Heart Of The Bear - R.H x OC x L.C

Chapter 1

Warning: Indirectly talking about sexual assault. 

Standing in front of the mansion, I couldn't help but feel lost. I know mom was from Forks originally, but I had no ties here at all besides from aunt Clarke. Maybe that was a good thing, but I wasn't too sure if I was being honest. I lifted my hand in a fist, before knocking on the door. Nothing. Figuring it made sense with the size of the place, I decided to just let myself in, it was my mansion after all. Walking into the massive foyer, I looked around at the luxury of it all and couldn't stop the sigh that left my throat. The apartment we lived in was already luxurious, but this place? It was just so suffocatingly pompous that I already knew I'd have to hire a company to adjust it so it looked more modern. Would my mother have wanted that? Probably not, but seeing as she's not here anymore I'll take the liberty to do it anyway, because I have no desire to live in a place that looks like something out of a docudrama series about Russian royals. 

"Aunt Clarke!?" My yelling echoed aroused the large room, as I started to walk further inside to try and locate her. "I'm in the kitchen!" I heard her yell out, and with a sigh I started to look for the kitchen. Didn't this woman know that I had no idea where the kitchen even was? Walking through the gilded rooms, it took me a solid 15 minutes to find the kitchen and this was just the first floor! Standing by one of the stoves was my aunt, and the smell that hit me when I walked in immediately made my stomach rumble loudly. "Seems like I was right about cooking before your arrival, because it sounds like your stomach is on strike." Chuckling a little, I sat down on a chair by the kitchen island. "Yeah, the flight here wasn't too bad considering the private plane, but I didn't really feel like eating breakfast this morning." Looking over her shoulder, she frowned when she saw my face "You alright? It's alright to be nervous, I know how you felt about the idea of moving away from Cali." Feeling my heart swell a little at her worry, me and Clarke had always had a fairly relaxed relationship. "Yeah, I can't say living in Forks and starting over was on my bucket list" With a defeated frown I look down at my hands. 

Feeling a hand softly grab my shoulder, I go stiff for a moment out of reflex, but I relax again when I look up and see Clarke standing there with a small smile. "I know it's a big change, but I think Forks will be good for you. I won't shame you for how you dealt with what happened, and how you changed as a result, but maybe the new start will be good for you? No one here knows you as the preppy and go lucky Alexis you used to be - Hearing her talk about the incident makes my body immediately go stiff again. "They'll only know you as the headstrong and absolutely badass Alexis that you've become, and maybe that'll help you make friends with people that don't look at you with pity." Feeling the sting in my eyes, and the slight ringing in my ears, I clench my hands until I can feel my nails almost drawing blood. "Maybe you're right. Seeing the way they looked at me was getting old." 

She clenched my shoulder a little harder before letting go again. "For what it's worth, I'm proud of you kiddo - I could hear the genuineness in her voice, so I knew she wasn't lying. "A lot of people break from what you went through, and while that's alright as well, you changed and adapted which was to be expected. You came out on the other side with your head held high, with a newfound strength in yourself. You absolutely slayed doing the trial, and with your lawyer the two of you put them away for a long time. You got the last laugh, and I'm so fucking proud." At this point I can feel the hot tears running down my face, not tears from being upset, but from being acknowledged. My mom loved me, but our relationship got strained after the incident. While she supported me to the best of her ability, it was obvious that she was also grieving for the daughter she lost afterwards. She wanted me to take over her company one day, and follow in her footsteps and while she had already said she wouldn't force me to if I really didn't want that, the fact that I lost all motivation for that after the incident further strained the already damaged relationship. 

"Thanks aunt Clarke. I really mean it." While my voice was low and fragile, the smile on her face didn't waver for even a second. "It's alright Alex, you deserve to be told how strong you are sometimes. I loved my sister, but I also know that she could be difficult at times. Why don't you find your room, relax for a bit until the food is done. I'll bring it up to you if you need some time alone." Giving her a soft nod, I get up from my chair and leave the kitchen. Padding around for another 15 minutes, I finally found my room on the second floor. Sighing at its ostentatious look, I walk over to the large desk and grab my laptop before laying down in bed. I can't live here for long, so I sent an email to my family lawyer Charles, how cliché, and asked him to look into finding another plot of land, and getting an architect to draw up plans for a far more modern mansion. Something that appeals to my own taste, and something that's separate from my mother. Something I can make my own, with an actual master bedroom meant for me rather than an ordinary room. 

After finishing that I log into my different accounts dealing with stocks, deciding to see if anything is happening that would be worth investing in. I might not want to become a lawyer like my mom was, but that doesn't change my interest in making money on my own. While inheriting my mother's wealth when I turn 18 is alright, I've already had substantial wealth of my own for a long time, which my mom knew nothing about. While it stagnated a bit after the incident, I quickly got back into it since it's something that does take some maintenance to keep running. Shutting down my laptop, I just lay staring up at the ceiling for a while, before I heard a small knock on my door. "Food's ready Alex, I placed it on a tray next to your door." Getting up and opening the door, it's clear that Clarke has already left, leaving a plate of steaming spaghetti carbonara. My favourite dish, something I definitely needed after a day like this. 

Having finished my food, I padded into my ensuite bathroom to shower and get ready for bed. While it wasn't late yet, I was absolutely ready to go to sleep already. Moving to a new place, hell a new state even, has been more draining than I anticipated. It's Friday so I have the whole weekend before I need to start school, not that I needed to since I could've technically already graduated early, but I figured I'd have some days to adjust to the culture shock that I'm no doubt going to experience. 

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