Chapter 166
Elle’s POV
:
“This is excellent,” I said, gesturing to the hearty stew in front of me. “Everything tastes so fresh.”
Elder Thompson’s face lit up with genuine pleasure.
50
As Alex handed me a sanitizing wipe to clean my hands, I noticed Elder Thompson’s gaze suddenly fix on my wrist. His eyes widened as
he spotted the bracelet I’d been wearing the one Stella Blair had given me before we left.
–
“That bracelet,” he said slowly, his voice carrying a note of awe. “It really did go to a Blair family member.”
I looked down at the simple, antique–looking piece of jewelry, confused. “What do you mean?”
Elder Thompson leaned forward, his expression growing serious. “That bracelet is a token
to the Blair family generations ago.”
–
one given by a former elder of Moonvale Town
“A token?” I repeated.
“Yes,” Elder Thompson nodded gravely. “It represents an ancient promise made by our community. No matter how much time passes, if
anyone from the Blair family comes to Moonvale Town wearing that bracelet, the local packs cannot refuse any request they make.”
My fork clattered against my plate as the weight of his words hit me. I stared down at the bracelet, which I’d assumed was just a thoughtful parting gift from Stella. The possibility that she had anticipated I might end up in Moonvale, that she had given me this
particular piece for a reason, sent my mind reeling.
Both Brad and Raymond had noticed the bracelet now.
“I… I had no idea,” I stammered. “Mrs. Blair just gave it to me as a gift before we left. I never imagined…”
Elder Thompson’s expression grew even more respectful. “The Blair family has always been wise in their choices. Perhaps Mrs. Blair knew
this day would come.”
The lunch continued, but I found myself struggling to focus on the conversation. When I felt a gentle nudge, I looked up to see Sophia
leaning close to me.
“You need to be more careful.” she murmured in my ear, her voice barely audible.
“Don’t use that promise lightly,” she continued quietly. “Brad and Raymond can handle the project negotiations. You don’t need to waste something that precious on business deals.”
I nodded, understanding her point completely. If this bracelet represented some kind of ancient debt or obligation, using it for something
1/3
Sat,
Chapter 166
as mundane as a development project would be incredibly wasteful. Brad caught my eye and gave me an almost imperceptible nod of approval.
After lunch ended, I noticed Elder Thompson’s son Sean lingering near the entrance, his eyes following Sophia with unmistakable hope. She must have noticed too because she gestured for him to follow her to a quieter corner of the house.
I couldn’t hear their conversation, but from Sean’s increasingly deflated expression and Sophia’s sympathetic but firm body language, it was clear she was letting him down gently. When Sean finally walked back toward the main group, his shoulders slumped with
disappointment, Sophia remained where she was, looking uncomfortable about the whole situation.
“Hey Sean,” I called out as he passed by me. “Everything okay?”
He looked up, clearly trying to mask his disappointment. “Oh, yes, Miss Elle. Just… well, the packs are starting to prepare for tonight’s bonfire and barbecue. Everyone’s excited to welcome you properly.”
“That sounds wonderful,” I said, then gestured to an empty chair beside me. “Would you like to sit and chat for a bit? I’d love to hear
more about the town.”
Sean’s face brightened at the invitation, and he quickly settled into the chair. “I’d be happy to tell you whatever you’d like to know.”
50
As we talked, I found myself studying the town around us through the open windows. There was something about Moonvale that felt
oddly familiar, even though I was certain this was my first visit to any werewolf settlement. The architecture, the way the afternoon light
fell across the buildings, even the scents carried on the breeze – it all triggered some kind of recognition I couldn’t quite place.
I reached out to touch a string of dried chilies hanging from the porch eaves, and Sean’s expression grew slightly dazed as he watched me.
The afternoon sun streaming through the windows seemed to highlight something in my features that made him stare with unexpected
intensity.
“Have you ever met Dakota Blair?” I asked, trying to understand more about the Blair family’s connection to this place.
Sean shook his head. “No, I’ve never met her personally. But my father has, along with the six pack Alphas. He always says…” Sean
paused, a slight blush coloring his cheeks.
“What does he say?”
“He says that with all the beautiful women in the world, not one of them could match a single finger of Dakota.”
Dakota had clearly left a powerful impression on everyone who met her.
“What about pack affairs here?” I asked, changing the subject slightly. “Do you help your father with the political side of things?”
“Not really,” Sean replied. “My father only handles external communications. Each pack manages its own internal affairs independently.”
As we continued talking, I noticed pack members approaching with small gifts – more carved trinkets, bundles of local herbs, a jar of what
2/3
17:50 Sat, Dec 20
Chapter 166
looked like homemade preserves. Alex stepped forward to accept them on my behalf, creating a small pile of offerings beside my chair.
When I turned back to Sean, I found him staring at me with an odd expression, his eyes wide with something approaching recognition.
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly, color flooding his cheeks. “It’s just… you remind me of something.”
“Oh?”
50
Sean fumbled with his words. “There’s an old painting – it depicts a woman who’s supposed to be one of the Blair family ancestors. When I
first saw you, I didn’t think there was much resemblance, but just now, when you smiled…” He trailed off, looking embarrassed.
“What about when I smiled?”
“You look exactly like her,” Sean said quietly. “The woman in the painting. It’s… it’s actually pretty remarkable.”
I felt a chill run down my spine despite the warm afternoon air. Another connection to the Blair family, another piece of a puzzle I didn’t
even realize I was supposed to be solving. First the bracelet, now this painting…
“This ancestor,” I said carefully, “do you know anything about her? When she lived, what her connection to Moonvale was?”
