"War is never a good thing. Can I safely assume they resolved their issues?" she asks softly.
I see what she's doing. She wants to know who's running the show.
"Unfortunately, the alpha in charge of the Crescent Valley is a tyrant." A soft growl escapes his lips.
Feray cocks her head and reaches out to touch him. I watch as relief floods his system, and he stares at her in awe.
"You're more than what you seem," he whispers before starting to walk again.
Halfway down the block,we stop before a two-story stone and wood building. The house number is carved into the stone by the door.
Clem steps forward and knocks. Several minutes pass before an older woman opens the door. She smiles as she goes to greet Clem.
Before the words leave her lips, she stops and stares at Feray like she's seen a ghost.
She goes to close the door, but Clem stops her.
"By your reaction, you've already answered my most pressing question. I need to ask you several questions, and then we'll be on our way."
The older woman relents and welcomes us into her home.
"It's obvious you recognize my friend here. I can only assume you knew her parents," Clem states matter-of-factly.
"I believe her to be Ivan and Anastasia's child. She has her mother's red hair." The woman looks Feray over.
"Torben, Feray, this is Dorothea Torsten." Clem introduces, and Dorothea bows her head slightly.
"Ana's daughter's name was Thyra. She was born during a thunderstorm. You can't be her daughter." Dorothea smiles sweetly. "The little one had a birthmark just above her tailbone. It looked like a pink crescent moon."
Her smile broadens.
"If you couldn't tell, I was Ana's midwife. I helped deliver the little bundle of joy. I moved shortly after because I found my mate, and he lived here." She laughs a little. "I would love to know what happened to that little one. They disappeared sometime over the winter. When I went to visit them in the spring, their house was burned to the ground."
Her mention of the birthmark makes me arch a brow. I don't remember a birthmark, but that doesn't mean it's not there.
"Thank you for your time, Dorothea." I smile and help Feray stand.
"You two are such a beautiful couple. Hopefully, one day, I'll deliver your children." She reaches out and pats Feray's hand before Clem leads us out.
"Did that help any?" he asks, turning us in a different direction.
"I know what my parents' names are, and that wasn't it." Feray's eyes lower.
I want to tell her what I've figured out, but I also don't want to tip off the elder or the alpha.
"Maybe we should just go back to the den and have lunch with everyone and figure out what we want to do next." I give Feray a slight squeeze, letting her know I'm on to something.
"Are you sure? The next family isn't far from here." Clem motions down the road.
"Yeah..." Feray stares into my eyes. "The tonic to stop my heat makes me feel ill. My attentive mate knows when I'm hiding that I'm not feeling well. I wish to rest and maybe sleep."
She forces a smile and acts like her stomach is giving her trouble.
Bending down quickly, I scoop her up bridal style. "Thank you for your help, Clem. Unfortunately, I don't believe we're going to find answers here."
I turn and start walking toward the den.
"I'll let the alpha know you were unsuccessful. Are you heading back to Briarvale?" He smiles.
