Chapter 10
I groaned as I stretched out my limbs. After faking my own death, I joined the party again. It was an amazing time and I felt like I could do something for the first time without the hunters association or my father breathing down my neck.
My joints clicked with displeasure as the morning sun bled into the room. Kicking the covers to the side, I climbed out of bed and walked to my bathroom to have a morning shower. I was still covered in dirt and leaves from last night.
The beads of water relaxing my aching muscles and I sighed with contentment when the water finally ran clear. I lathered myself up and continued with my relaxing shower. It was absolutely blissful.
I walked out of the bathroom, my towel wrapped my body securely as I squeezed water out of my hair using another towel. My eyes lightened up to find a small pile of clothes on my bed for me to wear today.
I raced over to it and inspected the items. A pair of black, ripped skinny jeans, a blue halterneck top and a pair of blue strappy sandals. I had also noticed that my bed sheets had been changed and I felt a flutter of happiness of how amazing these people were.
I quickly dried myself off and got dressed. I brushed my hair back into a high ponytail and left to go downstairs. I walked down the stairs, the commotion was loud from downstairs. I slowly crept down the remaining steps and peeked my head around to look at the commotion.
People were rushing about. I looked confused at every as several people shouted across the room to their friend about something before hurrying off somewhere. I blinked at the whole scene. Releasing an anxious breath, I stepped forwards.
Squeezing my way through the busy people, I finally made it the lounge area. I flopped on the sofa next to Merida. I leaned into her side as she wrapped an arm around me and rubbed my arm up and down soothingly while I tried to catch my breathing.
"It's not usually hectic," she says, glancing back at the scene. "They're just excited about the full moon tonight... That and we're having some very important guests come for a visit in a few weeks, maybe a few months. They just want to be ready."
"Important guests?" I echoed.
"It's a long story. Right now, we need to focus on getting you ready for tonight and showing you the rules and stuff about our world. You've been thrown into our world feet first without having any prior knowledge or been taught our lifestyle." Merida informed.
Everyone had begun to calm down and raced off to do different things. The guy who came with us to the woods last night sank into the sofa next to me, his arm resting on the back of the sofa behind my neck.
"Amy, isn't it?" He asked, pointing at me. I looked at him, bewildered. I nodded my head, my words failing me. His brown hair was styled into a quiff, his hazel eyes inspected me. He was wearing a plain black t-shirt with a red and black flannel shirt. I gulped. He smiled at me. "Welcome to the pack, Amy. I've decided that from now on, you're my little sister, ok?"
"Little sister?" I squeaked.
"Oh yeah, Harry here is like you. He got attacked by a wolf when he was younger and he was so scared to tell his parents about what he was that he just ran away. Then one day he just strolled into our territory, much like you did and we accepted him as one of our own." Merida explained.
I looked back at him, my heart reached out to him. He was attacked too? My eyes welled up with tears for Harry. His happy expression turned panicked as he saw me crying. He quickly pulled me into him and hugged me to him as I cried.
"Hey, it's okay." He whispered into my hair.
"But... You were... How did you..." I choked out.
"Cope?" He asked. I nodded. "The pack helped me through it. Now I can pass on my wisdom to you. I knew from last night that you were still recovering mentally from the attack."
I clung on tighter to him as he tightened his hold on me. Merida laughs and rubs my back. "I knew you would cling to him like this." She said. I scowled at her and flung my legs over hers as I snuggled closer to Harry. "So now you're choosing him over me?" She asked, feigning shock as she places her hand over her heart.
"Harry understands, Harry gets it," I responded, sticking out my tongue to her. "Harry's nice."
"And I'm not?" She asks, feigning hurt.
"Of course you're nice!" I argued. "If I didn't find you nice, my legs wouldn't be on you," I told her. "Only the best people get to have my legs on them, it means they can snuggle with me," I explained.
Merida rolled her eyes but crossed her legs underneath her as she placed mine on her own. Resting my head on Harry's chest, I allowed him to play with my hair while I half listened to the TV on the wall.
My attention peeked when I heard my fathers' name being mentioned.
"Mr Jacob Collins' daughter, Amy Collins, has been recently found dead in the forest. She was only going out for a run when she was last seen by her father. It wasn't until her father woke up the next morning did he realise she was missing.
"He asked a group of his friends to help find her, whom of which had also grown close to the girl. They found her only a few short hours ago, in the woods by a river. Her body was barely recognisable as she was attacked by wolves who are known to live in the woods.
"Local authorities have confirmed that Amy had run into a tree and hit her head badly. The wolves must have thought she was just another animal that had died had tried dragging her body back to their den.
"This is a very tragic time for Mr Jacob Collins as two months ago his wife had previously died from a wolf attack, and his daughter just managed to survive the attack to only now be dead and mauled from the creatures.
"We ask that people refrain from entering the woods. Local authorities have forbidden hunting in the woods as the animals, including the wolves, are very rare species. Please, remain safe and keep in mind the loss our town has suffered for these past two months.
"This is Sharon Turner, reporting for the local news. Back to you-"
The TV switched off and I glared at the person who turned it off. Will stood there, his face emotionless as he held the remote in his hands. I growled lowly in my chest.
"WILL!" I screeched. I jumped up from my position and lunged for him. Strong hands grabbed my arms and pulled me back as I kicked at Will.
Merida jumped in front of me, grabbed my face in her hands as she tried to get my focus on her. I kept my eyes locked on the beast behind her. How dare he?!
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" I screamed.
"Bring it on, pup." He chuckled, folding his arms across his chest as he eyed me.
"Merida, fucking move. She's out of control!" Harry yelled from behind me. His arm wrapped around my chest and pulled me into him. "She was turned by a wolf, and fairly recently. With the full moon being tonight she's more angry, especially with being in a new place."
Merida scuttled away as Harry dragged me away, kicking and screaming. I saw as Will chuckled darkly at my reaction, and I lunged for him again. Harry gripped me harder and pulled me away. Spinning me and pushing me to walk out the house, Merida hot on our heels.
"What the fuck is his problem?!" I screamed as I got outside. Harry released me and I paced the grass. "My father thinks I'm fucking dead, my father is fucking hurting and he finds it so fucking hilarious!"
"He can be a bit of a dick with the things he does," Merida admits. "But he does things for a reason. He doesn't like to see people upset. He knew you would be upset over seeing that on the news so he switched it off. Being angry is better than being upset."
"How on earth is it better to be fucking angry than it is to be upset?" I roared.
"Because when you're upset, you push people away. He doesn't like people being upset, pushing each other away and locking a part of themselves away in their hearts."
"Still doesn't make sense. He wants people to be mad at him?" I asked, my anger was slowly dissipating.
"Will doesn't exactly think before he does something. My assumption is that he figured you wouldn't cry if he turned off the TV. He didn't want you to feel pain. People usually get angry when he does things like, his cold persona keeps that anger alight so they don't break down." Harry explained.
Sitting down, I contemplated about Will. I instantly regretted my outburst towards him. He was only trying to prevent the heartbreak that would happen if I continued watching and I snapped at him like a wounded puppy.
"Can I talk to Will? I want to apologise to him." Harry and Merida looked taken aback and gave each other wary glances. "I'm not angry, I've calmed down now."
Merida went in to fetch Will, while Harry laid down on the grass next to me and looked up at the clouds. Moments later, Merida came out with a cautious looking Will. Standing up, I bounded towards and wrapped my arms around his torso.
"I'm sorry for exploding like that to you, Will." I apologised. He returned the gesture and hugged me back.
"It's okay. Would you mind if... I was your big brother too?" He asked, looked down at me. "I used to have a little sister before I got taken away from my family. You remind me of her." Tears welled up in my eyes.
"Of course you can be my big brother too." I agreed. Harry jumped up and hugged the both of us.
Amy is finally getting a new family, a family that will accept. But will it last?
I know this update is quite late in the day and I do apologise. It's been hectic.
Also, I've been trying to bake a cake for like a week now but things keep getting in the way :'(
See you all again next week lovelies.
XOXO