Tiana’s POV
As I settled into the Shadowclaw Pack, I found myself constantly on edge. Though Peter, Layla and Amara were kind, I couldn't shake off the fear of being rejected or hurt again.
The room I was given was large and it was a haven of warmth and comfort, and she tried her best to make me feel at home. However, every small noise made me jump, and I found myself looking over my shoulder more often than not.
I was often on guard because I just could not afford to trust anyone. What if suddenly they all turned their back on me?
I had to constantly walk on eggshells around them and try to be as useful as possible. The memories from my own pack still haunted me to this day.
I would remember how Selena and her mother treated me badly— always hitting me when I made a mistake. I would remember how they always taunted me about being wolfless, especially at my age.
Because of that, I tried to avoid conversations with the members of Shadowclaw pack as much as possible. Even when they invited me to do things with them, I did more of the listening. I would only speak to them whenever they spoke because I definitely could not afford any chances of saying what would offend them since I still did not know much about the culture.
One evening, as I was helping Layla organize her books, she asked, “You are so shy, why's that?"
"What?" I stammered, quite taken aback by her question.
"I said that you are so shy. You barely speak with us or make conversations."
"Oh," I mumbled, scratching the back of my head nervously. "Well, I... I don't have anything to say."
"Really?" She smiled wryly and then turned to face me. "Well, you can start by telling me more about you," she smiled. "I barely know you."
"I'm uh... I'm Tiana."
"Well, I already know that," she grinned. "Where are you from? Your parents, pack, do you have a mate... That kind of stuff."
I hesitated but then decided to share a part of my past. “I lost my mother at a young age, and my pack blamed me for her death. I’ve been treated as an outcast ever since.”
"Blamed you?" She raised her eyebrows in shock. "Why would they do that? How did she die?" Layla shot out questions rapidly.
"She died in a rogue attack," I shrugged. "She was meant to go somewhere with me— I made her go somewhere with me and the attack happened. Then she died."
Remembering it was still painful. I swallowed a lump in my throat and looked away so that she would not see me teary-eyed.
"That's not your fault," Layla said, putting her hands on my shoulder. "The moon goddess has a reason for everything that happens. It was your mother's time and believe me when I say that even if the rogue attack did not happen, she would have passed away."
"Maybe," I shrugged. "But it would not have been my fault."
"But, how about your father? Didn't he say anything about pack members treating you that way?"
"My father doesn't really care about me," I sighed. "He married another woman after. She and her daughter did not like me much. My brother still thinks it's my fault our mother is dead... He hates me because I got all the good treatment before she died while he was more disciplined."
"That's so sad," she said, wiping tears from her eyes. "I'm so sorry that had to happen to you."
Layla hugged me, her embrace warm and comforting. “You’re safe here, Tiana. We protect our own. I already consider you family so just try to let go of the past."
"Yeah," I mumbled, feeling quite awkward in her embrace.
"It's a good thing you left," she sighed. "You'll find happiness here."
"I suppose," I shrugged.
"Not to be nosy, but did you ever have a romantic interest back in your pack?"
"No," I shrugged, not knowing if it was a lie or not. Derek was my mate and he rejected me so that could not be considered a romantic interest, right?
"Oops," she said. "Well..." She trailed off. I could tell she did not know what to say."
"You should join us tonight, we are going hunting," Layla said after a few minutes of silence.
A tear slid down my face.
"What's wrong?" She asked, holding up my face.
"I haven't been able to wolf out," I said in a hoarse voice.
"Well, that's no good," Layla whistled. “Tiana, we need to train you. Even if you can’t shift, you need to know how to defend yourself.”
"I suppose so," I shrugged.
"Well after hunting tonight, we'll be having a bonfire so you should join us. Tomorrow we'll discuss training."
*+*+*+*
It was a beautiful night, with the stars twinkling brightly above. The pack members were friendly, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of belonging.
As I sat by the fire, listening to the laughter and chatter around me, Theo, the future Alpha, approached me. “May I join you?” he asked with a warm smile.
I nodded, feeling a bit nervous. Theo was tall and imposing, yet there was a gentleness in his eyes that put me at ease. “You seem to be settling in well,” he said, sitting beside me.
“I’m trying,” I replied, looking into the fire. “Everyone here has been so kind.”
Theo nodded. “We take care of our own."
"It's evident," I smiled at him politely.
"My sister tells me that you are yet to wolf out," he commented.
"Yeah," I mumbled, looking at my feet.
"Well, don't be too disheartened," he smiled at me. "It's not the end of the world and I'm sure it'll happen very soon."
"I hope so," I shrugged, looking away.
His hands held my face and he slowly turned it so I could look at him squarely in the face.
"Has anyone ever told you that you have a striking beauty?" He asked softly.