CHAPTER 6

Anne doesn't need to be a hunter or explorer to deduce that the place where the man named Lían lives is quite deep in the forest and far from any safe opportunity to escape and quickly return to her village. She had never believed in the principle of "when you're scared, you don't notice anything when fleeing," but now she understands and agrees with it. As she ran away from that cabin, she didn't pay attention to the distance or how some parts of the terrain were rocky.

— We're almost there, — Lían informs her as he turns to look at his companion. —  Do you need help? — he asks, seeing her struggle with the length of her dress as she walks among the protruding roots.

—  I'm fine, — is her quick response. She would never accept any help he might offer.

If anyone else gave her that response to his offer, Lían swears he would leave them behind and not feel guilty about it. But because it's his Luna who's giving him this response, he can't do that. In fact, his wolf can't even get angry at the rejection, so he just lets out a faint smile. In a way, he finds her attitude endearing.

—  Who enters the forest dressed like a witch during the solstice? — Lían can't help but let a hint of mockery creep into his voice with his question.

Upon hearing those words, Anne stopped in her tracks and stared back at him. Her father had said similar words to her on the night of the solstice. When she appeared all dressed up for the festival, he had said that the dress made her look like a forest witch.

Her stumble over one of the protruding roots brought her back from her brief reverie. Gathering the lower part of her dress to reveal her legs up to her knees, she makes a bundle with the fabric, hugs it, and walks past Lían.

—  They say it's easy to recognize witches; after all, you just have to look at their legs. They say they are very beautiful, — the wolf comments in an attempt to be playful and break the silence between them. —  Now I see that those words are true. — He tries once more but only receives silence in return.

Anne bites her lower lip to avoid yelling at the guy that he's an idiot, not funny, and that she doesn't like being called a witch or being compared to one.

The beautiful black dress and red cloak she had left behind when she escaped from the cabin had belonged to her mother. Perhaps that's why it seemed like a good idea to wear them to the forest festival. Now she sees how impractical it is, at least to wear them while on this type of trail. Letting her mind wander in her thoughts, she tries to imagine how her father is feeling at this moment, and Aisling, has she managed to come out of the forest unharmed? It's the firm grip on her arm that brings her out of her thoughts again. Turning to the man, she notices that without letting her say anything, he simply points to her forehead. When she turns her face in the indicated direction, she realizes that she was almost at the edge of a cliff that flanks part of the path.

—  You must be more careful, — are Lían's gentle words as he helps her straighten up, accompanied by a soft smile as he notices how her eyes stare at him.

— Th-thank you, — she says in a low tone.

Although the wolf feels pleasure in hearing that, he remains silent to avoid making his Luna uncomfortable. —  At this rate, we'll never get there, — Lían notes as he watches his companion drop the fabric of her dress. He makes that comment as he thinks about his next move.

Anne was about to respond to those words, but before she could say anything, she found herself in the arms of the man. In a quick and reflexive movement, Anne places her hands on Lían's broad chest, and she remains silent, letting herself be carried by him.

---

The inquisitor remained silent as the other elders deliberated who would be the best choice to be designated as the one responsible for observing the behavior of the Southern pack upon the arrival of the Luna, and how she integrates into her new life with the wolves.

—  I think it would be most prudent for one of the most experienced conciliators to take on this task, — Elder John says. —  After all, we know very well the tense relationship that exists between the Southern pack and the Council.

The elder's words were followed by a chorus of murmurs, as many harbor strong reservations toward the pack and its leader. It's no secret that many of those who sit on the main council tribunal want Alpha Lían's head on a platter.

—  If Elder John permits me, I believe it would be best to send one of the inquisitors, — the Elder from the Northern pack's words made everyone go silent.

—  I don't think it's prudent for an inquisitor to be appointed for this task, —  Elder Paul argues. —  After all, we're talking about a human Luna here. Inquisitorial authority might be suitable if it were a rogue wolf, but that's not the case.

— But if the inquisitor is someone closer, perhaps being a person who looks more friendly and not as imposing as one of the elders, it might be easier to oversee their interaction.

---

—  I can walk, — Anne's words come after a while of being carried.

—  I'm aware, — is Lían's simple response, but he shows no intention of letting her down.

Remaining silent, Anne looks at the path she's being carried along and then fixes her gaze on his face.

—  Will you let me see my family again? — she asks in a low tone.

Lían doesn't give her an immediate answer to that question; he just contemplates it while keeping his gaze fixed on the path. He doesn't know how to respond to that inquiry. It's true that in some human villages, there are shifters living among them, but he personally has never dealt with humans for an extended period of time, so he doesn't know how they would react to the knowledge of the presence of wolves.

— Perhaps one day I can take you to your village.

He doesn't know if that's the answer she was hoping to hear, but it's the only one he can give for now.

---

The woman kept her gaze fixed on the image displayed before her, unable to stop the tears from escaping her eyes due to the significance of that vision.

—  Mother,  — the raven-haired woman approaches her with great concern. —  are you okay?

Silence is the only response to that question, silence that is broken by sobs that start softly and end in bitter weeping.

---

Little Ellen was sitting on the steps at the entrance of Uncle Lían's cabin, her elbows on her small knees and her chubby cheeks resting against her little hands that hold her face, while her gaze is fixed on the path. Alice and Allan were leaning against the fence at the entrance of the trail to the cabin, both very attentive to their brother's return.

— I should have been more careful, — Alice lets out those words with a heavy tone. —  If something bad happens to her, or if Lían doesn't find her in time... I shudder just thinking about it.

—  It's not your fault, — Allan's words reassure her, but she still feels guilty about what's happening.

—  They're back! — Little Ellen's excited words make her stand up at once when she sees her uncle coming out of the forest carrying her new aunt in his arms.

Seeing her older brother approach while carrying his mate, the two siblings hurried to them, letting out a sigh of relief as they saw that she was okay.

—  Are you okay? Why are you carrying her? Did you get hurt? — Alice's words are the first as she approaches her brother and sister-in-law. On instinct, her wolf makes her check Anne to make sure she's alright.

—  She's fine, not a scratch, — Lían says as he lowers Anne, and she remains silent while being examined by Alice. "It's just that her dress didn't allow her to walk comfortably."

— Where was she? — Allan's question comes as he observes that his sister-in-law is well. —  Leaving like that was very dangerous. You don't know the forest, not all nearby paths are safe, and if you cross the boundaries of the Northern pack, your life wouldn't last a second.— He understands her actions well, but he can't help but worry about her.

Hearing those words only makes Anne's nerves resurface.

— You're safe; this is your place.

That voice again. Scanning her surroundings, with three adults around her, Anne was about to speak, but that action dies when she sees a huge brown wolf emerge from the forest thicket. A wolf that, against all the logic she knows, wants to argue or deny, transforms into a man before her eyes.