Cursed Lycan's Scarred Mate
Chapter 33: Further investigation

Chapter 33: Further investigation

With Vivian safely accounted for back at the inn, Ronan was at liberty to resume his investigations. He traced his way back to the market area, searching out the unusual scent he sensed earlier.

He trod his way to one of the shady market sellers he was well acquainted with. The stall was located in the corner of the sheltered market area, hardly noticeable at a glance since it was camouflaged by animal skin and furs.

Ronan rang the miniature bell attached to the tent roof of the stall, alerting the attention of an old man hidden underneath a black coat and hood.

"Ah, the Lycan laddie, what can I do for ye?" The old man greeted, recognising Ronan immediately. "Haven’t seen yer in Clawveld for ages."

Ronan leaned against the makeshift wooden counter, resting his elbows over the top surface.

"I’ll be straight to the point, Dale," Ronan said, his voice dropping to a whisper to avoid the keen ears of nearby shifters. "Have you seen any Moonborn wolves wandering into these parts?"

"Other than der two dat accompanied yer today?" The old man cackled a throaty sound, banging a mug of mead on the countertop.

Ronan scowled. He was well aware that the smallest of strange occurrences always spread like wildfire in Clawveld. It was to be expected that Dale had already received news about their arrival.

When Ronan didn’t answer, the old man immediately understood it as an indication not to beat around the bush.

"If there were Moonborn wolves in Clawveld other dan der two females with yer, I’d hear it first," Dale replied, swirling his mead around in the mug. "But twas something else dat I heard about."

"Go on," Ronan encouraged the man to speak further.

"It’ll cost ya Lycan laddie," Dale said, flashing a yellow-toothed grin. "Yer know my information doesn’ come fer free."

Ronan retrieved a pouch of coins from his pocket and tossed it on the counter. The old man greedily grabbed the coin pouch, his eyes raking over the generous amount of gold pieces.

"Der were two strange folk wandering around today," Dale revealed while counting his rewarded gold pieces. "Not sure how dey slipped by der City Watch but dey didn’ smell like shifters, nor umans."

Then who else could it have been? There was the uncanny speculation that Moonborn may have dispatched its wolves in pursuit of Vivian, yet there was no sign of them other than Avery fleeing over the river.

Was the child in any way connected to those two strange folk?

"What else?" Ronan pressed for more answers, determined to discover who it was that was so bold enough to cross his path indirectly.

"Dey didn’t stick around for long. Dey purchased a few things from some of the market stalls and left again," Dale answered, shrugging as he pocketed the pouch after counting the coins. "What did yer get yerself into dis time, Lycan Laddie?"

"None of your concern," Ronan remarked with a smirk. "Tell me which stalls they visited and I’ll be on my way."

Without prying further, Dale directed Ronan to the stalls the two strange folk visited. Judging from the fact that they purchased items from mystic stalls like apothecaries and spellmongers, there was only one thing to conclude.

Wickans had entered Clawveld.

After conversing with those mystic sellers, Ronan concluded that the unwelcome Wickans had already departed from the city. There wasn’t much of a lead as to where they were headed or the purpose of their visit, but Ronan was hellbent on pursuing them.

However, it wouldn’t be wise to do that when Vivian and Avery were under his care and he couldn’t delay their trip to the North any further.

Vivian’s condition was deteriorating and his herbal medicine was barely holding her together by a thread.

Without further ado, Ronan decided to purchase the remaining supplies he required. He purchased two horses for convenient travel now that Avery was accompanying them. The child would ride with her aunt while he carried most of the supplies.

As much as he would prefer to have Vivian ride with him, he didn’t quite trust her niece to ride by herself.

He paid for the horses and would return for them the next morning.

The matter of the Wickans would have to be reserved for a later period when he reunited with his clan. Then he would order a thorough investigation.

Much later at night, Ronan returned to the inn to find Vivian and her niece fast asleep, curled up on the bed. The sight was heartwarming to observe, seeing how Avery clung to her aunt as if it were second nature for her.

Ronan was also somewhat...envious of the scene. He wondered if Vivian would be uncomfortable if he slipped into the bed behind her. He rethought the idea and instead sat on the edge of the bed.

He noticed the she-wolf was still wearing her shoes. She must have been exhausted from their journey and dress shopping without having much of an opportunity to rest. Not to mention the constant pain her body underwent, yet she never complained unless asked by him.

Carefully and gently, Ronan slipped off her shoes. Vivian groaned in her sleep, slightly alert to his movements. The Lycan Alpha denoted there were old scars underneath her feet and the texture was rough.

I suppose buying that herbal massage ointment wasn’t a waste after all. Ronan moved off the bed and retrieved a small, ceramic pot filled with a minty scent from the items he purchased.

He returned to his spot on the bed, gently placing Vivian’s feet onto his lap. He opened the ceramic pot, gathering some of the minty ointment into his long, slender fingers.

Vivian, semi-asleep, felt Ronan’s rough, but gentle hands kneading the tension from the arches under her feet. The ointment was absorbed into her skin while its faint herbal scent lingered in the air.

With each stroke, Vivian’s toes relaxed and she groaned softly from relief. He worked slowly, his thumbs pressing into her soles in a way that felt deliberate.

The she-wolf didn’t open her eyes, allowing herself to sink into the quiet comfort of his masterful fingers.

A small smile crept into the Lycan Alpha’s lips as he watched her reactions.

He wanted to relieve her of her discomfort, even if just a little.