Ashina looked into the reflective windows of the diner, her teenage face stared back at her. She wasn't smiling, but she wasn't frowning either. Her face was calm and collected, however, inside her, she was boiling with nerves. With a sigh, she turned away from the window and began to pace, her feet slamming against the paved road as she walked down the length of the small path and right back to the spot she had just vacated.
Luke sat leisurely on a swing, he looked bored as he played a game on his phone while his legs idly kicked at the swing to keep it in motion. He was muttering under his breath as he focused on the game, but after a while, he looked up from the phone and stared at Ashina as she stopped right back at the window.
"I'm trying to concentrate here," he told her. "I can't do that if you keep walking like that, the ground did nothing to you."
"Haha," she replied without humor. But she went to sit beside him on the swing. "I'm just wondering how long it's going to take. They should have been here by now, what's taking them so long? Do you think something happened?"
"Just relax, girl! Nothing is going to happen, Ulva is with them. Besides, perish that idea right now, we're not going outside the Borough. Not for anything."
She pursed her lips at him, "you don't even know what's on my mind!"
"I know you, that's enough for me!"
Ashina pouted as she looked away, after a few seconds, she looked back at him, "But… what if they need our help?"
"Oh yeah… of course they will." Luke rolled his eyes. "A couple of teenagers would do what the alpha and other adult wolves can't do. It makes so much sense."
Ashina looked away from him, pursing her lips as she forced herself to remain in place. Luke didn't feel it but she knew what she felt. She couldn't shake the gnawing feeling that something had happened.
They were on the outskirts of the Borough, if they walked just a few steps further and the magical barrier would no longer be around them. From where they were, they could see the road that led in and out of the Borough. It was the only road her father would pass when he returned home to her.
Her father, Lockhart, had gone in search of her mother who was missing and for six heartbreaking months, she had not heard even a peep from him. At a point she became scared that he had failed or something terrible had happened to him.
However, everything changed a few days ago when Ulva got a call from Lockhart. It was a location. Ulva didn't tell her much except that he was going to bring her Daddy home. That was five days ago and ever since then, she had spent every waking hour on the edge of the Borough. Awaiting their return. Hoping and praying that her father was coming with her mother so their family could be whole once again.
Now, as she looked down the road, she wondered if this would be yet another dud. She wondered if she would see her parents ever again.
"Hey," Luke said suddenly, his voice was soft as he reached over and took her hand in his. He squeezed it as he held on to her. "Everything is going to be alright, I promise."
Feeling reassured, she smiled back at him. However, at that moment, she looked past Luke and saw a dark blue truck driving towards them. It was moving at top speed, kicking up dust and gravel. But she recognized it at once, it was Ulva's truck!
"They're here!" She cried excitedly as she jumped off the swing, "Quickly, we have to make them see us before they drive past us."
She ran into the road and spread her hands wide as she stood in the middle. At once, the breaks engaged and the truck came to a screeching halt, sending plumes of smoke into the air as it swerved to the side of the road.
Ulva stared at her in shock from behind the wheel, "Ashina? What are you doing here? I almost hit you!"
She smiled at him, "I was waiting for you! Where are they? Where are my parents?"
At that moment, she realized that Ulva wasn't looking happy and she had a sneaking suspicion that it had nothing to do with the fact that she had just jumped into the road. At once, the good feeling washed out of her as if a button had been pushed.
"No!" She cried, "Where's my father?!"
The backdoor of the truck was opened and Ashina saw Lena and one other wolf, they both had grim faces. But the most heartbreaking sight was her father who was in their middle, slumped in his seat. There was a nasty bite in his neck, it looked old, showing that it had festered for a while and her father was at the point of death.
"No!" She screamed as she climbed into the truck.
All of them got out to give her some privacy, locking her in with her dying father.
"Please Dad… I'm sorry! You can't leave me now!"
His eyes fluttered open, they were weak as they stared at her, his skin was pale and he looked like a shadow of his former self.
"Honey, I need you to listen to me," he muttered, his voice was weak.
"Dad! Please, don't die. Just hang on! I'm sure the witches would have something for us that we could use."
"I was bitten by a hybrid, there's no coming back from this. Honey, I'm sorry, okay? I need you to know that what happened wasn't your fault. Not at all."
"Dad…"
"No… I need to get it out. I don't have much time. This was not how it was meant to be, I never planned to leave you so early. However, it is happening and I want you to know I will always be there for you in spirit! I'm so proud of you, you're so strong and smart… honey, I'm not scared because I know you're capable of taking care of yourself. I raised a strong girl. Am I wrong?"
"Dad…" her voice was thick with sobs as her tears dropped freely.
"Answer me… am I wrong?"
"No, Dad. I'm strong, and I'm smart."
"Good, You'll be fine okay? Watching you grow up has… has been one of my greatest pleasures, and I'm so… so… sorry I don't g…ge… get to see you reach adulthood. No matter what happens, you must promise me something; you'll always remain strong for… for me."
"Dad… let's take you… let's take you to the Basement. I'm sure Agnes's mom can give you something to drink."
"Promise me, honey. I need… to… to… hear it."
"I promise you!" She cried as she held on tight to him, "I promise you, okay? I'll be strong and I'll be powerful! Can we go to the Basement now?"
Slowly, his head lowered further and rested against her chest, she felt it the second life left his body as his entire body went lax in her arms. Her father was dead.
She wailed hard, crying her eyes out as she tried to get him to wake up. She threatened him, prayed to the spirits, and begged him to return to her. She had no idea how long she remained in the car, however, when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she saw it was already dusk.
Lena looked sadly at her. Ashina was no longer able to cry, she was tired and spent.
"Come on, dear," Lena said, giving her a hand as she helped her out of the truck.
Like a baby, Ashina allowed herself to be led out of the truck. Luke was there, shocked as if he still couldn't believe what was happening. Ulva was also there, they had been waiting patiently for her. The third wolf got into the truck and drove off with Lockhart's body.
"My dear," Lena said, turning Ashina so she would face her, "I'm so sorry for what you're going through right now. But you don't have to go through this alone, we're here with you."
Ulva walked up and gently placed a hand on his mate's shoulder, "You can come stay with us for now, okay? For as long as you need…"
Ashina said nothing. At that moment, nothing made sense to her. She simply followed them meekly as they led her to their house. She was numb with grief, maybe with time, when the pain reduced, things would begin to make sense for her.
************
Ashina woke up from her sleep. For a few minutes, she remained still on her bed as her brain slowly came alive. Her bed felt big and empty in the dark, but it was something that she was used to. She felt around the bed until her fingers brushed against her phone, she picked it up and checked the time. It was a little past two in the morning.
She sat up from the bed, cradling her head in her hands. The dregs of her dream were still fresh on her mind, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. Remembering her Dad's was not helping at all, least of all when she was mourning Ulva.
She turned on the lamp, filling the bedroom with soft light. She wiped dried tears off her cheeks as she got up. She then walked to the window and looked out into the dead night. It was quiet and empty, exactly how she was feeling at the moment. As she looked out, there was only one thing on her mind.
One important thing that she had to do.