NovelEnglishBook 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 thad passed since | was a child, yet there was potentially someone out there
claiming to be related to me, to be from the spack | apparently once belonged to.
‘Claiming’ being the keyword.
It would be naive to completely believe it so easily. I'd already been burnt by Ashwood for trusting too much and
| 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... |
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. | know you might wish her to be your mother,
but there wasn’t much resemblance between the two of you.”
She pointed out the sconcerns 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 madewarier about tracking her down.
“I appreciate the insight and your time,” | said genuinely. “You've been extremely helpful.”
And as | said my goodbyes, | then turned around to leave, heading back to my car with a feeling of relief. | didn’t
want to stay here any longer than | had to, the place still makinguncomfortable.
Even if things really hadn't been my fault as she’d said, it still didn’t magically makereminisce fondly.
As soon as | was back in the driver's seat,
| reached over to grab the stolen Ashwood book and began skimming through it for information, hoping to try
and find something to tellthe location. This was the only source of information | had access to that might
shed sinsight into the Silver Mist.
From what | 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....
...But then | 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 | placed the book back down, | immediately started driving towards it.
Getting to the Silver Mist was significantly more difficult than I'd anticipated. | suppose | should have expected
this given they'd gone forever undetected by the human world, but I'd thought there would still be seasy
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 | suppose they had no need to go there. Or, as | thought on it more, | 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... | 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 forto 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, | realised that it was in fact what | was looking for. The only possible option. And, cautiously, |
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. | was several
metres down the road when | started to see the signs that were posted.
Big red ones with the words ‘private property - keep out’.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
But | remained undeterred.
Slowly, | crept up the road as quietly as possible, going only far enough until | could see a structure in the
distance. It was here that | 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 | needed to find though
was an alternate route around it... maybe try to find a-.
*knock* *knock* *knock*
| violently jumped in my seat as someone tapped on my window, takingby complete surprise. They must
have walked up in my blind spot as | was focused forward.
“Hello? Miss?” said the man. “Can you wind your window down please?”
Okay... okay... tto think fast.
My mind started to whirl with what to do as | complied with his request, flashing a bright smile in the process.
“Oh! You scared me!” | laughed. “Sorry about that. | 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 atcloser, sniffing several times.
“Which pack are you from? The Silent Forest wasn’t informed of anyone coming through here today.”
Oh, fuck.
| didn’t exactly take the tto 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 cto mind.
My smile tensed as | forced it in place.
“Ashwood,” | answered. “I'm from... Ashwood.”
“Ashwood?” he repeated. “What brings you through here then? Ashwood has their own access point.”
“R-right,” | agreed. “But | just cfrom 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 | were sinking in quicksand with these lies, my knowledge
sorely lacking to navigate the situation.
“...My name?” | 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 nis... Allison.
Allison Lycroft.”
“Alpha Victor's daughter?” he asked, surprised.
“Yep... that’s me. I'm... Victor's daughter,” | 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. ” | 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.
Tto switch approaches.
“Is that any of your business?” | asked pointedly. “I've already told you who | am and why | am here. This
interrogation is incredibly disrespectful.”
Kieran had said that Ashwood climbed to power after the war. Since this person mentioned an alliance, | was
hoping that it meant the Lycroft ncwith sweight and associated perks.
“If you can’t help me,” | continued, ”
then just say so. But I'll be sure to let my father know about my experience here toda-.”
“No, no, please, | 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...,” | 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 | 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.
1iM23
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,” | said, hoping it sounded like something
Allison would say.
To my relief, he nodded in complete agreement.
“Praise Selene,” he said.
| thought that this was a good sign that he would finally letthrough... but then he took a step backwards.
“Well, | 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 cto visit. Give
“WAIT,” | said, a little too loudly.
He turned back around at my outburst in surprise.
“Wait... I, uhh... | think you should just letthrough.”
| couldn’t even think of any more lies and was in full panic mode.
“I'm sorry? What did you just say?”
“Letthrough,” | repeated. “... Please.”
“I will, but I need to get Beta Kevin first
“No.”
“No...?"
If there was ever a t| wanted to use this stupid ability, it was now. This thing that madethe devil they
sawas, yet couldn't seem to control.
Was there like an on-switch or something ...7..
“Why are you protesting this?” he asked. “That's awfully suspicious....”
And as he moved to retrieve a weapon, | knew | was out of time. The jig was up.
This was it.
Sink or swim.
But right before | was about to accept that combat might be my only choice, | thought | felt something inside.
A spark. Something that calmedas | reached for it, my body stilling just like that tin Ashwood with the
guard.
...And as | grabbed it, a burst of energy flowed through me.
“I said... *letpass through*,” | 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.”
| stared at him for a moment to make sure it was real, not wanting to risk being exposed. But when | was
confident that he really was going to letpass without issue, | didn’t waste any more time.
| stepped on the gas and started driving through the Silent Forest pack as quickly as | could. Driving without
stopping until | finally found the main connecting road leading out. At which, | began my long journey south,
silently praying that this would all be worth it.
That | hadn't just jeopardised myself for the sake of a trap.
And so | drove.
And drove... and drove. For what felt like hours. Probably made worse by constantly checking my rear-view
mirror in fear, but | was in a completely new world now, no way to escape easily if | were caught.
...Which, luckily, | wasn’t.
There was no mistaking when | did finally arrive, the Silver Mist fitting the description from the book perfectly.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm...Because as | was greeted by the sight of destroyed buildings everywhere, | 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 | had been born?
Somewhere in this... rubble?
| parked the car and decided to travel on foot, searching for signs of life. But, as | explored, | only felt a hollow
aching inside, a sadness from being here. | might not have consciously remembered this place, but as | walked
by a park full of dead grass, it seemed at least a part ofdeep down did.
A line of what looked to be restaurants and cafes then passedby, 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, sclothing
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.
| walked in a daze, allowing my feet to move on autopilot. Wandering aimlessly through the empty streets of the
place | should have been allowed to call hgrowing up. But it was as | walked that | 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.
| sniffed at the area, checking the perimeter, and it wasn't long before | found a trail to confirm my suspicion.
...Someone was living here.
Was this the girl who had tried to adoptall those years ago?
| guess there was only one way to find out
And, silently, | pulled out my dagger... approaching the front door carefully.
Despite my attempts of stealth though, it seemed | hadn't been subtle enough.
Because before | could even make it to the first step, | 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 snerve 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, | felt frozen in
place. | 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, pullinginto her arms.
“You're home. You found your way h... | can’t believe it. | was starting to lose hope that I'd ever see you
again.”
| 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...,” | said a little awkwardly, pulling away. “But I, um... | 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, | 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 madethink I'd
misheard her.
No, I had to have misheard her... because....
“...My nis Myra,” she said, gently smiling. “...I'm your great-great- grandmother.”
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