All The King's Wolves

A fantasy variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Chapter Eleven

Darcy slipped out of the house into the dark without a single soul noticing. He walked far into the darkness before allowing the shift to overtake him. Flexing and stretching his limbs he reveled in the wild power of his wolf. He took off across the fields building his speed quickly. He pushed harder allowing the burn to fill his muscles. One mile. Two Miles, he pushed harder. Desperately wanting the ache in his legs to overtake the one in his heart. He bolted past the Netherfield boundary into Longbourn lands. Tonight he did not care about propriety or rules. He was even less concerned when rain began to fall. As the icy drops began to drench his coat he knew he'd leave no trail behind. He ran north far across the English countryside, till his legs could carry him no further. He found a creek and drank his fill before collapsing to the ground, his whole body heaving to catch his breath. He laid quietly listening to the wild life. He suddenly wished he had ran south instead of north. He would have been close to London by now, only a few more miles to his town house. The comforts of his own home might have been able to bring the peace he so desperately needed. His run had only proved how much losing Elizabeth hurt. The screaming pain in his chest and limbs did nothing to drown her out. He rested for a long few hours unmoving, thinking only of her. His wolf senses seemed to remember her more sharply. Her scent so strong it was as though she were next to him. Those bright dancing eyes, filled his head. If he could he could draw her into his arms this very moment he was not sure he could ever let her go. Perhaps it was best he was twenty miles from her now, he was not sure he could stop himself from seeking her out if she were only down the hall from him.

He finally resolved himself he must return, being much too tired to run, he would be lucky if he made it back to Netherfield by noon. Though most of the occupants in the house would not rise till then and he was therefore unlikely to be missed. With the exception with one Elizabeth Bennet, she would likely be taking her morning walk in just a few hours.

Darcy arrived completely worn through, though the hour was still early. He had taken the longer route around the Longbourn lands so not come across Mr. Bennet. Fully shifted back to human he lumbered into the house every muscle screaming at him.

"My God Darcy, have you been out all night?" Bingley called out as he passed his study. He dashed over to Darcy, catching his friend before he stumbled on his feet. Bingley pulled Darcy's arm around his shoulder helping his friend over to the sofa in his study. Darcy all but collapsed onto it, he did not lay down as was his want, but did lean back heavily head dropped back eyes drooping closed. It was not the first time Bingley had seen his friend so. Over the years he's had found Darcy often attempted to exorcise his demons running through the night. It had been many years since the last though, not since his father had passed.

"How far this time my friend?" asked Bingley as he sat in the chair across from him. Darcy managed to give an exasperated huff.

"If I had the sense to run south instead of north I could have been home in my own bed in London hours ago."

"I thought you were enjoying your time here." Bingley said with concern.

"I was…" Was all Darcy could answer.

"Whatever happened?" Darcy only groaned. Could his pride bear to till Bingley how wrong he had been.

"Is Miss Darcy alright?" He asked

"No. I Mean yes my sister is fine, at least according to her last letter. It is not her."

"The colonel then? Has he been called to the continent?"

"God I hope not." Darcy gruffed.

"Wickham?" Bingley continued to prod.

"No. Or at least I hope not, I fear he may been near, but I have not proof enough to worry yet."

"You should not let him reek so much havoc on you. You hold his debts do you not?" Darcy sighed at his friend. Bingley would not cease.

"I do, and I have been considering calling them in, to ensure he rotted in a debtor's prison before hurting another soul, but…"

"Then what is it? I have not seen you so grieved as I did last night, not since your father."

"I am surprised you noticed." A smile broke out on Bingley's face, he could not even contain it, despite his friend's condition.

"Jane is to be my wife." He beamed. That had Darcy's attention, he sat forward to look at his friend. Bingley slowly slipped off a glove as Darcy watched with rapt attention. He inhaled sharply at the sight. The angry thick white scars wrapped around Bingley's palm to the back of his hand. It was a delicate pattern of swirls and scrolls forming into a crest. It was usual for the makers to bare resemblance to the family crest, being that crests were first designed from the mating markers. This one was different and looked nothing like the crest had seen belonging to the Bennet household. Perhaps it was because Miss Bennet was the first female wolf of the Bennet line.

"I am relieved it is you. I hope you understand how precarious her position is."

"Yes, Jane mentioned you were concerned for her safety."

"I am, but it is good that she now has you, I will do whatever I can to assist you both."

"You are not surprised?"

"I suspected you might be her mate, I have not met two people more well matched than you and Miss Bennet, but then I have found of late perhaps I am not the best judge of mates." Some sort of recognition dawned in Bingley's eyes.

"Miss Elizabeth it is then."

"What?" Darcy was caught off guard.

"My Jane's recovery may have occupied most of mind this week but I did not fail to notice your marked attentions to Miss Elizabeth. I have never been more surprised with your behavior then I have this week. You have never been so open with a woman that was not your sister, I certainly have never seen you so prone to laughing and smiling. I thought your heart might be engaged and I'll admit after last night I had begun to hope for the two of you. But if I am to guess, you have somehow discovered Miss Elizabeth is not your mate." Darcy only groaned and scrubbed his face.

"I'm very pleased for you Bingley, but I am no mood to speak of my misery."

"I am sorry my friend. Perhaps I'll leave you be, I'm sure you are tired, once you are recovered maybe we could discuss how we are to approach Mr. Bennet, and even the magistrate with our mating match."

"Certainly Bingley, I am simply in want of sleep right now."

"The ladies were to return home today, but perhaps we should see if we could persuade them to wait until tomorrow, I don't want to send Jane home until we have a plan."

"I suppose that is a wise course. It will be difficult to hide those markers for any length of time, we will have to work quickly. Mr. Bennet will not appreciate being deceived for any length of time. Miss Bennet will need to decide if she wishes to reveal to her father that she is the wolf and not you. I do not think it wise either way for the magistrate to know. I believe it is Sir William, I fear where he may have great regard for the Bennets he should not be trusted with such a secret. As much as I do not like we will have to invent a story for you." Darcy rose as he went over to the desk shuffling the papers for a clean sheet.

"Darcy I appreciate your help but go rest, this can wait a few hours." Darcy looked up at his friend. A wave of exhaustion swept over him again.

"A few hours then, but wake me if I have not come down by the luncheon, we do not have that many hours to waste if we are to be ready by tomorrow."

"Certainly Darcy now go." Bingley gave him a sad smile.

Darcy found he was a man of no luck at all, as Miss Elizabeth encountered him on the stairs in an almost exact recurrence of the night before. Though it was Miss Elizabeth who rushed to his side.

"Mr. Darcy are your well?" He stiffened at her voice, no words coming forth. He could only take in the expressive brown eyes wide with concern, her furrowed brow, the downward turn of her lips. A frown did not belong on her lips. Rosy red lips. His hand burned to take hold of her, to touch her lips, feel their softness.

"Please Mr. Darcy, allow me to find someone to attend you, I can have them send for Mr. Bingley." He was not sure how much time had a passed. He tried to shake loose of the hold she had over him.

"I am alright, Miss Elizabeth, tired but I am alright, I had some matters to tend to last night, and have just now returned to Netherfield, only in want of sleep."

"I hope you have resolved everything then."

"As well as I can manage I believe."

"I shall not keep you then, rest well Mr. Darcy."

"Thank-you Miss Elizabeth." The effort it took to move up the staircase case away from her was almost more than he could manage. Though he did not look back he was conscious of the slight sound of slippered feet on carpeted steps as she continued down the stairs. Tension eased out of him as she moved into the main hall away from him, safe from him. He was not sure how he would manage to survive the next day in the same house with her. His wolf was already clambering once again to break free. The raw wild nature riding him hard, every step forward urging to go back. Only his exhaustion bolstered his control. He found safety in his room wishing there was some way to lock himself in. He did not bother to change, collapsing on his bed.

"Sir?" called out his valet. Even his servant sounded as concerned as Miss Elizabeth

"I am alright Vincent Please wake me at noon."

"As you wish sir." Vincent never questioned his master but he would be sure he was well taken care of when he awoke. He sent along his orders for bath water and a lunch to arrive at noon. He had been concerned when Mr. Darcy did not return to his quarters last night but being a wolf himself he knew how the wildness occasionally demanded to be set free. Vincent and the young footman where the only wolves that had accompanied Darcy on this trip. They were permitted to run the grounds of Netherfield but they were to stay within a mile of the house and they did so often. Vincent had always been amazed Mr. Darcy was able to control his nature so. He knew their alpha was not a weak wolf. Not that he accepted that title but all the wolves of Derbyshire acknowledged him as such. Something must have broken his masters iron will then. Vincent would keep his ear to his ear to the ground. There were always rumors among the house servants. He was certain he would hear something. He did not make it a habit to be about his master's business but he preferred to be prepared to defend his master if necessary. Even then he would never be able to pay back the debt to the man who had saved his life.

AN: Sorry for the late and shorter chapter, had a fourteen hour drive this past weekend, and not much sleep since, running on fumes and coffee this week. Hope you enjoyed being inside Darcy head for this chapter. Wickham and Collins will be arriving soon, then all our players will be on the board!