The One

Spill The Beans: Part 3

 As the revelations settled, she took a deep breath, preparing to share a darker truth about her past. "Daddy, Mummy, remember that year when I packed my things and vanished?"

In unison, William and Anna's expressions shifted, their eyes filled with concern as they responded, "Yes, baby girl."

"Do not fret, I won't do anything as foolish as that. But if I were to stumble into darkness, I want you to trust me fully and just wait. Don't go sending out an AWOL notice or dragging the police into this to hunt me down, understood? Promise me, Mummy, Daddy?" she implored, thrusting her pinky into the air, a beacon of childhood innocence. Her parents exchanged a glance, a mix of concern and affection flickering across their faces as she continued, "I swear on all that is sacred, Mummy, Daddy! You must promise me too. In return, I'll tell you all that I've done and where I've been this past year."

Anna and William locked eyes, an unspoken agreement passing between them before they entwined their pinkies with hers. William's gaze darkened, the weight of their pact hanging in the air like a storm about to break. "We will wait for you, our baby girl, for we believe you would never descend into madness without reason."

She took a breath, her voice quaking as she began her tale, "That day, I was with Grandpa and Grandma during the school holidays, frolicking in the backyard of the Aspen Clan's sanctuary. Alpha Peter, Luna Pepper, Leo, Beta Liam, Logan, Owen and Daniel were all deep in an important meeting, oblivious to the terror looming just beyond the borders. Suddenly, chaos erupted as we found ourselves besieged by a savage pack of Rogues."

"If you don't know what a Rogue is, let me enlighten you—Rogues are feral werewolves, beasts stripped of clan and mind, unleashed to wreak havoc without remorse. We had no warning of their crossing; the border had been breached in silence. The first wave was met with fierce resistance, the pack fighting back while reaching out through their mind-links for reinforcements from the surrounding territory. Yet, as the second wave crashed down upon us, all semblance of order shattered. The once-proud Aspen Pack was utterly outnumbered, the relentless tide of Rogues surging towards the very heart of our home."

"Amidst the screams and snarls, chaos reigned. Some fought valiantly, others scrambled to protect the vulnerable. Then, the worst happened—Grandpa rushed to aid the warriors in their fight, leaving his back exposed. A medium-sized brown wolf sprang forth from the shadows, its claws raking through flesh, while its jaws clamped down savagely on his shoulder."

She paused, the pain gnawing at her as she fought against the swell of emotion. "Fury consumed me, and I screamed, an anguished battle cry escaping my lips. I lunged forward, only to be intercepted by Grandma, who charged the beast with reckless bravery, sacrificing herself. In that moment, I was a tempest of emotions—utterly lost amidst the wreckage of anger, confusion and sheer heartbreak. When the panic room finally opened, I burst out, heart racing, desperately searching for a miracle, only to find their lifeless bodies strewn across the ground, drenched in crimson. That was the moment I shattered; I cradled them, feeling the soul leave my body, numb to the world."

Anna wept silently, clinging to William, who whispered comforting nothings into her ear. Her heart ached for them, fighting against the tide of her own tears as she held the memories at bay. "Please, my darling," Anna urged, her voice cracking. "Tell us more."

"I screamed at Peter, Pepper and Leo, lashing out in my grief for their failure to protect. The day we cremated them, I felt so alone. I walked away, leaving everything behind—my clothes, my life, my past—and returned home without a word to anyone in Aspen's Clan. I blamed them—blamed their slow response and their lax defences, and ultimately, I held them responsible for the devastation of my family. Upon returning home unnoticed, I packed my bags and fled to a secret camp where I enlisted without your knowledge. Day in, day out, I trained fiercely, pushing myself to the limits, all in the name of vengeance against the Rogues that had torn my life asunder."

"I waited for months, tracking their movements until I finally found their lair. Thank the Goddess for the chaos just before Conry City, as a nearby town fell victim to a Rogue onslaught, the very same foul creatures responsible for my grandparents' demise. I seized my opportunity, charging into the fray with a singular purpose—either I would fall, or they would, and it would be at my hands. I took to the treetops, camouflaged amidst the branches, my heart pounding as I sniped them down one by one."

"And then it happened—I was spotted. One Rogue raced towards me with a feral snarl, and as I leapt from my perch, I was face-to-face with that brown wolf—the very beast that had carved my world into chaos. At that moment, my blood ignited with vengeance; we charged into each other's wrath, two predators locked in a deadly dance."

With a somber gaze, she locked eyes with her parents, her voice steady despite the tempest within. "That day, luck danced on my side. I managed to bring down that monstrous wolf. I spat on his mangy fur and swiftly drew my gun. With cold precision, I fired at his legs and arms, rendering him immobile – a lesson from Daddy on how to truly make a wretch suffer.

Then, I settled atop him, my blade glinting in the dim light as I etched a few lines into his coat, twisting the knife laced with wolf's bane with deliberate slowness. His howls of agony were music to my ears; I know it may sound madness, but in truth, that wolf deserved every shred of torment for what he did to Grandpa and Grandma. He was begging for the infernal torture that the universe could conjure."

As she poured out her heart, Anna, unable to contain her emotions, moved to envelop her daughter in a tight embrace, followed closely by William, who joined in without uttering a word.

"Oh, baby girl, you've faced so much in these past years," Anna whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. William stroked their heads affectionately, attempting to ease the weight of the moment with a light-hearted jest. "Not that much, though! Look at you, you've picked up quite a few handy skills for emergencies, haven't you?"

With a heart forged of steel, she held back her tears and let out a giggle at her father's antics. "Jeez, old man," she teased, secretly relishing in the attention.

"Promise me, Karol, if anything like this happens again, please, tell us. We care for you more than you know," Anna implored, kissing her daughter's cheek with earnest concern.

"I promise, Mummy, Daddy. No more secrets! Oh, and by the way, I'll be heading back to Theodulf later to see Christian. Tonight's the full moon, and honestly, we'd both wither without seeing each other. My flight is at 6:30 pm," she announced, her smile wide as she dropped the bombshell.

"That's so sudden, baby girl! Do you want us to come with you?" Anna's voice betrayed her anxiety.

"No need, I'm an adult! I can manage on my own. Worry not!" Karol replied confidently.

"Alright then, if that's what you want. Just promise to be careful," Anna said, her gaze lingering on her as she nodded earnestly.

After a brief, tight-knit hug among the trio, she made her way upstairs, readying herself for her small adventure to Theodulf.