As soon as we got closer to Crescent Moon, I instantly cautioned Nevaeh on the dos and the don'ts for when we get there.
"Nevaeh dear, we're about to arrive at another pack and while we are there, you must not call me mummy for any reason, do you understand?" I began.
"But why?" She questioned with big round eyes. Of course, she's just a little girl so there's no way she'll understand. I'll just have to find a way to explain it.
"Um…. Well, it's….. It's a new game I came up with. It's called pretend. And we're going to start playing the game as soon as we arrive at our destination. While we're there, you'll pretend to be someone else's daughter and I'll pretend like I'm not your mother in front of everybody else but when we're in the room, we won't play the game. You mustn't tell anyone about our game and no one should find out we are mother and daughter or else you'll lose the game. You want to win the game, right?" I asked, amazed at how quickly my brain had come up with that.
"Yes! I want to win, I love winning. I also like this game very much, we'll play pretend and no one will know. You'll see mummy, I'll win this game." Nevaeh said cheerfully and I smiled back at her.
Thank goodness, I already have her cooperation. That was actually much easier than I had anticipated. Now I just have to arrive there, find out the necessary things, maybe see my family again and be on my way. It's simple enough in my head, I just hope everything goes as planned.
Just then, we arrive at Crescent Moon and are welcomed at the border by the scouts when we show them the official letter from Alpha Richard.
We're quickly escorted to the Pack house by two of the scouts and I'm pleased to see that it's gotten much bigger than I remember. No matter what, it's good to see development in my place of birth.
We're directed into the pack house and I follow quietly, pretending like this is my first time here. The scouts we met don't seem to recognize me and I don't think I've seen them before as well. They must be new.
Well it's better that they are new because if they had recognized me, they might have created a fuss because I was banished from this pack after all and it would have taken a great deal of explaining to let them know that I'm only here on official business.
As the Alpha, Zephyr will at least be level headed enough to let me explain my purpose for being here.
We stop in front of a door which I quickly suspect to be the Pack meeting room or rather the throne room.
"Please wait here while we inform the Alpha that you've arrived." One of them instructed and I simply nodded.
They went into the room and while we were waiting outside, I thought to quickly remind Nevaeh of our little game because the moment of truth has finally arrived.
I stooped down a bit and whispered to her. "Nevie, my darling. We've arrived at the place so now it's time for our game to begin. Do you remember the rules?" I asked just to be sure.
"Yes mummy." She called and I frowned.
"Oops. I'm sorry, I forgot. But if I can't call you mummy, what should I call you then?" She questioned and I paused for a bit, I hadn't even thought of that. There's not much time for contemplation, I'll just have to figure that out later.
"We'll talk about it once we're in the room but for now, don't say anything." I said and she nodded. I'm just thankful that she's decided to be on her best behavior. It's quite funny though, she's in her father's pack and she has no idea. It's best to keep her away from Zephyr and all his madness, she doesn't need to know about a father that abandoned her even before she was conceived, especially when she already has a father who seems to love her even more than me.
"You'll have to stay here with the others while I go in and talk to somebody for a moment. Be good and don't cause any trouble or run off anywhere." I cautioned and she nodded.
"I'll be good, I promise." She said and I kissed her forehead. "That's my girl." I praised before standing up and just then, the door opened and one of the scouts came out.
"You may come in Miss but just you, since you're the envoy." The scout said and I nodded.
"Sure." I said before turning to Linda, one of the maids who had accompanied me here.
"Watch Nevaeh for a bit." I instructed and she asserted. "Yes, princess." She answered and I nearly facepalmed myself. Didn't she know she wasn't supposed to call me that while we were here? I can't tell why but I just don't want Zephyr to know about my personal life because once he finds out one concrete detail, it'll be easy to dig out the rest and I really don't want to risk it.
I had cautioned my daughter but had forgotten to do the same with the rest of my retinue. That would just have to wait.
I followed the scout into the room and as l slowly did, I could feel my heartbeat accelerating by the minute. I had been thinking about this moment for a while but now that it's finally here, I'm suddenly feeling so hesitant, my stomach is knotted up in tight notches, the adrenaline coursing through my veins and I can feel my face getting paler. I thought I had defeated this fear but apparently there's still a little bit of it within me and walking so slowly behind the scout isn't helping.
"Alpha, I present the envoy from the Kizmet pack before you." He announced before giving way for me and as I slowly walked to the front, I saw Zephyr's eyes widen like never before and his mouth was on the verge of dropping. His reaction didn't help me at all, I instantly assumed that it all sprung from his anger of having to see me again but no matter what, we'll just have to put our differences aside for now.
I had formerly thought of finally telling the truth of what happened six years ago and finally defending myself from all the accusations leveled upon me but now that I think about it, what's the use? He hadn't even made an effort to believe me or find out the truth in the past so what is the guarantee that he'll believe a word that I have to say now just because I can actually speak? It's not like I even have any evidence to prove my innocence, everything happened six years ago and it would just be impossible to redeem myself now, I just have to forget about it. As long as I know that I'm innocent and my true family believes me as well, it doesn't matter what others think. There's no use opening up old wounds, I should just focus on what I came here for and leave as soon as possible.