The Moonstone Wolf

CHAPTER 11- Home Sweet Home

  ALORA

   I stepped outside the car with my bags, just staring at the cute little white house with red shutters that was surrounded by a red fence. It looked like postcard, with the light snow gently blanketing what was left of the shrubs and trees.  Bright twinkling lights hung around the covered porch and each of the columns, and there were pots everywhere with greenery, making people feel welcomed.

   “Well, you comin’ sweetie?”, she asked as she beckoned me to follow.

   “I-umm, yes. Yes I am. I’m sorry, but it’s so beautiful!” I answered back, still in awe.

   “The Lord has been good to me, I must say," she sighed contentedly.  "He gives me everything I need and nothin’ more, and that is just the way I like it,” she grinned at me and winked, walking inside.

   If I thought the outside was charming, the inside was even more so.

   “Well, Alora, welcome home! Now shoes go here- I don’t want no muddy and dirty shoes in my house. Here’s the dining room where we ALWAYS eat dinner together,” she said over her shoulder, looking around with pride.  “Dinner is at 6pm every night, so let me know if you are going to be late or not home."

   To the left there was a room with a set of French doors left open.

   “And here’s the library and office,” she gestured.

   The hallway in front of me held a little bench with a staircase leading up to the second floor.

   “Your bedroom is the second one on the right, and you’ll share the bathroom with Jazmine, which is between your rooms. Mr. Chase is the first one on the left with his own bathroom."

   She kept walking down the hall until it opened up into a great room.

   “Now this here- this is the heart of the house,” she said proudly. “We spend most of our time in here. You can watch TV anytime you want, but not for more than an hour or two. I don’t want you spendin’ all day on that thing,” she said pointing her finger at me and looking over the top of her glasses, and I smiled at how cute she looked. 

   I followed her hand and saw a big couch shaped in a U, with a stone fireplace and a big black box on top of the it.

   The kitchen had a wonderful aroma coming from it with a big pot of something simmering away. It smelled like smoked meat, which made my stomach growl loudly and my mouth water.

   “And this is where the magic happens! You know how to cook Alora?” She asked with a big smile on her face.

   “No, but I would love to learn how to- would you teach me?” I asked with a huge smile.

   “Sure honey. We’ll have you cookin’ up a storm before you even know it,” she said with a sweet grin. “Now speaking of, where is that girl? JAZMINE!!! ”  I soon heard feet scampering down the hallway.

   “There you are! Jazmine, this is Alora, Alora this is Jazmine. Now will you show her where her room is and where all the towels and such are? And will you be taking a shower before or after dinner honey?”, looking in my direction.

   “Um, after I guess? I’ll start putting my things away if that’s okay.” I replied while looking at this tiny human with lots of braids in her hair, arms crossed, and looking me up and down with squinty eyes.

    “So, you’re the new girl, huh? Your mom leave you too? That’s why Ms. Linda had to go pick you up at the bus?”, she finally answered.

   “Jazmine!  You mind your manners now and don’t give Alora a hard time. She’s been through it and so have you. Now go show her so she can unpack. And are you done with your homework yet?” Mrs. Linda interjected before I could say anything, admonishing her with stare that could stop a raging bull.

   Jazmine rolled her eyes and sighed “Yaass, I finished everything except math. I’ll do that after I show this one around upstairs,” rolling her eyes at me.

   “Jazmine Leanne Yates… I told you to take it easy on her!  Now go!” Linda said with her finger pointing right at her.  “You’ll have to excuse this one Alora. She’s 13 going on 20 with a know-it-all attitude,” she said in an exhausted sigh and I laughed.

   Jazmine started heading toward the stairs so I followed.

   “Now here’s your room," she announced and she continued to show me where everything was.

   When she finished, I dropped my bags and closed the door, taking in the room around me. It was the nicest place I’ll ever stay in, that’s for sure.

   It looked like it was straight out of a magazine- a white metal head and foot board with a teal comforter and two white pillows. The walls were painted a light gray, and there were sheer white curtains hanging from the window that looked over the back yard. For privacy it looked like there were shades I could lower down.

   “Thank Goddess,” I begrudgingly whispered, closing my eyes. I was still angry at what had transpired a little less than 24 hours ago, but I also knew that while she pairs us with our mates, she does not control our decisions or actions. Just like my father had a choice to either love or hurt my mother, Tristan had the same choice. I only hope that my mate, if I should ever find him, would make the right decision. I can’t blame her for something she has no control over.

   I started to unpack my bags and put everything away, taking note of things I’d need to purchase, which seemed like warm clothes.

   “Girls! Time for dinner!” I heard Ms. Linda yell from the bottom of the stairs.

   I opened the door to my room and immediately an absolutely amazing smell caught my nose and instantly my eyes rolled in the back of my head. My goddess that smells amazing!  I walked into the dining room and Ms. Linda sat at one end, and there were bowls of food and a big platter of some kind of meat in the middle.

   “Well there you are baby!  Now here, help yourself to whatever you want. This is my favorite meal to make so I hope you like it," she replied warmly.

  She seemed to enjoy my facial expressions and the moans and groans coming from me as I ate. Jazmine just kept eyeing me, maybe amazed at how much food I could pack away. Well, I am a wolf. Suppressed or not, we have a huge appetite.

   We all brought our plates into the kitchen and scraped them, then she dished up a pie that looked like heaven on a plate. I ate way too much but for this little slice, I will gorge myself to the point of being sick.  We chatted throughout dinner, getting to know one another, laughing and having fun.

   “So breakfast is whenever you get up in the morning,” as she approached me and wrapped her arms around me in  hug after helping with the dishes. I stiffened up at the surprise because I wasn’t used to people being so kind to me.

   Her hug was so warm and enveloping, feeling her genuine love washing over me. It was so surreal- I am not a physical touch person, but I felt myself melt into her embrace. I didn’t realize how much I needed this until just now, and I felt the dam to my emotions start to give way.

   I wasn’t ready for that so I pulled back, wiping away the few rogue tears that escaped my eyes.

“Thank you, for everything,” I managed to squeak out softly, becoming exhausted suddenly.

   “Oh honey, you are so welcome,” she replied with a small smile and then took my hands in hers.  “I believe God brought you to me- he always brings me the ones who need the most love.”

   With that I left and got into the shower, then got ready for bed.  The journal my mom wrote to me caught my eye and after a few moments I decided that I should at least open it to she what it was all about. I pulled the covers back and hopped in to snuggle under them.  After melting into the heavenly soft mattress, I opened to the first page of the journal, reading the letter from my mother.

   Dearest Alora,

   If you are reading this, then the plan I’ve put together to keep you safe is at play, and for that I am so sorry. None of this is fair to you- but please know that I would do anything to keep you safe. 

   You no doubt have lots of

questions- I know I would if I were in

your situation. So I have done my best to compose all of what I have been learning over these past 18 years.

   What you need to know right now, at this moment, is that there are bigger forces at play, dangerous ones, and it has to do with who and what we are.

   Please know that I love you more than my own life. You are THE single greatest treasure that the Moon Goddess ever gave to me, and if I could do it over again, I would the same thing. No matter what the

circumstances, no matter how you came into this world, I would do it all over

again, knowing I would have you as a

daughter. You have literally been the light of my life.

   There is so much good inside of

you, so much more than you and I will ever know, and I wish I could be there to see you grow into the beautiful

woman I know you will become.

   Until then, please forgive me for

what I’m about to do and know that I love you with every fiber of my being. We will see each other again-

this I promise, but until then I will see you in my dreams.

   Love you always,

   Mom

   I closed the book and turned off my light, letting the tears fall where they may, I cried out a plea for help.  “Whoever's out there, if you can hear me, please keep my mom and Morgana safe. And please help me, I have no idea what I’m doing or where I’m going and I’m scared. Please, take away the pain and the hurt.  I just want to be normal.”