The Silverwood Legacy

Chapter One: To a New Beginning

The car bumped along the country road, the tires crunching over gravel and dirt. Rowan sat in the back seat, her forehead pressed against the cool window. Outside, horses grazed lazily in a wide, open field, their manes fluttering in the breeze. She envied their freedom, their seemingly uncomplicated lives.

Her father drove in silence, eyes focused on the road ahead, but Rowan could see the tightness in his jaw, the way his hands gripped the steering wheel. She sighed, wishing for the hundredth time that they didn't have to move to this small, unfamiliar town.

"It's for the best, angel," her father had said, using the nickname that always made Rowan bristle outwardly. She had never liked being called "angel," but secretly, it gave her a sense of comfort and closeness to her father. It was a reminder of better times, when their family was whole.

But Rowan never understood why they had to leave after losing her mother and her twin brother. The memory of that night haunted her: the break-in, the blood, the screams. Her mother and brother, both lying lifeless, bruised, and bloody on the floor. The intruder had shouted something strange about "shifters" and "business," but her mother had refused to back down, and it had cost them their lives.

As the memory surfaced, Rowan felt a familiar tightness in her chest. Her mind transported her back to that fateful night. She was tied to a chair in the living room, her wrists bound tightly with rough rope. The fear was suffocating, her heart pounding so loudly she thought it might burst. The man, a shadowy figure in her fragmented memories, ranted about shifters, his eyes wild and desperate. Her mother, strong and defiant, stood between him and her brother, refusing to give in to his demands. Her brother, Ethan, just as defiant, had tried to shield their mother.

She could still hear the sound of the struggle, her mother's fierce resistance, and then the sickening thud as the man struck them down. The image of her twin brother's lifeless body, crumpled beside their mother, was seared into her mind. Rowan had screamed, struggled against her bonds, but it was too late. The man fled, leaving her tied up, surrounded by the aftermath of his violence.

A jolt from the car brought Rowan back to the present. She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself as if to ward off the lingering fear. She glanced at her father, who seemed lost in his own thoughts. They never spoke about what had happened, not really. He had shut down, becoming a shell of the man he once was. He blamed himself for being away on a business trip to Tokyo, Japan, when it happened. It had taken the police four weeks to find Rowan, and when her father had finally returned home, he found the house disheveled and empty, his family torn apart.

Moving away was supposed to be a fresh start, but Rowan wasn't sure how she could ever move on from such a traumatic past.

As they neared their new home, Rowan felt a knot of dread tighten in her stomach. The small cottage came into view, nestled at the edge of a dense forest. The cottage was charming, with ivy climbing up its stone walls and a thatched roof that looked like something out of a fairy tale. A small, wooden porch wrapped around the front, complete with a swing that creaked gently in the breeze. Colorful flower beds lined the walkway, bursting with vibrant blooms—daisies, marigolds, and lavender—that filled the air with a sweet, calming fragrance.

The yard was spacious, surrounded by a white picket fence that added to the cottage's quaint charm. A large oak tree stood in the front yard, its branches stretching wide to offer shade. Beneath it, a wooden bench invited visitors to sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. The backyard extended into the woods, promising adventures and secrets waiting to be discovered.

The car finally pulled to a stop in front of the cottage. Her father turned off the engine and sat quietly for a moment before speaking. "This is it, angel. Our new beginning."