Her return

CHAPTER TWO

REIN

Rein had forgotten how much Ravenclaw smelled like home.

The moment the car passed the border, she leaned down the window, letting the cooling air rush against her face. It was the scent of the forest, something she had felt familiar with since she could remember.

Maybe the trees

Maybe the pack

Or maybe the feeling as if she had returned to something that had belonged to her.

She smiled.

She was home.

Not permanently.

Three months.

That was all she had planned to spend in Ravenclaw before returning to the life she had created for herself outside the pack.

She had left Ravenclaw because she wanted to experience life outside the place where everyone knew her name.

She wanted to work, build her photography and videography career, meet people who knew her for herself and discover who she was without constantly being introduced as Truz's younger sister

She had not left because she did not like Ravenclaw, more like she had missed it more than she liked to admit.

Especially her brother.

Her phone buzzed in her hand.

A message from one of her clients popped up on the screen.

Did you get there safely?

Rein smiled as she typed a reply.

Yes. Finally, home.

She slipped her phone into her bag and looked out of the window again, the Alpha Palace was waiting for her, but Truz did not know she was coming. That was the best part.

She had decided to stay somewhere on the outskirts for a few days before showing up in the palace, she wanted to surprise him.

Knowing her brother, he would probably stare at her for five seconds before deciding if he was going to yell at her or hug her.

She was betting on both.

The car eventually stopped near the small apartment she had rented before traveling. Rein paid the driver, pulled her luggage from the trunk, and stood there for a moment, taking everything in.

The surroundings had changed.

Not completely, but enough for her to notice.

There were new shops along the road, a few restaurants she did not remember and more people moving around than she expected.

She adjusted the strap of her camera bag and smiled.

Maybe three months would not be enough.

By late afternoon, Rein had unpacked and decided to explore, she took her camera with her, partly because she wanted to photograph Ravenclaw again, and partly because she had never gone anywhere without it for long.

She had always loved finding beauty in the ordinary things.

A woman arranging flowers outside her shop

Two children racing each other down the road

An old man sitting beneath a tree, watching the world move around him

Click.

Click.

She checked the pictures on her camera and smiled.

Some things had not changed at all.

Looking around as she walked, she was suddenly faced with a group of people gathered outside a small restaurant.

Their conversation was not particularly interesting to her.

Until she heard a name.

"Truz."

Rein slowed.

She had not intended to listen, but hearing her brother's name after years away made her curious.

"He's one of the Shivers Brothers ," a man said.

Another laughed. "You say that like it's something to be proud of."

Rein frowned.

The first man shrugged. "I'm just saying. You don't want to have problems with those four."

"Especially Demin."

Rein stopped walking.

Demin.

She knew him.

At least, she remembered him.

Truz had practically grown up with those three boys. Demin. She remembered him as one of the quieter boys, who had always been somewhere around her brother.

But the way these strangers spoke about them made her wonder if they were talking about the same people.

"What did they actually do?" someone asked.

"Nothing you need to find out for yourself."

The group laughed.

Rein shook her head and continued walking.

Apparently, the Ravenclaw she had remembered was not the Ravenclaw she had returned to.

She had known the boys as Truz's friends.

They were the Shivers Brothers in Ravenclaw.

And according to the conversation she had just overheard, that name had significantly more weight than it used to.

Rein stopped by a small café a little later, deciding she needed something to eat before heading back.

She had just picked up her drink when someone bumped lightly into her shoulder.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Rein turned.

The woman standing in front of her seemed about her age and had a surprised look on her face.

"It's okay," Rein said.

The woman glanced at the camera hanging from her shoulder.

"You're a photographer?"

"Yeah, among other things."

She smiled. "That's actually really cool. I actually love photography, too." Rein laughed. "Really? Thanks."

"You're new around here, aren't you?"

Rein smiled. "Just got back." The woman looked curious but did not press.

"I'm Kiara."

"Rein."

They shook hands.

Something about the conversation flowed easily after that.

They talked about the changes around Ravenclaw, places to eat, photography, and the ridiculous price of almost everything.

Their conversation was simple.

By the time Rein finished her drink, she was smiling.

"You should show me some of your work sometime," Kiara said.

"I'd like that."

"Well, if you're staying for a while, you're going to need someone to show you around."

"Are you volunteering? Rein asked.

"Maybe. Give me your contact information first. Then we will talk better."

Rein handed over her phone.

When Kiara was done saving her contact, Rein noticed the name.

Kiara.

For some reason, she had a feeling she would be seeing her again.

They said goodbye outside the café, and Rein watched her walk away before turning around towards the apartment.

The sun was already beginning to set behind the trees.

She smiled to herself.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, she would finally be going home.

And Truz had absolutely no idea she was coming.