A Gift from the Goddess

Book Two-Ch.# 40

The possibility of having family still alive felt a little too good to be true, though it was hard to disregard what the lady was saying. A lot of time had passed since I was a child, yet there was potentially someone out there claiming to be related to me, to be from the same pack I apparently once belonged to.

‘Claiming’ being the keyword.

It would be naïve to completely believe it so easily. I’d already been burnt by Ashwood for trusting too much and I didn’t wish to repeat this.

But if she *was* my family… could that maybe mean…?

“Be careful, Rheyna,” the lady added in my silence. “I can see you’re eager to find whoever this is but… I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Even putting aside her inability to provide documents, she was also vague on *how* she was related to you, something that seemed a little strange. I know you might wish her to be your mother, but there wasn’t much resemblance between the two of you.”

She pointed out the same concerns I’d already thought of, killing the small piece of hope I’d had that maybe my birth mother was still alive. If anything, she now made me warier about tracking her down.

“I appreciate the insight and your time,” I said genuinely. “You’ve been extremely helpful.”

And as I said my goodbyes, I then turned around to leave, heading back to my car with a feeling of relief. I didn’t want to stay here any longer than I had to, the place still making me uncomfortable.

Even if things really hadn’t been my fault as she’d said, it still didn’t magically make me reminisce fondly.

As soon as I was back in the driver’s seat,

I reached over to grab the stolen Ashwood book and began skimming through it for information, hoping to try and find something to tell me the location. This was the only source of information I had access to that might shed some insight into the Silver Mist.

From what I was able to read, the town within the pack was supposed to be completely abandoned now, having been destroyed during the war. And, just as I’d already assumed, the book mostly boasted about Ashwood’s successful victories against them more so than any real information. A few notable figures, a few strategies used….

…But then I found it.

A map.

A way to get to the remote location, seemingly miles into what I’d thought was just woods my whole life.

This was it. My way of finding the Silver Mist.

…And as I placed the book back down, I immediately started driving towards it.

Getting to the Silver Mist was significantly more difficult than I’d anticipated. I suppose I should have expected this given they’d gone forever undetected by the human world, but I’d thought there would still be some easy way in and out available to those who needed to know.

Of course, I’d been wrong.

According to the map, the Silver Mist was surrounded by packs on all sides, its land on top of a mountain deep within the woods. And, though there was a network of roads that travelled independently between these packs, there was still the issue of *getting* to those roads.

Roads that were seemingly guarded by other packs to gain access to them. Almost like gatekeepers scattered along different entry points where it bordered human territory.

It seemed a little crazy to think that they needed to travel through someone else’s land just to enter the human area, but I suppose they had no need to go there. Or, as I thought on it more, I realised there possibly was another option… though it was not available to me. An option of shifting… and running through the unclaimed woods as a wolf.

Alas… I was going to be reliant on my car for this one.

The closest gatekeeping pack wasn’t too far from the orphanage, just a few hours’ drive west. With any luck, this place had a way for me to drive through it without any problems.

However, this immediately proved difficult as the first major obstacle revealed itself; being able to just find the pack’s entrance.

From an outsider’s perspective, it looked like an average dirt driveway to someone’s house. But after going past it multiple times, I realised that it was in fact what I was looking for. The only possible option. And, cautiously, I proceeded to drive up it.

Already, it was clear how different it was from Ashwood. Where one had opened trade with humans and established a way to access it easily, this pack appeared to want to keep people far, far away. I was several metres down the road when I started to see the signs that were posted.

Big red ones with the words ‘private property – keep out’.

But I remained undeterred.

Slowly, I crept up the road as quietly as possible, going only far enough until I could see a structure in the distance. It was here that I parked and began to look around.

If I had to take a guess, I’d say that the building was a house for border control. What I needed to find though was an alternate route around it… maybe try to find a-.

*knock* *knock* *knock*

I violently jumped in my seat as someone tapped on my window, taking me by complete surprise. They must have walked up in my blind spot as I was focused forward.

“Hello? Miss?” said the man. “Can you wind your window down please?”

Okay… okay… time to think fast.

started to whirl with what to do as I complied with his request, flashing a bright

laughed. “Sorry about that.

enthusiasm. though,

asked, cutting straight to the point.

trying to pass through.

he peered at me closer, sniffing

are you from? The Silent Forest wasn’t informed of anyone coming through here

Oh, fuck.

looking down at the map next to me would probably

left one option. The only place that came

smile tensed as I forced it in place.

answered. “I’m

you through here then? Ashwood has their own

Lockdale City and I’m heading directly south now. Was hoping to avoid driving all

allowed you into Lockdale?…Who are you anyway? What’s your

much of an issue. It was starting to feel as though I were sinking in quicksand with these

there was only one choice here. Only one female from Ashwood who could

Allison Lycroft.”

he asked, surprised.

Victor’s daughter,” I said. “Uh…

aback by my claim, only adding

for you?” he asked. ” I didn’t think Ashwood had any business in that region

a friend.”

“From which pack?”

wasn’t going to

to switch approaches.

pointedly. “I’ve already told you who

had said that Ashwood climbed to power after the war. Since this person mentioned an alliance, I was hoping that it meant the Lycroft

you can’t help me,” I continued,

sure to let

can’t be too careful with outsiders

“Those… damn devil

“Good riddance. Best damn thing Ashwood ever did was create those suppressors. Your father

the unranked who didn’t repent for their loyalty to the Silver

1M23

size of the pack, this created a rather large shift in the

there wasn’t a population

him as my father,”

nodded

he

this was a good sign that he would finally let me through… but then he

said. ” Should be a friendly face. You would have met Beta Kevin a few months ago

I said, a little

at my outburst

I think you should just let me

couldn’t even think of any more lies and was in

sorry? What did you

me through,” I

but I need to get

“No.”

“No…?”

it was now. This thing that made me the devil they saw me as, yet couldn’t

an on-switch or something …?..

you protesting this?” he asked.

knew

This was it.

Sink or swim.

accept that combat might be my only choice,

my body stilling just like that time in Ashwood with the

burst

through*,” I repeated. “*Right now. No more questions.

body then seemed to hesitate, his hand relaxing on

he said, his voice distant.” My apologies, Miss Lycroft.”

stared at him for a moment to make sure it was real, not wanting to risk being exposed. But when I

started driving through the Silent Forest pack as quickly as I could. Driving without stopping until I finally found the main connecting road