The dwarf guided me and Timothee through the forest, clearing sharp vines like obstacles in a maze. I sensed his struggling breaths and saw his unwavering resolve to conquer the harsh land. As the sun dipped, painting the sky red, we arrived at our final stop - the ancient castle where my mother’s presence lingered all these years.
“This is where Fae Aurora lives.” The dwarf swung open the gate, gesturing for Timothee and me to enter without delay. Anxious heartbeats mingled with elation surged through me as I crossed the castle threshold, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within.
Finally, I found myself standing before the majestic door, eagerly anticipating her arrival. Not long after the dwarf called out, someone approached. I was taken aback by her appearance. But my tongue was tied, unable to utter a word. Fae Aurora swiftly recognized me and embraced me in her warm hug.

“My child, you have returned.” Her voice, gentle yet brimming with joy. Tears welled in my eyes upon hearing those words.
“Mom...” I whispered in disbelief, overwhelmed with love and longing. It was as if time had stood still in this place, and I could feel her presence so strongly. “Is that really you, mom?”
“Barbara...” She whispered, gently caressing my cheek. “You’re finally here, darling. Where’s your daddy?”
I bowed my head heavily, the weight of his question echoing in my weary soul.
“Barbara?”
“Dad is no longer here, mom,” I responded, clutching her robe tightly in a moment of intense emotion.

“What do you mean, Barbara?” Fae Aurora demanded, her hands tightening on both of my shoulders, desperate for an explanation.
Tears stung my eyes as I looked up at her, my voice barely a whisper. “Mom, it was Alpha Taylor. He... he claimed we were a rogue and a traitor to our clan. He said you endangered us all with your secrets. My dad stood up to him, defended our honor with everything he had.” I paused, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. “In the end, Alpha Taylor took his life, declaring it justice for an imagined betrayal. It was heartless, and it tore our world apart.”
Fae Aurora’s eyes darkened, a storm brewing behind her sorrowful gaze.
“When... when did this happen, my child? Why... why did you not reach out to me sooner?” Her voice trembled, each word laden with pain and regret.

“I... I didn’t know how, mom. I ran away after being rejected by Alpha Taylor, I ran to New York. After dad passed, I was lost, and fear took hold of my heart. I wasn’t sure if Alpha Taylor would come for me next, and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you too,” I whispered back, tears streaming down my face, reflecting the heartache of years spent in silence and solitude.
Fae Aurora caught her breath, a frail whisper escaping her lips as she glanced behind me. “And who is this man standing behind you, my child? His presence feels both familiar and strange to me.”
I turned slightly, gesturing towards Timothee, who had silently witnessed our reunion, his eyes never leaving the ground.
“This is Timothee, mom,” I said, my voice a mixture of pride and sorrow. “He’s... he’s your twins’ grandson daddy.”
The revelation struck Fae Aurora like a gust of wind, leaving her swaying on the spot. Tears began to cascade down her cheeks uncontrollably, each drop a testament to the years of joy, pain, and longing she must have felt in that moment.
“My... my grandchildren? I am a grandmother?” She sobbed hard, the sound echoing in the vastness of the ancient castle, carrying with it the weight of unspoken dreams and silenced hopes.
“Yes, mom,” I whispered, stepping closer to envelop her in a comforting hug. “You have grandchildren who are eagerly waiting to meet their grandmother. Timothee has been with me through it all, standing as a pillar when the ground beneath me seemed to crumble.”
Fae Aurora clung to me, her sobbing growing louder, yet amidst her cries, there was a sense of a broken dam, releasing years of pent-up emotions.
Through her tears, she managed to whisper, “I thought I had lost everything. But now, I see I have a family I never knew about. My dear children, forgive me for not being there when you needed me the most.”
Timothee and I exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between us before I turned back to Fae Aurora, her eyes searching mine for forgiveness in the dim light of the ancient castle.
“Mom,” I began, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions whirling within me. “Every decision you made, every path you chose to walk, I believe you did it with our best interests at heart. I’ve never held any anger towards you for leaving. Life... life threw us into tumultuous seas, but here we are, finding our way back to each other. This moment, this connection we’ve rekindled, it’s a testament to the strength of our bond. You don’t need to seek forgiveness for the choices you made to protect us because, in every imagined future, every possible world, I would always find my way back to you. We’re a family, connected by more than just blood. We are bound by the stories we share, the hardships we’ve overcome, and the love that has survived the test of time.”
I reached out, taking her hands in mine, offering her the warmth and assurance that only a family could provide. “We have so much to catch up on, so much to rebuild, but what matters now is that we’re together again. And that’s all I could have asked for.”
Fae Aurora’s warm embrace never wavered, and she held me close as I poured out my heart to her. She listened with patience and understanding, comforting me with her gentle touch.
After chatting about the purpose of our arrival in the forest for so long, Fae Aurora invited us into her old castle, serving us a brew of berries to drink. It was there that Timothee sought advice from Fae Aurora.
“Fae Aurora, I’m here not just to introduce myself, but to seek advice on dealing with the hunters who are becoming bolder in hurting all of us. Hurting shifter creatures like us.” Timothee breathed.
Fae Aurora leaned forward, her eyes reflecting a mixture of concern and curiosity. “Timothee, my child, can you explain what you mean by the hunters attacking more excessively than before?” Her voice was soft, yet there was an undeniable strength in her tone. “Our kind has always lived in the shadows, avoiding attracting the attention of humans, especially those who don’t understand us. Have things changed so drastically?”
Timothee took a deep, shuddering breath, the effort it took to speak clearly evident in the tension of his jaw and the rapid rise and fall of his chest.
“Yes, Fae Aurora, things have indeed changed, and not for the better,” he began, his voice laced with a raw urgency. “There’s... there’s a hunter leader now, a man named Marcus Vale. He’s... he’s different from the others. More ruthless, more cunning. He’s rallying the hunters, uniting them with a singular purpose—to wipe out all shifters. Under his leadership, the attacks have become more coordinated, more frequent, and far more deadly.”
He paused, struggling for breath as if the mere act of speaking Vale’s name infused him with both fear and determination.
“It’s as if he knows our movements, our refuges. We’ve lost too many in recent moon cycles, and those of us left are living in constant fear. I’ve come to you, hoping—no, needing—to find a way to protect our kind. To stop Marcus Vale before it’s too late.” His eyes bore into Fae Aurora’s, pleading for understanding, for support, for any shred of wisdom that might turn the tide in their favor.
“There’s something more—a burden my heart can scarcely bear, mom. Our youngest, Sawyer, has been taken by the hunters two days ago. It happened so quickly, and fortunately, we were able to find it safely. I was so scared,” I whispered.
“Oh, my dear child, that must have been terrifying for you and Timothee. But tell me, how is Sawyer now? Was he harmed? How does his spirit fare after such an ordeal?” Her voice was a soothing balm, filled with a grandmother’s worry and love. “Such events can leave scars not just on the body, but deep within one’s soul. I need to know he’s not just physically well, but emotionally and mentally resilient too. Your children are my great-grandchildren, and their wellbeing is of utmost importance to me.”
“He’s okay mom, he’s safe and sound now. We made sure to heal his wounds, both physical and emotional,” I replied, a hint of pride in my voice at how well Sawyer had handled the ordeal with such bravery.
Fae Aurora let out a sigh of relief, her features softening with genuine motherly concern. “That is all I could ever ask for. Thank you both.”
The dwarf said, “Lately, many humans have been destroying the forest, Fae Aurora. Could they be trying to find the remaining shapeshifters?”
“It might just happen, Altairs. That’s why I’m urging you to swiftly gather the magical berries around here because sooner or later, they’ll wreak havoc on everything,” sighed Fae Aurora. “Barbara, no need to fear, we’ll soon find our way out together, my dear.”
Just as I was about to reply to Fae Aurora’s greeting, a deafening explosion shocked us to our core
Everything went still for a moment, the kind of silence that presses in on your ears before the chaos resumes. Fae Aurora and I exchanged a glance. Without a word, we knew what we had to do. Hand in hand, we sprinted towards the unknown.
Just as I was about to reply to Fae Aurora’s greeting, a deafening explosion shocked us to our core
Everything went still for a moment, the kind of silence that presses in on your ears before the chaos resumes. Fae Aurora and I exchanged a glance, a mix of fear and determination in her eyes that mirrored my resolve. Without a word, we knew what we had to do. Hand in hand, we sprinted towards the unknown.
Checking what’s exploding? And why is it exploding? Is someone following us?