I woke up in Gwen's room. I must have fallen asleep there with her. We spent most of the night talking about all kinds of things, but my thoughts were more focused on home; my "real" home. My head was pounding and I pulled a pillow over my face to block out the light. I rolled my head over and noticed the window was pulled open. The sunlight was warm, but still far too bright.
I sat up and noticed Gwen had already gotten up. I scratched my head, making my way into the kitchen. I was on the search for food. I smelled a delightful scent wafting down the hall. When I got to the end, I noticed the breakfast set out for me with a note from Gwen, saying she'd be back later. I shook my head with a light chuckle.
"Of course she couldn't resist."
I devoured it with glee and tidied up. When I finished with the dishes, I thought about what I should do. Ultimately, I decided a walk on the beach sounded perfect. My head was still throbbing, but not as much, so I thought the fresh air and sunlight would help. I picked out a yellow sundress and white sun hat from the clothes Gwen had brought with her yesterday. Of course, I hadn't packed anything practical for the beach when I decided to come here. I slipped on a pair of sandals and stepped out into the ocean breeze and sunshine.
The sunlight felt warm on my skin and the ocean foamed over and through my sandals as I walked along the shore. It was cool and refreshing. The gulls sang over the sea and the waves called out as they crashed onto the shore. I'd learned to appreciate all the gifts of nature, even when they were so different from home.
I went to the dock Claude and I used to play on and went to the edge. I pulled my sandals off and took a seat, letting my feet drag just beneath the water's surface. There were so many memories here. I closed my eyes and pictured it. My mother building castles in the sand with Claude and my father throwing me out into the water. The thought of how we used to be made me sad. So much had changed. The faint sound of laughter dragged me back. I looked along the beach to see a little boy and his sister collecting shells along the shore. It reminded me of Claude and I. The boy put a handful of wet sand in his sister's hair, causing her to squeal, and the chase was on. Then, I was reminded of Corbin.
At the mere thought of him, a large gust of wind raced past me, blowing my hair around my face in a whirlwind. I took in a deep breath, smelling a familiar scent. I almost forgot to breathe, trying to hold onto it. The time spent with Mr. Reeves, reminiscing over all my memories, brought me the utmost joy. But I was also longing, more than ever, to go back. I knew that wasn't possible. That was the real fantasy and that sadness, that reality, boiled in my stomach, turning into a pit that I worried would eventually swallow me whole...
I stayed there at the dock watching life revolve around me like I was just a bystander until the sun sank beneath the sealine. When I returned home, I found Gwen on the couch, flipping through the pages of a book aimlessly. She immediately put it down when she saw me come in.
"And where have you been all day?"
"I went out and did some window shopping. Looked at some new things to get for the Manor. Things to help me with the cleaning and what not-" She paused when she saw the look of scolding on my face and wagged a finger at me. "Don't look at me like that. I didn't actually buy anything!"
I laughed, heading into the kitchen for a glass of water. Gwen followed behind me and took a seat on one of the bar stools.
"What about you? What have you been up to?"
"I just went for a stroll on the beach. It was so nice to just get lost in time."
Gwen smiled at me and then suddenly got a look of excitement and hurried off to her room. I watched her disappear down the hallway. I just shook my head and smiled, taking a sip from my glass.
"I got you a little something, too, Ms. Abby," she beamed, coming back around the corner with a small black bag and handing it to me.
"Gwen, you shouldn't have," I sighed pulling out a cell phone and looking at her incredulously, "A cell phone?"
"Believe me, it's much better than the landlines. And it's mainly so I can contact you in case of emergencies."
"If you say so," I shrugged, flipping it open and looking over all the buttons, "Thank you, Gwen."
"And, I may have put that nice young man's number in there for you, too," she winked.
I rolled my eyes and laughed, heading down the hall to my own room. I changed into some more comfortable, lounging clothes and went into the living area. Gwen was back on the couch and I sat on the loveseat across from her. I started brushing through my hair that had gotten to be so long since I started growing it out. The tangles snagged on the bristles and I longed for the days when I didn't have to worry with it. Gwen and I started with small talk until she approached the topic of Mr. Reeves again. Asking when I would be seeing him again and if I would be giving him a call soon.
"What exactly makes you think I want to call Mr. Reeves?"
"Oh, come on, Ms. Abby. I know you better than that."
"How do you mean?"
"You like him," she smiled.
"Well, yes, I enjoy his company, but we're merely-," I hissed out a dark word as my hair snagged again, "Business partners of sorts."
"You know what I mean."
"Oh, Gwen, it's nothing like that at all," I sighed, setting the brush on the table in defeat and leaning back against the cushions.
"You're trying to tell me that you have no feelings for that man?"
"None in that sense…," I muttered out, looking away from her.
Gwen sighed and I watched her stand up. She made her way over to me and sat down beside me, motioning for me to turn my back to her as she picked the brush up. I did so and closed my eyes as she ran the brush flawlessly through my hair.
"You're a right lady now, Ms. Abby, but you've still got a lot to learn. A lot to learn about love, yes ma'am."
I gave her a huff and she just chuckled and continued with her ministrations. How could I love Mr. Reeves? The only thing I could maybe consider loving about him were the ways he reminded me of someone else… Someone I already knew I loved...
It wasn't until the next day, about noon, when I decided to go ahead and call him. I flipped open the phone and scrolled through the contacts until I came across the listing "Curtis" with two little hearts by it. I rolled my eyes, sighing Gwen's name, before hitting the call button.
"Hello?"
"Good afternoon, Mr. Reeves."
"Abby? You're not calling on a land-line are you," he asked, sounding a bit flustered.
"Oh, no. Gwen decided I needed a cell phone."
"Well, that's very considerate of her."
"Sure is," I laughed lightly, thinking back to our conversation from yesterday, "Are you going to be free this evening?"
"I think so," his voice trailed off, like he had stepped away from the phone, and then came back, "Were you thinking about doing some more story telling?"
"Something like that."
"Sounds good. I can be over around six?"
"It's a date."
The words slipped from my lips before I could catch them. My face flushed with embarrassment, but he agreed and hung up the phone before I could take them back. I went to my room and put on something casual, tying my hair back. Gwen headed out about the time I finished changing and said she was going to see a movie. She tried to pretend she didn't know what I would be doing, but the sly smile on her face told me she already knew.
I ordered some take out and started setting the table. The food arrived and I plated it to look like I had done it myself. 'It's not a date. It's not a date,' I kept telling myself. If it wasn't a date, why did my heart seem to thump like crazy?
"It's all Gwen's fault…," I somewhat growled to myself, "Filling my head with such nonsense…"
He knocked on the door shortly after and I went to greet him. He smiled softly and stepped inside. I couldn't help but notice how the pale blue shirt he wore made his blue eyes even more vibrant than usual.
"What's that smell? It's heavenly."
"I thought it'd be nice to have dinner as well? I hope you haven't eaten."
"I'm starving actually," he laughed.
I walked him into the dining table and we each took our seats. Throughout the dinner we laughed about funny little quirks and ironic moments in our own lives and carried on in pleasant conversation. After eating, we made our way to the living area. He took a seat on the couch and I poured the usual two glasses of wine. I handed him his cup and went out of my way to sit on the opposite side of the couch. Mr. Reeves didn't even seem to notice and, somehow, that made me a little uneasy. I shook the thought from my head.
"So, what happens next?"
"I think that would be my first battle with the Northern wolves…"
I awoke from a pleasant night's sleep and stretched my tired body. I looked around the cave and realized half of the pack was gone. Those that remained were the other females and the young pups. Off to the back a female was tending to the pups, while the others waited up near the mouth of the cave with Kala. An unnerving feeling creeped over me knowing that Devon wasn't with me. I stood slowly and began heading towards Kala and the others.
"Abby! You're awake," Corbin's familiar voice yipped with glee as he bounded over to me.
"Corbin, what's going on? Where is everyone?"
"Those no good Northerners came into our territory again," he growled, "Devon and the other hunters went to teach them a lesson."
My mind flashed back to days before when Devon and I fought the two Northern wolves from before. My heart raced with fear.
"He's out there," I whispered, failing to hide the worry in my voice.
"Don't worry, Abby… Devon is strong. He'll run those Northerners out of our territory and be back before you know it."
Corbin was called back by the female with the pups and I managed to walk up beside Kala. I stared out the doorway, looking aimlessly for that glowing white pelt to shine through the brush. Why was I so worried for a wolf I just met? The memory of the fight before continued to run through my head, growing more and more distorted. Terrible thoughts of what would have happened if I weren't there caused the pit in my stomach to grow.
"Little one," Kala spoke softly. I looked at her and the soft glow of her yellow eyes. It comforted me slightly. "He will be alright. A fight is no place for a female."
"But maybe I can-"
"Females don't fight," one of the females snorted, "The males do the fighting and the hunting. We stay here to preserve the growth of the pack. Every wolf knows that."
I felt the sting from the way she pitted that word against me. Maybe she was right. I wasn't a wolf like them. Then, it hit me. I wasn't a wolf like them. A spark of rebellion burned to life inside of me and I felt it rage into a fire.
"Females do fight."
The wolves around Kala gasped in shock. The cave broke into a clamour of murmuring. Soon, they fell quiet and their eyes fell on me.
"Any female would fight to protect her pups, wouldn't she? And to protect her mate? Everyone has a reason to fight. Every wolf has a reason to fight. Can you really say you wouldn't? That you had no reason to?"
None of them responded. I thought my words fell on deaf ears.
"Brave words… I have heard before," Kala's voice cracked out through the silence. She had a proud smile on her face. "Only the last wolf who said them… Was the leader's daughter… An arrogant one she was."
"She was right. Why didn't you all listen to her?"
"We wolves are noble creatures. We don't often change from our ways. But Eva was different."
I paused and tried to read Kala's face. Finally, I realized the Spirit Guides words. Eva was Benry's daughter and she was now a part of me. The reason I couldn't leave Devon and Corbin; why I felt this fire inside me, was because of her. Kala nodded her head as if she read my thoughts as they came to me. She looked at me with eyes of approval… Acceptance. I felt my muscles pulse with the need to run. Then, without a second thought, I ran out of the cave. My heart went wild with excitement. A flood of feelings rushed over me. It all felt so natural and, yet, so distant…
My ears caught the sound of the snarls and the scent of blood filled my nose. My feet pushed me onward as I followed my senses. I stopped atop upon an overlook and saw the packs fighting one another. I found Leader Benry in a vicious battle with the largest of the Norhtern wolves. The two seemed to be in the center of the massive fight. Snarls, growls, yelps of pain, and the stench of blood filled the shallow valley, coming from both opposing sides.
I heard a yelp that seemed to pierce straight through my heart. My eyes searched frantically for him. A glimpse of white caught my attention and my eyes widened in horror. Devon was pinned under a large brown wolf. Scratches covered his face and the wound he received in the previous fight had torn open again. The red stains that covered his beautiful white fur shot the fire in me into an inferno.
My eyes grew narrowed and my hair bristled up, standing on it's ends. My lips curled back to reveal my teeth met the nip of the air. The wolf pinning Devon reared his head back and laughed as he tried to free himself. His head flew down, teeth bared, and Devon yelped loudly in pain. That was it.
"DEVON!!!"
My body flew down the valley wall as if it acted on it's own. I leapt into the fray and tore through the mass until I reached them. I threw myself at the wolf above Devon, my teeth sinking into his flesh and his doing the same to mine. We rolled to the ground and quickly separated, before flying at each other again. Another clash of teeth and claws. I managed to pin him beneath me, my teeth to his throat and crushing him to the ground with my weight. I saw a reddish blur come up from behind me and jumped out of the way, causing the red wolf to crash into his pack brother.
I tasted the blood in my mouth and snarled fiercely, moving quickly between Devon's still body and the attackers. and fur in my mouth and heard them yelp. The other two wolves got to their feet as fast as they could and tried to rush me both at once. I grabbed the brown wolf by his midsection with my teeth, aiming for whatever I could sink my teeth into. The red wolf knocked me aside and tried to leap onto me. I met his teeth with mine and managed to tear into his ear, ripping it as he jerked away with a yelp. The brown wolf grabbed hold of my leg and I kicked him with the other until he let go.
The red wolf came back and buried his teeth into my nape. I writhed in pain and rage beneath him and, suddenly, a flash of white and red leapt up from behind me and tackled the red wolf to the ground. A quick snap seemed to echo through my ears. Devon turned menacingly to the brown wolf who was backing away. I caught the dark gaze of those beautiful blue eyes and my breath was stolen from me. As the brown wolf ran off, Devon's eyes shifted to me. I felt frozen in time when his eyes met mine.
Then, reality crashed over me when he collapsed before me. I mustered what strength I had left and dragged myself to him. I forced myself to stand over him. The fight was still raging around us and I watched all around me for signs of another attack. Suddenly, a shadow soared above us, followed by several others. The Northern wolves were running away with their tails between their legs. Southern wolves began to flank around us, finishing off the chase. A final large shadow was cast down upon us. Benry landed firmly and looked over his shoulder at me. It appeared that even he had sustained substantial damage from his fight.
"Abby…"
I looked down at the sound of Devon's weak voice. I leaned down to nuzzle in his neck and felt the pain race up my own. I winced and a look of worry crossed Devon's face before confusion took over.
"Why did you come here?"
"How could you expect me to stay without you there?"
"You've never been in a battle. You could've been killed. You should have-"
"Stayed at the cave with the other females," I chuckled weakly, "Eva's spirit is within me, Devon. She wouldn't let me merely sit by while her pack fought and neither will I."
He stared at me with an incredulous look and let out a weak chuckle, slowly getting his feet under him to stand. I used what strength I could manage to help support him until I was sure he could be stable on his own. Benry cleared his throat, dragging me back to reality.
"Abigail."
The power of the Alpha's voice seeped through me. For the first time, among all this fighting, fear crept down my spine. I tried to silence the whimper that crept up my throat as I limped before him. I kept somewhat of a distance between us and kept my eyes and head low. Vultures had already begun circling overhead; their consistent cackling and gawking eyes left me with a disgusted feeling in my stomach. Neither of us spoke and the other wolves, now watching and waiting, didn't dare involve themselves. His eyes felt like they were burning into my skin. It was Devon who broke the silence.
"Leader Benry, if Abby had not come, I would not be able to speak with you now. She saved my life."
I kept my eyes on Benry's paws, never daring to look up into his eyes. The silence was suffocating. Just when I felt it would crush me, Benry finally spoke.
"What made you come into this fight?"
"When the others told me what was happening," I started cautiously, trying to compose myself, "I thought back to when Devon was hurt by the Northern wolves when we first met. The thought of him being hurt again, sparked a fire within me that I could not explain. And when Kala and the other females tried to tell me that it wasn't my place to fight, it spurred that fire on further."
I looked up briefly to meet his eyes, but kept myself low. Somehow his eyes seemed softer and I felt confident to continue.
"Kala told me about your daughter… About Eva… And how she was the reason for this fire. That she was pushing me, urging me onward. I can't say that part of me knew I needed to be here, but it was Eva that guided me through the fight."
My eyes fell down to the ground again and everything fell into silence again. Suddenly, I heard Benry move and he was standing over me. I felt my body jump in surprise when his head came to rest beside mine. I was frozen in a moment of shock until he spoke again.
"My daughter was stubborn. She undoubtedly got it from her father," he chuckled. The sound only spurred my surprise, having never imagined Benry would ever chuckle. "She was a brave wolf and would often defy me in matters such as this. I could not stop her from joining into the fights. She couldn't stand the thought of sitting on the sidelines while her brothers risked their lives."
Benry's head lifted and I looked up at him again. His eyes seemed to glow with pride and sadness. I could not imagine the emotions he must be feeling. Benry stepped past me and looked among the other wolves in the fighting party, his head held high.
"It has been made clear," he said with the power of the pack leader, "My daughter's spirit has indeed been entwined with my daughter. In respect for Eva's wishes, and in gratitude for Abigail's bravery, I declare that she is now, officially, a member of our pack. I have passed my judgement and expect you all to abide by it."
I looked at him in awe and the wolves around me echoed their acknowledgement with a broken song of howls. Devon staggered up beside me and helped me to my wobbly feet. I looked around at the faces of my pack; my brethren, an overwhelming joy enveloping me. I couldn't even feel the pain from my wounds, as if they didn't even exist to me anymore.
Benry looked at me again and that warm glow still caught me off guard.
"Furthermore, Abigail, just as Eva did before, I want you to be by my side in the upcoming war. The Northerners have received my placancy for far too long. The time to act is coming and I would accept no other wolf as my right hand."
I couldn't find the words, so I nodded my head proudly and the wolves echoed out in their song again. This time, my own voice joined in and I felt Eva's presence swell within me. This happiness was both mine and Eva's. I could feel it.
"A war between the packs," Mr. Reeves breathed out in disbelief.
He was staring at me intensely and I gave him a soft nod, getting up to take our empty glasses into the kitchen.
"There were many battles before the war. Some we won and some we lost..."
"Did you lose many wolves?"
I paused at the sink, sitting the glasses in the sink. He looked at me and, without a word, he knew the answer to his question. His face took a solemn turn and he let out a soft sigh.
"It's late. I think I should be headed home. Dex will be tearing the pace apart if I don't."
I let out a soft laugh and escorted him to the door. He stepped out the door way and stopped suddenly, staring at me.
"Abby," his voice trailed off, "What's that on your neck?"
I turned to look into the mirror that hung by the door. I quickly pulled my hair from behind my ear to cover the scars. I gave him a soft smile and awkwardly wished him a goodnight. He didn't press the matter, but gave me a puzzled look. He shook his head on the way to the car and gave me a last wave goodbye before driving off.
I watched until his car left the driveway and then turned, letting my back press up against the door. I stared up at the ceiling, looking for something I knew wasn't there, my heart beating wildly. I went into my room and closed the door behind me. After a hot shower, I stood in front of my vanity, towel around my waist, and tried to remind myself that this reflection was mine. I reached to my neck and traced the scars there gently with my fingertips. Then, I looked to the ones on my calf, treating them the same.
There were more scars than these, but these were the most important ones to me. My first fight. They were the constant reminder that I wasn't crazy when I came back. Father had tried to put me in therapy with several shrinks, all of them convinced my trauma had created my "fantasy". They tried to tell me that my kidnappers had inflicted these scars upon me, but I knew the truth. And I hoped they would never go away.
Morning came before I knew it and I made my way into the kitchen for coffee. Gwen was already awake and reading another book. She seemed far more relaxed and interested in this one than the last. I had just started pouring my cup when the landline started ringing. Gwen and I exchanged puzzled looks between ourselves. Neither of us were expecting a call and Mr. Reeves was the only one outside of the family that knew this number.
"Hello," I answered cautiously.
"Abby," Claude's voice exclaimed, followed by a jumble of words. He was speaking too fast for me to make any of it out.
"Claude, calm down! What's the matter?"
My face suddenly went pale and I gripped the edge of the counter to keep myself standing. The phone dropped from my hand and Gwen rushed to my side, catching me as my knees gave way. My heart sank deep into my chest.
"Ms. Abby!"
I heard Gwen calling my name, but it seemed so far away. I heard Claude's voice faintly from the receiver as Gwen picked the phone up, frantically trying to figure out what had happened.
"It's Alex! There's been an accident!"
Those words echoed in my head and my heart dropped deeper and deeper into my stomach.
***** A/N: If you like what you've read or are enjoying things so far, lemme know! I appreciate any feedback anybody wants to give! Thanks! *****