*Daphne*
The morning sun shone brightly on the quaint new schoolhouse, but lingering shadows still clung to my mind. Though Jax and his drifter band had moved on days ago, unanswered questions continued to nag at me.
Who exactly was that desperate young mother with the pup, and what was her prior relationship with Rion? His vague explanation left me unsatisfied, though I tried to ignore the unease twisting in my gut. There were more pressing matters today.
I plastered on an enthusiastic smile as we joined the crowd gathered for the grand opening–the first day of school. Applause rang out as we took the stage, and praise heaped upon Rion and me for spearheading this project. I waved away the accolades; it had been a pack-wide labor of love.
As I gazed out at the sea of hopeful faces, my anxieties temporarily receded. This school represented a bright new chapter for the next generation. I would not allow shadows from Rion's mysterious past to taint that.
