Chapter 0121
It was much more difficult than I’d been expecting. I’d already gotten stuck twice,
Susie was a patient teacher though, and kept a level head. She only giggled a bit when I’d fallen onto my backside, and not laughed outright. Plus, she helped me up right after.
Nearby, the wolves Night and Silver were watching. Mark was still trying to convince them to join me
inside the castle too, but they had at least committed to keeping a close eye on us outside of it. They
also explained that if we called for them, they would come running.
Honestly, it was more than I expected, and I was incredibly grateful to them
In our breaks, Elva went to Night for hugs. He lapped at her face with his big tongue, making her giggle.
Susie, curiously, spent most of her break time chatting with Mark. They weren’t flirting exactly, that
would have been against the rules, but they both seemed a bit bashful, almost like they wanted to.
I imagined Susie’s family might not be too fond of her ending up in a romance with a Beta, I bet she
would be happy though.
I decided to pretend I didn’t notice anything, and let whatever would happen, happen, Or vice versa.
I
As I went to greet Silver, I sunk once more into the grass. Then I threw up my hands in a show of
frustration that was only half put–on.
Elva laughed. Susie hid her face with her hands. Mark hurried over to set me upright again.
“Can’t I just wear flats?” I asked.
Susie shook her head. “That would be against the Queen’s rules.”
I’d already broken the Queen’s rules once, with my too–short glove length during the First Ball. I had no
desire to repeat that experience.
“Put your weight on your toes,” Susie said.
“All day?”
She shrugged.
Groaning, I sunk back down to the ground, this time only so I could kick off the damned shoes. If I would
have to walk around on my toes all day for the garden party, I at least wanted to be comfortable now.
I stretched my toes in the grass and sighed at the relief.
10
+15 BONUS
Silver came closer and I scratched her behind the ears.
“She agrees that those shoes are foolish,” Susie said, translating the wolf for me.
“Glad we agree.”
Someday, with my wolf returned, I’d return her and talk to Silver myself. I’d tell her how grateful I was for
all that she’d done for me, protecting me from the boar, and now protecting Elva and I from anyone who
might want to do us harm.
atum the favor.
Wolf or no, she was a good friend to me, I wished I could return
She leaned her weight into me, almost like she understood.
A bit later, after Silver had flopped down into the grass beside me, Elva came up to my side.
“Mommy,” she began than hesitated. She sometimes did this before asking what she considered an
important question. T
“Yes, honey?”
She tugged at the hem of her shirt with both hands. She watched as it folded and unfolded, and asked,
Who’s my daddy?”
My whole body froze. “Uh…”
Oh, no. I had always known that someday I would have to tell her the truth, but I never imagined it would
be this soon.
How could I possibly explain this to a three–year–old? Or was it better to simply lie? I had lied by
omission so far, allowing her to believe I was her birth mother.
“1… well, you see…”
I glanced around but Susie and Mark looked as lost as I was. They were no help at all.
“Um… if you… er…” I didn’t even know where to begin.
Elva merely continued tugging at her shirt. “Can I pick a daddy?”
I swallowed hard. “Uh… who did you have in mind?”
She looked up at me, her eyes wide and honest. As innocent as could be.
1 want Nick–lass to be my daddy.”
