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.

I complied with his request, flashing

laughed. “Sorry about that. I

to share my enthusiasm.

here?” he asked, cutting straight to the

pass through. Hope

at

are you from? The Silent Forest wasn’t informed

Oh, fuck.

and knew that looking down

left one option. The only place

smile tensed as I forced it in place.

I answered. “I’m from…

he repeated. “What brings you through here then? Ashwood has their own access point.”

and I’m heading directly south now. Was hoping to avoid driving all the way up north again first.”

are you anyway? What’s

be this much of an issue. It was starting to feel as though I were sinking in quicksand with these lies, my knowledge sorely

delayed, thinking through my options, but it was clear there was only one choice here. Only one female from Ashwood who

Allison Lycroft.”

Victor’s daughter?” he

I’m… Victor’s daughter,” I said. “Uh…

claim, only

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

a friend.”

“From which pack?”

This wasn’t going to

switch

I asked pointedly. “I’ve already told you who I am and why I am here. This interrogation is incredibly disrespectful.”

the war. Since this person mentioned an alliance, I was hoping that it meant the Lycroft name came with some

can’t help me,” I continued,

to let my father know about my experience here

he said quickly. “I meant no offence. It’s just we can’t be too careful

I said. “Those…

Best damn thing Ashwood ever did was create those suppressors. Your father is

to. After the war, the unranked who didn’t

1M23

pack, this created a rather large shift in the prior

members…? Well, there wasn’t a population issue

I’m so blessed by our Great Mother to have him as my father,” I said, hoping it sounded like something Allison would say.

he nodded in complete

he

sign that he would finally let

to grab one of the ranked members here to verify you,” he said. ” Should be a friendly face. You would have met Beta Kevin a few months ago when he came to visit. Give me a-.”

said, a

back around at my outburst in surprise.

I think you should just

of any more lies and was in full panic mode.

did you

me through,” I

need to get Beta

“No.”

“No…?”

now. This thing that made me the devil they saw me

on-switch or

are you protesting this?” he asked. “That’s awfully suspicious….’

retrieve a weapon, I knew I

This was it.

Sink or swim.

before I was about to accept that combat might be my only choice, I thought I felt something

my body stilling just like that time in

as I grabbed it, a burst

pass through*,” I

seemed to hesitate, his hand

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

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

could. Driving without stopping until I finally found the main connecting road leading