05
O
Remi’s POV
I stepped off the bus and into the heart of the capital city, a sprawling metropolis alive with energy. The streets were teeming with wolves, their scents mingling with the aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted meats wafting from nearby stalls Iclutched my worn bag tightly, my free hand brushing over my flat stomach in an unconscious act of reassurance. “This is it,” I murmured under my breath, taking in the towering buildings and the vibrant chaos of the city “A new beginning for both of us”
The hotel lobby was grand–far more luxurious than I’d anticipated. Marble floors gleamed beneath glittering
chandeliers, and the soft murmur of conversations floated through the air. I approached the front desk cautiously. feeling out of place in my simple attire. A polished woman with sharp eyes greeted me with a tight smile.
“Good evening. How can I help you?”
“Just one room, please,” I said, sliding my remaining cash across the counter. It was barely enough to cover a month, and I swallowed hard at the thought. I couldn’t afford to dwell on it.
As she processed my reservation, my eyes wandered to a stack of newspapers on the counter. The bold headline caught my attention immediately
“ROYAL WOLF KNIGHTS RECRUITING SEEKING THE STRONGEST AND MOST TALENTED WOLVES IN THE
KINGDOM
Beneath it, in smaller text, were the details of the position–an elite role, prestigious, with enough pay to ensure security. My heart thudded in my chest as I scanned the words. This was it. My chance.
I had no pack to back me, no allies, and no one to rely on. But I had the power of the Moonstone, and it had given me strength unlike anything I’d ever known. The baby was still a secret, my bump barely noticeable yet. If I could hold out long enough to earn even a few months‘ pay, it would be enough to give us a fresh start.
snatched a
“Thank you,” I muttered to the receptionist as she handed me the key. My hands trembled slightly as | sn copy of the newspaper and hurried to my room.
The room was small but comfortable, with a single bed and a window overlooking the bustling city. I sank onto the bed, the weight of exhaustion finally catching up to me. The newspaper lay open beside me as I ran my fingers over my wrist, the crescent–shaped birthmark there almost mocking me.
The royal family. The missing princess. It had been all over the news for years, and the rumors were as wild as they were endless. Some said she was dead, taken by rogue wolves; others believed she’d been hidden in plain sight, unaware of her lineage.
The mention of the birthmark summoned a whirlwind of thoughts. Could it really mean anything? I shook my head. It was just a coincidence. It had to be.
A knock on the door startled me from my thoughts. My heart leapt as I sniffed the air cautiously. Another wolf. Their scent was faint but unmistakable. I approached the door slowly and opened it just a crack.
A young woman stood there, her auburn hair tied back in a loose braid. Her eyes, golden and bright, studied me curiously.
“Hey,” she said with a sheepish grin. “I couldn’t help but notice you reading about the Royal Wolf Knights earlier. Are you thinking of applying too?”
I blinked, caught off guard by her forwardness. “Uh… yeah. I was.”
Her grin widened. “Good. I was hoping to find someone to go with. The application process is brutal, from what I’ve heard, but I’m dying to try. I’m Nora, by the way. You?”
I hesitated before replying. “Remi.”
together now Don’t worry–Id
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“Well, Remi, looks like we’re in this She winked, her playful t easing some of my tension.
I couldn’t help but smile faintly “Thanks, but I’m not really looking for company.”
“Too bad I’m not giving you a choice.” Nora leaned casually against the doorframe, her expression softening. “You look like you’ve been through it. Trust me, I get it. But we all need someone in this world, you know?”
Her words struck a chord I didn’t want to acknowledge. I stepped aside reluctantly, and she took it as an invitation, slipping into the room with an ease that suggested she was used to barging her way into people’s lives.
She plopped onto the bed and picked up the newspaper “So, the Royal Wolf Knights, huh? Big deal. They only
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TUUNI (HANC & virvive, i saiu vuruy.
Her gaze flickered to my wrist, where my birthmark was visible. “That’s why you’re here? The whole missing princess thing?”
I stiffened. “No. It’s nothing”
She raised an eyebrow but didn’t press. “Fair enough. Just saying, the royal family’s been calling in wolves with marks like yours. Might be worth checking out. Worst–case scenario, you’re wrong, and you go back to proving you’re a badass.”
I laughed despite myself. “You’re relentless.”
“That’s what they tell me.” She stood and stretched, heading for the door. “Well, I’ll see you at the tryouts tomorrow, Remi. Don’t flake on me.”