Chapter 4 “Goodbyes”

Amara

Hands ran down my thigh caressing my skin. The hands were strong and warm. When I looked up there was a captivating man with a concrete jawline and strong nose looking down at me. He was leaning on his side with a look of admiration. He slowly bent down to my awaiting lips.

I closed my eyes and when I opened them again it wasn't an attractive man I saw but a small dense room. I blinked a couple times to make sure I wasn't in another dream. The room must have been a hotel by the way it only had a stand with a tv placed against the wall. A few paintings hung beside me but otherwise it was lifeless. I tried to lean up but tensed as throbbing pain ached through my body. I fell back down into a lying position. I tossed the covers off me to find my thigh and sides wrapped in bandages. It was like a train hit me when memories of last night flooded into my mind. The intruders, the blood, my mothers pleas, and my father kneeling in front of that beast. My chest became heavy and it was hard to breathe. I was gasping for air and crying. "No, no, no, this can't be real. IT CAN'T BE REAL!"

I screamed and sobbed very loudly. I was still sobbing when the door to the small room opened. Mrs. Green entered with a tray of hot tea and a small plate of food. Mrs. Green is a petite woman with a small oval face and buttoned nose. Her dirty blonde hair was tied in a braid similar to how my mother used to do hers. She noticed my panic attack and quickly placed the tray on the tv stand and ran to embrace me.

"Oh, sweetheart. I'm so sorry," she whispered in my ear while holding me tightly in her arms. She stroked the back of my hair as I cried. I'm glad a familiar person, someone close to my mother, was the one holding me. I thought about my mother and how her beautiful soul was no longer here. I would never be able to hug her again or complain to her about my day. Never hear her laugh or be able to give her grandkids. I cried even harder. This pain was too unbearable. I slowly lifted up, looking Mrs. Green directly in the face. "Where's my father?"

Deep down I already knew the answer to that question, but I wasn't ready to admit it to myself. Not all of it anyway. Not the part about the dark coated wolf with the same eyes as me somehow being my father. She held me once again but this time tighter. "I'm sorry honey but he's gone."

I slept on and off for the next two days. I barely ate anything and mostly cried when I was awake. Mrs. Green came in a few times to give me food and patch up my wounds. She didn't talk much which was a relief because I didn't feel up to talking. She only held me tightly in silence. A few more days passed before I was finally able to stand on my own without wanting to pass out. I took a much needed shower and combed through my knotted hair. I avoided looking in the mirror as I got dressed.

This time Mr. and Mrs. Green walked into the room with a couple of turkey sandwiches. I sat on the bed and took a small bite. Mr. Green sat on the opposite side of me. He was a larger built man with a bright red beard and brownish red hair. He looked at me with sympathy and sorrow. He cleared his voice then began to talk, "Amara, we know you have been through a lot this past week and must have so many questions."

I listened to his words carefully as I ate my sandwich. I didn't speak as he continued. "After Titus and his pack left, we knew he would come looking for you again. Especially since you blinded him in one eye. So, we brought you here to this hotel until you recovered."

I nodded realizing that blinding Titus would only make him more eager to hunt me down and kill me. "We're still in Florida right now, but we have to get you far away from here. Our pack has done its best to throw off your scent but we spotted one of Titus's members just five miles from here. It's no longer safe at this motel. You have to leave tonight."

I swallowed hard this time. I have to leave my home? What about Sophia and my belongings? My room is full of my most favorite paintings and clothes. I would have nothing to remember my parents. Mrs. Green was the one to speak this time, "You will be staying with our friends in California for the time being. They are good people and have a daughter your age. It is the safest place we could think of in such little time."

"What about my friends, my things, my life here?" I asked, feeling sadness roll over me again. Mrs. Green sat next to me as she took my hand. "I'm sorry sweetheart, but if you stay here Titus will kill you. I grabbed a few of your things and a few scrapbooks your mother made, but you have to go. Your parents would have wanted you to be safe."

I didn't have much of an option at this point. They agreed to let me write Sophia a letter. It was short and I couldn't tell her all the details, but I informed her I would contact her as soon as I could. There was no real way to write "Hey, my parents were killed by a wolf and oh yeah I have to leave or I will be next. TTYL!"

I handed Mrs. Green my letter along with a big hug. "Stay strong my dear. Our friends will answer any questions you have. Be careful."

She kisses the top of my head. Mr. Green wrapped his hand around her waist in comfort. Before I got into the black SUV waiting for me, I turned to ask, "How did you know about the wolves and my father?"

They both looked at each other. With a small smile Mrs. Green replied, "Who do you think were the wolves who tried to protect you?"

My head started spinning as it clicked in place. Those two wolves who barged into the house that night. One was a small white wolf with gray spots and the other had a red tint to its coat. Looking at them in front of me I could see a few similarities. "So you both can just turn into dogs?"

They looked kinda offended at the word "dogs". Mrs. Green let out a small laugh as she said, "the term you're looking for is werewolves sweetie. Your father was a werewolf. Actually, the Beta to the powerful Crestor pack. We met him and your mother when they were hiding. We welcomed them both into our community."

That explains why my mother never once complained about our life in that rural town. It was because these people took them in to keep them hidden, to keep me safe. "And mom, was she a werewolf too?"

The word was hard to come out of my mouth when using it to describe my parents. Mrs. Green shook her head. "No and neither are you."

I wanted to ask more questions but the driver gave Mr. Green a hand signal, which I interpreted as hurry up. We said our goodbyes and I got into the vehicle. I waved to them as we sped off towards California. All I could think about at that moment was the fact I had been hidden from the truth my entire life.