Tiger's Eye (On Hold. Sorry!)

Tiger's Eye: Chapter 5

Helllooo! 

I am so, so sorry for how long it has been since my last upload, but I had so many exams! :L Luckily fate has granted me with a break and I have been writing you another chapter. This one is leading up to some BIG things next time and I hope you enjoy it! xxx

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Rose hovered nervously behind me as I pulled open the door. I could feel the worry radiating from her. There was nothing I could now that would calm her; only seeing that mum was all right. It had become obvious to me over the last two years that she tried desperately hard to please me and never let me down – which was ridiculous – as a ‘were’ in a Beta shifter’s position. And now she was worried that she had spoken out of turn.  

I sighed and gave a small shake of my head. I needed her to tell me about these things I was blind to. I was a strong leader, but I sure wasn’t infallible, especially when it came to family. As a Beta Rose was my support not my competition. I wasn’t annoyed at her at all. I was annoyed at myself.  

Mum was fragile; we both worried about her.   

“Hello, sweetheart,” Mum grinned, poking her brunette head around the door, “How’s my baby girl?” I felt Rose calm behind me, letting out a small breath. But I felt suddenly older watching her, watching her smiling ice blue eyes shine with pain, just for a split second. As if I was the mother and she was the one I was caring for.  

“Hi mum,” I replied with a gentle sigh, pushing aside the feeling, “I’m great, thank you.” With each word I wasn’t convinced entirely, but the uneasiness Rose had provoked within me was fading. Mum didn’t look phased by the prospective meeting with Sally and my ‘were family’, as most of the pack referred to them as.  

My eyes flickered to several streaks of bright, neon pink paint that streaked across her forearm. “Messy day?” I chuckled gently, referring to the tiny pack nursery where mum had been helping out after I left home. Both Rose and Alexander had agreed that mum needed someone to care for, and after taking up my position as Alpha female it just couldn’t be me anymore. The nursery was the perfect place.  

Mum’s delicate smile grew wider, an exasperated sigh escaping her lips. “Yes indeed,” she replied, rolling over her arm to admire the damage, “Rachel thought that I should be the same colour as her flowers.”  

A smile couldn’t help but pull at my lips. “At least my little shifters are creative ones,” I said, drawing her into a tight embrace. Taking a deep breath of her warm scent I could’ve been four years old again, swaddled in blankets as she read me a story. “Come in,” I quickly added a moment later, realising that she was still perched outside on the porch step.  

I moved out of her way and she slipped inside. “Is everything – Oh! I didn’t see you there Rosie sweetheart. Are you alright?” Mum exclaimed, making Rose jerk back into reality. Her eyes focused back out of their worried glaze.  

She hesitated, gauging mum’s mood, and then spoke. “I’m great thanks, mumma Matthews.” Rose smiled mischievously, face instantly glowing. She had been jokingly calling her that for some time, and it was an attempt at making the atmosphere seem more normal.

It worked. Mum laughed and pulled her into a hug. “Don’t make me feel so old!” she scolded playfully, “So where are these lovely guests I’m supposed to meet?”  

I began to reply when Maya called into my mind, ‘We’re coming in. It’s starting to cloud over outside. Is your mother here yet?’ I chuckled at her timing, making Rose raise a questioning eyebrow at me.