Moonbound: The Rogue's Second Chance-Chapter 22 - TWENTY-TWO - WALK BACK

The pair walked in silence, she was grateful for the apple Darius had given her. It was the best she had had in years.

A smile tugged at her lips, how thoughtful of him.

He let her lag behind, but she didn’t miss the glances he cast her way every now and then.

He didn’t seem particularly nasty or cruel tonight. Serena let the apple core drop onto the street and quickened her pace to catch up with Darius.

"Thank you again for the apple," she said, glancing at him.

"It was nothing. I saw it on the table and grabbed it," he said with a shake of his head.

"While you were gone, some of the Elders showed up, so you’ll have to meet them," Darius added.

Serena faltered slightly, looking at Darius with knitted brows. He frowned, slowing down a bit. Darius made to touch her shoulder but stopped, letting his hand fall to his side instead.

"Don’t fret, be at ease," he assured her, his voice softer. "They know, and they’ll treat you as you deserve."

"I see. Thank you," she murmured. freewёbnoνel.com

"Your parents must have made you say ’thank you’ a lot when you were a pup, huh?"

A bashful smile crept onto her lips. "Well, I suppose we could say that. My mother needed us-" she caught herself, "I mean, me- to be polite."

Darius didn’t seem to catch her slip, and he walked on with a small smile playing on his lips.

"What were they like? Your parents?"

The air seemed to grow colder. She held mostly fond memories of them- warm hands smoothing her hair before bed, a voice humming an old lullaby, her father’s laugh shaking the walls of their home.

But the Moon Goddess had guided their spirits to the High Abode.

"They were loving. They cared a lot for me, and were kind people."

"Were?" he asked.

Serena’s gaze dropped to the road. "They’re with the Goddess now. It’s been some time since they passed."

"You know, I believed all rogues to be terrible creatures, but-" he admitted, glancing at her, "you might change my mind."

Serena kept her eyes forward. Some were terrible, yes. Her father had said that those with nothing but hatred in their hearts and a thirst for blood were possessed by Fenros.

Like the one who attacked her in the East.

Some rogues were indifferent, almost cordial. Others were kind- some like her, others born into this life.

She understood why everyone was taught to be wary of rogues, but in Ironshade, it felt different from Silverstone- more guarded and unforgiving.

"What about yours?" she asked.

"Well, my father was strong, but he had love. He loved my mother dearly." Darius seemed lost in thought as he spoke. "My mother was kind, everyone loved her."

Serena sensed hesitation in his words but didn’t pry.

"They’ve gone to be with the Goddess too?"

"Yes, they have," he answered.

"Do... do you miss them?"

Serena missed hers every day. They were gone too soon.

She was sure her father had been proud to die defending his pack, his love, and his children. But had he been afraid in his last moments?

And her mother... her mother had been taken by the chronic illness that plagued her since she was a pup.

Serena could still remember the way her mother’s hands trembled when she tried to braid her hair, the effort it took just to smile through the pain.

Darius remained silent for a few moments.

The sound of their shoes against the dirt path was the only thing that could be heard.

"I miss them a lot."

—

Serena knocked on the door, and Annamarie opened it, her face brightening at the sight of her.

Without warning, she rushed forward and enveloped Serena in a hug. "I was worried sick."

Serena stiffened at first, caught off guard by the warmth of the gesture. She then returned the hug, holding onto Annamarie. It made her more emotional than she cared to admit.

"I was just a bit overwhelmed," she murmured.

Annamarie pulled back, studying her face.

Before she could say anything, Darius stepped past them. "I’ll leave you two to it, then and I’ll send Jack over."

Serena nodded, watching as the red-haired man disappeared into the house. Soon after, Jack arrived.

"Serena... I’m sorry," he said, hanging his head low.

"You didn’t do anything wrong."

His head shot up, and he shook it vigorously. "I almost got you in trouble with my mother."

"Glad you know," Annamarie muttered, folding her arms.

"It’s okay. I didn’t get into trouble," Serena said, giving Jack a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder.

Serena chatted with them for a bit before leaving them to bicker outside. As she pushed the door open, she found herself face-to-face with the older wolf Elder from the trial.

"My child," the woman began.

Serena bowed her head slightly before looking up at the Elder, who offered her a warm smile.

"Good evening, Elder," Serena greeted.

"You’re even more beautiful up close. Lunara took her time with you," the Elder complimented.

Serena felt her cheeks heat up before she smiled. "Thank you, truly."

The Elder gestured for her to follow, and Serena did so obediently. They moved to a quieter corner of the room, and the woman took Serena’s hands in hers.

"I’m Evelyn," she said, squeezing her hands gently. "You, my dear, are special and blessed. Do not think otherwise."

Her smile didn’t falter, but inside, the words rang hollow. Serena remained silent, unsure how to respond. This rhetoric meant nothing to her- she couldn’t believe it.

Blessed, indeed.

Nothing about her life, nor the direction it had taken, felt blessed or special.

It was bittersweet. These people didn’t really know her- the real her.

If she were blessed, she would still be happy. Still in the arms of her dead lover.

If she were blessed, she would still be tending to the wounds of pups who played too rough.

She focused on Elder Evelyn’s face, the wrinkles, likely earned from smiling so much. She looked kind.

So Serena smiled back.

"Thank you," was all she said.

—

Serena had been tossed around between so many wolves in such a short period of time that she had already lost count.

One moment, she was listening to someone share a story, and the next, she was being pulled into a conversation about the best hunting grounds in Ironshade.

Someone began to sing, and Jack used an empty wooden bucket as a makeshift drum. Laughter filled the room as they sang along or danced.

It was infectious. Serena found herself smiling hard.

Beatrice suddenly pushed Darius toward her with a playful grin.

"Why don’t you two dance together?" she suggested, her tone teasing.

Darius looked at Serena, raising a brow before a small smile tugged at his lips.

He reached for her hand gently, his fingers brushing against hers. "Would you like to dance?"

"Why, yes," she said.