Chapter Six Kodessa POV

We finished our breakfast in relative silence after Gwen’s outburst and subsequent departure.

I could see the hurt and confusion on my fatherś face, doubt and guilt creeping in.

“Itś not you, father “. I placed my hand on his trying my best to reassure him.

“You have been an amazing father to Gwen and me, and there is something else going on”.

“Thank you, Dessa” he gave me a half-smile, and he slowly stood up, looking tired and defeated.

“You try and rest that ankle for the dance tonight”. “I know how much you have been looking forward to it”.

 He walked out of the room, I tried to think of what was going on with Gwen to make her act this way. It had been building for months, and most of her anger was directed at me. I just figured she was pushing the boundaries as she figured out her place in the pack, but now I wasn’t sure.

The viciousness of her attacks seemed to make it more personal, and it was me she had a problem with. 

Until she found the courage to tell me exactly what I had done to hurt her, we would not be able to resolve it. So, Unfortunately, I only prayed it happened before too much more distance came between us. Sometimes words leave wounds that cannot heal, no matter how hard you try.

Only one person could help me untangle this mess, and I must go and see my Grandmother.

The walk to her house usually took no time at all, but this morning, it was painfully slow on these crutches. As I hobbled down the street, I saw my best friend, Victoria Ramsey, leaving the general store. 

Victoria is only 5ft 5 inches tall, but what she lacks in stature she more than makes up for in personality, bubbly and unapologetically loud. A thick black fringe sits above her brown eyes, and long straight black hair falls like a sheet of silk. Petite but muscular, Vicki is a fierce opponent in fight training and should never be underestimated. 

“Vick, Wait”, I yelled, trying to get her attention.

She turned abruptly to see who was making all the commotion.

“Dessa, what have you done to yourself this time “? she asked, running towards me.

“I fell out of a damn tree, trying to collect herbs for Grandma” It is seriously a nightmare, Vick, I cannot dance tonight, Gwen is being  ridiculous, and something else has happened that I have not told anyone”.

“Let us go somewhere quiet to talk, Des, it cannot be all bad”. “And I am dying to hear this secret of yours”.

We started to head towards the edge of the river, the sun was shining, and there was nois cloud in sight. The village was buzzing with activity as everyone prepared for the dance tonight. The dance was the year’s highlight, and the older girls had been making their dresses for months. They were gossiping and speculating on who would dance with who.

It is the perfect time to fall in love.

We sat on the large rocks that lined the weather, and Victoria placed a large stone in front of me to elevate my ankle.

“Start talking, Dessa, and I want to know everything”. 

Vicki looked me in the eye. I was never going to lie or withhold anything from her, she was no fool, and somedays knew me better than I knew myself.

“What’s going on with Gwen?’

“I have no idea, she will not talk to me, and when she does, she is snippy and rude”.

“And I hear her late at night crying, and it is unlike her.”

“She is usually so happy and is always in my space, but lately, she doesn’t want to have anything to do with me.”

Tears started to fall down my cheeks. The distance between my sister and I was breaking my heart. We have had many fights over the years, petty squabbles that had ended as quickly as they had started. But nothing like this. Hatred filled her eyes, and there was a hardness to Gwen had never experienced before.

Victoria shifted her body from side to side, suddenly uncomfortable with where the conversation was going. She had been watching Gwen closely the last few months, noticing the changes in her appearance and personality. But, unfortunately, Tobias and Kodessa had not seen what was right under their noses. Gwendolyn was becoming a woman.

“She is not a baby anymore, Des, and she is no longer a little girl.”

“Do you think there is a boy involved, Vick?”, As I looked at Victoria, I noticed her eyes quickly look away. There was no awkward tension between us, and I had no idea why.

“I do not know for certain, but this I can guarantee, when girls are fighting, and emotions and hormones are running this hot, a boy has to be involved”. 

“But who could causing this drama, I am fated to Lucian, and there is no way he would be interested in Gwen”.

 The mere thought of it was unthinkable, Lucian had been in love with me all his life, and even though we have never been romantic with each other, we knew that we were to be married after the blood moon in the year we turned twenty-one.

“You need to confront Gwen, Dess”. “Now, what’s the big secret you need to tell me? “ Victoria asked, hoping that it would end the conversations about Gwen. 

The village was rife with rumours, and she had heard snippets of them. Never one to believe gossiping girls and women, Victoria had started to keep watch on Gwen and Lucian. Much to her dismay, she had seen their flirty interactions and discreet touching as the other walked by—the sneaky looks and smiles. Victoria prayed for the Keneally family’s sake. She was dead wrong. But generally, as the saying goes, there is no smoke without fire. And if it were confirmed, the consequences would be dire.

“You know when I fell out of the tree, Vick, something happened, but you must swear that you will not tell a soul.” 

I trusted Victoria with my life, and I knew she would never betray me. But I was still so scared of revealing what happened that day. Even to one of the people I loved most in this world.

“Of course, you can trust me, Kodessa Keneally.” We have had each other’s backs since we could walk, and always will,” Victoria scoffed, thinking what a silly thing it was for Kodessa even to say.

“ I know, I’m sorry, it’s just I am so afraid of anyone finding out”.

Here goes nothing, I thought to myself as I started to tell my best friend about my encounter with the Grey Twins, leaving out nothing.

I told her of the compassion and kindness Fenis had shown me in my time of need, how I sensed tension between the brothers, how Flecki was more abrasive than his brother.

I describe their relationship, their rugged good looks. 

“The strangest thing happened, Vicki, when Fenis caught me as I was falling, we both felt an electric shock as we touched and…

“Stop right there, Dessa”! “Are you telling me that you felt electricity when you touched” ? she questioned, her excitement building and her voice high pitched.

“That can only mean one thing, Dessa”! “Fenis Grey is your twin flame, and he is your soulmate¨ 

“For it is Fenis, not Lucian, that you are fated too.”

Her words hit me like a bucket of cold water.

“No, it cannot be Vicki. It is Lucian. I am fated too”.

“Have you ever felt this when Lucian has touched you, Des?”

I thought back to all the times I had been casually touched by Lucian. I didn’t need to consider for long. I knew in my heart that I had never felt anything like his touch before.

“No,” I sighed. “I have never felt anything like it before”. I shook my head., I was starting to get a headache. Everything was now suddenly confusing and overwhelming.

“See … “That’s your answer. Next, you need to find Fenis Grey and see if it happens again”.

“That’s just it, Vick. “I will never see Fenis again, “The strangest thing happened when I told him my name”.

Victoria looked at me quizzically, “What do you mean” she asked while shrugging her shoulders.

“They got scared, Vick, both of them, I mean, they were terrified”.

“And when they heard my father coming, they took off as if their lives were in danger”.

“That is so strange”.

Victoria could not understand why anyone would be fearful of the Keneallyś. Even though Tobias was the alpha, he was a kind, decent well-respected wolf. But in the same token, he was a robust and fearless leader the pack shouldn’t underestimate. It would be a naive wolf that would ever mistake his kindness for weakness.

“I fear we will not solve your problems today, Kodessa Keneally”, Victoria exclaimed, jumping to her feet. 

“Come on, let us get you home hop along”, she teased. “We have a dance to get ready for”.

I slowly got to my feet, ready to make the walk back home and get ready for the dance. But, unfortunately, I would have to postpone my visit with my Grandmother.  At this rate, I needed all the help I could get. 

Little did I know, at the same time, I was heading home. Gwendolyn and Lucian were doing the same thing. Except they were excited about the Regency Dance, they were going to let the whole of Briarwood know what they felt for each other. And they made a pact that no matter what happens, they will be together.

If that means leaving the Crimson Shadow pack, then so be it ...