Page 98 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
Ita is the leader of this mission, though, so I make sure to update her beforehand.Everything is settled. The whole pack seems to be up. I’ll start to investigate. That is, if it’s alright with you.
Great idea, Ita encourages me.Everyone is scared now, so, even those who think they imagined something, might talk to you.She pauses.Alana?
Yes?I ask hopefully.
Another pause.Nothing, sorry, Ita says.Just be careful.
I will wait for you before going to sleep,I tell her.
No, she says immediately. The tone of her voice makes my heart ache. I know I might be reading too much into this, but it sounds like a rejection.I meant to say, I don’t know how long I will be out. Don’t wait.
Alright, I say, because I don’t know what else to tell her. I don’t mind how long she is going to be out. She can always come to my room and just lay next to me.
Maybe it’s better that way, Ros says carefully.
Are you serious?I huff.
It’s just… I don’t know, I don’t know what to think.
If you were against it, why didn’t you stop me when Ita approached us?I ask.We would have gone all the way if it weren’t for the attack.
I feel the bond to a mate, she tells me quietly.But it’s very weak, so I was weak too, and gave in to Ita and her strong wolf.She pauses.I feel like I failed you as your guidance.
My confusion is growing more and more. What does Ros even want to tell me? And what’s with Ita now? This is all so confusing. I’ve never been good at dealing with wishy-washy comments and innuendo. I sigh, deciding to ignore my wolf for now and focus on the task ahead of me.
Blaine’s gamma, a nice young man, accompanies me, and I make sure to talk to as many people as possible. Most of them are willing to share what they know. It’s the same story from all of them though. The same Blaine told me, how bears attacked and how they were strong and couldn’t be defeated.
I sigh, feeling like I failed my task when I catch a group of children playing in the snow. Caitlin’s younger sister, a 10-year-old girl, is with them. I saw her during dinner. No one ever asks the children, I realize. No one takes them seriously, because they are children, just like no one took me seriously when I was small and collapsed out in the cold.
No one believed me, and no one bothered to look into what I said. I love my parents, they are wonderful people, but I do think that they failed me back then.
“Hello Dalene,” I approach the group of kids and greet Caitlin’s sister directly. “You are still up?”
“Yes,” Dalene giggles. “The adults are busy.”
I laugh. “I would also always sneak outside and play when my parents were busy,” I say. “What are you playing?”
“We are building a snowman,” they say.
“Do you want to join?” a boy asks.
“I’d love to.” I join the little group, helping them with building a whole snow family.
“Say,” I start after a while. “Have you seen the werebears too?” I ask them.
One of the young boys shrugs. “I did, but…” His voice trails off.
“But?” I urge him softly.
He pouts a bit. “My papa got angry and said I shouldn’t spout so much nonsense. He thought I was just trying to prank him and the alpha family. I didn’t want him to punish me, so…”
“What did you see?” I ask. “I’d be interested.”
“You will tell my father,” he says.
“No, and even if I do, I will make sure he believes you,” I say firmly, reaching out my hand. “Something like this happened to me, too. Pinky promise.”
He frowns, before wrapping his little finger around mine and shaking it. “I saw the bears,” he whispers. “And I remember how the warriors were screaming how strong they were. I saw something around them… a blue light.”
