Matthias' POV

I watched as Elise smiled, trying to put me at ease, but there was nothing besides spilling that bastard's blood to remove the curse that could truly accomplish that feat.

I have killed enemies in battle before, because in battle it truly is kill or be killed. Wanting to protect my people and my home is familiar to me, but I've never before felt this overwhelming emotional desire to take my revenge on another person.

I had always thought I was a fairly relaxed guy, right up until the moment I found out she had been cursed and taken away while I was helping clean up the mess from the battle.

Elise had been my closest friend since longer than I could remember. She had always been caring, but that was counterbalanced by her indomitable spirit.

She had also always been pretty. I had known that fact from a young age in the same way I had recognized her black hair and sweet brown eyes and the fact that she had always been more delicate and a bit smaller than me, although the size difference between us had become more pronounced as we got older.

There had been no single particular moment when I had realized the significance her beauty had on me. It was more like time had gradually worn away childhood, like weather eroding a rock, and at the end of it she had been there, exactly the same person as she had always been, but at the same time intriguing in entirely new ways.

How could I not care for her?

I could see that bastard was putting on a pretty good show of shame at what he had done to Elise, but I was not convinced by his little innocent regretful act.

In the past I had not failed to notice more than one repugnant male resting their gazes on Elise for just a moment too long and I could not escape the protective jealousy I had felt in those moments.

What I felt now was magnified a hundred fold. It seemed just as likely it had been an accident as the bastard had spotted her in passing while dealing with Nick and had simply taken the opportunity to have her for himself. It was all too easy to imagine him abusing his power to have her in his reach.

I had intended to make clear my feelings for her, but there had always been something in the way. Another attack, her father's injury, or all the other work that needed to be done. Always something that drew my time and attention away from her.

And even when we had leisure time together, what did I do? I binge watched entire series with her; we went for runs through the forest in our wolf forms, I let her beat me occasionally at video games... Well, there were games were she could absolutely hold her own and one or two where she could legitimately kick my butt.

But none of that mattered now.

Except the question remained.

Why had I not just threw caution to the wind any of those times?

The answer was obvious in retrospect.

She was my best friend and I had been scared to screw that up and lose her entirely, too much the coward to take the risk, at least not without some definitive sign from her.

Of course, I had thought I had the luxury of time.  I believed I would always have tomorrow to find the perfect moment to convince her that we were made for each other.

But now that bastard had stolen all her free tomorrows with his damn curse. "If he hurts you, I want you to tell me about it."

She met my eyes shakily. "I don't think th-th-they mean to harm m-me."

"Harm you further," I corrected darkly.

"F-further," she agreed, sounding resigned. I did not miss the way her voice caught on the words as if it were difficult for her to admit the truth.

I swallowed my rage.

Today was not about me and my burning desire for vengeance, it was about her and we did not have much time.

It was terrible seeing her shaking and subdued, yet when Serge and his pack were not around she seemed to relax enough that I could see that she was still in there. That meant there was still hope to draw her back out, surely.

Once the war was won against the eastern wolves, I could kill the bastard and free her myself if another way to free her had not been discovered before then.

I sort of almost hoped we would not find a different way because he deserved to be punished for his crime. But not if it meant she would have to suffer longer; I would take any way out of that for her.

Elise would have disliked my bloodthirsty thoughts even before the magic was controlling her, so I pushed my rage aside again and tried to focus on her instead.

I looked her over carefully. She had only been here for hours so far, which was not long enough to lose weight from not taking care of herself, but she would soon if she did not start eating.

Though she had curves I rather appreciated more than a friend should, she did not have that much extra to spare. That Karen woman had been correct about that at least.

I realized belatedly that I had not seen Elise touch either food or drink. That was not normal; she usually ate heartily. We all did. Magic took a lot of energy.

"You do need to eat something," I encouraged her. "You'll need your strength for fighting this curse."

I was glad when she gingerly took her glass of lemonade and brought it to her lips. I could see her hand was still shaking slightly, causing ripples in the surface of the liquid.

The only times I had ever before seen her shake like this was when her father had been injured in battle last year and when her mother had died.

I realized she must be experiencing the same misery, pain, and worry as those moments and I felt anger rush through me again. It was like my rage was gunpowder and her suffering the spark.

But no, I could dwell on my fury once this precious time with her was up. Even the thought that he had given us a time limit magnified my ire. He had no right to put restrictions on her time.

"So what's it like here?" I asked her, putting forth the first question to leap into my mind. I hoped it would distract me from my burning fury and her from her frozen fear.

"It's n-nice enough, I guess, except I can't d-do anything."

"Are they locking you up?" I asked, more sharply than I had intended.

She shook her head quickly. Even like this she was still the gentle peacemaker.

"No, nothing like that, Matt. It's the m-m-magic. I f-feel afraid of almost everything, of ev-ev-everyone, of d-doing anything. Even though I kn-know the f-feeling isn't rational I can't really shake it."

She bit her lip.

I smothered my reaction to her description. I knew I would not be any help to her if I did not keep a cool head, but at the same time how was I supposed to calmly endure watching her suffer through what that bastard had inflicted upon her?

I reminded myself I could not take out my vendetta on the bastard just yet, but I could certainly vent my spleen on the eastern wolves if they breached the borders again.

If there were anyone at fault besides Serge alone, it was that pushy king and his armies who shared some of the blame. None of this would have happened if they would simply leave our people alone as we wanted. This mess was an indirect result of his lust for power and control.

I needed to be patient. I considered Serge again. Perhaps it would not hurt if I went and spoke with him again before I left. Punching his stoic arrogant face had been the only good part of this terrible day, but I could keep myself in check long enough to talk to him.

I would not tell her that idea, because it would clearly distress her more and that was the last thing she needed.

"Why don't you come home with me?" I asked her instead. Even if she was cowed there at least I would know she was safe in her father's care.

She shook her head and I saw tremors run through her. "I c-can't, I d-don't think. At least n-n-not yet.  Maybe n-never."

I did not understand. What could the bastard do to her if I simply took her and left? "I would protect you," I promised her, wondering she understood just how much I meant it.

She looked sad. "I know you would. I just feel like I can't. I n-need to be near h-h-him, but not too near. I can feel it. I do w-want to go home, but..."

I tried not to let my disappointment show. "Then is there anything you need that I can bring you?"

Elise glanced at me, "I don't know what I h-have h-here. Just ask my dad and Moramay if they c-can think of anything."

"Nick said he sent you some stuff," I pointed out.

She paused and I could tell she was reluctant to tell me something.

"Just spit it out," I said to her as I gave her a gentle playful push on the shoulder, as if we were at home and just messing around while we watched a movie on her father's big screen television again, rather than in this foreign territory with the curse hanging over her head.

She smiled pitiably, and her eyes turned down. "I had trouble even t-touching my b-backpack to see what was inside," she confessed as if it were in any way her failing that led to such a difficulty.

I growled before I could stop myself.

She glanced at me warily.

"Sorry, I'm not upset with you, Elise."

"I know," she said. "I'm sure I would have s-succeeded if I hadn't b-been interrupted. I'm going to tr-try again next time I'm alone."

I could feel my anger growing again. I really had to get a hold of myself.

She put her hand on my arm and her soft skin burned me in a good way.

She knew me so well I probably had not actually managed to hide any of my uncontrolled emotions from her.

It was no wonder I wanted her, she was the whole package. Beauty and brains and quiet strength.

I almost told her then and there, but I stopped myself. She did not need another burden to carry right now.

I had waited this long. I would just have to wait for another tomorrow.

* * * * * * * * *

We continued chatting and I tried my best to sidetrack her from her new miserable circumstances. While I did that, I bullied her into eating a grand total of seven carrot sticks and three and a half crackers. At least she drank most of her lemonade so she would not die of dehydration just yet.

"You can get by without food for a while, but you need water."

"Thanks f-for the public service announcement, grandma," she said pointedly, sounding completely like herself for one sweet moment.

"Hey, it's not my fault that I care about you," I told her and then I wondered if she would read more than my intent into my words, or rather read my true hidden intent into what I had said.

Ugh, my thoughts were way too convoluted. This whole mess was making me overthink everything as if I really were my own anxious grandmother.

Giving Elise grandmother vibes was about the last thing I wanted to do, but if I had not pestered her she probably would not have eaten anything at all.

It was quandary indeed.

She smiled at me mischievously. "Don't worry, you're n-not that much like your grandma."

At least teasing me seemed to take away that beaten down expression for a second. "Well, thanks for that."

"She's really old and you're n-not old, n-not yet, anyway." She grinned.

"So the only thing separating me and grandma is years?" I asked her with feigned mock offense. I would have preferred a different joke comparison. I could hardly think of a worse one.

"I d-don't know why you're so upset. I love your grandma. But I'm s-sure there's some other differences between you two," she said, with a wickedly sweet smile that put me in mind of very different things that were completely inappropriate under the circumstances.

I grinned back at her anyways.

Then her face fell and I wondered if I had said something wrong.

"I th-think it's b-been an hour," she commented, all former levity gone.

I didn't give a damn about the bastard's arbitrary time limit, but she seemed to get fidgety at the idea. Next time I would ensure he would give me a day, or a week, or...

"Maybe I should just stay here with you," I suggested. I had not thought of it before, but the idea had some merit. I could keep my eye on that bastard and if he even thought of laying a hand on her I could snap his arm off.

The Trifecta could surely manage; he could still lead his people without one arm. I was certain it would be fine.

She smiled a bit. "N-no, my father, our pack needs you, especially now. I'm really gl-glad to see you, but I know that you all need to focus. I'll b-be f-fine."

I nodded. I knew she was tough, but even the strongest werewolves had things they could not overcome alone. There was a reason wolves lived in packs; there was a reason humans lived in communities.

Werewolves are social animals by nature and by magic; we are not meant to be alone.

Still, though I hated to admit it, and though I knew she was lying to me, she had a point. I had no choice but to submit to her decision. I was not going to attempt to force her will like that bastard who had cursed her.

"Bye Matt," she said.

"Take care, Elise," I said fervently.

She smiled again and then scurried to the back door. I watched as she paused for a long moment before putting her hand on the handle. I could see the tremors she could not hide as she turned it and disappeared back into the bastard's lair.

I waited, sprawled out in the deck chair for another minute after the door closed behind her to be sure that she was safely gone. Then I pushed up and strode around to the front of the house and knocked on the door firmly, but not unreasonably hard.

Kicking the door down would have felt unbelievably good, but neither Nick nor Elise needed more trouble right then so I restrained myself.

While I waited I began contemplating just walking in uninvited if the door was unlocked, but then the door was opened to reveal just the bastard I wanted to talk to.

He did not look impressed to see me again, but I could not have cared less, in fact I rather enjoyed his annoyance.

"What do you want now?" he asked.

"To speak to you," I responded.

He made no move to invite me inside. I might have been able to imagine he had not heard me, but for the slight quizzical raising of his eyebrow.

I did not care about the slight, or if anyone heard my words so long as Elise was out of earshot and that only because it seemed to bother her when I threatened him.

The bastard looked like he was listening, so I went for it.

"If you make Elise do anything she doesn't want to do, or if you further harm her in any way, I swear I will free her the only way I know how; pack politics, eastern wolves, and consequences be damned," I threatened.

He was not the only one who could give warnings.

"Oh? Very well. If I harm her you can try to kill me," he agreed. He seemed aggravatingly unconcerned by my threat.

I held in my growl. "I mean it."

"I know," he said. He stepped back and shut the door firmly in my face.

I made my way to the trees, stripped, and transformed. I grasped my clothing in my teeth and ran through the forest to my own lands, my mind on Elise and the curse and what I would have liked to do to the bastard the entire way.

* * * * * * * * *