Chapter 14 –– Dawoud Dzib

After Dawoud passed out, everyone returned to the mansion early to have a healer have a check on him before the festival was even over. The healer stated to the family that he was just having a hormonal imbalance and he was getting more stable at the moment. The healer told Noam specifically as his intended to stay by his side until he woke up.

After the healer left, there were only Lord Hamza, Lady Rochlin, and Noam in the room; with Dawoud lying on his bed.

“I’m sorry that you ended up getting dragged to this, Lord Noam,” Lord Hamza apologised.

“You didn’t even get to enjoy the best part of the Bluemoon Festival,” Lady Rochlin added.

“That’s alright. As long as he is safe, I am content,” Noam told them.

“Also, about our arrangement....” Lady Rochlin spoke yet was hesitant to tell him her whole opinion.

“What we’re trying to say is, after all that you’ve been through including the fact that we hid Dawoud’s condition from you, it is completely alright if you want to withdraw from the arrangement. We will understand that,” Lord Hamza spoke stoically.

“We do wish that you would reconsider, nevertheless. I think you two suit each other very well. But, again, it’s all up to you two. No pressure,” Lady Rochlin reassured him once again.

Noam just sat still in silence, having a moment to think.

Suddenly, Dawoud regained consciousness and opened his eyes.

“Noam?”

His first word was the name of the boy sitting beside him, Noam. His parents knew that this was the time for them to be together, so they left them two on their own.

“What happened?” Dawoud asked.

“Dawoud, your curse acted up again and Noam saved you from it,” Lady Rochlin told him briefly.

“H-huh? I don’t.....remember....”

“Well, you’ll have plenty of time to remember. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”

Lord Hamza and Lady Rochlin left Dawoud’s room so that the two can talk without anyone else in the room.

“How are you feeling, Dawoud?”

“My head hurts....”

Suddenly, Dawoud noticed a bandage wrapped around Noam’s arm.

“What happened to you?”

“Oh, I just got a scratch. That’s all.”

“Did I do that?”

“While you were feral, yeah.”

Dawoud softly touched the bandage. He wanted to make sure Noam was fine.

“Does it hurt?”

“No,” Noam took Dawoud’s hand and placed it on his body.

“Where??”

“Only here,“ Noam said, pointing at his heart.

Dawoud could feel his heartbeat racing very quickly. The two of them looked at each other in the eyes passionately.

Dawoud put his paw on the back of Noam’s head. He then pulled Noam in towards his lips, kissing him. Dawoud then dragged Noam’s body and placed him on top of his. They then kissed while hugging each other tightly.

The two of them spent the night away, under the Bluemoon.

The next day, Noam was getting prepared to go back home to his village. Syifra and some other staff helped him prepare all the stuff that he needed to bring back home, including some souvenirs Lady Rochlin prepared for his mothers.

“Seriously, this is a bit too much....” Noam said after looking at such generous gifts from Lady Rochlin.

“Nonsense! There is no such thing as too much clothes and fabrics for women!” Lady Rochlin insisted.

After packing all of those stuff into the carriage, the chauffeur for the badgermore was ready to take Noam back to his village.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to accompany you?” Dawoud asked as he saw Noam off before he left.

“No, I’m fine. Besides, the healer told you to rest after yesterday’s incident, didn’t he?”

“You mean after last night’s incident?” Dawoud mischievously asked, implying the time they slept together last night.

“D–Dawoud! Shh!” Noam shushed him while blushing.

“Waaaiitt!!!”

Suddenly, someone shouted from afar. Her voice started getting louder the moment she came closer.

The woman turned up to be Amal. Just like Dawoud, she also went to see Noam off at the border of the village.

“Here. When I saw you at the sanctuary, it felt like I was looking at my past me. I poured my heart into it, so I hope you enjoy it.”

Amal handed him a book that she wrote herself based on her research. The book was called “Birds.”

“Birds.....is that what those creatures are called?”

“Yeah. If you ever visited the capital, I’ll show you more of my work.”

“Thank you. I’ll read it well.”

Fatima who had been standing behind Dawoud was sad to see Noam go. He then reached out his hand to her to embrace her.

“Don’t worry. I’ll come to play again, okay?”

Fatima was happy to hear that and she got excited once more hearing that her favourite uncle was gonna pay her a visit sometime in the future. She was looking forward to his promise.

Lastly, Noam said goodbye to the person who had been taking care of him the most during his stay in Caninus village, his personal handmaiden, Syifra.

“Thank you for your care, Syifra. I hope we could see each other again one day.”

“Yes, my lord. We will.”

“?”

Noam was confused with how Syifra answered that question. But, then again, she had always had a weird personality so it didn’t bother him as much.

After everyone in the family said goodbye to him, Noam then returned to his village.

“Thank you, Caninus village,” Noam whispered softly as he left the village.

The moment Noam arrived home, her mothers greeted him right in front of the door.

“Woah! Why did you bring so much stuff?” his mother asked.

“Lady Rochlin said she had some stuff to give to you two.”

“A dress! A traditional Caninus dress! I love it!!”

While his mother fawn over the stuff that Lady Rochlin gave to them, his mama asked him a personal question.

“So, how did you like it there?”

“Unexpectedly a lot of drama. But it was fun. I learnt a lot.”

“Oh really? That’s nice. Is that a book from him?” his mama pointed at the book that Amal gave to him.

“Nope! It was....from a friend I made there!”

“Ah, you even made a friend? I’m so proud of you!” his mama patted his head.

“So, do you think you want to continue the mating arrangement with Dawoud?” his mother asked while trying on some dress that Lady Rochlin gave to them.

“I....”

Noam’s mothers looked at him curiously. They waited for his response patiently.

“I think I want to get to know him more. Yeah.”

Noam said with a smile. His mothers sighed in relief and were glad to hear it. Dawoud and Noam were getting closer to bond as mates.