445- Beneath the Beltane Moon
POV Thalyndra Moonclaw:
It had been little more than a few hours since my parents had been murdered and my life had changed completely. If I allowed myself to be consumed by the devastation I was feeling, there would be no plan for the future at all. That was why I tried to cling to small fragments of what I had planned before everything was destroyed. I would graduate in History and teach at some university. With my free time, I would choose to study wolves, just as my father did. But unlike him, I wouldn't get involved with lost artifacts. I knew how much that interest had cost him, and I wasn't ready to pay the same price.
I pushed myself up on my elbows and looked at the night sky through my window. The full moon shone alone, surrounded by dark clouds that seemed to be in constant motion.
It was strange, as though everything in Eldoria reminded me of the supernatural, even the moon. I could feel the energy of the place, denser and deeper. Perhaps living among humans for so long had caused me to lose touch with part of my lupine origins.
I sighed and lay back down on the bed.
I missed my father and my mother. I missed all the knowledge he carried and all the love they both had for me. If they were with me, I would ask whether they felt the same energy I did or whether I was simply imagining things because I was far from home and living among more wolves than I had ever thought possible.
My father would certainly have an explanation for me, perhaps even a lecture. My mother, on the other hand, would say it was their fault for keeping me away from wolves before.
“I miss you... so much that I can barely breathe...” I whispered, my throat tight with emotion.
Thinking about them, our house, the life we had... it was too much for me, so much that I couldn't think straight. The pain was immeasurable, absurd, tearing me apart from the inside.
I rose abruptly to my feet. Walking to the window, I leaned against the sill, letting the night breeze brush my face and dry the tears that hadn't yet fallen from my eyes.
I spotted the flames of the event's bonfires illuminating part of the forest. Thick smoke rose upward and disappeared into the sky. The scent of burning eucalyptus prickled my nose.
Aurelka had been incredible. She had shown me every part of the village, from the town center, with its houses and bars, to the dense woodland surrounding it. She took me to the lake that was the family's favorite place and to the timber and charcoal export company. The factory was enormous and, according to her, continued to grow every year, becoming more prosperous with time.
The Eldorias had a unique way of life. While they resembled an ancient dynasty, they were also modernized.
Edric had found a way to keep everyone in line and ensure that all of them worked toward the clan's development. They received salaries and paid for everything they consumed. It was like a civilization in the middle of the forest.
The wolves couldn't wander freely through the territories because there were other packs nearby, and to maintain order, they were expressly forbidden from mixing randomly. But that rule didn't apply to the alpha's heirs, nor to his right-hand man, who in this case was Vladren.
The only thing I felt was lacking was something more substantial in terms of education. The children were taught about wolf history, but it didn't go beyond that. In my opinion, we all deserved to know a little more about our origins.
If I were part of the clan and interested in staying, even after the Mercantes were no longer a threat, I would speak to the alpha about it.
But that wouldn't be the case, because I wasn't staying.
A knock sounded at the door, pulling me from my thoughts.
I rubbed the corners of my eyes with my fingertips, wiping away any trace of tears that might still be there. Sniffling, I took a deep breath and turned around.
When I opened the door, I found Aurelka waiting for me. She lifted her eyes to mine and looked me up and down.
“You look beautiful,” she complimented.
I arched an eyebrow and laughed. Looking down at my clothes—a white oversized shirt and boots—I huffed. My dagger was securely fastened to the sheath at my waist, hidden beneath the fabric.
“When I packed my suitcase, I wasn't planning on attending bonfire celebrations,” I murmured, looking back at her. “You're the beautiful one,” I added.
Aurelka was the embodiment of beauty and seemed completely unaware of it.
It didn't surprise me that Myrion and Anton were so jealous of her.
“Thank you. That's very kind of you,” she replied sweetly.
“Come on, the party has already started, and we don't want to miss anything.” She extended her arm and pulled me toward the staircase.
I noticed how quiet the residence was.
I hadn't seen any of them after I returned. I had gone straight to the room that would be my home for the next few months and stayed there until Aurelka appeared. As attentive as the Eldorias were, I didn't want to be a burden to them.
“Has everyone already left?” I asked as we stepped through the front door. It was a warm, pleasant night for an outdoor celebration.
“Yes. Mom and Dad always go earlier to make sure everything is in order.” She nodded. “And I imagine my brothers are already there too.”
“You imagine?”
She shrugged and kicked a small stone lying on the ground in front of us.
“They don't live with us anymore.”
That surprised me and, at the same time, bothered me. I simply couldn't understand why it upset me to know that Anton lived in another house.
“I didn't know that...” I murmured.
A strong wind swept through the treetops above us, rustling the leaves.
“They built their own houses years ago. They wanted more privacy. They were already adults and all that.”
“And you didn't want to?”
She shot me a sidelong glance.