Six

I frowned, but didn't see much choice other than to walk with her. Trin would likely be just as able to throw me over her shoulder as Haden had. Besides, she had to sleep sometime, and slipping away unseen would have to have a far greater chance of success than trying to outrun a Lycan.

She continued trying to make small talk as we walked, seeming mostly focused on learning more about Silver Waters. And me, though I didn't really feel like sharing much in that regard. It wouldn't be important anyway, given that I had no more intention of staying with them than with any other Lycan pack.

We walked for hours, and eventually, she fell silent too, seeming to watch me with some degree of concern. I was more than a little bit tired of being looked at in that way. First the twins, then Saxon and Haden, now Trin, when all I wanted was to be far away from all of them. Except for Mama.

I once again found myself wondering what could have happened to her. "What's up?" Trin asked gently, sounding sympathetic, but I sighed, shaking my head. "Not anything I want to talk about," I said shortly, when she continued looking at me, waiting for a response. When I didn't give one, she only began to look even more concerned.

"Okay, but if you change your mind.." she began, and I stopped, staring at her, "I won't," I said curtly, cutting her off. "Okay," she said again, seeming uncertain, "Are.. you tired? Do you want to stop for a while? I'm kind of surprised you haven't already.." I shrugged, not really caring either way, and she reached over, taking my hand. "A little further this way," she said quietly, "There's a small apple orchard, owned by one of the pack families. Hopefully it's not too late in the season."

My stomach grumbled in response, and she laughed softly, "That hungry?" she asked, and I shrugged again, though in truth, her mention of food had made me realise how long it had been since I last ate. She tugged my hand and we kept walking, the bare rows of trees coming into view as we crossed a small rise. So much for it not being too late in the season.

She grinned at the look on my face, and tugged my hand again, walking faster, "Cheer up, Petey will have plenty in cold storage." I frowned, trying to keep pace with her, "I.. don't have any money or anything," I said quietly, and she gave me an odd look. "Oh.. that's okay, you won't need it here," she said, sounding surprised that I'd mentioned it. "We all take care of each other out here," she continued, "Don't your pack do the same?"

"They're not my pack," I said coolly, "I guess they do look out for each other though." She nodded thoughtfully, "So.. you were just.. an employee, to them?" she asked, and I nodded, "Something like that, I guess." Something about her demeanor changed then, though I couldn't quite place it. "Did.. they pay you?" she asked, and I stared at her as though she were mad. "Pay me?" I asked, as though it were odd, and saw a distinct flash of anger in her eyes.

"It doesn't matter," she said, shaking her head as she looked away, heading for the farmhouse at one end of the orchard. Confused, I followed her, but kept quiet, wondering what I'd said that had angered her like that. She didn't seem to have much of a temper that I'd seen, but the emotion had been perfectly clear.

Trin was back to her buoyant, bubbly self by the time we reached the farmhouse though, walking straight over to a strong, rough-looking man who was outside, chopping wood. Upon seeing her, he lowered his axe, leaning it against the wood stack and turning to her with open arms.

"Trin!" he cried out, his eyes widening in a look of happy surprise, "What brings you all the way out here?" He pulled her into a familiar-seeming hug, and she returned it, smiling warmly. "Just passing through with Ava, here," she said, gesturing towards me, as I stood further back, feeling awkward.

"Ava, it's nice to meet you. I'm Pete," the man said warmly, holding out his hand in greeting. I took it and politely returned the sentiment, with a smile that I hoped seemed friendly, despite the lack of enthusiasm I felt at being here. "Come on, come inside," Pete said brightly, "Anna will be so happy to see you!"

He led us towards the door, pausing to remove his boots, and Trin and I did the same, adding our own to the assorted collection on the porch. "Anna!" he called out as we entered, and a woman peeked her head out from a nearby room, her face lighting up as she saw us. "Trin!" she exclaimed happily, just as Pete had, hurrying over and pulling her into a warm hug, "Ohh, it's so good to see you!"

Trin returned the hug just as eagerly, smiling wide, "It's good to see you too, Anna. How are you all? Was the harvest a good one? How are the girls going?" Anna laughed buoyantly, "Goddess, so many questions!" she said, "So much to catch up on! Why don't you and your friend stay a while, and join us for lunch?"

Trin nodded, smiling at me, "This is Ava, and that sounds wonderful, thanks Anna." Anna came over and lifted her arms, pulling me into a gentle hug as a way of greeting. I returned it, though somewhat awkwardly, and thanked her too, before she showed us through the house, pointing out the bathroom for us to wash up.

Trin left her backpack by the couch and headed that way, leaving me in the living room with Anna and Pete, who I turned and gave an awkward-feeling smile to. "So, where are you from, Ava? What brings you out here?" I grimaced inwardly, already having to face questions I didn't have an answers for. "Oh.. just out West a bit, I'm just passing through," I answered vaguely, and the two of them exchanged an odd glance.

"Out West?" Anna repeated, "Silver Waters?" she asked, and I nodded, giving her a weak smile. Her look immediately changed to one of sympathy, and she exchanged another look with Pete, who suddenly stood and left the room. "Is that where you got all those wounds? Over in Silver Waters?" Anna asked gently, and not really knowing how else I could respond, I nodded again.

She gave me sympathetic smile, and Pete returned a moment later, holding a basket full of first aid supplies. Anna took it from him and seated herself on the sofa, patting the space beside her. "Don't worry, dear. You're safe here," she said kindly, as she dabbed some strong-smelling liquid onto a cloth, "They might be awful, but they don't ever dare cross into our territory."

"They did just that," Trin's voice said from behind me, as she came back from the bathroom, "Chasing her." She nodded at me, and Anna's eyes widened, while Pete growled, "They dared cross the border?!" he said angrily, and Trin nodded. "Yannick's two brats," she continued, making me wish the sofa would swallow me whole, "Apparently they've something against their servants choosing to leave."

Pete growled again, and even Anna scowled angrily, "Servants?!" she repeated, shaking her head, and my eyes widened. "No.. Mama and I, we worked for them.." I began, and Trin cocked her head, raising an eyebrow at me, "And what wage did you receive for your labour?" Anna and Pete turned to me, waiting for a response, and I felt my cheeks turning red. "I.. uh.. we.. owed them a debt," I said weakly, "They provided us shelter.."

Trin rolled her eyes dramatically, "Yeah, yeah, we've all heard that one," she said, as Anna began carefully dabbing at each of my scratches. It stung a little, but I ignored it, looking at Trin with confusion. She shook her head sadly, "Let me guess, they took you in, told you to work to 'repay' their generosity, but the repayment never ended? And you weren't allowed to just leave?"

I frowned at her, unsettled by just how easily she'd predicted the basics of it. "I.. well, we'd never tried to leave before.." I began, but knew it wasn't far from the truth. Whether Yannick would have knowingly let us if we had.. I had more than doubts myself. Pete swore under his breath, and Anna shook her head sadly. "How long?" she asked, continuing to gently clean my wounds, "Since I was a baby," I muttered quietly, and she squeezed her eyes closed, her expression full of sorrow.