>>Clio
Entering the hospital room, the antiseptic scent greeted me, a scent I'm not really fond of but I didn't care much for it as I ran straight to my mom's room. There, in the sterile white bed, lay my mother.
Her eyes were weary from the ordeal, but she looked fine. As our eyes met, a mixture of relief and shared pain passed between us.
"Mom," I whispered, the weight of the recent horrors hanging in the air.
She smiled, a gesture laden with both gratitude and a mother's unyielding strength. "You came," she said, her voice carrying the tremors of recent trauma, "You didn't have to,"
"Oh, please!" I approached her bedside, the soft shuffle of footsteps echoing in the sterile silence. Taking her hand in mine, I felt the warmth of connection, and I rested my head on her shoulder, "I'm so glad you're okay,"
There was a small pause before she spoke, "Me too," She slipped her hand on my cheek, "Me too child," I relaxed on her, as any child does in her mother's embrace.
There was a pause for a moment and that's when I felt her body trembling.
I immediately got away and looked at her, "Mom?" And I noticed the tears in her eyes, "What's wrong?"
And the moment I asked she started crying,
"MOM!" I hugged her, "What's wrong?!?"
She cried softly, "We're done for, aren't we?"
"What?"
She buried her face in her hands, "You're secret it out," She sniffled, "They're coming for us, aren't they?" I grabbed her wrists, trying to make her look at me but stopped when I heard that.
My heart dropped at the fact that she had found out.
Of course she would, Chris met her personally…
But my hope hadn't. I wasn't as scared as I thought I would be, "Yes," I was able to reply to her confidently, "But we're not done for," I was able to answer her like this because of one person.
"We're not?" She raised her head to look at me, "How?" She sniffled, "Nolan and you fought and broke it off didn't you?"
????!!
I was baffled at how she knew that, "How," I stared at her in disbelief, "Did Nolan tell you?" I don't think he did but did he?!? Did he tell my mother?!
For what?!
"No," She replied, "You two fought in the hospital," She looked at me pitifully, "What made you think the news wouldn't travel to me when it happened in this place?"
…
My mouth went a little agape. Then I looked down in shame.
"Are you angry?" I slipped my hands away from her wrists but she grabbed them to hold my hands.
"No," Her reply made me look at her, "I heard he cheated on you," Her face looked a little better as the anger rose in her, "You were right to break up with him." Then her eyes dropped, "But now that he's gone-"
"No!" I gripped her hands in return, "It doesn't matter if he's gone mom," I made her look at her, "It really doesn't," I shook my head at her.
"What do you mean?"
"Honestly," I've thought about it alot, "There was nothing Nolan could have done against the Somas."
"Right," Mom looked defeated, "They're too strong…" As if my words had affirmed her greatest fears.
"Yes," I gathered my courage, "But I met someone else," My voice trembled a little when I said that
She flinched, almost as if she couldn't believe me, "What?" She narrowed her eyes at me, "What do you mean?"
"I-" I looked down, "I-uh," I licked my lips, "I met someone dangerous,"
"What!?" She grabbed my shoulders, "Dangerous!?!? What did he do to you!?!?" Her eyes went wide as she shook me, "Did he harm you!?"
"Wait- NO!" I grabbed her hands and pulled them off me, "Mom, no," I calmed her down as I did my best to remain calm as well, "He's been protecting me."
She stopped, "What?"
"He says he wants to protect me," I blushed a little, "And he wants me…"
She looked at me suspiciously, "And?"
"I haven't given him my answer yet but," I looked into her eyes, "He can protect us."
***
I walked out of the hospital with a heavy heart. Once I entered the open parking lot, I looked back at the building and clenched my hands over my chest.
I didn't think I'd be having this conversation with my mom so soon and deep down I knew she'd be skeptical about it because of our bad experience with the mafia.
But I told her to give it her thoughts and I told her that the wolf that saved her was Matthew's as well and that he's proven how much he cares for me.
I did try to convince her that Matthew is good while I know myself he's an underground criminal. Mom gave me no answer and I left. I haven't given my answer as well so I guess her answer can wait as well.
"Ready?" Matthew's voice made me look at him. He was standing in the parking lot, leaning against his matte black porsche. The color of his car matched him so well, it felt a little uncanny.
"Yes," I replied and walked over to him.
"Is your mom doing okay?" He opened the car door for me and I sat down.
"Hmm," I nodded, "She's fine," I looked at him before he shut the door, "Thanks to you,"
He passed me a smile, then shut the door.
***
"I don't know…" We were already in the forest and I was having extreme double thoughts, "What if they don't like me?" I was so nervous I could feel my hands sweating.
"Why won't they like you?" Matthew looked back at me, "You're my mate."
"So what if I'm your mate?" I said, "Look at me, I'm so weird, and what obligation do they have to like me?" I was anxious.
He folded his arms as he looked at me, "Clio, do you know the name of my pack?" He asked and I wondered.
"You never told me…" I replied and he smirked.
"Misfits of the moon,"
My eyebrows automatically raised themselves, "Misfits of the moon?" I blinked at him in confusion, "Misfits?" I tilted my head.
"We're all what 'society' calls as 'rejected' or 'abnormal'" He maintained his smile, "Don't worry," He shook his head softly, "You're not weird, and no one will think you are either."
"Come on," He said, "Let's go, we're almost there."
I gulped. His words did lessen my worries but it didn't magically make my fears fly away. I mean, how would they? I'm going into wolf territory and I'm going to be the only human there!
Of course I'm nervous!!
But I still started walking. He waited till I was right next to him and then we both walked together.
I looked down at his hand and gulped. I want to hold his hand. I kept staring at it while we walked but I couldn't muster up the courage to actually grab it. I know I shouldn't be feeling nervous about something so small but I am!
I want to be nearer to him and feel his warmth. I want to hold his hand but each time he's the one who has done it and I feel weird taking initiative!
I tried to move my hand, it even got close to his, but in the end I couldn't do it.
I kept feeling so shy about it!
The pack wasn't far from where I took his hand but it was so deep into the forest, I don't think anyone other than the wolves living in it will be able to find it. I guess that's why humans don't know of these packs, places or people.
The only thing I did notice while making our way towards the pack were the wolves who spied on us for a few seconds and then ran off. I don't know for sure but I think that might be their own way of keeping security.
"We're here," We stood at the entrance which was marked by a curved tree, the leaves of which covered the entrance while the rest was a boundary of bushes that extended long and wide, "This is where the pack's living area starts." He said, "The area that belongs to us already started a few miles ago,"
"Oh," I nodded and he stepped ahead to mush the vines aside and make space for me.
I walked through but the moment I did, I paused.
Entering the pack was like stepping into a realm where every sense tingled with heightened awareness. The air carried the scent of wolves and the atmosphere buzzed with a mix of curiosity and caution.
I nervously stared at the large number of people standing in front of me with wide curious animalistic eyes, with a collective gaze that seemed to pierce through me.
Matthew followed behind me and the moment he saw them, he paused too. He was surprised at first, then sighed, "Didn't I tell you lot not to do that?" He folded his arms but the people of the pack didn't budge but they didn't say anything either.
On the contrary they all seemed nervous and a little bit afraid as well. I stared between the crowd and Matthew, unsure what to do or say when three kids came over to me.
All of them were girls. They had roses in their hands and they approached me with a curious look. They caught my attention immediately but I didn't say anything as they came and stood in front of me.
All of it was awkward. There was complete silence, a lot of staring, none of it, but all of it uncomfortable.
The silence was broken by one of the girls, "Are you going to be our Luna?" The girls looked at me with sparkling eyes.
Luna? Isn't that the leader's wife or mate? Right?
"Hmm?" I pointed at myself, "Me? The Luna?" I shook my head, "Why would I become your Luna?"
"Aren't you the Alpha's mate?" The second girl pointed at Matthew and my brain froze.
The Alpha? I turned to look at Matthew. Him?
WHAT!?
"You're the Alpha!?!?!" My eye almost left my socket
"Of course I'm the Alpha," He replied, "I created this pack,"
"You created this pack!?!?"