Ember

By the time I raced down the stairs and flung myself out the front door the excitement was already over, but I did find the person who had shouted my name: a cheerful Bluebell who was more than eager to give me a detailed recount of events.

The people shooting the guns? They were Donna and her group of deserters.

The person they were shooting at? Wendy's brother.

And the million dollar question here was- drumroll please- why were they shooting at their comrade in arms?

It all started one dreary, cold night a week ago, the day after Wendy had paid us a visit and I'd sent her politely off with a kick. After they'd hightailed it back to the house their combined packs were staying at, Wendy regained consciousness and rose like an apoplectic tornado, ravaging the place in her fury, breaking furniture, shattering windows and hitting cowering pack members. She ended up punching Donna as well and a fight broke out...which lasted about thirty seconds before Wendy subdued the less dominant female wolf and beat her bloody. Then Wendy moved on to Sue when she tried to pull the crazed alpha off her friend. The rest of the pack pretended not to see what was going on, glad they weren't the recipients of their alpha's abuse. Meanwhile the evening got even darker when Wendy's brother Julius took Nina outside and assaulted her behind the house.

The next day Nina reluctantly told a mending Donna and Sue what had happened. Yet when they confronted Julius about what he did, he denied any wrongdoing. He told them Nina was the one who asked for it. (None of them looked my way when Bluebell was describing this part.)

After that they tried their best to stay together, especially after sunset. By then their eyes had been opened to the true nature of Wendy and Julius' packs and they were planning on deserting (again). They kept their plans a secret while they plotted and when an unsuspecting Wendy ordered the three of them and Julius to kidnap my mom, take her to the front of Kane's house and murder her there before fleeing, they agreed to go.

Only they were planning on shooting Julius all along.

But they hadn't found my mom in her apartment, my dad had been there alone instead.

Things played out quickly from there on, Julius and the women nabbed my dad, tied him up with silver cuffs and brought him over to be murdered on Kane's lawn. As soon as Julius had tried to take out his gun though, the women had pounced on him, shooting him in the arms and legs while Nina dragged my dad to safety. Julius was overwhelmed of course. Unfortunately, they decided not to kill him after all and he was now being taken to a prison for supernatural criminals, one I would've liked to see if the father I had absolutely no recollection of in my entire life wasn't currently waiting to meet me in Kane's kitchen.

For some reason I wasn't afraid or happy, I was just...empty. Like my emotions had no idea what kind of feelings they should feel.

Maybe I was just distracted by what was happening with Light and it would be wiser to meet my dad later.

I was debating over what to do when Kane came down the stairs from behind me, shaking his head when I raised my brows in question. "Rina is trying to convince him to move further away from the gate and his guards but he doesn't want to move. We think he's resisting her magic and things might take a while. You can check on your dad before coming back up."

Footsteps approaching from the kitchen made me look up guiltily, afraid I was caught making him a second priority- but it was just Nina.

She was tugging down the sleeve of her bandaged arm where Julius had managed to shoot her. Luckily, Bluebell said she'd be good as new in a few days. "Your dad is a brave guy," Nina told me by way of greeting. "He told Julius he'd do anything he wanted if he'd leave you alone. He's nice, far better than some of us." She smiled and inched closer, clasping my hands in hers. They were calloused, not as soft as I'd expected considering her soft temperament. "I saw the school footage. I'm sorry for assuming the worst of you and for hurting your mom. I know forgiveness is the last thing on my mind where Julius is concerned and it would be hypocritical to ask that of you, so I won't."

I shrugged, she was right, I wasn't feeling very forgiving towards her son and saying so would be a foul lie even a pup could sniff out- but I did feel sorry for what had happened to her son. There was no point telling her though, I'd already told her about my regrets before. She hadn't been willing to listen then and I didn't feel like repeating myself.

Kane stepped up beside me. "I'd also like to apologize for losing control, I could've handled things in a less violent manner."

Nina's face grew tense. She didn't look at Kane. "Perhaps you could have. I'll leave you to it then, we'll be leaving the city tomorrow morning and I'd like to get some rest."

"You're welcome to stay," Kane replied, and I could see that he genuinely meant it. I couldn't find it in myself to hate his offer either, they had attacked my mom but that was partly my fault to begin with for not properly explaining the situation. Plus they'd saved my dad in the end so I think that balanced things out. I couldn't hold any grudges against them.

Nina shook her head though, eyes lowering to the ground. Avoiding Kane's gaze. "Forgiveness is still hard to find right now, but thank you for the offer." She gave me a final smile. "The poor guy looked like a nervous wreck back there, go put him out of his misery."

I watched her walk back toward the infirmary where Bluebell was examining the other women. She walked like she was recovering from more than physical wounds, the steps tentative, as if she were afraid of shaking her insides and crumbling apart from within. So that's what becomes of a person who lives under an alpha who continuously takes advantage of a person they're supposed to protect.

At least she'd escaped early on.

"Stop contemplating Nina's existence as a whole and hurry so we can go back upstairs." Kane said.

I scrunched up my nose. "I wasn't contemplating anything."

"You were," he countered, pulling me into his arms and releasing the longing he'd kept back earlier in the form of a deep kiss. It went on for a long time and when he finally withdrew, the numbness had gone away and my nerves were alive again, my head clearer.

"Feeling better?" he asked breathlessly.

I gave him a thumbs up. "I liked that."

He smiled. The butterflies in my stomach came to life, choking me a bit with their wild fluttering.

"You should do that more often," I blurted out.

"I should kiss you more often?" he asked, in all seriousness.

"Smiling like that," I said, exasperated.

He tilted his head. "You want me to smile while thinking about kissing you more often?"

"Forget it," I laughed, herding him towards the stairs. "I'll see you in a few minutes."

***

I don't know what I expected to find- a man with a cowboy hat and a cigarette hanging from a set of stoic lips or perhaps a handsome man with a breezy attitude- but what I came upon in the kitchen was the last thing I could've predicted.

A mad scientist. That's what came to mind as soon as I took in the various mugs lined up on the counter, some steaming hot while others were cold and overflowing with ice cubes. There was a carton of milk, sliced fruit, spoons, a tin of coffee and a box of tea. All laid out clumsily.

Déjà vu.

"Whoa!" The man behind the counter had been inches from cutting off his finger rather than the lemon he was aiming for. He blew out a relieved breath. "That was close."

I nodded absently, realizing I'd miraculously found someone who was even worse at cooking than Kane. And he kind of looked like me too, same skin tone, face structure- albeit his features were more masculine- right down to the same shyness easily mistaken for aloofness in his expression. And the glasses, he was wearing the same kind of round spectacles that I used to wear.

"You're not wearing glasses," my dad observed as well. He abandoned his lemon in his shock. "Your mom told me you wore glasses."

I wet my lips, cleared my throat while trying not to look embarrassed. "I didn't actually need them. They were a...fashion statement. But I'm not wearing them anymore."

He whipped his glasses off and chucked them into the garage can. "I thought we could have something in common there, I guess we can always bond over cooking."

I nudged the cup with the floating lemon slice that had almost cost him a finger, unable to hide my skepticism. "Bond over cooking?"

"It tastes better than it looks," he smiled, holding his arms out over a row of cups. "I didn't know what you preferred- your mom wasn't sure when I asked- so I made a cup of everything I know. Give it a try."

I didn't choose one right away, staring at him instead. He wore a faded sweater and old jeans, his expression hopeful but not pleading. His shoulders were tense and he kept biting his lips, as if bracing for an attack. Or to be more accurate, a rejection from the daughter he'd pretty much abandoned since she was born.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to do it, the lingering warmth from Kane's kiss had shifted to something more volatile, something that was tempted to inflict as much pain on him as his chosen absence had caused me. Yet, no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Because he was here, wasn't he? Trying to salvage a non-existent relationship, even questioning my mom in a bid to understand me better. He'd offered himself up as a sacrifice to keep me safe and honestly, just the fact that he was still married to my mom told me he was a patient person.

Did I want to make him miserable before giving him a chance?

No, I decided. I didn't.

I chose a random drink and took a daring gulp. Sweetness swept across my tongue as I swallowed. I paused to savor the taste: it was just normal iced coffee.

He grinned at the surprise on my face, looking younger than the sprinkling of gray hairs among his curls hinted at. "It tastes better than it looks, right?"

I nodded, wrapping both my hands around the cup and taking another sip. "It does."

"It's worth it, I promise you."

It didn't sound like he was talking about his culinary skills anymore.

"I'll give it a try," I replied honestly.

"Thank you," he beamed.

I smiled back, feeling like another weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

Now all that was left was to take care of Light.