𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 | 𝐊𝐚𝐢 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫

Chapter Fourteen

[Part One: The Sorrows of Love]

AUTUMN'S POV

How does one define love? Is it the feeling of absolute warmness? Or fearing what could be? Is loving someone supposed to be this difficult? This Intoxicating?

I stared up at the ceiling of the room I was forced to shelter in while my biological family contemplated what the next move would be. Apparently, Dean woke up a few hours ago with defeat following behind him. Glad I had the chance to put that stuck-up brother of mine in his place. Can't believe he had the nerve to insult me for being a girl and deeming my actions as pathetic in his eyes. Not to mention my face stung horribly, and my knuckles ached with excruciating pain. I let out a groan, rolling to my side and sitting up. I haven't had the chance to take a good look in the mirror, but that itself was terrifying.

My feet hung from the edge of the bed as I contemplated whether or not I actually wanted to get up, but I knew laying here wouldn't do me any good and won't get me back to Kai.

Kai. Kai Parker. Oh, how I miss you.

The sound of someone knocking on my door startled me, "You can come in!" I yelled, pulling the covers off of me and tossing it aside before looking up at my visitor. It was an older-looking lady who had some clothes in her hands. "Your father sent me to bring you some fresh clothes." She said sweetly. The woman had grey hair and an infectious smile; she seemed sweet, so I dropped my guard. "Thanks." I said softly, watching her place the clothes on top of my bed neatly. "My name is Rachel, and your father has appointed me to take care of you for the day." She stepped in front of me and examined my face, gracing her wrinkly fingers against my bruised cheek. "You put up quite a fight out there. Men always let their guard down with women, think we're no match for them." She giggled and shook her head with a sigh. "I too had to fight my own brother, and I came on top!" She cheered, and I couldn't help the giggle that erupted from my throat, but it got me thinking.

"Why fight physically?" I tilt my head to the side, staring into her brown eyes while her eyes lit up. "It's always been the way of our coven, sweetheart. Think of it this way." Rachel sat by me. "Wolves fight to be alpha because the most powerful one can lead the pack, well for our coven. We have always believed in the strength of magic one holds." She said with enthusiasm lingering in her tone. "The strongest one is always right, and fighting is a way of showing honor to our ancestors who believed that strength prevails." She stood up and summoned a medkit, "You should be proud of those bruises." She points to my knuckles.

I looked down at them and back at her.

"They show your strength because you are a strong young woman, miss Solar." Rachel praises while cleaning my bruised cheek.

"It's Autumn. I'm sort of not a fan of that family name. It's still new to me, and I see myself as a Finch, not a Solar." I tried to explain, and I knew I probably sounded very awkward, but it only made her smile warm-heartedly.