THE DAY AFTER

River stepped into the dining room, the silence between her and Thane palpable. Malcolm, Thane's father, attempted to fill the void with polite conversation, but the tension remained.

Afterward, River went outside, walking in the garden. The air was brisk that morning, full of flowers and the earthly smell of wet soil. Peaceful, a contrast to the turmoil in her head. She needed space; a space to think, to breathe, and figure out what was to come.

Outside, the walk into the garden was suddenly a blur of flowers and trees and sunshine, but her mind weaved its way back to what was found in the attic: old journals, books, and letters, her mother's, written before she died. River had been too young when her mother died, and she remembered little, only whispers, rumors: most from her father and her stepmother, Cecilia.

They told her that her mother was a healer, a Luminari, but from the manner in which they spoke, it would have seemed as if she was some sort of mistake to have tainted their family bloodline. River had so many questions about her mother, questions that were never allowed; even if they were, she did not think her father would have answered them.

Those attic findings had set something aflame inside her. There was something in those journals, something telling her why she didn't have a wolf, why she'd always felt so different.

But now, being forced into marriage, River wondered if that spark had been doused. What good was finding her real heritage when she had no say in her future?

She stopped in front of a small, hidden alcove in the garden, a reminder of a haven in which she'd often sought refuge as a little girl way back in Nightshade pack. The stone seat was also weathered and cracked but still strong. The alcove held an air of sanctuary. She sat down and allowed the weight of the world to slip from her shoulders, if only for a very short time.

"You appear a million miles away.”

River opened her eyes; the first thing she saw was Thane at the doorway of the garden. His wheelchair was silent on the grass as he regarded her. She hadn't heard him approach.

"I wasn't trying to escape," she said, "Just needed some fresh air.”

Thane nodded slightly and wheeled himself closer. He kept a few feet away, almost as if he wasn't quite sure how to approach her. River could tell he was still working through the awkwardness of their situation, just like she was.

"I can understand that," he said, his voice with an unexpected warmth to it. "Some days, it feels like I couldn't breathe either."

He was still looking at her, River thought with a jolt. She thought he would keep his distance, be cold after what transpired. Surprising her, there was something in his tone that wasn't expected; a softness.

"It's not easy, is it?" she asked more for herself than for him.

Thane didn't say anything for several moments; he stared into the ground. His voice was low, little more than a whisper, he finally spoke again, "No, it's not.

A moment of silence passed between them then, for once, it wasn't awkward. It felt real.

"You don't have to put on pretenses with me, you know," River said now. "I'm less than thrilled about this whole being married thing myself. But since we're here, we may as well make the most of it, right?

Thane's lips twitched, and for the first time, River saw a flash of the man he once had been: proud, confident, a warrior who demanded respect.

"I guess we're stuck with each other," he said, "At least we are in it together."

River laughed then, releasing some of the tension from her shoulders. "Well, that is one way to look at it.

They sat in silence for a while, the only sound that of leaves rustling in the wind. River found herself studying Thane a bit closer: he was very handsome, even in his brokenness. Sharp features, his jaw set, though there was sadness in his eyes, there was still strength that she could not help but admire.

She didn't know what she had expected from him, but this, this was something else. He wasn't the future Alpha of Lunar Pack she had perceived; he was a man who had gone through hell, and she could see that now clearer than anything.

"You know," River said, "I didn't expect you to be so normal.”

Thane raised his eyebrow; his lips twitched. "Normal? I'm not sure I've ever been called that before."

River smiled, "I don't know. I guess I imagined you'd be more aloof, you know? Like everyone else in your position. But you're not.”

Thane sighed, "Being forced into a marriage isn't exactly the best time to put on a show of power.”

River winced. “Yeah. I’ve been there too. My father...” She stopped herself, unsure if she wanted to continue. But Thane didn’t seem to mind.

“You don’t have to explain,” he said. “I get it.”

And for whatever reason, River did believe him. There was something in the delivery; no judgment, just understanding; that made her feel less alone in this.

"Thanks," she said. "I don't think I have ever heard that from anyone before."

Thane shrugged. "It's the least I can do.”

As more time was spent sitting in comfortable silence, and with the afternoon wearing on, River felt a calm settle over her she hadn't felt in a very long time. Temporary, she knew, but for now, it would do.

Finally, after what felt like hours, River rose from the bench. “I should probably head inside. I’m sure the others are wondering where I’ve gone off to.”

Thane nodded, his expression unreadable. “I’ll return with you. At least to maintain our public mate image.” He added.

River nodded and started pushing the wheelchair towards the pack house. River felt her head filled once more, this time with a goal. It seemed almost as though she had grown up in the precarious weight of her own life situations that she had forgotten to gaze out at the opportunities that life out offered.

Maybe she couldn't control who she married, but she could control herself. And if there was one thing she did know for certain, it was that she wasn't going to let the rest of her life be ruled by the ambition of her father or the burden of her bloodline.

She had magic inside of her, and a future as yet not fully understood. And with Thane by her side, temporal or permanent, she wasn't going to let anyone or anything take that away.

The burden on her shoulders felt less, in their quiet way, the events that evening had lightened the weight in River's heart. She had no idea what would come next, but for the first time, she almost felt like she wasn't walking this path alone.

As she wheeled Thane to his room, River realized she had a choice to make. Uncover the secrets of her past or explore the magic within her?

The door closed behind Thane, and River headed to her own room, her mind buzzing with possibilities. There were books to read, magic to explore, secrets to uncover, and a wolf to unlock.

Where to start?