Chapter 40
The Meeting
Clarissa.
“Hey, I’m Amber, and I’d love to be among the whole pack thing! I think that you’re really courageous to bring up a thing like this, and I want to be a part of it!”
PS: Reply to this message as soon as you can. I found your ad late, and I’m worried that the train has moved without me. *sad emoji*
I had almost forgotten about the whole pack thing when Amber breezed herself into my life through her energetic mail. My hopes were immediately raised to the extent that I gathered up the courage to call Jason.
“Jason! Good morning.” I cried into the speaker; I was really hyper and nervous about the whole thing.
“Yes, Clarissa, good morning. Is anything the matter?” The hoarse voice came through to me. I was immediately sober; I didn’t mean to disturb him, and I said just that.
“It’s alright, Clarissa; you can call me anytime.” He kept insisting that I was not a disturbance, so I relaxed more. Nolle and Cisca were still asleep; it was just four in the morning. What had I been thinking when I dialed his number?
“The morning of my accident, I was going to tell you about the inboxes I received regarding the ad we posted up. But I couldn’t. “ I began.
“Oh, shit. I totally forgot about that; I’m sorry I’ve not asked all this while.”
Nah, it’s alright; they were mostly bad anyway. But! I did receive some astonishing mail from a lady named Amber this morning, and she was all for it. I think we should proceed with our plans, call up a meeting, and see how it turns out. What do you think?” I asked.
“I think that you should do whatever your mind approves of; I’ll always be here to support you through it all anyway.” Jason replied, and an unquestionable calm caressed my nerves. It was the most reinforcement in the world to have somebody believe in you and stand by you through thick and thin.
After work that day, Jason and I talked and decided to schedule a meeting. We created more ads and let them loose on the internet. I was nervous, but I was not going to let it restrict me; my fear had stopped me for too long.
We informed the chief members, Nolle and the loyal Jericho, and we waited for the day to come.
As the appointed time for the meeting approached, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. The sun was just beginning to rise, and the air was crisp with the promise of a new day. Nolle and Cisca had woken up, and we all gathered at the meeting spot, which was a clearing deep within the forest.
Jericho, Amber Hart, and I had exchanged messages and made arrangements to meet there. The anticipation was building, and I hoped this meeting would be the turning point for all of us lost souls seeking a sense of belonging.
There had also been two anonymous accounts that had agreed to attend the meeting, and I could not wait to meet them. At least Jason’s presence was going to elicit a state of decorum, while my friendliness was going to balance it.
Jason:
As I made my way to the meeting spot, thoughts of Clarissa filled my mind. Her determination to create a new pack for the lost ones struck a chord with me. I couldn’t help but admire her strength and resilience.
Upon reaching the clearing, I spotted Clarissa talking to Jericho and another woman, whom I thought was no one else but the boisterous Amber Hart. She seemed enthusiastic, yet there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. I made my way to join the group.
“Hey, everyone,” I greeted, and they all turned to look at me.
“Jason, meet Amber Hart,” Clarissa said, introducing the woman with a warm smile.
Amber smiled back at me and said, “Hi, nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too, Amber,” I replied, extending my hand for a handshake.
Amber Hart
As the meeting progressed, I couldn’t help but feel like an outsider among these unique individuals. They spoke about their experiences as werewolves, and I felt like I didn’t belong. But then I gathered the courage to speak up.
“Actually, I’m not a werewolf,” I confessed, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I thought this was some sort of support network for lonely people.”
To my surprise, Clarissa and the others were understanding and accepting. They didn’t dismiss me; instead, they welcomed me into their circle, human or not. Clarissa smiled warmly at me, and that’s when I knew I had found friends worth keeping.
Clarissa:
We all settled down, forming a circle, and I began to explain the purpose of the meeting. I spoke about our shared experiences as lost ones and our desire to create a new pack to support and protect each other. I felt a surge of gratitude as I saw the determination in their eyes. We were finally doing it—forming a pack for those who had no place to belong. They all listened intently, and it made me so happy.
As the meeting progressed, two people emerged from the darkness. At first, I didn’t recognize them, but as the light of the sun shined on their faces, I recognized them clearly as people from my former pack. Their eyes also lit up in recognition.
“Clarissa, so you’re the one behind all of this?” The girl said this, while the boy simply looked on with an expressionless face.
“I know you guys! What are your names again, please?” I asked.
“I am Mirian, and this is Elliot.” The girl seemed to always talk for her brother, so I focused on her.
“What are you guys doing here? Did anything happen at home?” I asked, worried.
“Why don’t you ask your boyfriend there just what happened at our home?” Mirian spat at me, pointing an accusing finger at Jason.