Chapter 47: Chapter 47

For a moment, I convinced myself that I was at home with my grandmother. The smell of soup filled the air, thick with garlic, thyme, and oregano. The blend of tomato invaded my senses and left me with a feeling of comfort and security. My grandmother’s humming floated through the kitchen into the living room where I lay on the couch. The lingering warmth in the air heated my skin, soothing my aching muscles. It was when I found the strength to open my eyes that I realized how mistaken I was.

I wasn’t at my grandmother’s house, and she was dead. The peaceful humming came from an elderly woman, whose hair was as white as snow. She stood in the kitchen, stirring something in a large iron pot. The dancing heat on my skin came from the crackling fire just a few meters in front of me. Horror flooded over me as I realized I was naked when they found me and now I wore a long nightgown. My body was covered with a thick quilt that smelled of lavender and other herbs. I watched in stunned silence as the old woman served the soup in a large bowl, her delicate humming filling the house.

I felt my body tense as the woman looked in my direction, a smile forming on her face as she approached me with the soup. Her eyes held the same kindness my grandmother used to have, but that was the only similarity between the two. Grandma had been old and frail, her limbs thin and weak. This woman was old, but she was strong. She walked effortlessly, her posture upright yet relaxed. Her hair cascaded down her back in waves the color of snow.

“Eat this, dear. It will make you feel better,” the woman murmured, placing the steaming bowl of soup in front of me. She herself sat in an armchair, looking at me with expectant eyes. “Gea?” I called, but I heard nothing.

“Your wolf will return, child,” the woman nodded serenely. “Try the soup, it’s minestrone. As much as I wanted to resist, the kindness in her eyes and the growling in my stomach overwhelmed me. Tentatively, I took a spoonful of the soup. Carrots, celery, and onion floated in the bowl. When I brought the spoon to my lips, the old woman smiled happily.

“Is it good?” she asked with bright eyes. “My son always says it’s too salty. What’s a good soup without a little salt?”

“It’s delicious,” I nodded, surprised at how strong my voice sounded. “It’s not salty at all.”

“Well, thank you, dear,” she smiled, turning her head toward the dark hallway and shouting, “See?! She doesn’t think it’s too salty.”

“Do you trust her now?” a deep voice teased. An older gentleman emerged into the light, around thirty years old. His hair was dark, but streaks of light gray adorned it. His eyes narrowed at me suspiciously, and I resisted the urge to sink into the plush sofa. He had a large build, but attention radiated from him in waves.

“Don’t scare the girl, Steve,” the old woman said, greeting the man with a deep sigh. “Ignore my son, he has spent too many years fighting his own paranoia. You can call me Bruma.”

“I’m Sussan,” I replied, giving Steve one last glance before taking another spoonful of soup.

“Beautiful name,” Bruma murmured appreciatively. “Now, why don’t you tell us about your first time? The first is always the worst.”

“My first time?” I swallowed saliva, my eyes widened as I looked between the mother and son. Understanding crossed Bruma’s eyes as she read the panic on my face.

“Ah, I see,” Bruma nodded, frowning at her son who had leaned against the wall in the hallway. “You haven’t known about your heritage for very long, have you? If you did, you would have sniffed us out.”

“Both of you are werewolves?” I asked, surprise in my tone. “I haven’t known for very long. It was… a surprise.”

“It’s something you choose,” Bruma frowned, sympathy burning in her eyes. “It couldn’t have been easy. Living your life as a human only to discover that you’re the daughter of an Alpha, and moreover, a white wolf.”

“A white wolf?” I furrowed my brow. “What does the color of my wolf have to do with anything?”

“She has no idea about anything,” Steve scoffed, shaking his head. “I give her a week.”

“Silence, you’ll frighten the poor girl,” Bruma exclaimed, then turned her attention back to me. “White wolves are extremely rare, child. That’s how you found me. I am the last white wolf in over five hundred years.”

“I found you because you’re a white wolf?”

“That’s right, Sussan,” Bruma nodded. “I’ve been in hiding for quite some time. White wolves are coveted for their abilities. White wolves appear when the world needs them. It’s unknown when or where they will appear.”

“Abilities?” I sighed, exhaustion weighing on my limbs. “I thought I had enough to worry about. I never wanted to be a werewolf, let alone one with abilities.”

“Power is often given to those who don’t want it. It’s better for you to learn what you’re capable of,” Bruma replied, her face quickly turning serious. “Just because you reject your heritage doesn’t mean those who covet you will simply stop. Embrace the life you’ve been given, Sussan. Learn to defend yourself.”

“I don’t know where to start,” I scoffed. “I ran away from all this. Now I’m back where I started.”

“I disagree,” Bruma reflected. “I think you’ve made an improvement. You enjoyed shifting, didn’t you? It was liberating, wasn’t it?”

“It was incredible,” I confessed, feeling Gea stir in my mind. “I had never felt so free, so strong.”

“You have more strength than you realize, Sussan,” Bruma smiled, rising from the armchair. “Follow me.”

With one last cautious glance at Steve, I followed Bruma through the back door. I shrunk back against the harsh sunlight, wondering how long I had been unconscious. When my eyes adjusted, I looked in awe at Bruma’s backyard. I had thought the forest at night was beautiful, but it was nothing compared to what lay before my eyes at that moment. Her backyard consisted of rolling hills, lush trees with drooping canopies, and rows upon rows of wildflowers. Rose bushes grew in clusters, unlike anything I had ever witnessed. Sunflowers, daisies, gardenias, and flowers I had never seen before stretched across the land. A small stream ran through the earth, its water clear and sparkling.

“It’s beautiful,” I breathed, my eyes filled with awe. I observed every vibrant petal, every fresh leaf, and every blade of grass. This little piece of land was like a personal paradise, a private clearing for Bruma and her melancholic son.

“This, Sussan, is my ability,” Bruma smiled at the little piece of sky, pride shining in her eyes.

“The flowers are your ability?” I asked, unable to tear my eyes away.

“Not flowers,” Bruma chuckled, gesturing for me to follow her. We jumped over the narrow stream and continued through the plush grass. Bruma carefully trod on some of the flowers, preserving them. We approached a patch of tulips, and I furrowed my brow as I realized they hadn’t bloomed yet. Everything else in that clearing was thriving, but the tulips seemed to be lagging behind.

“Look,” Bruma whispered, cupping the tulips with her weathered hands. The air around Bruma grew warm, a gentle breeze rustled the gown she was wearing. I watched in silent awe as the tulips bloomed, their delicate petals opening for her. “My ability is nature itself,” Bruma smiled with pride, looking at the plants and trees as if they were her children. “Tell me, child. Do your companions know that you’re a white wolf?”

“How did you know?” I asked, shivering as I wondered what Liam and Ethan would think of my whereabouts. Gea had said they were close. Were they still searching for me? Would they simply grow tired of this cat and mouse game?

“They will never stop searching, Sussan,” Gea whispered. “They will search to the ends of the earth until they find us.”

“I see your wolf is awake,” Bruma chuckled. “And to answer your question, white wolves have sharper instincts than the average werewolf. Sometimes we can sense who someone’s mate is before they come of age. Other times we just get small glimpses of information.”

“No, they don’t know,” I furrowed my brow. “I escaped before they could find out.”

“Does anyone else know?” Bruma asked, focusing all her attention on me. I resisted the urge to squirm under her gaze, but I couldn’t erase the nervous furrow that appeared on my lips.

“Yes, those men, the ones who tried to kidnap me. I think they were wolves, but they smelled… different,” I shook my head, unable to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach. “They saw me shift, they know what I am.”

“Then you must proceed with great caution,” Bruma murmured. “You’re lucky, you have two companions to protect you. My mate died when I was very young, as did my parents. They left me to fend for myself.”

“I’m so sorry,” I replied, and I truly meant it. I wasn’t sure if I wanted Liam and Ethan, but the thought of them dying twisted painfully inside me.

“Don’t fight with your companions, Sussan,” Bruma smiled softly, brushing her hand against my cheek. “They will choose you above anything, above anyone. That kind of bond is important, it could save your life someday.”

My heart ached under her touch, under the maternal touch I had been denied for so long. I couldn’t help but wish that my mom was more like Bruma, that she had loved and cared for me when I needed it most. Instead, she left me alone, left me to fend for myself and discover the world as it truly was, cruel and cold.

How could they ever forgive me?” I laughed, though my laughter quickly turned into a dry sob. “I ran away from them. They should hate me.”

“I’m sure you had your reasons for leaving, whatever they may be,” Bruma replied. “Tell them your reasons, Sussan. They will forgive you. I promise.”

“I’m going to try to…” I breathed, finally starting to understand that I couldn’t run from this. I couldn’t run from who I was.

“Speaking of your companions, I suspect they will arrive soon,” Bruma murmured, her eyes scanning the forest along her house. “I sent Steve to conceal your scent, although I believe your companions have quickly figured out how to track you through the bond. Quite unusual, you know, to have twins as mates.”

“Tell me about it,” I dryly laughed, wrapping my arms around my torso as my heart rate skyrocketed. Excitement danced along my skin, giving me goosebumps and igniting a fire in my stomach. I hadn’t allowed myself to fully accept how much I missed the twins, and I still refused to think about Aly.

“I’m understanding, men can be difficult to handle,” Bruma smiled, looking half her age. “Although it means more protection for you.”

“You could come with us…” I offered, desperately hoping she would say yes. My stomach dropped when her eyes softened. “I don’t have anyone else, not really, anyway. Lia, my mom, stopped caring a long time ago, and my father only wants me so I can take over his pack.”

“Visit me as often as you can, child,” Bruma smiled, but the expression didn’t quite reach her eyes. “But please, don’t tell anyone about this place or what I am. I have remained hidden for so long that I fear I no longer have a place in this world.”

“You will always have a place in my pack, Bruma,” I murmured, speaking the words as Gea whispered them in my mind. While the words felt strange on my tongue, they also felt right.

“Thank you for that, Luna Sussan,” Bruma smiled, and I couldn’t help but return the gesture.

The two of us headed inside, where I finished the rest of my soup. I couldn’t recall a time when I felt so happy, so at ease with who I was and who I had become. That feeling only lasted until I realized that I wouldn’t be going to the bakery that day. I wondered what Sara would think, and I hoped that Liam and Ethan would let me visit her one last time.

I grew more and more nervous as the minutes passed. When a loud knock sounded on the front door, I stood up in an instant. Their scents reached my nose within seconds, almost bringing me to my knees.

“They’re here,” Gea cheerfully whispered. “They’re actually here.”

“She’s here, Alpha,” Bruma responded in a kind tone. “You may come in.”

Their footsteps echoed through the house, and for a moment, I wondered if the soup I had eaten would come right out of my stomach. Just as I contemplated fleeing through the back door, Liam and Ethan entered the room.