Chapter 6

Valerie Pov.

The sweet kind of sleep you get in a place where your heart finds peace. The night was really peaceful although I can’t tell for sure if it’s because I spent it in this cabin . Although that was something though. Yawning and comfortably stretching as I sat up on the bed. No disturbing sounds from members of the pack, just silence and nature singing. My troubles nearly disappeared with the night.

I run to quickly get washed up. I don’t know how it would feel to be seen in my early morning face and I’m not ready to let that out yet. After washing up, confidence came to step out of my room. Forcing a smile to greet my host but I was in no mood for smiling.

He wasn’t outside or even in the sit out area of the cabin. I check the kitchen but he’s absent.

Where could he possibly be? How long have I been asleep for?

“Claven?!” My voice echoed back to me. Looking out the window, the forest looked just as empty as I remember. Nature is sweeter when you admire from a distance. I’m not sure I’m ready to step into the unknown yet. Nibbling the hem of my dress then tear swept again.

“What if he’s in danger?”

Biting my finger nails, I decide to take the leap of faith. Shutting the door behind me and making my way into the wild.

He can’t possibly be too far from the cabin. He knows I’m alone here. “Claven?!” Yelling into the woods

“Craven?!” This time it didn’t echo back but my conscience awakened to a reality. “Is it possible that he went back to the pack house?”

“But it’s too far from here.” My mind answered its own questions leaving me with no choice but to plunge deeper into the wild. “Claven?!”

That was the last time I yelled his name, I just advanced into the woods before making slow movements in the path leading back to pack house. Hoping to see him on the way.

“Valerie?” My ear caught a voice from behind me. I know the voice, only, it doesn’t belong to Claven. It’s all too familiar, someone that I don’t expect in the woods.

“Xandia?” Turning to meet her. Her face puzzled and beads of cold sweat lined her forehead. I have multiple questions. The loudest is, “what are you doing here?!” Xandia is my best friend but also the princess, that means she can’t be out here without guards.

She stared blankly, hands spread out to receive na. I run into her embrace. “I’m so happy to see you.”

“Me too.” She played with my hands, “what are you doing here? I’ve been looking for you the whole day.”

I had the same question for her. “Me? Where are your guards?”

“Guards? I didn’t need them.”

“Xandia?”

“Enough about me. What were you looking for? I saw you looking into the woods.”

I swallowed hard before choosing to say the truth. “A friend.”

She thinned her eyes, holding her sunny Royal dress up in her hands to not be stained by the mud. “What friend do you have that I don’t know about?”

My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. She’s right. We know everything about each other. “Someone….”

“Ok?” Tugging my arms, “I’m really tired and trust me, the woods is more annoying than I thought. I’m so thirsty.”

“Oh! You can come with me!” The words had escaped my lips even before meaning came to my head. Take her to the cabin? It’s Claven’s secret. What if it gets him into trouble?

“Let’s go!” She had taken my hands already.

I led her with smiles but the questions were still loud. “We aren’t going to stay there for too long. Just get water and leave, ok?”

She thinned her eyes but brushed it off, “alright.”

Getting back to the cabin, it was still locked the way I left it. My heart danced for joy. Leading her to the kitchen area and giving her a cup of water. Her eyes looked around in awe.

“This is really cozy and beautiful. You built this?” She asked.

“Of course not. Someone else has it.” Shifting my mind to an important topic. “Why were you looking for me?”

“Yeah!” Her face lit up, “Valerie, I spent the whole night trying to convince my father and he…finally agreed.”

Holding it in, I don’t want to get too excited. “Agreed to what?”

“Firstly, I explained to him that your parents were framed and they didn’t deserve the punishment.”

“Ok?”

“He has requested your presence.”

Now that was enough to get me pumped up. The last time, I remember being kicked out due to the allegations and now he wants me back?

Taking my hands, “I know it’s overwhelming but…I’m serious. I believe your parents were framed and I’m sure with the right convincing, my father would agree too.”

Her eyes were getting wet, I wiped them. “I believe you, Xandia.”

“You do?” Wiping her eyes, “that’s great. I thought it would take more to convince you to forgive me.”

“Forgive you?”

“Yeah, I should have stopped them from executing such punishment on you and your family.”

Looking up at her, I find a space beside her. “Xandia, you risked your life by coming into the wild to find me. That’s…the most anyone has done for me.” Breaking down in tears, she held me up in her hands. She was crying too.

Lifting my face slowly, “there’s a lot of uncertainty out here. What if you met rogues and raiders or even wild beasts?”

She giggled softly, “now you are exaggerating.”

“I’m serious.” Sniffing gently, “it’s really dangerous out here in the wild and anything could have happened. It would have put me in more trouble.”

She took another gulp of water, “what are friends for?” She smiled, the smile that always made say ever since I met the princess. Meek and lovable.

“I know asking you to come defend your family isn’t the best thing right now but…that was the best the alpha was willing to give me.”

“I know.” I muttered. I’m even shocked to hear that the alpha changed his mind.

“So does that mean you’ll come back to the pack house with me?”

That was a tricky question. I still haven’t found Claven. I want to prove to the pack that my family is a loyalist. Yet, I can’t help but wonder if I stand a chance.

“Would you promise to not risk your life again?”

She stared at me as if asking ‘really?’ I nodded back.

“Alright!” Lifting her hands in the air, “I promise.”

Also taking her wine da for it. “I guess I’ll come to the pack after all. Everyone needs to be reminded of my parent’s loyalty to the pack.” Taking her hands, “as far you are going to be with me, I can do it.”

We laughed in each other’s arms for a while. After drinking her water, she dropped the cup.

“It’s time to go, right?”

A resistance rose in my throat but I said, “right.” Strapping my shoestring and arranging my hair. She led the way out, I followed behind her. I wished I could write a letter for Claven but…I can’t.

Opening the door, she stood still forcing me to see what got her star struck, there he stood. Our host…the real host, Claven.