A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter 149

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…. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

…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.

My mind started to whirl with what to do as I complied with his request, flashing a bright smile in the process.

“Oh! You scared me!” I laughed. “Sorry about that. I was lost in thought.”

He didn’t seem to share my enthusiasm. though, maintaining his stoic expression.

“What are your intentions here?” he asked, cutting straight to the point.

“Oh… uh, I’m just trying to pass through. Hope that’s not too much trouble.”

His eyes narrowed as he peered at me closer, sniffing several times.

“Which pack are you from? The Silent Forest wasn’t informed of anyone coming through here today.”

Oh, fuck.

I didn’t exactly take the time to memorise the geography and knew that looking down at the map next to me would probably be a dead giveaway.

…Which only left one option. The only place that came to mind.

My smile tensed as I forced it in place.

“Ashwood,” I answered. “I’m from… Ashwood.”

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

“R-right,” I agreed. “But I just came from doing business in Lockdale City and I’m heading directly south now. Was hoping to avoid driving all the way up north again first.”

“They allowed you into Lockdale?…Who are you anyway? What’s your name?”

Were unranked members not allowed in the city? That sounded vaguely familiar but didn’t think it would be this much of an issue. It was starting to feel as though I were sinking in quicksand with these lies, my knowledge sorely lacking to navigate the situation.

“…My name?” I delayed, thinking through my options, but it was clear there was only one choice here. Only one female from Ashwood who could possibly pass as important enough. “My name is… Allison.

Allison Lycroft.”

“Alpha Victor’s daughter?” he asked, surprised.

“Yep… that’s me. I’m… Victor’s daughter,” I said. “Uh… Kieran’s… sister.”

He seemed taken aback by my claim, only adding to his confused expression.

“What’s down south for you?” he asked. ” I didn’t think Ashwood had any business in that region right now. If there was an alliance meeting, we would have been made aware.”

“I’m… visiting a friend.”

“From which pack?”

Goddammit. This wasn’t going to work.

Time to switch approaches.

“Is that any of your business?” I asked pointedly. “I’ve already told you who I am and why I am here. This interrogation is incredibly disrespectful.”

Kieran had said that Ashwood climbed to power after the war. Since this person mentioned an alliance, I was hoping that it meant the Lycroft name came with some weight and associated perks.

“If you can’t help me,” I continued, ”

then just say so. But I’ll be sure to let my father know about my experience here toda-.”

“No, no, please, I apologise,” he said quickly. “I meant no offence. It’s just we can’t be too careful with outsiders these days. I’m sure you’re aware of the inflated rogue problem since the war.”

“Right…,” I said. “Those… damn devil rogues.”

The man spat on the ground. “Good riddance. Best damn thing Ashwood ever did was create those suppressors. Your father is a hero.”

The book had mentioned something about the rogues, this being the issue I assumed he was referring to. After the war, the unranked who didn’t repent for their loyalty to the Silver Mist were condemned to live the life of a rogue.

1M23

Given the size of the pack, this created a rather large shift in the prior population.

And as for the ranked members…? Well, there wasn’t a population issue there anymore.

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

To my relief, he nodded in complete agreement.

“Praise Selene,” he said.

I thought that this was a good sign that he would finally let me through… but then he took a step backwards.

“Well, I hope you don’t mind waiting. I’ll just need 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-.”

“WAIT,” I said, a little too loudly.

He turned back around at my outburst in surprise.

“Wait… I, uhh… I think you should just let me through.”

I couldn’t even think of any more lies and was in full panic mode.

“I’m sorry? What did you just say?”

“Let me through,” I repeated. “… Please.”

“I will, but I need to get Beta Kevin first

“No.”

“No…?”

If there was ever a time I wanted to use this stupid ability, it was now. This thing that made me the devil they saw me as, yet couldn’t seem to control.

Was there like an on-switch or something …?..

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

And as he moved to retrieve a weapon, I knew I was out of time. The jig was up.

This was it.

Sink or swim.

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

A spark. Something that calmed me as I reached for it, my body stilling just like that time in Ashwood with the guard.

…And as I grabbed it, a burst of energy flowed through me.

“I said… *let me pass through*,” I repeated. “*Right now. No more questions.

His body then seemed to hesitate, his hand relaxing on his weapon.

“…Of course,” he said, his voice distant.” My apologies, Miss Lycroft.”

I stared at him for a moment to make sure it was real, not wanting to risk being exposed. But when I was confident that he really was going to let me pass without issue, I didn’t waste any more time.

I stepped on the gas and started driving through the Silent Forest pack as quickly as I could. Driving without stopping until I finally found the main connecting road leading out. At which, I began my long journey south, silently praying that this would all be worth it.

That I hadn’t just jeopardised myself for the sake of a trap.

And so I drove.

And drove… and drove. For what felt like hours. Probably made worse by constantly checking my rear- view mirror in fear, but I was in a completely new world now, no way to escape easily if I were caught.

…Which, luckily, I wasn’t.

There was no mistaking when I did finally arrive, the Silver Mist fitting the description from the book perfectly.

…Because as I was greeted by the sight of destroyed buildings everywhere, I was reminded of how this place was now said to be cursed.

It was an abandoned ghost town, a silent eeriness about it that sent a chill through me. Reverted to just a wreckage of what looked to have been a thriving town once upon a time.

Was this really the place I had been born?

Somewhere in this… rubble?

I parked the car and decided to travel on foot, searching for signs of life. But, as I explored, I only felt a hollow aching inside, a sadness from being here. I might not have consciously remembered this place, but as I walked by a park full of dead grass, it seemed at least a part of me deep down did.

A line of what looked to be restaurants and cafes then passed me by, their windows now shattered and paint all faded. Just a broken shell of what used to be there. Across the street, it was much the same, some clothing stores mirroring a similar appearance.

It was overwhelming to look at.

People had lived here once. This was their home.

…And it was all gone.

All… destroyed. Nothing left.

I walked in a daze, allowing my feet to move on autopilot. Wandering aimlessly through the empty streets of the place I should have been allowed to call home growing up. But it was as I walked that I eventually found myself standing before a building.

…One appearing somewhat untouched, unlike its neighbours.

There was something about it, a certain quality that felt different. Almost as if it was… maintained.

As if someone had been here recently.

I sniffed at the area, checking the perimeter, and it wasn’t long before I found a trail to confirm my suspicion.

…Someone was living here.

Was this the girl who had tried to adopt me all those years ago?

I guess there was only one way to find out

And, silently, I pulled out my dagger… approaching the front door carefully.

Despite my attempts of stealth though, it seemed I hadn’t been subtle enough.

Because before I could even make it to the first step, I watched as the door then swung open before me.

It swung open… and revealed a young girl with brown hair standing there, a weird familiarity about her. She didn’t look much older than me, possibly mid- twenties.

…This meant she couldn’t have been the girl from sixteen years ago.

“Who are you?!” she demanded, holding a dagger of her own towards me. “You have some nerve coming here-.”

But as she finally took a moment to really look at me, her blue eyes instantly grew wide, the dagger slipping from her fingers.

“Oh… Oh, Goddess…,” she whispered. Rheyna? Rheyna, is that you?!”

Tears started to fall down her cheeks, a sob leaving her chest, and all the while this happened, I felt frozen in place. I wasn’t sure what to do or how to act.

“Goddess… it is you… it is you…,” she continued to cry. “Those eyes….’

And she immediately ran forward, pulling me into her arms.

“You’re home. You found your way home … I can’t believe it. I was starting to lose hope that I’d ever see you again.”

I remained tense as she held me, not immediately recognising her, and yet unable to deny her clear affection towards me. She wasn’t acting like an enemy… so did this mean my family really was still alive? Perhaps she was a slightly older cousin?

“I’m sorry…,” I said a little awkwardly, pulling away. “But I, um… I don’t know who you are.”

However, she didn’t seem offended in the slightest and simply wiped the tears away from her face.

“No, I should be the one apologising,” she said. “Of course, you wouldn’t recognise me. We never had the chance to meet properly when you were a child.”

And as she grabbed my hands in hers, she proceeded to introduce herself as someone that made me think I’d misheard her.

No, I had to have misheard her… because….

“…My name is Myra,” she said, gently smiling. “…I’m your great-great- grandmother.”