Ariella
I get into my car and then rip open the cool bag with the rest of the meat inside. There ain't much left, but I rush to eat it all. The hunger pains subside but they're not gonna be gone long enough to get all the way home.
I'm gonna have to call my parents.
And they're gonna say I told you so.
Ugh...
I start the car and then speed out of the parking lot. I get out of the city quickly and then press the gas to the floor when I hit the winding country roads.
I’m gonna have to call dad soon; I'm not gonna make it. Worse still, I know I smell like Davonyé, too. I can smell him on my skin. Dad will lose his shit. Maybe I should call mom. She can calm him down before he comes. He's gonna have to change to get to me quicker. And it's daylight... This is seriously reckless. They're gonna be on my ass so damn bad over this...
“Call, mom,” I say into the cars Bluetooth.
It rings only once. “Ariella, baby? What's wrong?” mom answers sounding worried already.
Mom always knows when something is wrong.
“Uh… Nothing, yet. I'm okay… I'm driving home.”
“Okay...” she says cautiously.
“I've kinda run out of meat, though, and I can feel the hunger coming. I’m sorry,” I start gushing. “You two were right, I was wrong. I never should’ve gone to school,” I manage to say before I start crying.
“Oh, sweetheart. Don't cry, baby, dad’s leaving now, okay? Where are you?”
I cry harder. “Almost by the woods.” I ball. I’m not even halfway home.
“Okay, park up and stay there. He's bringing food for you, okay? Don't worry, we aren't mad with you. You just had to learn the hard way, that’s all.”
I sniff back my tears. “That's not all, though, mom...”
She's quiet for a second. “What else?”
I pull into the woods and park the car just out of sight. “I smell... like Davonyé. I'm sorry, dad was right about that, too. I messed up, mom, I couldn't control my temper and then Davonyé found me, and one thing kinda led to another. Oh, God...”
“Oh, sweetheart. Calm down. You're okay and that's all that matters. Things like this happen when you're about to change. He's your mate. It was bound to happen sooner or later. He didn't hurt or mistreat you, though, did he? Because if he did, that changes everything.”
“No. No, he didn't hurt me. I mean, it hurt a bit, but that wasn't his fault. He was actually really sweet. I'm sorry. I'm sure you don't want the details.”
“Of course I want details! You can tell me anything, you know that. Your dad doesn't particularly wanna hear it, so I'll just block him for a second… How was it?”
I switch off the ignition and take a steadying breath. “After the first few minutes, it was good.”
“Just good?” She sounds disappointed.
I shake my head. “Really good, mom.”
“Oh, good, that's better. Did he know it was your first time?”
“Not until after—”
“What!”
“It wasn't his fault.” I panic. “I kinda made him do it. I couldn't help it. It was like I needed–AHH! Mom, it hurts!” I double over against the steering wheel and cry out in pain.
“Dad’s almost there, sweetheart,” mom says, raising her voice. “He can sense you. Not much longer now, okay? Try to breathe through it. You might pass out before he gets there, but don't worry, alright? As soon as you wake up, we'll have meat ready, okay?”
“Yeah,” I manage to say through the pain. “Mom, it hurts so bad...”
“Oh, baby, I hate hearing you like this. I'm so sorry that I can't come to you myself, but dad is almost there, I promise.”
“The cars spinning, mom...”
“Almost there now...” mom’s voice fades.
‘Do not worry, Ariella,’ I hear Aura’s voice. ‘Clarence is here now, and I will take the pain away.’ She sounds like an angel. ‘Sleep,’ she says, just as I hear my car door open, and I lose my grip on reality.