Chapter 33
AFTERMATH.
Clarissa:
I had not thought of the consequences of my actions before I carried them out; how was I going to get money to feed Cisca? Although Elijah had paid me before dismissing me, The money I had was going to be enough for just a few months before I ran out of financial sustenance. Nolle was being very helpful by finding herself a job as a waiter at a restaurant downtown and helping out with her little pay.
She was also helping me search for job openings during the day; we had enrolled Cisca in a school very close to home in case there were any emergencies. It also turned out that she was not the only wolf child in school. But their parents had restricted them from being especially close to each other in case they got carried away and revealed their identities. It marveled me sometimes how there were actually packs in the city, yet they had to act like normal humans during the day just to satisfy their desires and to irk the fear of the selfish humans who cared for nothing but themselves.
Elijah was finding it really difficult to find a replacement for me, so on some days while Mr. Jason was away, he pleaded with me to come and take care of Grandma Carter while he carried out all the other things he had to do. He also paid according to the hours I worked and added a little money for the little Cisca, for which I was really grateful.
Unable to find a full-time job, I worked part-time jobs as a nanny, a salesperson, and many other jobs that did not require a lot of qualifications. I also called Elijah daily to see if he needed any help with Grandma Carter. Grandma Carter was recuperating; she could now speak, and she used any chance she got to hurl insults at anyone within sight. It seemed that she had a need to be constantly in conflict with something or someone, so much so that tranquility made her lose her purpose for living.
One morning, I called Elijah to confirm that I was to come in with fresh clothing and a flask of homemade food. For Grandma Carter.
“Good morning, Clarissa. Yes, yes, you can come,“ he said and hung up the phone.
I dressed up in my green polka-dotted chiffon blouse and loose pants and headed out into the streets. I was halfway to the hospital when Elijah called me again.
“Clarissa, I’m very sorry, but you cannot come in today.” He sounded alarmed if Jason found out that I never left as he had ordered—II never meant to cause any trouble for Elijah. He said he was grateful to me for standing up for him, and I was in great need of money.
“Whatis the matter, Elijah? I’malmost there?“ I asked, feeling guilty.
“Mr. Jason is back; he’ll fire me if he knows you never left.” He said so and hung up.
I was in the middle of the street like an idiot. I cussed and headed towards the Restaurant where Nolle worked. I planned to stay there until it was time to pick Cisca up from school.
Nolle:
As I hurried through the busy streets towards the restaurant where I worked, I couldn’t help but worry about Clarissa. She had been struggling to find a stable job, and the weight of financial responsibility was taking its toll on her. I wished there was more I could do to help, but my own meager income barely covered our expenses.
Working at the restaurant was exhausting, but it was a means to an end. I had to support Clarissa and Cisca as best I could. The wolf child at school had sparked my curiosity, but we were all bound by the unspoken rule to keep our identities hidden. It was frustrating to hide such a significant part of myself, but I understood the necessity for our safety.
During my breaks, I would scroll through job listings, hoping to find something more stable for Clarissa. I wanted her to have a job that provided a steady income and allowed her to regain her independence. The days were long, and the nights were filled with worry for our uncertain future.
I was caught up in a lot of work when a frustrated Clarissa walked in with a bundle of clothes and a flask. She must have been on her way to the hospital. She had recounted the events of the day she quit her job. I was a little angry at her for not being able to soften her speech at times. Even though the guy was a total jerk, he still did pay for the house we lived in. A flick of his fingers would have us out on the streets, hungry and devastated.
Jason:
Returning to the pack after the battle was both a relief and a burden. I carried the weight of responsibility on my shoulders, knowing that the pack’s future rested in my hands. But I couldn’t forget the cost of victory—the lives lost, the fractured alliances, and the lingering threat of Gray. Fortunately for me, although it was a twisted kind of fortune, none of the skilled fighters from Hayden’s pack had died or sustained any fatal injuries. The next day they headed off to reunite with their lack with the promised percentage of loot from the Fawnhide pack. They were in good spirits and commended my leadership.
My focus was split between rebuilding the pack and running over to check how my grandma was faring; the emailed reports of the doctors said that she was recovering quite well and could speak. Thank goodness. After some consideration, I decided that my grandma was more important; she would have done the same for me too. So I called Elijah and let him know I was coming in.
Okay, sir, I’ll be expecting you.” His reply came, and the line died.
Elijah:
Jason’s words caught me off guard. I had not been expecting him anytime soon; I was even unable to find a replacement for Clarissa. Every single one of them had given up on the first day of being with Grandma Carter; even on her sickbed, she was a terror. I did not know how to best convince Jason that Clarissa was the perfect fit for Grandma Carter, and to top it all off, she was very willing and kind. She was also able to endure a lot of tribulations, which was rare for a young woman her age.
“Cameras! “ I remembered and sat up forcefully on my chair. There were Cameras everywhere in Grandma Carter’s apartment! This was my chance to prove to Jason that none of this was Clarissa’s fault.
As I sat lost in thought, Grandma Carter was asleep and snoring loudly. I did not even notice Jason stride in until he called my name.
“Elijah?“ he called.
“Oh! Mr. Jason, you startled me.” I got out of my chair and stood up to greet him.
“She’sso peaceful.” He whispered with a huge smile spread like a rainbow across his face. He drew a chair towards his grandma and sat close to her to observe her breathe. He truly loved the woman more than anyone in the world. If you wanted to see Jason kind and soft, just bring his grandma into the picture, and it would work like a miracle.