Wolf Girl (Book 1)

Chapter 12: Jana

It's still early so most of the pack are sleeping, but Ceri, Gerwyn and my dad are all standing outside one of the teepees, looking at me.

I run into his arms, "Where is she?"

He sighs and shakes his head, "It's not my place to get involved." 

"Dad, I love her."

He smiles at me and reaches out to stroke my hair, "I know, love. But you'll have to speak to Ceri."

This is the first time he's not injecting himself into my personal life, but he's learnt to respect his Alphas.

"Jana, Cariad," Ceri hugs me and pulls me aside.

"Ceri, where is she? I know she's here. I can smell her," I try to look around but Ceri grabs me by the shoulders, "Please, I need to talk to her; I need to tell her I'm sorry and that I'm here now."

"She's in the den. Jana, she doesn't want to see anyone. She could smell you coming and she asked me to keep you away."

I've come all this way and now she won't even talk to me, "No, I have to see her, Ceri!"

"Jana, I'm the Alpha here. You're on my territory and you'll do as you're told," Ceri looks down sternly at me, the way she looks at Rhydian when he's arguing with her. She takes a breath and her face becomes sad, "I'm in her debt. The pack attacked her father under my authority and he was killed trying to save her, it is my duty to protect her."

I sit down, accepting her ruling, "You're looking after her?" I ask.

"Yes, Cariad. Though it's not been easy," she sits down beside me, "Some of the pack aren't too happy that she's here," she says, but she's holding something back. Keeping something else from me.

"What? What is it?"

She bites her lip and hesitates, "I wanted to tell Rhydian first, but seeing as you're here," she stops and becomes tearful

"You can tell me," I say. 

She takes a deep breath and tries to force her tears away, "Well, you know that Carys' father and I were briefly involved as teenagers?" I nod. "This is not easy to confess, but we had a child, Rhydian and Carys' sister." 

I can't believe what I'm hearing. A secret sibling? As if Carys isn't dealing with enough right now. When Rhydian finds out about this he'll be furious. More than surprise, I can't help but be a little disappointed in Ceri. But I don't let my disappointment show.

"The thing is, I didn't tell Carys' father, he'd left by the time I found out, so I kept it a secret. Didn't even tell Gerwyn until after he came back."

"Where is she now?" I ask.

"When she was born, I left her somewhere that I knew a human would find her. I was so young, I wasn't prepared to have a child, but I needed to know she'd be safe," she starts crying, "So, because of that, and many other things; as a mother and Alpha I've always had a duty of care to Carys."

I look at her in shock. She's kept so many secrets from Rhydian over the years, not unlike Geraint with Carys, but at least she's trying to make up for it now. Ceri is shaking, I think she's still holding something back, but it's all too much right now.

"Carys knows?"

She nods. She's genuinely ashamed, so I put my judgement aside and decide to console her instead. After all, she's done so much for me, it's the least I can do. 

"I respect you for trying to put things right. I can only imagine how hard that must have been. But right now, Carys is hurting. If you want to protect her, you'll let me talk to her."

She takes a moment, then nods her head.

I walk over to the den, pull back the curtain and see Carys looking through Ceri's healing supplies.

I can hear her sniffling, "I asked Ceri to keep you away," she won't even look at me.

I climb into the tent and sit next to her, "Carys, I'm sorry, I should have come with you. I made a terrible mistake, but I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere," I take her hand.

She slowly turns towards me, but still looks down, "You're going to stay with me?" She tries not to get her hopes up.

"Yes, forever." 

She finally looks me in the eye, "Really?" 

I nod and pull her close, "I'm not leaving you, never again."

Her eyes glassy with tears, she sighs, "Thank you," she grabs my face and kisses me, "I love you."

"I love you too," I reply, wondering how I ever thought I could be apart from her.