Chapter 130

A new beginning 3.

Scarlett's POV.

Warm spring air hit my face and I let out a sigh of contentment. It had been so long, too long even, that I had had the opportunity to walk freely. I shut my eyes in pain, the memories from my time in the Hidden Moon Pack flooding my mind before I could stop it. It haunted me. I'm dreams, even during the day I wasn't safe from the cruel reminded of what I had been through. Tala hadn't asked me anything yet but I could see the worried glances she casted my way ever so often. She knew I was having nightmares but I was grateful she didn't confront me about it. Maybe she was waiting for me to come to her myself.

I crouched down to pluck some of the bright flowers in her garden. Just a single glance and I could see the whole garden itself. It didn't compare to the one in the rogue pack or even the Hidden Moon Pack, but for a personal garden, it was wonderful. My lips curled as I gathered them in my hands, another vase of flowers for today, I thought. It had become routine for me to change out the flowers from the vase at my bedside and today was no different.

My back protested when I got up again and I barely winced. I would used to the little discomfort now but it was still annoying. Tala had reassured me that it would heal up faster now that I was awake since my body was more in use. It had better happen fast because I was beyond tired of it. As if to let me know that it was also there, the spot where I had been stabbed by Derek's sword twitched and I let out a breath.

"Oh, for moon goddess's sake," I let out. I glanced at the dainty house where I stayed with Tala before turning away. I wouldn't go in now because Tala would just insist I rest but that was the farthest thing I wanted to do. I was done resting. I had been sleeping, resting for three months now and I thought that was more than enough. I would recover quickly too because I didn't want to wait any longer. Something in me nagged at the back of my head that time was running out, I still needed to figure out the truth the Moon goddess had spoken about and find out my purpose. That was the only reason I had pushed myself everyday to get better even when my body wanted to give out on me. Tala wasn't too keen on what I was doing either and had chewed me out more than once when I was on the verge of collapsing.

I followed the dainty path that lead from the garden to the little open field. Tala had told me that no wild animals resided in this part of the forest because, and something told me it was because of the wolf pack not far from here who were at the top of the food chain. Those wild animals feared for their lives and steered clear of this place. I dropped into the soft grass and admired the greenery before me. It was pure, untouched and serene. I had come here a couple of times to clear my head or think things through, but today, I just needed the peace and calmness the forest brought to me.

I counted the number of butterflies I saw, picked at a few blades of grass and took another stroll around the field and outer forest, losing track of time. By the time I headed back, it was late afternoon and I had mentally prepared myseld for Tala's scoldings. I wouldn't be surprised if I found her out on the porch, her hands on her hips and they motherly look on her face before she proceeded to chew me out. As the time I spent together with her grew, the more she reminded me of my Mother. The thought was both comforting and heart wrenching for me.

I passed the garden, the information round the corner until I could see the front of the house clearly. The porch was empty and I didn't know if that was a good or bad sign. The house seemed quiet too but that was nothing unusual as Tala spent her time either knitting, cooking or pouring through her healer's book. The porch creaked under my feet and I stopped to listen when I got to the door. For some reason, I felt on edge even though there was nothing out of the ordinary. My senses were screaming at me to be very quiet and I heeded to it, pushing the door slowly and creeping into the house.

Tala wasn't in the main room or kitchen so that left upstairs. I crept up the stairs, my heart pounding in my ears as though it was a death mission I had been sent on. My room door was still closed and looked completely the way I left it. I didn't give it another glance and continued creeping down the hallway, my shoulders brushing the walls as I advanced towards the end of the hallway and towards Tala's room.

I peeped through the gap in the door and my eyes immediately landed on her standing by her window. She looked engrossed in whatever she was looking at and I strained my eyes to see. Paper? She folded it up before stuffing it into an envelope and sealing the lid properly. A soft whistle left her lips which confused me but I waited to see.

"I hope you know what you're doing Derek," she muttered to herself and my heart stilled. Derek? Was she sending that letter to him?

My eyes darted around the room as I waited and they snagged on a few similar envelopes with letters in them scattered across her bedside table. It didn't look like she was sending those, and what was the point of writing a whole bunch of letters only to not send them?

One thought crossed my mind and I didn't know how to feel about it. She and Derek had been exchanging letters this whole time.