Landing on my feet, my grandmother’s fingers interlocked with mine, I gazed upon the very prison I was placed. Locked in to wither away without my wolf…
My wolf!
I turn my face to look at my grandmother, who did not look as frail as before… she looked powerful, stern and in control. Something I deeply aspired to be… A woman in control of her life.
“My wolf, I need to find her and I need to connect with her. She will die without me, roam aimlessly without me and I cannot let that happen!” I say but my grandmother ignores me. Instead, she walks over to the iron bars that kept me inside this very prison and melted them with fire. If only I had my wolf, I could have done the same.
“Your wolf waits for you. Connect with it using your mind, you are one… you can find it easily that way.” She says to me.
I walk out, looking back at the place that once brought my death and set up the stairs. Ready to take back what was mine…
And like our minds are one, my wolf races into me, my power restored once again and I could feel exactly what my grandmother was talking about. The power I took for granted and forgot of its magnitude, it’s force.
How did I allow my father to put me here? To kill me?
The thought of my return had my stomach twisted. I mean, would my family welcome me back? Who would be happy to see me? Who would be mad at my return?
The fact that I had the ability to return?
The big question then remains unanswered, can I stay dead?
Here was I with my grandmother, who, by her choosing, was able to come back. She was a moon goddess before me, and I am her bloodline… so, I’ll ask again, can I even stay dead?
The confidence surging through my veins, like some power that was new to me. I know I’ve had my insecurities in my short life, but I was not a girl that was never really confident… and yet this feeling was all to new to me. It felt different… felt powerful. More powerful than I’ve ever felt in my life.
In our approach I can hear Josie’s voice. She was angry, angry and sad and I got my answer. She was mourning me.
My little sister was sad and angry at those that allowed it to happen.
Hunter put me in that prison and let me die.
Anthony did not stop him. He allowed it to happen.
Mother being mother, allowed her mate to do this to her own daughter.
My grandmother pushes open the double wooden oak doors, silencing the room and everyone looking our way.
“Mother?” Hunter asks in disbelief as he rises from his chair, my mother following after him. My eyes land on Josie, her face stained with tears as she takes me in.
She’s trying to sense for my wolf and we race towards each other, our wolves connecting before I pull her into my arms.
“Hush now. I’m here to fix your mess and to teach you a lesson.” Grandma says to her son Hunter. As my grandmother pushed open the double oak doors, all eyes turned towards us in shock and surprise. Hunter stood up from his seat, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. Beside him, my mother looked conflicted but remained silent.
But it was Josie who captured my attention – tears stained her face as she locked eyes with me for the first time since I had been taken away from them unjustly. Our wolves instantly recognized one another before we even made physical contact; they rejoiced in our reunion.
With newfound determination fueled by love and power coursing through our veins, Josie took a step forward and hugged me tight as if never wanting to let go again.
The room fell quiet until my grandmother’s voice pierced through the heavy air like thunderclaps on an otherwise calm night sky: “Hush now,” she commanded sternly at Hunter while fixing him with an unwavering gaze that sent shivers down his spine. “I’m here to fix your mess and teach you a lesson,” my grandmother’s voice echoed through the room, commanding attention from everyone present.
Hunter stood frozen in disbelief, his face pale with guilt. My mother, torn between her loyalty to him and her love for me, remained silent. Josie clung tightly to me, finding solace in our reunion. The power coursing through my veins filled me with a newfound confidence as I vowed to set things right.
The room was filled with an electric tension as all eyes were on us – the prodigal daughter returning to claim her rightful place. Hunter tried to muster up some semblance of composure but failed miserably under my intense gaze.
With every ounce of strength within me, I declared, “I may have been locked away unjustly, but no more. From this moment on, things will change.” I stared directly into Hunter’s eyes, my voice steady and filled with conviction. “You may have thought you could control me, lock me away like some caged animal and leave me for dead, but I am not your puppet anymore. I am strong, and I will not let anyone dictate my life.” The room fell silent as everyone absorbed the weight of my words.
I turned to look at Anthony, who clung to his mate as his face showed confusion.
“I am back and I know my true power. Those that have abandoned me, those that chose to punish me, will feel my presence and I hope when you go to sleep at night, you pray to me that I am lenient.” I say, my last words directed at mother.
For it is a mothers love that one needs in life to fight unjust battles and to find strength. I did not have that, for my mother made choices that were easy for her, not caring how it affected me.