Chapter Seven

Rieka Varon PoV:

Recall how I mentioned Rosaline and I would meet in the cantina?

I've never gotten this far, though. I received a message from my mother telling me that there is an emergency while I was making my way to the cantina. Because I technically still had a detention to attend, I tried phoning her. But I was unable to contact her, which caused me to get anxious and a bit uncomfortable. I wasn't sure what to do as my entire body responded to the unfamiliar circumstance. I certainly have responsibilities as a werewolf leader of a pack, but school is equally significant. In addition, following the act I did earlier in the sports hall, I feel guilty abandoning Rosaline again.

I eventually made the decision to leave the school grounds. I couldn't make up my mind if anyone in my family was in danger. My inner wolf is already tense and seems to be foreseeing doom.

I exit the building and head into the woodland as quickly as possible. As soon as I was out of sight, I started running as quickly as I could, flung my bag in the air, and changed into a wolf, grabbing my bag before it hit the ground once more. I raced as quickly as I could, but I could feel the dread and anxiety eating me with every meter I gained as I got closer to our family home. As soon as I saw our house I began to slow down my pace, the feeling of worry growing heavier. I sniff around the forest near by and check my surroundings for any sign of danger, but as far as I can tell there is nothing. I transform back into my human form, ready to investigate further what kind of my emergency my mother meant. While I made my way around our house I saw a car in our drive way that doesn’t belong to us, which means Ethan isn’t here yet. I slowly went up the stairs to the door taking the key from under the foot rug. Call us corny, but it's simple to recall, and nobody ever comes here unless they're part of the family or the pack. To be safe, I cautiously turn the doorknob and open the door as quietly as I can. I recognized the voice of my father's doctor as I moved farther inside the home. Although I am at ease, I am already concerned about my father. I went into the kitchen to have a sip of water before entering my dad's room. My mother was standing there as I turned back, her eyes red and swollen like she had been crying for hours. "What happened, mom?" I questioned her, trying to hold back my emotions as I watched my mother cry. "It's your dad, he..." She pauses for a breath. There is not much time left for him. His vitals dropped significantly while you and your brother were at school. He now has many wires attached to him, one of which aids with his breathing.

For a little minute, as I hear this, I feel cold. I'm not sure what to think or even do. He's fine for the time being, but if he doesn't live much longer, he'll be gone shortly. I was aware that this day was approaching, but not so quickly. What am I expected to do? I have just him as my father. He was a great advisor to me, never shied away from speaking the truth to me even when I didn't want to hear it, and most importantly, he raised me. He was always present, yet he may not be in a few days or even hours. Just like that.

How exactly am I supposed to be an alpha? More importantly, what about Ethan? He expected to be an alpha, and we never let him know that I would be taking control of the pack instead of him. The fallout from our actions will bite us in the behind and might sever the ties that bind our family.

All of my thoughts were starting to swallow me when I felt my mother's kind touch on my shoulder and heard her quietly say, "Rieka, stop." I glanced at her in confusion and with some tears in my eyes. Before she takes my hand in hers, her eyes offer me pity, causing me to gaze down at the table where my hands had previously been. The table resembles the bench in the school hall now nearly exactly. I mutter an apology before giving my mother a big embrace. I simply remain in her arms, absorbing up all of her comfort and warmth. She envelops me in her arms and starts to delicately crawl across my back. The more I remain in her hug, the more I am overcome with emotion as I come to terms with the fact that he will soon leave us and there is nothing I can do to stop it.

He'll be gone. I sob in my mother's arms as I realize this. How am I expected to be strong, and more importantly, how am I going to survive without him?