Chapter 15: Glory

Charlotte.

In an unexpected act of kindness, she reached out and handed me her jacket, recognizing my vulnerability in my nakedness. Together, we made our way back to the pack, enveloped in a heavy silence. My intuition about her warm nature was confirmed, although it seemed she wore a mask to shield herself from being taken advantage of. A single glance at her revealed a heartbreaking tale hidden behind her stoic facade. As Iris and I passed by, the women stared at us with curious eyes. I couldn't help but feel that I was the focal point of their attention, rather than Iris. In that moment, I yearned for the days when I was a nobody, when people rarely spared me a glance. Now, it seemed that the spotlight was unavoidable. I wondered what the future had in store for me within this pack. It came as no surprise when the Queen summoned me, but I couldn't shake off the nerves that consumed me as I prepared to meet her. With no explanation for what had transpired earlier, I pondered whether she would blame or commend me, or perhaps view me as a threat. The outcome of this meeting remained a mystery, yet I bravely threw myself into the flames, praying to emerge unscathed.

"Please, have a seat," she spoke in a gentle tone, a stark contrast to her usual harshness. Strangely, her hospitality only heightened my unease. "Charlotte," she began. "Have you ever observed anything peculiar in the past?" 

Numerous strange occurrences have occurred in my life, to the point where I have lost count. It all began when I miraculously survived that rejection, and from then on, strange things started happening to me. But, I dismissed them as insignificant and shrugged them off. For instance, my feet would tingle when I walked on the ground, and sometimes I would feel an electric shock in my hands while washing dishes. It has happened far too many times. The strangest of all was the heart disease I was born with, which caused chaos in my life for many years. A doctor even confirmed that it could not be cured but it suddenly vanished without a trace and never returned. There were too many of these incidents, yet I found myself unable to articulate a response to the Queen. If I were to tell her about all these occurrences, she would surely think I am crazy, even though I doubt my sanity at times.

"It's alright, you can confide in me," she encouraged, giving me a gentle nudge. 

I paused for a moment, contemplating the situation, and then asked, "Do you have any idea what has happened to me?" Judging by her reaction, I could sense that she knew something, but it seemed like she had no intention of divulging it.

"I was once rejected by a man whom I believed I would spend eternity with," the Queen spoke up, capturing my attention. Although she maintained a composed demeanor, I could sense the pain that lay beneath the surface as she relived the memory. I felt like giving her a hug or a gentle pat on the back at least.

"He didn't just burn me, he thirsted for my demise. And to achieve this, he conspired with my closest confidante, a girl I regarded as a sister, someone whom I trusted with the very core of my being. Foolishly, I walked right into their carefully laid trap, despite sensing that something was amiss. I convinced myself that Freya would never stoop so low, only to be met with the ultimate betrayal at the end." She paused, taking a moment to collect herself, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. 

It was a side of the queen I had never witnessed before, and I doubted anyone else was privy to this tale. I pondered why she chose to share this with me, but also felt a deep sense of gratitude, for my own story mirrored hers in many ways. I had spent years burdened with self-blame and suffocating guilt, but now, it was time to release the shackles of the past and embrace a future untethered.

"After falling into the enemy's trap, I found myself with no place to hide. In order to save myself, I had to run, but I was too slow. I was being chased by a large group of men and they quickly caught up to me. Suddenly, I was struck in the heart by one of my comrades and left to die in the wilderness…"

"Death seemed imminent as I saw my life flash before my eyes, ready to bid farewell to the world. In my final moments, a squirrel appeared and nestled on my leg, providing comfort. Strangely, this brought warmth and eased my pain. But just as suddenly as it appeared, the squirrel vanished into thin air, as if it had never been there.."

 "Yet, I could still feel its presence within me. Since that moment, I have been reborn as a new person. In return for the grace shown to me, I have vowed to protect all squirrels on this land. Please understand that I prioritize the squirrel's well-being over anything else. I am grateful that you were sensible enough to rescue its life, perhaps that is why she chose you."

 "Who?" I couldn't help but ask, curious about the squirrel. 

"Her name is Glory, the squirrel you protected," the queen informed me with a serious expression.

 I was taken aback when I found out that the animals had names. "How did you come to know their names? Did you give them these names?" I bombarded the Queen with multiple questions, unable to fully grasp the situation. 

In the midst of her laughter, the Queen advised me to calm down and said. "Yes, they do have names, and I am not the one who named them. Now that you have been chosen, I believe you will be able to communicate with them, not just the squirrels, but other animals as well."