It was just me, my mom, and Steve – the way it was meant to be all those years ago.
“You have no idea how grateful I am,” I said, “I promise I won’t be a burden. I just want to lay low for long enough until
I’m sure Griffin isn’t going to come after m
My mom reached over and squeezed my hand. “Honey,” she smiled at me, “You’re my daughter. You would never be a burden to me. And it’s good that you’re here. It’ll give us time to actually catch up.” “and maybe you can sample some of my cooking,” Steve piped in, “Your mother is on this vegetarian diet, and I’ve got nob*dy to tell me if my ribs are any good.”
“Of course, Uncle Steve,” I grinned.
Although I hadn’t seen my mother or Uncle Steve in years, it only took me a few days to settle into a routine. Life with them was simple and predictable. My mother worked at the hospital during the day while Steve ran his own construction business, and then we’d have dinner together every night.
It was an easy routine, but it was a welcome one. In Yorba Linda with my mom, there were no pack functions to worry about, no patrols, and most importantly, no possessive mate hanging around.
I stayed cooped up in the house the first four days I was there. I was too paranoid that if I left, someone might be waiting to drag me back – maybe Griffin, maybe my dad, maybe even one of my siblings.
It didn’t help that I started getting texts and calls from my family around day three. My dad left me several urgent voicemails. Apparently, Griffin and several of his guards had come to the packhouse, inquiring to know where I was.
In each voicemail that I didn’t respond to, my dad got increasingly angry. He was the angriest in voicemail number five. “I can’t believe how selfish you’re being right now,” he spat through the line, “You’ve been given an honor that most female wolves can only dream of, and what do you do? You run away like a child! I want to know where you are right this second, Clark. You will come home and fix this. ‘m ashamed to even call you my daughter right now.”
I’d be lying if I said his words didn’t sting. Having my dad say he was ashamed me wasn’t a great feeling, but I also had no desire to talk to him either. Not after learning the way he had willingly kept me from my mother for seven years.
Besides, if I go back to the pack, he’ll just hand me over to Griffin. This isn’t about him being worried about my safety…it’s about me embarrassing him.
Sebastian left a single voicemail too, but his was just concerned. I didn’t have the heart to call him back, but I did text him to let him know I was safe but I couldn’t come home right now. I!
Lily’s voicemail on day four just made me laugh. “Did you forget to mention that you met my mate and you were chummy with her, Clark?” She had hissed into the phone but there was no real venom in her voice. “Oh, yeah, I’ve met
Alessia. She arrived yesterday, and she already knew who I was ~ she said you were the one who told her. While I’m glad you got to meet my soul mate, Clark, it would’ve been nice if you would’ve told your actual sister about it! Anyway, you’re being stupid right now. Running away won’t solve your problems. Come home.”
Teven had a voicemail from Luna Grace by day three. No doubt my dad had pressured her into calling and trying to guilttrip me into coming home, but it wasn’t very effective.
“I know you’re scared right now, Clark,” her gentle voice had spoken through the phone, “But there’s no reason to be.
Having a mate is a wonderful experience, and you should’ve seen how worried the King was when he came to the pack – especially when he discovered you weren’t here. If you come home, we can talk about all of this. We’re here to support you, honey, no matter what you want.”
Thad rolled my eyes at that last part. Grace’s words might’ve sounded sweet but they were hollow. I’d lived with my dad long enough to know that his support came with terms and conditions. If you weren’t doing things his way, you didn’t get support. And me running out on my “role” in the werewolf world definitely wasn’t “his way.”
If I came back to the pack, there would be nothing to decide. My dad would just keep me there until Griffin came to collect me.
I guess dad will just have to get used to being ashamed of me. I’m not going back.
With that thought in mind, I resolved to stop isolating myself out of paranoia and actually enjoy my new surroundings. I had been here for about a week. If Griffin knew where I was, he would’ve found me already. Until I knew otherwise, I was safe.
“Clark, you want to go grab some coffee with me? There’s a cute little cafe in town,” Mom’s voice suddenly rang through the room. She stood in the doorway, still wearing her scrubs from work.
Enjoying your new surroundings means getting out and doing things, Clark.
“Yeah, coffee sounds good,” I smiled at her, “Let me just grab my shoes.”
Even something as simple as grabbing coffee with my mom felt so freeing.
Maybe it’s because I’m actually free here.
What I didn’t know at that moment was that my freedom would be very short-lived.
“Your first love is your first love. It cannot be analyzed, explained, or forgotten.”
Aisling Bea
My mom had been right about the little cafe in town ~ it was cute and cozy. They also just had good coffee, much better than the black sludge that Steve was drinking in his thermos every morning.
After I’d gone with her that first night, I started going there on my own. Sometimes I’d take a book to read, and other times I would just people-watch with steaming hot coffee in my hand.
Yorba Linda was definitely a small town, there was no denying that. Besides a grocery store, a movie theater, a library, and the little cafe, there were just houses here. (*
But it was also peaceful and the people were nice but not intrusive. I was used to living in a small town – if you could call the Blacktooth Pack a town ~ but the pack had never felt peaceful.
Everyone had heightened emotions, mates were all over each other, and people thought they were entitled to know every aspect of your life. It probably had to do with their “mind link,” but as a human, it wasn’t great. Yorba Linda might’ve been small, but nob*dy bothered you. People went about their business and didn’t inquire about yours. It was nice.
After ten days in the little town, I found myself spending another afternoon in the coffee shop. This time, I was equipped with some mystery novel I’d pulled off mom’s bookshelf. Her collection was sparse, so I would need to make a run to the local library soon.
I walked up to the coffee shop counter to place my order. The shop was a little busy, and I watched the barista ~ a college-aged girl with dyed purple hair whose nametag read Amber ~ multitask like a pro.
Geez, she really moves fast. (: She slid someone’s mocha down the counter and then turned to me. Despite how quickly she seemed to be working, there wasn’t a hair out of place. She didn’t seem to be breaking a sweat. (=
“What can I get you?” she asked with a bright smile, and I saw her eyes widen when she looked at me. “Woah,” she muttered under her breath.
My cheeks instantly flushed. Why is she staring at me like that? “What?” I couldn’t help but ask. She was still staring. “Do
I have still breakfast on my face?” Before she could reply, I swiped my shirt sleeve across my face several times. “Oh, no,” Amber said, smiling awkwardly, “No, I’m sorry ~ I wasn’t trying to stare. It’s just…you reminded me of someone for a second. I kinda thought you were her.”
“Let me guess,” I said, “She’s a redhead with freckles? We kind of all look the same.”
She chuckled, “Yep, you got it. Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel awkward. Anyway, what can I get you?”
“Steaming hot Americano with cream.” “Coming right up!”
After procuring my drink, I settled into one of the armchairs by the window to read my book.
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