Chapter 3
"What?!"
My ears went into shock. Ryder said that I was Damen's what?! I mean yeah sure I saw him turn into a wolf and all which I guess meant that he was a werewolf but I was his mate now?! I didn't think so, I was no one's mate. Especially not to some self- righteous, manipulative, arrogant,--ugh! Me? His mate?! In what dimension?! I wasn't even as freaked out about him being a werewolf as I was about being his--his mate! Now I understood why Ryder had been so angry---wait . .. how did Ryder Know that . . .? Was--was he one too?
My expression dropped. He probably was . . .
"Ryder . . .?"
"Yes?"
"It's obvious that Damen's a werewolf, but . . .you're one too aren't you? I mean that would explain why you speak." He stared at me the way he did when he didn't want to answer a question; with that aloof look of his. "Answer me!" I shouted in frustration.
Suddenly the windows flew open and a strong gust of wind blew in. Crimson Maire. There was that name again, but what did it mean . . . ? There was something flowing into my room with the wind. The translucent glow materialized on the far side of my room in the corner. . . .It was the white that I had seen just last night. It stood staring at us without a word.
"Na. . .la . . ." I heard Ryder whisper in a tone of uncertainty. Who . . .? He continued staring over at her and she just kept staring at us.
"Ryder who is that?"
He didn't answer me but he kept staring. She began to glow paler as she pointed towards the forest with her nose. What was out there . . .? Another breeze blew and she was gone. Immediately after that Ryder jumped through the window, howled then ran into the forest. Where was he going?! Ugh! I sighed in annoyance that he would have run out there again after what had just happened. He was still hurt. I took one more look at the door before going through the window as well. My parents would have flipped if they knew that I was headed back out there. I sucked in a deep breath before entering the trees. Apart of me was afraid that Damen would have shown up but there was no way that I was going to let Ryder run off following something that you could scarcely see.
"Ryder stop!" I shouted when I caught him running in the distance. He just kept running like he was hot on the trail of something.
He finally stopped running when he got back to the very clearing that I was attacked in. I could barely breath by the time I caught up to him. He sat by the water's edge as if waiting for something. I walked over to him but he didn't acknowledge my presence. What had gotten into him?
The water shot up. I jumped back but Ryder just sat there staring up at it. It began going in spirals until I could make out the white wolf again. This was starting to creep me out. . .
"Ryder, well done . . ." The feminine voice confirmed my original speculation. She was female, but where had she come from? And how did she know Ryder? "Maia, you've grown so big." Okay forget the first question, how the hell did she know me?!
"W-Who are you? how do you know me?"
She chuckled, now shaking her head at me. I didn't ask a stupid question and I wanted to be answered. This was getting strange and I needed some answers.
"I've known you since you were first conceived. Ofcourse I wouldn't expect you to remember me . . ." What was she talking about. Sure she was the same wolf that I kept seeing in the pack that kept getting killed but other than that she was a stranger. She slowly made her way over to me. I began stepping back. There was no need for her to come any closer. "Be still child." she said assertively. Just then my feet froze in their place. I looked down but I couldn't see anything. I tried moving them but they were held in place by an invisible force. What the-- "I am your mother."
My head flashed around to her immediately and my eyes bulged wide. Had I fallen asleep right after going to my room? Was this one of those vivid dreams . . .? If she was my mother then that would have made me a . . .--
Ahh!
I grabbed my hand as the bite wound began throbbing uncontrollably. I sucked in a deep breath, trying my hardest to suppress the pain.
She walked over to me and began licking my hand. I was certain that I wouldn't have felt it but I did . . .the instant relief was almost addicting. I sighed.
"Nala . . .where is my mother . . . ?" Ryder asked. She stopped licking my hand and turned to him.
"She died a noble death, hurt in battle she asked me to save you."
"So she's . . ."
Nala nodded.
I saw pain in Ryder's eyes. Had he really been holding unto some hope about his mother all these years. . . ? And . . .and if she was my mother then how . . . .it wasn't making any sense. Why wasn't she here now?! If I'm meant to be a werewolf then why was I given to a human family? Suddenly a flashback from my dream flashed before my eyes. A white wolf . . .holding back a bunch of other wolves . . .snarling . . .biting . . .howls of pain---it was all too much. I fell to my knees trying to push back what was seeming more like memories now. Why was this happening now? Nala licked my face. I felt a calm wash over me. The fear and panic just seemed to disappear. . .
"The times are changing love . . .everything is going out of sequence." She told me. "The Crimson Maire once ruled this forest and it would seem that the forest isn't pleased with the new monarchy. . .the trees are turning parasitic, the birds no longer drink from the water at the creek because the stream no longer runs pure."
"Why are you telling me this . . .?" I whispered. It wasn't as if I could have done anything about it.
"So you can fix it."
"But how . . . ?"
"The Crimson Maire must rule again." She began to fade.
"Wait, no . . .I-I don't understand. How will I do that?"
"You have Crimson Maire blood flowing through you. The moment you join the Cerulean Mist all is lost . . ." Her voiced trailed off in the wind . She slowly vanished.
The Cerulean Mist . . .was that Damen's pack. . .? Join them? That thought had never crossed my mind--his mate! No! I wouldn't! He would have to find himself a new mate, I refused to be tied up in all this. I didn't care what I was. I was going to go home, throw myself in my bed and forget whatever I didn't want to remember.
Ryder started back towards the house. I got up and hurried to catch up with him. I didn't want to be left in the forest alone. On the walk back neither of us said anything. I was thinking about everything that I had heard and he was more than likely thinking about the mother he would never see again. I couldn't help but wonder though. If he was a werewolf then how come I had never seen him as a human? Could that have been because of what Nala had said about things going out of sequence . . .?
When we got back to my room I had to ask.
"Ryder?" He looked over at me but gave no other form of response. "How come you've never turned into a guy?"
"That is sheer will, I do not wish to. I hadn't been able to until about last year."
"Wait so you could have come to school with me then."
"No, I've seen my human reflection and when based on the standards of you humans I'm hot. If I went to your school the girls would be all over me and I would be annoyed by their chatty behaviours." Conceited much?
He hopped unto the bed and began curling up. "Uh-uh, get off." He looked over at me. "Now that I know you're a guy I can't have you sharing the same bed as me anymore. Go curl up with mom and dad." Even though it was now plain that they weren't my parents I didn't think that anything needed to change. I still had them and my real mother was dead. . .Ryder looked over at me as if he were offended. "I'm serious get off." I tried pushing him but he snarled at me. I jumped back immediately. "Okay, okay stay on the bed, I don't mind. Gosh you're so hostile." He continued curling up as if he didn't hear my comment then with his back turned to me he fell asleep. If we were a pack then he would definitely be the Alpha.
The next morning I woke with a sinking feeling in my stomach. I would have to see Damen today; no doubt he would come looking for me. But hey atleast I would know whether or not my efforts yesterday paid off.
My eyes fell to the bed and I caught a glimpse of my hand . The mark was still there--quite visibly too. I should have killed him for ruining my skin like this. In the light it sorta looked like a half moon . . . but the edges were more jagged.
"Ryder get up we have school." Without opening his eyes he growled low. He wasn't a morning wolf--or a night one---you know come to think of it he was just grouchy at all times of the day. I smiled to myself, he was still my wolf no matter what he tried.
I got down stairs in time to see mom sharing out my breakfast. She smiled at me. "Good morning Alex, I made you some bacon, you know, as a mini celebration."
"Celebration?"
"Well yeah, Darla called me last night to let me know that her Tiffany tried out yesterday and that by today you would all know who had made the team. I just want to give you a celebratory breakfast to congratulate you." She said over enthusiastically.
"You are aware that I haven't actually made the team as yet . . .right . . .?
"Oh hush up, you are so modest. Knowing you atleast one person pissed you off and you showed them what you were made of."
"Dang, nail on the head much."
"I'm a mother, that's my job."
I smiled at her but the whole time I couldn't help but remember that she wasn't my mother. It probably would have broken her heart to know that I knew. I would play it cool. She didn't have to be as disappointed by life as I was.
When I was ready to leave Ryder was at the door waiting for me. Apparently he would follow me to school--or well, as far as the trees extended. He was pretty hung up on the fact that the people at my school turned into retards when they saw something as 'simple' as a wolf.
We walked through the forest in silence . . .silence . . .that reminded me of what Nala had said about the birds. I guess since they no longer had a water supply they no longer had a reason to stay. It was odd walking through the forest without hearing the occasional chirping from a bird. I knew that Ryder missed it too even if he didn't say it because of how restless he looked as we trotted on. We got to the end of the forest and he pulled immediate brakes. I turned and looked at him, just slightly annoyed. Was he really going to be all literal about how far he followed me?
"Glare all you'd like but this is as far as I go."
"Om my gosh that's like a wolf." I heard someone in the distance say.
"And that is my signal to go." Before I could say anything he turned and ran off back into the forest. I rolled my eyes then walked over to the school.
As I entered the hallway I saw a group of girls crowding around the main notice board. Should I really have gone to look . . . ? Well I might as well had or it would have bugged me throughout the entire day. I paced myself as I walked over to the board. My eyes ran down the list. Jessie Abrams, Christy Lara . . .skip, skip, skip. I got to the end of the list . . .I didn't make the team . . .well then. I turned to walk away slowly. I felt like I had been slapped in the face. Even though I didn't want to be on the team, I knew I was better than everyone else who tried out.
"I guess by now you've realized that you haven't made the team. Sorry but you just didn't have what we were looking for. Maybe next year." I looked to my left and saw Amber staring me with a spiteful smile.
This wouldn't bother me, I wouldn't allow it to. "Oh that's fine, like I said, I only showed up because my mom begged me to. You guys aren't worth my time or my efforts." I said with an indifferent shrug. I walked around her and continued along my way down the hall. It wasn't until I turned unto the next hall that I realized just how pissed I was. Without my consent my hand slammed into the closest locker and I had to suppress a scream. I was the best freakin' thing they had and I didn't make the team?! That whole thing was rigged.
For the whole day I thought about how I would tell mom that I wasn't a cheerleader and she had wasted her bacon. She would have been so crushed. At lunch, as if my day wasn't already bad enough, I ran into Damen and his cousins as they walked in the opposite direction. He smirked at me as he walked by. I rolled my eyes, hoping he would know just how much I hated him--especially after last night.
At the end of the day I couldn't bring myself to go home and tell mom the bad news. I decided to stay and watch the girls train then go home and tell mom all the things I 'did'.
I entered the gym just as they were warming out and doing stretches.
"Hey, you're the girl from yesterday, how come you didn't make the cut?" A girl asked me as she saw me take a seat. I shrugged, afterall I had no idea why Amber hated me enough to let the team suffer not having my skills.
"That's messed up." Another girl said.
They all began muttering their agreement. Basically they all saw that me not making the cut was a load of shit.
"Hey!!!" Amber shouted. "Shut the hell up and get back to those stretches because I have no problem shortening the squad even further!" They all shut up and went back to the stretches. I sighed and looked on. I didn't know why but I wished that I was on the mat with them. It actually looked fun--ugh, I couldn't believe that I just thought that. For the whole time I kept seeing Amber looking over at me with some kind of spiteful smirk before turning back the others. Was she trying to prove a point? I got even more annoyed at like half an hour before the training was done when Damen walked in. Oh great. This time he had the audacity to sit right next to me . I kept my head straight and did't acknowledge his presence. The last thing I wanted was him thinking I wanted him there.
That was when Amber really started looking over at me. I swear she spent more time watching me than the actual girls doing the practice. What the hell did she expect?! What did she think I would start making out with her boyfriend or something?!
Practice was finished 15 minutes before it was actually suppose to and when it did Amber rushed over to us and wrapped her arms around Damen. I caught him looking at me and he gave me a smirk. I turned and looked away. He must have thought that he looked so hot, well he did---but that was besides the point!
I headed for the door and began jogging towards my locker to get my homework. I would jog or run home so mom would think that I really had done something.
I threw open my locker and began grabbing up books and throwing a few inside while humming and nodding to a song that had randomly popped into my head. It had lifted my spirit slightly; atleast I wasn't annoyed anymore. I slammed the locker shut and jumped back. My heart was suddenly pounding much faster.
"What the hell Damen?" I said, trying to gain control of my breathing. He had come out of nowhere.
"Where did you get that cut on your hand?" He asked with an undertone of cynicism as he smiled over at me.
I glared up at him, he had moved much closer. "You know damn well where I got." I snapped at him. His smile turned into a smirk, as if he was satisfied with my answer.
"Look leave me alone, I have to get home before you decide to prowl around hunting." I said as I tried stepping around him. He shifted so he was blocking me. "I said to move!" I said more assertively. He slammed me against the wall between two lockers. I cried out in protest. "What the--" he crushed his lips against mine and I could feel him against me as he used his body to keep me pinned to the wall. I struggled against his strength but he seemed to have been getting stronger. His fingers were intwined in my hair forcing my head to keep still. I mumbled against his lips but he seemed to ignore my protest.
There was a noise coming from the top of the next hall and making it's way towards us. I thought for sure that he would let me go but, without removing his lips, he pulled me into the storage closest close by. He threw me unto the floor then walked in and closed the door behind him.
"W-what do you think you doing? S-stay away f-from me!"
In the dim light I could see that his smirk had return. "You see that mark on your hand? You belong to me now. You're mine to do with as I please."
What?!
"I'll leave you to get use to the idea." He said before kissing me again then he opened the door and left. I remained on the floor, obviously shaken up by what had just happen. This was all happening so quickly---everything.
And what did he mean when he said that I belonged to him . . .?