6. Wylen Circle
1167 Words
(Danielle)
It was Saturday and I had been summoned by the evil Queen. Marlene Landon, to go back to the pack. I almost wanted to say no, and stay in my dorm, but I didn't want to anger her further.
I stopped my car and got out and walked toward the massive pack house. The wolves wandering around gave me a look.
Home sweet home. Not.
It had never been a home for me. It was just a meaningless, hopeless house.
As I walked inside the palace like pack house, cold and bare, I sensed the same feeling of dread and betrayal I had been feeling since day one.
My grandmother was the ex-luna of Wylen circle, and my uncle, my father's brother was the Alpha. But nobody here treated me... like I was the Alpha's niece, or the Beta's daughter. No.
The place was big, like really big. It was like a palace, standing majestically amid the tall, grown trees.
No one was waiting for me. Of course. I knew it. It had always been like that.
No hugs, no warm welcomes. Not even a hello.
What did I expect? Huh?
I had been burnt a million times by my expectations, but still sometimes, it sucked. Big time.
I was greeted by cook Rebecca, with a tentative smile and was instantly guided towards grandmother’s big study. She sat there, looking royal, her face frozen in a frown. It was always the same look.
Grandmother's study was grandiose. Beautiful wooden shelves with equally beautiful books, oak doors, teak chairs, silky cushions... It lacked nothing, but lacked everything.
I pulled my sweater closer as cold wind wrapped around me, as I stared at my grandmother.
Surprise… Yup I got one.
The surprise was a little bundle of joy wrapped in a blanket, with tiny legs and hands, with smooth rose skin and with beautiful blue eyes. I instantly knew who she was.
Nobody ever even told me Fiona had finally given birth to her pup. I knew she was preganant, but...
“What’s her name?" I asked, even though it really hurt me to know that they hadn't called me when Fiona gave birth.
“Meet my granddaughter,” grandmother said proudly. I jerked back.
I felt a sudden pang of loss and was jealous of this beautiful little creature. Grandmother was never proud of me and I had never heard her introducing me as her granddaughter.
I was always just Danielle Alisa Landon to her.
“She looks like an angel." I touched the baby’s smooth skin and I felt this sudden urge to cry.
“Yes she is, her name’s Rose Landon, isn’t she perfect?" Fiona, my stepmom, asked with a motherly smile. Her eyes were warm as she stared at the little girl and I wanted someone to look at me like that, like I was the most precious thing in the whole wide world.
“Yes,” I said as I touched the baby's soft palm and she curled her fingers around my finger.
I spent my time with the baby. I waved ‘hi’ to my dad once as he was busily walking out, but that was all that was left of us after all these time. He wasn’t ready to reminisce with me and I didn’t want to disturb him. He had his own family to take care of.
Anna was out with her friends. She would stay away, until I was gone.
Before I went back to my dorm, where I would stay for Christmas, I grabbed Fiona's hand in mine.
She was startled, but then she smiled hesitantly. She looked like she didn't know what to do. She was a good person. She was never mean, never hurtful. But she was just not ready to deal with me.
“She’s perfect. And I know you adore her now, but don’t ever stop doing that, whatever happens.”
I thought about all those times my mom had sat with me and told me stories... I thought about all those nights my dad had given me goodnight kisses...
It was all so so vague, now. It was fading, more and more, with each passing day.
“Danielle,” before she could say anything, I ran away.
When I left the pack, late at night, I felt like my heart was slowly crumbling. It wasn't really a new feeling, but today it hit me harder than ever.
"I am here. It is their loss, Dani," Rex said with a comforting smile. Yes. She was here. Always here.
I hated crying and showing weakness in front of others. Especially in front of people who didn't give a s**t.
I collided with someone as I ran toward my car. I didn't look up.
“I am sorry, so sorry."
I walked into my car and drove away.
***
(Aaron)
It was her. Danielle. I was at Wylen Circle with my dad, for talking about the current threat of rogues in our pack territory. When we were done, dad stayed with the Alpha and beta, while I walked out. That was when I saw Danielle.
I knew it as soon as she bumped against me. She did not even look up or I knew she would not have said that sorry.
Her body was shaking and her voice was watery as she asked sorry and ran into her car and drove away. I wanted to follow her, just to make sure she didn't end up bumping against a car or truck. I didn't.
"Yeah, you didn't." Zed said with a snort.
I spotted a wet spot on my shirt and blotches of mascara after she ran away.
Why was she crying? What happened?
"What has to happen? If I was Dani, I will be crying every day," Zed said. I didn't understand Zed's compassion toward her. Of course, he didn't exactly know what kind of person she was. "Enlighten me, then," the wolf said with a roll of his eyes.
I walked toward my car, but I could not stop thinking about her.
Where was she going?
I didn't want to think about her. I didn't want to. She was the reason my family was in shambles. So... I should not care whether she cried or laughed.
I don't care. She is nothing to me.
Zed laughed. "Yeah? Yeah?"
"Shut up, you f*****g wolf."
"Shutting up, Aaron."
When I reached home, my mother was standing by the door, waiting for me.
"Where's your father?"
"He will be back soon," I said to her.
"Are you alright?" I said as I walked in. She gave me back a small smile. But I could feel the sadness radiating off of her. She looked tired, old, lost.
My mom was the one who had been most affected by what happened to Daisy.
We were happy once. We were... And then one day, everything changed.
And it was all Danielle's fault.
How could I not hate her for that?
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- Writer
