Emma sat quietly beside him beneath the open sky of the territory park. The gentle wind moved through the grass like a whisper from the Moon Goddess herself, yet Emma's thoughts were far from peaceful. His earlier words still echoed inside her mind, stirring emotions she had never learned how to name.
"Well, I'm Oliver. And you?"
"E… E…" The name lingered on her tongue, but she swallowed it back—she couldn't trust him enough to let him hear it.
"My little she-wolf wears my mother's Luna corsets because she cannot wait to claim one for herself. I believe you are growing into a powerful she-wolf, and I do not understand why you should feel ashamed of it," Oliver repeated calmly.
Emma stared at him, stunned by how easily he spoke about something that embarrassed her so deeply.
"Brooklyn…" Emma murmured under her breath as realization struck her.
"What do you mean?" Oliver asked, tilting his head slightly as he watched her.
Emma leaned forward, her voice tense.
"Did you meet any she-wolf here last Saturday?" she asked.
Oliver remained quiet for a moment, his gaze steady on her face.
"I told her to keep silent? Did she talk to you," Emma insisted, her voice rising.
"Yes, she did," Oliver answered.
"What did she tell you about me?" Emma demanded.
"She said she was worried about you," Oliver replied calmly.
"Oh my Moon Goddess! Did she know who you were?" Emma asked anxiously.
"No, she did not know at first, but I told her. I believe she is a loyal moonally. She worries deeply about her moonally," Oliver said.
"That is not enough reason for her to reveal my secrets to a stranger! I believe she talks too much and cannot keep secrets. I will never forgive her for that," Emma said angrily.
"She did not reveal your secrets to me. I was the one who revealed my own truths to her, and she protected them from you. I believe she is a rare, loyal moonally… a true confidant," Oliver said gently.
Emma froze.
"She… oh my Moon Goddess…" she whispered.
"Emma, I want you to listen to me," Oliver continued softly.
"She even told you my name?" Emma asked angrily as she stood up.
Oliver glanced at the book Emma had dropped on the grass and then looked back at her.
Emma sighed and sat down again.
"We all face trials at certain moments in our lives. I believe those trials exist for one purpose—to stop our growth. Loyal moonally help us see clearly and give us the courage to rise stronger. I invited her here today, and I hope she comes," Oliver said calmly.
"Why did you invite her?" Emma whimpered after a moment. "She rarely leaves her den on Saturdays."
"I want us to form a small pack bond. I want us to become moonallies who share truth with one another," Oliver replied.
"I believe she talks too much and she—"
"I think you are making the same mistake you accuse her of," Oliver said with a gentle smile.
Emma looked away in embarrassment.
Just then Emma noticed Brooklyn running toward them from across the park.
Her steps slowed as she got closer, clearly unsure of Emma's reaction.
"Hello, Brooklyn," Oliver greeted.
"Hello… Oliver," Brooklyn replied cautiously while glancing at Emma.
Emma stretched out her hand.
Brooklyn ignored the handshake and pulled Emma into a tight hug instead.
Both she-wolves tumbled onto the grass laughing.
"Emma, I was terrified!" Brooklyn said with a relieved grin.
"I know you hate leaving your den on Saturdays. I thank you for coming," Emma replied warmly.
"How did you know he was the Soulcrafter?" Emma asked softly.
"I saw him creating a beautiful sketch when I arrived," Brooklyn replied.
"You did not even try to whisper a word to me," Emma said.
"Emma, I was worried about you. I could not sleep after that day at the academy. My mother noticed I was not myself. I needed someone to talk to," Brooklyn admitted.
"Yes, but he was a stranger!" Emma insisted.
"Trust me, he is not. He is someone we have heard about but never truly seen before," Brooklyn replied.
"Do you ever admit when you're wrong?" Emma asked quietly as both she-wolves looked toward Oliver.
Oliver calmly unzipped his backpack.
He removed a small white cloth that looked brand new.
Emma and Brooklyn continued talking while secretly watching him.
Oliver placed brown bread on the cloth and took out a small knife.
"Come closer. I think we should eat," he said.
Emma and Brooklyn moved closer.
"This is banana bread mixed with peanuts.
My pack cook prepared this specially for us."Oliver said as he cut the bread.
He also removed a bottle of pineapple-ginger drink and three cups.
Soon they were eating together.
Their new packmate proved incredibly intelligent.
Every difficult question the she-wolves asked was answered correctly.
Emma secretly began to admire him.
"Have you ever visited the Springfield Territory?" Emma asked.
"No, I have not," Oliver replied.
"Would you like to go there?" Emma asked.
"Yes, I would," Oliver answered.
Silence settled between them.
"I was an outcast," Emma finally said quietly.
She looked at Oliver, who did not appear surprised.
"Something happened between my blood parents and my adoptive parents. They owed them something. My adoptive father wants repayment. Because of that he plans to send me to Springfield Territory to live with one of his sisters," Emma explained.
"What would you be sent there to do?" Oliver asked, frowning.
"They want me to start entertaining wolves for money." Emma answered softly.
"What?!" Oliver and Brooklyn shouted together.
"He first wanted me to work on her rice fields and repay every coin he spent raising me, but the she-wolf believes entertaining wolves would bring faster money," Emma said bitterly.
"Emma!" Brooklyn cried.
Oliver raised his hand slightly to calm her.
"I believe he did not truly mean that. Did he?" Oliver asked, anger hidden beneath his calm voice.
"Yes, he meant it. He even took me there one winter ago, but she rejected me because my chest had not grown," Emma said.
"Oh my Moon Goddess!" Brooklyn cried as tears filled her eyes.
Emma's own tears followed.
Oliver gently pulled Emma into his arms.
She clung to him and sobbed uncontrollably.
"He plans to send me there when I turn fourteen winters old," Emma whispered.
"I will never allow that to happen. I promise I will stop him," Oliver said firmly.
"He warned her not to tell anyone," Brooklyn added quietly.
"When will he take you there?" Oliver asked.
"Next September. I do not know the exact day," Emma replied.
"I will create a plan to protect you without letting your father know you spoke to anyone. You must trust me and continue sharing information with me. Trust your moonally as well," Oliver said.
Emma nodded slowly.
"Do you know the location of the territory you visited?" Oliver asked.
"No, but the she-wolf is famous there. Her name is Mrs. Nazar," Emma said.
Oliver quickly wrote the name down.
"Can you describe her den?" Oliver asked.
"She owns a large den with a modern yard, a huge courtyard, and about fifteen love pack house. There is also a large guard den at the entrance," Emma said.
Oliver sketched the place quickly.
The drawing looked almost identical to Emma's memory.
"Thank you, Emma," Oliver said gently. "Because your father uses your education as an excuse, I will introduce you to a pack scholarship program. I will arrange a safe den and cover every expense."
Emma stayed silent.
Oliver was only fifteen. She doubted he could truly fulfill such promises.
"I beg you not to reveal anything I told you today. If my father discovers it, I will never see my blood parents again," Emma pleaded.
"He would not show you your blood parents anyway. You will likely find her yourself when you grow older. He is taking advantage of your age. Do not worry. I will handle this peacefully," Oliver assured her.
For the first time since hearing her father's terrible plan, Emma felt safe.
Her fear slowly began to fade.
She rested against Oliver's chest for a long time, feeling peace she had never known.
"Emma, I think I should return to my den," Brooklyn said quietly.
"Please cheer up. Your secret is safe with me," Oliver said.
"I believe that," Brooklyn replied before leaving.
Silence settled between Emma and Oliver.
"Your little she-wolf would probably feel shy if she saw the real thing," Emma joked suddenly.
"I doubt that. She already stuffs folded clothes in her shirt, claiming she has them," Oliver replied.
Both of them burst into laughter.
"How do you handle teasing from the he- wolves at the academy?" Oliver asked.
"Our academy uniform hides most of it. I rarely go to class without my winter jumpers," Emma replied.
"After physical training we usually shower together."
"Do the she-wolves in your academy do that?" Oliver asked.
"Yes, but I avoid it," Emma said.
"I guess your mother never noticed those small buds growing," Oliver teased.
Emma threw her book at him.
He dodged and laughed.
"She did not notice," Emma admitted.
"Would you pose for another drawing?" Oliver asked.
"Yes, I would," Emma replied.
Oliver smiled and began drawing again.
Emma noticed she was no longer ashamed of her body.
Talking with Oliver felt safe.
He seemed like a place where she could finally release the emotions she had carried alone.
After the drawing they lay on their stomachs talking for a long time.
Emma told him more about her life.
"One day I will visit your pack's valley and sketch its beautiful landscape," Oliver said while looking at the distant hills.
Emma smiled nervously.
"That pack looks frightening," Emma said.
"I enjoy exploring dangerous places. Adventure makes life exciting," Oliver replied.
"Would you go there with me?" Oliver asked.
"No, I would not. I am afraid of wild beasts," Emma said.
"Come with me. I will protect you," Oliver said confidently.
"Can I truly trust that?" Emma asked.
Oliver nodded.
"When will we go?" Emma asked.
"Next Saturday," Oliver replied.
"Alright," Emma agreed.
Later that day Oliver walked with Emma until she pointed toward the den where she lived.
He smiled quietly, crossed the road, and boarded a bus.
Emma remained there watching until the bus disappeared down the road.
Only then did she turn and walk toward her den, her heart strangely lighter than it had been in a very long time.