Chapter 2

Susie’s POV

“Remember the red wolf story?” says my mother with a nervous voice as she plays with her fingers in her lap. She seemed a bit more nervous than she was when I hugged her downstairs.

I smile at her knowledge of that story. “Everyone knows of that story. We all heard it at school when we were pups, Mom,” I tell her with a small snicker.

Samie sighs and rolls her eyes like I’m missing the point of something. “What?” I mouth at her, surprised she is actually reacting like that.

Samie looks up and shakes her head, and I roll my eyes at her. “If you know it, mind telling me? Kinda wanna know your version, pppplllleeeeaaaasssseee?” Samie tells me with a big sarcastic grin and holding her hands together like a drama girl. Mom giggles at her response with drama and shakes her head.

I close my eyes and take a breather. “Okay! Well, there once was a wolf, a big red-colored wolf, who did no harm to anyone. He met different creatures and lived in different places, but he liked being with humans more than any other. One day, he became friends with the humans and even fell in love with one. Turns out she was his fated mate,” I say, remembering when my mom used to make the voices for creatures like goblins, vampires, and, I think, elves, which makes me giggle.

I breathe a bit more, feeling my head hurt a little. “One day, his mate had a baby. After the baby was born, his mate got sick, and he prayed to the Moon Goddess so she could heal her. The Moon Goddess saw how much he loved her and how good he was to all the creatures, so she blessed him with the power to heal any wound she had. When he was blessed, he was turned into a big red wolf.”

I reenacted my mom’s version because it was the only one that got stuck. “But it came with a price.” I stopped for a moment because my cell vibrated. I was going to get it, but my mom put her hand to have my cell. I sighed heavily and passed it to her. After I sat back down, I continued.

“Each time he would heal her, a year of his life was taken away, so he could only use it when it was really necessary. Before he died, the Moon Goddess said that his gift of healing others would be passed on to all his children, every last one of them. The end,” I say as I put my hands on the sides, like taking a bow, remembering how my mom used to tell it. I felt kinda silly telling an old kids’ story.

We laugh a little at my drama, but it’s the story every child knows, apart from the hunters and other creatures. Why was she getting me to think about that when all I want is to meet my wolf and mate? Guess it was sorta cute to get my head out of the nerves, or am I missing something here? 

My mom puts my cell down on the small coffee table in between us. I pick it up as she goes on to talk.

“Sue, when tonight you get your wolf, please don’t run with the pack. As a mother and Luna, I ask you don’t. I know my pack is very far from here, but I need to make sure you and Samie are well with your first shift. Hopefully, you get your wolf tonight, honey. If you don’t, it’s okay. We can always wait for the full moon or just live as it is.” She says all this with a trembling voice, but what has me really nervous is that my mom doesn’t look at me, and I feel a pang of fear. Does she know something I don’t? Won’t Samie also go through this? 

I need Mykel. I start to reply to Mykel when my mom stands up. So I stopped typing the text I was just about to send.

“Mom, what do you mean if I don’t get my wolf? Of course, I am going to get my wolf. Why are you asking me about a kids’ story and then saying I won’t have a wolf? Is this some kind of mean joke?”

She doesn’t answer me; instead, my cell starts vibrating, and I see Mykel calling me. I pick it up to talk to him, but my mom tries to stop me instead. I look at her, confused and a bit angry, wondering what she was hiding from me on my birthday. And I was really annoyed at how Samie is just there like nothing is bothering her, seriously.

“Hello? Baby, are you there? I was getting worried that you took off without telling me anything. Do you need me for something? Sue?” he sounds a bit worried that I never replied to him. Guess he missed me a lot.

I smile at how worried he is for me. “Hi, no, I haven’t left. Just having some girl time with Mom. How did things go?’ I look at how my mom sighs heavily; she is worried for me, too, but why? After this small storytelling and telling me what not to do, I give it no real importance; I go and hug her with my cell still in my ear.

I hear him breathing a bit faster. “Lame wants me to help him build some wall and stuff, but I have my own pack to take care of. He is just being a brat. Hopefully, after today, I do not have to come back here. I don’t mind saying hi to your dad or Kia. You know, it’s just…. Ugh, it’s…” he says with one big irritated groan. Mom and I giggle. I let go of her so she can go into her room as Sam follows her.

“Yup, on the Lame part, I totally agree. He needs to get his shit together. Listen, baby, would you mind if I stayed with Mom and Sam? They want to hang out with me and get ready together. Meet me at 7:30?” I bite my lips, hoping he is okay with it. Mykel is a little possessive with me, and I like it, but he can get pretty scary sometimes.

He breathed a bit heavily. “I will pass by with your dress and shoes and get the makeup bag from your dad’s with some fast food. Sounds good? Get Kia to take the stuff when I drop them upfront, or I will drop them myself.”

I smiled at his reply. “I hope you drop by so I can see you for a small bit, please?” I cross my fingers.

“Sure, see you soon, Sue.” He hung up like nothing, no ‘goodbye babe,’ no ‘I can’t wait to see you.’ Maybe I asked too much of him today. I will make it up to him later. 

My mom walks back, looking at my cell. She looked at me worried after I spoke to him as if he owned me. It makes him happy to hear I belong to him. I like it, sorta. I hang up, and Sam hugs me.

Over her shoulders, she asks, “Mom, why are we not allowed to run with Alpha Jaime’s pack? I mean, aren’t we going to get in trouble if we do that?”

But my mom just hugs us both tight. “Samie, our pack has other rules that help us more than they help the ones of this pack. I have my reasons, just do as I ask, and nothing bad will happen, okay, Sue and Sam?” These are her words, and they get me more confused. It’s like she has to hide whatever she really wants to say. We both nod, but then, someone knocks on the door. When I open it, I get a flying Kia on me with two more omegas that are bringing my mom’s bag and dinner.

“I can’t wait to find my mate tonight! Aren’t you excited?” she says, jumping up and down like a little bunny, making me giggle at her cute jumps.

“Yeah, I am dying to find my hunk. Do you have any idea who it might be for you, Kia? I hear the Beta has no mate yet. What if it’s you?” I say as I help the other omegas set the food for them to leave. Once the omegas leave, the door is stopped by someone’s foot.