Female Novel
Chapter 35
As much as I wanted to deny the truth, it was sitting right in front of me. I couldn’t help but do a mentalcheck over my own body. I didn’t feel different. Apart from Thalia’s intrusive voice, I felt nearly the sameas I always had. It would explain why my face had healed so quickly.
You would think I’d be excited, but I wasn’t. Turning into one of these creatures was the last thing Iwanted. I wanted—needed normalcy. Sure, some small part of my mind wondered if I could use thisagainst Grace. As much as I wanted to feel guilty over that, I couldn’t.
I was yanked from my thoughts by the ringing of a cellphone. The cellphone in my hand was buzzing, apicture of Tori lighting up the screen.
“I’ll call you back in ten.” I answered, ending the phone call without another word. My eyes were stilllocked on the giant wolf—on Garrett.
Garrett walked over to a cluster of trees nestled in their backyard. I watched on in silence as Garrettreturned to his human form. A pair of sweatpants hung on the lower portion of his body. His suit hadbeen torn to shreds during his… transformation.
“I don’t want this.” Those were the first words that left my lips, followed by. “You don’t even know if I can—can turn into a wolf. I’ve never turned into one before.”
Instead of Garrett’s face contorting in anger like I suspected, his eyes held sympathy.
“I don’t need to watch you shift to know what you are, Aurora.” Garrett murmured, leading the two of usback inside. My body was on autopilot. Half of me wanted to run, to get away from Garrett and hisstrange family as soon as possible. The other side of me was smart, knowing if I ran now, he wouldonly catch me.
“I can feel your wolf.” Garrett sighed, “She’s inside of you, she will help you shift when it’s time.”
‘I tried to tell you, Aurora.’ Thalia frowned, ‘We can’t shift yet, but when we do, we’re going to need Alecand Kade.’
‘What’s so important about Alec and Kade?’ I grimaced, my heart thundering at the mention of theirnames.
‘They’re our mates, Aurora.’ Thalia rushed the words out in an exasperated huff.
“What is a mate?” I spoke before thinking, gaining Garrett’s full attention.
“What makes you ask?” Garrett’s lips pressed together tightly; his eyes intense as he looked at me.
“My—wolf mentioned the term.” I shifted uncomfortably. The truth coupled with Garrett’s interrogatingstare made me want to flee.
“Their like soulmates.” Garrett spoke slowly, his own eyes glazing over as he thought of his wife.
“And—Veronica, is she your mate?” I paused, discomfort and fear swirling in my gut.novelbin
“She is.” Garrett nodded, clearly reading the discomfort in my eyes. Garrett had a child with anotherwoman, one who wasn’t his mate. Thalia recoiled at the thought, showing her clear disgust.
“I see.” My voice sounded weak, my head churning with the overwhelming amount of information I wasbeing forced to process.
“That changes nothing, Aurora.” Garrett grimaced, “You are my first born, which mean’s my pack willsomeday belong to you.”
I wanted to scream, to shout at Garrett until I turned blue in the face. I didn’t want a pack, a wolf,mates, or anything else that came. I wanted a normal life with people who wouldn’t hurt me, threatenme, or leave me in a perpetual state of fear and anxiety.
Some people spend their entire lives waiting for something like this to happen. Some kind of strange,magical calling that takes them out of their boring world. I wasn’t one of those people. I wanted anormal life and all that it entailed.
“I don’t—” I paused. What would denying everything do? Garrett would continue to push, forcing me toaccept some planned out future he had.
“I need some time.” I gulped, my eyes darting to the staircase.
“I understand, Aurora.” Garrett frowned, his eyes softening in the slightest. “I was raised knowing whatwe are, you weren’t. I’ll give you the time you need, but please think on what I’ve said.”
“I will.” I nodded, telling the lie effortlessly.
I retreated to my bedroom on shaky legs, fumbling to close the door behind me. I slipped out of theclothes I had worm to school. I threw on a long sleeve shirt, followed by my heaviest jacket and a darkpair of jeans. Melissa and Frank wouldn’t be able to identify me by the clothes I wore. Melissa neverpaid enough attention and Frank was always too wasted to notice.
I swung my backpack over my shoulder and placed the phone to my ear. It rang a total of two timesbefore Tori picked up the other end.
“What happened?” Tori frowned, “You sounded kind of flustered.”
“Nothing important.” I shook my head, “Garrett wanted to talk to me.”
“Oh, I see.” Tori frowned, understanding clear in her voice. She knew how I felt about Garrett. It wasone of the only things I could openly tell her.
“Yeah.” I cleared my throat. My heart was hammering in my chest, anxiety wracked my entire body. Iwas becoming antsy, wanting to leave as soon as I could. I’d have to wait another hour, until I was sure
Garrett had left the lower part of the house. I hoped he didn’t have some kind of super hearing, but itwas too late to change my plan.
“Now—about that explanation.” Tori paused, clearly dealing with her own unease. “What the h**lhappened to your face?”
For a moment, I wasn’t sure what to say. Did I really want to do this? I couldn’t see how it would hurt,as I’d be gone before morning. Whatever happened to Grace after I left wasn’t my fault, but didn’t Torideserve warning against Grace’s threat?
“Grace happened.” I cleared my throat, fighting back the tears of frustration that formed behind myeyes. “She didn’t like that I was talking to Alec and Kade, so she had Autumn and her other friendhelp.”
“Oh my g*d, Aurora.” Tori’s voice was a whirlwind of emotions. Anger, disbelief, shock, sympathy, andhate. “I knew someone hurt you—I never thought Grace would go that far. I need to tell- “
“Tori, do me a favor.” I clamped my eyes shut, pinching the bridge of my nose. I knew she would reactthis way. All I had to do was delay her for just a few hours. She could tell whoever she wanted in themorning.
“What?” I could hear the frown on Tori’s face. “You better not ask me to keep this a secret. Sheseriously hurt you, Aurora. She can’t just get away with it.”
“I know—I know.” I choked out, wishing I could tell her the rest. I wouldn’t be able to fight back the tearsif I told her more. They would overtake me, turning me into a pile of mush. “Just wait until morning totell anyone, for me please.”
Tori let out a long sigh, and I could almost see the look of frustration on her face. “Fine, I’ll wait untilmorning.”
“Thank you.” I breathed, remembering I had something else to say. “There is something else—shethreatened you. Said she would come after you if I told anyone.”
“She threatened me?” Tori scoffed, her voice filling with heat.
“I just wanted to give you a heads up.” I frowned, “Just be careful around her—I think she’s kind oflosing it.”
“Whatever it is, Grace lost it a long time ago.” Tori chuckled dryly. “Don’t worry, Aurora. Grace won’t gether claws on me.”
After ending the phone call with Tori, I was left with an hour to mull everything over. It was an hour Ididn’t want to wait but had no other choice. It gave me time to think about everything. I didn’t want tothink over what Garrett had said. I wanted to shove it all deep down and never let it see the light of day.
What Thalia had said about mate’s struck a chord within me. Alec and Kade were our mates.
‘Typically, wolves only have one mate.” Thalia’s voice was soft, ‘We have two.’
‘I never wanted one to begin with.’ I fought against the stabbing pain in my chest.
An hour passed and I stood at my bedroom door in silence. My hand was only inches away from thehandle. Once I opened this door, I wouldn’t turn back. I’d change my own life, finally live it the way Ichose.
My bedroom door swung open, and I stepped into the hallway. My heart dropped to the floor as I metKady’s light eyes. Her eyes narrowed, eyeing me suspiciously. Whatever she was going to say caughtin her throat. Her eyes widened as she took in the bag over my shoulder and the clothes I was wearing.
Her eyes flickered down the hall, and back to me.
“He’s in his office.” Kady murmured, “You have fifteen minutes before my Mom goes back downstairs.”
Without saying anything more, Kady retreated into her bedroom. I stood there gaping at her bedroomdoor, replaying the words she had said to me.
She was helping me. Of course, it was for her own selfish reasons, but I appreciated it, nonetheless.Her tone had been soft, kind even. I wanted to laugh dryly at the number of people who wanted megone. It seemed like the number continued to grow.
I crept downstairs and out of the house easily. I planned on calling a cab with my old flip phone, the oneMelissa had gotten me. I planned on walking to the little corner store, the one I had visited when wefirst moved here. I would call a cab to pick me up at the store, taking me to the nearest bus stop.
Fear does things to a person’s mind. It dulls all thoughts of reason, dulls anything good and supportive.Fear consumes and burns until there’s nothing left. Fear had formed in me the night Grace attackedand had been boiling and festering ever since.
Fear put you in a constant state of fight or flight, pushing everything else to the back of your mind. Iwasn’t thinking of Tori, Alec, Kade, or anyone else. I was thinking of myself, of running from the fearthat scorched my insides.
Even as I stepped out of the cab, and walked through the doors to the bus terminal, I was only thinkingof myself.