As Sylvia walked past me after giving me one last glare, she didn't turn around till she was at the door. I held my breath till I heard the door slamming shut.

I didn't want to look at Gramma. I didn't know what she thought of me. It was true that I did spend most of last night at Valente's, but nothing happened.

I didn't realize I was crying till Gramma came up to me and wiped my tears.

"Raynhildur, you are the strongest amongst us. These tears don't suit you," she said softly, holding my hands.

I knew deep inside, as strong as I pretended to be, I was terribly vulnerable. Gullible enough to start dreaming of a happily-ever-after in one night. Forgetting that not everyone is my biggest fan around here.

"Gramma are you upset with me?" I asked her.

Gramma smiled a soft smile.

"Do I look upset with you Rayne?" she asked back.

"No, you don't," I said, sighing with relief.

"I'm not upset with you. But that Sylvia," her eyes lit up with genuine anger. "One of these days, I'll show her what I'm made of."

I smiled at the way she said it. I knew she wouldn't ever hurt anyone, but if you didn't know Gramma as well as I did, you'd believe her.

"How did she know they were mine?" I asked her.

"What?" she asked, a little confused.

"The shoes. How did she know they were mine?" I clarified.

"Oh. Yes. I asked her the same thing. You wouldn't believe what she said," Gramma told me, amusement now highly evident in her eyes.

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"She said that if there was ever a girl in Valente's room without her knowing, she knew it'd be you," Gramma said.

I paused for a second to process it. And then both of us burst out laughing at the same time.

"Did you really climb the back wall into his window? Oh Rayne!" Gramma said, sitting down now, still laughing. "Honey you're something else."

I looked at the floor and just smiled sheepishly.

It actually was kinda dumb.

"Told you," Ima said in my mind.

I sat down on the sofa beside Gramma.

"Gramma what am I going to do?" I asked her.

"What do you mean?" she asked back.

"About Valente," I said, my fingers fidgeting.

"What's there to be done?" Gramma asked.

"I mean, I do like him Gramma. Do you think he would choose someone else?" I asked her, the question automatically bringing the anxiety back.

"This isn't some human-like infatuation my girl. I know the way he's looked at you since you were children. And I know the way he looks at you now. It took you this long to like him back, but he made his choice years ago," she said to me, stroking my hair softly.

Her words eased up the lump in my throat a little.

"What do you think Sylvia will do?" I asked Gramma. "She seemed pretty serious about keeping me away."

Gramma sighed. She took my hand into hers, and traced a finger along the ring that she had gifted to me.

"Bryn gave me this ring. It was a gift amongst many others, but this has always been one of my favorites," she said fondly.

Suddenly I felt guilty for wearing it. Was I really supposed to have this?

She smiled as she looked at the ring. "I wanted you to have something that would remind you of not only me, but your Grandpa too. I don't know how many years I have left, you having it would mean it would be safe even after I'm gone."

My eyes teared up again.

"Don't talk like that Gramma," I said to her.

Her eyes were tearing up too at just the mention of Grandpa, but her voice didn't crack or waver.

"He told me to always look for the best in people. Even if they're the vilest creatures you could think of. He said everyone is like the moon, and they go through different phases in their lives. Some phases are good and bright, some better than most, some not so great, and some that are completely dark," she said, pointing to the etched moons on the ring.

"You'll find yourself in all those phases in your life, not once, not twice, but continuously. It's not these phases that are significant though. It's how you handle being in the good times and the darkest of times. That's what you can control."

I looked at the ring in newfound awe. It was not just a pretty piece of jewelry anymore, it held a lot of sentimental value to Gramma, and now it did to me as well.

"Sylvia is in a dark phase in her life and she refuses to let it go. Losing your mate can do very bad things to a person's mental state if they don't keep them in check, but losing her son," she shook her head slightly. "She couldn't cope the way most of us did."

"What was her son like?" I asked her. Gramma smiled at the mention of Sylvia's son.

"He wasn't too different from Valente, a little bit older though. He looked after Valente like an older brother would. He was a beautiful child, inside and out. Sylvia was a very proud mother, and she deserved to be too," Gramma said, sighing at the thought.

"I sympathize with her, but her behavior is getting out of hand now. I was trying to reason with her when you came downstairs. She isn't one to be swayed easily."

"Gramma. You and Sylvia were friends?" I asked her. Gramma's face darkened at the question.

She just nodded. It seemed she didn't like talking about this.

"I don't think Sylvia can do anything too drastic. She can hold grudges, and speaks her mind, but she is also sensible and intelligent. Her anger clouds her judgement sometimes, and her words can be like a dagger to your heart. But I've seen her smile and brighten up the room too, although that was a very long time ago. I'm hoping she still has that part of her hidden in there somewhere," Gramma said, sighing.

"The preparations for Valente to receive his title have already begun. In about a month from now, Valente will be Alpha and I'm sure he has a plan after that. How about you don't cross Sylvia's path till then?" Gramma suggested.

Valente did tell me about his plan to avenge Fathilagt against Sgriosaire once he would be Alpha. Perhaps it would be better if I could stay away from him till then.

"Oh you can try," said Ima, to which I rolled my eyes.

"Rayne, Sylvia can't do anything to keep apart those that are meant to be. No one can. You need to be patient," Gramma said.

I nodded my head in response.

The silence that followed was drastically cut by the grumbling sounds of my stomach because it can't stand not having breakfast just one hour later than usual.

Then it hit me.

"I just missed first period Gramma. But I don't feel like going to school now," I told her.

"It's all right my girl. I'll fix you up some breakfast," she said kindly, the way she always did, now getting up.

"I'll help," I said, following her to the kitchen.

Although I felt more hopeful after talking to Gramma, I still felt a little shaky on the inside. Surrounding myself with people who'd ask me why I missed first period was the last thing I wanted to do right now.

I'd rather go in tomorrow and say I felt under the weather.

Today, I wanted to be alone.

"But you won't see Valente at training then," Ima said to me.

"That's kinda the point Imadis," I told her.

Staying away from Valente was never difficult. He avoided me, and I avoided him. But now, just the thought of not seeing him made my heart clench, and I realized that keeping my distance would be a challenge on its own. Because I felt too much for him already.