I studied the small key, turning it over in my hands. It was so tiny, there was no way it could be for a door; it looked more suitable for a little lock. The key was made of silver, and the rear end was fashioned into a cute cupcake shape. I wiped away my tears with the back of my hand, thinking how odd this all was. What on earth could this key open?

Hoping to find more clues, I unfolded the piece of paper I had discovered inside the hood. Immediately, I recognized my grandmother's handwriting. There were only three words written: "For the basket." I flipped the paper around, examining it again, utterly baffled. Just those three words. "For the basket?" I thought. What the hell did that mean? Was Grandma supposed to give me a basket? Did she ask me to come to the cabin so she could present it to me?

"Dammit, Grandma," I muttered under my breath, feeling frustrated and disappointed.

After a while, I decided it was time to put the mystery aside for now and continue on my journey. As I walked, my mind couldn't help but drift back to Silver – his intense yellow eyes, his strong arms, and the way he made my body feel alive. But he was a werewolf, and I was a Hood. He killed my father. We were never meant to be.

"Focus, Red," I scolded myself, trying to shake off thoughts of him. "You have a job to do."

As I resumed my journey, I clutched the silver key and the mysterious note tightly in my fist.

***

Three days of weary traveling later, I finally caught sight of the familiar Hoods Settlement in the distance. The sun was setting behind the trees, casting an orange glow over the wooden buildings and cobblestone paths. My legs felt like they would give out beneath me any second, my body aching from exhaustion. But at least I was almost home.

"Thank God," I whispered to myself as I trudged onward, my boots sinking into the muddy ground with each step. My stomach growled with hunger, and my eyelids felt heavy. Despite everything that had happened, I was grateful that I hadn't run into any werewolves on my way back. Perhaps luck was finally on my side.

When I reached the settlement's entrance, the guard barely glanced at me before letting me pass. It seemed that Adriano had done his part in covering for me, explaining that I'd gone hunting for the escaped silver werewolf. As I made my way through the streets, I noticed a few curious glances from the other Hoods, but no one stopped me to ask questions. They must've bought it, too.

"Red!" my mother called out as soon as I stepped through our front door. She rushed towards me, her face a mix of relief and anger. "Where have you been? How could you leave me alone while I'm mourning your grandmother?"

"Mom, I—" I started, but she cut me off.

"Adriano told us you went after that silver werewolf," she said, tears welling up in her eyes. "I thought I'd lost you, too."

"Mom, I'm sorry," I said softly, feeling guilty for putting her through so much worry. "I just… I need to rest. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"Promise me you'll never do something like that again," she said, her voice trembling. "Promise me you won't leave me."

"I promise, Mom" I whispered, knowing that telling her the truth about Silver and everything that happened to me would only make things worse. "I'm sorry."

We stared at each other for a moment before she finally sighed, pulling me into a tight embrace. "Just don't ever scare me like that again," she whispered in my ear.

"I won't," I promised, hugging her tightly.

 

I stripped off my clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over my body. It felt like a baptism, washing away the dirt and grime of the past few days, but also the memories of Silver that clung to me like a second skin.

As the water beat down on me, I tried to force thoughts of him from my mind. His strong arms wrapped around me, his scent that stirred something deep within me, the way he made me feel alive. But no matter how hard I scrubbed, I couldn't wash away the guilt that gnawed at me.

After what felt like hours, I finally shut off the water and wrapped myself in a towel. I glanced at myself in the mirror and hardly recognized the person staring back at me. It felt like everything I had experienced these past days had happened to a different person. I crawled into bed and slept for fourteen hours straight, desperate to forget and move on.

When I awoke the next day, I forced myself out of bed and dressed in fresh clothes. As I stepped outside, the sun warmed my face, and I took a deep breath of the crisp air. It felt good to be home, but there was an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach as if something wasn't quite right.

I followed the sound of voices and laughter, realizing the Hoods were crowding the settlement square. Curiosity piqued, I approached, weaving my way through the throngs of people. Hoods from all ranks stood at the front, their attention focused on Gabriel Woodsman, who spoke to them from a dais. The square was bustling with energy, the crowd hanging on his every word.

"Thank you all for your trust in me," Gabriel said, his voice carrying over the crowd. "Together, we will forge a new future for the Hoods and bring justice and peace to the world."

The crowd erupted into cheers and I watched him command their adoration with ease.

"Your support means the world to me," Gabriel continued, his voice commanding and full of passion. "As your new Patriarch, I promise to bring change and progress to the Hoods. We will grow stronger together, facing our enemies head-on, and securing a brighter future for generations to come!"

The crowd roared in approval, their enthusiasm infectious. Despite my emotional state, I couldn't help but be swept up in the energy of the moment. Part of me was proud of Gabriel's accomplishments – he had always been tenacious, and now he had the opportunity to make a real difference.

As the cheers died down, I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. Turning, I found Adriano standing next to me, a smile on his face. "You missed quite the event," he said, raising his eyebrows playfully.

"Seems so," I replied. "What exactly happened while I was gone?"

Adriano leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "The Hoods held an election. They chose a new leader, and well... you're looking at him." He gestured towards Gabriel with a nod of his head.

"I can't say I'm surprised," I said. "I mean, he was never shy about it."

"Indeed," Adriano agreed, a hint of reluctance in his tone. "He's not my favorite person, but I guess Beatrice trusted him enough. I delivered a letter from her to Gabriel before she passed away. I wonder if she gave him her blessing."

A pang of sadness struck me at the mention of my grandmother. I shook off the feeling, focusing on the present. "Well, if she did, then I trust her judgment. And honestly, Gabriel has worked hard for this. He deserves it."

"Perhaps you're right," Adriano conceded, offering a reassuring smile. "We'll just have to see how things unfold."

As I watched the crowd's adoration for Gabriel, a part of me couldn't help but feel hopeful for the future. Maybe he was what the Hoods needed – a strong, charismatic leader to guide us into a new era. And maybe, just maybe, I could find my own way to move forward and heal.

I stood at the edge of the square, watching the last of the crowd disperse. Thoughts of my grandmother swirled in my mind, a mixture of sadness and acceptance settling over me. I knew it was necessary for the Hoods to move on, for all of us to move on, but it still stung, like she would eventually be forgotten.

I considered approaching Gabriel to congratulate him, but honestly, I was just too tired. The thought of making small talk and feigning excitement felt like an insurmountable task. Instead, I turned away from the square and headed towards home.

As I stepped into the house, I noticed my mom's jacket was missing. She must've gone out, probably to attend some gathering or get food. I welcomed the solitude, needing time to process everything that had happened.

An hour or so passed as I sat alone in the living room, lost in my thoughts. When I heard the door creak open, I assumed it was either my mom or Adriano. Did I forget the lock? But when I turned around, I found Gabriel standing there instead.

"Red," he said, his familiar smile spreading across his face. "I'm sorry I didn't come to see you sooner. I've been busy since being elected the new Patriarch."

"Congratulations, Gabriel," I replied, offering a genuine smile despite my weariness. "You deserve it."

"Thanks, Red." He looked relieved and proud at the same time. "Can I come in?"

"Of course." I stepped aside, inviting him into our home. "Would you like some tea?"

"Tea would be great, thank you," he answered, following me into the kitchen.

As I prepared the tea, I couldn't help but notice how comfortable Gabriel seemed in our home. It was as if he'd always belonged here, filling the space with his presence.

I handed Gabriel his cup of tea, and we settled into the living room. The warmth of the tea and the soft glow of the lamps created a comforting atmosphere. It felt nice to be home and have someone with me who cared.

"So, how did your search for the silver werewolf go?" Gabriel asked, concern etched on his face.

I sighed, recounting my fabricated tale of chasing the elusive creature, leaving out any mention of the true events. "It was a wild goose chase. I couldn't find him," I lied.

"Red, I'm so sorry I wasn't there to help you," Gabriel said sincerely, reaching across the small table to touch my hand. His eyes sparkled with determination. "I promise I won't let that monster hurt anyone again. You don't have to go after him alone or put yourself in danger."

His touch sent a tingling warmth through my fingers and up my arm. A blush crept up my cheeks as my heart fluttered. I hadn't expected this connection with Gabriel, but it felt reassuring.

"Thank you, Gabriel," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "That means a lot."

"Red, I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you," he confessed, his gaze never leaving mine. His words struck a chord within me, and all the emotions from the recent events bubbled to the surface.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and before I could stop them, they spilled down my cheeks. Gabriel instantly moved to my side, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close. I leaned into his embrace, feeling safe and protected.

"Shh, it's okay," he murmured, gently stroking my hair. And then, without warning, he pressed his lips to mine.

At first, the sensation was strange and unexpected. My mind raced with thoughts of how different his kiss felt compared to Silver's. As much as I wanted to forget him, his memory lingered in the back of my mind. But I forced myself to focus on Gabriel. I kissed him back, exploring the new sensations and allowing them to wash away the pain of my past experience with Silver.

Our kisses grew hungrier, more insistent, as I felt Gabriel's hands fumbling with the buttons of my blouse. My own fingers worked at the hem of his shirt, eager to feel the heat of his skin against mine. It wasn't long before we were both half-undressed and breathless.

"Let's... let's go to my room," I whispered, pulling away just far enough to guide him by his hand. We stumbled through the doorway, a tangled mess of limbs and discarded clothing. The moment we reached the bed, Gabriel scooped me up and laid me down gently, hovering above me with a predatory intensity.

As he entered me, it was clear that gentleness was not his strong suit. He thrust into me with enthusiasm, each movement powerful and determined. It was a stark contrast to Silver's selfless touch, but I forced those thoughts from my mind. This was about forgetting him, about finding solace in the arms of another man.

I reached between my legs, my fingers dancing over my clit as Gabriel continued to pound into me. Pleasure spiraled through me, building with each stroke until my body trembled on the edge of release.

"Red," Gabriel panted, his voice strained with effort. "You're incredible."

"Gabriel," I gasped, feeling the heat rising within me, "don't stop." It was all I could do to hold onto the fragile thread of pleasure, even as my heart ached with the memory of Silver's gentle embrace.

Finally, sweet oblivion claimed me, and I cried out as waves of ecstasy washed over me. Gabriel soon followed, collapsing onto the bed beside me, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.

For a brief moment, I reveled in the afterglow, the emptiness of my thoughts soothing the turmoil within me. But it wasn't meant to last.

"Red," Gabriel whispered, his voice soft and tentative, "I want to ask you something. Will you... will you marry me?"

His words caught me off guard, leaving me breathless for an entirely different reason. A thousand thoughts swirled through my mind, each more confusing than the last.

"Gabriel, I—" I hesitated, unsure of what to say.

"Listen," he interrupted, his eyes searching mine earnestly. "If you don't want this, I won't ask again. I'll leave you be. But I want to make you happy, Red. I want us to rule together over the Hoods."

To my own surprise, I found myself nodding, a quiet "Yes" slipping past my lips before I could fully process the decision. It wasn't enthusiastic, but it was enough to bring a smile to Gabriel's face.

"Thank you, Red," he murmured, pressing a tender kiss to my forehead. "I promise, I'll make you happy."

As we lay there, wrapped in each other's arms, I tried to believe him. I clung to the hope that maybe, just maybe, this could be the answer to the heartache I couldn't seem to escape.