My Once Handsome Husband

Delaney listened as the strange sound outside got louder and louder. Her fuzzy mind still couldn't quite figure out what it was. She closed her eyes and felt her heart pound in her chest.

The men on the top of the carriage shouted and Delaney strained to hear what they were saying. There was more shouting around them.

Looking out the window she saw a horse race past. She quickly closed the curtains and pressed herself into her seat as she felt the carriage begin to slow.

This was not good.

Her heart was about to burst from her chest when the carriage finally came to a stop. Moments later the door was ripped open, nearly tearing it from its hinges.

Delaney jumped and opened her eyes to see Vincent's enraged face staring in at her. She gasped and slid farther back into the carriage.

"What do you think you are doing?" he hissed, black eyes shining with fury. Delaney saw in the moonlight that his marks were inflamed on his face. Maybe even swollen.

"I-I'm sorry," she stammered, "I-I can't stay h-here."

"You are my wife," he shouted, "You will live with me! That was our agreement!"

Just then a wolf howled so near, both of their eyes went wide. Vincent pulled himself quickly up into the carriage on his knees and pulled the cushions from the seat across from Delaney.

With them gone she saw this carriage was like his others and there was a compartment hiding underneath. He grabbed something from it and was gone from the doorway, slamming the door closed behind him.

"Stay there," he shouted back to her.

Shaking now, Delaney moved quickly to the window and looked out.

Vincent stood in the middle of the road with his sword drawn, flashing in the moonlight.

The bushes along the road moved and suddenly an enormous wolf jumped out, straight at him.

Delaney screamed but Vincent moved. With a swing of his arm, the sword sliced through the wolf's throat, spraying blood as it fell to the ground. In only seconds though another had taken it's place, jumping at him.

The air filled with the snarling, growling, sounds of the wolves, and the yelps when they were hurt. Blood stained the ground all around Vincent.

Delaney could only watch as more and more wolves came flooding from the woods. Arrows flew through the air as the men on top of the carriage shot at the wolves too. They couldn't shoot the ones closest to their master though and chance hitting him.

Vincent was a marvel as he spun, sword in hand, slicing one wolf after the next. He was so fast Delaney could barely follow his movements. She gripped the frame of the carriage window so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her breath was coming in gasps.

The wolves started to fall back and stop replacing the ones Vincent had taken down. Then, at last, they stopped coming back altogether. The ones that were left retreated back into the forest, their numbers greatly depleted.

Vincent turned to face the carriage, covered in blood, chest heaving from the fight. He took a few steps over the bodies of the beasts but stumbled and fell to his knees.

Without thinking, Delaney threw open the carriage door and dropped to the ground. She hurried to Vincent as he was pushing himself back to his feet.

"What are you doing? Get back in the carriage," he panted, looking at Delaney desperately.

"Are you hurt?" she whispered as she grabbed his arm to help pull him up.

The men had gotten off the carriage now and rushed to their master. One moved to help him but he waved him away.

"I'm alright," he managed, "Just need to catch my breath."

He didn't push Delaney away though so she helped him to the carriage. He ordered one of the men to ride his mount back, leaving the other to drive the team of horses pulling the carriage.

"In the morning you can bring a wagon and some of the men and collect these," he gestured to the wolves, "Their pelts will sell."

The men nodded and Vincent turned to Delaney holding out a hand for her to help her up into the carriage.

Delaney hesitated but placed a hand in his and let him help her in even though she felt he was the one that needed it. He got in behind her and collapsed onto the seat beside her.

As the carriage started to move again, Delaney watched him worriedly as he leaned back with his eyes closed, and his chest still heaving. She bit her lip and waited for him to rise.

The forest was silent now as they rode back towards the manor. At last, Vincent stirred, opening his eyes and turning to look at her.

"Are you alright?" she whispered, wringing her hands.

"I've fought dragons," he smirked, "What are a few wolves in comparison?"

She laughed nervously but tears spilled from her eyes. She covered her face with her hands as sobs suddenly wracked her body.

"Delaney," Vincent looked at her with worry, "What's wrong?"

She cried and couldn't speak. He sat up and reached towards her but hesitated and lowered his hand.

"You're alright," he tried, "I wouldn't have let them hurt you."

"I was so scared," she managed, "I was so scared they would kill you!"

Vincent's face filled with surprise. He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came.

"I don't want you to die, Vincent," she cried, "No matter what, I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

He swallowed hard and looked down. Sitting in the carriage in the darkness, Delaney couldn't see the guilt on his face.

"Don't cry," he made himself put a hand on her arm, "It's alright now."

Delaney took his hand from her arm and held it on her lap in both of hers. Vincent studied her curiously, astonished to find she cared at all, let alone enough to cry like this.

By the time the manor came into view, Delaney had completely stopped crying but hadn't let go of his hand. His skin was still surprisingly hot but somehow that, along with the weight of it on her lap was very reassuring after their terrifying experience.

When the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the manor, Vincent winced as he moved to get out.

"Are you alright?" Delaney asked nervously watching him.

He didn't answer as he got out but as soon as he was standing on the ground he swore and clutched his side. Delaney got out quickly and moved to look at him. He was scowling and leaning against the carriage, pressing a hand over a spot on his abdomen now.

For a moment Delaney thought it was his marks causing him pain after the carriage ride but then she realized he was holding the opposite side. His clothes were covered in sweat, blood, and dirt so she couldn't tell anything.

"What is it?" she questioned urgently, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," he mumbled, "I'm fine. You should go to bed now."

"You're not fine. Something's wrong with your side," Delaney frowned at him.

"It's nothing you need to worry about."

Him saying that did nothing but add to her worry. Delaney moved forward and grabbed his hand, pulling it off his abdomen and shoving it away.

"Delaney stop," he tried but she was already pulling his shirt free from his breeches and lifting it to reveal what was underneath.

She gasped when she saw what he had been hiding. A wolf must have bitten him, puncturing his skin and then ripping it when the teeth of the beast had been ripped from him. The gashes were long and blood was pouring from them.

"You-you said you were fine," she stammered, "Why didn't you tell me?"

His breath was coming quickly again now as he looked down at the deep slashes.

Panic filled Delaney as she turned and found the butler at the top of the stairs waiting for them.

"Lord Adair has been bitten by a wolf," she shouted, her voice sounding high pitched even to herself, "Send someone for a doctor!"

The butler sprung into action and began barking orders to the other servants around him. Looking back at Vincent, Delaney was worried about how much blood was rushing out.

"I need to stop the bleeding," Vincent spoke seeing the danger there as well, "I need something to press to it."

"Take off your shirt," Delaney said quickly, "We can use it to suppress the blood."

She moved to pull the rest of his shirt from his waistband but he caught her wrist in his hand.

"No," he whispered urgently, his eyes darting to all the servants around them, "Please don't Delaney. My...My scars..."

She saw he was too embarrassed at the idea of everyone seeing his chest and the web of angry marks there to agree to remove his shirt even to stop his own bleeding.

After a moment to think, she reached down and grabbed the bottom of her skirt and lifted it to get to the cotton underskirt. She grasped the edge in both hands and ripped a large section of it away.

Delaney wadded it up and pressed it to his wounds.

"Thank you," he spoke quietly to her.

"You need to get inside," Delaney watched as blood quickly began to seep through the cloth already, "You need to lay down."

He nodded in agreement but when he moved to walk he stumbled and closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I'm so dizzy." 

"Vincent?" Delaney said his name urgently as he slumped to the ground, "Help! Someone help him!"