My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 102: Recovery

Violet

The residential district near the castle was nothing like the ones near the settlements.

I walked slowly through the winding streets, taking in the stark difference between this part of the capital and where I had trained with the others. A lot of the buildings here weren’t just functional, but even more beautiful, elaborate, and intricate. While there were a number of structures like the ones I had seen before, most of the structures seemed designed with even more careful attention, bearing a few resemblances to the castle. From elegant stone archways to decorative carvings that adorned doorways and window frames.

The rest were fenced with a mixture of earth and stone with swirling gem designs that mimicked vines and flowers, catching the fading evening light in interesting ways. Some houses had gates made of dark, polished wood with gleaming metal fixtures.

It didn’t take a lot of admiring to notice this part of the capital was wealthier.

I found myself pausing often, admiring details I would have never noticed before. The way certain homes had small gardens visible through their gates, meticulously maintained with flowering bushes and carefully trimmed hedges. The ornamental stones placed strategically along pathways. Even the street itself was cleaner here, the tiles perfectly fitted without gaps or cracks.

I drew a number of stares wherever I went, and even as I ignored them, they bothered me a bit. Their curiosity about my energy aside, my attire drew looks. I wasn’t sure why it had been such a good idea to have worn the casual pants and shirt when I could have worn some of what Astrid had brought me. Those dresses would fit better here compared to what I had on.

Thankfully, I had worn the card around my wrist. That would have likely prevented any wolf from approaching me to ask about my whereabouts here.

I changed routes and decided to make my way to the nearest market place. At least I would be able to blend in more with the crowds there. Though, I wish I could have gone faster.

My body felt surprisingly good, all things considered.

The persistent ache between my legs had faded to almost nothing and it was now manageable. And I could move without any sharp pain in my lower back interrupting me... though it had taken nearly the whole day for my body to recover from that.

I had been a bit fearful earlier, lying in that bed alone after he had left. Wondering if the soreness I felt was normal for a first time, or if it was different because of who, or rather, what he was. He was larger, stronger, more powerful than an average wolf in every way.

Most likely including this too.

And then that swelling...

My face burned at the memory, and I forced myself to focus on the buildings around me instead.

Was that a normal thing? I had never heard anything about it!

At least I could walk now without feeling like something fundamental had shifted inside me... even if that had definitely happened.

There were far fewer wolves than I had seen earlier the first time I was heading towards the castle with Turin and the others. It had been the same way in the castle too and within the courtyard. I had overheard enough whispered conversations to understand why.

Many wolves had already left for the Red Woods.

Setting up camps. Preparing for the hunt that would begin in less than two days now.

I passed a small group of wolves gathered near a street corner, their voices carrying clearly in the evening air.

"—wish I could go closer. Just to see the start of it, you know?"

"What’s the point?" another responded, laughing. "It’s not like you’d actually see anything. All you’d be doing is standing around the perimeter waiting for news."

"Still," the first wolf insisted. "Being there when it starts, feeling the energy of it... that’s different than just hearing about it a week later."

Another voice joined in, "Oh, please. I am more interested in the eclipse! Can you imagine? A solar eclipse right during the hunt? The moon’s influence will be even stronger during the day. Anyone participating is going to get a massive boost."

"Wandering the city under that beautiful sky would be a lovely sight to behold too," someone else commented.

"You see the vision," a voice chuckled.

"If the wolves participating survive, that is," someone muttered darkly.

"Oh, don’t start with that. There surely won’t be more deaths than before this time. The eclipse would..."

The conversation faded as the distance between us increased, but their words lingered in my mind.

A solar eclipse during the hunt. From the snippets I had heard, the wolves had felt it for some reason apparently, and I hadn’t. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because I didn’t have a wolf or that I was a Lycan.

I glanced up at the sky. I had never seen an eclipse before, but I had learned at some point they appear at different parts of the world and not everywhere at once.

But the hunt itself...

I frowned, my steps slowing as I considered what I knew about it.

I understood using dangerous creatures to grow stronger, to prove oneself, to protect the territory. It made practical sense, even if the violence of it unsettled me.

But the other part... 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Wolves fighting against each other. Competing not just against the creatures but against their own kind. Deaths were expected. Celebrated, even.

I recalled the strange pride in Turin’s voice when he had particularly talked about those deaths.

It didn’t sit right with me.

They were already facing threats from the Righgs. Why pit themselves against each other on top of that? Why make it a competition where your own pack members, your allies from other territories, became obstacles or targets too?

I knew I didn’t fully understand their culture. I was an outsider in so many ways, still learning the rules and customs that governed this nation. But this particular tradition felt wrong to me. Unnecessarily brutal.

And Kael was allowing it...