Chapter 45 - FORTY-FIVE - INVITATION

Chapter 45: Chapter FORTY-FIVE - INVITATIONSerena grabbed the letter from Annamarie. She looked at it, and it was marked with a wolf’s head that had a cross on its forehead. Serena ran her hand along the edges quietly, it was the emblem of the healer’s circle- recognized by every pack across Kaldora. But what had this to do with Beatrice? Serena raised her brow, looking at the younger woman. "Is Beatrice a healer?" Annamarie’s brows scrunched up in confusion. "No... she is not." Annamarie stood up from where she had been sitting and hovered over Serena. Annamarie stepped closer, leaning slightly to peek at the envelope in Serena’s hands. Serena tapped the bottom corner, where the symbol was stamped in deep red wax. "This is from the healers of your pack. That’s the sign." Serena explained softly. Annamarie sat next to her, squinting her eyes. "Oh, I see. I must have skipped out on learning signs with my father." The brunette looked at the letter and then at Serena, her brain slowly connecting the dots. "But you had no issue at all, how did you figure it out?" Serena bit her lip and let the letter slip to her lap. She turned to Annamarie and smiled. "The cross," she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Annamarie let out a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. "Yes, yes, it’s everywhere." Serena picked up the envelope and tore through the paper, taking out the letter. She unfolded it and skimmed through it quickly. Dear Ambassador, We apologise for not sending out a party to welcome you. We hope to be graced with your presence at the Infirmary. Senior Healer Sophia. Serena neatly folded the paper and slid it back into the envelope. When she looked up, Annamarie was watching her like a puppy waiting for scraps. "Well?" Serena sighed. She understood why Anna mentioned Beatrice. The whole pack must have been under the impression that they had a real Ambassador visiting them. It was a rare sighting, and she had supposedly come all the way from the East for diplomatic reasons. "They would like me to visit," Serena said. Annamarie frowned, settling next to Serena. "You do not have to go." Serena sighed wistfully at Annamarie’s spunk. She made her feel older and dull. As much as she would love to remain alone in the manor, it would have been taken as an insult not to honour their invitation. She placed her hand on Anna’s and shook her head. "If I don’t," she said quietly, "it’ll be seen as an insult." Annamarie covered Serena’s hand with hers and squeezed it. The gesture brought a smile to her face. "Darius would have to be informed," Serena said. Annamarie nodded. "I believe a letter was sent to him earlier." Serena hummed in acknowledgement. "I have a request." Annamarie blinked. "What would that be?" "Spend the night with me and accompany me to the Infirmary." Annamarie laughed and nodded. "Oh, that’s nothing." "Your father would not mind?" Serena asked, surprised at how quickly Annamarie had agreed. Annamarie waved a dismissive hand. "Bah, he’s barely ever home. He wouldn’t notice if I vanished for a week." "Oh, I’m sure he would," Serena commented. "But I’m glad you’re with me." The women chatted as the day wore on. It was mostly Annamarie entertaining her with stories from her childhood, talking about Jack and the expedition they had been on before Serena had rescued them. Serena did notice that in all her stories, she never once mentioned anything about Darius or the former Alpha and his Luna. Serena scolded herself for letting her mind wander again, of course Annamarie would not talk about such things when she jumped from one light-hearted topic to another. She let herself relax, to enjoy the moment before peace was stolen from her eyes. Yet another day to force a persona that was alien to her. — The two walked in silence, their boots crunching leaves that had fallen on the dirt path. They had been walking for a few minutes, and Serena realised the manor was strategically placed a ways off from the main towns, away from prying eyes and unsightly incidents. "What’s the Infirmary like?" Serena asked after a while. Anna tapped her finger on her chin. "Hm. It’s... not really special," she replied, drawing the words out with a shrug. "Functional. We have enough healers, though they’re always stretched thin during allergy season." Serena nodded. Annamarie had barely given her any sort of information to go on. She wondered what the temperament of the healers could be. Back in Silverstone, Serena was the only Senior Healer alongside an older wolf. In total, the pack had four healers. It was alright for its size- Silverstone was a small pack and hardly had violent run-ins. Sometimes it was an aging wolf who spent their last days there, or a chronically sick child, and at the odd time a scout of theirs who came in injured. Serena exhaled. She missed her old pack and her routine. She glanced at Annamarie, who seemed lost in thought. There was no hope of going back to Silverstone now, not with these accusations. The pair trudged on until the town was in sight. It was larger than the modest village she’d seen in Oakspire. More spread out, more organized. Stone houses with neatly tiled roofs stood in tidy rows, their walls dressed in climbing ivy and winter-starved vines. Serena tried not to gawk, but her eyes wandered every now and then. The stone houses were spaced evenly, most with plants creeping along the walls. There was a muted feel to the atmosphere, but Serena didn’t dwell on it. She felt a tug at her arm, and she looked to see Anna smile and pull her along. "Don’t get lost now," she teased. Serena’s cheeks heated up, and she followed the younger woman’s lead. At the far end stood a tall building, its doors painted a faded blue, with clean glass windows and a weathered sign marked by a healer’s sigil. "The Ambassador’s here!" came a shriek. Serena and Annamarie exchanged glances before smiling. The doors burst open, and a young woman with an apron and rolled-up dress sleeves, with rosy cheeks, ran through the doors with a small smile. "Welcome!" Serena’s eyes widened slightly, but she caught herself and smiled back.