Chapter 08

TIA POV

Once I was outside, it didn’t take Meadow long to pull us into the trees, taking over and shifting into her beautifully rare shimmering wolf. We were too large for a female wolf, even with Alpha genes. I had seen my brother and father's wolves, and I would dare to say that we were slightly larger and not at all similar in colouring. I didn't resemble either of my parents in either wolf or human form.

Like many others did when comparing my appearance to my family, I used to wonder if I was adopted. Still, through my own investigation, I discovered I was a living image of my mother's grandmother. She was also recorded as a blessed shimmer wolf. She was hunted until she was mated.

Shimmer wolves were believed to be extinct. I figure there had to be more out there if I were a shimmer wolf. They were hiding just as I was. We were the selected few tasked with maintaining balance on Earth and coveted for our strength and abilities in battle. Shimmer wolves also chose their own mates; they weren’t assigned a true mate, like regular wolfen shifters. It is written that your wolf will know who they wish to match with, but the human doesn’t. Shimmer wolves also gave their pack their blessings from the goddess and strength. If no shimmer wolf resides within its assigned blessed pack, the pack suffers significant losses. For example, should my family marry me off and send me away, there is no more shimmer wolf to maintain this pack's sacred space. It was considered against the Goddess to attack a shimmer wolf-sanctioned pack, and your pack was doomed for ruin if you tried. The Goddess would unleash her Dark Sister to exact her vengeance. But thanks to our parents, the world already knew neither Simon nor Hilary held a shimmer wolf. Now that they believed I would not shift, I was curious to see how my family proceeded. This was their test. If they were wise, they would leave me be and allow me to live my own life within the pack. My family were too vocal. They let the world know there was no shimmer wolf in our pack; they would become unprotected if they decided to send me away.

My father shamed me for being cold and unapproachable, but failed to see that it was for their benefit as much as it was for my own. If I were a heartless b.itch, then no one would want to take me away as a chosen mate, especially if I had no wolf for them to claim.

Meadow gently settled our sprint to a calm trot over to our usual spot, deep in the forest.

We found it shortly after we returned, as we needed to escape the drama of the family fighting back and forth. It had a peaceful stream and nightly creepy crawlers that chirped, screeched, or cooed a soft lullaby to a lonely girl as she lounged high up in her tall willow tree. No one ever found me here, not that anyone would be looking for me.

To keep Meadow and me a secret, we couldn’t afford friends. That was why we had to let them believe I was now wolfless, to solidify that no one in this pack would know my secret. Maybe if I were still sent to the Raven Peak pack to marry Delta Allan, I would gain my first true friend, but I was still skeptical. He was supposed to arrive for my birthday, but that didn't happen. It was probably for the best, though. My parents' look of embarrassment was enough for one night. It’d been a few days since, and they still have not tried to seek me out. The message was clear: I was Delta Allan’s problem now. That is, if he still wishes to collect me. To be honest, I was nervous. I haven’t even met my fiancé, but he was coming in a few days to claim me? Was this normal? Does this mean I was off the hook? Was I now free from that contract they signed?

I wasn’t really sure. I knew that arranged pack marriages weren’t as common nowadays, everyone wanted their true mates, but since I technically didn’t have one, maybe this was the Goddess’ way of pointing Meadow and me on our correct path? But I doubted it. Why would she take the only shimmer wolf from its blessed and protected lands?

I was forcing myself to remain hopeful, and Meadow was silent. What a deluded pair we were.

“Meadow, do you think we’ll be happy with our betrothed mate?” I asked as I settled high up in our tree. I slept better out here than in the room they assigned me. Let’s call it residual trust issues. It’s not as if anyone tried to earn it after I returned; they just swept it under the proverbial rug and pretended it hadn’t happened.

We will be happy on the path we are led down once it is presented. We must remember to stay alert and vigilant, little one. I sense something approaching, and we must be prepared to stand tall when it does arrive. Meadow never revealed too much, just enough to keep me on guard.

I knew what the pack said about me. I knew no one liked me, but it made it easier to be the brat I needed to be to keep myself and the pack safe. All I needed was Meadow.

For now, someday we will be loved by others, little one.

Meadow’s soft words and humming lulled me into a deep sleep. Nothing around to stir me from the slumber I fell into.

Not even the screams—.