As I rode off from the forest, I looked back and saw he was still standing there in sight.
Just where I had left him.
He didn’t seem to have moved an inch.
I turned back to look at the way ahead and smiled.
This ’Bale’ was quite surprising.
I always preferred to steer off n.
And i liked them steering off my path.
When she had been younger and more naïve, I had been more free.
Innocent.
i had grown faster than most girls my age.
And soon the stares had begun.
The lucid glare from the n, lingering looks.
A young she wolf had wound up dead.
A girl that I had seen around.
Nice and sweet like her.
My body had been found and I had understood that n were dangerous.
My mother had made sure to never allow anywhere at certain ti anymore.
I knew I was beautiful.
More beautiful than most.
So I had grown to steer clear of them.
Grown to avoid them and it was the best thing she could do.
I had never really cared about finding my mate or having my own little pups.
I simply wanted to be free and explore.
The stars had always fascinated .
Stories about them.
I wanted to be an explorer but my mother would never agree.
For so reason or the other my parents especially my mother rarely ever let out of their sight.
So I didn’t have male friends.
But Bale.
There was sothing about him that made him different from other friends.
Sothing that made feel so free enough to even make jokes with him.
It was refreshing not getting wanting radars from a man at least.
I shook him off my mind and focused on the way back.
Mother did not know I was following a shortcut through the forest because if she did, then I would be hung on a tree.
Well, it helped to take away the ti I had spent chatting with Bale
After three hours of galloping through the quiet woods, I finally made it to the outskirts of the Pack house.
After twenty minutes I was at the pack gates.
I ca down from the horse and pulled Penny up to the gates.
"State your business." The Beta guards demanded from .
"You know . I’m Lady Penelope’s daughter. The Healer who lives down old star road." I replied gruffly.
They looked at each other and stepped aside.
Just as I walking up they set their hand up.
"You have to drop the horse at the stables before they let you in." One inford .
I sighed and brushed past their extended hand.
I let Penny to the stables and a stable boy appeared before .
I gently rubbed her mane and smiled at her.
"Hey girl." I said she shook her head and rubbed her up against . "I need to be going alright. I need you to be very gentle. I’ll be back before you know it."
She neighed again.
I gently patted her side again and the boy took her before she quietly followed.
I adjusted the basket gently on my arm as I walked towards the large pack house.
It was a gigantic old building that growing up I had been awe of.
The Pack House towered over as I approached.
Its stone walls stretched high into the sky, worn by ti and weather, yet still imposing enough to make visitors feel small. Vines curled around sections of the ancient structure, climbing toward the balconies that overlooked the courtyard.
Growing up, I had always imagined it as so grand castle from the stories my father used to tell .
Now, standing before it, it seed less magical and more intimidating.
The scent of wolves lingered heavily in the air.
Warriors moved across the courtyard carrying weapons or supplies. Servants hurried between buildings with baskets and trays balanced in their hands.
Sowhere in the distance, soone was shouting training commands.
Life.
Constant movent.
Constant noise.
The exact opposite of the peaceful forests I loved.
I tightened my grip on the basket.
Mother had sent to deliver several healing tonics and dried herbs to the Alpha’s household. Normally she would have co herself, but one of the neighboring villages had reported an outbreak of fever.
Which ant I had been volunteered.
Again.
"Penelope’s daughter!"
I froze.
A familiar voice called from sowhere behind .
I slowly turned.
A broad grin spread across the face of a young warrior making his way toward .
Ethan.
I imdiately groaned.
"No."
His grin widened.
"Yes."
"No."
"Definitely yes."
I rolled my eyes.
Ethan was one of the few males I tolerated.
Mostly because he had grown up around and because he treated more like an annoying younger sister than a woman.
Though that didn’t stop him from irritating every chance he got.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Delivering herbs."
His gaze dropped to the basket.
"How exciting."
"It is."
He laughed.
"You need better hobbies."
"I have hobbies."
"Collecting leaves doesn’t count."
"They are not leaves."
"Flowers then."
"They are dicinal plants."
He looked unconvinced.
I sighed dramatically.
"You are impossible."
"And yet you keep talking to ."
Unfortunately, he had a point.
His eyes narrowed suddenly.
"Where did you co from?"
I felt my stomach drop.
"The road."
"The road?"
"Yes."
He folded his arms.
"The main road?"
"Obviously."
"Liar."
I blinked.
"What?"
"There are leaves in your hair."
My hand imdiately flew upward.
Sure enough, my fingers brushed against sothing.
A tiny green leaf.
Traitor.
Ethan burst out laughing.
"You took the forest route!"
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
"I didn’t."
"You have evidence attached to your head."
I pulled the leaf free and threw it at him.
He dodged easily.
"If your mother finds out....
"She won’t."
"If your mother finds out," he repeated, "she’ll skin you alive."
I pointed a finger at him.
"And that’s exactly why you’re not going to tell her."
His smile turned mischievous.
"I don’t know. Maybe I should."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Ethan."
"Maybe she deserves to know."
"Ethan."
"What if sothing happened to you?"
I opened my mouth to argue but stopped.
His teasing expression softened slightly.
"Seriously."
For a brief mont there was genuine concern in his eyes.
The sa concern I constantly saw in my parents.
The sa concern that made them watch like I was made of glass.
I forced a smile.
"Nothing happened."
"Not this ti."
I looked away.
That was exactly the problem.
Everyone always acted like sothing terrible was waiting around every corner for .
I knew the world could be dangerous.
I wasn’t stupid.
But sotis I felt as though they feared sothing more than ordinary danger.
Sothing they never spoke about.
Sothing they refused to tell .
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