River ~~ She ran to the pack house. As she arrived, she couldn't help but halt even if it was for a brief second to take in the view and bask in the nostalgia of returning to the place where she was born. This was the place where she had grown up from, together with Echo. Well, it was also the place where the bad memories started from. It was also where she has had to grow up faster than she had ever done. And this place… she had been away from it for seven years. Standing in front of it right now, she could tell that the air was different. She stood, unblinking and taking the view in. It was good to be back here, but bad that it was not for a good reason that she was in front of her right now. Her heart thumped so hard that she thought it’d fall on the floor anytime soon. When her eyes got glossy and the mansion before her blurred, she sniffed back and swallowed her sentimentality. This was her daughter’s safety on the line. She wouldn't hold back and allow her emotions to get
Before River could think of what to say, another guard came in. He waltzed so casually, scratching somewhere between his legs.Without thinking, “What have you done with my daughter?" She gripped the bars and growled.The guard gave a cruel chuckle. "Seems the crazy witch finally woke up," he sneered. "You're in the dungeon, traitor. And your little pup? Who knows, maybe she's roaming the woods with the wild wolves by now."River's heart pounded like a trapped bird. The image of Rain, being torn apart by rogues ran to her in quick succession and she had to shake her head to send them off.She snarled, lunging for the guard from behind the bars. "Let me out! You will pay for this!" she roared, but her voice betrayed the fear swarming over her. The guard just shook his head and clicked his tongue. "We'll see about that," he scoffed and turned away with the other one, leaving River alone in the darkness.Alone, River thought she might go insane with worry. She didn't want to picture the
River stared into Gonzalo's remorseful eyes, her insides becoming a vortex of conflicting emotions. First, it was a relief to finally unburden herself. Then, it was fear that she had let someone in after years of isolating her heart. It became a terrifying prospect. Taking a shaky breath, she met his liquid gaze. "I accept your apology, Gonzalo. I was scared, clinging to the little pride I had left. But you deserve to know after seeing so much effort you are putting into redeeming yourself. And for my daughter, I am doing this. Rain deserves a father." A radiant smile bloomed on Gonzalo's face, chasing away the regret that had always been residing permanently on his face. Relief and pure joy radiated from him. He pulled her into a tight embrace and his arms became a comforting haven. "Thank you, River. Thank you for giving us a chance." He pulled back slightly, his eyes blazing with determination. "Now, let's find our daughter." "We need to go to this Lord Draven's mansion," he d
River felt a sudden wave of panic rising in her throat, making it hard to breathe. "Gone? But where could they have gone, Gonzalo? How could they have taken Rain? My girl is…” Her voice began to break as tears welled up in her eyes. “… just a little girl.”“I know, River. But the world is too complex to place your trust in anyone.” He sighed, hands on his hips as he glanced around.Funny how she never trusted Annemarie and her family, not even once. There was always that alien feeling somewhere deep within her, gnawing at her and yelling; “Don't trust them. Trust no one!”She was glad she followed her instincts and had lied to them regarding certain matters. Yet, just when she let her guard down, they took advantage of it and stole her daughter away.They would pay.Gonzalo knelt, sniffing the air like a hunting dog. A frown creased his brow. "I can try to follow their scent, see if they left any trail."Their trail? Nah. There was no how they could have walked. Her heart sank. "It w
Gonzalo pressed his lips into a thin line. “It won't, River. If I had to, I’d claw at the earth until I found water. My daughter must be found.”Together, they launched into a digging frenzy, clawing at the hard-packed earth with their bare hands. Minutes bled into what felt like an eternity. Just as despair was about to consume River again, when she was about to finally lose up and drown herself in a pool of self-pity, a familiar scent tickled her nose, sending a jolt of fear and recognition through her.That scent… she’d recognize it anywhere and anytime. Her entire body froze, her hands trembling at the realization. He was here. With great struggle with her muscles, she looked up to meet the chilling gaze of Lord Draven. He held a crumpled paper in his hand with a cruel smile on his lips as he flipped the paper. "Looking for this, little human?" His voice was as cold as he looked, giving River the chills.It was like being transported back seven years ago when he had found her le
Gonzalo pressed his lips into a thin line. “It won't, River. If I had to, I’d claw at the earth until I found water. My daughter must be found.” Together, they launched into a digging frenzy, clawing at the hard-packed earth with their bare hands. Minutes bled into what felt like an eternity. Just as despair was about to consume River again, when she was about to finally lose up and drown herself in a pool of self-pity, a familiar scent tickled her nose, sending a jolt of fear and recognition through her. That scent… she’d recognize it anywhere and anytime. Her entire body froze, her hands trembling at the realization. He was here. With great struggle with her muscles, she looked up to meet the chilling gaze of Lord Draven. He held a crumpled paper in his hand with a cruel smile on his lips as he flipped the paper. "Looking for this, little human?" His voice was as cold as he looked, giving River the chills. It was like being transported back seven years ago when he had found h
Gonzalo pressed his lips into a thin line. “It won't, River. If I had to, I’d claw at the earth until I found water. My daughter must be found.” Together, they launched into a digging frenzy, clawing at the hard-packed earth with their bare hands. Minutes bled into what felt like an eternity. Just as despair was about to consume River again, when she was about to finally lose up and drown herself in a pool of self-pity, a familiar scent tickled her nose, sending a jolt of fear and recognition through her. That scent… she’d recognize it anywhere and anytime. Her entire body froze, her hands trembling at the realization. He was here. With great struggle with her muscles, she looked up to meet the chilling gaze of Lord Draven. He held a crumpled paper in his hand with a cruel smile on his lips as he flipped the paper. "Looking for this, little human?" His voice was as cold as he looked, giving River the chills. It was like being transported back seven years ago when he had found h
“Oh, God!.” River paced around, panting heavily, her neck swiveling left and right in search of her daughter. “I told her to stay put!” That little rebel never listened. She had other things to worry about other than a stubborn daughter. She, however, could make a wild guess where she was. Running through the dark hallways, she prayed with every fiber of her being that no one in the mansion got to her daughter before she did. Otherwise, she’d get them both in trouble again. For five years, she had been paying her debt to Lord Draven. She could still remember that miserable night when her whole world fell apart. Lord Draven had brought her here to his home where his whole family lived to help with the cleaning of the old and rusty mansion that they had just moved into. She was supposed to clean for a few days and be given her freedom until she owed him something bigger. She could still remember…. . . FIVE YEARS AGO River bounced on her feet as nervousness ran through h