Barely Breathing

Chapter 32: Correction, best of friends

For the nth time, I blew a breath away bored as ever staring at the sea of people in front of me as we wait for our alpha to arrive. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

It was past seven in the morning yet there were no traces of sun peeking through the canopy of trees, nor birds chirping lively. The sky was dim but not totally dark and the cold breeze passes us in a swirling motion taking dried leaves in its wake.

This must be tolerable if I just have my friends to talk with. Tash with the girls was on the other side opposite mine, laughing at each other's silly jokes unaware of my isolation.

I know I should have go there and talk with them but I could not force my feet to move towards their circle. I am at fault and not sure if they are ready to forgive me yet.

Heather caught my stare and gave a small smile. He nudged Tash to which I immediately turned away. I didn't just lie to Tash, I lied with everyone but with reasons.

If I had said I was on a run two years ago and not just an orphan rogue from the war, they would never let me in. The pack would not want a threat like what I secretly put them into. I needed a place to stay as things getting worse which I could not handle any longer.

To be in a pack means real food to eat, a roof under your head, something to sleep on instead of the cold ground, and clothes to wear other than shabby ones I steal on backyards. I know it's a selfish act but I also need to learn how to fight, to train how to fight. I had to be strong, the stronger the better. For how selfish my intentions were, I don't intend to stay in this pack for too long.

Barely am sixteen, no wolf yet, and was already fighting the odds to stay alive. Not only do I have Jasper and his pack on my tail but also rogues scattered onto unclaimed territory.

But the moon goddess has another fate thread for me and here I am now, the Luna of Blood Moon Pack. Who would have thought?

Someone tapped my shoulder and when I looked behind, it was Cassey, one of the twins. I waited for the accusations but nothing came. She just stared at me and after a moment, she nodded at me with a smile.

One by one the girls came, Callie was smiling right before she reached me.

"What are you thinking?" Callie asked and the twins hugged me both.

"Nothing," I replied, giving back a smile. An overwhelming emotion tugged at my heart.

"Luna." Heather holds both of my hands while smiling at me teary-eyed. She hugged me and whispered. "I'm just so glad you're safe."

"Me too." I simply replied, hugging her back.

"Oh Willow!" A crying Elony attacked me in a tight hug crying her heart out.

'Elony crying that's new' I thought. Elony is the toughest girl I knew and seeing her cry makes me want to cry too.

"Why didn't you tell us," Elony said when she regained composure. "We could have helped you. You are our friend. Aren't friends supposed to help each other?" She said pouting.

"Correction, best of friends." Cassey chimed in.

"Yeah right," Callie added to which followed by all of us laughing emotionally.

"I am so sorry girls... for everything. I--" I swallowed as words stuck in my mouth. I have so much to tell them, but I don't know how to start.

"No, I am sorry." Tash finally spoke teary-eyed. "We're all are."

"Tash..."

"I always knew there's a lot more under your sleeves, I just didn't know it was deeper than I thought." She said crying to which I cried too. I hold her hand and smiled. She smiled back.

"I want to be mad at you but then, when I tried to put myself in your shoes, of everything that you've gone through, even if I don't understand, I felt scared and lonely. And that hurts me knowing it's what you felt all these years. Maybe even worst than that." Tash said and those simple words touched my heart so deep that it hurts so much.

At this moment, all of us were crying as we stared at each other. I hugged Tash saying "It's all fine now."

The other girls joined the hug and soon we were all laughing at how silly we had been crying like this.

And a genuine smile painted on my lips.