The valley was beautiful, covered in a lush green with an array of colorful foliage. Surrounding the lake that separated the two sides were rustic log cabins—the type that many of the villagers lived in around Gwyniar and Alvenora—and right in the center sat a lodge building complete with a front porch and rocking chairs.

“Wow, you all have really made a life for yourselves out here,” I commented as we walked toward one of the cabins.

“When you’re separated from the outside world, you make do with what you have,” Rosamund replied. “Would you prefer a one-bed cabin or a two-bed?”

“Uh…” I glanced at Raydir, heat creeping into my cheeks. “Two?”

Rosamund smiled. “I thought as much.” She led us down the path a little further before stopping outside of one of the cabins. “This will be yours. Take as much time as you need to settle in. You’ll find towels and soap in your bathroom. If you have any clothes for washing, there are baskets inside. Once a day, laundry is taken to our cleaning river by a group of ladies in our community. In the meantime, I can help you with some fresh clothes. I’ll just need one outfit a piece so I can see what we can find in your sizes.”

“Community-based outfits?” I inquired.

She shook her head. “We put together clothing because we know new entries to our community are always likely. All clothes we offer have never been worn. And once you take them, they become yours to keep.”

“Thank you, really,” Raydir said. He ran a hand through his hair again. “Um, Rosamund, could I speak with Bennett? I have questions about the valley, the curse…everything.”

“Of course, I’ll take you to see him. And please, just call me Rosie.” She spread out her hands and started to lead Raydir away.

I bounced on my toes in the doorway of the cabin. “Be back soon, ok?”

Raydir kissed my cheek. “I will.”

With that, I went inside to take a look around our new home. The cabin held a small kitchen and sitting area between two bedrooms and a bathroom. A small tub sat in the middle of the bathroom, seemingly calling out my name. My muscles ached for hot water and cleanliness. After double-checking that the door was locked, I stripped out of my clothes and eased my body into the tub, letting out a sigh of relief. As promised, the cabin was fully equipped with soap and shampoo—certainly luxuries I wasn’t expecting out here—and all plant-based.

Fifteen minutes later, my fingers were good and wrinkly, and I felt calmer than I had in five days. Of course, that relief was slowly extinguished when I remembered tonight was the last night before the Alignment. Wrapping myself into a towel, I walked across the hall to my room where a silk nightgown and a new corset dress lay upon my bed—Raydir must have brought them back with him.”

Familiarity flooded through me as the fabric from the dress touched my skin. I padded carefully out of my room and found Raydir on the sofa, burying his face in his hands.

“Ray?” I asked quietly.

His head shot up, swiveling around to face me. “Ar, I didn’t hear you come in. Are you ok?”

“Yeah. Are you? You look…deflated.” I carefully sat next to him. “What did Rosie say?”

“It’s…complicated. We should talk with Bennett together after dinner. Rosie said we eat at the Grand Cabin at six. I’m just going to get cleaned up, but feel free to…mingle.”

My gaze scanned his face for clues of anything. What are you not telling me, Raydir?

Without another word, he got up from the sofa and went into the bathroom. I pulled on my boots and walked out of the cabin, hoping to catch up with Rosie or Bennett. The valley bristled with activity, sounds of casual chit chat and laughter echoed throughout. I closed my eyes, trying to imagine building a life here with Raydir. Could we really be happy out here together? Forever? Part of me wasn’t so sure anymore.

“Penny for your thoughts?” a man in a weathered hat asked. He stood behind a small fruit stand to the left of the Grand Cabin.

“Just exploring,” I replied with a smile. “But those peaches do smell delicious.”

He tossed one to me. “Consider it a welcome gift.”

“T-thank you.” I certainly wasn’t expecting that.

The man winked. “Welcome to Darqua.”

I gave him a smile and a small wave as I walked away, nearly colliding with Rosie.

“Arwyn!” Rosie exclaimed, grasping my shoulders to steady herself. “My apologies, I didn’t see you there.” Her eyes scanned over me. “I see you found the clothes I left for you?”

“Yes, thank you. They’re lovely. How are the horses?” We started walking along the path together.

“They are both resting in the barn, content. Are you settling in alright? How are you feeling about the Alignment?”

I kicked the ground with the toe of my boot and stopped. “I’m really worried about Raydir. He…we were fine on the beginning of the journey out here, but yesterday was the worst. He woke up in the middle of the night with nightmares.”

“What were they about?”

I shook my head. “He wouldn’t really say, but he didn’t sleep at all after. He said he wanted to protect me because he was so worried about losing me or hurting me.”

“Ah.” She clasped her fingers together over her stomach. “Yes, the nightmares before the Alignment before the first shift are often the worst. Has he shown any other signs?”

“Heightened sense of direction and I guess the protection thing?”

“Those are all normal.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Even the nightmares?”

Rosie glanced out into the distance. “We’ll know soon.”

Great. More cryptics. “What exactly can you tell me about the shift? We only have one more night, and I want to be prepared for what’s to come.”

“I really think it’s best you heard that from Bennett. There is a lot about the wolf spirit that you and Raydir both need to know.”

“He seemed pretty upset at the cabin,” I said. “I came all the way out here with him because I want to be with him—all I’ve ever wanted was to be with him—and now I’m just…I don’t know.” A realization hit me as her words sank in. “Wolf spirit?” My mother used to tell me stories about a princess and her beloved with a wolf spirit that could only be awakened with a true love kiss. What were the chances it was more than a fairytale?

“Come with me now. We’re about to serve dinner anyway. Why don’t you and Raydir sit with me and Bennett? We can explain everything you need to know.”

“I would love that,” I replied.

A bell rang, and the doors to several cabins opened as everyone made their way to the Grand Cabin for dinner.

As we started in that direction, I stopped Rosie with my arm. “Can I ask for a favor?”

She nodded. “Anything.”

“Would it be possible to get Raydir any sort of art supplies? Charcoal and paints, specifically. He makes the most spectacular charcoal drawings. And his attention to detail with watercolors…” I trailed off, remembering the painting he’d given me for my 18th birthday.

Rosie laid a hand gently on my arm. “We can certainly get those for him. It’s not a problem.”

“Thank you. I hoped to surprise him with it. I know it is something he’ll miss out here in the valley.”

“Well, lucky for him one of the great perks of the valley includes activity groups. He’s not the only artist in our midst.”

Once inside the Grand Cabin, I found Raydir already talking with Bennett. He waved when he saw me, and we hurried over.

“Ah, Arwyn. I’m glad to see you. We have much to discuss, the four of us,” Bennett said.

I nodded. “Yes, we do. Starting with: what are you not telling me about the first shift on the Alignment? How dangerous is this going to be?”

Raydir squeezed my hand reassuringly under the table, rubbing small circles over it with his thumb.

“It depends on your reaction,” Bennett replied cryptically. “Now, Raydir, you said that you’ve had nightmares. We’ve dealt with many different reactions—this points toward either type of wolf you can become.”

“But he doesn’t choose?”

“Correct.”

We paused the conversation momentarily as a couple of women served us plates of brisket drizzled with a balsamic glaze.

“There are two types of the wolf spirit, more commonly called the wolf curse,” Rosie explained. “There is the type of wolf that is calmer and more wolf-like. They experience the mildest Alignment nights, shifting with all memory of who they are and who they love.”

I swallowed. That doesn’t sound so bad. “And the other?”

Rosie and Bennett shared a glance before he continued. “The other is more dangerous. These wolves forget what they know and really become the wolf. Alignment nights are the worst for them, but the nights leading up are not great either.”

My body tensed. “So if it’s someone’s first Alignment—”

“That is worse for everyone, regardless of the type of wolf they become,” Bennett clarified. He nodded to Raydir. “Therefore, we do not know which one will be.”

“And which are you, Bennett?” I asked.

Bennett sipped at his drink. “I am fortunate enough to be the former. But several others who live in our community are the latter. This time is always hard on them. On all of us, really. Now, as for what we can do to make tonight and ultimately tomorrow better, Rosie will make you some ibisco tea. Take one cup tonight, one in the morning, then one before sundown tomorrow. That should help ease some of the effects.”

“Is there anything else we should know?” Raydir asked. “I want to make sure Arwyn is safe during the…shift.”

“She will be safe,” Rosie reassured him. “We will make sure of it. And the most important thing is that you are there for each other. Raydir, a word of advice—think of Arwyn during the shift. Focus on what you love, who you love, and tomorrow won’t be as bad. Any stray away from that focus, and the symptoms will be more severe.”

Ray nodded uncomfortably. “Noted.”

We sat in a strange silence for the rest of dinner, the only sounds came from the chatter of the other folks and the clinking of utensils on plates. My head swam with a million thoughts about our situation. How would I know he would be ok? Did I make the right choice coming out here?

“It gets easier, I promise.”

I looked up from my plate to find Rosie giving me a small smile. “I hope you’re right. I can’t bear to see Ray like this.

She watched as Raydir got up from the table, kissed my temple, then went to talk to someone across the room. “A word of advice from someone who has been married to a wolf for ten years: support him through every single moment. No matter how much you want to run away from it all. No matter how much you second guess leaving your life behind.”

I glanced over at Raydir. “I love him too much to leave him. This is why I gave up everything I once knew. Our families have feuded ever since my sister died. If that hadn’t happened…” I shuddered, not daring to let myself imagine how life might have turned out if Arabella had never been in that carriage.

“Here, take this.” Rosie placed something cool and smooth in my hand.

“What is it?”

“Praesidium. It’s a protection crystal. And that reminds me—I know I said the ibisco tea was for those three occasions, but if Raydir has nightmares again, make him a cup of the tea. It is the best remedy we have to ease the nightmares.”

“How—how will we know which type he’ll be?” My mind kept fluttering back to what Bennett said: these wolves forget what they know and really become the wolf.

“You won’t know until the Alignment happens.” Her eyes softened. “But we will be with you every step of the way.”

It was dark by the time that Raydir and I got back to our cabin. I changed into the silk nightgown and went to sit beside Raydir on the sofa. A warm fire crackled in the hearth, the lights dim for the evening.

“What’s on your mind?” My fingers curled through his hair. He’d worn it long ever since we were teenagers. I liked it that way.

Ray shuddered. “Everything. But most importantly, you. I’m so sorry I dragged you into this whole thing.”

I pressed my fingers to his lips. “You don’t need to apologize.” My engagement ring glinted in the firelight. “I love you, and I promised I would marry you. We’re honoring the pact we made when we were nine. I know this isn’t the way we imagined it, but at least we are together.”

“That’s what matters most.” He wrapped a comforting arm around my shoulders. “Tomorrow is just another day, and somehow we’ll make it through.”

I closed my eyes and tried to get some sleep. Tomorrow was just another day. Nothing serious to worry about. We were going to make it through. We were going to be fine.

“Bella! Bella! Wake up!” I whisper-squeaked, shaking my sister awake.

“Ary, what is it?” she grumbled, rubbing at her eyes.

“The howling. I’m scared.” I hugged my teddy bear to my chest.

“Ary, the wolves aren’t going to hurt you, ok? They’re far away in Darqua.”

My bottom lip quivered as I looked up at her.

She sighed. “Come here, Ary.” Arabella got up out of bed, taking me by the hand, and bringing me over to our bedroom’s balcony. “You see way out there in the distance? Beneath those mountains is Darqua, the hidden valley.”

“Is that where the wolfies live?”

“Father says so.”

“Can we go someday? I wanna meet a wolfie. Then I can ride him around the woods.”

Arabella laughed. “You’re silly, Ary. Now, can you go back to sleep, please?”

“Yes, Bel…No, no! Don’t hurt…now I'm gonna dream about happy wolf…NO! Leave her alone! Ahhhh!!”

I jolted awake, Raydir thrashing next to me. It took a minute to gauge my surroundings; we had fallen asleep together on the sofa.

“Ray, Ray! Wake up!” I shook his shoulder.

His eyes shot open. “Wha—what happened?”

“You were…you were having nightmares again.”

Raydir dragged a hand down his face, rubbing at his eyes. “I guess the tea didn’t help.”

I hopped up, rummaging through the cupboards for a tea kettle. “Let me make you some more. Rosie said to make you more if you had nightmares tonight.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” he asked, padding over to the kitchen to join me.

“Positive.” I kissed his cheek. “You are so worth it.”

The kettle let out a shrill whistle soon after. I poured the water into a mug and added the ibisco tea bag so it could steep.

“Drink this. I really do hope it’ll help.” We sat back down on the sofa.

“I’m sorry I woke you up again,” Raydir said as he drank his tea.

“Don’t worry about it.” I covered his hand with mine. “I’m just glad you’re ok. Why don’t we stay up for a while? We can just talk.”

“The way we did when we were young?” His lips twitched up into a smile. “I miss those days.”

“Me too. Back when we were young and innocent.”

Raydir laughed. “Oh, we were never innocent. Remember how we used to sneak out those biscuits from the kitchen? And we’d go for rides for hours until our parents sent guards out to look for us because they were afraid we’d gotten lost?”

I leaned my head back against the sofa. “Those really were the days. And all those times playing hide and seek on rainy afternoons?”

“We really could get lost for hours. And you always wanted to spend time in the library. You could practically live there.”

“I certainly miss that.” I jutted my chin toward his half-drunk tea. “Keep drinking, Ray. We want to lessen as many of these symptoms as possible.”

Reluctantly, he sipped more of the tea. “Let’s hope this stuff actually works. I don’t know how many more of these nightmares I can take.”

“I’m sure it will. But just in case, I want to stay here with you for the rest of the night, ok? And don’t even think about getting up and leaving me for whatever reason. I’m here to protect you as much as you are here to protect me.”

Raydir let out a low, deep growl but nodded all the same. “Talk to me more about when we were kids.”

I smiled, leaning my head on his shoulder as he ran his fingers through my hair. “Where should I even begin?”