Wolves of Enchantment

Chapter Four: Anywhere But Here

Lilith's Point of View

“I don’t want to go,” I seethed. My guardians were not listening to me, and I was growing increasingly frustrated. Despite my repeated protests, they were determined to make me go.

"Ember will be there, and so will Terrance," Emily coaxed causing me to groan even louder with disdain.

"Seriously? Middle schoolers at a barbecue? I'm not in the mood to hang out with kids barely in eighth grade," I complained.

I had reluctantly agreed to entertain Ember and Terrance earlier in the week at the café, and they were surprisingly tolerable. But that didn’t mean I wanted to spend more time with them than necessary. The last thing I wanted to do was go to a barbeque filled with people I didn’t know or care about.

"Just hang out with their older siblings; they'll be there," Jason suggested, trying his best to stay calm. "They're nice kids; if you give them a chance, you'll enjoy spending time with them."

Emily kept giving him warning glances, trying to keep him from losing his temper. Her attempts secretly amused me; after all, an angry Jason was much more entertaining to me. I didn't enjoy being angry alone. I longed for someone to share in my anger, to rage and hurt alongside me.

"What if we compromised? You can take your motorcycle and follow us in the car. If it becomes too much for you, you can always drive back home and text me when you arrive. But, if you enjoy yourself like Jason, and I believe you will, then you have my blessing to stay over. Just make sure your phone is on and respond if I call or message you if you decide to leave early. Your helmet's Bluetooth communication system will come in handy for that," Emily offered.

I couldn't help but think that was a fair request. I sighed deeply, knowing they were both trying their best. Going to this barbeque clearly meant a lot to them. It wouldn't hurt for me to attend, especially if I could leave whenever I wanted.

I gave a slight nod, indicating my agreement and was rewarded with a bright smile from Emily. Jason remained silent, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two of us. He seemed unsure whether to say something, hug us, or stay quiet. Thankfully, Jason chose the latter option.

Back home, I didn’t attend barbeques and bonfires. I spent my time at the skateboard park with my friends. If I wasn’t there, I was reading or riding my motorcycle. I had a lot of freedom to do what I wanted because my parents were away on missions most of the time. I never had to worry about answering to anyone until the night my parents didn’t come home.

Suddenly, Jason and Emily became my legal guardians, and I had to pack up everything I owned and move to a small town in the middle of nowhere. Explaining my parents' deaths to my friends had been impossible. How could I even begin to bring up the subject? They did not know about the supernatural world I was a part of.

"Okay, so what do I wear to this thing?" I muttered.

Emily squealed with delight, earning a scowl from me and a look of terror from Jason. He stressed to his wife that we had to leave in one hour. Jason pointed to his watch before muttering something as he walked away.

My style was simple: jeans, a T-shirt, Doc Martens, and hair down or pulled back. No makeup, no bling. I silently prayed that Emily wouldn’t want to do my hair and makeup, too, for this thing.

When I first arrived, Jason and Emily struggled to connect with me beyond our shared Neplim heritage. However, that topic always brought up memories of my parents, so we avoided it unless I initiated the conversation. Thankfully, they respected my need for personal space and kept their distance. Some might argue that they gave me too much space, but the anger simmering inside made it necessary for my own well-being. Jason seemed to understand this and often reminded Emily to give me room to be myself since I had moved in with them.

I was taken aback when Jason agreed to let me stay behind the first time they wanted to visit the Foster family. My guardians aimed to convince their friends' children to work at Twisted Toppings or The Meeting Grounds café. Jason and Emily had recently returned to Brackenridge and purchased these businesses from the retiring owners. These were popular spots in Jason and Emily's youth.

When I quietly expressed my discomfort and reluctance to go, Jason argued with Emily to let me stay behind. He believed that forcing me into a situation I wasn't ready for would only make it harder for me to connect with the kids I would be going to school with in the fall, and things were already difficult enough for me. His one condition was that if there were another barbecue, I would have to attend that one.

It was why he'd been so angry when I initially refused to go tonight. I had given him my word, and to Jason, that meant everything. Emily rummaged through my closet and pulled out an outfit she knew I would feel comfortable wearing: my favourite pair of high-waisted blue jeans, a crisp white T-shirt, and a chunky knit olive green sweater. She tried to get me to wear makeup, and I refused. I agreed to strawberry lip gloss, though, which appeased her somewhat.

Jason stopped me as I headed out the door to my motorcycle. He spoke softly and thanked me for my willingness to go, even though I was reluctant to.

“These are good people, Lilith. If you give them a chance, I know you’ll like them,” Jason said.

“I can still come back early if I’m uncomfortable, right?” I asked, wanting confirmation before I left but also to slightly annoy Jason.

“Yeah. You can come home if you need to,” Jason sighed.

As soon I saw Jason's expression, I regretted my attempt to incite a reaction. His and Emily's concern for me was evident. I nodded and grabbed my backpack. I silently hoped I could endure an evening of social interactions with their friends' children for Jason and Emily's sake.