The Long Lost Daughter

11 Healing

Penelope

Since today is Tuesday, I have the day off. I found out from Alex that I have Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday's off. Since I do not have work today, I spend the day getting settled into my new home. 

I feel a lot better about the events of yesterday. I still have a job and I am going to be able to find out more about my identity all while still being able to live my life the way I want. The Hideout is the only way I plan to have any connection to the supernatural world. 

I spent the day continuing to unpack and going shopping. I bought all of the furniture I needed, and got everything I needed for my kitchen. I ordered one of those beds that come in a box online. The place I bought the furniture from had a service where they would come in and get it all set up, so by the end of the day I was all set. 

Considering I got a great deal on my furniture, I ordered a bunch of stuff to decorate my apartment with the gift card Josh gave me for my birthday. I was able to make a late night run to the grocery store to get groceries so I could start cooking in my kitchen. 

By the end of the night I made time to call Aunt Rae and Ashley. They both happened to be together because they were at Aunt Rae's house so I was able to give them both an update. I showed them my apartment and they were both thrilled to find out I got a job. 

They both are making plans to come out and visit me soon. Ashley plans on spending a month out here before she goes back to Arizona where she will be attending a community college. 

By the end of the day I am satisfied with all that I have accomplished. Being a werewolf and living out my life is proving to be difficult, but I am more determined than ever to live a normal life. 

Waking up on Wednesday morning, I am ready to get to work. I had already set out all I needed for my uniform yesterday. The non-slip shoes I had to buy, a new pair of black slacks and the green store shirt I got before I left from signing my paperwork on Monday. I arrive at work only about 5 minutes early this time, which is impressive for me. Considering we are a coffee shop that opens at 6am, I had to be here by 5:30am. 

Once I arrive I am thrown directly into training. Darla is a lot of help, for someone who is just now training their first employee, she is doing a great job. I feel pretty confident in everything I have learned so far. The only thing that I am not 100% sure on is all of the ingredients that go into each specific drink. Darla reassured me that’s the hardest part and that it will come with time.

I find out that Darla is going to be going to school to become a teacher. Her plan is to become a teacher at the school that is on their pack territory. Apparently all of the kids in their pack attend the same school. Apparently their pack even has their own full blown hospital. 

We have many responsibilities for The Hideout. We are the checkers for the books, the baristas, the cooks and we even have to maintain inventory. I was opening and storing the boxes which had our shipment of coffee beans when I slice my finger open with a blade. Without thinking I yell out “s**t!”

Darla immediately turns around and grabs a towel to stop the blood from dripping on anything.

“Do we have a first aid kit or something? I hope I don't need stitches” I tell her frantically. I really don't want to go to the hospital after the confusion last time. 

“I mean we have a first aid kit but you really don’t need one” Darla says looking at me with a confused expression. 

"What are you talking about? My finger is gushing blood" I tell her wildly confused on why I would not need a first aid kit. 

“Girl, you are a wolf remember” she responds with a whisper so that all of the people in The Hideout do not hear her. 

“And?” 

“It means that you heal really fast. That could heal by itself in like five minutes.”

"Seriously?" I ask.

"Yes, and if you channel your wolf you can heal even faster" she tells me excitedly. Darla really enjoys showing me things about myself that I never knew. 

“How do I do that?” I ask.

"All you have to do is bring her to your consciousness and ask her to heal you.” Darla tells me. 

"Seems easy enough" I tell her. I am actually excited to use some kind of my wolf powers. I have never gotten to enjoy the benefits of being a wolf and it is worth a try. 

Doing what she say I turn away from the customers and try to focus on pulling Ruby into my consciousness like I do when I link with her. 

That was great Penelope!

I need your help Ruby. I have a big gash on my finger and I need help healing it. Could you help me?

I thought you would never ask!

I can sense the excitement in her voice. I feel a sudden rush of energy through my body. It leaves goosebumps on my arms because it is a feeling I have never experienced before. I remove the towel that Darla and handed me and sure enough my finger looks completely normal. 

 Thank you Ruby!

You are so welcome my darling.

I look back up to Darla and she is staring at me like I am insane. Wasn't she the one who told me to do this?

“What? Did I do something wrong?” I ask with confusion.

“No, you did it just like you were supposed to" she tells me pausing and tilting her head still in confusion. "It's just that when you were linking your wolf, your eyes red. Most people I have seen, their eyes just turn black. Your however turned black with red.”

“What does that mean?” I ask worried. What does she mean my eyes did not look normal?

I told you we were special. 

“I have no idea. I could ask my Dad?" Darla asks distracting me from what Ruby said. 

“No it’s okay. It is no big deal.”

I think I trust these people, but I just met them. Ruby is only succeeding in continuing to confuse me further. I plan on having a normal life anyways. Since I plan on not using my werewolf powers normally, I figure that it is not big deal. 

“Okay if you say so” Darla says dropping the topic.

The rest of our shift flies by with no incidents and after six hours Darla suggests that we go and get an early dinner. I agree with no hesitations. This will be my fist time taking on the town of Ocean and I am excited to be doing it with a new friend of mine. We go to an Italian restaurant a couple blocks over from The Hideout. While eating the complimentary breadsticks Darla asks, “Hey would you want to come to a party with me on Saturday?”

“Umm I don’t know about that. I have never been much of a party person" I admit. 

“Come on! You just moved here! It would be a great way to get to know some new people" she says wiggling her eyebrows. 

“Will there be other wolves there?” I ask Darla. I am just getting used to the idea of being a wolf. Alex, Darla, and Gabriel are the only wolves I have been around. So far they have been amazing, but I o not know if all other wolves are going to as nice as them.

“There will be other wolves there yes, but there will be humans as well. The party isn’t on pack territory but it is at my friend Jason’s house and he is a wolf. He is our Beta’s second son. His Dad lets him live on human territory since his twin brother Jaxon is the one who will be taking over as the packs Beta" I nod my head and she continues. "Jason has one more year until he graduates from University of California, he is involved with his fraternity, so I am sure there is going to be a lot of humans there. It will be a good setting for you to be around because the wolves will have to act how they are supposed to around humans. There will be drinking, music and dancing! Come on! It will be a lot of fun! Please say you will come?” Darla says almost pouting during the last part.

Darla reminds me so much of Ashley. I never went to parties with Ashley because I met her during the time I was just focusing on school. I never intended on getting close to people in Arizona because I was moving anyways I never had any desire to go to parties out there. I will be in Ocean for at least the next four years, so I should make an effort.

“Okay, I’ll go” I say giving in. 

“Great!! I’ll pick you up at 8 on Saturday! That way you have enough time to get ready after work. Wear something cute and sexy! There will be a lot of hot guys there!”

I just laugh at her suggestion. I will definitely be facetiming Ashley so she can help me figure out what to wear. We continue to eat the breadsticks and chat about anything random we want. I order a lasagna because I am starving. As soon as our food is set in front of us we devour it because we are both starving.

When we are almost finished with our food Darla asks, “Wait, I know it’s a long shot but have you met your mate yet?”

“I don't think I have, no. I know very little of mates. All I know is that I will probably never get to meet mine because I did not grow up around other wolves and do not hang out with them. Well until recently” I say smiling at her because she is pretty much the only wolf I hang around. 

“You would know if you have met your mate” Darla says with a giggle. “When you meet them it feels like everything around you stops. Nothing else in the world matters besides that other person. They will have the most amazing smell. You and your wolf will know immediately. You will want to mate and mark each other right away. Once you mate with your mate you will want to mate with the purpose of making pups constantly. Werewolves are very s****l beings if you did not know” she says with another giggle.

“You talk like you have met yours" I tell her with a giggle in return because she was speaking like she was in dream lang. I also ask, "Pups not babies?”

“I unfortunately have not met mine" she says rolling her eyes. "I just turned 18 a few months ago so it is no surprise that I have not found my mate yet. Though I know he is not in our pack, otherwise I would have known by now. and yes, you are wolf so we call them pups" she says before stuffing her mouth with another bite of spaghetti. 

“I am sure your mate is out there somewhere waiting for you. And I am sure he is incredibly sexy" I say winking at her causing her to laugh. 

“Maybe you’re right, but hey don't call my mate sexy! He is mine” she laughs but still showing me just how possessive wolves are over their mates. 

We finish our meal and go our separate ways. I am actually excited about Saturday. I just have through the next couple of days and then just work Saturday morning before it is time. I don’t know what to expect but I am sure it will be an interesting party.