CHAPTER 48
Mila—I mean, Mom—woke me up as soon as the sun rose. I had no idea she'd wake me up at that hour, let alone crash our house. But she seemed so excited. When I opened my eyes, there was unrivaled happiness painted across her face, which was a rare occurrence for her.
The Mila I knew was the type of person who always half-smiled whenever our eyes hit each other as if she knew every secret I have in my bones. But the woman who woke up isn’t just Mila. She is my mother. A woman I should love and care for.
"I’m sorry if I woke you up this early." He chuckled and hugged me tightly in her presence. "I apologize again if I need to hug to like this. For the past eighteen years, I've been irresponsible to you. I’ve been absent. I can’t believe we’re together and we’re going to be happy."
"What’s with waking up this early?" I loved waking up early, even before. It’s just that I don’t know why she had to wake me up.
"I prepared breakfast for you and your brothers. I can’t wait for you to taste it. Also, I want you to prepare. I want the two of us to go to the lake together. "Only the two of us." The last sentence was emphasized. We’ve been together countless times, but not as a family. "Your brothers wouldn’t like it if you made them wait on your delicious breakfast."
Mom left the room. I analyzed my messy bed. Is this the first time I have had a messy bed? Pillows on the ground and a blanket that appeared to have been punched back and forth both smelled like my breath. I went downstairs after quickly making everything look neat and tidy.
My brothers were laughing along with Mila. I hoped they would get along. I want us to become a huge family. My boys and my mom together. They were talking about me and my funny childhood moments. I hate it! But I didn’t interfere because I loved hearing that they were laughing because of me.
I smiled as I approached them. There’s a feast on the table, which I bet Mila cooked. As I lived for eighteen years with my brothers, I could recognize if they were the ones who cooked the meal or not. And these dishes were far from those they usually cook.
"Here’s a pot roast chicken, Cath," Jay told me, and he placed a huge piece on my plate. As I stared at the food, I could feel myself not digesting it. It was too huge for me. I eat a little except when the foods and the occasion are great. "It’s great. Your mom knew how to cook."
"I hope you won’t unlove and forget us now that you have a mom who cooks great meals," Felix teases.
"Of course, that wouldn’t happen." I sat on the chair, in front of Mila, and beside Jay. I got myself a cup of rice. I usually maximize my carbs intake, so I kept myself healthy day by day.
I sniffed the food like a mouse who saw himself with a big block of cheese. "Smells good." I cut them into bite-sized pieces."Tastes freaking good. I thought I was eating at a fancy restaurant at first!"
"That’s too much, my girl!" Mom giggled at the way I complimented her. It wasn’t just a compliment because she’s my mom. It is because the food tastes good.
I finished my scrumptious meal and dashed to take a shower. It was one of the quickest showers I've ever taken. It felt like a second as I changed into my clothes—an overall patterned with blue straps and daisies. I looked in the mirror and complimented myself on how cute I looked. Oh my, God! This is going to be my last self-compliment for a while. It sounds weird when you find yourself attractive or cute.
Mom and I used Sage’s car to drive through the lake. I thought we were going to the lakeside, where I usually read books before I found myself indifferent to every one. It’s farther than that. It could be a mile or so away. And it’s better in this place. No schools, no people, no distractions. Just a peaceful natural pattern.
As I prepared the blanket and the food we'd received, the sun-brushed against me. Mom/Mila was smiling throughout the process. I could understand her even though I wasn’t a mother myself. When you miss your family, seeing them again brings you great joy. If I could see my adoptive mom and dad, I would feel like Mom is feeling right now.
When everything’s settled, we sit on the blanket parallel to each other. The moistness of the muffins blended with the beautiful basil leaves.
"It's nice to spend time with you," she said, taking a deep breath. We, like her, require time to breathe in and out. For a brief moment, we must consider why we exist in this world. "I think this is the best place to start introducing myself to you as a mother."
She is right. I’ve known parts of her. I know her name. But I don’t have any idea of the hardship she had to endure just to bring my life into this world. This is it. The perfect place and the perfect moment
"I was eighteen at that time. As a human, I live a simple life and conduct simple business. We weren’t rich, but we were fine and happy. Every weekend, your grandparents and I were usually here. Smelling the elms and basswood. This place serves as one of our most memorable places." She scoffed. "My mistake. This place is where our memories lie."
"It’s a good place. I wish my past mom and dad had brought me here. I wish you had the opportunity to meet them. They’re exceptional."
She touched my bread and brushed it from top to bottom. "I met the alpha. At the time, he still didn't have a wife. At the time, he was as fine as wine. But I don’t like him. My mom told me not to meddle with the wolves. So I didn’t."
"The alpha was attracted to me. He even offered me roses and chocolates secretly while I was staying at the lake and enjoying nature. It would be a huge scandal if people discovered that the alpha is spying on me. It sounds weird for a pure wolf to like me. The alpha attempted to make me his girl. I didn’t like him even before... I hated him. I’d like to live my life in solitude. But he’s eager to have me."
I'm scared of what’s about to happen. I’m scared of what she's been through in her past. I hoped I wouldn’t hear a terrible thing, though I knew I was about to.
"One night, when your grandma asked me to buy fresh fruits for my sick father, he trailed me." When no one was around, he threw me into the woods. I tried to scream, but his force made me a helpless woman. In the middle of the woods, he did the worst thing I had done in my life."
I could hear her screaming in the past, asking for help, but no one came. I wished someone was there to help her.
"I got pregnant. My parents initially decided to keep it a secret and not tell anyone. They expected the alpha to find someone new and better. That belief was cut short the moment my uterus got bigger. Everyone in the town found out that I was pregnant. Words were passed on until they reached the alpha. He confronted me calmly by the lake. We will build a family with him, and I will be the most powerful woman in town. Of course, I rejected him, even punching his gut for what he did to me. He raped me, and now he’s prodding us to live happily ever after. He’s possessive, and he’s evil. I would want to kill him, but I can’t."
"When I rejected him, dark clouds descended on my life. He killed my mama and dada. By pointing darts at him, he makes people think I'm insane. No one believed me. No one helped me until Nana came. Nana is my mama’s friend. She told me she'd help me. She agreed to keep the child so the alpha wouldn't take her. It ended there. I hope I never see you again. I lived my life in misery, pretending that I was crazy."
She began to cry. I can hear her anguish and trauma. She’s been through a lot, and that is because of the alpha. The evil. The enemy. The worst person I’ve ever known.
"And he's going to split us up again."He’ll ruin us." She cried harder, and I swaddled her, letting my presence ease her pain.
Emotionless, I spoke. "We won’t let that happen. We won’t let him ruin us. He won’t be able to do that. We’ll fight together. We'll protect each other." I kissed her temple. I meant it. I won’t let the alpha ruin my life again. She killed my parents before. I won’t let him kill my Mom now.