Althena

24. May-Eve

Granny drives Phina home. It's a very interesting drive. I'm really starting to wonder what was in that coffee. The houses are... something. We pass a few tents. Then a mansion. Then a cardboard box. We finally pull into a driveway and stop at a pile of wood that's covered in a bush.

Phina gets out. "I'll be over later. I need to stand it back up."

"We'll be there."

A couple turns later and I see a tree house. It looks like a child's tree house.

"Is that a park?"

"No. That's Alpha Beryn's house. He says he can see better from up there. He can't see from anywhere though. He's blind as a bat."

She pulls into a driveway and this house looks like it's about to fall down. It's sitting crooked. It's leaning. The windows are holes in the wood. "I can get a room. I don't want to impose."

"Nonsense. You live here. Out of the car."

I step out and take a picture. Mike will not like this.

"Come on." My bags follow her in.

I climb the creaky steps. Half scared I'm going to fall through them. Then I step into the oddest room I've ever been in. There is a huge mirror on 1 wall. It's nearly as big as the wall. In the center of the room is a cauldron. A fire burns under it. A giant book is on a pedestal in the corner. Bookshelves line 2 of the walls. I see potion bottles, herbs, books, candles, and crystals on them. They're packed full. A globe floats near a wall. It keeps sparkling and catching my attention. A big leather chair sits beside a shelf that has books on it.

The next room is the dining room and kitchen. It's a very long room with a very long dining room table running down the side. The other side is the kitchen stuff. The table is amazing though. It probably seats 30 people. It has tall candle holders down the entire center of it.

"This way."

I walk to the end of the kitchen and down a few steps. There's a hallway here. I follow Granny to the left.

"This is your room. I looked at a teenage magazine to decorate it. Blame them if you don't like it."

I step in, and my mouth falls open. There is the biggest most comfortable looking bed in the middle. Pillows are everywhere. A crystal chandelier hangs above it. I have a desk and a chair. A tv with a love seat. 2 big dressers. A huge window that looks over the woods. A walk in closet. My own bathroom. Everything is done with a bright pink and zebra theme. I nearly fall over again.

Granny smiles. "I guess I did ok."

"This is amazing. Thank you. Did my mom?"

"This wasn't her room. But I have something you'll like." She hands me a book. "Take your time."

I sit on the love seat. It's a photo album. It's my mom. From when she was a baby to when she was my age. She was so happy. Always smiling in her photos. I look a lot like her. Other than the hair and eyes. I've never felt so connected to her.

"LUNCH IS READY."

I sit the album on my desk and trip over my bags. They are waiting for me outside the door. I haul them in and sit at the table.

Granny sits a couple of plates down. "You're like having a piece of her back here. I miss her. I miss them both."

"Did you have other kids?"

"No. I had 2 beautiful daughters. My mate and I raised them together. He died 10 years ago. It was a car accident. He was taken from me so fast. I get my strength from the life and love we had."

"Do you talk to Rose?"

"No. We never had much money. That bothered Rose. She was happy to get out of here as fast as she could. She would call every few years at first. Let us know how much money she had. We were happy for her. That's what she wanted. I wanted my children to be happy, so if that's what made her happy, I was happy for her."

"My mom?"

"Your mom was ashamed and embarrassed. The money never bothered her. She loved it here. She loved the trees and quiet. She fell so deep in love. I could tell. Phina said they were mates. I stayed out of it. I'm not going to get in the way of mates. Then he ripped her heart out. I knew she was pregnant and young. We were going to take care of you. Help her. But she couldn't bring herself to tell us she was pregnant. She wanted to hide from the embarrassment of losing her mate. She felt horrible. But it wasn't her. But you can't tell anyone who's 17 that. She ran with you. She didn't want me to know."

"She went to Rose?"

"Yes. Away from here. Away from the rumors and gossip. Away from the pitiful looks because she lost her mate. Away from the embarrassment of being pregnant and alone at 17. You know what people think of those girls. She went to her sister. She could start over and have you." She shrugs her shoulders. "Rose had money. I knew she would help her sister. But Aurel never told me. I don't think she wanted me to know how hurt she really was. She would laugh when I talked to her. She wanted me to think everything was perfect."

"But you knew."

"I knew everything. I knew she was pregnant before she ran. I knew he destroyed her heart. I knew you were a little girl. I know she tried her best for you and loved you with everything she had. She wanted you more than anything. I'm glad she had 13 years with you. You made her happy."

I lay my head on the table and cry.

She rubs my back. "Phina went for me. I couldn't go. I couldn't let her know that I knew. She would have been more embarrassed. She needed me to believe she was perfectly happy. So, I let her think that. Phina told me that Rose took you. I had concerns, but she lost touch with you after that. I had no idea they would prevent you from basic things, like school. That's ridiculous."

"That was embarrassing."

"I bet. I'm sorry. That should never have happened. We'll get you a tutor here and keep you up."

"I can't stay."

"We'll figure that out later. I want you to know where you're from. Learn about where your mother grew up. Hear stories about her. We can talk about you going back in a month. If that's what you want, I won't get in your way."

"You could come too." I wipe my eyes off.

"I would love to see where you grew up. And see your bakery. You're doing so well for someone so young. I can see her influence on you."

My phone dings. -The flight in 2 weeks is full. Your man is getting pissed. I'm driving. I don't like flying anyway. -Chris-

"What's wrong?"

"The next flight here is in 2 weeks and it's full. My friend is driving."

"Boyfriend?"

"I guess he's getting mad. He wanted to be here already."

"Tell him to check the boats. They go back and forth constantly."

"You don't care if he's here?"

"Of course not. I won't get in the way of mates. But if you get pregnant, I'm not going to pretend not to know about it."

"The thought of having a baby with him is amazing. Our own family."

"Your mother thought that once too. Be very careful with your heart. Do your best to not get pregnant before that bond is sealed."

"I will. I know I'm too young."

"HELLO"

"IN HERE BERYN."

A man and a woman come in. They are dressed like they are from 500 years ago. She has a tan dress on. Looks like a rag with arm and head holes cut out. He's wearing very baggy pants of the same fabric.

The woman smiles at me. "You must be the famous granddaughter, May-Eve. I've heard all about you. My name is Jasmine. I'm the Luna for Mystical Pack. This is my mate. Alpha Beryn Masteria."

He nods. "I'm going to put our mark on you. That way, if you get lost, someone will bring you back." He puts the mark on my wrist.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. You have quite a few marks. I don't recognize any of them."

"They're packs in Crystal Falls."

"That makes sense."

Jasmine nods. "I'm sure they do things differently than we do. But show that mark to anyone if you get lost in Darkburn."

"I will. Thank you."

"Of course. We won't stay and bother with your reunion. I feel better getting that on there quickly though. Enjoy your lunch and don't forget about the pack dinner tonight. 2 of the moons are full."

Granny smiles. "Thank you both."

I hear the door shut. "Why did she call me May-Eve?"

"That's my middle name. You were named after me. That's what I call you. Go relax and unpack. I'll get this cleaned up. We can go to the pack dinner tonight. It'll be good for you to meet more people."

I take pictures of my room. Then I send all my pictures to Mike. He calls me after a minute.

"Woman, I can't figure out how to get to you."

"Granny said to check the boats. They're always going back and forth."

"That's a good idea. HEY, CHECK THE BOATS."

"Did you see my room?"

"I did. You're in heaven, aren't you?"

I giggle. "I'm going to a pack party tonight. There's going to be 2 full moons." I plop on the bed.

"That'll be good for you. Is your grandma nice?"

"Yes. She's amazing. She made me lunch. But she wanted to send me to school. And the alpha stopped by and put the mark on my arm."

"Did she say anything about me coming there?"

"She said check the boats."

"Other than that?"

"No."

"And?"

"She told me to be careful and not get pregnant before the bond is sealed."

"I'll be careful. Don't worry about that."

I whisper, "We didn't use anything though."

"You're not in heat, babygirl. It'll happen a couple of times a year. I promise I'll be careful. We'll have babies when we're ready."

"But what if it happens?"

"Then we will have a baby early and my mother goes insane."

I crack up laughing. "She really would."

"Oh, I know."

"Would you leave me?"

"Hell no. Where would I go? My mom would kick me out of woodland and keep you." He chuckles. "You don't even have to be pregnant for that. She'll keep you and throw me out on my ass if I make you mad."

"Yea, you better not make me mad."

"What do you want me to do, babygirl? I can get a plane ticket in a month. The flight in 2 weeks is sold out. I am on the wait list for it though. Conner says the ships take 25 days."

"I can wait a month. We've been apart longer than that."

"Not as fragile as we are right now. We just claimed each other. I know you need stability with me. Instead, you're on the other side of the planet."

I can't help but smile. "I want to do that again."

I hear the smile in his voice. "Me too, babygirl."

"I'm ok, love. I'm in the middle of the woods. It reminds me of Woodland. I'll be ok for a month."

"Ok." He sighs. "At least we can talk and send pictures. That'll have to be enough for now."

"What are you going to do?"

"Go back to Woodland. That's all I can do for the next month. I go crazy if I sit in your apartment that long."

"Do not break your phone."

"I'll grab a couple of replacements before I leave here. Write the numbers on your phone on a piece of paper. If something happens to your phone, at least you'll have the numbers."

"Ok. I have a desk."

"I saw that. That is an amazing room."

"I love you."

"I love you, babygirl. You get ready for your party, and I'll talk to you tonight or tomorrow."