Page 27 of Curvy Alpha Bride
It’s the first time I’ve really thought of it, and now it strikes me as extremely strange. The Pass was built by our ancestors to link every town in Wolfshade, to keep the packs connected to each other and hopefully foster peace between them.
So why was Valentine Creek left out?
I remember every trip down here, and how the paved road from the Pass drops suddenly into a rough dirt track. I assumed it was a shortcut, a trail branching from the main road. Now I realize it’s the only road in—and it was recently made.
Why does this freak me out so much?
Chills run down my spine, and I have to put conscious effort into staying still and looking calm. From beside me, Dove reaches over and squeezes my hand, giving me one of her sweet smiles.
It’s almost like she knows what I’m thinking, and she’s trying to comfort me.
I tune back into the conversation. The others are talking about sending their wares further down the Pass to bring more money into the town. An idea occurs to me, and I can’t believe I didn’t think of it earlier.
“What about housing?” I ask, breaking into the conversation. “If we are opening up the town, then people will be inspired to come here. That’s what we want, isn’t it? I mean, it may take years, but population growth will be a wonderful thing. We can modernize the town and have great diversity here. And if people want to move, we’ll need local infrastructure.”
The elders look around at each other, a ripple of disquiet passing between each of them. The discomfort even reaches Dove and Lyssa, sitting on either side of me.
“What did I say?” I ask softly.
“Nothing,” Serra says, waving her hand dismissively. “You’re absolutely right. We can’t discuss trade without also talking about the possibility of people coming to our town. It’s just… a new concept for us.”
Why?
Before I can ask my question out loud, Serra adjourns the meeting, and everyone breaks into casual chat. Dove hurries over to the table and brings back a few slices of strawberry marble cake, sitting close to me as we eat.
“What do you think, Dove?” I ask. “How would you like to get out into the world—see a movie, go shopping, maybe even go to college?”
Her eyes go wide as she swallows a mouthful of cake.
“I could never! I mean… leave Valentine Creek?”
“Sure. Why not? How about a short trip to take in some sights, and then come home? Like a little adventure.”
Dove’s eyes widen even further, big, golden brown pools shimmering with innocence. “I can’t. I’ve never left the town line.”
I look into her serious face, detecting just a hint of fear in her voice.
This is freaky as fuck.
“Dove!” Serra’s voice practically booms over my shoulder. “Can you go and help at the snack table, please? Thank you, that’s a good girl.”
Dove isn’t that much younger than me. Why do they treat all the younger women like children?
The sudden thought occurs to me that I haven’t even seenanychildren. My anxiety intensifies, and this time I don’t try to talk myself out of it.
“Mabel,” Serra says, pulling a chair around to face mine and taking my hands. “How are you settling in?”
“Really good, thanks,” I mutter. “Look, can you tell me why everyone’s so on edge about leaving town, or people coming in?”
I decide to be direct, but it comes out as overtly blunt. I have too many delicate questions to ask, and if I want truthful answers, I know I should be patient. But tact has never been my strong point.
“Oh, forgive our young girls their excitement,” Serra says, a bit too lightheartedly. “It’s just an effect of being isolated—they don’t have much social conditioning. Technology and internet connections only happened once the war broke out, so all of our young people are just very sheltered, I’m afraid.”
Sheltered from what?
“I haven’t heard anyone talk about Gryphon Eyrie,” I say carefully. “After all this time, aren’t you scared to deal directly with your sworn enemies? You’ve been at war for generations.”
“The past is past,” Serra says, shrugging. “We have nothing to fear from the Eyrie.”
