I could not believe all that my mom had told me, it made guilt eat at me more. It's been three weeks now, everything was almost perfect. If my mom could forgive me, then everything would be perfect.
Aaron and I were leading the most beautiful life. He was the perfect mate, he loved me countlessly and never ceased to tell me how much I meant to him. School had gone back to what I knew it to be - serious and focused. Lectures had begun as it was supposed to be without these constant dramas of Katelyn and her minions.
Katelyn had been thoroughly dealt with by the boys. Dragged along major streets, almost at the point of death, pack members had booed her. They had even threw hard things at her. It was a surprise how she still did not die after everything that was done to her. She was brought out for three consecutive days and each day, the same fate of being whipped and dragged along major places in the pack awaited her.
She begged and pleaded for mercy until she was too tired and weak to even make a sound. By the third day, most had thought she was dead but she was not. She cried for death but Aaron promised not to kill her, he would make her feel every pain she had put me and Melissa through.
Her cousin, Beta Mark, knew better than to beg any of us for mercy. He was also appalled at what she had later confessed to doing, it had shown he was not aware of what she had been doing. Her parents had tried to beg but no one listened. Trenton and Baron had even threatened to punish them if they involved themselves in Katelyn's issue.
Melissa was later transferred to the main hospital in the pack and was allowed a VIP treatment in the VIP section of the hospital, courtesy of dad. She was given a better treatment and had finally told us the story of how she had been able to get the evidence from a student Baron had later paid to get a way into the school's security room which was how we'd known there were other security cameras in the school.
A smart move by dad. Aaron and Baron were becoming closer after Baron had realized it was not Aaron who had killed his mate but Katelyn had done it which had come as a shock to me.
I had talked to dad about it and decided that I wanted Melissa to be more than a maid, after the things she had been through to help me find the truth, she deserved it. The part of her hair that had been shaved was growing back and she was learning to use her legs again, because they had beaten her and almost broken her legs in the process.
Katelyn's minions were still in prison, das had said it was in my hands to do to them whatever I wanted. The owner of the phone was whipped and allowed to go.
Baron and I were very much cool with each other now. He had told me his true intentions from the beginning and I had been shocked to hear it. I had asked him how he knew Aaron liked me even before Aaron and I were aware, he had merely laughed and said that was his secret.
I still liked him but it was no longer anything sexual, I had my mate to go sexual with. Greg and Bryan had finally been let go with a warning that if they were ever found in this pack again, they would not leave it alive.
So here I was, in the family living room, doing the last thing that needed to be done to make my happy ending perfect. I was begging my mom. I had used all of my savings to get her all the things I knew she liked and asked the maids to prepare her best. Dad had wanted to help out with money, but I had refused. I wanted to do it with my own money. I just needed support from everyone.
"You almost killed a child?" She was surprised and kind of puzzled. She wiped her eyes, the boys stood around her, including dad.
They had gone to console her when she'd showed us her back. That Alpha Jaegan! He was known to be particularly wicked and evil minded. See what he had done to my mom's back, and that was what he'd been willing to do to me.
"Yes." I replied, almost afraid to look into her eyes.
"Go on." She urged.
"Can we all seat?" I asked.
She stared at me for what seemed like a long time, my knees were beginning to cramp and I felt a sharp pain below my abdomen.
"Alright."
"The guards and maids you can all leave." Dad ordered everyone of them.
They had only come because I had asked them to, now was time for confessions and it was for family alone. They obeyed and filed out except for Melissa who helped me up and sat with me.
Everyone took their seats and I began to tell my story.
"I had gone to the river I used to love going when I felt something strange move around me. Having no idea what it was, I stared at my skin cluelessly. Soon, a sharp painful crack of bones could be heard from me. I did not know it was me discovering my wolf until I had fully changed."
That was one particular memory that scared me, but I should say it. "I looked at my reflection in the river, I was scared at how big my wolf was. It was as though I was present but not in control of my body. I had no idea how to change back, so I just kept staring and soon, I was growing agitated, I wanted to change back to my human form."
I gulped as I shook my head to clear the memory, I wanted to talk about it without submerging myself into that lonely evening.
"Soon a girl, not more than twelve or thirteen, innocently skipped her way to the stream. As soon as she saw me, she screamed out loud. That agitated my wolf the more and soon, it was chasing the girl. I caught up with her in no time and mistakenly kicked her, she flew and fell into the river. I grew scared and was watching her drown."
I willed my voice not tremble, but it was a hard chore. I wanted to tell it with as much practicality as I could without infusing emotions.
"Soon, an old woman came by and brought the girl out of the river. The girl ran away from the scene, too scared to see me anymore. By this time, I was crying inside. The old woman helped calm me down and I was able to transmute back to my human form, I was so happy but scared and sad at the same time. She asked me what happened and I explained."
I looked at the faces of everyone as they listened with rapt attention. "The old woman comforted me, then she asked me if I wanted to keep transmuting, I said no. Told her I was scared of my wolf taking over, I did not want to transmute ever again. She asked if that was what I wanted, I nodded in confirmation. She brought out a bracelet from her old tote and gave to me. She said as long as I continued to wear the bracelet, my wolf would never break out unless it enraged. She had said my wolf was special. I asked her how special, but she did not reply. And then, she was gone. The bracelet was the only evidence she had come."
I finished, looking at my mom. I wanted to know what she was thinking. She stared at me.
"But you know you could have still told me?" She stared pointedly at me.
"Yes, but I thought if no one knew, I would be protecting them, you especially."
"You had told me you saw the bracelet by the river and you had liked it."
"Yes, I'm sorry."
She sighed, then stood and beckoned on me, a relieved tears in my eyes, I went into her arms. "Thank you mom."
"You're not getting your gifts back."
I laughed. "I don't intend to."