***Talon’s POV
After the conversation I had with Ethan, I went to see Estrella the next day. She had made sure to put Rosalie on a strict diet and rest order to ensure she gained her strength back.
A couple weeks had passed, and Rosalie had been improving steadily, both physically and ntally.
Estrella convinced that Rosalie needed to get out of the house. That way, she wouldn’t feel like she was a prisoner within our walls - of course, she would always need to be accompanied.
Usually, I watched Rosalie from a distance. My sister Vicky had taken over being Rosalie’s caretaker when it ca to venturing outside of the main house. The two of them got along quite well.
I knew that Vicky’s heart would break, though, when Ethan had Rosalie killed.
Rosalie was a kind spirit that you couldn’t hate even if you tried. She did no wrong, and I didn’t understand how her family treated her the way they did.
“Talon!”
Vicky’s voice filtered through the air, and I turned in the hallway to see her running towards .
“What’s wrong?” I frowned.
She seed frantic, and I didn’t like seeing my sister like that.
“Nothing. I just have to go take care of sothing, and I was hoping you can take Rosalie out into the village today.”
? Take her out?
“Please, please? Help this once, please? You are the best brother ever!”
Vicky blinked at , her eyes pleading her case.
And unfortunately for , she knew I could not turn her down on a small favor like this.
Plus, it wasn’t like I didn’t know what Rosalie did every day. I was always watching her to make sure she was safe, anyway.
“Only this once.” I tried to put on a stern face, but I knew it held no deterrent for her.
“Great! Thank you so much!” she squealed with excitent. She wrapped in a hug before turning and scampering off.
“The h*ll just happened...” I chuckled to myself as I made my way towards Rosalie’s room.
I knocked on the door and waited for her to open it. I didn’t want to intrude on anything she might be doing. Regardless of her status within our pack, she was still a lady, and should be treated as such.
When the door opened, I ca face to face with her srizing blue eyes.
“Talon?” She said softly.
I couldn’t help but put on my polite smile.
“Vicky had to go take care of so errands, so I figured I would take you out to the village today.”
She seed genuinely surprised by my offer to take her out, and quickly nodded her head before following .
***
The village was lively that day.
After a few hours of wandering around and watching her with the people of the pack, I had to admit it - Rosalie had luna qualities. She was kind, and sweet. She was still very hesitant around n she didn’t know, but when it ca to won and especially children— she was radiant.
“Talon...” Rosalie said softly as she padded up to . “Here.”
She held out a scarf that she had been making with another woman. I couldn’t help but be confused.
“What’s this for?” I asked.
Her smile faltered for a mont. The hesitant look returned to her eyes.
“Oh... um... Well, I made you a gift,” she stamred with her words while her eyes directly went to the ground, her cheeks turning red with embarrassnt. “You’ve helped so much since I ca here. I wanted to give you sothing, as well.”
I had never had soone give a gift for doing my job - a job that would lead to her death.
“No - please don’t be embarrassed. I just wasn’t sure why you would want to give sothing. Here... give it to .”
I quickly took it from her open hand and placed it around my neck. It definitely wasn’t sothing I would ever personally choose to wear, but she had made it for and given it to as a gift. So I wasn’t going to be disrespectful.
I had seen how quickly her mood changed when I questioned her. It was a sha she always seed to feel the way she did. She didn’t realize how captivated everyone was with her, and how well-respected she already was for soone who had not been here all that long.
It was like a feeling deep inside us. Our wolves could sense there was more to her than there seed. A connection.
“Well, what do you think?” I asked, trying to make myself look happy.
As she looked at , she actually giggled.
“You look great. Those colors look good on you. I was a bit surprised when Vicky told you like colorful things...”
Dammit Vicky! I should’ve known it was her idea!! No wonder she asked to take Rosalie out today.
She was sweet, but I would never have worn this mix of colors together any other ti. I felt like I was wearing a rainbow around my neck. It definitely wasn’t sothing you could miss.
I tried my best to maintain my smile. “Thank you. I will wear it with pride.”
Rosalie scampered off quickly to rejoin the won she had been knitting with, talking and smiling with the group.
I grounded my teeth - Vicky, you just wait!
“Beta.”
One of the warriors approached . He was in charge of all the informants we had in other packs.
“The informant reported that a few packs on the frontier were attacked.”
“Details?” I asked curtly.
“It seems that so of the outlying packs have been attacked sporadically. There were a few casualties, but there weren’t too many involved in these first incursions. We are still getting reports in, sir. It seems like... they’re testing the defenses.”
Ethan and I knew that this day was coming.
This was why Ethan was so adamant about always preparing – about having an heir.
“Any ideas who was behind the attacks?” I asked, trying to piece together more information to share with Ethan.
“We have so guesses, but no proof,” he replied.
“Get the list of the packs that were attacked and the details of the casualties. I’ll need it in thirty minutes.”
“Yes, sir.”
He disappeared in a blink of an eye, just as he had arrived, but I did notice that his eyes settled on my scarf for a couple seconds.
Good thing that he decided not to make any comnt on it.
In the past few years, the packs along the edges of the country had been bothered by rogue attacks here or there, usually every two or three years. Normally, it wasn’t a huge problem, but it was starting to happen more often.
This was the fifth attack in the past three months. Sothing wasn’t right.
As soon as the warrior left, I saw Rosalie walking towards with flowers in her hand and a mysterious glint in her eyes.
“Talon... Do you have a piano here?” she asked out of the blue.
I found myself a little taken back by her question. She read my face and quickly added, “But don’t worry about it if it’s too much trouble. I was just curious.”
I was about to tell her no so that we could return to the pack house. I needed ti to sort out the information and report to Ethan.
But then I saw the scarf in the corner of my eye.
All of sudden, I felt bad lying to her. She rarely asked questions, let alone making any requests. It made it really hard to turn her down when she did.
Especially since, after she gave birth, she would be... terminated.
The thought intensified my guilt. I understood sacrifice was necessary, but why did it have to be a girl like her?
Before I could co up with any excuses, I found myself saying, “You know... I think we may.”
Seeing her eyes light up, I could not bring myself to disappoint her.
“Would you like to take you to the music room?” I asked.
Rosalie’s eyes lit up at the fact that we had such a facility.
“This way, please.” I gestured to her to follow along.
She quickly caught up and walked side by side with .
“I haven’t played the piano since the day my mother died. Even when I could have, I’d feel alone most of the ti, because she couldn’t play with .”
“Why do you want to play now?” I asked, trying to converse politely.
“Music brings joy. Estrella said a good mood would help speed up my recovery.”
Recovery, so that she could breed.
She understood what was expected of her. You could tell there was pain behind her eyes, but Rosalie was doing everything she could to fulfill her role.
She was brave.
I sighed as we made a turn and arrived at the music room.
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