Chapter 5

JASMINE’S NEW FAMILY

I was hearing voices around as I slowly regained consciousness, I woke up in a strange hut with strange wolves around me, my mind was fully alert and was ready to bolt when a sharp pained pinned me back to the straw bed I laid.

I glanced around and nothing seemed familiar, everything seemed strange and I definitely couldn’t recognize the wolves that sat not far from where I laid.

“Where am I, who are you guys” it appears they didn’t hear me as they continued their discussions,

I mustered a fresh wave of strength as I growled in my wolf voice and they immediately glanced at me and a woman approached me.

“Don’t you dare come near me, who are you and why am I here, what do you want from me” I tried getting to my feet despite the pain seeping through my body.

The strange woman who I later found out that her name was Amelia tried to calm me down but I struggled with her as I still couldn’t make sense of my surroundings yet. She calmly offered me treatment to my wounds.

“Please who are you and how did I get here?” I asked Amelia

“My dear, just focus on getting better, I will surely answer all your questions, but for now, you need to heal and regain your strength. Take this herb, it will make you regain your strength in no time” Amelia responded.

I was skeptical about taking the herb from her,

“Don’t worry, I won’t poison you, I could take a sip if you want” she said assuring me.

I was a bit relieved but I was still on the edge and I wasn’t satisfied with her response but I decided to keep quiet as I was planning to run away later, but I had no idea of where I was, so running away doesn’t really seem a good idea.

I found out that Amelia was a fifty-year-old woman who is quite skilled in the arts of herbal medicine. She also doesn’t look harmful but I wasn’t ready to take chances as no one is to be trusted.

True to Amelia’s words, the herbs worked like magic and I felt stronger, I started feeling at home and I took time to look and walk round the middle-sized hut.

I tried to lay down on my left side when I felt an excruciating pain in my left abdomen, I winced in pain with a low scream.

Amelia rushed to my side with some ointment in her hands

“You need to take it easy for now, your wound needs to heal up properly first”.

“What is your name my child” Amelia asked me with concerns in her voice.

“My name is Jasmine Brooke” I told her quietly

“Who are you and what were you doing in the vicinity we found you” Amelia prodded

I was not ready to divulge that part of my life to this people I had just met, I was getting comfortable with them but I just wasn’t ready to make myself vulnerable again. I tried to change the subject,

“How did I come about this wound?” I queried Amelia

“I have no idea how you sustained the injury; all I know is that we found you unconscious with a wild boar over you about to feed on you. But Mitch killed the boar to save you”. Sheresponded

I was at that instant grateful to this ‘Mich’ who saved my life, to this wonderful woman who brought me to her house, treated my wounds and is caring for me despite not knowing who I was.

“Please who is this Mich so I can show my appreciation” I said already feeling admiration for this man, whoever he was.

“Who are you guys and why are you here without a pack”? I asked Amelia as she prepared my evening herbs and fixing dinner for the rest of the wolves in the hut.

“That my child is a long story which I feel is best suited to be told after dinner while sitting and keeping warm by the evening fire.” Amelia responded with sadness etched in her voice.

I could tell the story I was about to hear was not an interesting one.

Just then, three young men, a young girl walked in chattering with excitement that was contagious and I found myself smiling at whatever they were talking about even though I had no idea what exactly it was.

They had hunting equipment in their hands, they all greeted Amelia and she responded warmly.

   

Dinner is ready everyone, you need to go have a wash and let’s eat before it gets cold”.

“Yes Amelia, they all responded and went to take a wash at a stream few meters from the hut.

After dinner, we all gathered round an open fire as I watched the men have random discussions over beer while we waited for Amelia who was cleaning up after dinner.

“How are your wounds healing up, you look stronger than when we brought you in two days ago, one of the men came to sit next to me.

While he was trying to make small talks with me, I felt a strange sensation, the hairs on my skin stood up, what’s happening to me. Is my mate here, ever since Derrick openly rejected me, I had not felt this kind of tingling sensation.

I held my breath as a young guy of about 25 years old walked in

“Did you guys really have dinner without me, I told Devin I was going to be a little late and that y’all should wait for me”.

The guy said while wiping his face with a rag Amelia handed out to him.

“You are looking healthier and better” he said to me

“That’s Mich, he sometimes acts like he’s the boss around here” the wolf that sat next to me whispered to me

As we looked on, Amelia and the guy called Mich approached us at the fire.

“Why don’t we start with the pretty lady tells us her name”, I heard Mich say

“My name is Jasmine Brooke and I was betrayed by the one who called me his mate, he also killed the one i took as my father. And so the villagers labeled me as a source of bad luck and a cursed one and they are after me to take my life”

After hearing my brief introduction, Mich started talking

“My name is Mich Henry, I was banished from my pack about four seasons ago by the Alpha of our pack for being a rogue.”

“My name is Devin and that’s my brother Rick, that one there is Harry,the name of the girl is rosetta, she’s was sent away from her pack because her wolf has a strange colour.

Amelia accepted us when everyone gave up on us and brought us in when we wandered in the woods with no direction and saved us from being consumed my wild animals, she built this family and we are more than happy to have you join us”.

At that instant, my respect and admiration for Amelia grew so high.

They all had a sad story and was abandoned at some point in their lives. I felt as if I was part of this family as we had similar sad experiences.

“I am grateful to you all for rescuing me, I turned to Amelia

“Thank you for healing and taking care of me”

I was grateful for the acceptance by these people, they took me in even when they knew nothing about me. I was happy and relieved that I was finally part of people who cared for me.