The Phoenix and the Alpha

(4) Family

The title may or may not give away the content of this chapter. I don't know...

(4) Family:

We had managed to avoid the mutts for another day. Thank goodness. But we couldn't avoid them forever. It was like a time bomb ticking off till we all died. Terrible stuff really.

"You're such a brat," Jo fake grumbled while sliding into the passenger seat of my car. I laughed as I sat in the driver's seat, the sun having set from our day of fun. It was now dark outside. I had left my car at the school, so we had to go back and pick it up from the abandoned parking lot.

"I had a great day today Jo," I commented as I kept my eyes on the road.

"Me too, A," he yawned. "I have to pick up some things at my place. So if you'll drop me off there, I'll come over later to stay the night if you don't mind."

I smiled as I turned towards his house instead of mine.

"Sure thing, Jo. I'll never mind."

~**~

I got home with a smile on my face. Everything that Jo and I had been through showed the truth of our friendship. He made me so happy. I loved being around him just as much as he loved being around me. We equally enjoyed each other's friendship.

I dropped my stuff in an empty chair and walked towards the answering machine on the kitchen counter. I hadn't bothered to turn the lights on, and the only light came faintly in through the kitchen window, illuminating little dust specks in the air.

The bright red light of the 'Message Waiting' button was flashing. I casually took a glass cup from the cabinet and filled it with water. Then I walked over to the answering machine and pressed the button, slowly taking a drink of water to refresh my dry throat.

My heart pounded in my head as the voice rang out through the empty air of the house.

"Alora..."

My heart stopped.

"...I know where you are..."

I heard the faint sound of glass breaking in the distance, but everything seemed so foggy.

I could feel my walls falling down around me. Everything I had spent years building up was crumbling under his submission. The old me was fighting its way out, and I could do nothing to stop it.

"I will find you. You will fulfill your duty to this pack."

The line clicked dead.

A rebel tear slipped from my frightened eyes, and I slid to the floor, falling to my knees right where I was. I landed in something sharp--it penetrated the jeggings I was wearing and broke the skin on my knees. I could barely feel the pain. Everything felt so distanced.

"Alora...Alora!" someone called out for me. I suddenly felt two strong arms wrap around my stomach, pulling me back against a hard chest. I was starring at the wall, but I could still identify Jo's scent. "Shhhh, shhhhh..."

I realised that I was whimpering. The shaking in my body became more apparent.

Why did I feel so afraid?

Why did everything have to be ruined after all this time building up a better life for myself?

~**~

Sighing as I woke, my eye lids fluttered open. Warmth enveloped me, which was odd. I cocked my head to the side, not too surprised to see Josiah smiling down at me. I had my head on his bare chest, and he was stroking my hair.