Chapter seven.
Rose.
I woke up to the sound of my mom's kitchen dishes clanking against each other but I felt too weak to keep my eyes open or move my limbs.
Remembering my time with Sabrina last night, I dug my face back into my pillow, flustered. I put a hand over my head, Wondering why my stupid wolf had decided not to come. Is it in a coma or something? I'd probably have more fun running through the woods if I could shape shift like everyone else.
I wished....
" Rose! " My mom's call interrupts my thoughts. Sighing into my pillow, I pushed myself up onto my back before jumping off the bed and dragging my feet towards the door. No..... I should get cleaned up first.
" Rose! We've got a lot to do at the clinic house! "
Uh! Another wounds to treat.
'geez, I'm coming mom!' I replied through the mind link.
" Did you just reply my call through a mind link? " She screamed back.
Yaiks! She hates it when you mind link her about serious talks. And everything is always serious to her!
I run into the bathroom before she barges into my room and quickly freshened up. After Combing my hair, I threw on my dress -the only dress I ever wear by the way- and hurried out to meet her.
My father was out already, such a busy man. He's so tied to doing everything around here in the Alpha's absence.
I stopped before the breakfast table, sat down on the stool and pulled the plate of bacon towards me. Mom stood near the water heater, fetching some warm water into a cup. She walks back to me and sets it down in front of me, then sprinkled the Cariort root powder into it.
" Mooom! You know I hate this powder! " I complained, looking at the black powder dissolve into the hot brewing water.
" It's good for your body, Rose " she said the same thing she always said every morning when I refuse to take the herb before walking back into the mini kitchen area. " You should eat up, we've got alot to do. The Alpha's returning today, with the princess "
I snorted a grunt before biting on my bread.
" And there's a lot to do in the clinic, Rose."
" It's super boring there mom! "
" That's not true," she replied, turning to face me now " Asla's having her baby soon "
" Really?! " I shot up in excitement. Finally, a pup!
She chuckles lightly, turning away from me and muttering " that does the trick "
She walks back and sits in front of me. I continued to eat silently, aware of her eyes watching me. I tried to ignore her, dreading the conversation that's to come after that.
" Rose " she calls softly and I looked up at her. She has a worried look on her face, the one I'm very much used to and I knew immediately what she was about to say.
" Are you sure you're alright? " She asks in a cooing voice. I stared back into her eyes, Wondering what exactly she's talking about. Sure I've got a lot of reasons to not be okay.
" Mom, I'm fine. Like you said, it's never too late to find my mate even after I turn eighteen " I reassured her, not really knowing if I believed that myself. And again there's that killing question, what if he's dead or something?
" That's not what I'm talking about Rose " she replied tenderly.
After a couple of stares, I knew exactly what it was instantly. My shifting. The thought makes my heart to sink into my stomach. The feeling wasn't new but it definitely hurt in a different way right now. It was sad really, with the waging war and all that...and I can't even shape shift yet. It hurts to see everyone my age turning into their wolves, participating in the monthly pack run we did around the woods and yet I can't do any of that. I always get to stay back and look after the younger kids while the whole pack went off runing. Sabrina often stayed back with me but I knew she only did that out of pity. I just didn't know what the problem was with me....
I casted my gaze down on the bread on my plate, looking for the words to say but I couldn't get anything in my head.
I felt my mom's hand touch mine, causing me to look up at her again.
" I don't ever want you feeling left out or feeling like a freak, Rose...."
" I am a freak " I cut her off, wishing I wasn't having this conversation.
" You're not and I'm sorry if you feel that way. Don't just let anyone stomp on you, Rose. You got to show them how unique you are "
Yeah, right....
" Rose "
" I'm fine mom, really "
She nods, taking her hand from mine to the table. We ate in silence afterwards until I finally found the awkwardness a bit too much to bear and said " there's a war coming, huh?"
She nods slowly before replying " we can only pray to the moon goddess to help us through it, Rose "
" The Night stalkers, are they so bad? They sound pretty terrifying "
" Of course they are. They are one of the most powerful packs there is "
" One of?"
"Yes. Many many years ago, a pack called the blood riders casted darkness all over the world that caused a complete darkness that lasted for months without stop. The snow kept falling and it never stopped until the human side of us couldn't take it anymore. The people couldn't shift into their wolf forms to keep themselves warm and still, the cold kept coming. Many children died from the cold and starvation. You've heard this story before right?"
" Yeah," I rolled my eyes unbelievably at her " you say it like you were there, mom. And it's the most unbelievable made up story I've ever heard "