Halfway through the drive back home, we picked Adelaide up and continued to our house.
I knew my sister would drag me out of the driver's seat if I tried racing her large truck but seeing the large hill we have to overcome to reach the house, I couldn't help myself. I looked back at Rocco with a wink and he gave me the heavy metal hand sign and I pressed on the gas. Laughing maniacally, I pushed us up the hill turning up the music to battle Adelaides screaming while Rocco recorded everyone, laughing sinisterly as well. I pulled up in front of my car skillfully and parked earning cheers from the siblings, while I offered a high five to mine.
"I didn't even know the truck could go that fast, Addie always drives like a grandma," Chansey exclaimed stealing the high five.
"I'm CAUTIOUS and I'm too tired to yell at you Indie. I'm getting used to your speed demon shit but don't push it with mine!" She retorted as patted the door as she was getting out.
"You got it, ma'am." I agreed, happy that I escaped her wrath.
Rocco opened my door like a true gentleman and grabbed my bag so I could jump out of the high standing vehicle. I gave him a kissy face like always as a thank you and we headed inside with this arm slung over me. While walking to the door I gazed at the dark sky looking for stars above the trees with no luck. I trailed my sight back down, catching a glimpse of sheer fabric and a small pair of feet under it. Utterly confused, I looked back up to see just the pine trees moving slowly against the breeze.
Entering the house, my mind was trying to rationalize what I saw but I couldn't understand how or why a child would be all the way up there. I shook my head halfway convinced it was the stress among my exhaustion from the training that prompted me to hallucinate. Each second I tried to picture the sight, it became more difficult to imagine considering how fast it disappeared from my vision.
My mother grasped me into a hug, instantly snapping me out of my thoughts.
"How was your training? You're back in one piece so I'm guessing your sister went easy on you." She joked rubbing my arms making me feel at ease. Rocco who was on the other side of me loudly sniffed me and retorted, "she definitely smells like hard work and triumph."
I flicked his temple swiftly and made my way to the stairs so I could hurry into the shower. However, my sister quickly ran up the steps; skipping two at a time and before I could blink I heard the shower turn on. Chansey followed behind her shaking her head at her mate's childish antics.
"When she gets out, we're going on a little date so she will be out of your hair tonight." She reassured me with a wink which gained a big thumbs up from me.
"You can come and use my shower before I fall asleep D." My mom took a hold of me again walking me down the hallway to her room. I yelled to Rocco commanding him to get a plate ready for me as I was absolutely famished then went into my mom's room. The room was comforting and usually became a hangout spot as her king-size bed had the comfiest duvet and mattress that was deadly force if you wanted to stay awake. Her walls were a deep red which served as a nice color scheme with her many crocodile leafed plants and others that hung from her windows.
While she got ready for bed and I was in the shower, we talked. I told her of my day then she enthused about the festival which urged me to ask her a question that I felt I already knew the question to.
"Why don't you come this year?" I asked, stopping the shower and getting out to view her expression in the mirror. Her eyes lowered onto the sink obviously becoming uneasy at the question.
Trying to lighten her dark demeanor, I interjected "actually, due to recent events I think it would be better for me to stay inside this year."
She walked from the conjoined bathroom into her room as I followed behind her.
"You shouldn't Indie, you could well find your mate and everyone would be there to protect you if anything was to happen. However, I doubt anything would occur during such an important and large event, they would be foolish." She reassured me patting her side of the bed as she laid down. I felt a heartfelt moment coming which I usually shy from so I decided to just listen.
"I know that you and your sister worry about me and my way of living-staying at home and all. This is where I feel safe and comfortable, of course, if you need me somewhere I will always come running. Nothing can keep me from you both even if it's my choice of seclusion and I will never let you be harmed." My mom engulfed me in her arms and rocked me back and forth making my mind revert to being younger, when I was truly safe and didn't have to live with such anxiety.
"I love you mom, I'm sorry that this is all happening because of me. We- YOU have already been through so much and for this to happen and pile on to you is something I hate." I expressed to her, thinking about thousand things at once while trying not to spiral with my emotions.
Before all of this mess began, my mom was progressing in reintroducing herself to the outside community and coming out of her seclusion after my dad seemingly disappeared into thin air. It damaged her greatly especially because she has no recollection of the day he left which caused her to suffer from a temporary mania. She did the best she could to find him after she sobered up from the loss. She sent letters and pictures to every pack we had alliances with and even begged the Alpha to try and find him in enemy territory, believing he may have been a prisoner. However, our Alpha could not risk the lives of many for my father especially as the memory of him in everyone's mind waned after he left. Only those who've known him for a long time may still have memory of him. Other than those select few, he was a phantom and a mystery that sent my mom spiraling into her own darkness.
She looked at me with tearful eyes and a faint smile then began rubbing my head in circular motions which always soothed me.
"I know I let you and Adelaide down during those times and it is something that I wish I could go back and change. I missed moments with you that your sister had to step in for because of my inability to let the past go. Your father's disappearance left me in shambles and I still don't have any answers that could bring us the closure we should've gotten. I just wanted you guys to have your father in your lives the same way he desperately wanted you both to be in his. He was-is the love of my life and I just wish that you two could've seen how great he really was. But that's the past now and I can't let it interfere with the future. I'm better now, you don't have to feel like I'm your fragile mom who needs protecting anymore because it's my turn to do my best for you both."
My mom declared sincerely not noticing my sister listening from the door frame.
"You know we never thought you weren't there for us and we know you do the best you can in the circumstances you have. You went through something traumatizing that nobody could ever think about going through and remain collected. You're soo so so strong and you're amazing and we will always love the shit out of you." My sister professed while engulfing us in her larger frame. Although sometimes childish, she always knew how to comfort others and speak from her heart unabashedly.
"Don't you worry about Indie, we would never let anyone hurt her and with my training, she's going to be too much to handle. They probably won't even bother to go through the trouble of getting their asses beat by my little prodigy." She joke rustling and jumbling my wet hair around like a child. My mom let out a refreshing laugh as I clapped my hands together and bowed my head to my sister-sensei.
Staying there for a few more moments we enjoyed a few laughs and embraces which lifted myself and my wolf's spirit tremendously. Soon after, Chansey came in to grab Adelaide for their outing and to say their goodbyes. After taking several candid photos of them hugging and teasing each other we sent them on their way.
"We'll be back in a few hours, don't forget to lock the doors-INDIE." Adelaide called me out as I was notorious for forgetting to fully shut doors or locking them. But I surely know with everything going on that I would be damned if I made those mistakes now.
YOU ARE READING
Fortem
Werewolf**MATURE* Indie, a seemingly normal werewolf is abruptly faced with perils as she is titled an Elite and became a target to every ruler in her world. The strongest finally has a chance to rewrite their history only if they can capture and claim her...
