“U-uhh…” Roxanne groaned as she slowly opened her eyes.
Stirring up from the deep slumber she had, her eye groggily glanced around the small, dimly lit room. Even in her partially conscious state, she took in the smell and barely visible details around her.
“T-this place is…” She mumbled, somehow recognizing the room she was in.
“Roxanne! You’re awake!” A loud voice suddenly echoed across the room, making Roxanne’s skin jump.
She recognized that voice too. The cheery sound of her friend who got excited over even the littlest of things.
“R-Rita…”
Roxanne’s blurry sight slowly began to clear as she got a clearer image of Rita who stood close to her and had a relieved expression on her face.
“Hmmmn” She groaned, managing to sit upright.
“C-careful,” Rita said, assisting her in her attempt.
“This is grandma’s home… So, we’re still in the woods? W-what happened…?!” Roxanne slurred, rubbing her eyes.
“To be honest, I’m not sure. I was kind of hoping you would tell me. By the time I finally caught up with you, I saw everywhere covered in blood, and your naked body in the snow. Your mother and grandmother were also barely conscious…” Rita mumbled.
“W-what of the strange old woman?” Roxanne asked.
“Strange old woman? I didn’t see anyone like that.” Rita stated.
“What? That’s… She was definitely-” Roxanne stuttered in confusion.
Rita’s worried and perplexed expression made Roxanne realize that her friend truly did not know anything about the strange woman.
“I did sense a lingering scent, but the smell of blood and carnage distracted me. Besides, I was too occupied trying to get you all warm and safe” Rita spoke, feeling a little guilty for not trying harder.
“N-no, it’s fine. You did great. Thank you very much. How are they doing, my family?” Roxanne asked Rita.
“Well, they’re both recovering well. The wolfsbane is nearly out of Melissa’s system, and as for Linda, she has been asleep for quite some time now. Her condition appears to be stable though.” Rita explained.
“How long was I out for?”
“Barely a day. This is afternoon, you know? It hasn’t been very long. You don’t need to worry. You’ll all be fine!” Rita answered Roxanne with an encouraging smile.
“I see ..”
A moment of silence enveloped the room as the two women suddenly started feeling awkward, remembering how Roxanne had left the village in the first place. How she abandoned Asher and the pack.
Rita had multiple questions, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask Roxanne. It would be extremely selfish and insensitive of her to do something like that.
“Her mom and grandmother nearly died as a result of the Hunters. Now is not a good time to bring it up…” Rita thought to herself.
“Its alright, Rita” Roxanne interrupted her thought.
Rita’s eyes lit in surprise, shocked by Roxanne’s words as though she read her mind.
“I know what you’re thinking, so just ask…”
Rita heaved a sigh and decided to be straightforward with her friend.
“Why did you leave the pack, Roxy… Why did you leave Asher, and… why did you leave me?”
Her voice trembled as she let out the burning questions raging within her. Rita tried keeping in the hot tears that welled up in her eyes. She felt so betrayed and surprised by Roxanne’s actions, but she always held hope that there was a reason for what she did.
Roxanne gave a tired smile as she gazed upon her friend.
“Actually… the thing is…”
[Moments Later]
“Whaaaaaattttt?!! Asher did that?!” Rita let out in shock and rage, clearly upset by what she heard from Roxanne.
“I was surprised too. So surprised that I had to leave everything… I was betrayed, Rita.” Roxanne said in a sigh.
“No. No. No. Hold up, are you really sure he did that? For real?” Rita prodded, still unsure of what to construe from what Roxanne was saying.
“Rita, I’m not blind. How would make such a decision without seeing everything clearly? Besides, I don’t think it’s possible for a Werewolf to miss the details of two people in bed” Roxanne said, nearly sarcastically.
“That damn girl, Camilla. I knew she was up to something, but t think it was Asher all along…” Rita bit her teeth.
“H-hey! I mean, I was also clearly upset at the girl, but what about Asher? Aren’t you letting him off the hook too early?” Roxanne protested.
“What? No way. There’s no way Asher would have cheated on you with Camilla.” Rita spoke conclusively.
Roxanne’s expression changed to slight annoyance. Wasn’t Rita being too biased because Asher was her brother?
“How can you be so sure?” Roxanne questioned Rita with a narrow glare.
“Chill, Roxy. I’m not taking Asher’s side or anything, and I’m definitely not being biased because of our blood ties. It’s just that, Asher isn’t the kind of person to do that kind of thing… I just know it.” Rita spoke with so much certainty that it nearly scared Roxanne.
But, Roxanne couldn’t deny what she saw. It was definitely…
“Roxy, what exactly did you see?” Rita asked.
“They were both in each other’s arms, cuddling while being naked. There’s no other explanation, Rita. Asher isn’t the kind of person to get overpowered by someone like Camilla. It was definitely mutual!” Roxanne spoke agitatedly.
“I see… but, tell me Roxanne… Did you feel anything inside you when you saw them like that?”
Roxanne’s eyes twitched by the seemingly useless question Rita asked.
“Of course I did! Who wouldn’t be upset when their mate does something like-”
Roxanne quickly paused, feeling slightly embarrassed when she referred to Asher in such a manner.
“No, Roxanne. I’m not talking about your human emotions.” Rita spoke.
Roxanne’s eyes bulged upon hearing this.
“Remember, you’re a werewolf now. You possess two qualities in your frame. Just as you have human senses and instincts within you, you also have wolf ones. You have a human form and a wolf form. In that same vein, you have human emotions and wolf emotions… Your wolf ones are stronger in terms of reactions to your mate!” Rita explained.
“What are you saying? That I was supposed to-”
“Yes, Roxanne. When relating to your mate… the only way to be absolutely certain about something is your wolf instinct, in other words, your inner self’s nudging.” Rita added.
“Human emotions may lie. Sometimes it is uncertain and fluctuates. You may even feel things at a moment and find out later that you were not correct. However, a wolf’s primal reactions toward their mate are wrong!”
Roxanne was already getting a slight premonition that was shattering her earlier notion that had guided her so far.
“So, Roxy, I ask you once again… how did you feel within yourself? What did your inner wolf tell you?”
Upon hearing that question, Roxanne could not tell Rita the answer within her. Admitting in response would mean she had been wrong the entire time and lived a lie for so long.
She couldn’t mouth the words, because she knew what it basically translated to. Yet, her thoughts rang within her.
“Nothing… I felt nothing!”