YEARS LATER

"IF you’re going to stand there insulting my mother’s herbs, at least buy something first."

The man grew red in rage.

Around him the market erupted in laughter.

I sat comfortably at the top of Mrs Rowena’s fruit stall with one leg dangling over the edge while a small brown bird picked up seeds from palm.

The early morning sun felt warm against my skin whilst the marketplace smelled of fresh bread, roasted fish and meat, herbs, fruits and sea salt drifting from the sea.

After coming here for years since I was a child, it was still the same.

The small angry man pointed his fat finger at me.

"Your mother’s mixtures nearly burned my.... Errr.... "

He went red in shame and I had an inkling what he was about to say.

"Cats got your tongue sir?" I rose a mocking brow. And then I cleared my throat. "Well I do remember my mother telling you to abstain from any sort of em.... Dalliances,"

My eyes dropped down to the front of his trousers.

"Down there." I finished.

And they all burst into laughter.

"You insolent girl." He said his face now gone a fresh pink.

"Words don’t have an effect on me." I shrugged. "You should know that by now. Now run along. I’m sure you don’t want me exposing what your real problem is."

He shut his mouth immediately.

"You won’t get away with this!" He cursed at me.

"Ruby!"

My mother’s horrified voice cut through the crowd.

I looked over innocently as she pushed through the market stalls carrying bundles of herbs against her chest.

Her dark braid had already loosened from the heat and exhaustion of the morning while disappointment was written all over her face.

"Why are you on someone’s stall again." She demanded.

"Perspective." I answered quickly.

She gave me dirty stare that told me if I didn’t come down, I probably wouldn’t have any legs to climb again.

I hastily came off the stall.

"She has been terrorizing poor Damon for the past ten minutes." Mrs Rowena snitched.

"He insulted your healing tonics," I informed my mother as I jumped down from the stall gracefully. "I was defending your honor."

"You called him fungus-faced." Mrs Rowena aka Mrs Nobody asked chipped in.

"Well..." I dusted off my skirt. "His face does resemble fungus slightly.

The bird flew from my palm onto my mother’s basket instead.

Mother pinched the bridge of her nose.

"One day," she muttered, "the goddess will finally punish me for raising you."

I grinned and hooked my arm through hers.

"You love me."

"I truly wonder why." She replied.

I giggled as I dragged her to our stall.

Once I had the opportunity I turned back and stuck a tongue at Mrs Rowena.

I turned back and laughed loudly, leaning my head against my mother’s shoulder while she tried very hard not to smile.

People stared at us as we walked.

They always did.

Some smiled warmly.

Others whispered.

I had long grown used to it.

The women often said I was too wild and unladylike.

The men usually stared too long.

Much longer than at any other girl in the village.

And the older wolves constantly warned my mother that I climbed too many trees, spoke too loudly, laughed too freely, and behaved nothing like a proper young woman.

Personally, I thought proper young women sounded exhausting.

"Ruby," Mother said suddenly.

"Hm?"

"Please try behaving yourself today."

"That depends mother."

She sighed heavily already knowing she would regret asking.

"On what?"

"Whether people annoy me." I replied mischievously as we went on our way. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

❧

I followed mother out of the market stalls, her basket now in my arms as we walked arm in arms.

We had come to the market to buy ingredients for herbs.

My mother was the best healer in the entire pack.

And yet because we were poor, some people used that as a means to mock us.

I hated it so much and I would never stand and watch anyone saying things about her.

Especially when I knew she did it for the good of it.

"You should ignore such people." Mother said gently nudging at my arm.

"I’m not going to let anyone get away with saying awful things about you. Never." I replied adamantly.

Mother sighed weakly.

Before I could say a word, a tall towering figure appeared before us.

I knew instantly who it was.

"Aston?" My mother announced.

I squeezed my face instantly.

"Penelope." He said to mother.

"It’s Lady Penelope." I snapped at him.

Aston was the son of the Pack’s Lycan.

He came from a wealthy family and for years he had done nothing but chase me consistently.

He was the worst of the worst; A bully, selfish, controlling, proud and believed the world evolved around him.

I didn’t hesitate to remind him it didn’t.

"Ahhhh fair beautiful Aria." He winked at me.

I pulled mother to the side as we walked away, avoiding him.

But Aston wasn’t one to easily let go of things.

"Why do you keep on being disrespectful to me?" He asked me.

"Why do you keep on showing you have zero self respect." I snapped back and the people around went hush.

"Ruby-

My mother began to pacify me.

"No mum." I said gently setting her hand away from my shoulder and stepping up to Gaston. "I have had it with you."

"No means no. I don’t care what you have. Who you are. I don’t want anything to do with you. You will never be my mate. I’ll rather crawl in dirt than be involved with the likes of you." I hissed.

He looked as though he wanted to rip me into pieces.

But I saw the way he looked at my mother.

As though she terrified him.

"I’m letting you go just because of your mother." He promised and walked away.

I fidgeted with my emerald necklace as the crowd dispersed.