Girl Meets Wolf

Chapter 26

Ashlyn

It was sometime later that the house began to stir. Voices could be heard from upstairs.

I awoke wrapped up in Axels arms on the bed.

"Looks like the kids are awake."Axel's sleepy voice sounded from behind me. I turned to face him and he pecked my forehead and started to get up from our warm cocoon.

"I'm going to go check on Kyle." Axel breathed out and got up from the bed.

I watched him go, then made my own way off the uncomfortable bed.

The house's open floor plan made it easy to move from one room to the next. I walked across the living room and was standing in the kitchen eating area. The fridge, sink, and cabinets were on the other side. Stools were placed around the island.

I stepped around the island and went straight to the fridge. Maybe food would help me process things. In the fridge, there was milk, eggs, and bacon as well as some Minute Maid berry juice. I pulled away from the fridge and opened up a cabinet.

Jackpot! There was pancake mix. I opened more cabinets and eventually found the pots and pans.

I rolled up the over sized sleeves of my shirt and got to work.

About 20 minutes later the bacon was finished and resting in the oven. My eggs were cooked and my final pancakes were about to cooked. My mood lifted as I found a task to throw my all into.

I took the pan that the pancakes were in and was about to flip the pancake when a thought popped into my mind.

Mom! I wasn't able to talk to her last night. I flipped my pancake and went over to get the phone.

I dialed the number and after 20 seconds of ringing , I was about to hang up when I heard that familiar "Hello?" come through the receiver.

I gripped the phone tight in my hands.

"Mom?" I wanted to cry tears of joy. She was okay.

"Ashlyn? Is that you?" I nodded my head.

"Yes Mom, it's me." I heard a deep breath being released on the other end of the line.

"Are you with your brother? Are you both alright?" The emotion in her voice shook me to my core.

"Yes Mom, I'm fine and Jason's fine too. He got a little banged up but he will be okay. Dad is also fine. His shoulder is mess and we had to go to the hospital, but they say he will live." I tried not to give too many details.

"Thank God!" Her voice started to shake as she spoke and there was a pause as I heard soft sobs on the other side. "I was so scared for you."

Hearing the strongest woman I know cry into a phone, had me doing the same. Tears pulled in my eyes till my vision was blurry, then spilled over, running down my face. My lips trembled and I let out a sob.

All the emotions from the night before came pouring back.

"Mom I was so scared. Jason got attacked and so did Dad. My phone died and I had no way of charging it." My voice shook as I spoke. The tears coming out tenfold.

"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. If I could protect you from the world I would. I heard on the news that there was attacks all over Florida, California, Nevada, Washington, D.C. and Manhattan. Where are you now? Are you safe?" Her voice gained its stability.

Manhattan? My stomach dropped. We only lived 45 minutes outside of the city. It wouldn't be long til they got to our location.

"I'm safe mom, remember that boy Axel that I told you about? Well his sister lives close to Disney and we were able to stay at her place." I tried to explain without giving any important information about who Axel or his sister really were.

" Listen mom, you need to go. I'll bet anything that the attacks on Manhattan haven't stopped. That they are only just beginning. The news might not be catching on as fast, but trust me." My words came out rapid as I rushed to speak.

"I can't explain everything now mom, but you have to get out of there. Go to a state that hasn't been attacked as of yet." My mind was searching for places. "Go visit aunt Barbara in Ohio!"

But truthfully, maybe staying home would be best. I'm sure they would attack a moving car with only one woman in it. I rubbed my temples.

"Ashlyn I don't understand-" I sighed.

Screw it! Axel's secret be damned. I didn't care anymore.

"Mom-"

Distant screams started to sound through the receiver.

Ice poured through my veins. It was too late.

"Mom?"

"Ashlyn, the wolves are here. I-" There was a bang, like door being hit and the line went dead.

I tried calling back but it went straight to voicemail.

I down sank onto the cold tiled floor of the kitchen. The smell of buttery pancakes and bacon turned rancid in my nose. Tears poured like a faucet down my face. There was no controlling this. No reigning it back in. All emotions were set free. I wasn't strong enough for this.

No, not my mom.

Snot came out of my nose as I heaved in big breaths. A tightness started to form in my chest. The pain almost unbearable.

Please let her be alive.