“He should have healed by now,” Alex says. I can hear the frustration in his voice.His body is so tense, it looks like a coil ready to spring.“There are things at work we don’t understand. But we’re trying to learn … ” his mother states in a soft, assuring tone.“So…we send for other healers. From another pack.” Alex insists.“We will wait for the next round of tests first,” his dad says. “They may tell us something.”“I feel like we’ve waited enough!” Alex snaps, his temper getting the best of him.It’s hard for me to watch Alex and see him in so much pain. He is usually so happy and carefree.His mother glares at him reproachfully, and Alex mumbles an apology.It’s interesting to witness this family dynamic. Twenty-four hours ago, I didn’t even know his parents’ names. I still don’t know his dad’s.All the while, Rita is unfazed.His mother’s face softens. Her voice drips with sympathy. “I understand your passion…your frustration. It is hard as a mother to watch my oldest son lyin
After our walk, it occurs to me I never called my mom. I bet she’s freaking out right now!Alex walks me back to his parents’ house. No one is home, so I have some privacy.If I had any doubt that Mom was worried before, the fact she picked it up before the first ring ended has dispelled it.“Hey, Mom.”“Cynthia! I was so worried! What took you so long to call?”“I’m sssorry, Mom. There. Was a lot. To do.”“But you’re okay—and everyone is safe?”“Yesss, Mom. We’re okay.”I hear a sigh through the phone. I feel bad. Even with everything going on, I can’t believe I forgot her.Her voice becomes stern, her tone deep. “Cynthia, this only works if you keep our deal.”“I-I know. Sorrr-ry.”“Can you tell me where you are?”“I don’t. Know where. Mount’ns.”“Okay. Make sure you leave your phone on all the time, so I can locate you if I have to.”“If,” I say with emphasis, to remind her that it was her last resort.“Yes—only if.”“Love you, Mom.”“I love you, too, baby.”“I’ll call tomorrow.”“
I’m a bit uncomfortable around Rita. Her sense of self-assurance contrasts with my insecurities, for starters. Her relationship with Alex, of course, is the main reason.I don’t know much about this werewolf stuff—or apparently about Alex and his family—but I know Rita is a warrior who has been paired with Alex. While they don’t seem…close…exactly, there is a familiarity between them.Now I don’t know where I stand with Alex. I know he cared for me, before. Then, after he returned and the attacks happened, we got close again. It felt like we were getting back on track.
My father continues the grilling. “For now, let’s speak of this girl. You know she cannot stay here.”Before I can argue, Mother comes to Cynthia’s defense. “She should remain until we can release her safely. We need to understand her purpose…there is a reason the rogues seek her. We need to know why.”“We could set a trap,” Owein suggests.“Now wait a minute…” I yell, springing forward.To do what, I don’t know—but
Alex grabs my other hand and squeezes it gently to get my attention. “You okay?”I nod, maybe a little too emphatically.I look around at everyone. They’re holding conversations just like normal people. If I didn’t know better, I would think they were. In fact, nothing up to this point has seemed out of place. Well, other than Alex’s parents, who speak formally and sound like they’re already centuries old.I look at Alex. He fits in here. That makes my heart hurt because…well…I don’t.
If I look offended, it’s because I am. Alex recoils at my expression, and now it’s his turn to stammer.“Uh…yeah…no, I—I didn’t mention it because it’s not important right now.”He squints his disapproval at Tala, but her demeanor remains soft and warm, like she knew what his reaction would be and is unaffected by it.“I disagree,” she replies. “Don’t you, Cynthia?”“I do!” I place my hand on Alex’s
I can’t help but wonder if he’s thinking about his brother.I can’t really see anything as we stroll through the forest. I don’t have night vision. Fortunately, Alex does. This makes it even more magical when the trees clear to reveal the most beautiful scene.“Wow!” escapes my lips.There is a stream ahead of us. The moon is glistening off the water, creating sparkles of white dancing on the slow-moving, barely rippling surface of water. With the stars above and this stream at our feet, I can’t help but feel like I’m in a movie. Again
Alex leads me to a small room, simply furnished with a bed, a small chest of drawers, and mirror. If you expect homes in a pack base to be rustic, they’re not. In fact, this furniture looks antique and much nicer than what I have at home.He sets my overstuffed backpack down against the wall and looks around the room. He puts his hands in his back pockets and begins rocking on his heels. “It’s not much, but it’s clean.”“It’sss perfect.”I sit down on the bed and bounce a few times to test it. Alex takes this as an invitation and sits