“I know, Mom, but I’m still learning too. I don’t know what to expect. I’ll try harder with the whole mind-link thing,” I say, turning my head in time to see Nixon returning from a run in his wolf form. He looks my direction then heads into the open front door of his house.
“You know you can talk to me right? Your dad too.”
I hear shuffling and then a door being closed. She then says in a whisper, “Your father doesn’t want me talking about it, but… after you came home that night all beaten up…” I hear snivelling and I know she’s trying hard not to cry. “…You changed after that night, sweetie. You don’t smile as often and you don’t seem as happy as you used to be. You told us you don’t know who did it, but I think you do.” Her voice breaks and I have to even my breathing because her being upset has an effect on me.
“You know who hurt you, don’t you?” She asks. It doesn’t sound like a question at all; she’s figured me out.
“Mom… I…”
I lean my elbows on my knees as I rest my forehead in my right hand, my hair falling all over the place.
“I can’t talk about this right now, Mom.”
“I know, honey. I know. When you’re ready to talk, just know I’m always here for you,” she says quietly.
“I know. I love you, Mom,” I say, thankful she hasn’t raised any more questions.
“Love you too, baby.” She clears her throat and says in a louder voice.
“The reason I was trying to get hold of you was to tell you that you’re father and I will be staying here a little while longer. A few things have come up and he doesn’t want to leave until it’s sorted. Jacob is in charge till we get back.” She pauses. “You sure you don’t want to come up here and stay with us? I can send someone down there to pick you up?” She says, her voice holds so much hope.
“It’s okay, Mom. I’ll see you when you guys get back, and I promise to call you as much as I can,” I say, not wanting to disappoint her, but also knowing I just did.
“Okay, sweetie. Well I better go, I think your father just woke up. Be safe and look after yourself. I love you.”
“Love you too, Mom,” I say, before ending the call.
I look down at the phone in my hand. I want to tell her everything, I want to get all this shit that is weighing down on my chest out there. I want to tell the twins what happened, what I’ve been through and what I’m going through. I’m tired of keeping secrets and tired of keeping everything bottled up. I constantly feel like I’m about to burst and scream out and tell everyone everything that is hurting me and has already hurt me. I stand up, place my phone in my back pocket then lift all my hair up and pull it into a bun. I wanna tell them all, but I just can’t. My father will go after Jax’s pack, I know he will; the twins will too. Ronnie, Chloe and Jax may be caught in the crossfire, and I won’t allow that to happen.
****
Two days pass and the doors to my bathroom and the twin’s bedroom are replaced; a set of keys are placed on my nightstand, not sure who was responsible for it, but I am grateful. Nixon and I spend all our time together and Axel has even come down for a surprise visit. We spend all our time either at the lake or hanging around Nixon’s house; always avoiding the twins as much as I possibly can. When Nixon and Axel saw the bruising Tyler left on my arms they went crazy. I had to promise that I’d tell them everything that went down if they kept away from him.
I told them about me and Jax. At this part, Nixon started lecturing me on pack rules and repercussions for entering another pack territory: i.e a big no-no.
Axel started laughing by this point, praising me for my rebellious behaviour.
Nixon wanted me to stay at his place while my parents were away, but I refused to allow the twins that power over me. I won’t let them chase me away from my home.
****
The house is quiet tonight, and I lie on my bed bored out of my mind. Nixon is on guard duty and most of the pack have gone to the lake. Nixon said I should go but I don’t want to be around the twins.
My cell suddenly starts ringing. Rolling over on the bed, I reach across to my bedside table grabbing it before the ringing stops.
An unknown number.
“Hello?”
“Angel, its Noelle. I know you have many questions and I don’t know if I can answer them all, but if you want to speak to me you have to come now. I’ll be waiting for you.” Noelle ends the call.
I jump off the bed and throw on a jacket and my sneakers. Grabbing my phone, I head out of the door. I think about calling Nixon to tell him my plans, but I don’t think he will allow it considering the outcome of our first visit. I have to try to avoid him and the only way to do that is if I run all the way to the witches camp. If he sees my car missing he may come looking for me, and as far as he knows I’m fast asleep in my bed. I’ll tell him all about it when I get back though.