Ashes and Scales: Remember Us, Mate

Chapter 7: An Evil She-wolf

KEIR

“What is it?” I asked again, still looking up at Ethan, my heart racing, noticing his pale face while staring at his wrist, to which he replied that it was nothing even though his face remained pale.

“I... I have something… to do. I will come check on you again," he said, and by the time I responded, he was already walking out of the room, and I stared at the door for a moment longer after it shut behind him, wondering what the hell had happened.

Because he was staring at his watch, I assumed whatever it was had to do with time. I did not have time to dwell on it either way, as my trauma returned, and I could not figure out what I had done to that woman.

I had my shorts in the morning before I went to work, I was sure of that now. So she could not have caught my scent unless the blood stopped working. The only thing that came to mind was that I may have stared at her for too long, recalling how taken aback I was by her beauty but was that worth my life? Plus, I would have thought that Cian would have been the one who’d freak out over me staring at his girl, sister, or friend since I didn’t know who they were to each other.

I knew one thing for sure, though, I was terrified. I was scared shitless of ever going back into that building and it became clear that she didn’t just spill my blood but cost me my job as well because even if, by some crazy logic, I wanted to go back, mom wouldn’t let me.

I looked over to my left at the chair that had my things, and I slowly sat and tried to rich it and pull it closer, wanting to check my phone and maybe call my mother and let her know I was okay even though she was on her way already, according to Ethan.

He probably knew now that I was human because, should I have been a wolf, I would have healed, and Lukas knew, too. I wondered how, though. I wondered how Lukas knew to act quickly and take me away before bringing me to the hospital, as well as how he explained his actions when I should have healed on my own.

Ethan and I got along. He was the doctor who assisted me with the lists I would occasionally bring on Mondays, but I had no idea if he was human or not. I just assumed he was a friendly-same thing for Lukas. He and I spoke on occasion, and he had always been cool with me, but I never knew if he was human or a wolf. I suspected he was a wolf because of his high position here.

....

I got to my back and grabbed it, but groaned as I lifted it, feeling my wounds open, and just then, I heard the keypad beep and realized someone was about to enter. I looked up, and the door opened, revealing my mother, Maia, and her father, who rushed over to me.

She clung to me, sobs wracking her body, and despite telling myself that I needed to man up and that I had cried enough, my tears spilled over for the woman who meant everything to me.

“I was so scared,” she choked through her sobs. “I thought I’d lost you, Keir. I don’t know what I would’ve done. I would’ve died if you left me.” Her voice broke, and her words settled in the pit of my stomach as I held her just as tightly, recalling how I thought I would never feel this again.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” the words went through my tight throat, my chest constricted with emotion, and she pulled back slightly at my words, her tear-filled eyes finding mine.

“No, no. You have nothing to be sorry for. The only one who should be sorry is that monster that tried to take you from me.” Her voice shook with sorrow and fury, and I told her I loved her as she held me again.

We stayed like that for a long time before she eventually let me go, and Maia stepped closer, her eyes just as glassy as my mother's, as she wrapped her arms around me without saying a word, hugging me tightly.

Her silent tears soaked into my hospital gown, and I assured her that I was alright, grateful to her and her father for being here, for coming to look for me, and for being there for my mother.

Maia’s dad never wanted to be thanked for the things he did for my family. He always said my dad would have done the same for his family, but still, my mother and I were always grateful.

He never took my father away from us. He owed us anything. In fact, we owed him for saving our lives and abandoning a life he knew–a life he had built to come out here to keep us safe. He didn’t have to stay in Timbercross with his family; even if his wife was a human, he was a wolf, and they would have found a way to survive.

When Maia and I pulled back, he approached, and we exchanged a brief hug where I thanked him for coming for me, and he said I mustn’t mention it, adding that he’s just happy I’m here with them and that everything will be okay.

“How are you feeling, sweetheart?” my mom asked as Maia's father and I drew back from the hug. “I need to speak with the doctor so he can tell us what we need to do to ensure your recovery continues and that it’s quick.” She added, and I told her I was feeling okay, and it was the truth.

Despite the pain I felt when I strained my muscles, I was feeling okay—better than I would have thought after almost having my heart pulled out. The pain meds were doing a great job.

And as if on cue, Ethan walked into the room. My mother turned to him, her questions coming out in a rush, and Ethan offered a reassuring smile, his hands slipping into his pockets.

“He’s doing very well,” he said, looking at her. “Keir is recovering even better than expected,” he added, looking at me before turning to mother and telling her that the worst was over and that I was now on the road to recovery.

The news was a relief and I wouldn’t be completing that recovery here, but at home. I wanted to go far away from this place. I said that to Ethan and the moment I did, it became clear that it had been on everyone’s mind as Maia’s father stepped in and assured Ethan before he could even reply that we had a clinic back home that it could take over.

“I can’t be here anymore,” I said, looking at him, and something shifted in his eyes as I said that. He said he understood my apprehension about this place. He added that under normal circumstances he wouldn’t advise that I leave, but these circumstances were anything but normal. He urged me to come back in four days so he could check me again.

I agreed that I would, and he said he would write me instructions on how to take care of the wound and everything that I needed to do to make sure it didn’t get infected.

I thanked him and thanked him again for saving my life and he nodded and asked if I had not brought the list since I brought it every Monday. I told him I did, and it was in my jacket. My jacket was in a bag nearby since it was stained with blood and my chest tightened as I opened the bag and took out the list and handed it to Ethan, who said he would be back and left the room.

I also tried to turn on my phone, but it would not turn on. The battery had died. It was low when I left the house in the morning, and I had promised myself that I would charge it at work. My wounded heart ached at the thought of my work. I would write a resignation letter when I got home. I loved my job, and I did not know what I would do next.

There were a few businesses in Timbercross that catered to everyone who lived there, but they could not pay as well as businesses in the city because there was not much business, and they did not advertise outside of Timbercross for fear of exposing our town to the wrong client.

I was saving to do some work at my mother’s house and upgrade my ride. But I guessed all that would have to wait.

Ethan came back with the prescriptions, and I thanked him. Mom helped me up, and Ethan told me I could wear the hospital clothes because Mom did not have time to bring me anything to change into.

I appreciated it, and Maia's father took my belongings. He offered to push me in a wheelchair, but I declined. I would manage. We exited the room, and Ethan's girlfriend, who worked in reception, quickly pointed to an elevator that she said would take us to the ground floor, and Mom thanked her.

Maia mentioned that she was nice, and I agreed. That prompted me to ask how Maia and her father knew I was here. Maia explained that they went to check on me when I did not return home and met the guy who took my place.

Sadness clouded her vision as she said the final part, and she paused before telling me she was sorry for my job, which stopped me in my tracks just before we entered the elevator.

"What do you mean, you are sorry for my job?" I asked and watched as everyone exchanged glances before Mom said nothing, but it was not nothing, and I told her so. "Am I fired? I asked the question sounding weird on my tongue as it was my job I was asking whether I was fired at. I should have known if I was fired. Maia's father said yes, and his words twisted my stomach with sickening force as I stared at him wide-eyed. "Why?" I asked, and he said he didn’t know.

He explained how he found out, and I felt something rise in my aching chest, obstructing my airway. Yes, I was planning to resign, but what the hell? What the hell did I do? How the hell did I almost have my heart ripped out for reasons I do not understand, and then get fired? They told me they were sorry, Mom squeezing my hand, and tears pooled in my eyes. I worked my ass off for that company, doing my job to the best of my ability and never missing a single day of work, only to be fired for looking at some b***h Cian was obviously f*****g. f**k them! I muttered, starting to walk again, pain slicing through my core from the tension, but I was too pissed.

•••

MAIA

"Oh, s**t!" I whispered, quickly picking up the pairs of shoes I had sent tumbling to the floor by accident and glancing back to ensure I was still alone in the closet.

I was back at work, and it had been a difficult day as I struggled through my tasks. My mind was still preoccupied with Keir's situation, and I was curious about what my father would decide.

He did not tell Mrs. C or Keir about the severance mark when we arrived at Keir's house last night after returning from the hospital. He was still deciding what to do. Mom and I felt he should tell them. Yes, it would freak them out, but they had to know. Maybe that would also give Mrs. C closure in a way, even if it would equally traumatize her.

Dad went for a run in the woods last night, and I knew he was stressed and needed to let off steam. It was as if what happened to Keir triggered not only memories but also emotions about what happened to his father.

When I told my mother that he told me what happened that day, she said it took its toll on my father, and he was never able to shake the guilt. He blamed himself for Lorcan being there at that time and hated himself for not being able to help him, even though he knew he couldn’t.

She said that was why he took charge of protecting the people in this place. I even learned that he introduced the people to the blood potions. It was a protective measure taken by his father for Keir's father. Prior to that, he said, they were using a wolfsbane mixture, but it would wear off after a few hours and require someone to reapply the spray. Lorcan told my grandfather that his father had a color-changing stone that he used to protect them, but he lost it one night while drunk.

My grandfather had no idea about the stone, and the blood was better anyway because it lasted longer. One could go for another day or two without taking a shot. However, they had made it mandatory for everyone here to get the shots every day to avoid someone miscalculating how long they had been without them.

Keir told us what happened when he arrived at work, and his mother and I both burst into tears again, the fear of what might have happened if that Lukas guy had not been there hitting us hard.

I was in love with Keir, and I couldn’t believe that the gods mated him to some evil she-wolf who didn’t want him when I was here, when I had been praying for him for years. It felt like a slap in the face, and I was furious at the gods.

I had finished unpacking the shoes that had just arrived for Zoraya and was looking at the other boxes, wondering what was next, when a voice echoed from behind me.

“Why isn’t everything laid out already?” Zoraya's voice startled me, and I stood frozen, unsure how to respond, before she abruptly stopped and turned around to face me.

“Where’s Lira?” she asked, her tone dripping with annoyance, and I opened my mouth to explain that Lira had gone to the bathroom downstairs, where the staff bathrooms were located, but before I could get the words out, Zoraya cut me off.

“And what’s with the sad eyes?” she added, narrowing her eyes at me. “You need to fix that. I don’t need you contaminating my space with whatever drama you’re dealing with.” She quickly added, and I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m sor—” I started, but she raised her hand to stop me. “Lira should have told you not to interrupt me,” she said. “Whatever problems you have, you need to leave them—”

“Outside,” I finished, my voice small. “I’m sorry—” but then realized that by speaking I was doing exactly what she just told me not to do, interrupting her, so I nodded, apologizing silently with my eyes.

“As I was saying,” she continued, “leave your problems at home. Or wherever it is you stay. Not outside this property—because I don’t want them finding their way inside here. I want them far, far away.”

The silence that followed felt suffocating, as I was not sure whether I should respond or remain silent, and we just stood there, staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity. “Go on,” she said, waving her hand for me to speak.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, barely able to hold her gaze. “I didn’t mean to look sad. I’m just...” I trailed off, catching myself before I explained. Telling her what was wrong would be doing exactly what she said not to—bringing my problems into her space.

But Zoraya wasn’t done. “Just what?” she asked, her voice sharp with impatience, confusing the hell out of me, as she had just told me she wasn’t interested. I didn’t know what she wanted from me, but I couldn’t avoid answering.

“Someone I care about just lost their job,” I admitted quietly, my voice faltering. “And they were hurt... badly. Almost lost their life.” I said, unsure how to tell her that an evil werewolf b***h nearly killed the man I cared deeply about, and Zoraya blinked, her expression unreadable.

“Oh, that’s... sad, I guess,” she said, her voice flat, as if it were just something to say and not something she felt and I stood there, feeling foolish for having shared even that much. But again, what choice did I have?

“I want the things I asked for laid out on my bed by the time I get there.” With that, she turned on her heel and strode out of the closet, leaving me standing in the echo of her indifference. I sighed after a moment, scrambling for my phone to call Lira and ask where she was because I had no idea what Zoraya was talking about.

"What is taking you so long?" "Hurry up, Zoraya wants her things, and I have no idea what she is talking about," I said on the phone before Lira could respond, but then froze when someone cleared their throat behind me.

“I… I was,” I started to explain myself, finding Zoraya standing there, but she cut me off before I could finish speaking, handing me something. “That’s an OTP card. "Use it to buy something nice for your friend, and they will feel better in no time," she said, and I stammered, unsure what to say.

“Tha.. nk you,” I muttered as she turned around and walked away before the biggest smile creased my face, my mind already racing to what I was going to buy Keir.