A Damaged Heart Still Beats

Chapter 7- Learn to Love it

Catori POV

I wake up to my two dear little sisters shaking me after what feels like five minutes of actual rest and I groan that I need ten more minutes. They both giggle and go back to shaking me, ignoring my plea.

“Aponi maybe we should give her more time to sleep she seems really tired.”

“No! she has slept long enough! It’s already noon!”

Hearing the time, I am sitting straight up in bed so quickly that I almost send Aiyana flying off the bed. Luckily, my speed comes in handy so that I can grab her before she hits the ground.

“NOON? I slept ‘til freaking noon?” Holy crap. My brain is buzzing because I thought I didn’t get any sleep, but here we are. I have been asleep for like nine hours. At least that means I didn’t have any more nightmares, though.

With the realization of how late I slept in, I must be making a funny face. The girls are now giggling at my shock. I recover and try to play tough.

“What is so damn funny girls?” They look at each other and then back at me before Aiyana speaks up.

“Sis we thought you being a werewolf would be scary but it’s not. You’re still the same old Cat, our grumpy big sis who is not a morning person.” She giggles again.

I roll my eyes. Of course, they have jokes. I stretch trying to shake off my sleepiness and then I set the girls on the floor. I try to plaster a “scary” look on my face, but it just makes them laugh hysterically. I go to reach for them both, but they run out of my room. I roll my shoulders for a second and decide that before I take this day head on, I really need a shower. I head into the bathroom and turn on the water, giving it time to warm up before stepping in. Once steam is rolling out of the curtains, I step in so that the hot water can ease all the aches in my muscles. I wash my hair and suds up in my favorite pine scented wash. It’s a relaxing scent and it really helps get my senses fully brought out of the haze that they were in, in my slumber. Now that I am more awake, I rinse clean and shut the water off. I step out of the shower and dry off then wrap in a towel to head back into my room.

I walk into my closet, where I decide on a pair of black skinny jeans and my ‘the Used’ band t-shirt. I run a brush through my hair and call it good, thankful that I don’t have to style it as it falls pin straight all the time so I will just let it air dry. I take my towel back into the bathroom to hang up and assess my look in the mirror. Not wanting to really mess with makeup, I do decide I need some eyeliner and mascara to really allow my icy blue eyes to pop. Beyond that however, I find no need for other crap. My high cheekbones accent themselves and I have thin features that naturally contour my face. Plus, with my natural tan and seemingly flawless complexion, any kind of heavy foundation would only hinder my look. Feeling humbler, I shrug and then with one last look in the mirror I lose interest, so I grab my favorite striped beanie and black studded belt. Throwing them on, I head towards the kitchen.

I’m starving so I go hunting for food and when I open the fridge I am surprised again. There is a wrapped plate piled with bacon, eggs, sausage, and some toast. Beside it is a bowl of fresh fruit. I grab the meal out and I put the plate in the microwave to heat up. I impatiently pace the kitchen nibbling on my fruit, but once my food is warm, I quickly devour the meal. Now full, I suddenly feel a strong need for some caffeine. Luckily, I still have an energy drink hidden in the back of the fridge. I look around to make sure no one notices me and reach in to pull it out. Chuckling, I pop the tab on my drink and start to head for the front door only stopping to grab my wallet. As I reach for the handle, I hear my dad clear his throat. Trying to pretend that I didn’t hear him, I keep pushing forward. This only welcomes a sigh from his doorway. I feel a bit relieved, and I think I’m getting away with it, so I open the front door only to have it pushed shut before I can walk through it.

I turn waiting for his reaction but the look on Dad’s face is one that’s hard to decipher. Is he upset? Angry? Calm? Ugh! He’s so hard to read. He is watching me intently, so I decide now is the best time to speak up. “Dad, look. I’m sorry I flipped out yesterday. I just really was not ready to suddenly be a giant mutt. Then when you were explaining the heritage my brain just sort of shut down on me and I needed to be alone.”

“Kid. I do understand why you lost control a bit. But please don’t shut me out. I don’t want you to end up like your mother did.” He says reaching out to place his hand on my shoulder.

With that thought being the forefront, I’m very finished with this conversation. Apparently, the glare I shot at my father told him as much because it made him let go of the door and he has now taken a few steps back. His eyes go wide before he speaks again.

“Cat. Your eyes… They Turned black.” At first I don’t get what he says, but then it clicks and with that, I panic a little. And then his next words stop me all over again. “Now, they’re…White? This can’t be… I need to call your grandmother.” He says rushing off to get his cell phone.

“Dad what’s going on? Are my eyes changing color?” I ask frozen in place.

We are a special wolf. We will be stronger than many and we have powers that other’s do not. Our eyes change though because we have Alpha blood in our bloodlines. Our mother was of very powerful lineage, but she must not have been able to handle the power, so she left this world without being able to teach you anything of her history.

‘Wait what?’ I thought.

Only alpha wolves’ eyes change color with their moods. Our family on our mother’s side must have all descended from a long line of alphas. We need to know more about where we come from though.

“So, my eyes are like fricken mood rings now?” Dad looked at me taken back by my outburst and I realize that I meant to say that in my head to Waya, but clearly, I thought aloud that time. “Sorry dad. I meant to talk to my wolf.” I mumble and he gave me a funny look before asking, “You can actually talk to her? Like she is a separate mind from yours?”

“Well yes and no. I guess we share a mind but also have our own thought processes. She ends up talking at times without me being ready for it, but I think in time I will learn to love it. Aside from seeming crazy for talking to the voices in my head, at least I can say I will never lack company.” We both chuckle lightly. “She explained that my eyes change with my mood because I guess Mom was an Alpha wolf.”

Dad c***s his head as if mulling over what I said before he puts his phone in his pocket and gives me a hug. He also tells me to be careful, for the day and heads to the girls’ room to get them ready for a day at the park. I try to shake off the last few minutes and then get back to my original plan of heading out the door. I think I’m going to take a drive to my favorite hiking spot and go sit under the waterfall to draw and think. ‘Waya you ready to help me understand this a bit more?’

I’ll do my best Catori. There is a softness to her voice that is very calming and as I get into the car, I catch my eyes in the mirror glowing a brilliant Robbins egg blue. ‘Huh, so my natural eye color is most prominent when I am calm. Good to know.”

I start my car and head off on the 20-minute drive to Anglin Falls.