It was kind of funny to think she just bowed to someone that she wasn’t supposed to, imagining Oliver bowing to the stable master back home. “I’d be lost without you in this place.”
“That’s one of the main reasons I’m here.”
“Thank you, Nia, for all the help you’ve given me. It means a lot. I know you’re assigned to help me, but I really do appreciate having you here.”
Nia’s dark brown eyes looked Rem over. Then she scrunched her face as she shook her head, her demeanor changing as if she couldn't suppress something any longer. "I am sorry I didn't protect you," Nia blurted out. "You're clearly dealing with something, and those hunters were the second time that someone approached us, and I couldn't help you. You can’t even tell me what’s wrong.”
Rem’s jaw slightly dropped, shocked at this sudden regret. She wanted to reach out to touch Nia but didn’t know if it was against customs with their people, especially after what happened with Ronan. "Well, it's alright, Nia. Seriously. You make me feel normal in all of this. The hunters had this planned. Even Ronan was shocked, so it’s clearly not your fault."
"I need to get better, though, if that hunter was right,” Nia grunted, worry strung tight across her face, her broad lips pressed hard together. "Especially if things are wrong with you, and you can't tell me. I need to be more useful. I’ll always be a Gamma, but I know I can be more useful than that. I’m a wolf, for goddess' sake. Not a sack of potatoes.”
Rem relaxed her expression as a chuckle spilled out of her. “Nia, what I need right now, more than anything, is a friend. I need someone that can actually help me in this world, which you’re great at. You’re sharp, and that counts for a lot. How about this… We can train together. I need to learn how to fight, clearly, and you can join me. I mean, seriously. I think my leg got injured from kicking that hunter more than anything.”
Nia gave a fuller, closed-lip smile. “Alright. But Iwilltry to do what I can, okay? I mean, I can’t be anything close to what Ronan is, but even Gammas have scars. I didn’t realize it meant so much to me until I got this opportunity, honestly. When you were gone, all I could think about was how disappointed my family would be,” she confessed.
“Well, my gran always said that we’re never done evolving, even when we think we’ve bloomed.”
Nia’s face relaxed. “I like that. Sounds like something my nan would say.”
“Is your nan your grandmother?”
“Yes, she’s getting old by now, but don’t let that trick you. She’s a bundle of fire.”
“You know, I never asked, but why did Ronan select you? Not that you’re not a good choice—sorry if that came across like I meant otherwise,” Rem corrected before adding, “I just mean, I’m curious, is all. Did you leave your family behind to come do all of this?”
Nia nodded with a genuine smile. “My family is rooting me on. Ronan came to us since we are the other Clan to work in translation. The Callons focus on nobility and high-ranking humans, whereas mine focuses more on humans from places like Thomasville. But you’re considered incredibly important, so that’s why the Callons were initially assigned to you. I honestly wouldn’t be here if the Callons hadn’t hurt you.”
“Well, can’t believe I am grateful for being mauled, but I amreallyhappy you’re here,” Rem said, crossing her arms as they moved to stand underneath the shade, still waiting to leave. “Except for Deacon. Don’t know why he came.”
“I heard Owen convinced Ronan to bring him, asking not to judge his whole Clan for his brother. Deacon is well received by many, and this is a good chance for him to see our alliances. He’s of a Beta pack, though, so it’s not like he wouldn’t have had the chance if he wanted it,” Nia stated, more bitter than Rem was used to hearing.
“What about a family like yours? Can they come to Scarlet when they want?”
“Not many of the Shaw Clan have been outside of Warden. We’re not treated as lessor, but we also are not the warriors, either.”
“That kind of stinks. Reminds me of being born a farmer’s daughter instead of born to a lord.”
Nia chuckled. “I like that comparison; I’ll have to remember it. And it’s alright. If you work hard, a Gamma can mate upwards. It’s not going to be the end of the world if a Beta mates a Gamma, but some Clans are more serious about not mating down. We’re all about proving you have the strength. If you got it, the title will follow, all the way up to the Alpha.”
“You are so like humans, in so many ways,” Rem muttered with a curious smile, looking off to examine each shifter, wondering who was born to what Clan.
Nia’s eyes beamed. “That’s why I love studying humans. I think we have more to learn from each, although… With the hunters… Maybe now’s not the best time to spark new friendships.”
Rem sighed, watching as they prepped another truck. The good mood faded quickly. “Are the hunters really my enemy?”
“From my perspective, yeah.”
“But Iknewsome,” Rem implored, clenching her fists with her arms still crossed to face Nia. “I just can’t imagine them hurting me just because I’m a Silver.”
Nia looked around, like an answer might appear. With hesitation, she chewed on her lip and rose her brows as she looked at Rem. It reminded her of a look her mother would give.
The she-wolf said, “Do you think there’s a chance your village skewed your reality a bit? You’ve only met hunters the witches approved of. The ones in the south arebrutalwhen it comes to anything paranormal.”
Rem didn’t want to think about that. If that was true, then it meant her parents were not safe. It meant so many people were not who they said they were. It meant that her gran had befriended many humans that would now seek to hurt Rem.
How could everything be so wrong? Surely, itcouldn’tbe. She was still Rem, the granddaughter of the legendary Ophelia.
And yet the hunters sent an asshole like the one that took me.
