The next morning, Jacob woke up in Allison's room. He looked down at her sleeping peacefully on his chest and smiled, remembering their wild night together. He lay there contentedly, gently playing with her hair.
'System, sign in.' He thought.
[Daily Sign-In Successful. Rewards Obtained:
- PB&J Sandwich x100
- Tomahawk Steak x40
- Nunchucks]
Jacob read the list. 'Nunchucks? Well, it's better than useless dirty underwear, I guess. The steaks are good, but my favorite is the PB&J. Let me see what kind of jam is in these.'
He pulled a sandwich from his pocket dimension and took a bite. 'Great, it's strawberry jam, my favorite.' He quickly finished it and grabbed a few more. By the time Allison stirred awake, he had already eaten over twenty.
Allison opened her eyes and murmured. "Good morning."
Jacob, his mouth full, just mumbled something unintelligible.
She sat up and saw him chewing. "What are you eating?"
Jacob swallowed. "PB&J. Do you want one?"
"I haven't brushed my teeth yet." She said, making a face.
"Who cares about that?" Jacob replied with a grin. "You can brush them after you eat."
"Fine, give me one." Allison conceded. She took a bite and her eyes widened. "Oh, these are good! Give me five more. I'm starving after what you put me through last night, you monster."
Jacob handed over the sandwiches. "You're the one who was so stubborn and didn't want to stop, even though you were tired. Not that I'm complaining or anything."
Allison snorted. "Couldn't you be a gentleman and let me win, at least once?"
Jacob looked offended. "Let you win in sex? Are you crazy? I'm a dragon, for crying out loud! What's next, you'll ask me to wear a dress?" He grabbed her and smirked. "I think you need some punishment."
Allison laughed, pushing him away playfully. "Please, no! I can't do it anymore. I'm still numb down there."
"Oh, please." Jacob scoffed. "You have supernatural healing, and it's not like I hurt you yesterday or anything."
"It's not about being hurt." She said. "It's my... the nerves down there are numb. I need to rest."
Jacob smiled and relented. "Fine. I'll punish you some other time." He kissed her, got out of bed, and headed for the shower, but not before delivering a spank to her naked backside.
Allison just smiled, finished her sandwiches, and then followed him into the bathroom.
After showering together and getting dressed, they headed downstairs. When they walked into the living room, they found Lydia patting Malia's head. But something was wrong—neither of them was moving, both frozen in a daze.
"Lydia! Lydia!" Allison called out, but there was no response.
Alarmed, Allison moved to shake her, but Jacob caught her arm. "Don't. She's probably reading Malia's memories."
"Reading memories?" Allison asked, surprised. "Lydia can do that?"
"Yes," Jacob confirmed. "As a banshee, she can read people's memories through touch."
"Then what should we do?"
"Nothing. Let's just wait for them to come back to their senses."
Jacob and Allison sat down. It didn't take long for both Lydia and Malia to snap out of it. Lydia took a deep, shuddering breath, then looked at Malia with profound sympathy. "I'm so sorry, Malia. I didn't mean to read your memories. I was just trying to pet your head to say good morning, like I usually do."
Malia just stared at her, and then tears began to stream from her eyes, soaking the fur on her face.
Lydia's guilt intensified. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to remind you of that accident."
Malia raised her head and let out a long, sorrowful howl. But there was something else in that sound—a sense of relief. Then, her eyes began to glow. The color shifted, changing from blue to a bright, clear yellow.
Allison gasped. "Malia, your eyes are glowing yellow! But how?"
"Guilt can change a shapeshifter's eye color from yellow to blue." Jacob explained. "It's not just killing."
"So, Malia didn't kill anyone? She was just feeling guilty?" Allison asked.
Lydia shook her head, her voice soft. "No, it's not just guilt. It's much worse. She thought she was the one who killed her entire family."
Upon hearing this, Malia jumped forward, burying her head in Lydia's chest and whimpering softly as she cried.
Lydia stroked her fur, whispering. "I'm sorry." Over and over.
Jacob smiled gently. "Stop apologizing, Lydia. She doesn't seem to blame you. In fact, I think she's grateful to you for showing her that memory."
Allison nodded in agreement. "I think so, too."
"Lydia, show us that memory." Jacob requested.
"Let's wait for Malia to calm down first." Lydia suggested. "Then we should ask her permission."
"Okay." Jacob agreed.
After Malia had calmed down and pulled away from Lydia, Lydia looked at her and asked. "Are you mad at me because I accidentally read your memories?"
Malia shook her head, indicating she wasn't angry.
"Good." Lydia said, relieved. "Can I show Jay and Allison your memories?"
Malia nodded her consent. Lydia closed her eyes and sent the vision of Malia's memories to Jacob and Allison through their telepathic link.
Jacob and Allison's minds were suddenly transported to an empty road on a dark, full-moon night. A car sped down the road. Inside were a young Malia, her father, mother, and little sister. Suddenly, a woman appeared in the middle of the road, firing shots at the car. Malia's father swerved, lost control, and the car careened off the road, crashing violently into the Beacon Hills Preserve.
The scene shifted. Jacob and Allison now stood beside the overturned, mangled car. They saw a wounded and terrified Malia looking up at the full moon through the shattered windshield. The lunar light triggered her first shift. She clawed frantically at the seat and the metal of the car. She was on the verge of attacking her injured, groaning family when a sudden, foreign scent hit her. Panic and primal instinct took over. She managed to crawl out of the wreckage, her small body still mid-shift. As she tried to flee into the woods, her form twisted and deformed until she fully shifted into a coyote and vanished into the darkness.
Once she was a safe distance away, she turned back and saw a woman with glowing blue eyes approaching the crashed car. Malia took one last, terrified look before running for her life.
The scene changed once more, showing a devastated Malia returning the next morning. She found her family dead, their bodies covered in deep claw marks as if torn apart by a wild animal. Overcome with guilt, the nine-year-old Malia believed she was the one who had killed them. Her eyes shifted to a sorrowful blue as despair consumed her. She stayed there, crying, until the police arrived and chased her away, mistaking her for a coyote scavenging the bodies.
After the police took the bodies and left, Malia came back and took her little sister's doll from the crash site to a cave she made her home. For seven long years, she visited the crashed car, living a solitary life haunted by guilt.
The memories ended, and Jacob and Allison opened their eyes. Allison had tears streaming down her face. She immediately hugged Malia tightly. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that and be all alone for seven years."
Jacob sighed heavily.
After Allison let go, Jacob looked at Malia and said. "At least now you know you didn't kill your family. And you have us now."
Allison hugged Malia again. "Yes, we are your family now."
Lydia joined them in the hug, and Jacob watched with a soft smile.
Just then, Cogman, who had been listening from the kitchen, entered the living room. "Lady Lydia, could you tell me about Lady Malia's memories? I wish to know what happened to her family."
"Sure." Lydia said, and she recounted the vision for him.
Cogman's expression was grim. "Do you know what that woman looks like? You would only need to draw a picture for me, and I would find her, wherever she is."
Malia perked up at this, her ears twitching with hope. But Lydia had to dash it. "Unfortunately, no. Her face wasn't visible in Malia's memories. The only thing I could tell was that she was a woman, and her eyes were glowing blue." Malia's head drooped sadly.
Jacob walked over and patted her head. "Don't worry. We will find her and make her pay for what she did."
Cogman clapped his hands together, shifting the mood. "Alright! Breakfast is ready. You should eat and go to school, or you will be late."
They went to the kitchen and ate.
After they finished, Malia barked at Jacob.
"What?" He asked.
Lydia interpreted. "I think she said she wants to go to the woods and visit the crashed car."
Jacob looked at Malia. "Is that so?"
Malia nodded.
"Then you can't go alone; it's too dangerous." Jacob decided. "I'll skip school today and go with you."
With that, Cogman drove Allison and Lydia to school, and Jacob went with Malia into the woods.
They reached the crashed car and sat there in silence for an hour. Then, Malia led him to her old den, where she retrieved her little sister's doll. After that, they headed back to the mansion and found Cogman tending the garden.
"Cogman." Jacob called out. "Take the doll from Malia, put it in a glass case, and place it in her room."
Cogman walked over to Malia. "May I?"
Malia gave him the doll, then followed Jacob inside.
Jacob turned the TV on for Malia and sat next to her, playing on his Game Boy. After lunch, it began to rain heavily outside. Jacob decided to take a nap. He went to the library, lay down on the window seat, covered himself with a blanket, and watched the rain, ready to fall asleep.
But Malia followed him and jumped onto the seat beside him.
He laughed. "Come here for a nap, too?" She nodded. "Then get under the blanket." He covered her with the blanket, and soon, both of them were fast asleep, the sound of the rain a gentle lullaby.
To be continued... 😊