The day was just setting in. Alpha Renwick walked with his youngest daughter along the castle grounds, their shadows stretching long over the stone path. They walked down the arched footbridge. Water trickled from the stream below.
The Alpha had a dark cloak draped over broad shoulders. A silver clasp glinted at his chest. Beneath it, his tunic was a muted forest green, with a belt under it.
"Dad?"
"Hm?"
"You know what I think about often?"
"What's that, Fifi?"
"I'm not sure Lucian would make a good Alpha."
The Alpha let out a loud cackle. He looked at his daughter with amused eyes.
"Yeah. He's such a bummer."
"Ah. Well, I think he'll make a good leader."
"Why so?"
"He's brave, he's strong—"
"Like his father," they said in unison.
"Oh, Dad." She rolled her eyes.
He smiled, his eyes creasing at their corners. "And I know for a fact that he'll protect the pack someday when I'm gone."
"Do you know why they fought?" she suddenly asked, voice quieter, referring to her brothers.
Renwick sighed, his tone shifting. "Lucian and Selena are mates."
That stopped her in her tracks. "What?"
"But they're always fighting either way," he added with a wry smile.
They walked on. "Wow," Freya blinked in astonishment. "Nobody saw that coming—" She shook her head quickly. "Wait. I bet Uncle Bane did." she retracted her words.
"You got that right."
"You know, I wanna be like Uncle Bane someday."
"Mm."
"Yeah. All that sorcery! It's fantastic."
"Well, you'll have to do really well at the Academy in order to attain his level of mastery"
She sighed, dragging her feet slightly. "I know. I'll have to do better than Zuri." She hung her head. "She's so good!" She told him. "Oh—and her team beat mine at the tournament last year."
She froze. "Dad, can I borrow your Moonfang Pendant?"
He arched a brow. "The pendant? What do you need that for?"
"Oh, I'll just use it for a while, and I'll put it back."
"Hmm" He thought over it for a while. "Alright. But remember to put it ba–"
She wrapped her arms around his neck, startling him "Thanks!" She darted off.
His eyes grew heavy. The world swayed in his vision and tilted slightly. His feet almost gave way. He held onto the stone railing steadying himself. By the time he reached the castle steps, the back of head pulsed. He waved down one of the guards posted nearby.
"Send for Bane, will you?" he muttered.
Not long after, Bane appeared in the Alpha's bedchamber. He paused at the doorway, his eyes taking in the sight of his older brother slumped against the bedframe. He had an unreadable expression. Bored for the most part.
Renwick turned his head. "Bane," he exhaled, voice ragged. "I have a mad throbbing in my head."
"Did you take the Elderfang Brew I gave you?" Bane asked.
"Yes. I'm down to the last bottle."
Bane crossed the room, his robes sliding against the floor. He picked up each bottle, shook them, and gave a small nod. They were empty alright. "Well, you'll just have to drink more of the brew, then." He said. He plucked the cork stopper from a fresh bottle and poured into a silver goblet.
"Here." He handed it over.
Alpha Renwick lifted the goblet to his mouth, his hands trembling slightly. "Are you certain it's helping? Don't you have a better solution?"
"This is the best. I can assure you." He watched his brother grimace as the bitter brew slid down his throat.
"There, there," he said, mostly indifferent. "That should do it. You'll feel ten years younger in no time."
Renwick placed the goblet back on the table, his eyes already half-closed from exhaustion.
"I'll get more bottles," Bane said with casual finality before turning on his heel and leaving the chamber.
Meanwhile, Freya had reached the Vault of Relics. She took the key bunch off the brass hook on the wall. The keys tinkled in her hands as she tried each key in the keyhole. She had the pendant, but she needed one more thing. Anything shiny and awe-inspiring, really.
"Damn it." She had tried about all of them. They wouldn't work anyway—rusted, dry, coarse, leaving metallic residue on her palms.
With a huff, she pulled a bobbin from her hair and stuck it into the keyhole. Click.
"Yes!" She immediately let herself in and secured the lock from the inside.
She sighed. Her heart was proud. She was a professional. She got into action the second guilt crept in. But this wasn't theft. No. These things were antique, gathering dust, out of use anyway. She just needed an exchange for something far better.
The Relic Vault was far more magnificent than she had imagined. They were Rows and rows of enameled goblets, jeweled daggers, crystal urns. They tempted her greedy eyes to carry them all and she wished she'd brought a sack. At last, she settled for a sunfire medallion, alongside other small trinkets she could slip into her satchel.
She held the satchel up with a grin. She was finally ready for another day at the Academy. "Let's see who's laughing when I trade these for Zuri's Moonweave Boots now."
She was careful not to make any noise, skulking across the corridors back to her room.
At the mirror of her dresser table, she finally let her tumbleweed hair some cream. She slid a comb through it and tied it in a ponytail, smoothing her bangs into place.
"Your bangs are fire." Mara from Spellcasting class was the first to compliment her hair.
"Thank you," Freya beamed. Then she gasped. "Oh—and your shoes look beautiful!"
But definitely not as pretty as her newest ones! It was a good day.
She rounded the corner and nearly bumped into Wes, the one person she had come to find. They were supposed to meet at the Academy's courtyard fountain, a usual spot for trading secrets and contraband. She couldn't help admiring his juicy ringlets of curls that bounced when he tilted his head.
"I was just coming to see you," he said.
"Same." She nodded eagerly, skipping any idle chatter.
"Here." He handed her the backpack in his hand. She slid her satchel into his.
She peeked inside the backpack. Shiny diamond-threaded boots. They shimmered glory onto her face. She flicked invisible tears away from the corners of her eyes. But she could really start tearing up. "Thank you so much, Wes."
"Yeah, yeah, you're welcome."
"Nice bangs, by the way!" Wes called over his shoulder as he walked off.
But Freya barely heard him. She was the bag like a prize. In that moment, she was the happiest person alive.