82. The Memories

82. The Memories
Summer

It took a while, but Mom finally saw it from my perspective and allowed me to go. But only if Emery wasn’t busy. Thankfully, she wasn’t.

“Reiss better have a good reason for this,” Emery muttered under her breath as a vehicle with food drove by us. “I can’t tell what goes through his mind.”

I walked with her, the blanket around my shoulders keeping me warm. “If you ask him, won’t he tell you?”

“He and I aren’t as close as before.” She rubbed her arm and looked away. 

“Is it because you broke up?”

“That news reached you already, huh?”

“I heard some people talk about it when I was at the clinic. Every time they pass by my room, it’s as if they forgot that not everyone there is in a coma.”

“What kind of life do I live that even the nurses gossip about me?” She scoffed. “But it’s fine. I’m the one who let it out anyway by telling Krystal and Berry.”

“Why did you guys break up, if you don’t mind me asking?” 

“Let’s just say some people rather chase what they believe to be destiny than stick with reality.”

“Oh.” Maybe I shouldn’t have asked. What happens between Emery and the Alpha is none of my business. 

I always thought that she would be my Luna. But if it turns out she isn’t, then who is?

As I was lost in thought, an elderly woman walked up to me.

“Summer dear, are you well?”

Mrs Raid reached for my hands and held them without hesitation. She continued talking before I could reply.

“What are you doing out here when you should be in bed?”

“I’m fine. Thank you for worrying about me.”

“Oh it’s nothing. Here!”

She dug into her pockets and offered me a twenty dollar bill. “Go buy yourself one of those sponge cakes. I know how much you like them.”

“Mrs Raid, I couldn't-”

“Well you better because I’m not taking it back.”

Mrs Raid laughed as she patted my shoulder then headed the way we came. I tucked the money into my pocket.

I thought that would be the only unplanned interaction I would have but she wasn’t the only one. The electrician checked in on me. Emery’s friends gave me a hug. Even the baker gave me a free slice of strawberry cake.

I understood and appreciated how they fussed over me, it all got too much. A bad feeling settled in my stomach. After another person came by and left, I hurried to a spot between two houses and leaned against the wall. Here there wasn’t a single person. My heart was beating so hard that I could feel it. I grasped my blouse. The pants gradually turned into deep breaths. 

When Emery found me, she sighed. “Too much too soon?” She asked. “I told them to give you a break. But I can’t blame them. If it wasn’t for that little party, we could have lost you forever.”

I took in one deep breath and exhaled. “I think I want to go alone starting from here. Thanks for coming with me this far, Emery.”

“But your mom said you should stay with me.”

“I can’t keep you away from your duty for so long. I’ll see you later. Thanks again.’

I sped off with my back to Emery, not responding as she called out my name. 

Now that I walked on a path closer to the far off homes, I felt more at peace. The border of the territory was just behind those gardens surrounding the houses, just a few meters past the treelines. This is where people build their houses if they prefer to stay away from the square where celebrations would sometimes be held.

I pulled the blanket tighter around me. The wind blew softly as if it too thought I was fragile. In a way, I was. My moms told me I was so capable and gifted yet I couldn’t stop myself from getting kidnapped. Heck, I couldn’t even remember how it happened. 

Where was I? How long was I gone for? Who had done this?

Mom said it was the Maple Pack but something doesn’t feel right. I remember being placed there but not by the people who abducted me. Then again, they could have simply moved me from where they initially kept me. But if so, why the shed where there were bound to be people who could smell me? We’re not humans, we have good noses. 

Argh, I couldn’t understand anything, and I wouldn’t until I got my memories back. But did I even want them back?

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t feel alarmed when my legs had drifted closer to the forest. The sounds of birds chirping as they flew above me brought me back to Earth. It was mid-day. With the bright sun shining its light, I shouldn’t have such heavy rain clouds circling around me.

Then I caught the scent of something rusty. I glanced over my shoulder. Emery kept following me but kept her distance. When I was beside her I didn’t pick up on this scent, so it couldn’t have been her. I stopped walking and looked to my right. It was coming from there.

I drifted closer to the treeline. Was there an injured animal? The kids know better than to leave their meals out in the open, but a newly transformed wolf might get wrapped up in the excitement of shifting and forget. 

I got closer. 

“Help… me…”

I screamed, stepping back until I fell on the dirt.

“What’s the matter?!” Emery ran over to me. When she saw what I did, she immediately stepped in front of me. “What the fck?”

There, right in front of us, were two men that we had never seen before. They weren’t humans. 

One of them could barely stand. He had one arm around the torso of his friend who had a portion of his leg messing below the knee. Both of them were dirty, coated in sweat and blood with scratches all over their skin. 

My body shook. All of a sudden, previously blurred memories became clear. “It’s them,” I muttered. “You’re the ones who put me in that shed!”

“Please,” the one standing said, voice raspy as if he hadn’t drunk water for years. “We need your help. We have information that we need to tell the Alpha.”