Ava Galliano: The Last Dark Queen

The Mind Walker

Three weeks had passed since Isa arrived at the Northward Pack’s territory, three weeks of endless, mind-numbing tasks. Cooking, cleaning, picking weeds—tasks that felt so insignificant compared to the life she once led. Back when she was with Marcus, she'd held a higher position, the temporary Luna of their pack. She'd been treated with respect, given responsibilities that mattered. But here, she was just a runner, relegated to tasks that didn’t even require much thought. The feeling of worthlessness gnawed at her, even though she tried to bury it.

The first night, Isa had been put on cooking duty, and she nearly set the entire house on fire. She'd been removed from that job quickly, but the oddest thing was that no one seemed to mind. They were all so laid-back, so willing to let her flounder through this strange life she’d stumbled into.

Now, most of the time, Isa found herself outside, sitting on a bench at the back of the house, staring out at the sprawling field that surrounded the property. The view was wide and open, offering a peace she could almost grasp, but she never felt truly comfortable here. Not yet.

She had been given an unusual task: guard duty. But when she had foolishly pointed out that the left flank seemed unprotected, Lissa had thrown the task at her, laughing as she did. Isa had no idea how vast the field actually was. One day, she decided to run the perimeter, only to realize she’d barely covered half of it by the time night fell.

“I put you on guard duty, not garden duty,” Lissa’s voice broke through Isa’s thoughts.

Looking down at her hands, Isa noticed the dirt, the weeds she'd inadvertently picked from the ground. She hadn’t even realized she was doing it.

“Well,” Isa said, shrugging, “I only suggested the left flank because I thought it was a weak spot. I didn’t realize how big this field actually was.”

“Who sent you?” Lissa’s voice was sharp now, her eyes narrowing as she took in Isa’s casual demeanor.

“Dunno. Never do,” Isa replied nonchalantly, dusting herself off as she got up from the bench.

Lissa eyed her closely. “You’ve been sent on missions before from the Fourth Division?”

Isa nodded. “My pack was united with the Fourth Division, so any mission that needed to be done, our pack did. Dad thought it would be good for me to prove I could follow orders.”

Lissa’s eyes softened a little, but she didn’t comment on it. Instead, she moved closer, the day’s warm sun casting a soft light over the two of them.

“What was your family like, if you don’t mind me asking?” Lissa asked, her voice more subdued now.

Isa hesitated for a moment, the memories of her parents—her real parents—floating to the surface. “My mum and dad were... freelance hippies. Not exactly what you’d expect from a wolf pack, but that’s what they were. When the pack was handed to me, my father lost faith in me. He found out I didn’t have a mate, and he got worse when he learned that mine had rejected me a long time ago. He died without getting the chance to say sorry.”

Lissa’s expression softened, pity shining in her eyes. Isa hated the look. It always reminded her of how others saw her as fragile, a broken thing. But she said nothing. Instead, she just shrugged.

“You should be grateful for having the pleasure of finding your mate and being able to move on when you were rejected,” Lissa said, her tone almost wistful. “Few wolves these days barely survive rejection. James is mine, but I didn’t realize it until later. We had a rough start.”

Isa raised an eyebrow. “I’m surprised your wolf was strong enough to bond like that.”

“So was I,” Lissa said with a half-smile, a quiet understanding between them. “Can you change?”

“Only once every ten years,” Isa said, her voice low. “I changed last year. What about you?”

Lissa shook her head. “I almost forgot how. It’s been years since I shifted.”

The silence between them lingered for a while, both of them lost in their own thoughts.

Later that day, the sky began to change, the clouds painted in hues of orange and pink as the sun rose, casting a soft glow over the land. Isa, being a day-walking vampire, found herself appreciating the beauty of the sunrise more than most would. Vampires rarely got to see the day’s first light, but it was something Isa could enjoy—one of the few perks she had left.

She had been out in the field all night again, despite Lissa’s insistence that she didn’t need to keep watch. Isa didn’t know why, but she had this gut feeling that something was coming their way. Something bad.

The smell of bacon finally drew her inside, though, and she reluctantly left her post to join the rest of the pack at the dining table. The warm, savory scent of breakfast felt oddly comforting. Isa ate in silence, her mind still racing with thoughts of her mission, of the Fourth Division, and of the strange role she now found herself in. No one at the table stood out to her. She was told to watch for the Fourth Division’s daughter, but no one here looked familiar, no one triggered any memory.

Sighing, Isa returned to the kitchen with her empty plate, the soft hum of conversation from the pack surrounding her. She couldn’t quite shake the sense that she didn’t belong here, that she was an outsider trying to fit into a world she didn’t understand.

“You should rest. I can finish this up,” Bonnie’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

Isa looked up from the sink, where she’d been absentmindedly cleaning the dishes, and saw Bonnie’s frown. The girl had been hovering around her for days, constantly worried about Isa’s lack of sleep and her refusal to rest.

“It’s alright,” Isa said, forcing a smile. “The longest I’ve gone without sleep was three months. An extra day won’t kill me.”

Bonnie didn’t seem convinced, though, and when Isa started drying the last of the dishes, the girl took the towel from her hands and nudged her out the door. Isa chuckled lightly, feeling oddly grateful for Bonnie’s insistence. It felt good to have someone care for her, even if it was just in small, everyday gestures. She hadn’t had that in a long time.

Sitting back on the bench outside, Isa breathed in the fresh air, allowing herself a moment to just exist.

“You really shouldn’t sneak up on people,” Isa muttered under her breath, her senses alerting her to someone’s presence before they even spoke. “One day, you’ll sneak up on the wrong person, and they’ll kill you.”

“I apologise,” came a small, shy voice.

Isa turned to see a girl standing at the back door, watching her with an intensity that felt unsettlingly familiar. The girl was small, barely older than a teenager, but there was something about her that made Isa’s heart skip a beat.

“What do you want?” Isa asked, her eyes narrowing as she studied the girl.

The girl stepped closer, a faint but knowing smile on her lips. “My name is Reagan. I work downstairs.”

A jolt ran through Isa, and in an instant, the realization hit her. Reagan. Reagan Taylor—the mind walker. The only daughter of High Queen Renne Taylor.

Reagan's presence clicked in Isa's mind like a missing piece falling into place. She had felt something about the girl, something she couldn’t quite place, but now everything rushed to the forefront of Isa’s mind.

“Why aren’t you in the safety of the council?” Isa asked, her voice quiet but urgent.

Reagan’s smile faded slightly as she looked Isa in the eye. “I may look like a child, but it’s been a long time since we last spoke to each other, your grace.”

Isa’s blood ran cold as she processed the weight of those words. The Fourth Division was closer than she realized. And Reagan—Reagan had been sent here for a reason.