Alora.
I finally went back into the kitchen with Raya and the heat from the sun and the thick coat I wore was cooking me on the inside and I missed the feel of the cold AC against my skin.
Which was normal because I barely spent any time outside. My body was used to the cold and warmth of the house as I had spent five years inside Jax's room.
"Lana is gonna kill me for slacking off." Raya chuckled as we pulled open the kitchen door and walked in. The cold air hit against my face and I sighed.
Thankfully, the kitchen was empty as Camilla and Carmen were probably still working upstairs. Raya immediately went to the sink to do the dishes just as Isabel walked in tired.
She took off her glasses immediately, dropping her box on the counter before going to the fridge to take out a bottle of water. I sat away from her, watching as she drank the water quickly before turning to me.
"How are you doing?" She asked, dropping the cup in the sink as Raya flashed her a knowing stare that I couldn't decipher.
I nodded slightly, picking my nails to avoid looking at her. I wanted to tell her thank you for earlier but around her I felt incredibly dumb. Isabel was Ares' personal nurse and I knew she must be so brilliant compared to my dumb self. Something about her made me very inferior.
"I can fix you if you want but you might have to take your bath first. You're very dirty." She said, though her voice didn't sound mean, they pierced through me as I struggled to my feet.
"We'll be back Raya." Isabel said as she led me through the kitchen door.
I wondered if Ares was ok and still in the room. A part of me wondered what was wrong with him and why he was in such pain. I stared at Isabel's back. She had to know what was going on. Same as Victor and Seth but they were doing a good job of keeping me in the dark about it.
Not that I cared anyway. I was more concerned about myself than anyone else.
"You can use our changing room to bathe and get dressed. Lana already picked out some of Camilla's clothes for you to change into."
At the mention of Camilla's name I looked up, my eyes widening as Isabel nodded in knowing.
"It's fine. She wouldn't mind. She may be mad at you but Camilla's not mean."
Yeah, right.
Isabel opened the door and urged me in, I peeked through the opening. The room was small and mostly empty, there was a door at the left and I figured it was the bathroom. There was a towel on the only furniture in the room and a dress with long sleeves. I almost smiled in appreciation for Lana being so thoughtful.
"I'll be back in about thirty minutes to treat your injuries." Isabel said as I nodded and walked past her into the room and just as she was about walking away, I stopped her.
"Thank you for earlier." I whispered softly not waiting for a response as I slammed the door shut.
I rested my back against the door before sliding down on my butt as I pulled my knees closer to myself.
My mind filled with various thoughts as I wondered how I was going to live with the girls. While a part of me wanted to remain locked in Ares' room, another part of me wanted to be part of them.
I already liked Raya, she was cool and for the first time in a while I was learning something new. I already knew about Ed Sheeran and his songs. I knew about the headphones and what a pool was. In just a day, I had learnt more than I did in years.
I didn't want to let that go because I was scared. I wanted to know everything, I wanted to know how the AC blew cold air and I wanted to know how the stove worked in the kitchen. I wanted to learn to do the dishes, to cook, to use the remote for the TV like Carmen did.
And most of all, I wanted to know how to read.
To be as smart as Isabel was, or to attend school like Camilla and Carmen.
I wanted Lana to hold me like she did her daughters. To rest my head against her bosom as she pulled my close.
I wanted to laugh like Raya did when Camilla spoke about a girl from her school. Or like Isabel did when she spoke of Seth or like Carmen did when she fisted them about the dramas she watched.
For the first time, I realized I wanted something other than freedom.
All my life, my only thought had been to leave Jax, to run away from my pack. But I didn't realize that was just a peak of the things that excited outside the walls of White Moon Pack.
Beyond Jax's room was laughter, happiness, joy and family. And I was seeing it for the first time with the girls.
A tear fell past my eyes as a sudden thought filled my head.
Would they accept me?
Can I be a part of this family?
I remembered Camilla's also against my cheeks and I held my face in the memory.
No.
I remembered Camilla's words well. She didn't want me here and it was obvious and she didn't hide it from me. It was clear where she stood and she hated me because I was already causing havoc.
"That's all you ever do, Alora. You make people sad. Because of you the Alpha sent us from the pack, forcing us to live at the outskirts. Your father and I have been loyal, accepted here and you just had to spoil all of that. If I could kill you, I would because I never wanted a wolfless daughter like you. You are troublesome, dumb, powerless and stupid. And the only way you'll be useful is if you become a slave and we've already accepted the mercy of the Alpha if we give you to his son as a slave.
You should be lucky he's accepting you. At least this is the only way you'll ever be needed."
My mother's voice rang in my head and I started to sob, burying my head between my knees as tears ran down my eyes freely.
I didn't know how long I sat there but I knew it was already thirty minutes because I heard a knock on the door and Isabel's voice after.
"Alora? Are you finished?" She called out and I gasped, standing up abruptly as I rushed into the bathroom, closing it behind me just as I heard the room door open.
I quickly switched on the shower as I heard Isabel sigh before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.
I sighed in relief as I took off the jacket and walked underneath the shower. The hot water hit against my skin and I closed my eyes, despite the tiny cuts on my body and my bruised wrist that stung a little at the heat, I felt it hot water loosen my muscles.
I found a shampoo and washed my hair, and scrubbed my body with the sponge until my skin was red. I didn't want to waste much time so I hurriedly bathed, brushed my teeth with a new set of toothbrushes on the sink then I left the bathroom.
Dried my body with the towel before putting on the clothes set out for me. It was a knee length dress with many dots. And just as I finished, the door opened and Camilla walked in.
On instincts, I stepped backwards fearfully, my heart thumped loudly in my chest as all the hair stood at the back of my neck Camilla stood silently at the door, gripping the door handle fiercely as I glanced briefly at the distance between me and the bathroom so just incase she was about to hit me again I would run in there and lock it.
Camilla turned immediately, her blue eyes angry and there was a frown on her face as she glared at me before scoffing at her dress.
"It doesn't even suit you. It's too big for you." Camilla said and I didn't answer as I felt the urge to wrap my arms around myself in an effort to look small.
"Ugh, gosh. I don't know why she told me to do this." Camilla grumbled angrily and I stepped backwards again, looking at the floor as I waited for what she was about to do.
Was she angry I was wearing her dress?
I thought Isabel said she wouldn't mind? Or had she changed her mind and maybe wanted her dress back? Or was it because I was too thin for it and made it look weird on me? Or was it-
"I'm sorry!" Camilla yelled, breaking my flow of thought as I turned sharply to her. She had fisted her palm angrily and there was a scowl in her face.
"Huh?" I whispered surprised. Camilla was apologizing to me? Or I hadn't heard correctly.
I didn't expect her to hear but I remembered she was a werewolf and had good hearing abilities as she rolled her eyes at my voice.
"What? Are you deaf too? I said I'm sorry. And just so you know it was my mom that asked me to come." Camilla spat.
It was like a part of my burden had been lifted as I felt tempted to smile. Camilla was apologizing to me and while I knew her mother must have sent her here, I also knew no one forced Camilla to do anything. If she didn't want to do something, no one would change her mind. That means she must have felt the urge to apologize too.
I breathed a sigh of relief as my eyes welled with tears once more and I looked up at her.
She eyed me. "Why are you suddenly teary? Whatever, I don't give a fuck. Hurry on out, Isabel's waiting for you in the kitchen and mom said you should come out for dinner." She said, not waiting another second as she pulled open the door and walked out, slamming it behind her.
A small smile broke out of my face as I wiped my tears with my fingers before I headed outside the door.
Just as I stepped out, I slammed into someone making me stagger and lose my balance.
Had Camilla not left? Was she waiting outside for me?
I thought as I felt gravity pull me downward, bit a pair of hands caught onto me, holding me and grabbing me in a strong hold stopping my fall.
"I..I'm so...sorry." I whispered out, already apologizing just in case the person got angry and that was when I opened my eyes at the person in front of me.
His scent filled my nose, mist and earth. His arms around me sent chills down my spine as they held me in place. His blue eyes widened for a second at the sight of me, his black hair curling around his forehead making him appear almost vulnerable.
Ares.
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