Chapter 15
Alora's POV Continued
We were walking to the area Darien said his parents wanted to meet us when I received a text: GO TO THE PRINCIPAL THIS INSTANT. YOU WILL HAVE YOUR NAME CHANGED BACK TO NORTHMOUNTAIN BEFORE YOU FIGHT IN THE NEXT EVENT!!! I laughed at the text. Darien looked down at me.
"What’s so funny?" he asked. I showed him the text. He snorted. "Why would you ever want to change your name back?" he asked. "Not that you could in the next few minutes anyway. Besides, you're blood-sworn into the pack under that name now anyway. You would have to take another blood oath with the Alpha."
"And your dad being the Alpha is not a pushover. He won't do it unless I want to, and he more than knows how much I love my new name." He nodded. Another text came in: WE WILL SEE YOU IN THE OFFICE. IF YOU DON'T GET THERE IN THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES, YOU WILL REGRET IT WHEN YOU GET BACK TO THE HOUSE!!! I showed him the new text.
"At least we know where they're going to be for most of the break," he paused. "At least until they get tired of waiting and come looking for you," his tone dry. "I wish we knew where Sarah was going to be so we could avoid that she-bitch," Serenity commented. We looked at her for a moment in shock before we laughed. "I like her, Darien. I'm glad she's your mate."
He smiled in pride, preening a little. "I'm glad she's my mate as well." Serenity giggled, her brothers were both smiling. I looked at them. "How do you two feel about them being together?" I asked. "As long as he does and acts as a mate should, we have no problem," said Kian. "We just want her happy and loved," was Galen’s reply.
We heard Darien’s name being called. We saw his mom and dad, our Alpha and Luna. Serenity grabbed onto Darien’s arm and looked up at him, scared. "Do you think they'll like me?" her voice small, worried. "Don't worry, they'll love you," he assured her, kissing her forehead. "You sure?" he smiled lovingly at her. "I promise." She smiled, her eyes soft with emotion. "Okay."
We reached Alpha Andrew and Luna Ember. I was surprised at first when the Alpha grabbed me into a hug. "You did amazing today. I'm so proud of you, Alora," he said. I hugged him back after a moment, so grateful for the affection. My "Thank you" was for more than the words. He let me go, and Luna Ember was there to offer me her own hug. She hugged me like I was one of her children.
It felt so good to be hugged like this. It completely broke down my defenses. She let me go, still holding my upper arms, she looked at me. "You did so well today," she praised. Smiling, she looked me up and down before putting a hand on my cheek. “You’ve grown up so much; you've become a wonderful she-wolf before my eyes." I couldn't help thinking this was how my mother should have been treating me.
I sniffed, my heart full of emotion at their kindness and affection. At the same time, I was sad because I should have had this all along from my parents. "Thank you. I can't tell you how much it means to me," she petted my head. "We'll be here for you, sweetie. And we will support you." Sniffling, I looked at Darien. "Have you met Serenity?" I asked them.
Darien brought Serenity over, and Ember grabbed her. "Oh! Look at how darling you are. My goodness, look at all that beautiful red hair. My girl, I saw you put Matthew in his place during your match, and I must say it was a wonderful sight." This sent Serenity blushing, her mumbled "thank you" barely audible.
The Alpha chuckled, taking one of Serenity's hands. "It's lovely to meet you, Serenity. Let me know if my son ever treats you wrong, and I'll teach him a lesson in how to treat your mate." Serenity was red from head to toe, but she was smiling.
Darien leaned down to whisper loudly, "See, I told you they would love you," his smile mischievous and bright. His mother smacked him on the shoulder. "Behave, young man." This made everyone laugh. Galen and Kian were waving to a couple. When they joined us, I saw that it was their parents. As the parents made their way over, I looked around for a moment.
Across the field, I saw Matthew with his parents. I didn't see Sarah anywhere. She must be in the office with mommy and daddy dearest. Kian nudged me to get my attention. I looked up at him; he was motioning to his parents. It was Galen who introduced me, "Mom, this is Alora. She's best friends with Darien and our and Serenity’s new friend."
His mother, Camille, was once a Blackfire before mating into the Mountainmovers. When a she-wolf mates, she usually takes her mate's last name, and parts of her maiden name make it into her pups' middle names. So Galen, Kian, and Serenity's names were followed by Fire Mountainmover.
"We saw your fight against our nephew and Darien. I must say you were magnificent, my dear," she said. Her mate, Alfred Stone Mountainmover, was a sweet-looking older wolf. His kind heart radiated from him, just like Serenity. Now I knew where she got it. "You did very well. You are most definitely an Alpha she-wolf." This made me smile and blush.
"Thank you." These seemed to be the only words I’d been able to say since arriving over here with everyone. My phone rang. I looked down; it was my parents. All the good I had been feeling, the glow of warmth, was gone in an instant. I felt saddened and cold at the loss; it was gone as quickly as it had come.
I looked up at Darien; he had seen the caller description. It was the Luna who spoke. "Go ahead and answer it, my dear. We're right here with you." She wrapped an arm around me in support. "Put it on speaker, Alora. We need to hear what they say," said Andrew. As he's the Alpha, I obeyed the order.
I saw out of the corner of my eye Darien explaining to Serenity's parents who was calling. They looked confused at the apprehension on all our faces. They didn't understand why this call from my parents would have even the Alpha and Luna apprehensive. It was only after I put them on speaker that their look changed to understanding. Then at each word shrieked at me, it turned to outrage and anger. Anger at how a parent could say what she said to me.
"WHERE ARE YOU, WRETCH!!! YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO HUMILIATE US AND CHANGE YOUR NAME!!! HOW DARE YOU ADVANCE TO THE ALPHA CLASS WITHOUT YOUR SISTER!!! YOU STUPID WRETCH!!! YOU WILL PAY FOR ALL OF IT!!! YOU WILL CHANGE YOUR NAME BACK BEFORE YOUR FINAL MATCH AND RESTORE OUR STATUS!!! IF YOU DON'T, YOU WILL REGRET IT!!! YOU CAN FORGET GRADUATING!!! YOU WILL BE CHAINED UP IN THE BASEMENT AND WHIPPED FOR OUR HUMILIATION, YOU WRETCH!!! DO YOU HEAR ME!!! ANSWER ME, YOU UNGRATEFUL WRETCH!!! I SHOULD HAVE DROWNED YOU AT BIRTH!!! YOU'VE BEEN NOTHING BUT AN UGLY BLIGHT ON THIS FAMILY'S REPUTATION SINCE I BIRTHED YOU!!! YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE EXISTED!!!"
The Alpha reached over and disconnected the call. I was just standing there, feeling cold and crushed. The happiness I felt a moment ago felt like a distant memory. I didn't make a sound; I looked up at the Alpha. I hadn't realized the wetness I was feeling on my face were tears until he grabbed me in a hug.
"It's okay to cry, Alora. But don't worry, you're not ever going back to those people. We're moving you into the Pack House tonight. We'll be going with you to pick up your things so they can't hurt you anymore." That was all it took to have me sobbing silently, my body shaking. The Luna put her hand on my head, petting my hair and gently rubbing my back. "Oh, darling girl... It's going to be okay."
I heard her whisper to Darien. "Go explain everything to Serenity and her parents while we take care of Alora." I heard him move away from us. "You've been abused by those people enough." Luna Ember's voice was soft but angry. "I won't stand for it any longer. We're taking you home with us; we'll be your family." I looked up at her in surprise, afraid to hope.
I must have heard her wrong. "W..wha..what?" my question stuttered out. "You heard right, dearie. We're taking you home, and we'll be your family from now on." She touched my face, wiping my tears, and handed me a tissue from her purse so I could blow my nose. "Would you be okay with being part of our family?" she asked.
I didn't even need to think about it. "Yes." They had been kind to me since the day Damien found me on the river embankment all those years ago. The memory of how wonderful they'd been had never left me.
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