Arya.
I stood at the window, gazing out as Tyler's sleek car pulled out of the driveway and disappeared down the winding road. He was going to perform his pack duties for Crest pack. At this point, I didn't mind joining him, because I was getting tired of being I was left alone in this this cold, empty house.
The morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft golden hue across the room. It was a beautiful sight, one that would have lifted my spirits on any other day. But today, it only served to accentuate the loneliness I felt.
It was at times like this I missed Natalie. But she couldn't come with us, not with her bakery demanding her attention day and night.
With a heavy sigh, I tore my gaze away from the window and crossed the room to the bookshelf where I had kept the picture of my family. It was a simple photograph, yet it held within it a painful memory of the fact that I would never see them again.
I retrieved the picture frame, feeling the smooth surface beneath my fingertips, tracing the contours of my parents' faces with a sense of longing.
As I stared at the picture, I felt a pang of regret. Regret for all the moments we never got to share, the memories I could barely remember.
With a heavy heart, I placed the picture back on the shelf, tucking it away amidst the rows of books and trinkets that adorned the wooden surface.
Retreating to the solitude of my bed, I sank down onto the soft mattress, the memories of Crest pack flooding my mind like a torrential downpour. My time at Crest pack before now had been filled with pain and darkness. For some part, I'd almost come close to my death. Twice. The first time, Jane, a friend I had made quickly, had risked her life to rescue me.
It had been a long time since I last saw her, since we parted ways as I fled Crest pack. But now, as the memories came flooding back, I knew that I couldn't ignore the fact that I never got to thank her properly for her kindness. I had to find her and reconnect with her.
With newfound determination, I reached for my phone, dialing the number of one of the guards Tyler had assigned to me. If I find her, I could go see her, and thank her properly for saving my life.
The phone rang once, twice, before James' voice filled the line. "Luna," he greeted me.
"James," I replied, "I need your help with something."
"Of course, Luna," he responded immediately. "What do you need?"
I hesitated for a moment, gathering my thoughts before speaking. "I need you to help me find someone in Crest pack," I said finally.
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, as James processed my request. "Of course, Luna," he replied.
"Her name is Jane Lockwood," I answered. "She's an Omega, blonde, and tall."
James was silent for a moment, no doubt already formulating a plan of action. "I'll start looking right away," he assured me. "I'll gather whatever information I can find and let you know as soon as I have any leads."
"Thank you, James. I'll be waiting to hear from you."
As I ended the call, a sense of anticipation settled over me. The prospect of seeing Jane again after all these years filled me with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. But above all, I felt a profound sense of gratitude for the chance to finally repay the debt I owed her, to express my gratitude for her kindness and friendship in a way that words alone could never convey.
And then, finally, James's message arrived. My heart leaped in my chest as I read his text.
"She works at a drugstore," his text revealed, accompanied by a series of photographs and addresses. Pictures of Jane's face, captured as she worked.
She was alive. I breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing Ethan, he would've killed her the moment he found out that she was responsible for my escape.
Without hesitation, I sprang into action, fueled by a sense of purpose. I bathed and dressed, then put on simple jeans and a white T-shirt.
As I reached the ground floor, my eyes scanned the room, searching for the nearest guard. Spotting one stationed by the entrance, I approached with single-minded determination. Without preamble, I presented him with the address James had provided, my voice steady despite the tumult of emotions raging within me.
"Take me here," I demanded. The guard's eyes widened slightly at the intensity of my request, then he nodded.
As we pulled up outside the drugstore, the guard turned to me. "I can go inside and call her out to join you in the car," he suggested.
But I shook my head vehemently. "No," I insisted. "I need to see her myself."
With trembling hands, I pushed open the car door and stepped out onto the pavement. The air crackled with tension, every nerve in my body on high alert. I instructed the guard to wait outside, my words clipped with urgency as I strode towards the entrance of the drugstore.
As I pushed open the door, a wave of nervous energy washed over me, mingling with the sharp tang of antiseptic and the murmur of voices.
My gaze swept across the store, searching for any sign of Jane. And then I saw her, behind the counter, her brow furrowed in concentration as she attended to a customer. Relief flooded through me at the sight of her, a swell of emotion threatening to overwhelm me.
Without hesitation, I made my way towards her, each step a testament to the strength of my determination. Jane's eyes widened in surprise as she caught sight of me, her expression shifting from confusion to disbelief in the span of a heartbeat.
"Arya?" she breathed as she crossed the distance between us in a blur of motion. And then she was in my arms, her embrace fierce and unyielding as she held me close.
"I heard your name a lot in Crest pack," she murmured. "But I never imagined..."
"You'd see me again?" I pulled back slightly, meeting her gaze with gratitude. "I never got to thank you properly," I explained.
"For doing the right thing?" She chuckled, her brows raised in amusement. "Come on, Arya. I couldn't possibly leave you to die for nothing."
"You don't understand, Jane," I whispered as I grabbed her shoulders. "You saved my life. Risked yours. If Ethan had found out what you did, you would've died because of me."
"I know," she said. "I'm glad I did save you, though. You don't cower anymore, as you should. Now, no one can challenge you, or threaten you. You've come so far, Arya, and I'm so honored to have been part of your journey, Moon goddess's daughter."
"Oh, come on," I chuckled as I wiped a tear from my eyes. "Thank you, anyway."
"You're welcome," she said, laughing. "Now, as much as I would love to catch up with you, I have to get back to work. My boss is giving me the evil eye."
"Alright. We have to do something about that soon." I said as I followed her gaze, spotting a stern-looking man behind the counter who seemed to be eyeing us suspiciously. "We'll have to remedy that," I said, reaching into my pocket and retrieving my phone. "Give me your number. I'll call you, and we can arrange to meet properly."
Jane's eyes sparkled with excitement as she punched her number into my phone. "Make it soon, Arya. We have a lot to talk about."
"Count on it," I replied, a warmth spreading through my chest at the prospect of reconnecting with an old friend. "Take care, Jane."
With one last embrace, I watched as Jane returned to her work, disappearing into the depths of the drugstore. As I made my way back to the waiting car, a sense of contentment washed over me, knowing that no matter how much I felt alone in my past, there was someone who had stood by my side and lent a helping hand. And for that, I was eternally grateful.