The streets were abuzz with humans, who stood outside their shops, so looking down from their windows, their curious eyes fixed on the group as they walked, leading their horses through the crowded thoroughfares.
Having dismounted upon entering the city, the group proceeded on foot, their horses’ hooves clattering on the stone pavent as they made their way deeper into the city.
The humans’ faces darkened with hostility as they watched the group walk past, their eyes flashing with a deep-seated resentnt that seed to simr just below the surface.
The mory of the brutal raid on their outer village still seared their collective psyche, a painful reminder of the lives lost.
Though the village had served as a deliberate facade, a clever ruse to conceal their city from the world, it had still been ho to their kinsn, innocent lives that didn’t deserve the brutal fate that had been inflicted upon them.
Even though the Dark Snow Pack mbers had taken over the protection of the human village, those who lost their loved ones were still aggrieved. They couldn’t shake the belief that had their protectors arrived sooner, the tragedy might have been averted, and their loved ones might still be alive.
The what-ifs haunted them, fueling a smoldering anger that now threatened to erupt in the face of these new werewolf visitors.
But the humans were smart enough to understand what it ant to attack a werewolf. Despite being outnumbered, with less than ten in their group, the humans knew that even a single enraged werewolf could unleash devastation on a massive scale, tearing apart a thousand human opponents with ease.
This sobering realization tempered their hostility, keeping their hands and tongues in check, even as their eyes continued to burn with resentnt and anger.
Reana and her group didn’t miss the humans’ reaction, and they understood the depth of their pain and resentnt. The group felt a pang of solidarity with the humans, recognizing that they shared sothing in common - the trauma inflicted by senseless violence.
Just as the humans had suffered at the hands of werewolves, Reana’s pack had endured a similar tragedy. A few rogues had brutally slaughtered their beloved Alpha and his children, leaving a scar that still lingered. Since then, they had waged a relentless war against all rogues, refusing to distinguish between the guilty and the innocent, driven by a hunger for justice and a need for vengeance.
So, even if the humans took up arms against them, Reana and her group wouldn’t retaliate except when their lives were in danger. They would fight back, but to so extent.
Fortunately, the tense standoff remained just that, and no human made a move against them. Reana and her group breathed a collective sigh of relief as they continued on their way, grateful to have avoided conflict.
Their destination was now within reach: the ho of Orion, a place that promised rest, refuge, and perhaps, a chance to forge new alliances and nd old wounds.
Orion’s ho stood majestically at the end of the street, a grandiose mansion that seed to embody the essence of luxury and refinent. The imposing stone structure was dyed a warm, honey-brown hue, as if kissed by the gentle rays of the sun.
The group’s eyes widened in unison as they took in the breathtaking sight. Amidst the village’s already impressive architecture, Orion’s mansion stood as a masterpiece, surpassing all others in grandeur and elegance.
Its sheer scale and majestic beauty left no doubt in their minds: this was the residence of the village head.
Reana shot Ryder a sideways glance, her eyes narrowing. He had never ntioned that Orion was the village head; in fact, she had assud he was just a simple farr.
But now, standing before this grand mansion, she realized how misguided that assumption had been.
But who was she kidding? Her own vision didn’t show her anything of this either.
Her ability, though powerful, was limited to the perspectives of those she read, and it seed the leader of the Crimson Caravan had been oblivious to useful information.
However Ryder didn’t look her way, even though he felt her gaze on him. But Reana didn’t take it to heart, seemingly believing he was oblivious to her stare.
The group’s approach was halted at the front yard, where a contingent of guards stood at attention, their hands gripping sturdy wooden spears adorned with intricate tal tips. The guards’ eyes, alert and wary, scrutinized Reana and her companions, their faces set in firm, unyielding expressions.
"Who are you and who do you seek?" a guard asked gruffly, eyeing the group with a mix of curiosity and caution.
Ryder stepped forward, his movents deliberate and assured. He reached for his neck, pulling out a worn leather necklace buried inside his shirt, its length adorned with a dull tal wolf fang.
The guard’s gaze flicked to the necklace, and his expression shifted from skepticism to surprise. Ryder handed the necklace to the guard, his voice low and even. "Send this to Orion."
Reana’s eyes narrowed, her curiosity piqued. "When did you start wearing that necklace?" she asked him, her tone tinged with a hint of accusation. She had never seen him wear any jewelry before, and the sudden appearance of the necklace seed suspicious.
Ryder turned to her, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Are you talking to now?" he asked, his voice laced with amusent. With that, he turned away, ignoring her question.
Reana choked on the disrespect. Her eyes flashed with indignation as she felt a surge of anger at Ryder’s blatant disregard, and her face burned with irritation and embarrassnt.
But she bit back her retort, partly blaming herself for his reaction. She couldn’t deny that she had been treating Ryder like a ghost for the past three days, and a part of her felt guilty for it.
The truth was, she was still reeling from the intimacy they had shared. Giving her first ti to a man she didn’t know much about suddenly didn’t feel like the best idea anymore. That invisible thread that had pulled her like a moth to flas had dimd after that night, giving her ti to think things through.
Perhaps, she was infatuated with him and now, she didn’t feel the sa way anymore, Reana thought. With that, she also ignored him.
The others exchanged knowing glances but said nothing.
anwhile, a grizzled old man ca rushing out of the manson’s front door, face etched with anxiety and urgency.
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