361- Between War and Longing
POV Seraphine Valerian:
I noticed that the villagers seemed more agitated that afternoon when I left the castle with Daciana. She helped me carry the bags of clothes to the seamstress.
“Could it be new attacks?” I asked quietly.
“It might be. My husband and my sons have been in a meeting with Viktor since this morning. It seems this time he’s called more people.”
I felt my nervousness rise, uncertain. What if the others managed to invade, take power? Would Viktor be captured, killed? And me?
I didn’t know what to think or even what to wish for anymore. Before, my goal had been to escape at any cost and return to my life. Now everything was tangled with this new situation. Konrad was gone, but what if there was still someone who wanted my head?
“That’s Ruby’s house. Come.”
I followed her, though I wanted to stop and better understand the commotion.
The married woman, with two children, welcomed us kindly but was full of curiosity about me. That only increased when I showed Viktor’s shredded clothes, asking if any could be saved. Her expression turned horrified.
“But it took me so long to make these pieces! What happened?”
“An accident.” My face burned. I had never felt so immature, so stupid.
“That’s absurd! It’s going to be very hard to fix!”
“Can you try? At least some of them.”
She nodded, giving me another irritated look. When she walked us to the door, Daciana asked:
“Do you know what’s going on, Ruby?”
“It seems the eastern field is surrounded by wolves, and they’re going to blow some of them up today. And one of the duchesses is going to take part in the war.”
“How so?” She stopped outside, and we looked at the house with lamps and colorful flowers at the entrance, where more curious people were gathering.
“I don’t really know. Katarina and Virgil are going into the middle of the enemy as spies. They volunteered.”
“I didn’t expect that!”
Neither did I, listening in silence, not fully understanding that plan.
The murmur grew louder in that direction when the three she-wolves came out of the brothel arm in arm, drawing everyone’s attention. Daciana and Ruby moved closer, and I followed them.
Two wore tight, low-cut dresses, heavily made up. The third—and tallest—the one I had once seen leaving Viktor’s office, had her hair tied back with a scarf, wearing more discreet clothes and carrying a large bag over her shoulder.
“Katarina, be careful!”
“Send news!”
“Run if you’re in danger!”
They spoke all at once, the two duchesses tearful while the other seemed calm, telling everyone:
“It will be fine. Soon I’ll be back. Everyone do your part here!”
There were farewells, praise, encouragement. When she began to walk away, Daciana caught up with her, and I hurried after them. I heard the older woman ask quietly:
“Is this about Adelina?”
“I hope to put some sense into that girl’s head.” She walked with a confident sway.
“Don’t let that cursed alpha hurt my girl! And get her out of there!”
“I will, Daciana. Now I need to go—I’ll have one more meeting with them before I leave.”
She kissed her cheek, cast me a sideways glance, and headed toward the office in the center of the village. I wanted to go along, but I had no reason beyond my anxiety—and a foolish stab of jealousy.
“Let’s go home. There’s nothing to do here.”
I nodded quietly, my gaze following the beautiful she-wolf. When we got close to the castle, I gathered my courage:
“Viktor must trust her a lot to send her on a mission involving his daughter.”
“The duchesses have always been loyal, always present in the village. And they care deeply about Adelina. You know how it is—they’re betas, they don’t reproduce. Their maternal instincts focused on the girl since she was a baby. I think everyone here helped raise her in some way.”
“I see. But they… the two of them… are they close? I mean…”
Daciana frowned at me.
“Is that what you’re worried about?”
“I was just asking.” I stopped, tense, knowing I wouldn’t be able to stay locked up there. “I’m going to walk around the village, see if there’s anything I can do.”
“Seraphine…”
“I’ll be back soon!”
I ran off, not understanding the anxiety eating me from the inside. I slipped among them, listening to comments, sitting in the square and observing in silence.
They didn’t look at me badly or drive me away. They simply accepted my presence, glancing at me before returning to their conversations.
“She’s very brave! Calm down, Anica, Katarina will be back soon.”
A tall man hugged one of the duchesses and led her inside. The other, still crying, was comforted by a group and also went in.
The children ran and played, oblivious to the adults’ dramas, who whispered, discussed details, fearful yet hopeful. I listened to their conversations:
“Viktor will solve all this. He’s stronger—he built this fortress!” said an older man.
“I have no doubt! If they go to the eastern field, they’ll be turned into wolf meal!”
“He hasn’t even left here and already attacked Alpha Lucian so we wouldn’t be at risk!”
“He’s always thought of us!”
“Adelina will be back soon!”
“And in two days, to spend the Full Moon festival with us!” someone added.
“This month there probably won’t be one, with everything happening.”
“That’s a shame!”
I wanted to blend in with them, to feel part of their worries and hopes. But I didn’t belong to the clan. I was no more than tolerated, because Viktor kept me there. Different in everything—even in species. A human who sparked curiosity.
I had never felt as lonely as I did at that moment. Unstable. And hadn’t my whole life been like that? Wanting to belong to my father’s clan, denying my origins in Germany? When I returned, he died. When I thought I would fit in, I was torn away from the gypsy life. And there I was, still without belonging.