He waited by the front gate of Dawn's house - a miniature cobalt-blue house with a white roof and framed windows. The meticulously trimmed bushes that stood along the gate and patches of flowers regularly filled the area in front of the house and attracted all of the werewolf's attention. He possessed more knowledge in herbs and medicinal plants rather than flowers, so he took a note to ask Dawn about the names of blossoms that embellished her front garden.

Adjusting the strap of his leather satchel, Aedan thought that the trip to the meadow he had in mind would aid Dawn to live through the loss of her job. Even if he hadn't the slightest idea of the rare plants that he had mentioned the night before.

What plants would she consider as rare?

The Perennial Crimson-Root Bittercress! Definitely!

Although, he had to make sure to avoid long exposure to this plant and inhalation of its spore that could result in a sleepless night he didn't wish to have.

What would happen if his wolf took control over him once again?

It would be a complete disaster, and I would have to drill my way down into the ground, Aedan snapped in his mind.

Losing control wasn't an option.

There was no room for mistakes, so Aedan took a deep breath and blew it out swiftly through his lips. He tugged his dark coat tighter around himself and run a hand through his inky curls. Aedan hoped his attire for the day out was appropriate for the occasion with his loose dark-blue trousers tucked into his boots, a dark laced-up shirt and a dark woollen coat, that seemed too small for him. Perhaps, he needed to pay a visit to a seamstress on the Main Street of Wolfbourgh the next time Isaac had errands for him, Gabriel and Idris.

Aedan had left his cabin right when the dawn started to break to be there at Dawn's house like he promised. The chilly, late autumn air was stirring and freshening as Aedan trekked the semi-naked forest. The sky was a soft plum in colour, idly lightening as the sun switched places with the moon. The moon was a dull waxing crescent in the morning sky, and werewolves knew that it wasn't long until the Beavers Full Moon. And the next full moon, the Cold Moon, would mark the start of winter and the end of the year.

The werewolf was excited but nervous at the same time; the boy was going insane since last night. It felt as if he had experienced the most varied kaleidoscope of emotions.

He was going to meet a human, and it wasn't Matthew - it was Dawn. He had met a few humans before, but they were unimpressive. The girl, on the other hand, intrigued him as no one else had before.

The second most intriguing thing he found was the nature in all of its aspects. And the third was the world beyond the borders of Starleten. Perhaps, the latter could easily merge with the second because it was as unwilling to be encapsulated as nature was.

Dawn emerged from the back of the house, at last, clothed in a deep-blue dress that billowed around her as she walked in between the flower beds towards Aedan. Her beige coat was unbuttoned as if she wasn't feeling cold at all. Long, chestnut-brown hair cascaded in waves over her shoulders down to her waist. A basket woven of wood splints poked from her side, and there were two red apples in her hands.

As she approached Aedan, she tossed one of the apples at him. "Catch!"

Aedan's reflexes screamed at him, and he caught the apple effortlessly. He noticed Dawn gaping at him. "I used to play ball a lot with my brothers," he cleared his throat as his voice had gotten stuck in his throat.

No option to slip in anything she wouldn't want to know.

She shook her head, "It's good to see you today," she said, her almond-shaped eyes glinting in the pale sunlight.

Aedan nodded and adjusted the satchel's strap on his shoulder, his eyes fixed on the girl in front of him. Purple shadows lurked beneath Dawn's lightened eyes, but her wide smile with a tooth gap obliterated any sign of sleep deprival.

Munching at the apples from Dawn's orchard, they embarked for their journey into the forest that neighboured with the girl's small cottage.

They set off into the wilderness of nature, the habitat of the werewolves, animals and tall trees of various species. A mysterious place of authentic beauty. An ageless beauty.

The forest was Aedan's sanctuary; a place of reverie and unfulfilled dreams. Trees never rebuked Aedan for his ideas, opinions, behaviour and style; they never implied he was too human or pretended to be one. Perhaps, being born as a werewolf was not something he was moulded for, and he was better off to walk the ground as a human.

He remembered his father, Elias, who scolded Aedan for reading late at night and spending his evening hunched over his desk, memorising material given by the Moon Weaver. Elias hated the elderly man and condemned his teachings.

There seemed to be not a single person Elias agreed with or respected. Not even his beloved mate, Aedan' and Gabriel's mother.

Aedan's chest tightened with old pain that brought him back to reality. He was walking next to a girl, whom he didn't even know. A girl whose mental wall he had yet to gain entry through.

Aedan wondered for days why he felt deeply attached to her, like a bee to a flower, and came to a belief that she was very much like him.

Maybe it was the fact that she never mentioned her mother or father - it was always her aunt. She spent her time losing herself in gardening to escape the reality just like he happily studied to avoid seeing other werewolves in his pack.

She was too punished for being who she was.

They both were wrapped in many layers of self-worth, self-reproach and self-depreciation, and the only thought of being similar to each other made Aedan feel light-headed.

"What is on your mind?" Dawn questioned beside him.

Aedan started, his breath catching in his throat. He sighed raggedly, "Just some nostalgic thoughts that like to visit my mind now and then."

He smiled at her worried expression.

"Do you ever feel exposed to the forest? As if it can swallow you whole and devour all of the secrets within," she asked, shuddering slightly.

They were ambling down a path that Aedan had set them on. It led to a large meadow that Aedan thought was safe to go to. The meadow was located a very safe distance away from the pack's headquarters, and this time of the day werewolves spent scarfing large breakfast meals and heading to the training area.

"Forest has become my home, I think. I have grown up here, spent all of my time here, surrounded by trees and birds. I am fond of it," he answered. It felt strange to listen to his heart pound in his ears.

"I understand," she sighed, "I can't imagine living anywhere else other than my village. I have enjoyed visiting Fairenville and what's beyond, too, although I don't get much time to do that because of my work and obligations," she looked as if something had struck her, "However, work will never be in the way anymore," the girl continued, a ghost of a smile dancing across her face.

"I am sorry that I can't be of help," Aedan murmured, dipping his head.

"You are the kindest, thank you for letting me join you for a walk," she grinned, "In fact, I know a few manors with a poor and unkempt garden, even though there is an existing gardener. Hence, all it takes for me is the power of persuasion and invented tales that I am a wonderful gardener, who will transform their garden into an ethereal place!" delivered she, catching her breath at the end of her reply.

"I am sure that you will live up to these invented tales, and, in the end, they will become the true tales of Dawn the Gardener!" Aedan smirked.

"Would it sound absolutely, no, terribly coincidental if I told you that my last name was Gardner?"

Aedan composed an expression of utter surprise. "Say that again?" Dawn giggled. "The world is telling you that you were born to become an immaculate master of your craft."

"I don't recall you telling me of your occupation other than arranging sales in neighbouring villages for chopped wood. Surely there is something else you enjoy doing in your free time?"

"Yes, there is something. I enjoy studying plants and animals," he replied.

"Then plants is our shared enthusiasm! Will you be collecting plants, too?". Her eyes flickered with excitement.

He perceived her heart pick up a beat and he laughed. Laughed with a sonorous laugh that echoed off the tree trunks and shot back at the two. Dawn looked at him in confusion, the corners of her mouth quirking up amusedly.

Aedan smiled, "No, but I will be doing something else!" The werewolf cradled his satchel and patted its pockets.

Dawn gasped, "What is it?".

Aedan chuckled, seeing her widened eyes. Sunlight played with her flowing hair, bringing out coppery tones in it. Her cheeks and nose were crimson from the frosty air that reigned in the forest, and their warm conversation was the fire that kept them warm. Murky trees behind her passed in sharp contrast to her shimmering head, as she rivalled with Aedan's frequent strides.

"You will find out very soon," he said as they were getting closer to the magnificent meadow, waiting for them at the end of the path.

Her excitement mended to disappointment. "Secrets, then?"

It was Aedan's turn to appear disappointed. His leisure activity wasn't even a secret compared to his real secret. His identity and his nature. Aedan composed himself swiftly because, after all, it was too early to think about that, and for now he was able to enjoy the time with her.

"No, it's more of a pleasant surprise," he smiled mysteriously.

The later walk was short until they reached a clearing, leading to the meadow.

Aedan heard Dawn draw a deep breath. When he rotated his head, her mouth was formed in an "o", her face struck by the splendour of the scenery before her eyes.

Aedan and Dawn stared into the vast collection of hillocks and hills that rose from the ground, on the left and the right, creating a shallow valley. A valley was ordered by the eminence surrounding it.

Specks of frost flecked the grass that covered the ground in a fluffy but inelastic blanket as if it was dusted with snowy-white sugar powder. Various wildflowers that stayed feebly erect in colder weather littered the covering, joining the numerous plants that idled on top of the grass, waiting to start the blooming season after winter. Gnawing trees sparsely spaced at the edges of the meadow and in between the hills.

Aedan breathed in the scent that reminded him of his strolls here on summer mornings. He could sense the notes of lavender and sweet alyssum from his memory.

"This place is magical," she breathed.

Aedan felt relieved that Dawn liked this place, omitting the fact that its original beauty disintegrated into the air as autumn displaced summer and winter displaced autumn.

He mentally noted to himself to show this place to Dawn again during spring, when all of the wildflowers would bloom and the scent would intoxicate anyone's right senses.

"Shall we take a walk and find the Perennial Crimson-Root Bittercress?" Aedan asked.

"What is that plant?" she exclaimed, bewildered and with her brows raised, her wide forehead creasing.

"It's a plant used in treating sleep deprival, suppressing agitated behaviour and increased activity of your mind. In other words, if you can't sleep at night because a thousand thoughts are inhabiting your head shamelessly, that would be something you would have, infused with tea leaves."

"You were not making it up when you said you liked studying plants," Dawn bobbed her head. "If you don't mind, I would like to collect a lot of it," she paused, "I like to dry herbs to preserve their healing abilities."

"Then you are lucky to have me because I know exactly where to look for them," Aedan grinned at the girl, silently thanking his werewolf abilities.

Scenting the Bittercress - with its distinct aroma of horseradish - was easy for Aedan, although he would need to pretend he was trying to refresh his memory and, possibly, lead her in a wrong direction at first until they finally found the plant.

I wish I didn't have to lie to her.

After they ambled through the valley for what felt like hours, brushing through the vegetation carefully on several occasions, Aedan called for Dawn. She hopped through the debris immediately, her hair plastered to her head because of the cold, but the long locks bounced with every move.

When she reached him, a waft of sweet yet fresh scent waved over Aedan. He considered why werewolf girls in his pack smelled of wind and freedom, whilst Dawn, being the village girl, smelled like sweet liberty and lilac skies. Village girls were not subject to free will, they spent most of their time in the house, preparing meals and tidying the house, unlike werewolf girls. Maybe it was the interests her heart laid with - gardening did prosperity to her state of mind and singled her out of the many girls of her generation.

Dawn reached out to touch the plant, an unreadable expression etching her facial features. Her brows knit together as she knelt next to Aedan.

Aedan's heart fell. Was she not impressed?

"Is this the Perennial Crimson-Root Bittercress?" the girl whispered, her reddened fingertips grazing the elongated leaves with yellow spots marring its surface. A band of crimson was visible at the base of the stem as Aedan held the other plants around it apart for a better view of it.

"Why, yes?" Aedan confirmed.

"My Aunt," she started, "she always prepares this tea, just like you mentioned earlier, and I could spot red stems at the bottom of a cup every time. She never told me why she made this tea for as long as I could remember myself, but this drink is the only one I ever have," Dawn murmured, "to be honest, I want it and I wouldn't be able to live without it."

Aedan frowned and scratched his chin. "Have you ever been a bad sleeper? It helps with nightmares, I believe. It almost sedates you, and, in fact, it is not advised to take this in your drink during the day as it could potentially disorder your mental activity."

Dawn replied with silence. Her eyes never left the plant.

Aedan sensed panic building up within her. "It's best to ask your Aunt, Dawn," he said softly.

She nodded her head, sniffling, "She would tell another lie I would obediently absorb, what is the point in that?"

Aedan clenched his jaw and inclined his head to fix his eyes with hers. "You don't deserve it, Dawn. You don't need to be patient and let others place you into a constant flow of uncertainty and lies. Maybe it was time to push it further?"

Dawn's eyes flicked to his, sadness reflecting into the mirror of her soul.

That was why the Moon Weaver always told me that eyes never tell lies.

"Look for her eyes," he suddenly said, "look at what they tell you."

Her lips stretched into a sad smile, her whole face lighting up. "That is what I am exactly going to do. Thank you," she half-whispered.

For some reason, Aedan was conscious of the hollowness that matured inside his chest. It felt as if he destroyed Dawn's perfect cottage with his presence and existence. He felt upset for suggesting this stupid 'walk for plants' in the first place. If he had known that this would come up, he would have never taken her to see this plant.

I am a terrible wolf and an even more terrible person.

Not giving it much of a thought, Aedan slipped a leather-covered object, which he had been holding inside his coat, into Dawn's basket.