THE DECISION

AURORA

It’s been a terrible week… horrible. Since I refused to talk to mom and dad, I made a group call with my friends to tell them what happened. Turns out that when the stranger left their sides and came to me, Kyle woke up and ran away with the girls.

I thought they would’ve sent someone to help. But they didn’t, then something must have happened… right but I was shocked when they straight up told me they never wanted to see me again.

Kyle broke up with me that instant and the girls said I was a bad omen and would bring trouble to them—or some shit like that. I had to cut the call and block their numbers because I couldn’t stand their hurtful words.

Kyle’s been with me for two years and they’ve been my friends for more. I was heartbroken when they did that but I refused to shed a tear. Warriors… don’t… cry.

I felt like I had no one else in the world and Evolet wasn’t very helpful either. She wouldn’t stop talking about how I should have listened to her and it’s the most annoying thing.

I haven’t spoken to mom or dad either. We haven’t had direct contact and it’s been a week. Also, I’m not the only one avoiding Hilda. Hilda’s avoiding me too. She doesn’t want to see me or talk to me and I’m fine with that. I don’t care.

Dash is busy with the new post of CEO of the Turner Industries. He’s not so happy about the responsibilities because he’s more into game development and bodybuilding. It’s hard to believe that there I once used to be taller than Dash but Dash is taller than even dad now.

He also has every she-wolves’ attention and does what boys do, how boys do it. But so far, I’ve never met a more protective brother than him.

‘For the record, you haven’t met a lot of people, Arie.’

If he knew what happened to me a week ago, I can bet on our family company that he’ll find out who he was and teach him a lesson.

He’s powerful and fast—not muscular as he should be—but you’d be mistaken to judge him by that. I’m not confident he can take down whomever that man was because even Dad would have a problem tackling him.

To breakfast, I wore a white scarf over my neck. I believed they wouldn’t ask since they didn’t care but this was the one time I wish they didn’t show me attention.

“You haven’t told us what happened, dear?” Katrina, my mom, asked, pouring some juice into her cup.

I was glad that she had finally stopped calling me ‘baby’. I’m eighteen for the goddess’s sake. I had my birthday a month ago and that was the only time in a long time that I got along with everyone. But I did notice that mom and dad were tensed when they realized I would be eighteen soon… the rogue attacks hadn’t even started then.

This dining hall has served us for many years and with every year, it gets an upgrade. The pack has been flourishing ever since dad became Alpha and mom became Luna. The long dining table was painted in the brightest gold possible—just how mom likes it—and the chairs matched beautifully.

The white walls were scarily white and the laminated floors were golden as well so dining in here makes anyone feel like a king or queen.

I ignored her question, and dipped my French toast in some maple syrup—I know, it’s a bad habit—hoping everyone would move past that.

“Your mom asked a question, Aurora.”

I looked up at both of them but stuffed another toast in my mouth and sprinkled bacon bits on another.

Hilda had fixed her glasses and was desperate to change the topic. “How have the rogue attacks been going?”

“Not so well. We’re still having a lot of raids and are not the only ones being affected now.” Dad turned to mom who was still staring at me sternly. I didn’t dare look her way. “Alpha Hades believes that some of them are hiding out in Dorcha Azonos.”

“It’s a possibility,” Dash said, stealing some of my maple sauce. “Lots of crazy things hide in those woods.” Hilda’s eyes were on me too and she looked like she wanted to say something but Dash wasn’t done yet. “The company’s going great by the way but as an addition, I was thinking…”

“Building a gaming app or whatever you call it, is a terrible idea. How is that meant to benefit the company?” Hilda asked, seeming to forget the previous thing she wanted to say.

Mom was quiet and I knew she wouldn’t let this slide.

“It’s a game development I’m working on and if you just listen to me you’ll see that…”

Dash proceeded to explain how this alcohol-delivering game was meant to help the company. It was bad enough that he used to play them but now he wants to create?

“That’s enough, honey. We’ll talk about your game development later. I…”

Dad cut in. “No, we won’t. I said no and that’s final.”

Dash sighed, and by this time, I lost my appetite.

“Excuse me,” I whispered—hoping I was invisible enough to leave without causing a scene.

I turned around to make my exit but I heard mom get on her feet. “Aurora! You better get back here right now. Answer my question!”

Fuck, is she serious right now? “I’m tired, mom, I want to rest.”

“If you take another step you will regret having me as your mother!”

I was inches… fucking inches away from telling her I already did.

Irritated, I turned to her, avoiding eye contact. Mom left her seat and came towards me but stopped at a distance like she just noticed something. “Why is a scarf over your neck? You hate scarfs.”

“Must be a new fashion trend.” Hilda snorted, continuously murdering her toast with a fork.

“Not like you’d know what’s trending in fashion.” Hilda scowled at me while Dad and Dash said nothing. Mom’s anger is not something to test.

“Leave your sister out of this and when I’m talking to you, you look at me. What’s going on? What’s the scarf for?”

I muttered under my breath, “I should’ve never come here.”

“Aurora!”

“Why are you acting like you care now?!” I blurted out, anger rising in my puffed chest. “You didn’t even notice I was wearing a white scarf when I came in here! If it were Hilda or Dash then I’m sure you would have seen it!”

My mom’s mouth was partly open and she seemed like she just comprehended what my anger was all about. Her tensed shoulders slouched and she looked at me with a calmer expression.

“Baby, I didn’t…”

“Of course, you didn’t know! You never cared! Never and I’m sick of it!” My mouth lost every sense of control and I didn’t care about the consequences of my next words. “I’m sick of this packhouse! I feel like a prisoner in here! I hate all that being the Alpha’s daughter bullshit! It’s no excuse to keep me locked up! I just broke off with my boyfriend and best friends and I’ve been depressed but no one cares! No one gives a damn and that’s the problem with you all! If it were Hilda in my place you wouldn’t rest ‘til you helped her! But no, it’s me, that’s why you don’t give a fuck!” There were looks of shock on their faces and I was too incensed to know whether mom was angry, sad, confused, or fathoming what I said. “The first chance I get to leave this place… I’ll take it without fucking hesitation.”

I barged out of the room, faster than I could normally move.

~~~

“You may think I’m just saying it to make you feel better, but I know how you feel, Roe.”

I glared at him with a straight face. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”

It was seven pm in the night and I didn’t leave the room the whole day. I’m not someone to stay inside for long so it was a real pain in the ass.

I was so annoyed and stressed. If I stayed in for a second longer, I’d start entertaining some scary ideas that cracked into my mind.

That’s why I went to the only person I felt that understood me… Dash. Dad would have been a great option if he didn’t listen to everything mom says.

He chuckled and I admired his dimples.

“I wish I had dimples,” I said, forcing a small smile.

“I wish I had your authority,” he scoffed, trailing his hands through his lengthening pecan brown hair and shining his sky-blue eyes. “If I were the one who walked out of there, mom and dad would have set all hell loose on me.”

I rolled my eyes. “At least they let you go out. They trust you enough to make you CEO of Turner Industries and I’m the eldest!”

“By two minutes you are,” he reminded. “Look, you aren’t the only one with problems.” He wouldn’t be saying that if he knew what happened to me. “I know you don’t want to tell me what’s going on but I’m always here for you. And as for mom and dad, they are loaded with work. Rogues attacks are rampant these days and Moonstone is their number one target so you should understand why they’re so stressed.”

“But if it were Hilda…”

He groaned, collapsing back on his black sofa. He fancied a lot of things and his bedroom said it all. Dash was a big fan of the Star Wars movie and typically all Marvel movies. If you wanted to start a conversation with him, ask him about his favorite superhero.

He had lots of posters of them up and being a game addict, his room was literally littered with computers and whatnot.

“Would you stop saying that? You know mom and dad just do that ‘cause she’s the youngest.” He whispered his next statement but I was hardly listening to him anymore. “I hear she’s going through some problems in school.”

Wolves don’t have to study past the age of sixteen unless they want to and Hilda has this goal she’s determined to reach which requires school and the likes. Good for her.

Hilda wears glasses now and is as tall as me. We look a lot like each other but are nothing like each other. She loves reading books and staying inside, and she’s less gifted with mom’s features. Hilda’s what you’d pass on for a nerd.

“Sure, let’s go with that.”

I turned my attention to my fingers, realizing that I hadn’t had a manicure in some time.

“Roe, I know you. Don’t start making rash decisions, okay?”

I swallowed my lower lip. “I thought it was Ray Ray.”

“Well, it’s never too late to change…”

“Bye, D.”

I headed for the door but he stopped me when I clutched the doorknob. “Whenever you’re ready to tell someone, I’m right here.”

“Sure,” I whispered silently, opening the door.

“And try to talk to Hilda!”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, D.”

I headed for my room but I had already made a decision the second I was out. I will not be a prisoner in this packhouse anymore. I lost my friends… and my family isn’t the best so there’s nothing I’m waiting for here.

‘I wonder what Seattle’s like, Ev. Don’t you?’

‘Oh no, Arie! Don’t do it!’

If mom could survive in Seattle, why can’t I?