Chapter 25: First Snow (Alice’s POV)
730 Words
The porch creaked softly beneath my rocking chair as I swayed back and forth, watching the sunset behind the trees.
I didn’t remember ever feeling this... calm before.
For so long, every breath I took at Silvermoon Pack felt like it might be my last. I had always been waiting for the next slap, the next cruel word, the next order barked at me like I was nothing.
But here at Crescent Moon, the world felt slower. Softer.
I pulled my knees up against my chest, resting my chin on them. Remi hadn’t said much after we came back outside, but somehow, I didn’t mind. His presence was steady, and solid, like an anchor holding me in place.
*"He’s good,"* Winter whispered in my mind, her voice a soft hum. *"We can trust him."*
I hugged my knees tighter.
I wanted to believe that. I really did.
A cool breeze drifted through the clearing, carrying the sharp, crisp scent of winter. I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself.
"You cold?" Remi’s voice rumbled low beside me.
I was startled, blinking at him. I hadn’t realized he’d been watching me.
"I’m okay," I said quickly.
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t push. Instead, he stood and disappeared inside the house.
For a brief, stupid moment, panic rose in my throat. *Was he leaving? Had I done something wrong?*
Before I could spiral further, he returned, carrying a thick, worn blanket. Without a word, he draped it gently over my shoulders.
The warmth and the simple kindness nearly broke me.
"Thank you," I whispered, clutching the blanket tighter around me.
He just nodded and sat back down, resuming his slow, easy rocking.
We sat like that until the sky turned dark and the stars blinked awake, scattered like diamonds across black velvet.
Then, something cold and wet landed on my nose.
I gasped, startled, looking up.
Tiny, delicate snowflakes floated down from the sky, twirling and spinning in the breeze.
"It’s snowing," I breathed.
Remi chuckled softly. "First snow of the season."
I watched, mesmerized, as the world slowly transformed. The ground, the trees, the rooftops — all dusted with white, like a fairy tale.
I stood up without thinking, stepping off the porch into the falling snow.
The flakes clung to my hair, my eyelashes, my clothes. I tilted my head back and let them kiss my cheeks, feeling their icy touch melt against my skin.
Behind me, I heard Remi’s chair creak again as he stood.
"You like the snow?" he asked.
I turned to look at him, smiling shyly.
"I’ve never really seen it before," I admitted. "Silvermoon never let me outside much during winter. Said I was too weak and useless."
Remi’s jaw tightened, but he kept his voice steady.
"They were wrong," he said simply.
I blinked fast, trying to shove back the sudden burn of tears.
Winter rumbled comfortingly in my mind. *"You’re strong. You’re free now."*
I stepped further into the clearing, arms spread wide, spinning slowly under the falling snow.
For the first time in as long as I could remember, I felt... light.
Whole.
Alive.
I heard Remi’s quiet laughter and turned to see him watching me with an expression so soft it made my chest ache.
"You gonna dance all night?" he teased.
I flushed but grinned back at him.
"Maybe."
He smiled — a real one, not the guarded, polite ones he usually wore — and my heart fluttered wildly in my chest.
"You deserve to be happy, Alice," he said quietly, almost like he wasn’t sure he should say it aloud.
I looked at him, snow dusting his dark hair, the porch light catching in his deep brown eyes, and for a moment, I almost believed it.
Maybe, just maybe, I deserved this.
Deserved friends.
Deserved to laugh.
Deserved to live.
I wrapped the blanket tighter around myself and beamed at him.
"I think... I think I want to try," I said, my voice shaking but sure.
His smile widened, and something unspoken passed between us — a silent vow.
*I’ll help you,* it said. *I’ll stand by you.*
And for the first time, the future didn’t seem like a dark, endless tunnel.
It looked like fresh snow under a starry sky.
Wide open. Full of possibilities.
And I was ready to run straight into it.
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- Writer
