Audrey didn’t get enough sleep the last night. She had sneaked out when she was sure Alpha Lake was deep in sleep; and went to seek Ms. Bridget.
She could not bring herself to close her eyes beside such an evil man.
KNOCK KNOCK!
Ms. Bridget who was in deep slumber woke up from the consistent knocking on her door.
“Who could that be, so early in the morning, it’s barely sunrise.” Ms. Bridget mumbled sleepily.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
The knocking continued.
“Hold on, I’m coming.” She put on her foot wear and went to open the door.
“Audrey?”
“Mama!” Audrey hugged Ms. Bridget tightly, sobbing into her chest.
“Oh, poor girl. Come on, let get you sitted.” Ms. Bridget took her in and closed her door.
She let Audrey cry for sometime, to let out her frustration, she knew it had something to do with their unruly Alpha.
“Now, now, it’s okay child. Talk to me. Tell me everything.” She said soothingly, gentle petting Audrey’s back.
Audrey gently calmed down, she didn’t know why she cried, but the moment she reached Ms. Bridget’s door, all memories came rushing back at her.
She remembered every hardship she’s been through in this same environment. Plus, her wolf needed to cry too.
Avery was the worst. She’s gone absolutely quiet since she heard the Alpha say he didn’t want them. She was seriously sulking.
Audrey quietly slowly sipped the tea Ms. Bridget had given her as she told the old lady everything that had happened from the moment the guards and Cara went to get her from the grapevine, till date.
“No wonder I can’t scent your smell. I just knew it was you the moment I looked into your eyes. But your scent, it was gone. Magic? That explains everything.” Ms. Bridget mused.
“Yes, Mama. And I need to find it and get away from here as soon as possible. I don’t want to be here longer than necessary.” Audrey said.
Ms. Bridget’s face fell. She missed her, and here she was thinking about running off again.
“No, no, it’s not like that, Mama, I would be found out if I continue staying. And you know it; witches are not welcomed here. I don’t want any more problems with him. I’ve had enough.” Audrey explained.
“But, you’re his mate. The moment he finds out, which I believe is soon, from all you’ve said happened between you two; trust me child, I know him, he won’t let you go.” Ms. Bridget said with a smile, like there was something she knew that Audrey didn’t know.
Audrey felt it too. She had an inkling that Alpha Lake didn’t tell her the whole story about his relationship with her younger self. Something was missing, but it’s not like she cared. She was just curious.
“Your amulet, you don’t remember how you lost it?” Ms. Bridget asked like it was an incident she should not have forgotten.
“Um, no. I don’t remember. Why?” Audrey asked.
“Well, I thought you said you could read minds? You should have found out when you touched him. And before you think you can read mine, I don’t know where it is, I just know he took it because you had told me he did.” Ms. Bridget explained.
“He? Alpha Lake?” Audrey asked, scratching the side of her face in confusion.
“Yes, child. Now, find a way to read his mind and find your amulet.” Ms. Bridget said as she returned the cup Audrey had used to drink her tea back to the table.
“It’s not involuntary, Mama. I can control it, I see when I wish to see, and I don’t like invading people’s privacy. I only see if I’m permitted.” Audrey said.
“And, if I’m to do it without his consent, he’s a clever wolf, and Alpha; he’ll definitely find out that I’m a witch. I can’t risk it. I’ll go slow and steady.” Audrey dusted the invisible dust away from one corner of the bed, and lay down, curling her feet to herself in a featus position.
“Let me sleep here till dawn?” She asked Ms. Bridget.
“Sure, child. You always do.” Ms. Bridget sat on the bed and watched Audrey fall asleep.
She was happy she was back as a different person, she was glad for her great change. She was proud of her strong adopted daughter.
No one could bully her now, not Cara and her minions, not the guards, and definitely not the headstrong Alpha.
A tear slipped down her face as she remembered all the things the girl had been through all because someone was confused about his feelings.
She always tried to help him understand himself. But he always churned her out. Now, she was sure that things were going to change drastically.
“Audrey? Audrey?” Audrey turned around to the sound of her name, but, what she saw was her seven-years-old self wearing a pink dress, her red hair was packed in pig tails and she was sneakily hiding behind a tree near the Packhouse.
She immediately sighted the half-moon amulet on around the neck of the little girl.
She looked happy, hiding away from the male voice that was calling her.
The voice was oddly familiar.
“Caught you!”
“Ha-ha-ha, no! You cheated, Alpha. You scented me, that’s cheating!” The young girl has been ambushed by a very young and handsome Alpha Lake.
He watched as they both laughed like best friends, even though she saw their age difference from where she stood, but to them, it seemed like ages wasn’t a barrier for their friendship.
Alpha Lake was probably twenty-one, if she was seven then. And from what she was looking at, little Audrey was oblivious to the kind of feelings the Alpha had towards her.
Audrey stood transfixed, she knew this was no dream, but, a vision.
Maybe she hadn’t seen this before because she haven’t thought about how her amulet got lost, and with the conversation she had with the Alpha earlier, she knew this was Catherine showing her the details Alpha Lake omitted in his story, and her way of pushing her forward to her mission.
“Happy birthday, little kitten.” Alpha Lake petted Audrey’s hair, kissing her forehead.
Audrey could not believe her ears and her eyes. She was confused.
How the hell did she not remember this kind of incident on her life. Alpha Lake? Was this sweet with her?
She decided to prepare herself for more shocking views, from what she’s seen so far, she knew she was about to be electrocuted from this vision.
She thought back to how he still called her little kitten, she didn’t know who was fooling who now.
Did he know her real identity and was just messing with her? Or, did he just feel the need to address her that way because he saw her as Audrey? Or he decided to be kind to her to feel good about the way he had treated her younger self?
Something didn’t add up.
“Thank you Alpha, I love it!” Little Audrey blushed as the Alpha enclosed a gold bracelet around her wrist.
There was an engraving, but she could not see it from where she stood. She could not risk moving from her position for fear of waking up from this vision.
“What’s this? Alpha.” Little Audrey asked, pointing to the engraving on the golden bracelet.
“You’ll know when you learn how to read, little kitten.” Alpha Lake said, petting her head.
Little Audrey pouted her lips in fake anger.
“Fine. I’m not your little kitten, call me Audrey.” She said and folded her small hands on her chest, facing away from the Alpha.
Alpha Lake chuckled and used the opportunity of her backing him to unhook her amulet.
“I’ll keep this as my birthday gift for next month,”
“What-”
“Before you throw a tantrum, kitten; it’s still yours, but I’m keeping it as a compensation for your ignorance to my actions and as a remembrance. I’ll return it to you, when you turn eighteen.” He dangled the amulet in front his eyes and placed it in his pants pocket.
Young Audrey didn’t understand a word of what he said, she just nodded and ran off into the Packhouse.
Alpha Lake stood there, watching her with obvious love and admiration in his eyes.
“I’m sorry Alpha, I know I should be punished. But, Audrey is not whom she claims to be.” Young Janeth emerged from behind a tree.
She looked seventeen and skinny.
“Not now, Janeth. Go about your duties.” Alpha Lake dismissed her and walked away.
“It’s the suicide letter from your father!” Janeth announced, halting his footsteps.
“What. Did. You. Say?” Alpha Lake asked dangerously. His demeanour changed Instantly, the atmosphere turned cold.
Janeth shrank back, but she didn’t run away, she knew what she would benefit from the outcome of her actions were worth every punishment she would receive.
“He asked you to kill her, Audrey. She’s the daughter of Isabella; the Pack murderer. She killed your mother, our beloved Luna Aurora-”
“Quiet!” He snarled and snatched the letter off her hands.
He had not read the letter since he picked it from his father’s cold hands in the forest five years ago.
Why? Why did Janeth have to go and read it, now, he had to choose between honouring his father’s words and his feelings.
He knew the latter was now out of the question, any one who hurt her mother was his enemy.
Audrey was his enemy.
“Go away, Janeth. I’ll deal with you later.” He said in a very low and dangerous voice.
“But, Alpha, I think you should love me instead-”
“I said, get lost!” He growled at her.
Janeth ran into the Packhouse, her body could be seen shivering from fear.
Audrey suddenly saw her younger self, standing in front of the whole Pack, as her dear Alpha Lake declared her the enemy of the whole Pack, and reduced her to a slave, he ordered the guards to move her things down to the servants’ quarters.
She saw how little Audrey ran to meet Alpha Lake when he was leaving in front of the Packhouse, where he had just gifted her an hour ago.
She begged and cried, but he only told her that the treatment she would get from now onwards was a fare deal compared to what he had in mind for her.
She begged for him to give her amulet back but it only seemed to annoy him, he didn’t seem like he wanted to give it back.
He shoved her away from his leg and walked away. Leaving her on the dirty muddy ground.