That theory piqued Rem’s curiosity.
Josie opened her mouth, ready for a further debate. Then, the sound of a log being thrown into the fire made Rem jump, the embers spitting out like a volcanic jugular that had been cut. They all looked over. "This is not a debate," an Elder said quietly as she stoked the fire.When did she sneak in?
She was the one from the corner the other day, her hair still a chaotic design, wearing white instead of the usual red.
The Arch Elder.
"What happened to our free will?" Josie continued to press.
"We secured it for you by reclaiming you as belonging to Scarlet Howl. You can now choose your mate freely, with us overseeing this process, although we have at least three Alphas that need a mate, but that's as far as our generosity extends," the Elder sternly replied, turning around, placing a hand over her opposite wrist.
The same dark Silver chimed in. "Just carry Josie. I am ready to go."
Rem tried to control a chuckle, finding a camaraderie among the Silvers as she got to know them. This Silver in particular had been so quiet until this morning. Her silver hair was so kinky that the Elders attempted to pull it back in a braid, but bits of curls still stuck out in a frizzy act of defiance. The braids were now bound at the nape of her in a thick bun.
"You'reexcited?" Josie questioned her.
"Are you kidding? I get to become a shifter, apowerfulone. My back always hurts, and my heart always beats funny. Pretty sure all of that will go away once I'm one of them. Fuck being a pathetic human. I never hear wolves complaining about health issues."
Josie unfolded her arms and hotly placed them at her sides, staring incredulously at the Silver that welcomed the transformation. "You'rebetrayingyour kind, Katarina."
She smirked. "You saw the fire. You heard the Arch. These peopleareour kind."
Josie stood there with her mouth hanging open, her eyes alive with disbelief at such a treason.
The Arch Elder interrupted the debate. "Enough. Imari," she began and motioned to an Elder that was standing in the hall, "take the others. I will speak with the defiant one."
The other Elder moved between the girls, "Let us go, ladies. We are not to test the patience of the Arch.”
Imari moved to the door, her red robe billowing behind her as she opened the front door.
* * *
They walkedfor long enough that the chain mail felt like tiny ice circles against Rem's skin. They were past the bustling city and walking in a forest of tall pine trees with little undergrowth. The sound of cicadas and birds followed them as if the trees themselves made the noises. Some kind of large bird created deep echoes that carried through the woods, its shadow sometimes breeching the trees and running over the forest floor.
After a time and walking up steep slopes, they reached a long trail of stone steps that looked like the forest had grown up around them. Wooden arches formed a tunnel of sorts, ivy hanging everywhere.
It seemed they were nearing their destination, as this was the first ‘structure’ Rem had seen since they left the city.
Ascending the steps, Rem looked up and noticed that each archway had a different phase of the moon carved into the wood until they reached a full moon, and then it phased back out until the last arch had nothing on it, symbolizing the new moon. Rem and the other Silvers panted by the time they reached the top, the Elders unfazed.
A clearing of well-trimmed grass appeared. Her eyes focused on nothing in particular, finally accepting that she was nearing the destination where her blood would no longer be human. She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and then opened to exhale. Despite the chilly air, she started to sweat.
It was becoming real.
She wasn't as sorrowful as before, but her entire life was about to change, and she would be able to trace it to this exact moment.
At the end of the grassy opening was a stone path lined with more tall trees and giant rocks, a tall wooden sanctuary in the background. Moss covered the ground wherever stone or dirt trails didn't exist. Ponds of all shapes and sizes scattered the land, partially concealed with algae.
The entire scene reminded Rem of the Arch Elder, with her hair a mess of styles, and yet still had a refined look to it—
Her heart jumped into her throat.
Directly before them, in another large clearing, was a raised pond with a rocky statue of a faceless female standing on a moon. Behind that statue were ten shifters, and Rem recognized two immediately.
She saw Ronan.
And then Marcus.
