Blessed By The Moon

Chapter 24

As I sat with my mother, she leaned over with a playful smile. "One time, you broke into school just to grab the exam answers" she smiled, laughter twinkling in her eyes.

"Wait, what?" I burst out, staring at her. "I did that?"

"Oh, yes! You waltzed in the next day with the highest grade and a grin that said it all. Thought you were being so clever!" She nudged me, shaking her head. "Your dad and I were speechless. It was the talk of the week."

I laughed, picturing my younger self sneaking around the school. "I sound like I was a complete menace!"

"Oh, you were," she grinned. "You used to sneak out in the middle of the night. You'd disappear, only to stumble back in at dawn, smelling like trouble and clutching some random souvenir. We never knew where you went, but you'd come back with, oh... a feather, a glowing rock or some strange pebble and declare it was a rare find.' One time you even randomly came back with a fox, claimed you tamed it but it took it about half a minute to start eating our couch."

I shook my head in disbelief. "I can't believe I was that bold! What did Dad do?"

My dad, who had been sitting quietly, cleared his throat with a chuckle. "We'd stay up, waiting for you. Your mother was a wreck, but you'd come in with that huge smile, like nothing had happened. And then you'd go straight to bed!"

My mom laughed, giving my dad a knowing look. "You should have seen him—he'd just sigh and say, 'She'll be fine,' while I wanted to lock you in your room for a week."

"Oh, so I was both a bundle of joy and trouble?" I said, grinning.

"Precisely!" she laughed. Then, her face softened. "Oh, and Jordan—he's coming the day after tomorrow. You two were so close back then. I think seeing him might spark some memories. You always got up to such trouble together."

I felt a surge of excitement. "Jordan," I repeated, trying to summon any image other than the flashbacks. "I can't wait to meet him again."

My dad leaned forward, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You'll remember things in time. No rush, okay?"

I nodded, my heart warming at the way they both seemed to carry my memories for me, even when I couldn't. Just as they'd done before, they cautiously broached the subject of my returning to their pack. And, as before, I shook my head with a small smile.

"Not yet," I said gently. "But you'll be the first to know when I'm ready."

They exchanged a look, then laughed, pulling me close. For that moment, surrounded by their laughter and stories, I felt whole... 

But is that person from the stories really still me? Or are they hanging onto a shadow of a person that doesn't exist anymore?

I push that thought aside.

Once my time with my parents ended, I headed over to Kaiden. He was torn up about Gem's condition, but let's be real—he had brought it on himself. When he mumbled about it being his fault, I didn't argue. Instead, I made my way to Gem's room, sitting down beside her as we tried to reintroduce ourselves.

"Hey, how are you doing?" I asked gently, as if she was an old antique that would shatter if I breathed too close.

She shot me a withering look and snapped, "Don't treat me like I'm about to off myself again. Either talk to me like a normal person, or fuck off. The door's right behind you."

I blinked, caught off guard by her tone. I'd never heard her drop an f-bomb before, and before I could stop myself, I muttered, "Being a bitch doesn't suit you, Blondie."