Chapter 5: Going Home

Living with Asteria has been nothing but bliss. Over the past three months, we have gotten used to a specific routine. 

I usually wake up at six in the morning to go on a run. I walk as far away as I can and make sure nobody else is there before shifting and my wolf and I enjoy the open wilderness. 

We usually come back a little before eight o’ clock with an animal we had caught. Asteria used to ask me how I am easily able to catch them, but she eventually stopped, and just thanked me for helping with supplies. 

She said that if it wasn’t for me, she would still just be eating small fishes she sometimes finds along the shore that have been washed up there. 

The two of us continue with our usual schedule. While Asteria goes to the town closest to us, I am tasked with cleaning around the cabin. I also make a few snacks that consist of the vegetables and fruits that she grows outside and just a few minutes before twelve, Asteria comes back. 

She never fails to bring me something from the town, too. Whether it be my favorite candy or chocolate, a piece of clothing, or just something small that reminded me of her, she always made me feel important. 

I loved being with her… but I know that I cannot stay here forever. Someday, I have to go back home and face everyone again. If they still even remember me. 

–

Today was specifically three months and a week since Asteria found me. I had been keeping track using the small calendar in the living room. 

Everyday when I wake up, I walk up to the mirror and see if anything about me has changed, and by that I mean if my hair and my eyes are back to being the normal hazel shade they were. 

Right now, it is still the same. Hazel hair with white-silver streaks and hazel eyes with a gray ring around it. 

But I am still me, and over the past few months, I have managed to somewhat get used to that. 

“Good morning, Hailey. Off to your morning run?” Asteria greets me as I brushed my hair and put it up into a ponytail. 

I nodded my head. “Yup! The weather feels very nice today.” 

She looks out of the window and takes a whiff of air. “It does, doesn’t it?” She says before smiling at me. 

“Oh, I was wondering. Would you mind coming to town with me later today after your run? The groceries I had ordered last week have arrived and I might need some help.” 

“Of course! I’d love to.” I told her in a heartbeat because anything to help Asteria, I was more than willing.

She had already done so much for me. This was the least I could do. 

“Thank you, little one. Now you have a good run.” She bid me farewell and right after, I walked out of the cabin and walked until I was sure there was nobody else but me. 

“Alright, Evera. It’s just us now.” I whispered before I started to take my clothes off and place them safely by the tree that I had marked a few months back. 

I’ve made this my spot which is why I had to mark it so I know where to come back for my things. 

I feel Evera awakening inside of me and I lower my body down to the ground. During my first shift, I felt the most unimaginable pain anyone could ever feel. But eventually, after a few more, I began to get used to it and then it just became second nature to me. 

Evera had been there for me ever since. She was always pushing me and helping me see that I was strong enough even when I didn’t feel like it, which is why her name is very fitting as it means ‘brave one’. 

After a minute or so, my vision had turned clearer, sharper, and my hearing was so precise that I know exactly how many birds are flying above me right now. 

We were ready. 

We ran amongst the tall trees, the wind brushing past our fur, and our howls echoing the vast wilderness. 

I am brought back to my runs in our Pack, and how it never felt like this. Evera and I would run around our territory, but never have enough time to really be just the two of us as mindlinks from my mother and my sister bombard us left and right. 

I usually would only have a chance to run peacefully for about fifteen minutes until someone asks me where I am and for me to hurry my useless ass back to the house. Having no choice, I do exactly as they say. 

But here. Everything was different. I could take my time and appreciate everything around me and not worry about anyone coming to bother me. 

We felt unstoppable. 

And absolutely free. 

Eventually, nearing the end of our run, I would find myself just standing in the middle and just taking it all in. Hearing the sounds around me, smelling the mix of scents of nature, and feeling the warmth and wetness of the soil underneath my feet. 

I heard a crack of twigs and my head snapped fast to where it came from. That’s when I saw a group of rabbits jumping around and my first thought was – food.

It doesn’t take a lot of effort to capture animals, let alone smaller ones, for us. Evera and I are skilled at keeping our noise very minimally so they never know what’s coming for them.

Until it’s too late.

I dove for the rabbits while they were clearly preoccupied and effortlessly captured them with my body and hands. Three rabbits. Easy and fast lunch.

I smiled. Proud of what I’ve accomplished, before concluding that today’s run was over and started running back to my tree spot. 

“Asteria, I’m back.” I announced my arrival, rabbits in hand. 

Asteria appeared from the back of the cabin looking like she was gardening just now, and her eyes widened in pleasant surprise. 

“You brought lunch!” She said delighted before I handed them to her. 

“One of these days you’re going to have to teach me how you do it because once you’re gone, I’m going to miss all the meat.” She confessed and I gave her a nod and a smile. 

“You’ll be a natural,” I tell her before entering the cabin. “I’ll just wash and change real quick then we can go to the supermarket in town. Is that alright?”

“Of course, sweetie. Take your time. I’ll be here.” 

–

Half an hour later, I’m ready as I stared at myself in the mirror again. My hair was loose as I let it dry and I was wearing a white top and denim shorts that Asteria got for me before. 

Sometimes I feel like I’m going to blink and I’d be back to my old self again and if that happens, would Asteria treat me the same way? Would she suddenly realize that I was actually just a plain girl that didn’t deserve all her kindness? 

In a way, I was afraid of being a nobody again. 

I shake my head and erase those thoughts in my head immediately. Asteria is a kind woman and I’m sure that whoever showed up here and needed help, she would be more than willing to give it. 

“Asteria, I’m ready.” I call out for her and she pops up by the door dressed to go out as well with a simple yellow summer dress since the weather had started to warm up to spring, too. 

She looked so beautiful. The kind of effortless beauty that anyone would be envious of, but the best thing is that she never acted better than anyone else. She just stayed true to herself, always smiling and always helping. 

“Those clothes fit you much better than the mannequin at the store,” she commented and I let out a soft chuckle. 

She also never failed to make me feel more important than I think I am as she always compliments me. 

“So, it’s your first time going to town, huh?” She asks while we get up to her car which is also my first time riding in since it’s not like I needed to go anywhere else. 

I nodded my head. “First time. What’s it like?” 

The only town I’ve been to was ours and the neighboring Packs. There were many shops and restaurants, but I never really got to enjoy most of it since I was always forced to stay at home while Heather had it all. 

“It’s small, but lovely. You don’t need much when you live a simple life around here. I know most of the owners of the shops so if you see anything you like, don’t hesitate to let me know.” She gave me a bright smile and I felt grateful.

“Oh, make sure not to go further to the edge of town where there is a mill. That part isn’t too safe. Most of the townsfolk complain that they see a lot of dead animals in that area.” Asteria warned and I quickly nodded my head. 

But deep down inside I wondered why that was so and a part of me believed that maybe it was related to our kind. 

I didn’t let her know though because she can’t know. I thought living with a human would be difficult, but it turns out it’s not. You just have to be really careful not letting anything slip out of you and one of those times is right now. 

If I ask more about the dead animals, she’ll start to wonder why I am so interested in it and then she’ll become suspicious. I can’t have that. 

About an hour later, Asteria is driving the car to park at the side and that’s when I see it – Valley Town. 

“You are free to roam around while I gather the things in the grocery, Hailey. We can meet at the supermarket after…” She lifts up her wrist to check her time. “About thirty minutes? Is that enough?” 

I nod at her. “More than enough.” 

She smiles at me before we go our separate ways. 

Wow. So this was it. 

Valley Town itself looks beautiful. The mahogany wood rooftops, redstone walls, and nature surrounding it. The atmosphere was pleasant and peaceful. I think the calm and quiet collection of ponds around the area is my favorite though. 

My eyes instinctively land on the most colorful shop along the area. It looked like a little dress shop with flowers wrapped all around its windows and doors. My feet are moving to it like it was being controlled by someone else and when I reached that area, a friendly-looking lady greets me with a charismatic, “welcome!” 

I bow my head and flash her a small smile. 

“Are you new here? I’ve never seen you around.” The redhead with green eyes blink at me with her long lashes. “My name is Gwen. This is my dress shop. You’re free to look around and when you find something, let me know and I’d love to let you try it.” 

“Hi, Gwen. Nice to meet you. I’m Hailey, and thank you.” I tell her politely and she smiles so widely that her eyes almost form into a straight line and then the bell on her door rings again, signaling other customers, so she hurriedly entertains them.

I found myself entranced by the various colors and designs of dresses. I’ve never seen so many beautiful clothes and creative patterns. I remembered my old paintings and drawings back at home and wondered if they were still there, or if they had been thrown away. 

I’m admiring a gorgeous blush pink tulle corset gown with hints of green and flowers embedded on it making it look like a blooming flower when I hear the group of girls who had come in giggling at each other. 

“I’m so excited for the inauguration. Alpha Colt will be the most handsome Alpha!” One of the girls squealed and the others followed, but all my mind could focus on was the words ‘Alpha Colt’ and ‘inauguration’. 

Did they mean my older brother?! 

“Oh my Goddess, you have to get this dress, Lilyann!” Her friend exclaimed and they went closer to me as they admired the purple dress. “Alpha Colt will fall in love with you in this!” 

I would tell them that Colt doesn’t like the color purple on clothes because it reminded him of eggplants, but I kept it to myself because who was I to them?

“You are so right! I’m going to get this!” She said excitedly before they hurried to the counter and paid for the dress. 

I have no idea why they ended up in Valley Town since there were so many other dress shops back at ours. 

Suddenly, another girl spoke up annoyedly as she looked at her nails. “We’re so lucky to have found this place because if not, we wouldn’t get any pretty dresses for the event because snotty Heather wouldn’t allow lower ranks to shop in our town. She is so selfish.” 

Oh, there’s my answer. I had to purse my lips in order not to laugh at her ‘snotty Heather’ comment. 

“Tell me about it. Just because she got together with Alpha Kage doesn’t make her any better.” The other girl commented before making gag noises. 

My heart felt like it had snapped into two hearing those words. 

My sister. Alpha Kage. Got together. 

They… they really ended up being each other’s mates?

I closed my eyes and grit my teeth so as not to end up crying in public. I may have almost died six months ago, but the feeling of our mate bond was still somehow there. 

That means they may be together, but neither of them have marked each other yet. I don’t know why, but either way, it doesn’t change the fact that their lives had gone the way they wanted it even after my disappearance. 

The girls finished paying and I wanted to hear more about the inauguration so I ran after them but not in a way where I would seem suspicious. 

I kept my distance as they continued to stroll further away from town and into the mill. 

Shit. They’re going to go to the forbidden area. 

But I had to follow them because I needed to know more information.

“I’m so excited to wear this for tomorrow. Alpha Colt will surely make me his when he sees me.” The other girl cooed. 

Tomorrow. His inauguration was tomorrow.

I got all the information that I needed and luckily, I managed to turn away from them and walked to the opposite side before any of them realized I was sort of spying on them. 

As I was walking to the supermarket where Asteria was, all I could think about was home. 

And how I just might be coming back sooner than I thought.