Episode 4
Riley's POV
I quietly opened my house door and stepped inside. Father was at work so I was all alone. Usually I would go for a walk in the forest, but I had to start making my father's dinner.
I went into the kitchen and gathered the ingredients for the pasta I was making. As I was setting up the ingredients I hummed to my favorite song Forever Young. By the time I finished, by father came through the door.
"Riley! I'm home!"
I rushed to his side and took his jacket, "Hello Father, you must be very tired from working all day."
"Yes, yes. Where's my dinner?" He pushed me towards the kitchen.
"It's on the table, Father", I say while pulling out his chair for him to sit on.
"Come over here Riley", He said gently after he finished his dinner. But I was still cautious when walking to him. He stood up and quickly walked to me. He bend down and placed a kiss on my head and inhaled. Soon I was on the ground holding my cheek from where he had just slapped me.
He loomed over my small whimpering figure and said, "You have been with people at school haven't you?"
He didn't give me time to reply as he said, "I know you have Riley, I have people, or spies should I say. They are watching you at school, at home or wherever you are. They will always be updating me to what's happening at school. So I want you to get rid of your friends before I do." With that, he left me alone on the floor thinking of a way to get rid of my 'friends' before harm comes to them.
I heard the door slam and got off the floor. I touched the spot he had hit me and winced. It was going to leave a mark for tomorrow. I cleaned all the dishes and the table before going to my room and start my homework.
Knowing my father was going to be out for the whole night drinking, I quickly covered my already forming bruise and put on my coat and shoes to go for a quick walk around the block. I closed the door and started to walk to where I thought was the park. I soon faced a wall of trees that led to the forest. Deciding I had time to explore the forest, I stepped past the border of trees, loving how everything was so peaceful and calm.
I walked over and under fallen trees and ended in front a meadow full of wild flowers. There were bees and butterflies fluttering over the purple, yellow, pink and red flowers. I walked towards the middle of the meadow and inhaled lightly. I sat on the soft dewy grass and started to think.
About what, you may ask. About everything that happened recently. About the spies, Ashton, Erin, my father, my dead mom and brother. I paused at that thought and closed my eyes at the number of what ifs I could have done to save them.
If only I knew. If only I waited. If only I didn't call her. If only I stayed. If only I listened. If only I called for help. If only, if only, if only.
I sighed and opened my eyes silently crying. Then I started having the hiccups and a runny nose.
Whilst in my pity feast, I didn't notice Ashton come out of the forest and sit next to me. When I finally noticed him, I let out a tiny shriek and scuttled away from him.
He gazed up at the stars that had came out and said, "Why are you crying?" I quickly wiped away my tears and looked away, embarrassed that he saw me cry.
I felt an urge to trust him, but I knew I shouldn't. I can't let him be involved in my world.
"I miss my brother", I said before I could stop myself.
"Why? Is he in the army or something?"
"No. He's not in the army or something. He's..." My voice faltered, not able to continue.
"Oh..." Ashton looked away.
"Yeah, 'oh' is the right word." I mumbled.
"May I ask what your brother's name is?" Ashton asked hesitantly.
"Spencer. Spencer Thompson." I hollowly replied. Ashton only nodded and silence enveloped us.
I looked in the sky and cursed myself for not paying attention to the time because my father would be home soon.
I abruptly stood and said a quick bye to Ashton before dashing off back home before he got a chance to say anything. Taking a quick shower and changed into my pajamas before jumping into bed and falling in endless sleep.
-
Ashton's POV
I felt determined. Determined to get Riley to go on a date with me. As I met with my group, they asked me how Riley responded to me asking her out.
I growled deep in my throat. A warning to back off. But they pushed on.
"She rejected me. Okay? She doesn't have time for a relationship. Now drop it." I snapped at them.
Carly stepped forward, "You'll get her." She gave me an encouraging smile. I let a weak smile slip onto my face.
Then Brandon broke the silence, "Come on, don't wanna stay here all day now do we?" We all shuffled to the two cars and got in. Brandon was driving and Sophie was sitting in the passenger seat. Austin and Sarah are manning the other car with Jake and Carly in the back. As we drove back I noticed the gazes I was getting from both Brandon and Sophie.
"What do you want?" I asked sighing.They snap their eyes back on the road.
"Nothing", Sophie said quickly. Too quick. I nodded unbelieving.
"Why do you think she is rejecting you?" Sophie blurted the question.
"I honestly don't know", I groaned, "Mates are so confusing."
"You can say that again", Brandon agreed, causing Sophie to slap his shoulder.
"You're supposed to be helping him! Not talking about how mates are confusing! Don't make me do the silent treatment on you again." She warned with narrowed eyes. Brandon whimpered.
You see, once upon a time there was Brandon and Sophie. Let's just say that they got into a fight and Sophie ignored Brandon for a whole three days - I still have no idea how she handles that - and he was a mess. So he got on his hands and knees and begged her to forgive him. Eventually, they got back to become the soon-to-be Alpha and Luna couple.
We reached the pack house and I quickly showered and did my homework before deciding to go for a run.
I went into the forest and stripped my clothes. I closed my eyes and shifted, the familiar cracking of my bones rearranging. Once I opened my eyes, I was a black wolf. My sleek fur shining in the sunlight as I took off into the welcoming forest.
I ran for hours letting all my energy go to my paws as I sprinted around my packs' territory. I halted when a delicious smell reached my nose. I took a deep breath and jogged towards it. I soon came across a clearing where I saw Riley sitting in the middle, crying. I felt a pang of pain to see my mate cry, so I quickly shifted and got clothes from the roots of a tree.
The pack keeps clothes under trees just in case we meet a stray rogue or something that involves us needing clothes.
I stepped out and went to sit by her. She let out a tiny shriek and moved away from me, but I just continued to look at the sky where the stars were coming out
"Why are you crying?" She did not answer but quickly wiped her tears and looked away.
We were silent for a while before she said, "I miss my brother."
"Why? Is he in the army or something?"
"No. He's not in the army or something. He's..." Dead. That was what she was gonna say.
"May I ask what your brother's name is?" I didn't want to push her too far but I have no idea why I was interested in knowing her brother's name.
"Spencer. Spencer Thompson." She sounded so hopeless that I felt like holding her and never let go. But I could only nod and let the weird silence cover us... again.
I heard a curse and saw Riley quickly stand. I frowned and was about to ask her what was wrong.
But as I opened my mouth, she cut me off, "Sorry but I have to go before my father comes home. See you at school." With that, she ran off leaving me speechless.
I sighed and got off the ground, shifting and running back to the pack house.
While running, I thought about her brother. Does that mean she only has her dad? Or maybe... no she couldn't be adopted.
I saw the pack house's lights and quickly put on some basketball shorts after I shifted. I got in feeling better after talking to Riley and even smiled at Brandon.
"What's with the sudden mood swing", Brandon chuckled.
"Talked to Riley" I chirped.
"Oh- wait. What? You saw Riley? In the woods? What is she doing there?" He said curiously.
"Yes, yes, and I don't know but she was there." I answered all his questions.
"What are we doing? Twenty questions?" Jake asked coming in the kitchen along with Carly, Sarah, Austin and Sophie who went to Brandon to give him a kiss to his cheek.
"Ashton met his mate when going for a run." Brandon answered for me.
"What? Ashton found his mate?" I groaned as my mom and dad came into the kitchen as well.
"Yes I did today."
"Well good for you son, it's about time." my dad said gruffly.
"So all we need to do is find my mate, right?" Then here comes Jessica. She stuck her head into the kitchen then skipped to us.
"Hey mom! Look at what I taught myself to do!" Before my mom could stop her from doing anything, Carly's feet were not touching the ground.
Ever since I could remember, Jessica has been born with powers somehow. Neither of my parents has told us what had happened to her.
Carly let out a small shriek of surprise as she floated off of the ground. Carly was not screaming her head off because Jess has always been trying out her techniques on Carly. So Carly is the test subject. But Jake will always have to be under Carly, in case Jessica can't hold on anymore. Although Carly enjoys being in the air, Jake despises it. He is always worried that Jessica might drop her when he is not around. Jake might be fun to be around at times, but he is always serious when it comes to his mate. Such a worry wart.
Jake immediately went under Carly, arms open. Threatening Jessica, if she drops Carly, he would skin her wolf once she shifts.
"Stop worrying Jake! You need to loosen up!" Carly said from above. But all she got was a growl from Jake.
"Okay Carly, now I'm going to drop you on Jake okay?" Jessica said. Without letting Carly answer, she dropped Carly into Jake's arms. Jake sighed in relief and stuffed his face into her neck, murmuring things to her.
Carly just rolled her eyes at whatever he said and replied, "You wish. Now put stop worrying, and put me down." Jake whined but still set her down.
Mom turned to me, "So... about that mate of yours... Tell me about her."
Knowing what my mom wanted to know, I said, "She's human, Mom." My mother's face immediately turned into an excited one. Mom has always wanted to be related to a non-werewolf for some reason.
"Really? When is she coming? Have you told her?" She was literally bouncing up and down now.
"I haven't told her yet Mom. I just met her today, remember?" I rolled my eyes.
"This is so exciting! I'm gonna have a daughter-in-law that is human! Make sure you speed up the mating process too. My grandchildren might be half human, half wolf! I can't wait!" My mother kept bubbling things about her 'grandchildren'. Those who were around me were giving me amused looks, but I just smiled at my mom's behavior.
"Okay, when she warms up to me, I'll bring her home." I promised. She squealed in excitement and skipped off with my father trailing behind. Not before he gave a slap on my back in congratulation.
"Good luck with bringing her home, Ashton." Austin said walking away hand in hand with Sarah.
Then Jessica suddenly appeared beside me, "Do I get to meet her?"
My face softened at her question, "Of course. Why not?" Everyone in the pack has a soft spot for the angelic Jessica, because she is the Alpha's only daughter.
"Awesome! When's she coming?" Jess asked excited at the thought of meeting my mate.
"I have no idea. I'll ask her, okay?"
"Yeah! Yeah! I can't wait!" She ran off to her room.
"So how are you going to get her to visit?" Carly said from behind me.
"Could you.... maybe try and persuade her? I mean you don't have to but... I'd appreciate that." I said giving her a hopeful smile.
She, in exchange, have me a bright one, "Yeah! Sure! I would love to get to know her better! What do you think Jake?"
"Sure, we can invite her to sit with us in lunch... Keep her company in classes... Protect her from Erin and her followers... Especially Erin..." Jake listed all the things to do to help.
How did I get such a great family?
*TBC*
Episode 5 loading...