Chapter Two: Nyssa

 

E ven if Nyssa had changed, Gray Creek hadn’t. Well it had slightly, but it still felt the same.

Situated in the middle of the western half of the Oldwood, Gray Creek was surrounded on all sides by the tall, thick trees and misty, cool air that peppered the entire western half. Wooden homes and structures were erected between the trees and around them, with the whole of Gray Creek expanding thanks to the influx of cat shifters who wanted to try living away from Red Rock. A single, gigantic pond marked the dead center of Gray Creek, and as Nyssa and Lowell passed under the great arch that signaled the main entrance, she couldn’t help but stare at the pond. That was were Darius had dealt the killing blow to her father.

She could still picture that day, when the pond ran red with her father’s blood. It had left her numb, and her father’s dying breaths poked holes in her heart. Even now Nyssa felt the blood rush from her face, her body running cold like the howling wind that blew strands of her hair into her face.

“You okay?” Lowell asked as they came to a stop beside the pond. “You look pale. Did you step on a poison plant while we were running home?”

Nyssa shook her head. “No... I’m fine. Just remembering the past, is all.”

Lowell grunted. “You mean when the previous Alpha was killed? I remember that day. I was hiding somewhere at the back of the crowds, watching Ulrick stumble forward, and that Darius...not even showing an ounce of fear.” He crossed his arms, stepping closer to Nyssa. “I don’t blame you for hating the guy; I would too if he offed my father.”

Nyssa shot him an angry look. “I don’t hate Darius, Lowell. He was right, he saved us! My father was blind and pig-headed. he would have doomed us to either pointless deaths or to being slaves to Orpheus.”

Lowell had to do a double-take, clearly shocked that he’d said the wrong thing. “I didn’t mean to say that…”

“Sure you didn’t.”

The two remained silent for a while, simply standing by the pond and staring across its diameter, listening to the bustling crowd all around them. Lowell shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, running a hand through his dark tawny hair.

“Don’t you think it’s weird to see so many cat shifters around here though?” He asked nonchalantly, prodding Nyssa to keep talking. “I mean, it’s only been a couple of years, and yet it’s almost feels like cat shifters have always been around, mingling with us and acting like we’re all buddies now.”

Nyssa eyed him suspiciously. “You don’t like cat shifters, I take it?”

“I don’t have any reason to. My parents fought during the Pack and Pride war, but they both survived. I just think it’s...strange. Feels weird. Gives me an itch that I just can’t seem to get rid of.”

Nyssa understood what he was saying. Most of it anyway. It did feel weird to see how naturally shifters from the Pride moved into Gray Creek. Glancing around, Nyssa spied a number of cat shifters and wolf shifters talking and walking amongst each other, trading at wooden stands and helping each other build new homes for new shifters who came from Red Rock. This exchange was part of the peace deal that Darius and the Pride’s Alpha came up with, a way to really see both races as a single, friendly entity. She knew at this very moment there were wolf shifters living at Red Rock too; she couldn’t well imagine what it was like for them as she’d never been past the border river before.

But at the end of the day, Nyssa knew coexisting had been the right idea, and Darius’ courage to stand up for this exchange only made Nyssa fall even harder for him, no matter how out of reach he was becoming.

“Speak of the devil…” Lowell said, causing her to look in the direction of a group of shifters carrying large logs from freshly cut down pine trees. Two familiar figures stopped the shifters to talk, big smiles on their faces. Nyssa caught her breath, her heart picking up the pace as her gaze rested on the Pack’s Alpha and his mate.

Darius...gray-haired, tall and muscular, he stood tall amongst the other shifters, his voice booming naturally through the main hub of Gray Creek. His bold, vibrant eyes matched with his body language, open and welcoming to anyway who would approach him. Next to him stood the radiant Amara, his mate and cat leader of the Pack, the first in their history. With her platinum blonde hair and beautiful green eyes, and amazing, sleek figure, she was undeniably gorgeous, and her smile infectious. The duo made a striking impression upon everyone they stopped, with a few shifters even stopping to worship them. Everyone loved them both; they both deserved it for saving them all.

Myriad emotions began to stir inside at the sight of them both walking through their home. These days Nyssa didn’t get much opportunity to speak with Darius because of his new status. He and Amara were always out and about, helping the community, disbanding scuffles and just making Gray Creek better. And when they weren’t working to make Gray Creek a better place to live, they were off on their own. The closest Nyssa had gotten to speak to Darius alone was when her brother invited her to a run with Darius, just the three of them like old times. That was months ago. Now even her brother was incredibly busy, creating packs to go on patrol and rarely arriving home before the sun rose every morning.

It was all enough to make Nyssa brood like Darius once did every day.

“Look at them,” Lowell began, his envy clearly edging his tone. “Walking around in broad daylight, showing off to the rest of us, as if we didn’t know they were mates, or that Darius was the Alpha.”

Nyssa couldn’t help but snicker. “Jealous much?”

He winked at her. “Maybe a tad. Could you imagine if I was the Alpha, though? I’d be able to show off my amazing muscles all the time.” Flexing to prove his point, a few women walking by eyed him hungrily. Nyssa rolled her eyes once again at her friend, his charm getting through to her core.

“Nyssa!” A familiar, friendly voice called from across the way.

Nyssa froze, her gaze locking on Darius. He was looking straight through her...no, straight at her! His steely eyes washed over her, making her tremble slightly, and she clammed up as he and Amara walked over to them both. Lowell clicked his tongue under his breath as they came to a stop, and so Nyssa elbowed him, causing her friend to jerk to the side.

“Ah!” He nearly shouted. “Nyssa, what was that for?”

Nyssa put her hands on her hips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

As Lowell muttered something under his breath, Darius chuckled. “I knew it was you. Just as lively as ever, are we?” His voice was like a fine ale hitting the back of her throat and sizzling inside her. That feeling led to more thoughts about Darius and her, alone, doing things that weren’t quite acceptable at the moment. It took Darius voice to bring her back out of her daydream. “So, how are you doing, Nyssa? I know I haven’t been able to see you or Remus as much as I’d like...”

Nyssa quickly shook her head. “No, no, it’s all good! I know how busy you two are…” She gazed at Amara who stayed silent and smiling beside Darius. “I’m fine, and so is Remus.”

“I’m fine too, you know,” Lowell interjected. “Don’t forget about me, the love of your life, Nyssa.”

Nyssa punched Lowell in the shoulder. “You aren’t the love of my life, Lowell.”

Both Darius and Amara chuckled as they two of them argued like a mated couple. “You two sure have a good chemistry,” Amara commented. “You sure you’re not together?”

The comment pained her, but Nyssa vehemently denied it. “No, we’re definitely not. I’m not ready to settle down just yet.”

Darius clasped her on the shoulder, making her mind whirl. The strength of his touch made her body shake and heat up, and she was sure her cheeks were aflame. If Darius noticed, he didn’t show any signs, and instead his grip tightened. “Well, I’m just glad to see you. You two should come by our home sometime, maybe for supper. Bring Remus if you ever have the time. Stop by whenever, okay?”

Nyssa nodded out of a mix of obedience to her Alpha and her inability to speak plainly to the man she was in love with. Darius and Amara began to walk past them. “Well, see you guys!” Amara said.

“Ah, wait!” Lowell said, causing the two to stop dead in their tracks.

“Something wrong?” Darius called.

“Yeah, um, we found another Changeling in the woods. We tried to chase it, but it got away from us,” Lowell explained. “Wiggled into this small hole in the ground, leading somewhere neither of us could follow. We came back to report it.”

Darius nodded, as if Lowell’s report was commonplace. “Go talk to Remus. He’s the the one always off searching for those things. He should be at the western edge of the forest, rounding up volunteers to comb through the Oldwood. You could probably still catch him if you run over now. Is there anything else?”

Lowell faltered. “Ah, no…”, he glanced to Nyssa, who looked at the ground. “We’re good, I guess.”

“Alright, well see you guys around.” Darius turned to Amara, “Come on, let’s go.”

Nyssa watched sullenly as Darius and Amara strolled away, shouting and speaking to other shifters as they walked. It was like Nyssa was just another of Darius’ rounds. She understood why it would feel like that, but at the same time it still hurt. Lowell eyed her.

“You okay?” He asked. “You can just hang out while I go to inform Remus of the Changeling.”

She shook her head, sighing. “No, if I stay here, I think I’ll just go crazy. I need to do something to get my mind out of the gutter. Come on, let’s go together. Maybe we can help Remus with his hunt.”

Lowell smiled, his cheery appearance brightening Nyssa’s mood. He began to jog away. “Alright, then let’s go already! Come on, come on, hurry it up! You heard the Alpha, we don’t have all day!”

Nyssa smiled weakly and ran after him, her mind like a whirlpool, only able to recall memories of her and Darius together. The pain of watching Darius walk away from her began to dwindle a bit, though, as she chased after her friend.