04

« Come, » she links my arm with hers and leads me down a hall, then unexpectedly, to a room upstairs. The room is at the end of the long hallway, guarded by two large doors. She pushes one open and pulls me in gently, and I do not plan on fighting her. My head spins when I enter the dark room, as his scent is everywhere, everything seems to hold it. In the center of it all is a bed, a bed with silky sheets peeking out from the side. My face flushes all possible shades of red. I tear my eyes away, and they land on a doorway which connects a bathroom. Marina is inside, folding fluffy, white towels and resting them on the edge of the substantial tub. Beside the bathtub is a modern, dark brown tiled shower. Everything is dark.

« I’ll leave you to shower, and I’ll grab some clothes from Fiona. They will be on the bed when you are done. » Before leaving, she smiles again, almost excitedly. I nervously smile back.

I hear the door shut and I know I am alone.

Surely she cannot expect me to shower in a bathroom that does not belong to me, or anyone I know. This is all so bizarre, but knowing my mate is down the steps, so close, makes me feel less uncomfortable. He said I could go home, he said it to my face, but the bond between us has blinded me.

Maybe he meant after I get cleaned up ? Oh gosh, I just want to be at home in my own bed, wrapped up like an infant. This has been the most insane, most unbelievable day of my life. Why did the creek possess me, as if it grabbed onto my feet and used me like a puppet ? He is why I felt so attached to the idea of crossing, and I know that now, but look where the action has gotten me. I have found my mate.

Hesitantly, I take off my filthy clothes after checking to make sure the door is locked. Never have I felt so bare.

Under the water’s current, my mind continues to question and conjure. The Alpha, the stranger, my mate, he can play me like a violin and part of me would not see the wrong in it. Something about him has me addicted, hooked on by his every word, move, breath—like he has cast a spell over me. Never have I been so undecided. Of course, I cannot help but think about abandoning my old life, leaving it all behind to be with someone made for me. A mate, oh, how sweet the possibilities sound. Then there is the other half of me, the half that worries for my grandmother. What if she has gone out looking for me, what if she accidentally crosses the land as I did ? They cannot put a fragile, old lady in a grimy, noxious cage as they did to me.

The warmth of the water leaves me.

Stepping out, I grab one of the towels and cover myself. Marina told me the clothes would be on the bed, so I look out into the bedroom and thankfully find the pile there. The bedroom door is closed, so I venture out and quickly change. Still feeling somewhat bare—though the borrowed clothing overs me—I grab a robe from the bathroom and wrap it around myself.

Staring into the mirror above the counter, I sigh. Anxiety caused by all this is keeping me from leaving the room. What if he is out there ? What if he tells me that I can never go home ? I cannot stay in here and curse myself continuously for wandering over the stream and throwing myself into this mess. Wishing it never happened will not get me out of this situation. My mate, gosh his he intimidating, just his eyes have me begging for mercy. There is not enough courage inside of me to stand up to a man like him, and that is not even acknowledging that he is an Alpha. « How could you do this ? »

« What have I done ? » She softly asks, though, she knows what, I am sure of it.

Glancing to the side, I see her looking at me with the same eyes that she always has, even since I was a child. Every time I peer into them, they bring me back, reminding me of times not so pleasant before my grandmother took me in. « Why now ? »

« The choice was yours. »

« It hardly was, not with all the feelings poking at me to cross over. You know that I barely had a choice. Now, look where I am. How do I get back home ? »

The moon goddess says only, « Evangeline, you are home. Finally, a place where you can be accepted. »

I swallow. « My parents couldn’t accept me. What makes you believe this man you have set me with will ? Because he is my mate ? It doesn’t make sense. My own mother kept me hidden, so why should he listen—believe me ? »

I was a child, watching the other pups playing, laughing, crying, shouting outside. I watched from the attic window alone, as I was often by myself. They would tell me that the attic was a safe place, a place where no one could hurt me, yet there I was more hurt than ever. As a child, I felt abandoned, left in a room and forgotten about by the two people who are supposed to love me the most. They never saw me as their child after I told my mother, only a secret to be hidden and kept from the world, but for what ? What was the point in keeping me alive if I could not live ?

I stayed in the attic, pretending I was normal, pretending that I was the child they longed for. I had no one but the moon goddess to talk to, to play with. My mother set up a bed and dresser for me, even a toy box with dolls and such. Though I often did not want to play with toys, but the other children in our pack. As I watched them from the window, I would imagine myself there with them, wrestling, learning, embracing childhood as a werewolf, something unique. I guess I was too unique.

I did not know that no one else can see her, talk with her. I thought it was normal.

You are strong, my wolf tells me, coming out from her corner.

I nod my head and turn towards the bedroom doors.

I peek into the hallway and see no one. After taking a calming breath, I quietly sneak down the hall until I reach the same stairs Marina lead me up. Once at the bottom, I hear voices.

« He did, I saw her when she first came in. »

« Well, what does she look like ? »

« She’s a pretty girl, but she seems a little off. I don’t know, not normal. »

Are they talking about me ?

Before I can listen any longer, the voices grow to close ; they are coming around the corner. Immediately I head off in the opposite direction, away from the staircase, but I am not fast enough. « Hey, it’s you, » the familiar voice calls out to me, and when I reluctantly turn around I see the boy who opened the door, the one standing there when the dog ran out. « Where were you going ? » He asks.

« Um, I’m not sure. »

Another guy is standing beside him, watching me.

« You’re my brothers’ mate. »

The boy is the Alpha’s brother. I did not think about my mate having a family before, though the idea of it is quite evident. He must have parents, and a brother is normal, I suppose. The boy does not look much like the Alpha though. « Yes, I am. »

« I was just on my way to get you. My brother wants to see you, » he tells me. « I’m Henry. »

« Evangeline. »

He nods, and the boy beside him drifts away without saying a word. Henry glances at him, then back to me. « I’ll take you to him. »

Deciding to take a risk, I catch his attention. « Wait, I have to get back to my grandmother. She doesn’t know where I am. Your brother, the Alpha, said I could go. »

« My brother said you could leave ? »

« Well, yes. We made a deal, » I explain. « Now can you point me in the direction of the door, oh, and the stream also if you can. »

Henry does not seem convinced. « You better talk to him about it. He just told me to go check on you, take you down if you’re ready. »

I hold my breath.

« Alright. Fine. Take me to him. »