Chapter Five- Discovered

"Lance!" an accented voice called as they reached the village's edge. A man with black hair and blue eyes came up to them with a warm smile.

"Sven. Good to see you again," Lance answered, clasping the man's hand. "I'll bet you'll be wanting the usual?"

"As long as you haven't raised the prices." Sven turned to Allura and then went to one knee. "Princess," he said. "You're safe. Your father and fiancée are worried about you."

"I'm sure they are but if you or someone else could tell them that I'm safe, I would appreciate it and also tell them that I won't be returning home."

"Not returning?" Sven repeated.

"That's right. I know I'm hurting Keith with this, but it's for the best."

"Of course, princess. I will deliver the message myself tomorrow." Sven rose and fell into step beside them, sharing village news with Lance. Allura was deep in thought. Her presence attracted attention and the sightings of her would reach the palace's ears and, despite not wanting them to look for her, she knew they would race to her last sighted location in hope of seeing her and ask why she hadn't returned. I can't tell them the truth. I'll be killed, I know it.

Lance studied Allura even as he talked with Sven. He knew the reason for her request and felt for her. She had to give up everything she had and it was her cousin's fault as she had cursed Allura as a wifewolf. Because of her, Allura lost her home, her family, and her fiancée the latter making her available. I can smell it on her. I'm of age to have a mate and Allura is a lovely girl, human and wolf. I wonder if she knows about the mating scent. Lance kept this question in mind as they sold their medicines and took requests for those they didn't have or had run out of.

"Allura," he said softly when they hit a lull in customers. "Do you know about the mating scent?"

"If you're referring to the scent that says I'm available, then yes. Pidge mentioned it as he could smell in on me."

"That is what I'm talking about. I am of age to want a mate and I find you lovely, human and wolf. You can choose your mate and I present myself as a potential mate to you."

"Lance," she said with a smile. "I know we met almost twenty-four hours ago, but I fell for you quickly. My suggestion of us being mates last night could be reality. I admit, I don't know many werewolves and I intend to remedy that, but that won't change that I'd like to have you as my mate."

Lance beamed at her statement. "Oh, Allura. I want to be your mate too. Wow, I'm a lucky guy. I'm the mate of the second alpha."

Allura smiled at his reaction and then tilted her head as Lance's nose flared. "Lance?"

"Horses. We need to leave. Horses are better at detecting wolves than dogs are." Lance seized a cart handle as did Allura and they began to make their way out of the village quickly owing to their super speed and the now lighter wagon. Allura flared her nose to lock in the scent of horses, knowing it was something she would need to know and identify.

They had reached the edge of the village when a familiar voice cried out in relief, "Allura!" The blonde froze and turned to see Keith running over to her and giving her a hug.

"Allura," he said before pulling back. "Where have you been? Your father and I have been worried sick."

"I'm aware of that, but please don't worry about me."

"Well now that I see you're okay, I'm not worried anymore. Now, come on, let's go home." He took her hand.

Allura pulled her hand loose. "I can't go back to the palace. I told you what Romelle did to me and it was true. I'm sorry, Keith, but our engagement's off." She turned around, grabbed the cart handle, and, with Lance, headed toward the forest.

Keith reeled as Allura left with a cart and a brunette about his age. Our engagement's off? Allura just said that Romelle really did curse her…or is it a lie to break up with me? Keith didn't really think the latter thought was true as Allura really did look sorry to end their engagement. If she really is a wifewolf…I need to see it to believe it. And, if she is, I'll ask to be a werewolf. That way, we can be together.

"Your Highness?" an escort said, coming up behind him.

Knowing he had little time to follow Allura, he said, "Lead my horse back to the palace and tell the king I'm not coming back home."

"Not…?"

"Yes. That's an order!"

"Yes, Your Highness." Keith waited until the escort had headed back and then plunged into the forest. The creak of the cart told him where to go and he headed after it. The back of the cart came into view and Keith slowed, letting it out of his sight before causally following it. He hadn't been on its tail for very long before it stopped and he saw Allura speak to the brunette before stepping away from the cart and letting the boy heave the cart away without much effort.

"Keith, I know you're there. I can smell you now," Allura said as she turned to face the tree behind which Keith was hiding.

Keith emerged and saw Allura with a disapproving stare. "I told you it's over. Leave me alone."

"But, I love you," Keith said.

Allura's stare melted into a sad look. "I love you too but we can't be together. Our engagement is null and void now that I'm a wifewolf. I carry a scent that says I'm available. Please leave, Keith."

"I don't care if you're a wifewolf. It's clear that being one hasn't changed you…has it?"

"Personality-wise, no it hasn't. But I have to adapt to the practices of the village. I also have to get used to my wolf form such as walking and running." She saw the sky starting to darken and started talking quickly before she changed. "Keith, I'll always love you but please forget about me. I have a different life now and you can't…" Allura shifted into wolf form, looked at Keith, and whined.

Keith took a step back. "Allura?"

She whined again and gave two soft barks before walking away. "Allura!" Keith cried before running after her. She began to run and he saw her tail tip around a corner. He followed it, paused for a moment as he had lost the trail, and then chose a direction going past the barrier he couldn't see.

Allura walked away, knowing Keith didn't understand wolf speak. She meant what she said about still loving him, but he couldn't follow her. Honestly, she knew he could by being bitten but only outcasts would choose that route. "Allura!" Keith cried out and she heard footsteps running toward her. She increased her speed, tapping her supernatural one and was amazed that she was actually running on all fours. Twenty-four hours ago, her legs got tangled up when she tried to run and now she was doing it perfectly. Faster, faster, she thought, her nose picking up Keith's scent behind her. She turned a bend around a bush and saw the barrier. She leaped forward, sailed through, and landed in the village. She panted and strained her ears to hear a pause in footsteps and then the sound of them hurrying past. He didn't see me vanish into what he would perceive as thin air but he would reason that the village is there, hidden. But, he didn't which is as it should be.

**Allura,** a voice said and she saw Pidge come over, his scent she had memorized earlier in the day. **Lance told me what happened in the village. Did you get back here without being noticed?**

**Yes, alpha. I do have a problem. I still love Keith, but I want Lance as my mate and we did commit ourselves to each other while selling the remedies.**

**Yes, Lance mentioned that too. Allura, it's all right to still love Keith as you well know that it's over as far as marriage goes. Now, how about you, Lance, and I meet in the forest tomorrow to discuss Bonding you two as mates?**

**I'd like that.**