Born in Fire

Chapter Four

*Kalama*

I had just finished eating when I heard a knock on the bedroom door. My stomach tightened, was Caspian coming to punish me for last night? For not satisfying the needs he clearly had or perhaps for being an intruder on his land? Ash growled at me. I snarled back, if that was what he wanted to do, this time I would put up a fight. He would not break me like Evan did. I steeled my emotions, looking at the door. “Come in.” It came out as a squeak, as though I were a mouse. The knock came again. I cleared my throat, speaking clearer. “Come in.” The door slowly opened, revealing, to my surprise, a she-wolf and two pups. The she-wolf was tall and thin, but lean with muscle. Her long, light-brown hair framed her heart-shaped face and her caramel eyes shone with the smile on her full lips. The little girl in her arms smiled at me. She had the same light-brown hair as her mother, that was held back with a pink bow. Her dark eyes shone with her delight as she sucked on one of her fists. I peeked around the she-wolf’s leg, to which the other child was attached, another girl. She too, had her mother’s hair color and heart-shaped face. Her eyes however, reminded me of the intense, brown eyes of the large dark brown wolf I had encountered yesterday. I guessed her to be around two years old. The she-wolf came over, holding her free hand out for me to shake. I stood, hesitating for a moment, before taking it. 

“Hello, Luna. My name is Julie. I hope we didn’t interrupt your meal.” I shook my head.

“No. It’s fine. Would you like to sit?” Julie smiled, taking the chair next to me and placing the baby on her lap. I looked at the older girl, who had placed herself on the other side of Julie, furthest away from me. I smiled at her. “And who might you be little one?” She did not say anything for a moment. Her dark eyes glazed over, no doubt talking to Julie through their mind-link. Her eyes unglazed as she said,

“Miley, Luna.” I smiled.

“What a pretty name.” Miley grinned at me, settling herself at my feet and looked up at the television. The baby giggled, reaching her chubby little arms out to me. I smiled at her, looking at Julie. “May I?”

“Of course, Luna.” Julie said, handing me the baby, who smiled and bounced happily in my arms.

“Please, call me Kalama. And who might you be?” I asked the baby. Miley laughed,

“Grace can’t talk.” Miley’s laughter quickly quieted with a growl from Julie.

“Do not disrespect your Luna with that tone.” Julie looked at me, pain in her eyes. “I apologize Luna, do you wish her punished?” I looked at Julie, horrified. Punish a two-year-old? Ash spoke up,

“Even the youngest of pups need to know their place.”

“I suppose, but still…?” I said back. I looked back at Julie, who seemed on the verge of tears. I shook my head, looking at Miley. Tears slid down the girl’s cheeks. “No, there will be no punishment.” Julie let out a breath of relief, as I handed Grace back to her. I held my hands out to Miley, who climbed onto my lap, tears still rolling down her cheeks. I whipped her tears away, “It’s okay Miley, you are not in trouble. However, we must remember, respect is important.” Miley nodded, her tears drying, as I turned the television to a cartoon.

Julie and I spent much of the morning talking, while the girls snacked on the remaining fruit from my breakfast. Julie told me that she had been living here for the past three years. She was mated to the large brown wolf that tried to ambush me yesterday, the pack’s Beta, John. I also learned that the grey, smokey colored wolf had been the Gemma, Neal. Julie asked me several questions. Questions that I half answered or simply avoided.

We had been sitting in silence for a while when the anger hit me, but it wasn’t my own. It was his, Caspian’s. Oh, goddess. I have done something wrong. He’s going to hurt me. The thought brought the fear, hitting me in the face like a punch. My breath caught in my throat as heat climbed its way up from my belly. I felt as though I was choking on smoke. Julie grabbed Miley, pushing her behind her. They both looked at me with fear. Grace cried. They were afraid of me. “Look down.” Ash cried. I did, confused and then scared. Both of my arms were in flames, from the tips of my fingers to my elbow.