"Uh...well...umm-"

"Does she always stutter like that eh?" Asked Rosalie still smiling amusedly.

I shut myself up.

"Nah she just got a little flustered is all, isn't that right Mia?" Answered Shadow trying her best not to laugh.

I sighed, "Yeah."

"Well if you're wonderin' why I was chasin' those lil' demons, it's cuz for some odd reason they love to get me mad by pickin' them flowers from the garden without askin' me."
She finished, clearly annoyed with that adorable accent of hers.

I smiled. "Well, those are kids for you I guess."

"Yeh they are. I ave' to get goin' now so I'll be on my merry way, y'all have fun doin' whatever tis' were doin'."

"Will do!" Replied Shadow starting to walk ahead.

I quickly jogged to catch up with her.

Unknown POV

"Did you find the girl yet?" asked a man's voice with gritted teeth on the phone.

"No sir. I'm sorry, sir." trembled a young man's voice from the other side of the device.

"DAMNIT, YOU CANT FIND A MEASLY 18-YEAR-OLD WOLFLESS GIRL?!?"

"We are trying sir!"

"Oh, so you are trying huh?"

"Yes sir!" replied the young man with a hope-filled voice.

"If this is what you call trying then maybe I should check up on your sister hmm? Give her a couple of lashes....maybe cut off a few fingers?"

"No sir!! Please don't! I'm begging you!" He replied with horror.

Hearing nothing but a chuckle in reply the young man quickly said, "Please sir, give me more time, I will find her. Please, sir."

"Well then, I suppose I could spare you a couple more days."

The young man knew this was his last chance at saving his beloved sister and he was ready to do anything for her.

"If she isn't in the pack by two weeks, consider your sister's slow death to have begun."

End of phone call

Mia's POV

4 hours later

We have been walking around the whole pack for hours now and I was already starting to feel tired.

Up until now, we had explored the area where most of the pack lived in small cabins or medium-sized houses. Sometimes they were bigger than normal too and all of them had a very homey appearance and were well built.

After that, we had seen the area where people did all types of businesses. It was a small yet lively area. Shadow had mentioned that such types of businesses did not occur within many packs.

Only the top 3 packs in ranking:
No 1. The Crescent Moon Pack
No 2. The Blood Moon Pack
No 3. The Dawning Moon Pack

I felt pride knowing that my pack was at No. 1 but then felt hatred realizing that Blood Moon was ranked in the top 3, that too at 2nd place.

She said that having businesses running inside the pack helped us earn even more money but to start such a thing a lot of money, large area of pack grounds and more people were needed. And considering that only the top 3 ranking packs met all those requirements. the businesses being in just those three packs made sense.

The area of these businesses was much livelier in this pack. It wasn't like it wasn't as lively in my old pack but if I stepped foot in the marketplace, it was a nightmare. People would immediately start 'discreetly' kicking me, Stepping on my foot, pushing me around. And somehow things would fly to my head by 'accident'.

I decided to focus on my surroundings and look at the shops that sold various things, fruits & vegetables were being sold by an old man who waved at us as we passed by.

I tried my best to crack a smile and gave a small wave in return but then immediately looked away.

I started breathing a bit heavily but tried my best to control it.

Sensing something was wrong Shadow looked back towards me, "Oh no, Mia are you okay? Is this place too stressful for you? Let's go somewhere else-"

"No Shadow I'm fine. Let's just finish this area and then I want to go exploring in the woods if it's alright with you." I cut her off having got my breathing under control.

She still looked skeptical but nodded reluctantly.

With a small sigh, she extended her hand towards me, making me look at her questioningly. She smiled and nodded towards her waiting hand. Realizing that she wanted me to hold it I smiled gently and grab ahold of it, feeling much better and safer.

From then on I didn't feel nervous at all and enjoyed even more whilst looking around.

20 minutes later

"Hey, Mia? I think we should get you some clothes. I know you don't have any for yourself. And since we are already here let's just buy some!" She stated looking enthusiastically at me.

"But I don't need the-"

She glared playfully and I shut up giggling softly.

"You have a beautiful laugh you know, you should laugh more often." She grinned while looking at me.

I blushed and look elsewhere to see if I could find anything interesting.

She chuckled and tugged me forward, "I know just the perfect shop for you!" Just as she said that she started heading to my left.

What I had noticed so far was that it wasn't just a straight road with shops on both sides of it, it was more like a cluster of shops both big and small and these shops had just about everything. From shoes, clothes, and undergarments to fruits, meat, vegetables, ice creams, and much more.

Once I tried a spoonful of ice cream that too with a lot of difficulty since I never got to eat snacks and mostly lived on scraps of bread and meat, I instantly fell in love with it. It was a chocolate chip ice cream and I tried my best to sneak a couple of spoonfuls whenever I could but I just got to have it about 10 times or so in my entire life.

I knew that wasn't normal. I have read many books because I could barely sleep at night so I used to sneak to the library and had managed to read every single book in that library. I was very proud of that achievement. But I realized it wasn't a big thing because the library in the old pack wasn't as big as the one here so that's probably why I was able to finish it.

We came to stop in front of a nice looking-big shop.

She gave me a funny look, "Be prepared to be mind blown."

I chuckled and replied, "Sure, whatever you say."

She pushed open the door for me and I stepped inside.

My mind was definitely blown as my jaw hung open and I looked around with wide eyes, there was every type of clothing in here. From kid's clothes to teens to even older people. Everything. Even undergarments.

For each age group, there was casual wear, PJs, party wear, and just everyday clothes.

Picking up the pieces of my blown mind I saw Shadow let go of my hand and go up to the counter where there was a young woman, probably in her early 20s busy doing something on her laptop.

"ALISON!! HOW ARE YOU?!" Shadow screamed out of nowhere making me jump lightly.

I heard a squeal of terror follow soon after and looked over at the young woman who was Alison.

Shadow laughed loudly, "That is exactly what happens when you drown yourself in work."

Ignoring her Alison placed her hand on her chest, "Oh my goddess."

She sighed and looked up at her, "When are you going to stop doing that?" And went back to her laptop without looking at me.

I didn't mind it. It seemed she was really busy.

But Rowena growled in anger confusing me. I sighed and ignored her. Wolves. I thought, rolling my eyes.

"Never." Smiled Shadow looking at her mischievously.

I grinned at her expression. She looked funny to me because of how mischievous her face looked.

"Well, I do have someone new for you to meet today." She looked over at me grinning.

I guessed that was my cue and went ahead to stand beside Shadow.

Alison looked up and smiles apologetically, "I'm so sorry I didn't see you there. There is just so much work and Shadow never comes here with anyone."

I looked surprised at Shadow and she just shrugged in return.

With a sigh, I turned back around. "Oh it's alright, I completely understand!" I replied feeling bad for her.

"My, my, you are a sweet one aren't you." She smiled at me and I smiled back sheepishly, feeling embarrassed.

"Well, what may I do for you today Sweetie?" She asked smiling at me and then turned towards Shadow, glaring at her she said, "You aren't a Sweetie."

She just chuckled in reply, "Nope, am not."

"Well, Mia here needs a new wardrobe. I thought you would be the best person to come to know because well you know." She gestured with her arms towards the hundreds of clothing racks.

"Oh, you have come to the right place!" She paused and looked me over. "So Mia, what type of clothes do you like?"

I looked back nervously at Shadow.

Noticing me looking at her she smiled encouragingly and nodded discreetly.

"Well....uhm...I like darker colors and comfortable yet nice-looking clothes." I replied still thinking about what I would like.

I had never worn real fitting clothes so this was going to be a first for me. And to say I was excited was an understatement.

"I know just the right clothes for you! Follow me!" She answered back enthusiastically whilst walking towards the racks.

We both started following her as she asked.

1 hour later

We both stepped out of the shop with tons of bags. I had a hard time carrying just 3 bags whereas Shadow had the bulk of it, which was around 10 bags and it didn't even look like it was a struggle for her.

"It was fun having you both here! I hope to see you again soon!!" Shouted Alison from behind the closing door.

I smiled feeling elated that I had got so many amazing outfits and clothes.

Shadow grinned at me making me grin back.

"Well that was certainly fun was it not?"

"It was fun!" I replied cheerfully. "But it was kinda exhausting trying on so many outfits. And you seriously did not have to pay for it. I feel bad now." I added with a frown.

"Oh, Mia come on don't worry about that so much. I got that money because of my services to the pack as a warrior. And since you're soon-to-be-warrior training starts, you can pay me back later if you want but know that I won't take and sneak it back to you." She looked at me with mischief in her eyes.

I sighed, accepting defeat.

Then I started thinking about becoming a warrior one day, right now that dream looked so far away and out of reach but maybe one day it wouldn't be so far away.

"Now we need to get you shoes and some health products. And then we are good to go." She started muttering to herself.

I groaned and prepared myself for another exhausting hour or two.

3 hours later

"Okay, these are way too many bags now. I think this is all you need." She muttered looking at both our filled arms.

"This seriously too much, I can't—"

"Nope. Not a word. This is perfect."

"Okay."

We both looked at each other for a few seconds and then burst out laughing for no reason at all.

Our laughing continued for a few more minutes and I felt my stomach starting to ache.

After a few more minutes we both recovered from our laughing. I sighed happily.

I felt overcome with emotion as I realized that I just laughed. A true laugh, I hadn't laughed so freely without any stress and a very long time.

Shadow noticed and started to panic, "Oh my goddess, Mia what's wrong?! I'm sorry if it's becau—"

"Thank you, Shadow." I cut her off wiping my eyes.

She looks at me in confusion so I continued, "This was the first time in a very long time that I laughed so loudly, filled with actual happiness and without any care in the world."

I noticed her starting to tear up and now it was my turn to panic but before I could say anything she whispered, "What did those monsters do you?"

It was so quiet that I wouldn't have heard it if it weren't for my heightened senses. I guess I had Rowena to thank for that.

"You are most welcome."

I smile inwardly.

"You have no idea," I whispered back with memories right on the surface.

"I know being sorry for you won't change anything but trust me when I say this and I mean every word, I will never leave you. I will never judge you for anything. Just spending this much time with you has shown me that I can trust you. And I hope you feel the same way too, and one thing I promise you and to myself, I will fucking rip those bastards to shreds and not feel an ounce of guilt."

I felt my eyes starting to burn with tears once again and I smiled back at her with bloodlust clouding my vision. I felt goosebumps rising all over my body.

"Do not worry Shadow, I will be joining you in ripping those monsters apart. But remember one thing, Kaden is mine to kill, no matter what." I replied with a growl. That bastard will die by my hands only.

"Of course, you choose who you wish to kill. You deserve your redemption." She grinned with a similar bloodlust in her eyes.

I thought this darkness within me had disappeared but guess not. I thought, internally laughing like a psychotic bitch.

I looked back at her, "I know I can trust you too but I will apologize beforehand if I don't open up to you about my past yet, I don't know what type of a past you had but I knew from the moment I saw you that you didn't have an easy one either. So I hope you understand and maybe one day we can both open up to each other and feel happy while doing so." I sighed sadly wondering what had happened to her to have similar dark thoughts like me.

She nodded and said jokingly, "Okay I think we both will die if we don't get rid of these bags soon."

I chuckled, "Yeah probably, lead the way please."

She started heading back in the general direction of the packhouse and I followed suit.

Hello Shadowlinks!

Welp guess Shadow's name does suit her huh?

I'm excited to find out how this story turns out. Yep even if I'm the author and have the general direction of the story planned out, even I don't know what events will take place soon that might lead to many unexpected changes so stay tuned! (;