Never Goodbye, A Werewolf Romance - (Book 1-The Mist Series)

Chapter 43 Lullaby Calling

Chapter 40

Lullaby Calling

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Louise

I continued to study Jada, taking in everything about her, from her head to her toes. Did I see Dad’s chin—and Mum’s nose? Or did I imagine it? We did look alike, but as we reached the glow of the packhouse hallway lights, I noticed her eyes were more hazel than brown. Mum’s eyes!

“Is everything okay?” she asked, smiling meekly at me. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No, nothing wrong,” I admitted sharply. I saw her eyes widen and calmed myself. This wasn’t her fault, just like it wasn’t mine. “I’m sorry,” I sighed, hanging my head. “It’s just–”

“Confusing and weird?” she asked, almost reading my mind.

“Yes, exactly.” I snorted, laughing. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”

We shared a genuine smile. It was so strange. Now that we were beside each other, that desire to protect her—this twin—this doppelganger—was still strong.

“I can hear the fight!” She gasped, clinging to her friend, Anna.

I trained my ears and could hear the unmissable sound of wolves battling.

Raine and Jo hovered behind me, their faces a shade whiter than white.

“You two will stay with us,” May said, gesturing to Jo and Raine. “Until your parents collect you.”

“Yes,” they nodded, shivering.

From everything the witch and Jada had said, this attack was to gain access to the Alpha’s daughter. She was safe with Luna Ruth and Beta Reece. But was everyone okay? My fighter instinct wanted desperately to join the fight, but my body was far from ready. What about Joseph? Scowling, I shook my head. He had made it pretty clear I was nothing to him.

“I’m going to shift and carry a few of you…” Mum said as she shook Jewel free, disintegrating her dress.

“I’ll change too and carry a couple of you on my back,” Tyrone said as he slid his denim shorts down.

I blushed and turned away, watching Jo, Raine, and the others do the same. Wow, he has sculpted butt cheeks!

Once Tyrone had transformed and Maitea’s gigantic wolf stood before us, I finally turned back around. He lowered himself to the ground and gestured his snout to me.

Without thinking, I took Jada’s hand and led her to Maitea. I realised Jo was closest and grabbed her, pulling her towards Jada. Jada and Maitea looked at me with indifferent eyes.

“I swore to protect Jada,” I whispered, caressing his fur. “And you swore to stay by my side, so… That means you’re protecting all of us.” I climbed onto Maitea’s back and encouraged Jada and Jo to climb behind me. Once they were settled, I leant down to Maitea’s ear and whispered, “You’re stuck with us.”

With a snuff, he stood. I caressed his neck, making him shiver as we approached the open packhouse door.

“Just climb on!” Anna groaned to the witch. “She’s not going to bite!”

I peered back to see a wide-eyed Raine perched on Jewel’s back. Jewel had offered her back to Anna and the witch, and the witch was having none of it.

“I will not!” The witch huffed, crossing her arms.

Jada turned. When she saw the commotion, she exhaled an annoyed breath. “Please, Agatha. Anna will keep you safe... We need to get out of here!”

The witch—Agatha sighed. “Fine, but I don’t need protection…” She climbed on behind Raine, and Anna climbed on behind her. Once she was seated, Agatha puffed out an overdramatic breath. “And I won’t like it one bit!”

Jada chuckled as she faced forward. “I like that witch…”

A chorus of howls sounded, and Tyrone readied himself to run. That was the signal it was safe to pass! I had never ridden on the back of a wolf like this. My heart was racing, and a sense of adrenaline coursed through me.

We ran out of the packhouse, through the garden, and didn’t stop. I could feel Maitea’s strong muscles, each one moving in a fevered rhythm beneath me. It was an experience like no other and one I would never forget.

A sharp whine rang through my ears as we ran down the road, avoiding the battling wolves. I sat up straight. Then, a melody flowed through my mind, like a lullaby from a distant memory. It weaved in and out of my brain, taking all my thoughts away. We were only meters from my house now, but the distance seemed to grow.

“Louise?” Jada asked into my ear, her words piercing through the brain fog. She placed her warm hands over my ears and held them there. The lullaby began to fade, and reality washed over me.

“What’s wrong with her?” Jo asked, shouting over the sounds of the raging war.

“I’m not sure…” Jada replied, keeping her hands in place. “But I think Edwin got to her.

Jada didn’t remove her hands from my ears until we were safely in my driveway.

“He got to you?” She climbed off Maitea’s back and helped me down, and I helped Jo. “Edwin is trying to awaken the curse.” She faced me, grabbed my hands, and held them between us. “This is proof… you are the Celestial Moon’s daughter…”

“Lousie,” Jo said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “It would explain so much…”

“I-I…” I shook my head and dropped Jada’s hands. “It was just the shock from the accident finally catching up to me. I’m fine…”

“Even I know it’s more than that…” Jo argued as she headed for the front door.

Jada eyed me with doubt as she followed after her.

Had they been right? Was that haunting lullaby a way for Edwin to activate this curse—whatever it was? I was starting to believe fully that she was right—I was the Celestial Moon’s Alpha’s daughter.

What damage could I do in my state? I inwardly laughed. I was still healing. There was no way my stitches would withstand it.

“Jada’s right, you know…”

I turned to see the witch Agatha beside me. “Right about what?”

“You know…” Agatha grinned knowingly. “I’ve seen it…” She shrugged. “I mean, I saw and heard it. My mother was good at what she did… She was a bad person but an accomplished witch.”

“Okay,” I said, following Jo and Raine into the house.

The room was still full of streamers, with the sweet scent of strawberry cake in the air. The surprise party turned out to be a surprise, but it was not the surprise it was supposed to be.

“Well,” Raine sighed, hooking her hands on her hips. She turned to me, her face still whiter than usual. “Welcome home, Louise…” She waved her hand at the streamers before walking to the couch and dropping beside Jo. The two held each other, trying to block out the sounds outside.

“It means a lot…” I smiled weakly at them, my body stiff and unmoving.

Mum had transformed back and slipped on a summer dress. She made sure the door was locked, then stopped before the group and held out a pile of towels. “Jada, Anna … Agatha,” she nodded at each one. “You are official guests in my house… so feel free to make yourselves comfortable. The bathroom is down the corridor… the second door to the left. You are safe here… and you could all do with a nice hot shower.”

“Me first!” Anna exclaimed as she grabbed a towel.

Mum graciously handed the left-over towels to the other two. “I’ll set up the spare room for you… follow me.”

I left them in Mum’s hands and fell onto the couch beside Raine and Jo. They had never been so quiet in the years we had known each other. A huge sigh escaped my mouth. I rubbed my eyes and realised my hands were trembling. I was acting calm, but my body was giving me away. Was that evil pack my family? Was I swapped at birth… cursed?

“Hey Louise,” Tyrone had returned to his human form, wearing his denim shorts. He dropped beside me, reached over, and linked his fingers through mine. “What happened out there? Did Jada say Edwin got to you?”

I shrugged and found myself fiddling with his fingers. “I don’t know… I might have been. I don’t know what would have happened without Jada.”

“Nothing…” He brought my hands to his lips and kissed them. “I’ve known you my entire life. And unless someone were in danger or needed you, you wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

I would have hurt Joseph… I huffed inwardly.

Thankfully, Tyrone couldn’t reach my thoughts. Apparently, my mother had trouble doing the same thing. I trembled. All this time, I was under the belief that Alpha couldn’t mind-link Omegas until they came of age—unless it was with their bloodline. I was wrong. It had taken the woman I believed to be my Mum ten years to find a way to link with me. All because I wasn’t her blood! I wasn’t even a member of this pack!

“Louise?” Tyrone breathed, releasing my hands. He reached over and caressed my cheek in a way that drove my thoughts from my mind. “I can’t read your mind, but I can read your face… You’re still May’s daughter and a member of this pack.” He brought his face closer to mine. “I still want to be your boyfriend—your mate—your everything…”

“Ah, we’ll just leave the room…” Raine whispered as I heard the couch creak and footsteps walk away.

I kissed Tye, pressing my lips to his without a second thought, all my senses swirling. He pulled my body closer to his and held me there. A groan escaped his mouth as mine hungered for more of his kiss… more of his warmth.

“I don’t know if this is good or bad timing…” Jada interrupted gently from across the room.

I pulled away from Tyrone and caught my breath. I was thankful for the distraction. His kiss was an excellent way to drown out the fights, forget the worries, the fear—everything! But it was too good, and I almost lost myself.

“I’m sorry…” Jada trailed off. In her hands, she held a photograph of Dad.

I stood, leaving Tyrone on the couch, and headed over to Jada.

“Is this Kelvin?” she asked, holding the photo before her. It was of Dad when I was a baby. His strong face smiled back at the camera with a joy that warmed the depths of your soul. I was only a few days old, swaddled in his large arms. “He’s very handsome…”

I smiled at the memory of his voice. “I don’t remember much about him… but his voice was deep, gentle and kind.”

Jada turned the picture towards her. A tiny tear shimmered in her eyes. “My father—my fake father Edwin, never showed me this kind of affection. My mum, Krystal, showed me affection on the nights I cried myself to sleep. But I think she was using me as a substitute for her missing daughter–” she peered up at me. “I can see our differences now… they’re tiny… but there.”

She was right. Her eyes were the same hazel as Mum’s. Her nose was similar but slightly pointier. She was the rightful Carpenter.

I noticed Jo and Raine picking through the food on the kitchen counter. They were silent, afraid to speak. I knew they could hear the fighting outside, as it was the only sound I could hear.

“My parents want us to stay here…” Raine said, peering over at me.

“Same…” Jo said, grabbing a corn chip. “They’ll pick us up when it’s safe.”

“Stay as long as you need,” I assured them. “Mum and Tye will keep us safe.”

“The shower’s free…” Anna sang as she emerged from the hallway, draped in one of Mum’s dresses.

Jada handed me the photograph. “I’ll go have my shower now.”

Once she had left, a flood of emotions fell over me. Holding the photo against my chest, I hurried down the hallway and into my room, shutting the door behind me.

“Who am I?” I sniffled, dropping Dad’s photo aside. I peered around the room … at all the pictures, drawings from Jo, and photographs of my life. But it wasn’t my actual life. I was not a Carpenter!

Wiping away the looming tear, I sat on my bed and ran my hands over the bandage. Either it was shock, like the doctor had said, or it was healing, but it didn’t hurt anywhere as much as it had. Had Tyrone’s kiss done that?