After rigorous training of combat sparing Hunter, multiple times of landing me straight on my back against the leaf covered ground wasn't anything like gym class friendly fight or actually in a boxing ring. Placing a hand over my right shoulder as get up putting a knee on the ground and the other foot at front, I tried to catch a breath but it was straining and painful, maybe I had a tear.
"Hunter, this is dirt and not a spring bedding. My back is really getting irritated" I said out of breath
"Oh! Stand up straight. I'm still not done, I'm on my tarp today" he said musing
"Ok. Let's see your tarp cover this"
***
We came back in the house shaggy in sweat and dirt making a coating on our skin. Both dragging our bodies through the kitchen to the living room grandma Ruby was seated in her couch.
"I think you two needs some time to rest" She said not looking away from her old book.
"I totally agree" Hunter whined rubbing his bruised cheek from a freak attack I leashed. I laughed under my breath going down to hall to my room. I washed myself and dressed in a trousers and top.
As I was done, I opened my door to find hunter in front of it one hand resting on the jamb of the door, the other on his hip while his legs were crossed with a toothy grin.
I raised my brows
"I thought you would never finish up. Well, I have a threat for you today. We are going to..." he drew on the "oo" for effects "The village fair"
"What! I never knew they have werewolf fair around here" I acted surprised "only that I was already invited by these new cool friends I made"
"Hmm, I guess we should just go together then"
"Yeah, it sounds like a plan"
I laughed and closed the door behind us
There was torch everywhere lighting the whole village. We walked under the dim moonlight as the day was turning to night. Colourful threads running atop of the buildings, people in their best clothing and the music coming from the violin and flute.
We passed by three fun area made for kids before I finally saw Maya coming away from her friends. She came with a smile hugging me lightly rubbing my back.
"You came"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world" I smiled back.
"...and this is Hunter" I introduced gesturing to my side.
"Oh! I know Hunter. You know this is a small village, we are all acquainted."
"Yeah, what was I thinking?"
We laughed for a short span before she ushered us towards the table with her friends and couple of people I haven't met yet. I was introduced with thesame background story we cooked up, and everybody got on board. Drinks were passed on and chugged down like water, many festive activities where going on making it hard to think of anything else but muse about it.
"This is some really good bread" I said munching on a slice of a bread that was handed to me by Phoenix. The sun was already down but the music and everything else was at it's peak.
"It's a secret recipe" Maya added chewing on hers too.
"I bet"
I turned to Phoenix whom was by my side watching me as I ate, I gave him a hearty smile. "Thanks for the wonderful bread Phoenix".
He smiled back
I brushed my hand through his hair roughly making him giggle before he went off to a group of his friends. I had spent most of the day with him and Hunter, dragging me over from one point of the village to another, enlightening me about every simple detail. Even to the point where it marks the end of the ellipse clan territory; shallow falls, where a carving of the moon ellipse was embarked on a huge tree bark, all four angles. Terent Mill started just about Ruby's residence but it was all under the rule of Kiba. Although they did tell me the clan isn't of one pack, some other broken off packs either ended by war or attacks joined them too, which made them one of the strongest packs in the werewolf community as of now but it does feel like they are one.
I also learned that Maya and her bunch joined the pack ten years ago. They were from a different pack; Ravenna's pack once considered one of the most powerful and largest in the world. It was saddening how they were left of nothing but a friendship bond slowly turning into a family. The clan leader took them in as his own, just like I was presented to him.
Back to a more relaxing posture I was sitting on the ground leaning on a tree nestling a cup of concussion which was clearly alcoholic judging from the behavioral changes from people that took it. I was occasionally looking down at it, thinking whether to take it or not. I was old enough to consume alcohol but if Elizabeth and James were here, they would never let me. Plus, it would be my first time ever I wouldn't want to just go drunk and expose myself. I kept looking at the lively ringings of the village, lit and active. Leader Kiba had left already, he drank with his people and traded some of his valuable stuff for others. I also traded some of Ruby's plants that I picked myself for some other stuffs that I don't necessarily need but wanted to have for a feeling of completion and normality. But I did got some potatoes, mushrooms and a wide blanket holding the stuffs I had got.
"Are you drinking that?" Leo asked towering over me loopy. He was eyeing only the cup in my hands, barely standing straight on his two feet.
"Here, all yours" I hand the cup over. He leaned down pouring some of the content in the cup to the floor. He whispered, well he thought he whispered.
"Don't tell the others I took your cup, shhhh" he placed a finger over his lips symbolizing I should keep mute.
"Your secret is safe with me"
After he walked away making a really loud howl I was suddenly feeling distressed or better said emotional. It was almost a day like this that I lost my dad–James. After Halloween, most teenagers my age ditched trick or treating for a cool senior party but me and my friend, couldn't miss it. My dad offered to take us around the block, we had so much fun. A week after that I lost him–I lost him for the expenses of my own life, to keep me living.
I got on my feet dusting myself, I made my way to them having a wasted dance.
"I think I'm going to head home" I said
Maya being less drunk turned over to face me. "The night is just getting started. You have to stay longer"
"No, no,"
"Are you not enjoying yourself?" Maya enquired
"It's not that. I'm just.. tired maybe?"
"Are you sure you're ok?"
"Yeah I'm ok"
"If you insist but I'm gonna walk you or have Hunter walk you"
"No, no. I think I know my way well around here. I will be fine on my own. Have fun you guys" I yelled to the ground and headed forward. I walked around every group exchanging smiles and even some inviting to join but I politely declined.
It became so that the noise of the fair and lights were just specks when I turned around. I didn't know why this feeling was stronger tonight, I sighed before continuing to walk slowly. Maybe I needed something to get my mind off it, I should help grandma Ruby with something tonight. Maybe touch up the house all over, it needs some serious decorations.
With that in mind I reached home quickly, going through the door I found she was brewing some tea.
"The fair never finishes this early, why are you home?"
I closed the door behind me with a contemporary smile.
"I don't need any reason to come back home to a wise, old, good looking great grandmother"
I sat myself at the table while she responded with an uhmm sound.
"I guess so"
She placed a steaming cup in front of me patting my hair lightly. She sat adjacent to me, it was quiet again.
It was just the sound of her slurping the hot beverage in intervals while I stare at the one in my cup but actually felt like staring into a dark hole looping my pain.
I took a small sip putting it down on the table again, I decided to speak because the silence was making me go crazy.
"So, How many grand kids do you have besides Hunter?"
"Alot of numbers"
She answered simply, I nodded
"But Hunter is not my grand child" she added, I looked up towards her. She was just looking down at her cup taking another sip.
"So, he's your great-grandson?"
"Hunter is not my great-grandchild" she stated placing the cup down carefully like it would just shatter at the smallest contact with the table. She looked up at me plainly.
"So who is he? You told me he was family– if I can recall you said your grandson specifically"
Still keeping her calm nature, she spoke
"Yes, I did said he's family, your family but never mine"
I opened my mouth to speak, I tried to but I couldn't I was seriously confused and realized I just believed Hunter to be her grandson, indeed she never told me something of that sort.
What is that supposed to mean my family? But not her's? Was that supposed to make sense.
"Hunter is your mother's mate" she stated toneless like she was telling me A was an alphabet.
"Hunter? My mother's mate?"
"Yes"
"But–but you told me she fell in love with Luther and got pregnant with me?"
"That doesn't make Luther her mate. You see before we meet our mate some get into those relationships uhmm...affairs but eventually they never last, the mate bond takes over. It's an unbreakable bond even after death"
"What?" I asked perplexed. I felt my heart scrunching up with pain as my heart beat rises.
"Your mother had an affair before she met Hunter and realized she was his mate but she already had you in her. So,"
"Hunter should have been my father?" I chimed in
My heart weighted in pain as yet another atrocity was made just so I come alive in this cruel world. If Hunter was my father all this wouldn't have happened, even if the war took place I wouldn't feel the need to hide who I really where. I would have had a complete family.
"No, Hunter was never to be your father. If he was he would have. You are to be the balance again to these different worlds, it is your purpose"
"No! We are not talking about my purpose of living!" I jumped up tears running paths down my cheeks. " You just don't understand how it feels when you say that. It's not that simple"
Grandma Ruby got up too rounding the table to stand in front of me with a face mixed with sympathy and understanding for my situation
"Gianna. Every person has a purpose, we all weren't given any choice but we can use it how we want. We make it what we want."
"What do I make of an existence in hiding and in constant fear for my life?" I asked in tears
"Nothing ever stays thesame forever"
She pulled me in for a hug slapping my back real hard, I didn't mind that but just the lingering feeling of rose in my throat from the guilt of playing a part in destroying thesame person's life that's working himself to make me a better person. After we pulled out of the hug I sat back down while she excused herself out.
"I cannot believe this"