Chapter Twenty - Did you just bark?

Freya Rose

I must have fallen asleep because when I opened my eyes, I was tucked up in Finnley's bed. I didn't know how long I had been asleep, but it must have been at least a few hours, because the sun was shining beautifully through the sides of the drapes. It lit the room enough for me to see but wasn't overpowering. I stretched and rubbed my sore eyes, all that crying had them feeling like I'd cleaned them with razor blades. I gradually sat up and listened to see if I could hear anything. But I couldn't, the cabin was silent. I got out of bed and made my way towards the bathroom. Once in the bathroom, I had a pee and washed my hands and face. I took my hair out and let it fall down my back in soft waves. I then stood there for a while with my hands on the sink, just staring at my reflection.
I was completely heartbroken, and in all honesty, all I wanted to do was curl up in bed and hide away from the world forever. But, I knew that wasn't an option, if I went back to bed, I knew that depression would soon suck me under and never let me go. So against my better judgment, I decided to face the world head-on, push past the heartbreak and the hurt, and show my pack, and the world that I was a force to be reckoned with.
I went to my busted-up room and found some more clothes, a black pair of high waisted ripped jeans, a black bra, white tank top and a black zip-up hoodie. I then put on my high tops and headed downstairs. I made a pot of coffee and then headed out of the sliding doors. I sat down on a lounger and stared out into the trees as I silently drank my coffee. The morning air was crisp and had a slight chill, but with wolf blood running through my veins it didn't bother me. I heard some footsteps behind me and turned to see who it was.
“Morning, do you mind if we join you?” Traian asked as him and Marik made their way over to me.
They were both shirtless and carrying a cup of coffee each. Any other time I would have blushed at the site of two half-naked gorgeous hunks walking up to me, but not anymore. Sex was the last thing on my mind, and to be honest as hot as they both were, I'd had enough of men making me weak at the knees. I turned back around to face the trees as I replied politely,
“Of course not.”
Traian sat on the lounger beside me, and to my surprise, Marik appeared at the side of me, he bent down and placed his head in the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent. I instinctively pulled myself away from him and then pushed his ridiculously chiseled chest away, making him stumble back slightly. He chuckled and then sat on the other lounger to my side.
“Marik, can't you control your wolf for five minutes?” Traian snapped at him. He then looked towards me and said,
“I apologise for my brother, he is lacking in the manors department.”
Marik didn't bother to say a word, he just scoffed and laid back on the lounger, he placed his hands behind his head and closed his eyes taking in the morning sun.
“You'll get used to him, he is quite primal and very connected to his wolf. Sometimes his urges just take over, but he's a puppy dog really,” Traian explained, and as he said it, Marik barked like a little puppy.
I raised my eyebrows and stared wide-eyed at him for a few seconds, then I couldn't help myself, I burst out laughing hysterically, and then asked him,
“Did you just bark?”
Marik opened one eye up and looked at me as a huge smirk grew across his face. I burst out laughing again and picked up a cushion that was on the floor next to me, as he closed his eye again I launched it at his head. It bounced off of his head and flew into the air. Traian and Marik both began laughing too and the three of us just sat there chuckling away. I don't know why I found it so funny, I think it was just nice to forget all the bullshit and act silly for a few minutes.
“What's so funny?” Finnley asked as he walked out to join us.
“Ahem, morning Finn. Nothing really, just Marik messing around,” I replied as I brought my laughter under control.
“Do you want us to leave you two to talk?” Traian asked softly, as he stood up to leave.
I placed my hand on his arm and then quickly yanked it away as a huge electrical spark surged as soon as our skin connected. I furrowed my brow in confusion and then quickly softened my expression as I replied,
“No, we all need to get used to having you guys around more, please stay.”
Traian's lip curled up into a sexy grin as he looked over to his brother, and Marik returned the same grin. It was like they had the same thought or something, a secret look between them, and then they both looked back at me. I glanced between the pair of them and then decided to change the subject as I could feel a blush flooding my cheeks.
“Ahem, so um, where are we exactly?” I asked Finn as I tapped the bottom of my lounger for him to sit.
I watched Traian sit back down, and he still had a weird look in his eyes and that stupid sexy smirk. I rolled my eyes and focused on Finnley.
“Well, we are just outside of Edmonton,” Finnley said casually and then took a sip of his drink.
“What!? I thought the air smelt familiar; how did I not notice before?” I said a little louder than I intended as I jumped up excitedly.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and found Cassie's number, I knew that Tristan said that he would kill me if I ever stepped foot in Jasper again, but technically I wasn't in Jasper. And, well I'd like to see him try to go up against me and my pack of hybrids. Oh, and Selene and the twins.
“What's up Alpha?” Finnley asked as he placed his cup on the floor and looked up at me.
“How do you boys fancy a road trip into town?” I asked the three of them.
They all furrowed their brows at me and then looked at each other.
“We need more food and drink don't we? I mean if we're going to be staying here for a while, we need supplies, right?” I asked excitedly.
“Well yeah, but I was going to send the pack to pick up some stuff later,” Finnley replied.
“Why wake them, they have had a tough few days, let them rest. We can go instead can't we?” I asked.
“What are you up to, my little rose?” Traian asked me with an eyebrow raised.
A smile grew across my face as I replied,
“Nothing, I could just do with a change of scenery,” I replied as I flipped my hair over my shoulder and walked towards the cabin.
I stopped at the sliding glass doors then turned to face them,
“Well, are you coming or what?”
They all smirked and then reluctantly followed behind me.
“So, where are you off to exactly?” Selene asked as she stood in front of me with her arms folded.
I froze on the spot and then decided to be honest,
“I want to go into town and get some shopping. I could do with a normal day before everything changes again.”
Her expression didn't change, and she turned her head to the side as she asked,
“And?”
I rolled my eyes and smiled at her, I felt like I was trying to fool my mom.
“And, I want to say goodbye to Cassie and Tyler before I become a vampire. After I'm turned, I doubt they will ever talk to me again,” I said as my eyes fell away from hers and settled staring at the floor.
I was expecting her to say, 'absolutely not!' But she didn't, to my surprise she said,
“Of course, let's get the pack up, we could all do with letting our hair down today.”
My eyes grew wide and my smile even wider as I looked back up at her, she had a huge grin on her face, and I couldn't help but run towards her for a hug. She embraced me and then kissed my cheek. She then shouted out in almost a song,
“Everyone get up! We're going shopping!”
I laughed as I heard hoots and hollers from the girls upstairs, and the occasional groans and grunts from the guys. Then to cheer the boys up I shouted,
“Guys you can get the food and beers, we're gonna have a bbq.”
The guys then began hooting and hollering too, and I giggled. Selene then said softly,
“Not just a bbq, we're going to have a party.”
I looked at her for a minute trying to work out why her mood was so relaxed. She then slapped my shoulder and said,
“Did you forget again? Freya, it's you're birthday. We're going to have a birthday party!”
My eyebrows raised, shit, I had forgotten that it was my birthday. I smiled at her and then threw my arms up in the air and shouted,
“It's my birthday!”
Everyone cheered and I could hear the pack shouting happy birthday to me, Marik then turned me around and picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. I laughed as he walked me to the door and then outside of the cabin. He put me down next to a huge 2019 white Range Rover.
“Wow, who's car is this? It's stunning!” I asked Marik.
He held out a set of keys in front of me, and they had a silver 21 keyring that was covered in crystals and a little silver wolf keyring also covered in crystals. He then replied,
“It's yours, my little wolf. Happy 21st!”
I was so taken aback, how the hell did he get it here? Why did he buy it for me? And how in the hell was he holding silver? I went to take the keys but then looked at the key rings and pulled my hand back. He sniggered and then grabbed my hand and placed the keys inside my palm.
“It's not silver, don't worry. It's platinum and diamonds,” he then kissed my cheek and ran back towards the cabin.
I stood there in shock, having just been given a brand-new car and diamond encrusted keyrings by pretty much a complete stranger. Not that I was complaining, the car was stunning, and since the birthday car that Tristan took back from me and then gave to his mate, I haven't had one of my own since. So I wasn't going to turn it down. I jumped up and squealed like a giddy teenager as I ran around to the driver's side and got into my new car.
I sat there playing with all the buttons and dials in the car, and then adjusted the radio. I stopped on the song Love me again by John Newman. I cranked up the volume and sat there dancing and singing away to the song while I waited for the others to come out of the cabin. One by one the pack and the rest came out of the cabin. The girls ran straight over to my new car and began to squeal as they admired it. I laughed and told them to get in, Savanah and Jenna jumped into the back seats and Tana ran around to the side and opened up the passenger door, she lifted her leg, and no sooner had her foot touched the step we heard a growl.
She bowed down and moved over to the side. She then opened the back door and got in with the other girls. Finnley held on to the door and then got in next to me. I rolled my eyes as I started up the engine. He closed the door with a low growl, and I chuckled at his theatrics. The next song came on and all the girls screamed excitedly, it was Taylor Swift's shake it off. Finnley went to change the station and I quickly smacked his hand away and said,
“You chose to get in the car with a bunch of girls, you suffer in silence.”
The girls cried out laughing and as I looked over to Finn I could see a small frown growing on his face. I turned the song up and watched as the other cars filled up with people. Selene took her own little black Porsche, and the twins got into their own Range Rovers. Traian's was a deep red in color and Marik’s was a midnight purple. Cody and Odin joined Marik and Jax got into Traian's car.
As I waited for Selene to pull out first, and then Marik, I sent a text to Cassie, I didn't even know if she would answer me, but I sent it anyway.
'Hey Cass, long time no speak. Look I'm heading into Edmonton, I was wondering if you and Tyler wanted to catch up? I know it's early, but if you get this can you message me back. Love ya, Freya xoxo'
I put my phone down in the cubby next to me and turned the car around, and then followed Marik out of the drive. Traian then followed behind me. I knew it was a long shot getting Cassie and Tyler to meet me, Edmonton was about a 4-hour drive from Jasper, so on such short notice, I doubted that they would bother to make the trip and see me for only a few hours. But I was still excited to go to the mall and go shopping with my pack.
The girls were having a blast singing along with Taylor Swift and I was blown away when the chorus kicked in and Finnley burst into song. The girls fell silent and the car was filled up with his hilarious singing. I couldn't help but laugh as he danced around in his seat singing along to shake it off, he was even shaking his hands around, and tried to shake them in my face. All of a sudden the radio cut out as a text came through and Finnley was left singing on his own.
His voice gradually faded with embarrassment and he sank down into his chair as the girl's began to laugh at him. I turned the music down when it started again. I smiled widely and then handed him my phone as I said,
“I love you Finn. Can you read out that text for me please?”
“Love you too,” he replied quietly as he took the phone from me.
The girls were chatting amongst their selves as Finn read out the text.
“It says, oh my God Freya, I can't believe it's actually you. It's been so long, we really need to catch up, we both miss you so much. We are actually already in Edmonton for pack business. We can meet you at the mall in about an hour. We can't wait to see you, happy birthday by the way. Lots of love Cas and Ty xxx.” He then put my phone back in the cubby beside us.
My smile grew wider and tears filled up my eyes, I couldn't believe that I was going to see my best friends. It had been so long, and I had stopped messaging them over a year ago. I couldn't tell them anything about my life and they didn't want to talk pack business, so our texts just became short and sweet. But, now I was going to see them after nearly three whole years. I wondered what they were up to. And how much they'd changed. A warm feeling of excitement filled my entire body as I continued to drive towards the Edmonton mall.

Mason Hart

We'd been driving all night and the sun was now high in the sky, I wondered if Evan even knew where he was going. But, I kept my concerns to myself. I decided instead to ask him some questions.
“So, how do you know a powerful witch anyway? They are so secretive, I have never even seen one,” I asked him.
“Well do you remember that year that I disappeared from the faction?” He asked me.
“Um, yeah, you were 21 and you said that you were going travelling, right?” I asked him.
“Yeah, well I didn't go travelling. I actually found my mom,” he replied as he glanced sideways at me trying to gauge my reaction.
“Why didn't you tell me that you found your mom? I told you as soon as I went home to mine,” I replied, a little hurt that he couldn't trust me.
“It wasn't that I didn't trust you Mase, it was just that she made me promise that I wouldn't tell anyone about her. She is the witch that we're going to see,” he replied as he sat back into his seat.
It seemed like a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders, finally being able to share his secret with someone. He exhaled and then said,
“Look, she's going to be pissed that I've told you about her, so watch out. You might need to hurl a few of your fireballs.”
I quickly turned my head to face him and asked in a shocked tone,
“Wait what!? She's not going to attack me, is she?”
He laughed nervously and replied,
“Um, yeah I think she might.”
He pointed towards the front of the car and stood in the middle of the dirt road, was a shadow of a woman bathed in an aluminous green fire. The fire must have reached about 8 foot into the air. The trees were blowing like they were in a tornado or something, and the storm that filled the sky had me cowering down even though I was in the car. Evan stopped the car and said loudly,
“Mason meet my mom Coraline.”
My eyes grew wide as I slowly turned to face him, he had a nervous smile on his face and just shrugged. He then said,
“Stay here, I'll try to calm her down.”
I was ok with that idea, staying in the car right now suited me just fine. He inhaled a deep breath and then on his exhale he thrust open the car door and cautiously stepped out. As soon as he stepped out of the car a bright green lightning bolt fell from the sky and collided with a tree beside the car. The crack of the bark as it split apart echoed through the air, and then an enormous rumble of thunder surrounded us and made the car vibrate. The car door was still open and began swinging back and forth with the force of the wind, so I leaned over and pulled it closed.
Rain then began pelting down and smashing onto the car at great speed. Evan bent down and gave me a worried look, and all I could think to do was put my thumb up at him. I think I saw him roll his eyes before he turned and struggled to push his way through the wind and the rain. I could just about see him waving his hands out in front of him and I heard his faint screams. I think I heard him say,
“Cora it's me, it's Evan!”
Within seconds of me hearing that, another bolt of lightning dropped from the sky and struck him, lighting him up like a Christmas tree. But instead of setting him alight or burning him to a crisp, it tangled around him like a snake and lifted him high up into the air. I looked up out of the sunroof and I could see him floating in the air, his arms and legs were spread apart. As I continued to watch he began to fall from the sky like a comet, and I didn't have time to avoid him, all I could do was duck down as low as possible as he crashed onto the roof of the car, crushing it instantly and pinning me beneath it.