Chapter 2

Life after losing my parents was hard, but I quickly learned to move on.

Having my grandparents and Isaac by my side helped me to move on more than I ever imagined possible.

When I started Junior High School, five young ladies barged into my personal space and never walked out.

My best friends, Wendy, Paula, Mandy, Chrystal, and Kari ran with me every morning, no matter the weather.

With time, we started running five miles every school day and ten miles one day a week.

I came to love that burn in my muscles after a run. It became one of my favorite ways to get rid of the images that plagued my memories and dreams of my parents. It was a constant fight to keep them beaten to the back of my mind. That caused a lot of anger issues that used to happen occasionally.

Alpha Kenny and Isaac started running with us on weekends when they had time. Isaac and I were still considering each other friends, but my feelings for him had never changed.

I had sensed the same with him. I could feel how much he cared for me, but it would become crystal clear on another life-changing day for me.

After a Saturday run when I was about to get in the shower when I heard my grandmother vomiting in the master bathroom.

I ran in there and noticed blood, a lot of blood, in the toilet.

I had no idea what to do but to ask, “Do I need to get grandpa to take you to the doctor?”

She just shook her head, “No, sweetie, I just went to the doctor yesterday. It will be better soon.”

I just furrowed my brow and hesitantly sighed, “Okay. I’ll start a pot of chicken soup for you.”

I helped her to her bed. I kissed her cheek and gave her a hug. I left the room and started the soup.

I was about to go to my room when I heard my grandpa say my name. I noticed he was on the front porch, so I stepped outside.

He asked, “Would you like to go hunting with me?”

I hugged him close, “I would love to grandpa, but I really don’t feel good about leaving grandma alone today. She is vomiting a lot of blood and she won’t go to the doctor.”

He answered, “You’re probably right. I will go hunting and try to bring us back a deer.”

I nodded, “Don’t try to rush it. I already have homemade chicken soup on the stove.”

He winked at me, “Good idea. I don’t know what we did to deserve you, but we are so lucky.

After he left, I went to my room and took a quick shower. I had just gotten dressed and was about to brush out my hair when I heard grandma scream like she had been stabbed!

I ran to her and she was grabbing her chest and sobbing loudly. I took her hand, “Grandma! What’s wrong?”

She cried, “He’s dying! My mate is dying! So much pain!”

I tried to act calm while I grabbed the phone, but it slipped out of my hands once.

I managed to call the pack house on the second attempt, and Alpha Kenny answered, “Alpha speaking.”

I yelled, “Alpha, I need you to search the woods for my grandpa. Grandma is crying and saying he’s dying!”

He hurriedly agreed, “I’m on my way. You stay there with her. Okay?” I answered, “I planned on it.”

I knew exactly the moment my grandpa died because the life in my grandma’s eyes started fading fast.

I held my grandma in my arms as she cried, “I need to join my mate with the goddess, sweetie. I love you so much. Remember all that we taught you.”

I shook my head, not noticing my tears, “Grandma, I still need you.”

Grandma, on the other hand, smiled at my tearful face, “You are more than ready to be on your own. You’ve been taking care of us for the last two years.

“You know how to do everything you’re supposed to do. Just please don’t blame the mate bond for my death.”

I hesitated, “I’ll try, but it is the bond that is killing you!”

She shook her head, “I was already sick. Remember?”

I nodded, “I will try.”

I lied to her, not wanting our last conversation to be an argument. I knew I would always blame the mate bond after it caused my parents’ death. Now, it is taking my grandparents.

She told me she loved me one more time before she took her last breath and went limp.

I cried as I kissed her forehead and held her hand.

Someone took my hand, “Zariah?”

I turned and saw Isaac sitting on the edge of the bed. I crashed into his chest and started sobbing as the pack doctor called time of death.

When I finally calmed down enough, I asked, “Did Alpha find grandpa?”

Alpha Kenny stood in the doorway and asked me to join him in the living room.

Isaac helped me off the bed and kept one arm around me as we walked into the living room and sat on the couch.

Alpha Kenny started, “Zariah, your grandpa was killed by a panther. Apparently, the panther wanted the same deer that your grandpa did. I don’t think he even saw it coming.” I asked, “Can I see him?”

Isaac suggested, “Zariah, I promise, you don’t want to see him that way. I don’t want to remember him that way.”

I sighed as I cried into Isaac’s chest some more while he rubbed comforting circles on my back.

The following week was nothing but a blur, but Isaac never left my side. I had asked luna to let me live in my grandparents’ house, as they were now my guardians.

She agreed to it as long as Alpha, Isaac, or she could come check on me daily. I agreed with no reservations.

That gave Isaac his chance to spend time with me every day.

One day, I announced, “I think I want to take the test to graduate early from high school.”

Isaac asked, “Why? What are you thinking?”

“I want to go to college for accounting and economics.”

Isaac smiled, “That’s a good idea. Then you can do the pack’s books when you become Luna.”

I chuckled, “You sound so positive that I will be your mate. But don’t get me wrong, I would love nothing more, but there is a chance that I won’t be.”

Isaac sighed as he wrapped me into a loving hug, “I have known you are my mate since you came to our hospital.”

He lowered his mouth to mine but I hesitated.

Then I thought to myself, it’s just a kiss and I knew my feelings for him.

I looked up to chase his mouth. It was there, in the same place, waiting for me, just like how he had been accompanying me for all these years.

We shared a sweet kiss. My first kiss. I had a feeling that I would never kiss anyone else.