The door clicked. I didn't lift my head, "I know you don't wanna talk. But we need to find our brother." I heard Ava.
I swept a shocked look at her, " Didn't mom..." My lips flattened in contemplation.
'She always talked about him. But we never could ask her, try to know anything about him.'
"She wouldn't tell you either. She wouldn't bring the topic. So..." She trailed off, shifting on her feet. I saw her a few minutes ago in a werewolf form.
"What do you mean find him?" My voice was hoarse with emotions and anger.
"Our father took him with him." She pressed her lips in a thin line.
"He's not our father," I yelled in anger, " Please, leave me alone." My breathing turned shallow as I grappled the truth. I balled my hands.
"We can talk later, " She offered.
"I don't wanna talk. Just. Leave me. Alone. For God's sake!" I was afraid of losing my calm. It wasn't her fault. I shouldn't shout at her. My breathing continued to quicken. First, Dastien left me without giving me any reason. Now all this.
' I'm from a werewolf family but I'm mute. My sister can shift, of course, my mother could do it too. We have a brother. We don't know anything about him. '
Ava snorted and left. Her ill-behaviour is going to earn her a hard slap from me.
I grabbed the pillow and threw it over the glass wall. I pressed my lips together tight to stop them from trembling. I couldn't stop the tears of frustration.
I failed them. I couldn't take care of my mother and Ava. I failed myself. Dastien left me. He doesn't want a mute. Tears spilled over, trailing down my cheeks.
◐
◐
I awakened in a cold sweat. My head was throbbing. I always woke up scared after having a nightmare. It started after the day I couldn't see Dastien. The day I saw him surrounded by fire, it wasn't hurting him.
I pushed myself up. The dim light was making everything visible. The sound of my rapid breathing filled the room.
But I didn't have the best eyesight like a werewolf to see in the full dark. My heart was pounding so hard that I could hear it in my head.
Forcing the panic back that I gained from the nightmare. I turned on the lights. I reached for my backpack. I grabbed the book from it. I was hoping to get answers from it. Why I couldn't shift. It shouldn't have bothered me but after knowing my parents were shifters. I wanted to know the reasons.
I settled on the couch with my book. I placed it in my lap and opened the book and began to find queries.
' Latent wolf who can't shift full in his or her wolf. But they still can have claws, teeth...'
I shook my head. I was mute. Totally mute.
I pushed the book away. I wasn't bothered seeing myself weepy.
A tap on the door just made me irked. Didn't I tell Ava not to disturb me? I grabbed the pillow. I was imagining to aim at her face.
The door cracked open. Her searching gaze rested over me, "Silver!" Shock washed over my face.
"Can I come in?" She asked, eyeing the pillow.
I frowned, "You don't need to ask." I lowered my hand with the pillow.
Sighing, she walked in. She sat on the arm of the couch and looked at my hand, "Were you going to hit me?" She asked, eyeing the pillow, again.
I nodded, "I was going to hit Ava."
"You thought. I'm Ava," She drew her face forward.
I nodded again, "Who called you? " I asked. It didn't matter but I wanted to change the topic.
"Carla," She twisted her lips in a huge smile.
"My mother." I shifted in my seat, pushing myself back, "Ok,"
"Do you wanna talk?" She asked, softly. She gives me a quick hug. At least, my friends know me, they don't hide.
"I hate that sperm donor. That's all." I said in frustration.
She took me in another hug, "We can talk. Whenever you want," She softly said.
"I know, thanks." I embraced her, curling my arms around her. I felt relaxed.
"But you need to talk." She muttered under concern, glancing deep in my eyes after pulling back her head.
"I know. But not now." I agreed.
"It's okay. We should go out. Shopping!" She suggested, hugging me again.
I rolled my eyes, "Yeah! You came to London to shop." I tried to mock.
"I came for you, Em." She said, her expression was serious.
"I'm convinced. Stop throttling me." But I wanted to cry more. Dastien's leaving was the most painful, heart-wrenching moment for me with every breath. Can't he feel my pain now?
"Good to know," She chuckled.
My eyes stared wide as saucers as my ears concentrated on something familiar, "Did you hear him?" My voice was sharp.
"Hear! Who?" Silver pulled her brows in confusion.
"Dastien, I heard him. I guess. I couldn't understand." Tears gathered in my eyes. I was relieved but wanted to hear him again. I want to see him, want him to hold me, I wanna see first after opening my eyes.
"Oh! Goddess! You heard him through his mate-bond. In your mind. But it's not possible until you complete the bond and it' still took time to get strong,"
I shook my head, "I don't know. Maybe he has returned." I ran out of the room, running my eyes everywhere. But he was nowhere to be seen.
"Try to hear him again. Concentrate." I heard her behind me.
"I don't know," Tears ran down, "Perhaps, I'm imagining him in my head."
"Close your eyes," Silver came behind me.
I closed my eyes. I couldn't hear anything but the beating of my running heart, "We haven't completed our bond. It can't be. I'm imagining things." A sad air suddenly masking my face, "I don't know how to reach him. Why did he leave me? I'm scared of ending up like my mother, " I admitted my dread.
"He didn't leave you. We just don't know the way to the Dark Realm?" She hugged me and patted my back.
My nose tickled with unspoken emotion, "But he knows the way to me. Then why?" My voice broke.
"I'm sorry. Elizabeth is trying her best and I know she'll find a way. Then you can ask him yourself." She murmured.
"I'm gonna kick his a** for doing this to me," I said in an annoyed and angry tone.
"I'm waiting for that, " She tried to chuckle but the sadness and worry were evident in her tone.
I shook my head pulling back. I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hands, "We should go out."
"I was thinking too. Get ready. I should say hello to your family. I directly walked over to your room." She said.
"Nobody sees you coming? Impossible! They're werewolves." I wasn't feeling part of their family.
"They must have smelled me. I'll be back." Silver turned to the door and paced out. She closed it behind her softly.
I deflated on the couch and closed my eyes. I had to say something to mom. I couldn't put her in a situation where she continuously kept thinking about me. That'd be torture. She hardly got her happiness back.
I pushed myself up against my desire. I padded toward the washroom.
After thirty minutes, I was wearing blue jeans, a white blouse, and a warm coat. It was warm inside but it'd be cold outside.
'I have to face her. I can't ignore her. It's her right to be happy with her family. It's another thing that I'm not part of.'
As I was expecting, my mother was sitting with Silver in the living room. Charles came from the other doorway, holding a small briefcase, like a businessman. I didn't know anything about him. I hoped mom wouldn't say it, too.
"Emma!" Her eyes were glassy.
I always wanted to see her like a normal person. Now I didn't have to act like a spoiler or devastate their happiness. Just a few days, then I'll be out of their lives.
I drew my arms around her, "I don't have any problem with your relationship." I held back not to gulp. But who was I kidding, they could smell emotions. I don't give a damn. If they don't wanna trust my words. It's their problem. I wanna get out of his house.
"Really?" She sounded surprised and relaxed at the same time. I didn't wanna see her in any kind of jeopardy.
"Yes," I nodded, pulling back. I was avoiding looking at Charles' way. I couldn't give enough reason to my mate to stay with me. He left me. It hurt so much.
"We're planning to get wed. This weekend." Mom dropped the bomb.
I blinked at her, "So you guys are in love?" They didn't look like an old couple.
"I shouldn't be surprised. I was expecting
this." I smiled. It was small but not a fake one.
She took me in a bear hug, "Thank you, for understanding us."
"Um.. hm," I drew myself back, "We're going out," I told her.
"Silver told me." She was blushing.
My body tensed when Charles stepped forward, his arm possessively curled around her. I didn't want them to start kissing in front of me. That would be gross and weird.
He smiled, "Thank you. If you need to talk we're here for you," He told me.
"Yeah, thanks." I didn't want to accept any father figure in my life. Not until I knew him.
"Where's my brother, mom?" I asked the second most disturbing thought.
Her lips sealed shut out of surprise. She wouldn't have expected me to bring the topic, "Your father took him with him." She said simply.
It aggravated me, "He's not my father. Don't call him my father, next time." I spun to leave. I was also feeling bad. I hated to be rude to her, "Sorry for the language, mom." I heaved, "We should go, Silver." She looked disturbed by my sudden anger.
"Emma, take your car with you and your cards." Mom said.
I whirled to her with a dropped jaw. My gaze moved from her to Charles. I cleared my throat, "Thank you, but I can earn, mom. I don't want Charles' money. Please, don't mind." I looked at Charles.
"I understand," He nodded with a soft smile.
My mother laughed, catching me off guard, "I was a fashion designer before your birth. I know you won't accept anything from Charles. He's still a stranger for you,''
My eyes doubled in size, " True!" I breathed, "Give me a warning next time. I can get a heart attack." I chuckled.
She laughed. I glanced at her closely, capturing her smiling face. She rarely smiled in the past. I should thank Charles if it was a part of her daily routine. Her happiness!
"Werewolf don't get heart attacks." She chuckled.
"I'm weak and mute, mom," I muttered.
She cupped my face, "Don't say that." She sighed as holding herself from saying something, "You're stronger than you think." Closing her eyes, she shook her head, " Well, after shopping, I wanna hear about Dastien. Your mate."
I glanced at Silver for help, "We're getting late," She walked forward and took my hand.
"Take this," Mom shoved the keys and credit card in my hand, "Enjoy, girls."
'Dastien! What should I say? He left me. He's out for some business. That'll be a total lie. I don't know, but it sounds better. '