't noticed the giant standing behind the door, staring fondly at the siblings.

"It's okay…" Scarlet coos and pats the back of her brother's head soothingly. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'm okay, everything's okay." She reassures and kneels down, standing her brother in front of her. "Oh I missed you." She wipes his tears away.

"You were gone." Jackson sobs. "I woke up and you were gone."

"I know, I know and I'm truly sorry. I never wanted to hurt you or scare you." She caress her brother's small cheeks. "I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me?" She questions and her brother hesitates before nodding furiously and hugs her again. "Thank you." She sobs. "And can you forgive Luca?" She forces the words and waits for his reaction before proceeding.

"Luca? Everyone is saying that he's a werewolf and that he stole you away."

"I know, and he is a werewolf. But he's a good werewolf. And he didn't steal me away, I left with him."

"But why? He's a monster!" He raises his voice and Scarlet knows that it would have caught someones attention so she'll have to hurry.

"No he's not. He's a good man and he takes very good care of me and he loves me, and he loves you." She forces her brother to look into her eyes. "I know that he looks scary in a full moon but once you actually get a good look at him, he's really just a big puppy dog, honest. He's got the softest ears and he whines like a puppy, and if you scratch behind his ears he wriggles like a puppy as well." Their mother calls out from downstairs to see what is taking Jackson so long. He goes to respond but Scarlet silences him. "Jackson, Luca loves you, and he's really sorry that he scared you and he's really been beating himself up about it. You liked him before you knew he was a wolf, right?"

"Jackson?" Their mother calls again.

"I'm coming." He stalls. But that was different, he lied." He whispers to Scarlet.

"He never lied honey, he just left stuff out. You see he's just as scared of hunters as we were of him. He didn't want to scare us. And he'd never hurt us, he'd never hurt me and he'd never hurt you. In fact he helped kill the real wolf – the one that haunted our village for generations, he was the mean one and he hurt people, and Luca stopped him. That's good right?" Jackson nods in agreement after processing everything.

"But…" He tries to come up with an argument.

"You liked him once. You liked him enough to try and persuade him to marry me." Jackson's eyes widen in alarm as he tries to protest the comment. "Don't. He told me everything you said." Jackson's cheeks redden with embarrassment. "And you know what?" She lifts her brother's chin. "You were right. I do love him. And no matter what he looks like in the moon light, I'm always going to love him. So, do you think you could at least talk to him? Let him explain and apologize?" She asks and Jackson pouts whilst he decides.

"Maybe." He whispers.

"Because I know that would mean a lot to him. He really cares about you, and he was worrying all the way here about what you would say to him."

"He's here?" Jackson questions, slightly terrified.

"Yeah sweetie, he's here."

"Where?"

"Here." Luca answers quietly as he opens the door wider to reveal himself. Jackson gasps and steps back, staring up at Luca with fear in his eyes. Luca looks down, accepting the little boy's fear. He lowers himself down on his haunches in hope that he doesn't seem so intimidating. "Hey kiddo." He smiles.

"Jackson! Dinner is getting cold. What are you doing?" Their mother's voice now impatient.

"We should go down." Luca says to Scarlet who agrees. "Are you ready?" He asks, lending her a hand to bounce back up. Scarlet nods, calling upon courage to face her mother with.

"Come on." She ushers her brother, whose eyes take their time leaving Luca, as soon as he looks away he bolts down the stairs, skipping every second step.

"What's the matter?" He dashes past his mother to inform his grandmother. Scarlet and Luca begin their descent, her mother's attention drawn to them – she gasps and remains still, unsure as to what to do. Jackson returns with the old woman in tow, she smiles sweetly up at the two and then makes sure to share her smile with her grandson, to assure him that it's alright.

"I suppose I'll have to put out more settings." The old woman coos cheerfully and her daughter responds with an over exaggerated gasp.

"Grandmother." Jackson pulls on her dress. "But he's a werewolf." He mumbles and adverts his eyes from Luca.

"Yes I am." Luca replies.

"Mother, grandmother, I'll speak to you in the kitchen. Jackson, will you let Luca apologize? Just talk to him here." She gestures to the bottom steps. "That way you can see us in the kitchen and if you need, all you got to do is call out and we'll be straight back here. Okay?" She pleads with her brother using her emerald orbs. The little boy pouts and releases his grip on his grandmother's dress, ashamed that he had hid behind her, he finds courage within himself and straightens his back – lifting his head high and nodding. "That's my boy." She tousles his hair. Scarlet turns to Luca and gives him a kiss before leading the other two women into the kitchen – her mother still in shock as to what is happening.
Luca sits down on the bottom step and looks at Jackson, who looks like he's prepared to run after his family.

"Hey." Luca smiles and gestures that it's safe for him to sit. "Listen buddy, I know this is really confusing and I understand you're frightened and that's okay, but you don't have to be. I'm really not scary, well, I don't mean to be. I don't bite, honest, I'm a good werewolf." Jackson inches over to the steps but holds onto the post and adverts eye contact. "How much have you been told about me?" He asks and Jackson just shrugs his shoulders to inform 'not much'. "Well then, when I was a boy, not much older than you, I was bitten by a werewolf – I didn't ask to be this and I wish I wasn't. I've never hurt anyone and I don't plan on starting. Just because I look a little scary doesn't mean I'm a bad person, does it?" Jackson gulps and shakes his head slowly. "I'm really sorry for scaring you, it wasn't my intention; I didn't consider what the effects of my little might have on you. But it was the only plan I had. To stop the wedding." That sparks interest and Jackson raises his head. "You were right, I do love your sister and I couldn't stand to see her marry Grey. Admittedly it wasn't the best idea to charge in howling, but love makes us do stupid things." He shrugs with a smile. "I don't expect you to forgive me, Jackson. And I don't expect you to accept me with open arms, it's completely okay for you to be scared of me, I know I would be if I were you. But I want you to know that I will never hurt you or your family. I love you and I'll die to protect you."

"You really mean that?" Jackson mumbles.

"Of course." He stares past the little boy into the kitchen, where Scarlet has her back to them as the three women are huddled around the table, discussing Scarlet's months away. "I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have your sister. I am behind grateful for her acceptance." Jackson follows his line of sight and then turns back to Luca.

"You promise to take care of her?"

"I promise." Luca holds out his pinkie finger like Scarlet had once done to him, and before Jackson can even register what he's doing, his muscle memory kicks in and he hooks his finger around Luca's. Luca breaks away first, so that the boy doesn't become too uncomfortable. "So, you wanna' go see what they're talking about?" Luca smirks and Jackson nods, wandering into the kitchen. Luca follows and rests his hands on Scarlet's waist while Jackson goes to his grandmother's side. "Everything alright?" Luca asks

"Yes." The old woman answers before her daughter can protest. "Let's have dinner. I'm sure you two are starving." She gestures for her grandson to help her with preparing more food whilst Scarlet and Luca wait around the dining table.

"Everything alright." Scarlet peers up at her giant.

"I think so. He's still uneasy but I think he's coming around, he just needs time." Luca kisses the top of her head.

"That's good, I'm sure he will."

"What about you, everything go alright?"

"Better than I expected. My mother didn't say much, she seems to have calmed down – more adjusted to thought of us."

"Well that's a relief. Does she know where we're staying?"

"No. I hate to be secretive, but I don't fully trust her of yet."

"Agreed. But she seems to be coping alright for now."

"I just hope it stays that way."

"Try not to worry about it too much, okay?" They kiss again before food starts to be brought out to the table. Everyone takes their seats and they sit down and eat. Bread, vegetables and rabbit stew. Scarlet and Luca have more than three bowls full, life in the forest has not been kind in the terms of food. Sure they ate, but nothing that they've eaten in the past months can compare to this feast in front of them.
There's very little chit-chat at the table, only initiated by Scarlet's grandmother – making very small conversation to make it seem like they were a normal family.
After dinner Scarlet and Luca help wash up before everyone gathers in the lounge room. Scarlet and her brother share sibling conversation and banter to make up for the missing months. She starts to ease Luca into their conversations to get Jackson more comfortable, and it seems to be working okay. After a couple of hours Jackson begins to yawn and the bedtime procedure begins.

"So, what happened after we left?" Scarlet inquires when Jackson plods up the stairs to get changed (at his mother's request).

"In terms of the town?" Her grandmother sips her tea. "Grey was furious. He searched for about two weeks, then the willing volunteers began declining, they wanted to return to their lives; fortify their homes and the town, go back to their actual jobs. Eventually Grey just accepted it, I suppose. He helped repair any damage done to the town, and his pack fell back into its normal habits – hunting for the town."

"That's good."

"We get a few glances in the village but even they've began to stop. Grey brought us the rabbits, he's been rather kind; he said that with you gone – being our only source of meat – he was happy to help." Her grandmother admits slowly. Scarlet's cheeks redden with shame; in the heat of the moment she'd forgotten about her responsibilities to her family, and then the lingering doubts were then suppressed with the rest of her melancholic emotions. She hadn't been thinking about how her family would be coping without her, and for that she felt ashamed.

"He's marrying Valera." Her mother enters the conversation.

"Oh, I'm happy for him." Scarlet smirks to herself. No anger or jealousy. Just honest relief and gladness. She turns to Luca and kisses him. "I'm happy. He should be too." She smiles at her mother. "And so should you." She says. "Mother, I'm sorry I didn't choose to live my life the way you wanted me too. But I'm happy, I love Luca and he loves me. Can you just be happy for us? I want you in my life." Scarlet pleas with her mother but she remains silent.

"I know you don't think much of me, but I love your daughter and I'm going to make a life for her." Luca interjects. "I would like your approval, but I can live without it." Adding, so that she knows this is happening whether she likes it or not. She can be a part of her daughter's life, or she can forget her.

"Scarlet…" Her mother begins but stops herself, wrapping her arms around herself. "You're so much like your father." She smiles and Scarlet takes it as a compliment. "If you are truly happy … then I suppose I'll have to live with it." She breathes and walks up the stairs to avoid any further upset to herself. Scarlet sighs in relief but wishes that her mother's answer had been more supporting.

"She'll come round eventually." The old women chirps. "It's just hard for her. She's still hurting over the truth of your father, she's just worried about you."

"She has nothing to worry about. I'd never hurt any of you. Why is that so hard for everyone to believe?" Frustration rolls over Luca and Scarlet squeezes his hand.

"She'll realize that eventually." The old woman stands and begins her nightly procedures. "I take it you two are staying here, I'll lay out another blanket."

"That went better than I thought." She sighs, her head resting on Luca's chest.

"I suppose." Luca grumbles and Scarlet lifts her head to look at him.

"Are you okay? You know it could have been worse, I think we should be grateful."

"The nights not over."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Scarlet frowns and Luca rolls his eyes, sighing and standing up.

"Nothing." He breathes, exhausted and regretting saying anything. "Let's go to bed."

"What was that supposed to mean?" She follows him up the stairs. "Luca?" She nags when he doesn't respond.

"I … I just don't trust your mother." He admits and shuts over the door, a small candle had been lit on the bedside table and a blanket had been thrown over the bed.

"You think she's going to run off in the night and tell everyone we're here?" Scarlet cocks her eyebrow.

"Maybe." He begins to pull his shirt off. "I don't know. Look, I don't want to think that. Maybe I'm just paranoid. Everything will probably be fine." He throws his shirt on the end of the bed. "I don't want to argue about this. Let's just go to bed." He kisses her atop the head sleepily and loosens the strings of her corset.

"Okay." She sighs equally as tired, not wanting to argue either. She finishes of undoing her corset and removes it, throwing atop Luca's shirt. They both remove their boots and begin to slide into bed. Scarlet blows out the candle before tucking herself into Luca's embrace. "Goodnight puppy."

"Stop calling me that." He mumbles lazily. Scarlet giggles as her fingers dance over the terrain of his chest.

"Goodnight, darling."

"Better. Goodnight. I love you." He kisses her forehead and his lips remain planted against her as he begins to drift off, leaving his worries and doubts behind.

"I love you." Scarlet mumbles back and drifts off with him.
The following day Scarlet and Luca leave again, to avoid the full moon. Though, it's much to Jackson's protest. Scarlet reassures him that they'll be back for his birthday and after that they'll discuss whether he can come stay with them. Her grandmother supplies them with a basket full of muffins and bread, and seeds from the village garden. They stay for lunch and then they climb back out Scarlet's window. But this time Scarlet allows herself to mentally adjust to leaving. She says goodbye (mentally) to her room, house and village – allowing herself to let go.
It's well into the night when they arrive back to their cottage. They have a quick meal and head to bed, both of them happy and relieved to be home. The forest's lullaby lulls them to sleep in each other's arms.

And red riding hood kisses her wolf goodnight.

Yay! Sorry for y'all that aren't happy with the ending.