The sun rose from the horizon sooner than I had anticipated. We silently ate breakfast. Nobody said anything, especially Reed. He was more silent than usual. He was not much of a talker, but now he was completely mute. I knew he was not happy with the idea of me going back.
Diana was eating the food and trying to engage me in talking to change my decision. I appreciated her efforts, but I was reluctant to go to my pack. After we ate, I quickly went into my room and again started packing the remaining items.
Reed had gone to talk to Asher. Reed spends most of his time with Asher, and sometimes, I wonder if he is gay. I shook my head to free myself from the silly thoughts. It can't be possible.
After few hours of bathing, second-guessing my decisions, and packing my stuff, I was ready to go to my pack. Reed was already standing by the door to escort me.
"You know, I have never thanked you for letting me stay at your home," I said, zipping one of the bags.
He came towards me and held the other bag. "No need," he muttered under his breath.
After talking 'privately' with Diana, he was completely acting cold. He was more distant, if possible, as if it weren’t only four hours ago when he kissed me. I don't know what they talked about, but I was sure as hell that nobody would tell me anything.
Reed was reluctant to stay with me in my pack for security measures. He hardly trusts anyone. I was already on the seventh cloud by the fact that he was doing so much for me. But the big bad alpha won't admit aloud that Asher was taking charge of the pack in the absence of him along with Diana.
Diana, who is jolly, fun-loving, and happy all the time, was now looking like a female version of Reed. The big bad alpha. I quickly crossed my arms around her shoulders and hugged her. It had only been a few days, but I knew I would miss her badly. She was like a sister I never had.
"Promise me you will visit my pack soon," I said, hugging her tightly.
"Jeez, if you let me live," she said laughing. Even though she was smiling, I could easily see the fear and sadness in her eyes that she was masking with her smile.
We started walking toward the forest and soon found ourselves in the middle of nowhere. Diana picked out a knife from her pocket and motioned me to come near her. She took my palm in her hand and made a deep cut with the knife. She took the blood in her hands and started chanting something in a foreign language, and soon, a portal opened in the tree.
I could easily see the trees and ground covered in snow. This was December, and surely by now, my pack was covered under a thick blanket of snow. It snows heavily at this period of time.
Reed walked towards the portal. Before the portal devoured him, he looked back at me. "Are you coming, or have you changed your mind?" Reed said grumpily. He did not show on the surface, but he was upset. Upset because of me.
Oh god, this was going to be embarrassing. I tucked my loose hair behind my ear and looked at him shyly. "Why can't we drive to our pack?" I said, fluttering my eyelashes innocently. Reed looked somewhat surprised by my question but quickly recovered. He looked at Diana and sighed heavily.
Diana looked like she was trying so hard not to laugh at him. After stifling some more time, she nodded in Reed's direction. "We are exactly three thousand miles away from your pack. I know traveling through the portal can be exhausting for the first few times, but it is the best possible way to reach your pack."
I shifted on my feet and started walking towards the portal. "Or you can ask Reed to carry you..." Before she would have completed the sentence, I jumped into the portal.
I shut my eyes closed. Everything was spinning. I winced when I felt a tremendous amount of pressure over my body. I heard angry whooshes of the trees before I felt something soft under my feet. I opened my eyes to find myself in the familiar woods covered with snow.
With a wide smile stretched over my face, I ran in the direction of my pack, my home. I want to see my family!
As soon as the trees thinned out, the houses came into view. The people were in their houses. The pups were playing with the snow, throwing it at each other's faces. As soon they saw me, they ran in the other direction as if they saw the ghost. I shrugged and continued walking towards my home. My family.
I took a deep breath standing in front of the door. I knocked once. The door opened shortly after to reveal the only woman I loved most in the world, my mother. "Oh, Emmy! Where have you been, dear?" she exclaimed, throwing her arms, hugging me tightly till I couldn't breathe.
"I missed you too, Mom." Suddenly, she tensed and looked behind me. Reed cleared his throat. "Good evening, Mrs. Rockwood. I am Reed Xander," he said calmly.
My mother stared at him for two long minutes before letting him enter the house. I have already talked to my mother about everything. She now knew everything about Reed and what he had done to me. I made her promise not to tell anybody, especially not August.
"Mom, where is August?" She looked at me and smiled. The last time I saw her that happy was before my father went into a coma. "Well, things have not been the same since you left us," she said, now giving me her full-blown smile. I narrowed my eyes in suspicion.
Reed was sitting uncomfortably on the sofa, looking at the walls as if trying to make holes in them. I sat next to him, keeping at least a foot distance. He looked at me from the corner of his eye and loosened his collar.
"Your mother didn't like me." He said the obvious. My mother was in the kitchen, busy preparing food for us, but I could tell her ears were on us.
"You have not given her a good reason either," I said, putting my feet on the table, and immediately, a sigh passed my lips. I really missed my sofa; no castle can match the comfiness of my home.
A part of me regretted saying it immediately. He turned to look at me. His eyes were laced with many emotions. Guilt was one of them, which made me regret it even more. He rubbed his neck awkwardly but didn't say a word. "I know I haven't done right by you." His voice low, barely a whisper. "I treated you badly." He looked straight into my eyes; his ocean blue eyes softened. Guilt and regret were evident in his eyes. He looked away from me as if he feared I could look through his eyes.
This time he wasn't looking like a crazy tyrant alpha. He looked broken and vulnerable. I have never seen him look so vulnerable. Suddenly, I would do anything to ease his suffering. It tugged at my heart.
"The lunch is ready," my mother hollered from the kitchen. I straightened my posture and smiled weakly. "Umm... let's eat something." He shook his head.
"No, I am not hungry. If you don't mind, can you show me my room?" He stood and held one of the bags on his back. I hesitated for a second before leading him to the room upstairs adjacent to me. He nodded and closed the door as soon as he entered inside.
Reed was a puzzle with broken pieces. I doubted if he ever indulges with someone other than Diana. His eyes were filled with hurt and longing, and for one second, I wanted to know every reason behind it.
But before that, I have a more important matter to take care of. I had to tell my brother about Reed, and I was not ready for how he would handle it and the danger constantly lurking in the shadows.
The witches were going to attack our pack in three days. I rubbed my head lightly; this was going to be a long day.