It was a bright morning in Frostholm Castle. Everyone was going about their business as usual. Everything seemed fine, though the haunting memories and painful recollections of the war would forever be etched in their minds. They mourned, but they knew that rising again was a necessity. They would not allow the sacrifices of their pack to be in vain.
Every aspect was evaluated. Every nook and cranny of the territory was being monitored as closely as possible. They would make sure that no gaps were left unchecked, including every piece of information that came in, no matter how big or small. Everything would be examined with the utmost caution. They wouldn’t underestimate anything like they had before.
“I checked it, Alpha. It turns out there was an unknown woman and Rowena who warned us six months ago,” Graham said, handing Kendrick some photos from the surveillance cameras. Then he added, “They wrote letters and put them in the pack’s complaint box, but the staff dismissed them as anonymous letters, even though Rowena had done it several times.”
Kendrick took the photos and examined them carefully. His face showed deep regret. “If only we had known about this warning sooner, we wouldn’t have lost so much.”
Graham remained silent. His face lowered slightly, sharing the same regret. Then he heard Kendrick ask.
“Do you know the woman who also put a letter in the complaint box?”
“No, Alpha.” Graham shook his head once, a faint frown appearing on his forehead. “She only sent a warning letter, and I couldn’t find a single clue to her identity.”
Kendrick paused and took a deep breath. “So,” he said as he put the photos back on the table. He looked at Graham. “I think we should invite Rowena to the palace. She’s helped us a lot so far.”
Graham nodded. “Understood, Alpha. I’ll contact Ayla immediately and ask her to formally invite Rowena to the palace.”
Without further ado, Graham left Kendrick’s office. He quickly contacted Ayla and relayed Kendrick’s orders. He also stressed to Ayla the importance of informing him as soon as Rowena accepted Kendrick’s invitation.
Meanwhile, back at her home, Ayla held her breath as she realized why Graham had called her. She stood still, every word he spoke swirling in her head, causing her to close her eyes. Her heart was heavy, but she couldn’t disobey Kendrick’s order.
“I will send someone to deliver the invitation to your home, Ayla,” Graham said.
Ayla answered calmly. “All right, Graham. I’ll let you know as soon as I deliver the invitation to Rowena.”
The call ended a second later and Ayla could only let out a long sigh. Her mind felt empty, and her emotions were in turmoil. Everything seemed uncertain, and her doubts made her question her ability to carry out Kendrick’s order. After all, she couldn’t even find Rowena.
Ayla had tried countless times. She had gone to Amerotha Forest many times, hoping to find Rowena, but to no avail. Rowena hadn’t shown herself at all, not even answering her calls.
Ayla was filled with worry. Her mind kept thinking about Rowena, constantly questioning Rowena’s condition. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do, nothing at all, if Rowena had decided to retreat.
The forest of Amerotha seemed to hide Rowena. Ayla’s vision was clouded, unable to see or find any trace of Rowena’s presence. Nor could her hearing pick up the sounds of Rowena’s movements.
But Ayla knew that Rowena was still there. She was certain that Rowena was still in the Amerotha Forest, and that certainty drove her to try again. Armed with an official invitation from Frostholm Palace, she ventured into Amerotha Forest for the umpteenth time.
Ayla arrived in Amerotha Forest as the sun was setting. The sky was beginning to darken, night was slowly approaching, and a hushed silence greeted her arrival. Everything felt tense as the usually soothing sounds of nature turned into something alien to her.
A cold breeze blew gently, rustling the leaves. The air grew more humid, carrying the faint scent of wet earth between the trees. Dark shadows swayed slowly, created by the moonlight trying to penetrate the dense forest canopy.
In the distance, the gentle trickle of a small, slow-flowing stream could be heard. Its rhythm was like a pulse, seemingly calm yet full of mystery, as if it embodied the entire atmosphere of the Amerotha Forest that night. The mystical aura of the Amerotha Forest felt heavier, as if it were watching Ayla from behind the darkness.
Ayla took a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding in her chest. Her steps were careful as she ventured further into the Amerotha Forest. Letting her memory guide her, she approached the place where she had last felt Rowena’s presence.
Ayla’s breathing grew heavier, as did her footsteps. The Amerotha Forest seemed to want to hold her back, but she did not stop. She kept walking, then called out, “Rowena!”
There was no answer. Not even a faint sound reached Ayla’s ears.
“Rowena!” Ayla called again. This time she stopped. She looked up and around. “Please, just this once. Come out, Rowena. I know you’re here and I want to see you.”
Still, there was no response. The Amerotha Forest remained ostentatiously silent, undisturbed by her presence.
Ayla held her head in frustration. Then she reached into her coat pocket and pulled out an invitation. “I have no intention of disturbing you, Rowena, but take a look at this,” she said, holding the invitation in the air. She turned around, needing to make sure Rowena could see it from wherever she was. “The Frostholm Pack invites you. The Frostholm Palace invites you officially and with great honor. Alpha Kendrick has instructed me to deliver this invitation to you, Rowena. So…” She started to feel desperate. She thought it was worth using the situation for her personal gain. Since she needed to see Rowena, she needed to know how Rowena was doing. “Please. Help me this time, Rowena. I can’t go back without an answer from you.”
Ayla’s voice trembled in the oppressive silence. Her head hung down, feeling the despair that was overtaking her. The Amerotha Forest remained silent, seemingly unmoved by her plea.
Ayla looked down at the invitation in her hand, her fingers trembling slightly. “I know you’re hurt,” she whispered softly. Her voice was almost a murmur, meant only for herself. “I know you’re hiding because you feel so lost, but I need to know if you’re still here, if you’re still holding on.”
Ayla could understand how devastated Rowena must be. As the only person who knew about the secret relationship, she realized that Ivan’s death was not only a great loss for the Frostholm pack, but also a deep sorrow for Rowena. The loss and grief Rowena must be feeling was unimaginable to anyone, including herself.
Ayla understood that Rowena needed time to heal, to come to terms with her situation. But she couldn’t wait too long with the constant worry in her head. The various bad things that could happen to Rowena continued to haunt her.
“I…” Ayla closed her eyes. She felt warmth begin to rise in the corners of her eyes, breaking through her defenses. “… I’m worried about you, Rowena. I-”
Suddenly, from deeper in the forest, came a faint sound, something Ayla’s ears could barely catch. The sound was almost imperceptible, like the rush of a fast-moving wind or leaves being swept by something. Still, the faint sound made her sit up. Her hope was rekindled, however faintly.
“Rowena?”
Ayla called again, this time more carefully. She waited, holding her breath as her mind continued to spin. She wondered if it was really a sign of Rowena’s presence or just her imagination.
The seconds ticked away agonizingly. Ayla steeled herself. Then she noticed that the forest had fallen silent again, but there was a subtle change in the air. She turned to see a woman emerging from the darkness of the forest-Rowena.
*