Wolfgirl

Chapter 11: The Final Blow

I snuggle up next to Cody, his arm is around me and I feel safe. Safe from Ace. I feel protected. The dull pain and grief is still in my heart from  the death of Storm. But I have learned to deal with it and move on. He will always be remembered in my heart, forever......
Roxie is by Cody and I's feet. Sleeping. Cody is already asleep and I know I should be too. I'm already in wolf form.
I look at the flames of the ongoing fire in the fireplace. I watch as little tiny embers spark off and disappear.  I feel the steady breaths of Cody and I feel Roxie shifting sleeping positions and settling down again. I feel peace and comfort. It feels.....perfect. I lick/wolf kiss Cody on the cheek and he murmurs something. I lay back down and I feel my eyelids getting heavy and soon I'm asleep.
---
The first thing I feel is coldness. The stiff coldness. My eyes are squeezed shut. I hear sobbing. I have a bad feeling in my heart. I don't want to open my eyes to find out the truth. I just want to go back to the perfect world of dreams.
I know I can't close my eyes forever, so I open them.
I see a knife. I see blood. I see Cody. I see death. I see Cody's mother crying. I see Roxie whimpering. I see....I see.......
Tears spring out of my eyes. My heart is throbbing in pain and sadness. First is Storm, now Cody?! Why?!
I look at the knife. Who killed Cody? Why did they kill Cody? The first answer that pops up is Ace. I want to scream my grief out to the world. I want to kill the person who did this and seek revenge.
"You!" Professor Knightly shouts, pointing his finger at me. "How dare you kill our son?"
I feel fury in my chest. Me?! Killing Cody?
"I didn't kill Cody. How can I kill Cody if I love him?" I say furiously.
"You were the only person who was with Cody in the night. It's only logical that you killed him." Professor Knightly yells and opens the front door of his house.
Fresh tears flood out.
"Out of my house! NOW." Professor Knightly rages.
I stumble out the door, turning my head to look at Cody one last time. Then the door slams and I'm all alone....
I run to my house. I'm angry, I'm sad, and I feel dangerous. Before I ring the doorbell, I wipe away my tears and straighten my posture. I don't want to seem weak in front of Cody's possible murderer.
I ring the doorbell and Ace opens the door, his black eyes cold and cruel.
"Hello dearie." Ace says and invites me in.
My hands twitch, wanting to punch him in the face.
"Don't call me that." I say and walk into my house.
"Hello Mira! You must have come here because you recognized where your love is." My mom says.
"In fact I did." I say and my mom's face lightens up. "I came here to tell you that I still love Cody. Oh, did you hear? Cody got murdered yesterday night. I'm very suspicious."
My mom's face turns into a scowl and I feel a flame of happiness.
"Oh, I'm sorry honey." My mom says.
"I know how Cody died." Ace says, walking in the kitchen.
"How?" My mom says, a bit too normal, it's like they practiced this.
"Cody got slain by his wolf pack of course!" Ace says.
"With a knife?" I ask angrily, furious at Ace's lie.
"Yes. Apparently wolves are good with weapons." Ace says with a smirk.
"Huh. I doubt that." I say and cross my arms.
"Mira....Come on, Cody never loved you truly. I always loved you deep from the heart." Ace says and hugs me.
My insides squirm but I'm stuck in his grasp. He leans in, about to kiss me. I can't stand it. I pick my right foot up and stomp it on Ace's foot, then my hands slam into his chest, pushing him backwords. I run out of the house and into the forest. My hollow. Where I am safe.
I curl up in a ball on the ground and shut my eyes tightly. Blocking out the reality. I will never love anyone again.
---
It's WolfGirl time when I finally open my eyes.
I stretch out my wolf legs and run to my camp. I go to the middle of camp and eat with the rest of the wolves.
When I'm done, I walk to my den, seeking privacy. From my den, I see Fawn's wolf pups big and older than before. They must have already started learning how to be like a wolf, the basics of hunting. I sigh and close my eyes.
I instantly open my eyes when I hear footsteps coming toward me.
"Hello." Bracken says, his eyes meeting mine.
"Hello." I woof back, standing up.
"I just want to confess....." Bracken barks. "I know you've lost Storm and I know you are still grieving for him."
I shuffle my paws. I know what's going to come next. I sense it.
"But, I've always loved you from when I was a pup. And I was too afraid to tell you." Bracken says. "I really want to start a new pack. Will you be my mate?"
I hesitate. A bird twitters in the distance.
"Sure!" I bark and nuzzle Bracken's shaggy fur.
Bracken's eyes are alight with happiness and together, we set off into the forest to start a new pack. I feel like I've started my life all over again, maybe this can be a fresh start, as a wolf. Maybe I'll give love one more chance.