Chapter 7 | Follow Your Heart

Magnolia

Violet apparently refused to join us for games. I wish I could say I was surprised, but I’m not. Us playing games goes by in a blur and then I find myself standing in front of Violet’s door. I’ve never been afraid to talk to her before and I wouldn’t say I’m afraid right now, per say.

I just get the feeling she wants to be left alone and I don’t want to overstep.

I lift my hand to knock on the door, but it opens up. Violet remarks, “After you get your wolf your senses are stronger. I could smell your scent outside my door. So, what’s up? Why the hesitation?”

She walks to her bed and I chuckle as I walk in and close the door behind me. I respond, “I just wasn’t sure if you wanted company.”

She nods her head as she sits down and says, “I’m sorry. It’s weird being here and I just… it’s been a lot to process.”

I sit down beside her and say, “Well, I’m here if you want to talk.”

Violet smiles softly and remarks, “You’re welcome to stay the night in here. It’d be like when we were kids.”

“I’d like that.”

We both lie on the bed and stare at the ceiling letting the comfortable silence fill the air. For me, the moment of Henry kissing me goes in my mind on repeat. The more I think about it, the more doubts flood my mind. I don’t think he would take advantage of me and I want to believe that he is my mate, but the truth of the matter is that I don’t know for sure that he is my mate. I won’t know until I turn 18 in two months.

But how wonderful will that be?

He’s been my best friend for my entire life! I’ve always wanted to be around him, it makes sense that I would get to spend the rest of my life with him.

The bed moves as Violet rolls on her side and looks at me with a furrowed brow. She asks, “What’s going on in your head?”

I shake my head as I say, “It’s nothing.”

“Come on, Mags, I want to be close to you. What’s going on?”

I breathe out and ask, “Do you not like it here?”

I turn my head to face Violet and her eyebrows are scrunched up in confusion and she asks, “Why would you think that?”

“You just have seem so reserved. You haven’t wanted to visit recently. I just…”

She breathes out, “It has nothing to do with you, your family, or your pack, Magnolia. Honestly, being here just reminds me of my parents and I miss them.”

“Oh, that makes sense.” I mumble. She nods her head but I see tears welling up in her eyes. I move to hug her, but she shakes her head and says, “I’m fine.”

“Would you like me to leave?” I offer and she murmurs, “Yeah.”

I roll out of the bed and look back at her before I head out the door. A small part of me hopes that she’ll stop me. I want her to confide in me and know that we can be close. But she doesn’t stop me, and I walk out and head to my room.

As I walk to my room I bump into my mom. Her eyebrows crinkle together and she asks, “Are you okay, princess? What are you doing out and about so late?”

“I was checking on Violet.”

My mom’s eyes flicker behind me and she breathes out, “I assume she doesn’t want company at the moment.”

I nod my head in confirmation and she breathes out and says, “I wish I could make it easier on her.”

My lower lip puckers out as I question, “Does she not like us?”

Violet has always been a bit distant any time she comes to visit. After a couple of days she seems to loosen up and is happy to be around me, but then she’ll out of nowhere decide that it’s time for her to leave. It’s quite odd.

This time, she’s not supposed to leave and the way she acts is so… bizarre.

My mom chuckles as she shakes her head no in response and says, “No, no, dear, I don’t think this has anything to do with how much she likes us.”

“Then what does it have to do with?” I ask. She says, “You know her parents have been gone for a few years now.”

I nod my head in confirmation and she says, “Her life would’ve been a lot like yours, Mags. Her dad and mom were an Alpha and Luna, but they lost everything. They made the best of the situation, happy to be just the three of them. But now, Violet has lost them as well. I think it’s bittersweet for her to come here. She likes us and enjoys being around us, but at the same time it reminds her of the family that she has lost and how bad that hurts.”

We fall into a comfortable silence. I can tell that mom is just enjoying being with me and we both walk together to my room. Once we get there we sit down. It’s good to sit and reflect on the little things. I feel bad for Violet. I wish I could make things better for her, but I’m grateful to understand things a little better now.

I have the life that she would’ve had. Looking at me only reminds her of what could’ve been and that must sting. I need to be more mindful of this whenever I’m around her.

After a few moments Henry pops back into my head and I realize that I would probably feel a little better if I talked about him. I clear my throat before I ask, “Mom, what do you do when you like a guy but you’re not sure if he’s your mate?”

She laughs, “Who’s the boy?”

My cheeks redden, but she continues to talk as if she didn’t notice it. I appreciate the way she is with me. She never presses for more information, she doesn’t want me to be uncomfortable and wants me to know that she’s always here when I’m ready. She says, “It depends on the case, princess. With your dad, I didn’t know that he was my mate immediately and I was insanely attracted to him. It was hard not to feel drawn to him and desire more. Right now, you’re so close to your 18^th birthday that this attraction you feel may be because you’re meant to be.”

I nod my head and she looks at me curiously as she asks, “Do you want to talk anymore about it?”

I shake my head no feeling embarrassed so heat rushes to my cheeks and ears and say, “No, I’m good.”

She squeezes my hand and says, “Follow your heart, kid. I’m sure it won’t fail you.”

She stands up to leave smiling at me as she tells me she loves me. I respond back, but once the door is shut I can’t help the breath of relief that I release. I didn’t realize how much tension was in my body from talking about those things with my mom.

But she has sound advice. Follow my heart.

And what does my heart want?

Henry Clark.