Chapter 30: Lost

**Alice’s Point of view**


I walk in the forest, out of the territory, in the company of two rogues. Improbable but true. I discuss with Joey about anything and everything and find him very nice. He is a good but unlucky man.
That's why I decided to take them to a small abandoned cabin, a few miles from the border. I discovered it a few years ago when I was walking around, which earned me a sermon from Joey. He says I shouldn’t go out of the territory where I'm safe, which is not wrong.
However, it allowed me to discover this shelter that is no longer inhabited while it is still in perfect condition. It even has electricity and running water. I like to go there when I want to be alone.
The cabin is made of dark wood with a small porch. The main room contains an old sofa, a light wood table and a kitchenette. A fireplace warms the atmosphere and on either side is a door to a bedroom, allowing each to have warmth in the middle of winter. 
"The bathroom is at the back, there is hot water and some toiletries." I say as I point to the door.
I turn to Joey who has tears in his eyes. 
"Are you telling us we can stay here?" He says in a small voice.
I shrug. "I don't know who owns this house. It's not the best in terms of decoration, but when I found this place there were cobwebs everywhere. It's been a long time since anyone's been here." He doesn't say anything. "I know it's not right to do this, but I figure since I'm taking care of this place, squatting seems... right?" I ask, unsure of myself. "And frankly, considering the state I found the fridge in, I deserve a medal. I must have used 20 liters of bleach and now it's good as new!"
He turns to me. "A fridge? Is there any food in it?" He asks hopefully.
"Yes. There is also some candy and cans of food I brought back."
He hesitates. "Alice, do you mind if..."
I cut him off. "Joey, the reason I brought you here is so you have a place to sleep and eat."
He smiles at me, acknowledging, and sets Gwendoline at the table. I help him prepare food and chat with them. Once finished, Joey decides to take a shower and to use the clothes which are in the main room to replace these rags. 
I take the opportunity to play a little with Gwendoline who is immediately very open. She is adorable and even if she speaks little, I understand that she is very intelligent. And that she loves bounty. 
She is eating her third when Joey finally comes out of the bathroom. "I'm surprised she's talking to you. Poor thing doesn't know anyone but me, I was afraid she'd become ... socially inadequate."
It's a completely different man standing in front of me and it's nice to see. 
"Joey? Why didn't you shift earlier?"
He sighs. "Because these clothes are the only ones I own and without them, I can't go into town to earn money and buy food. Without clothes, I can't do anything."
"Why not take some from the woods? Clothes are hidden everywhere."
"Yes, but always on territories. I'd be forced to go in and be killed on the spot. And Gwenny would have no one to look after her." He says as he looks at her tenderly.
Someone knocks on the front door. Surprised, I signal them to hide and go to open the door.
In front of me stands a 20-year-old boy of average height, with brown hair almost red and eyes of a surreal green. He is simply the most beautiful man I have ever seen. I feel both calm and shivering and although he is muscled, I don't feel threatened.
"Alice? Why are you so young? What are you doing here?"
I frown. "What do you mean? And who are you anyway?"
He looks at me, surprised. "Don't you remember me?" I shake my head. "That's okay. Where are we? A memory maybe? What's the last thing you remember?"
I think for a moment. "Gamma gave me ice cream. Chocolate ice cream. But I was little. And I trained with Derek."
He nods. "Okay, so you must be lost in your memories. Maybe a coma. You need to find Cassiopeia as soon as possible. Only she can help you." 
What the hell is he talking about? Suddenly, he's panicking. 
"I don't have any more time, they're trying to wake me up. Go into the forest and find your wolf." Without warning, he takes me in his arms and holds me tight. "Please come back to me." 
He kisses me on the forehead and suddenly disappears.
Who the hell is this guy?
And why do I trust him?
I turn around to warn Joey and Gwendoline that I am going out but the house is empty.
Something is not clear.
I decide to take the advice of the half-God I saw and go into the forest. I call this Cassiopeia for eternity but nothing so far. Except that the more it goes, the weaker I feel. I can hardly put one foot in front of the other and my voice is just a desperate whisper now. Everything becomes black and I collapse on the ground. 
I have flashes. I see myself arguing with the man from earlier, I see myself leaving in anger and waiting in a parking lot. My fight with my wolf. Then a blinding light. 
Everything comes back to me. Everything.  
"Cassie. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I'm just scared. Scared of getting hurt, scared of disappointing others. My whole life I've had to prove that I'm worthy of leading our pack. And I know that as soon as my dad will find out about me and Elliot, he'll disown me. I have only two options: reject my pack and go with Elliot, and it's not certain that he'll make the same choice as me, or reject him and spend the rest of my life without him. Either way I'm going to be heartbroken and there's nothing I can do about it." I say, sobbing. 
Having neither the strength nor the desire to get up I decide to stay on the ground and wait for the end. 
I vaguely hear footsteps approaching and stopping near me. I roll onto my back and open my eyelids to see a large white wolf with green eyes glowing in the dark, leaning over me. 
*"Oh, Alice. Why didn't you tell me about this?"*