She stared at the warm silver hair, feeling indifferent rather than bitter about it. Rem wasn’t sure how to interpret the change of heart, but it’s something she noted, none the less.
Changing for the day, Rem wore a thin dress that Gally provided, her shoulders on display with sleeves loosely covering her biceps, the dress tightening around her waist and stopping mid-thigh. Turning around, she pulled her silver hair over her shoulder to see Jackson’s devastation.
Three, long pink lines ran through her skin, raised and still angry. Her breathing grew ragged the longer she stared.
A knock came to the door.
"Come in," Rem said, turning around, quickly throwing her hair back over her shoulder.
Nia entered the room. "I just wanted to let you know that there is a feast going on in Bellbridge to celebrate all of the Alphas being here. I think a few Silvers will be there, too, and the sovereigns."
Rem's eyes widened, her heart racing. “I really get to meet the competition, then?”
Nia shrewdly grinned. “Competition?”
“You heard Ronan,” Rem said, putting on her sandals with a smile. “I can’t stop thinking about what he said, and what I should do…” she sat up straight. “Does he actually mean that? That he will return the interest?”
Nia tossed her braids over her shoulder. “Oh, I think he did. I think he just doesn’t understand,” Nia paused, before shrugging and gesturing towards Rem, “You know, the whole issue with whatever you have going on.”
"Yeah, I know,” Rem conceded with an exhale, looking down at her hands. “Does he trust me, at all, though?”
“He has to, a little bit. He lets you touch him, keeps his focus on you, and his demeanor changes every time you enter a room. I think he just wishes he knew what was going on.”
Rem glanced at Nia, losing a battle to conceal her grin at hearing his demeanor changes when she’s near. Could she truly be interested in him at that deeper level?
She stood up quickly. “Well, I am starving and desperate to meet the others, so I’ll just cross all those bridges when the time comes. Hopefully I can tell him sooner rather than later." She paused when a thought came to her. "Wait, what am I going to eat? Should I bring something with me?"
"There's cooked meat for the human servants. I am sure they'll serve you a platter of that. There will be other food, like fruits and baked goods. We eat more than just animal flesh."
"Just checking,” she said with a grin, then motioned to her outfit. “Do I look alright? Enough tocompetefor someone?” she said with sarcasm.
Nia snickered. “If Ronan liked you enough to flirt with you with the way you looked and smelled yesterday, I am sure you look wonderful to him today.”
“Oh no, did I really smell that bad?”
Nia stepped out of the room with Rem following, chuckling as she said, “Oh, yeah, but don’t worry. He’s interested, for sure. He knows you are, too.”
Rem took in a deep breath, her stomach alive with flapping butterflies. “How does he know that?”
“Your body betrays you. If I can sense it, then he can, too.”
“What do you mean?” Rem asked as they walked down the stairs, Lothar following behind. She was glad he didn’t speak English, especially with this conversation.
“Yesterday, when he leaned in, your heart rate was a dead giveaway, let alone the scent you gave off,” Nia said with a knowing tone.
“Oh, great,” she squeaked. “You all know too much.”
“And I wouldn’t have it any other way… I bet you will find that you prefer it, too. Once you’re a shifter.”
* * *
Bellbridge,the capital of Scarlet Howl, which was mostly inhabited by Thetas and Gammas, had a vast town square and village green. It was two miles from the Warden Estate, and with her bad leg, they rode horses. Rem's hips undulated with the movement as she rode a white mare with golden hair. While the horse was nice for her leg, her back ached from using her muscles. She didn’t complain though; if Ronan could weather his injuries, then she could, too.
A few green leaves fell from the trees, hinting at the looming fall.
"So," Rem began, looking around the dirt path and trees, "once I become a shifter, would I just run on all fours to get where I needed to go?"
"It depends on the shifter. I personally like to walk and take my time. Most do travel on all fours though, even if it is a short distance. I only know how to ride a horse because I am trained as a translator, and seeing me on a horse comforts humans when we have to visit their lands."
