Chapter 40 Looming Dangers
Vanessa
With each minute the MoonVeil Pack goes out of view, swallowed in fog and morning mist, my heart sinks lower.
I had woken up on a lighter mood at the memory of me bitching Alice out of my territory a few days ago. Now, imagine my surprise when Xander and Max barge into my room and start to run around like headless chickens - Max, mostly - and I'm told that I need to leave the pack within two fucking hours.
"What? Why?" I had asked.
"There has been a rumor about your hunter status and until we find whoever did this and why, you'll need to leave for a while. I can't guarantee you a full safety if you're here," Xander reasoned.
I was speechless from there on, up until now.
Max kept telling jokes and talking my ears off but he must have sensed that I wasn't in the mood, because he stopped trying.
"Hey," Max says after a long silence, glancing at me briefly as he drives. "None of us wanted this. Xander especially, doesn't want this."
"I know, I just..." I groan, snapping my head back again the headrest. "It just feels so unfair. Why do I have to run when I didn't do anything wrong? I might be a hunter but I've never killed innocent wolves." Even when I hated them so much. But I don't say that part out loud, instead, "Only rogues, and most of them attack me first. Those things have no brains, I swear."
Max chortles. "Nessa, please," he laughs.
"I'm serious! How can I be living my life peacefully in the mountains, and suddenly I'm surrounded by six-foot beasts with razor-sharp teeth, and not to forget their foul-smelling mouths. What the fuck? Is that how y'all stink in there?"
Max's eyes widen and splutters, "What the- hey! you don't generalize things like that, or else you tell general lies." I wince slightly, that's such a bad joke. "See? My wolf feels offended right now, apologize," he scowls.
"Um, sorry? I'm sorry," I say hesitantly, not really sure if he can ever hear me.
Max's face brightens as he grins, then he reaches out to ruffle my hair. "It's alright, he loves you too much to be mad at you for long."
I swat his hand away, arranging my hair back into place. "I want to meet him though. I've never had the chance to meet one," my voice is quiet.
"He wants to meet you too," Max replies softly.
My lips lift up in a small smile and silence descends upon us once more, but it is a comfortable one this time.
Not long after, we pull up in front of a secluded cabin, flanked by trees and dense, wide forests. It isn't your usual cabin. This one is tall, and from it's looks outside, it's wide enough to fit at least ten people conveniently.
The air here feels different, charged even and I suspect it's being surrounded by magical barriers as well.
"What is this place?" I gasp.
"It's Xander's safe space when he needs to isolate himself from all the duties and responsibilities sometimes. I get invited here also, often enough. No one except him can ever find us here."
He goes to carry out stuff from the trunk, then he gestures for me to follow him instantly.
The first thing that catches my eye is the extent of precision, and skill of the artist to have been able to provide such intricate details.
Max drops all of my luggage down in one of the rooms he says is one of the two master bedrooms.
He shows me around and takes his time to explain each and every one of them.
By the time we're finished, I'm so exhausted I can barely hold myself up.
A shadow takes a seat beside me, soft, delicate hands running slowly through my hair and I smile contentedly, leaning more into the touch.
"Vanessa." It whispers.
That voice...it sounds familiar. My snap open immediately.
Long, wavy ginger-red hair flowing over her shoulders, while her electric blue eyes are filled with so much warmth my heart aches. "Mom," I whisper.
I lunge for her, wrapping my hands around her so tight I never want to let go. She wraps her arms around me, enveloping me in her warmth. I inhale her familiar strawberry scent, calming my racing heart.
I lean back a little to look at her. "Mom, what are you doing here?"
"My precious baby, you've grown into such a beautiful young woman. But this was never the life I planned for you," her voice holds a tinge of anguish.
"Mom," I whisper.
She grips my shoulders and lifts my chin to meet her gaze squarely. "Vanessa, you must leave, as soon as possible."
My eyebrows pinch, as I stare at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"There's no much time to discuss this. But you must find a way to leave this place. They must never know about you, and somehow, I feel they will, eventually. They always do."
The slight note of fear lingers in her words, and I can't help but shiver at the cold that trails down my spine at her words.
I clasp my hands in hers and, giving her a reassuring smile. "Mom, nothing will ever happen to me. I promise." But she doesn't look convinced.
Suddenly her form starts to fade, slowly. My chest plummets, eyes widen, then I grip her arms quickly.
"Mom, what is happening?!" I look around frantically, hoping something might help me stop it.
"Vanessa, my time is up already."
Time up? How? Why?
"Mom," I whimper, clinging desperately to her as her arms become transparent.
"I love you, Vanessa. Don't forget." Then she's gone.
I wake up with sweat and tears streaming down my body and face. A cold shiver runs through me and it's then I realize I had left the window open.
Gingerly, I step towards it and go to close it when my eyes catch something on the night stand.
My locket. I must've pulled it off after my shower. I place it around my neck and smile wistfully at the familiar sense of peace it brings me.
Although, this time, the feeling of dread fill me at the memory of her words.
I close the windows quickly, and wrapping my arms around myself, I lay on my side on the bed and don't sleep a wink that night.