Ylva carried Jason through the winding streets of Eldrath without another word about the fight. Her steps were steady and strong, but Jason could feel the tension in her shoulders. The glowing lanterns and elegant stone buildings passed by in a blur until they reached a small, weathered hut tucked away near the edge of the city. Vines climbed the walls, and the air grew thick the moment they stepped inside.
The hut belonged to an older werewolf who looked to be on her last legs. Her fur was graying and patchy, her back hunched, and her movements slow. The entire area was surrounded by multiple herbs hanging from the ceiling and piled on shelves. The strong, bitter scent hit Jason instantly, irritating his nose and making his eyes water the moment they stepped in. This wasn't a place he wanted to be. He understood why he was here despite seeing some dried up body parts hanging on hooks in the corner — paws, tails, and other unidentifiable bits that made his stomach turn.
"Ylva? You are here which means you found a mate?" the elder werewolf asked in a raspy voice, her cloudy eyes lighting up with curiosity.
Ylva's ears flattened against her head and she looked embarrassed to tell her that Jason was her mate. Without warning, she dropped Jason on the ground. He landed hard on his buttocks with a thud.
"Hey! That hurt!" Jason screamed, rubbing his ass while glaring up at her.
The older werewolf was intrigued by Jason. He had features that didn't look normal at all. His skin was too smooth for his own good, almost unnaturally so.
"You have chosen a strange mate…" the elder said, tilting her head. "Hey, would you mind me taking your left arm?"
Jason recoiled in caution. "What? Of course not! Are you crazy!?" he barked, scooting backward on the floor.
The elder werewolf was surprised he could speak their language so fluently. "You do not regenerate?" she asked, genuinely confused by his reaction.
"Of course I do. Take my head while you are at it," Jason barked sarcastically.
"Splendid!" the elder said brightly and brought out a rusty knife, already moving toward him.
"That was fucking sarcasm you crazy wolf!" Jason barked at her, eyes wide.
The elder just stared at him for a long moment before averting her gaze to Ylva. Ylva wanted the floor to swallow her whole, her cheeks burning under her fur.
"H-He was injured protecting me…" Ylva mumbled, avoiding eye contact. "I want you to check on him to see if he will be fine."
The elder leaned in close to Jason, examining his body briefly with her clawed fingers before sighing and looking back at Ylva. "He will be fine. How did he get these injuries? They do not seem serious."
Ylva proceeded to tell her exactly how he got the injuries — the stampede, the orcs, the merman, the fight with the traitors, and Luna's sudden arrival. The elder was visibly shocked, her old eyes widening.
"This fragile looking boy? That is odd," the elder said, shaking her head. She gestured for him to get on a wooden table so she could inspect him properly.
Jason could still feel pain, but even he knew it would be a good idea to keep his adaptation system under wraps. "I am stronger than I look," he blurted out as he climbed onto the table with Ylva's help.
The elder analyzed him closely, her nose twitching. "He bears striking resemblance to an elf," she muttered. Jason noticed she had been declawed — her hands were blunt with no sharp talons — and she had no fangs left. Upon closer inspection, he could see old wounds and scars covering her body.
"Elves? What do you mean elves?" Jason questioned, but the elder was too busy inspecting his wounds, pressing gently on his ribs and the gash on his side.
"He does not have any internal injuries, but his body does need to rest," the elder finally said, stepping back.
Ylva looked relieved that it wasn't serious. Jason could tell — she might not want to admit it, but she had taken a liking to him. Her ears perked up slightly and her tail gave a small, involuntary wag.
Jason knew this meant he would be able to explore this city just a little longer while he recovered from his injuries. Which also meant Ylva had to take care of him during this time.
The elder wiped her hands on a rag and looked between them. "Keep him off his feet for at least two days. Feed him well. And no rough mating until the bruises fade."
Ylva's face turned even redder. "We weren't— I mean— he's just a guest!"
Jason smirked from the table, unable to resist. "Just a guest? After the way you rode me earlier, I thought we were past the 'guest' stage. Don't worry, grandma wolf, I'll behave… mostly."
The elder chuckled hoarsely. "He has spirit. Strange skin, strange tongue, but spirit. Take him to rest, Ylva. Bring him back if the pain worsens."
Ylva helped Jason down from the table, slinging his arm over her shoulder again. As they left the herb-filled hut, the irritating smell still clinging to their clothes, Jason leaned closer to her ear.
"So… two days of rest, huh? You gonna carry me around Eldrath like this the whole time? Or are you finally going to admit you like having me around?"
Ylva growled softly but didn't pull away. "You talk too much. If you keep teasing me, I might just leave you here with the dried body parts."
Jason laughed, even though it hurt his ribs. "You won't. You like my 'strange mate' energy too much. Admit it — that coochie session wasn't just mating season. You enjoyed it."
"Shut up before I drop you again," Ylva muttered, but there was no real anger in her voice. She kept walking, supporting most of his weight as they moved deeper into the city streets toward whatever resting place Luna had arranged.
Jason glanced back at the hut one last time, then at the towering palace on the hill. Despite the pain and the crazy old werewolf, he felt a spark of excitement. Eldrath was full of possibilities, and with Ylva stuck taking care of him for the next couple of days, he planned to make the most of it — using his brain, cracking jokes, and maybe getting another taste of that fire coochie once he healed.
For now, though, he was content to let the strong werewolf carry him a little longer.