Chapter 14
Eve POV
I’m up in the suite after breakfast. Well, I didn’t eat as I had to leave. I barely ate last night either. When did I last eat? That doesn’t matter. Why did Conrad start sharing? If he was in the extremist packs, is he hiding his true belief system of obedience? His father knew what I am. Does he? Is that why he is trying to claim me and lull me into false security?
I’m pacing against the back wall of my room with all these thoughts running through my mind when the door opens and the girls walk in. Kimberly comes to my door a slowly opens it.
“Are you OK, sweetie?”.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Let's go on this tour”. I’m still pacing, and my speech is fast. On this tour, I can get the layout so I can get my pack out if needed.
“That’s been delayed an hour. Did you sleep last night?”.
“Yeah, it was fine”.
“Sweetie, I can tell you’re lying. None of us has seen you eat in two days either. Let us help you”.
Why can’t they just leave me alone? I’m fine. I’ve been dealing with this for years, and the only thing different now is being in enemy territory. I had to stay on alert. Kimberly doing her stupid mother routine is the last thing I needed.
She came over and gently took me by the hand and led me to the living room with the reasoning we were waiting for an hour anyway so we might as well watch TV together.
There on the table was breakfast.
“I don’t need to eat again”, I snarled at her.
Michelle snaps at me, “you haven’t eaten in two days. You will sit you butt down cause we are not leaving til you do”.
She never uses this tone with me. I cross my arms and huff at her. “I’m honestly not hungry”.
“Did it sound like an option?”.
I roll my eyes at her. At least if I eat, I can get her to shut up. I sit on the couch cuddled up next to Kimberly, and start eating. I’m just mad Michelle is making me eat. I down everything in two minutes, savouring nothing while fighting to keep it down.
“Happy now?” I said, showing her my plate.
“Yep”.
Plate down I cuddle back onto the couch with Kimberly. She puts her arm over my shoulder and starts playing with my hair. She often does this with when she fidgets.
While playing with my hair, she starts to stroke it, and I start to feel heavy. Long stroke from the top of my head to the end of my hair. I can’t focus on the TV. Just Kimberly slowly, gently, and in the same pattern stroking my head in a steady rhythm.
I wake up on the couch, covered in a light blanket, two hours later. I was groggy when I woke up and it took me a while to get my bearings.
“What happened?”.
“You were being a grouch, so we made you eat and take a nap”. Kimberly is sitting next to me, looking very proud of herself.
“Did you pet me to sleep?”.
“Yep. Liam suggested it and worked like a charm. Do you feel better?”.
“A little shocked, more than anything”.
“Well, we are here to look after you, if you will let us, that is”. Kimberly said this with a very sad tone, which took me by surprise.
“What's wrong, Kimmy?”.
"We get that this is painful for you but we are your best friend's. Why won't you let us in". At this point she is softly crying. I was so caught up in my own world that I didn’t see how I was affecting them. I thought they were just having fun here so kept all my own dramas to myself. The other two join us in the cuddle on the couch.
“It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you. I couldn’t. How could I burden you with all this?”.
Michelle smacks me over the back of the head.
“Oww. What was that for?”.
“Because I have told you, you are not a burden so I’m going to smack you each time say it until you don’t”.
“What can I say to make this better?”.
“Just tell us anything”.
I sit quietly for a minute. How can I tell them something and nothing at the same time? I have to keep some things secret for their safety, and I don’t want to burden them with the images in my head.
“Eve’s not my real name”.
All three sit up right a gasp.
Kimberly is the first to demand an answer. “Then why are we calling you Eve?”.
“My social worker called me that. When I refused to give her a name, she named me Eve, as it means new life. Seemed fitting when I started living as a human”.
“Why didn’t you just give them your name?”.
“It’s quite unique. Even for a wolf. I was worried if it was ever registered, they would be able to find me”.
Michelle looked the most excited at a unique name.
“What is it?”.
“Lewana. I have been called Eve for so long now I prefer it so still call me Eve”.
“That’s an amazing name. Does it mean something?”.
“Well, names have a lot of meaning to wolves, and they name their pups after what they hope for them. For example, Conrad means brave counsel. Liam means determined guardian. Lewana means shining moonlight. Mother said she named me that as she knew I was special, and by being the shining light wolves needed, I could guide the lost ones home”.