“Nesta?” consciousness slowly pulled into me to the gentle shaking of Anxo. “Wake up. We are here.” His voice was gentle as he tried to wake me up. I don’t know when I fell asleep, but I opened my eyes to find myself on the very familiar road that led to my home. I sat up straight as Anxo loosened his arms around me. I think I had been sleeping on his shoulder for a while now. I pressed my forehead against the cold glass, watching the familiar landscape pass by. The trees, the fields, and the fences, all blurred into a dark and grey blur. I can smell it from miles away. The scent of home. The scent of my pack. The manor looked imposing in the night, like a fortress of power. I could sense the presence of my family, my kin, my alpha.As I stared out at the sleeping forest surrounding us, I noticed Erdem glancing at me through the rear-view mirror. I took a sharp breath in when the iron gate of the pack came into my view. The gates were immediately opened for us to enter by two very fam
It was dark and quiet as if nothing had changed. I opened the door and stepped inside, feeling a surge of nostalgia. My room was exactly as I had left it, with my bed, my dresser, my books, my pictures, and my plants. There were fresh flowers on the vases around my room. I felt tears sting my eyes as I looked around, remembering all the happy moments I had spent here. I walked closer to my dresser and opened the drawers to find the neatly folded clothes that I had left behind. I laid down a nightgown on my bed and walked into the bathroom.Even my bathroom was stacked with the things I used and warm, fresh towels. I smiled as I turned on the shower and let the water run down my body, soothing my being, and cleansing what is impure.I got out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel and stepped into my nightgown. There was a knock on my door as I tried to tie the open bodice.“Come in,” I said glancing back at the door expecting my mother to walk in. I gasped when the door opened revealing E
When I opened my eyes the next day, the sun was brightly sitting on the sky. My body was aching and the little wolf in my belly was more than excited as he moved around and kicked. I pulled myself out of my bed as I wiped my face with the back of my hand trying to wake myself up. I opened my eyes and stared out of the window that overlooked the garden I held so precious. But I was afraid to look at it right now, I didn’t want to disappoint myself. I sighed and noticed a neatly folded brown paper sitting on my bed side table through the corner of my eyes. I frowned as I picked it up.I turned it around trying to assess what was inside. I pulled the thin jute rope and the wrapper opened up revealing the gorgeous silver prong I had saw the other night. I stared at it in awe feeling giddy. It’s so beautiful! The prong looked even more gorgeous in daylight. I gently placed it down on top of my dresser and took out a dress to change into. I carefully wore the prong on one side of my hair an
I smiled as I stepped into my precious garden. The warmth of the sun on my skin, and the gentle breeze in my hair felt so familiar. I knew I would miss this place if I ever went away, but the way I yearned to be here doesn’t come close to what I had thought I would feel. I walked around the garden admiring the flowers and plants that my mother had tried to look after while I was gone. The amount of effort she gave told me she tried her best, and I am so grateful for that. I spent the rest of the noon tending to the garden. Pruning, watering, weeding, and planting. I adorned the feeling of the soil on my hands, the scent of flowers on my nose and the sound of birds on my ears.“Wow!” I glanced back to find Erdem standing on the porch, looking at the garden in awe. “You can do wonders to places.” His eyes fixated on me as he offered me a gentle smile.“Thanks,” I said as I looked back at the task in hand.“When will you be done?” I glanced back to find him standing behind me.“I’ll be d
After dinner that night, I tossed and turned in my bed as everything that happened flashed through my eyes. I bit my nails as I the want to slap my face ran across my head. Maybe I shouldn’t have talked so much. What if he found me annoying! But he too did not stand silent. But what if it was to distract himself from getting annoyed? I shouldn’t have gotten us such large bowls. It was really tasty though. Dejan even poured me some chocolate sauce. That combination of chocolate sauce and butterscotch though. Didn’t mother say she had some chocolate sauce in the kitchen? Goddess, I want to taste that. I sat up and sighed in frustration. I want the butterscotch too. I doubt if I’ll find any though. But there’s no harm in looking through the freeze, right?I jumped out of bed as I peeked out at the dark hallway cracking my door open. I tip-toed down the stairs and rushed to the kitchen. Searching through the cabinets and all the jars, I found a half empty chocolate sauce bottle. I took it
“Your mother is an amazing cook.” Erdem said and I smiled nodding my head.“She is.” I sighed closing my eyes. “I wish I had even a little bit of her talent for cooking.”“What are you taking about? You are amazing as well.”“You talk as if you ever tasted my cooking.”“That gâteau you made was one of the best I ever tasted. And the gibanica was fantastic among the other baked goods.”“How did you know I made them?” I questioned in surprise staring up at him. He looked down with a smile.“Everybody knows you made them. Sofija and Corvina wouldn’t stop gushing over how good you are and kept telling everyone how tasty the things you made are.” He chuckled and I looked down, heat rushing to my face.I knocked on the front door and soon the doors opened, revealing Milena. She smiled as she opened the door wide.“Nesta!” She smiled wide. “Come on in. So good to see you.” Milena looked different. She looked much more mature than I remember. The teenage lines had disappeared and the aura abo
“I was just showing him around.” I smiled as I reached her. She smiled nodding her head.“Where is he going?” Mother asked seeing Erdem leave.“He said he had some business to attend to.” I said glancing back. “Got everything you needed?” I asked and she looked at her basket.“I need a few more things.”“Let’s go then.” I smiled walking beside her.“You know, I was furious at first.” Mother spoke as she looked through the pile of apricots. I stared at her as she spoke. “At Erdem. I was furious but after talking to him, I think he is a decent guy.”I shook my head looking down at the fruits in front. “You think?” She nodded as she took the apricots and handed the shopkeeper the money.“Your father thinks so too.”“Does he know?” I asked as we walked away from the shop.“You know I don’t hide anything from your father.”“How did he take it?”“He was absolutely livid and was ready to attack him. But later he calmed down as always. After we talked, he understood that this is your battle.
The sky that day was a canvas of darkness. Not a single ray of sun had peaked through as I stood in front of the temple of the deity staring at my mother’s lifeless face for one last time. My eyes searched for hers, to see them one last time. I wanted her to look at me with those warm eyes one more time. I wanted her to tell me how much she adored me. I-I wanted to tell her how much I loved her. My gaze shifted from her face to the marble statue of the deity behind her. I stepped back as the wolves came forward to convey their respect to her. They filled her with her favourite flowers, the things she adored and their love.That day, when they took her to the grave she would be laid, I wasn’t there, when they buried her, I wasn’t there, when they held the ceremony to say goodbye, I wasn’t there. All that was in front of my eyes were those bloodshot eyes, all I could feel was the guilt. I couldn’t do anything; I did nothing to help her. All I did was watch, I only watched as that guy ki