Chapter 0081
Cara’s POV
I crouch down to his level and pat his black hair, “I’m sorry, Ethan, but you must stay here.”
I don’t want to disappoint Ethan. I know he must feel left out, not being allowed to travel to DarkWood like his sister Mia. He tells me as much again the next day as Ruby, Mia, and I prepare for our weekly visit to DarkWood.
“It’s not fair. I want to go…” Ethan once more says sadly. His green eyes are moist, like tears could form at any moment.
The sight of his poor little face is almost enough to break my resolve, almost enough to get me to–waver and change my decision.
But then I look closer at his face, the curves and angles all reminiscent of Alaric, and am once again reminded of his parentage. Of the man that is secretly his father.
I’ve
spent too long keeping Ethan out of Alaric’s sights. Alaric was never supposed to know about either of them. To see both twins together, to see how their features match his own, it’s just too great a risk.
It’s a risk I’m not willing to take.
So, as a mother I do what I have to do. I tell my son once again that he cannot join us. No, he must stay at home.
Ethan opens his mouth, surely about to spout a fresh argument, a fresh try at convincing me to change my mind. He’s so smart, his mind is so quick that it’s getting harder and harder to dispel his logic.
Sometimes he’s too smart for his own good.
I steel myself, firming my resolve to continue to tell Ethan no, when suddenly, there’s a knock at the door.
Ethan closes his mouth, giving the argument a rest for now and grabs the handle. The little boy opens the door to our cottage to see the smiling face of his uncle, my brother Ryan.
Ryan, a twin himself, seems to be developing a special bond with Ethan. The two have been spending more time together lately, solving math problems and coming up with elaborate science experiments.
ווידיי
stay with Ethan,” Ryan offers, noticing that the rest of us are getting ready to leave.
He winks at my son, clearly ascertaining that the little hou is very
“Yay! Uncle Ryan!” Ethan cheers happily. “Can we do science?!”
upset.
* Chapter 0001
“We sure can, buddy,” Ryan replies with a broad smile.
I feel the growing tension in my shoulders start to dissipate. At least that’s one problem solved. I express my gratitude to my brother on the way out the door, thanking him for keeping Ethan company.
I drive Ruby and Mia to the hospital and let them out of the car, “I have to make another stop, but I’ll be back here soon. Ruby, can you get Mia checked in for her appointment?”
Ruby nods at me and escorts Mia into the hospital, checking her extensive notes for the doctors while she walks the little girl into the building.
I feel my phone buzz with a text.
“It’s Alaric. I’ll be late to the Pack House, something came up.”
I’m unsurprised by his delay. From what I’ve heard during my visits to DarkWood, Alaric is busier than ever these days. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t show his face at all today.
Maybe it’s a good thing that the Pack House manager reached out to me. After all, if I help them, that would take one more item off of Alaric’s to–do list.
It’s the least I can do to support the Pack House that raised me.
I’m awash with nostalgia as I pull up to the DarkWood Pack House. I’m greeted by the same old dark red brick building with the same brown shutters just as desperately in need of a paint job as they were twenty some years ago.
There’s that same old broken walkway handrail from that one time one of the orphan boys shifted into wolf form and barreled into the railing.
Teenage werewolves tend to leave a lot of wreckage in their paths. This Pack House has certainly seen its fair share of mishaps and mistakes from all the orphans it has housed over the years.
I push open the heavy wooden front door and am reminded of all the times that Grandmother called to me to “close that door and stop letting all that cold air inside!”
A bittersweet chuckle ripples through my chest in memory.
What would Grandmother say if she could see me
now?
Would she be proud of me?
I know she’d be happy to have me back here helping the Pack House. It’s one of the reasons I agreed in the first place, to make Grandmother proud, even if she isn’t here
anymore.
“Hello?” I call out, looking for the House manager.
“It’s Cara Wilson.” I call back confidently, walling towards the voice. The sound is coming from the kitchen. I could find my way there with my eyes closed, I know this building so well
“What on earth are YOU doing here?” The voice sounds even more annoying now, which confuses me greatly.
Itum the comer to see three workers standing in the kitchen, eyes wide and gawking at me. Their arms are crossed in front of their chests, closed off and protective.
Well, this certainly isn’t the greeting I was expecting
“I’m here to help-“I start
“We don’t need your help,” a she–wolf cuts me off quickly. There’s ice in her eyes, like she’s a viper ready to strike.
I offer a polite smile, hoping to diffuse the situation calmly. “I understand. I received a call
No. You DON’T understand.” The she–wolf grunts back at me. “None of you nobles do, alone a PRINCESS.”
She spits the word ‘princess‘ out like it’s full of acid. Like it leaves a bitter taste in her mouth to even speak the word.
let
“She’s probably just here to show off to her new friends… look how sweet she is, caring for the stupid, needy poor ones…” I hear one of the staff whisper to another, rolling their eyes in my direction.
“You misunderstand me, I would never call you stupid-“I try to explain. If they would just listen to me… If I could just explain the phone call that their manager had made to me…..
“Not out loud anyway,” they snicker. “But I bet she says it to all of her rich friends…
“I used to live here, too, you know,” I reply, changing my tactics. Surely that will show them that I’m here with the best of intentions.
“Yeah, well, lots of time has passed since then, hasn’t it? From what we hear, you’ve changed, Cara. You’ve forgotten where you come from!” The she–wolf sounds angry now.
From the way she’s talking, it’s like my mere presence here is an offense to them. Like I’ve harmed them by even showing my face.
How can I fix this? How can I explain that I’m here to help?
I’m trying to think quickly, reformulating my words to adapt to the situation when the sound of men’s dress shoes echoes through the halls.
Someone is coming!!
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0081
“John! Get her out of here!” The she–wolf staff member yells in a shrill, piercing screech.
Who’s John?!
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