“This is Heather speaking. How may I help you?” it was so good to hear her voice. Not seeing my mother every day was going to take a lot of getting used to. At least I could still call her.
“Hey momma, it's me, Faith. How's dad? Is he home yet?” she's probably already been down to visit him.
“They released him a little more than an hour ago,” she told me enthusiastically. What a relief.
“Oh, mom, that's excellent news.” I was so happy for them. At least Declan didn't manage to take him from me too.
“Is he around?” it would be good to hear his voice for myself.
“Yes. I'll get him for you.” she's already moving away from the phone.
“Mom”, I try to call out to her, but I get no response.
I heard the rustling of someone taking the phone and some murmurs, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. I think their hand must be covering the receiver.
“Faith baby, how are you?” His voice sounded broken, hoarse like he was still in pain.
“I'm fine, daddy. Are you okay?” I haven't called him daddy in years. It was one of those things I stopped when I became a teenager, and I decided I was too cool. I was feeling vulnerable without him. I don’t care about cool anymore.
He croaked a little down the phone line as he cleared his throat. He groaned as he coughed, and now I was sure he was still feeling quite sore.
“I'm fine, baby, really”, he rasped, but I didn’t believe him. He sounds shocking.
“I thought you died.” I croaked. A few deep calming breaths later, and I get myself back under control. He didn't need me panicking right now...There wasn’t anything either of us could do for the other right now.
“You think a pup like Declan could kill me? Have some more confidence in your old man. I think he's earned it.” he joked, I know he was trying to make me feel better, but I didn't think it was funny.
“Your voice is different,” I commented. I was trying not to, but I couldn’t help it. I was concerned about him.
“ I know, baby. I broke a couple of ribs when I went out the window. I also punctured a lung, and it’s been affecting me a bit, but I’m mostly healed. I'm older. I’ll bounce back.” I can’t believe the way he’s just mentioned that he has a broken lung like it’s no big deal.
“I’m can not put it in words, daddy. I know that I love you, and I’m so happy that you are okay. But can you put mom on? I have some news?” I ask.
I could hear some clanging and bang in the background, and finally, the little noises stopped.
“Hey, baby. You wanted to tell me something?” she asked.
“Would you judge if I moved on?” some would say it was too soon, but was it? I mean nothing when it happened between Declan and me. He never even tried to kiss me. Was it really moving on of nothing even happened?
“Why” I don’t miss the surprise in her voice. If I could see her now, I know her hand would be directly over her bosoms as she stared ahead, shocked by my question.
“Would I you?” I repeated.
“No. No, I wouldn’t, but I would be exceedingly surprised. What you went through was extremely traumatic, and this new wolf, well, you can’t have known the man for more than 24 hours. Are you sure you want to?” She fussed.
“Faith. I don’t know about this. We thought we knew Declan, and look how that turned out,” my father anxious voice grumbled through the phone.
“Declan isn’t everybody, dad. He was bad, and none of us had seen that coming. Certainly not me, but does that mean I should never think about it?” He did have a point tho, I knew Declan my whole life, and as it turned out, I didn’t know him at all. Could I ever really know Kyle?
“I just don’t see the point in rushing” He tried reason img with me.
“I met mate second chance”, I blurted out. This wasn’t exactly going to plan.
“He’s the Alpha. Alpha Kyle. I am going out with him this weekend. I’m scared of dad. I’ll take it slow, I promise, but I do want my mate. I know that I do. I have all these other scary feelings messing with that right now. But I don’t want that to wreck anything. I’ll be nothing but honest with Kyle. If he’s a good mate, one who’s worthy of me, he will understand that for now. I’m broken.” I didn’t mean to admit that last part.
“A date? How exciting. I can’t believe it's your first date, and I’m not even there. I always thought I would help you pick out your dress or help with your make up” her experiment for me quickly turned to disappointment. I was disappointed too. I had that same wish. I always wanted her to help me get ready.
“ I know, mom, but I’ll call right before, and I’ll call again the moment I’m home so I can tell you about all of it.”
I thought she would jump on the offer, but silenced stretched on between us. It was so long I started to believe that the line had dropped out or something. I was about to give up and just hang up the phone when my mother sighed sadly into the receiver.
“Mom, what’s wrong? Please don’t cry,” I plead with her.
“I’m not crying, Pumpkin. I just,” she trailed off.
“Just what?” I prod her.
“Your father and I were talking. We think you should stop calling.” What did she just say?
“Stop calling? I don’t get it; why?” I wouldn’t make it if I couldn’t at least call them.
Yes, you can. Sapphire tries, but I just shut her out. She couldn’t understand.
“Declan came by the hospital just before we left.” She said somewhat bitterly.
“No way, they let him out already?” I couldn’t believe it. This has to be a joke. A bad one, but still a joke. He almost killed my dad, and he got chained for one night? That’s it? It wasn’t even in the dungeons. He was in his own bed for the love of all that is holy. That was no punishment.
He should be held accountable to a higher standard than anybody else. As a leader, he should be made an example of. But he was never held responsible for anything. He would run that pack into the damn ground, and it would be his parent's fault.
“I disagree with it. We may even leave this pack,” she tells me. Good, I hope they do. I could always ask Kyle to take them in.
“I still don't get why that means I can't call?” o admitted.
“Because he's looking for you.” My father warned me.
“Looking for me? But why? He didn't want me. He's almost killed me twice now.” Was this really happening right now?
“He didn’t say. He just questioned me about your were about’s.” My father was perturbed, so was I.
“What did you say to him?” I know in my heart. That they kept my location a secret, but Declan wouldn’t have let them go without something.
“I said you went rogue, that I couldn’t contact you anymore even if I wanted to. I told him that even if I did know where you were that I wouldn’t tell him anyway.”
“ I just don't get it”, I mumbled to myself more than anything.
“Why won't he leave me alone?” I almost shout. I’m so over it. I'm sad, angry, and I’m frustrated. I had left Crescent moon. He never had to see me again. Was that truly not enough? Would he not stop until I was dead?
“We don’t know, baby. We understand it about as much as you do,” my mother tries to soothe me.
“Was that it? Did he say anything else?” I growl.
“He warned us. He said he will stop at nothing to find you.” My father grunted.
“Do you think he’ll find me?” I’m seething. I can’t believe how much audacity one man has.
“Honestly, Faith, I don’t know. But I don’t think you should be leaving pack grounds. Don’t go near the borders where someone may spy on you, or worse, catch you. Hang out around crowds even if you don’t associate them. He may be an Alpha, but he was still going to have to follow the rules. He can’t just cross onto territory that’s not his. He will have to make a formal request. I don’t see why Kyle would grant such a request if he is aware.” I understand where my dad is coming from, but there was one rule of his that I couldn’t follow. I will be going on my date with Alpha Kyle. If that meant leaving the reserve, then so be it. I was with Kyle. I am sure we would be perfectly safe. But other than that, I would absolutely stay close to the pack at all times.
“Okay, mom, dad. I think I’m going to go and just process all of this. Continue to feel better. Call me as soon as you can. I miss you guys x.”
“Okay, we will let you know the moment anything changes. We want our baby back. We love you.”
I hung up the phone. I could not have received worse news. Would it be weird if I mind linked Kyle and told him? He was my mate, but still, I had only met the man once. I decided that for now, I would just leave it alone. I would speak to Amy and Amelio about it first. For now, I was off to bury my head in the sand. I trudged up to my room. Amy had left me a few more things. I was pleased to see the soft silky satin, lavender, purple Pajama set. It was gorgeous. I stripped and slipped them on. I flopped onto the bed so that I was face down into the mattress, and you began to scream with all I could. Once I felt slightly better, I tucked myself in and slept the rest of my troubles away.