I nervously watched George examine Victoria. I was fortunate to get James to bring someone to see her. He stood next to her bedside as I paced back and forth, watching them through the window. James kicked me out after growling at George, numerous times, for touching Victoria. It was more Jas than me and she refused to listen to me.
Ever since that night, I was convinced Alaia had something to do with this. Isaiah, on the other hand, believed her when she said she healed Victoria after Nas attacked her. Nas supposedly knocked her out before she could fully heal her. I just didn't believe it. That girl doesn't have a good bone in her little body.
Then finding out Zira was with them and suddenly disappeared, I really lost it. I had a huge fight with Alaia and Isaiah, that ended up with me looking like a jerk yelling at two people who had just lost their baby. Now I could barely look at Isaiah without feeling a bit shameful. So I kept to myself and watched over Victoria.
“It’s going to be fine, Lady Isabella, Victoria is a fighter.”
I almost jumped out of my skin when Mary spoke. I didn't even realize she was standing next to me. She smiled a bit at my actions. She was gracious enough to get food for myself and our guests. She was the only person besides my mother that spoke to Victoria that night but she didn’t have much to say.
“I really do wish I could remember what happened that night," she said before walking off.
James walked out, breaking me out of my thoughts. He was smiling, so I took that as a good thing.
“So, I have good news and bad-”
“Just get it over with.” I was a bit anxious about any kind of news.
“Fine. Bad news-there's nothing else we can do right now but wait. George couldn’t find anything that could be holding Victoria back. There were signs of healing that definitely saved her life, but this seems like a normal coma. Good news-she’s still here and she’s going to come out of this. I just know it.”
I let out a frustrated groan. Everyone kept saying she would come out of this, but the truth was no one really knew.
“Hang in there, Isabella. My cousin is a fighter and she will wake up,” James said, giving me a hug.
Then something familiar hit me. His scent had something that reminded me of…Zira. Was I going insane? Why did he smell like my best friend? James stepped back when I started to excessively sniff.
“Okay...someone might need a lesson on personal space right about now,” James joked.
“Sorry. You just smell like someone I knew but it isn’t possible that you met her.”
James laughed while rubbing the back of his neck. “I hope that’s a compliment. Who is this person you think I smell like?”
“My best friend, Zira.” For a split second, I saw his body stiffen when I mentioned her name. I even felt his heart skip a beat. Did he know her? “She disappeared a few months ago. Have you seen her before?”
“Victoria told me about her,” James said while walking back into the room. “I’m sorry you lost your friend. I wish we could help, but I think it’s time for us to go. I’ll check back in a few weeks. George.”
I watched as George opened a portal and they both walked through. That was strange, I thought, as I watched the portal disappear. He knows something. I don’t know what but I was going to find out. First thing first, I had to wake up Victoria. She’s the only person alive who knows what happened on that cliff.
“Victoria, please come back to me,” I whispered to her for the billionth time.
I sat by her bed, holding her hand. Waiting for the moment, I would see her beautiful green eyes. I wanted to make sure I was the first person she saw.
So here I sat and waited. It was quiet. So quiet, the only sounds I could hear were the beeping machine hooked up to her. I tried to tune them out and focus on the soft snoring of my mate.
It was the only thing that kept me hopeful that she would wake up soon, but day by day that would chip away. At times, her mom would sit with me and share stories of when Victoria was younger. I can tell how much she loves her. She decorated the hospital room with a few of Victoria’s favorite things, including a shirt I let her borrow once.
There was a knock on the door and I prayed to the Goddess it wasn’t my mother. She was pissed that I asked Isaiah to allow Victoria’s aunt to come to see her. I could care less. If there was someone who loved Victoria as much as me, I wouldn’t keep them from her. She needs to know how much she is loved, how much we need her to come back. However, I wasn’t so lucky.
My mother poked her head in. “Isabel-oh my goodness-is that you,” she asked, fanning in front of her face.
Like I said, since that night I’ve been glued to her bed. It wasn’t that bad. I used the sink in the bathroom to take bird baths. My mother just loved to be dramatic.
“This is unacceptable, young lady. Poor Victoria being assaulted by this stench. Go and take a long shower and eat,” my mother said.
“I’m not hungry and I smell fine,” I snapped back.
“Isabella, I am trying here.”
“Well, Mother, can you try on the way out the door?”
I heard my mother gasp behind me. I knew I hurt her feelings, but I wasn’t in an apologizing mood. She was probably happy about this whole situation. She never really wanted us together anyway. I bet she’s jumping for joy and planning my next wedding with some stupid Alpha. Just thinking about it made me angry as I heard the door slam shut.
A minute later, someone else entered without even knocking. Every little thing was pissing me off. I was about to snap when I heard his voice.
“That was a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
My father's voice echoed through the room and something about it was calming. Of course, she sends my father. The only person I would listen to since I excommunicated myself from my mother and my brother. I turned to look at him standing in the doorway. There was an emotion on his face that made me feel bad for snapping at my mother.
“I’m sorry,” I said, knowing that was what he wanted to hear.
“I’m not the one you snapped at.”
“Fine. I will apologize to her late-”
“Right now, Isabella.”
I sighed and nodded my head. My mother slowly walked back into the room with her nose in the air. I rolled my eyes at her stupid dignified pose in front of my father. Then I noticed something I hadn't seen in a while. Tears. She was actually crying over something like that. Now I really don't want to apologize.
“I’m sorry that I snapped at you, mother.”
My mother looked at my father before looking back at me. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“We gotta figure this out eventually. I can’t have my two favorite women in the world at each other’s throat. What will you two do if something ever happens to me, huh?”
Run as far away from this woman as humanly possible, I thought to myself.
“The Lake’s lost their daughter and every day since it’s been a struggle for them. Wishing they had the chance to say goodbye or tell her they loved her. I don’t want that for us. I know you both love each other and somehow lost your way. So no one leaves this room until you both find it.”
My father left and locked us in the room. We both stood silent, trying to figure out who was going to speak first. I remember the first time a conversation like this happened. I was afraid at first, but I had my best friend and her mother with me. Now, with my mate sleeping soundlessly next to me, I felt braver than before. Staring down at Victoria, I felt a sense of pride that I knew was from her.
“Fine. I will go,” I said as I turned to look at my mother. “I knew I was gay when I was thirteen, maybe even before then, and you pulled me away from Lana’s sleepover, which she totally kissed me first, by the way. I remember you being so furious with me. You kept saying ‘Oh what are people going to think?’ and ‘What will they say?’ You looked at me like I was a…a…freak.
You made me feel like it was the worst thing in the world. So from that day, I kept that part of me hidden. Just to please you and it was killing me inside. I didn't even notice until I met someone who didn't look at me the way you did.
Zira and her mother accepted me without a second thought and you know what mother. That hurt even more because it made me realize what I’ve been missing since I was thirteen. That love, that support, that unconditional acceptance. Even after that day, I tried to keep that part of me hidden because I was afraid. Afraid of how you would react, but now…now I don't care.”
I looked at Victoria. “I have someone who gives me love, warmth, support, and unconditional acceptance. She gives me hope for a positive future. I feel proud of who I am when I’m with her and if you can’t accept that, then I feel bad for you. Because I’m actually an amazing person and you’re going to miss that.”
We stared at each other for quite some time. I could see the gears in her head spinning. My mother was usually fast at a comeback, so this was interesting. I kept going over different scenarios of her yelling ‘She’s no good for you’ or ‘Are you sure this isn't a phase’. All scenarios ending with me throwing her out of the room and out of my life.
“Isabella-”
“Mother, if the next words coming from your mouth aren’t ‘Isabella, I love you and I accept who you are’, then there is no hope for us.” I stared at her as she closed her mouth. I didn’t want to play this game with her.
“I do love you, Isabella. I will always love you. I just don’t want anything to hurt you.” She hesitated for a moment, as if it hurt to go on. “I was a twin and I was as close to my sister as you are with your brother. We were so connected that if I was far away I could still feel her thoughts and emotions. She was so full of life and always believed in the good of people, no matter what.
So when I lost her, I lost Mya, it felt like a part of me went with her. I felt a pain in my chest that you could only feel when you lose your mate. There was a certain emptiness that took hold of my heart. I was practically drowning in it. To the point where I almost took my own life. Then I met your father and he saved me. Brought me back to life, in a way.”
She grabbed my hand that was holding onto Victoria's. “When I found out about your…preferences, I thought it was happening again. That feeling kept nagging at the back of my mind. I felt like history was going to repeat itself, so I acted. I thought if I could change it, change what you like, it wouldn’t happen again. The thought of losing you, Isabella, would completely destroy me.”
My mother took my hand to her cheek and I felt her tears falling. This was surprising to me. I didn’t know how to respond to it. “I just want you to be protected and safe. ” We sat there in silence for a while until she stood up to leave. She fixed her face before turning to knock on the door.
“Mother.” I stood and gave her a hug. I can’t remember the last time I hugged my mother, so this felt foreign but good. She actually hugged me back. “I don’t live for Victoria. So if the Goddess forbids, she leaves me. I hope I’m strong enough to know the Goddess will have a plan for me. So I’m not going anywhere. You might not know this, but I’m a pretty strong woman now. I can take care of myself.”
My mother looked at me and smiled. “I know and it’s just…going to take some time to get used to all of this. The scars of the past never seem to go away.”
“So…is this little war over now,” my father asked, poking his head inside the door.
My mother looked at me and we both nodded our heads. I wasn’t sure if this meant she accepted Victoria as my mate, but it was a good step forward. After losing one of the most important people in my life, it was nice to have my mother back in my corner. Now I just have to focus on waking up Victoria.
“Great,” my father said while pulling us both into a giant hug. “Since we’re talking about wars, how about we discuss this war you have on showers?”
I laughed, knowing exactly what he was talking about. I walked back to Victoria to hold her hand. A part of me didn’t want to leave her side, but even Jas was a bit anxious to move around. I guess I have been neglecting myself a bit.
I tried to move but I couldn’t-no-I didn't want to let her hand go. It was like my own personal lifeline. I wanted her to know someone was always here. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see my mother smiling at me. I was hoping she would understand and she nodded.
“Don’t worry. I will stay and watch her,” my mother said. “Go and do what you need to.”
I kissed Victoria’s hand before turning to leave. I glanced over my shoulders and watched my mother sit next to her. She held her hand just as I did, whispering ‘Don’t worry, Victoria. I’ll stay with you until she gets back.’ Maybe there was a chance after all. A chance to have a good relationship with my mother.
I quickly made my way back to the pack house and took a much deserving shower. I don’t know if it was the shower or the talk I had with my mother but I felt brand new. Like I could take on anything.
This optimistic feeling made me feel powerful and hopeful. Victoria was going to wake up soon. I could feel it and I needed to get back to her. I quickly dressed and opened the door to reveal a panting Isaiah. He was holding a green scarf and a necklace.
“She’s alive,” Isaiah said, holding the jade necklace towards me. Zira’s necklace. “Zira’s alive.”