CHAPTER 12

I spent the majority of the four days I was imprisoned in this room under the pretense of recovery," staring out the window. In this pack, there were several young people who appeared to always be having fun. That was the only sound I ever heard coming from this pack—wolves howling and happy children crying. It was really different from my backpack. Children played in parks in my pack, the Shadow Night pack, but less so than children here since they were more interested in arcades, adventure parks, and video games. Additionally, there is a culture of compulsive study since there is fierce rivalry for admission to the best schools, particularly in high schools and universities. Growing up, becoming wealthy was the sole objective in my family. And if you already have money (as my family did), increase it. So, how do you legally become wealthy? You enroll at a recognized university. This entails going to one of the many renowned universities in my pack, the Goldstone pack, or the Crystal Heart pack for college. Even though the Goldstone pack was terrible, their universities were absolutely blazing. It was nearly impossible to get a position there, and if you did, the costs were prohibitive unless you were a genius and qualified for a scholarship. If you attended a university in the Goldstone pack and graduated, I had a high position waiting for you. Although the Crystal Heart Pack was also a very fine choice, it was more popular with artists. For this reason, parents in my pack make their children study a lot, starting at a very young age. To the point where it occasionally turns into an obsession, they will do whatever it takes to get them accepted to that university. This system affected me personally. In order for me to run my father's vast architectural business empire, my parents were fixated on getting me into a Goldstone university for either architecture or software engineering. It was instilled in me to study as early as I can recall, and that was years ahead of the suggested program for my age group. No matter what, my father was going to guarantee that I would get into the best engineering school in the Goldstone Pack. He would let me in even if he had to pay them off. In fact, he established a trust fund specifically for that college, and by that, I don't simply mean for the tuition; I also mean that money was put aside for bribes. Due to the wealth of my family, both of my parents could afford it. Whatever the case, I detested the way my early years were spent molding me into this technological genius. My parents spent a lot of money on costly tutors to compel me to learn these things, all so they could fulfill their ambition of sending me to college. For a long period of time during my youth and early adolescence, this desire was the only one I had for myself. This is why, being in this pack and observing these kids running around joyfully and incessantly, I feel good knowing that they're spending their youth outside rather than caged up in a library. I guess this pack is doing something correctly in terms of child development. I didn't like how much of me this tunic and these pants covered, so I sat up taller in my window seat. I couldn't stomach the granny pants, but the material was surprisingly light for such fake clothing—it didn't even seem like I was wearing anything. What made them so large? The waistband's strange pinching sensation near the belly button was uncomfortable. I turned as soon as the door opened. It was Tinley, holding two kerosene lanterns. She most likely came to my room to light the candles. I detested the candlelight since she did it every night. The candles would blow out if I opened the window, forcing me to relight them. However, it made the room hot and stuffy. Tinley inquired, "How are you?" I replied well, continuing to stare out the window. How should I be acting? Although I hadn't seen Alpha Storm in days and wasn't precisely permitted to leave this room since I allegedly needed to recover, I was meant to be wooing Alpha Storm. I was stuck here; my bruises were still visible, but the pain had lessened. Tinley called out, "Come, let's go for a walk," and I craned my neck to the side to look at her. I can't imagine how anxious you must be feeling without having changed in days. They move around a lot in this group, especially at night. In addition to the happy children, I only ever heard howling. particularly at night. The only sounds in this place were those two, and the complete silence terrified me. To follow Tinley, I got to my feet. She inquired, "Do you want to shift?" I gave him a headshake. I replied, "No, maybe another day." She voiced her speculation, "Hmm. You're probably from a pack that doesn't shift often, then, because I don't know a lot of wolves that can go days without letting out their wolves," and I at once regretted having told her that I didn't want to shift. I begin, "It's not that," trying to rectify her misconception. I want to shift, but I still feel a little under the weather, and I fear moving would be hard for me." "You're right. You need to fully recover before you attempt the shift. But I think fresh air would still do you good, so come," she says as she squeezes my shoulder in consolation. The second lamp is removed from the table, and she gives it to me. I accept. She tells me to take my shawl as we are ready to leave the room, so I grab the lengthy white shawl and drape it over my shoulders. She then gestures to the black Mary Jane shoes beside the door while mentioning that my tunic and loose slacks are likewise white. I put them on, the stockings shielding my foot's skin from exposure. It was a lengthy hallway. I stayed close to Tinley as we navigated the hallway, which had a number of doors on either side and seemed to go on forever. This hallway was not lit by candles either. The moon's splendor was all that could be seen. Many times I considered asking Tinley if they understood what electricity was, but I always refrained. I don't need to aid them in limiting the range of my potential packets. A beam of light was coming from the ground floor when we reached the stairs. I asked Tinley as we descended the stairs, "Is everyone asleep?" The enormous staircase took up the majority of what I took to be the entrance room. Even the staircases in the mansions in my group never had this much elegance. I stepped down this one with considerable trepidation, clutching onto my shawl as if it would provide some sort of shelter, feeling as though it would swallow me whole. My shawl nearly came off. Finally responding, "No," Tinley escorted me to one of the largest kitchens I had ever seen. I'm sure at least twenty people could sit on one side of the enormous dining table that was in the middle of the room. But, I thought, "But it's so quiet," as she escorted me once more out the back door. The darkness was pervasive. I would be totally in the dark if I didn't have this kerosene lamp in my hands. I was trained to work in the dark, after all. I was, but I prefer it that way. Tinley opened the door and stated, "Most people aren't at home." I guess you must have observed by now that we prefer to communicate in our minds, as they typically move at this time. I said, "I did, but I didn't understand it because I can't do it," and we both walked outside after that. When we stepped outdoors, the fresh breeze welcomed me, gently lifting my clothes in the air. My short hair gracefully moved with it, and so did my shawl, which fell from my neck but was grabbed by me before it touched the ground. I grabbed it too quickly and hoped Tinley wouldn't realize that I had just used my Assassin reflexes. She shut the door as I adjusted my shawl. She approached me and said, "Okay, I'll explain," after which we both started to walk. When the howling first began, it seemed to be all around us and was strongly permeating the atmosphere. But first, be prepared to encounter a lot of wolves; they're shifting a lot right now, so don't be surprised if one crashes into you. "Okay," Low-cut grasses could be found everywhere, and flowers protruded from the terrain like complimentary puzzle pieces. They were being ruffled by the wind, and I observed how they moved in time with its embrace, almost as if they were dancing. I then noticed the meadows ahead. Tinley steered us in that direction. I noticed that the moon was shining brightly above us and that it might be a week or so before it reached fullness. The screams persisted. Tinley began as I reached out to touch the protruding flowers, "Everyone here prefers to mind link because our mind links are different." The story goes that the witches hated our Alpha because of what happened in the past when our first Alpha, Zyan, was almost killed by a witch, which caused a war between our pack and the witches, so Alpha Zyan created a complex language with the help of his beautiful mate, Luna Primrose, so that our people could always stick together and we wouldn't be in conflict. Why did the witches demand the death of your Alpha? Tinley gave a shrug. We've been at war with the witches ever since they tried to wipe us out, and Zyan killed more than half of them centuries ago. It was a really long time, but it shaped our pack into what it is today. So now, witches are banned from this pack except the head witch/moon priestess Mahsa; I think her name is that because she indoctrinates Alphas, and our pack apparently keeps the ban. I believe that blue moonstone was a contributing factor. Because they didn't want Zyan to have that much power, the witches presumably intended to take it away from him as soon as possible. However, when he refused, they tried to play dirty by having him killed. This must have backfired, and Zyan must have killed every witch he came across in response, starting a full-fledged battle with all the newly discovered Alpha wrath sanctified by the moon. As she is the moon priestess, she must be charged with neutrality; thus, I presume they only encounter the Head witch and moon priestess. Their pack's need to maintain equilibrium is probably caused by that blue moonstone. If the witches go too far, an Alpha could simply shatter the stone and do the same thing Aiden and Nessa intend to do: wipe out the entire Alpha system. Since Storm is Alpha, he is most likely aware of everything. Witchcraft is strictly prohibited here, and anyone found practicing it or having ties to one will be immediately cut off from the link by our Alpha and exiled from our pack. However, witches are forbidden in my pack and are punished instantly and without mercy. Oh wow. These guys are quite rigid. If you ask me, exile and punishment seem a tad excessive for a pack that ought to be treating everyone with the moon's benevolence. Then perhaps they won't learn about my relationship with Nessa. Another one of my unredeemable relationships is that, "So yes, our language is so much more complex than the common tongue. We call verbal speech the common tongue, and it's difficult for many people to transition from mindlink language to simplified speech, especially since the only place where people actually need to speak in this pack is at school, where it's a requirement because all our books are imported from other packs and they have no knowledge of our language. Tinley was speaking passionately about this sophisticated language, and I could see it in her eyes. She loved her complicated language for its complexity, and I envied her because I could see it in the way her features became more defined. What exactly did my pack give me? I can't exactly say we have anything special to give except a strong education, which I liken more to my parents' money than the pack itself. Even the rings that mate with us are not exclusive to us. The Sapphire Pack, where wearing a mate bond ring is required, is where the concept came from. We came to a pond that was lined with land lilies and surrounded by water lilies. I longed to touch them because of their vivid colors of white, pink, red, and orange. I had no idea lilies could be so stunning. You know, Indigo kept saying that you were the prettiest thing she ever laid eyes on. She used an expression that I don't know how to translate because the common tongue is hard for me sometimes too. So don't feel like people here are anti-social, don't want to speak with you, or don't like you. Everyone here is extremely friendly, but they are shy because they struggle a lot with the common tongue. I say to her with a smile, "But you seem to speak it just fine," and when she smiles back, her cheeks flush and she develops dimples on her face. I pucker my face in confusion as she utters a word that sounds like nonsense before trailing off. She raised her finger to her chin and thought, "I'm trying to translate what Indigo said. Just wait, I'll tell you, I said while I gazed around, raising the lantern up in the air to look at the pond. It was lovely. Sorry, but that is sort of the best way I can translate what she meant. It's not all it means, but I can't think of another expression or explanation in this tongue that fits what she said exactly. Storm is so much better at this than I am.Even the prettiest rose would wither at your feet and turn to ashes if your hands ever held it. Unexpectedly grinning, I felt deeply touched by Indigo's comment. Although I never would have imagined her saying that, I'm glad she did for some reason. Although I am aware of my beauty, nobody has ever complimented me in such a way. particularly if they weren't attempting to snag my pants. Tinley suddenly tightened her grip on her lamp. "Hey, wait here, okay? Someone needs my help. I'll be back. Will you be alright on your own?" As soon as I nod, Tinley takes off sprinting. I turn around, wondering how she can run in the big, black skirt she picked for today, but I realize she probably does it all the time. I scan the area. This set is extremely lovely and unopened. The shadow of the moon that spans the entire pond draws my attention, and suddenly a water lily drifts in my direction. I set my lantern on the ground, bent over to pick up a lily, and suddenly my shawl almost came off. I had to work to prevent it from slipping off my neck and into the ocean. A deep growl then comes from behind me. When I jump, the shawl falls into the pond, and I land on the ground backward and dangerously close to it. The biggest wolf I've ever seen in my life suddenly appears in front of me and stares me in the face, giving me no choice but to scream.