Chapter 46: The Party

Lucinda

"I'm never leaving this place," Lexi announced as soon as we entered the cafeteria at school.

"You just said you couldn't wait to leave," Dylan giggled.

"I'll leave afterwards," Lexi countered with a shrug.

"Yeah, obviously. It's a party, hello! Don't we all know that the two best things in our lives are Food and Fun?! What more could we ask for?" added Trish, waving at the tables laden with all sorts of luxuries. Wolves milled around, laughing and chattering as they grabbed and ate everything that struck their fancy. A few grownups worked the party by keeping all tables full of whatever it was they held.

It was the graduation party our year was throwing since today was the last day we would attend school before the official day we would be given our diplomas.

I just blinked and smiled weakly.

I caught Dylan watching me nervously.

Lexi's eyes brightened as they surveyed the room. Then they dulled again when they sat on me.

I gave her the brightest smile I could muster. "Let's eat!" I invited with fake enthusiasm.

She caught on. I was sure if it.

We split up, each going to the most enticing table she could see. I just sat down in the nearest seat. I picked up a cupcake and tried to nibble on it. I didn't get far with my pathetic appetite.

I leaned back and shut my eyes with a sigh.

*Last night's dream*

"What are we going to do now?" Luna Blaire asked, tears in her eyes. "Where will we go? Gerald will follow me, if only out of spite. If only to break me a little bit more."

I twiddled my thumbs, keeping my eyes down. Luna had never minded me looking her in her eyes, but right now I just didn't want to see her so grief-ridden.

One of her hands covered mine.

"Thank you," she whispered. Gratitude shone through the sadness in her eyes. "You saved my baby's life. You stopped him from hurting her. It must have been very hard, as you are an Omega. I'm sorry you had to witness that. And that my problems have cost you your job and your freedom. But nevertheless I thank you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for acting on impulse and saving my daughter. I will forever be indebted to you."

A short pause, during which I was incredibly uncomfortable.

"Another thing, Cara. Thank you for never telling the pack the truth about Gerald and me. It would have hurt them terribly that their Alpha hurts his own mate on purpose. You were the only one who knew, but you kept silent. Thank you."

I nodded, keeping my head down.

"And now," she continued, "I will not continue to burden you. Gerald can and will come after me; he might kill me. If you are with me you will definitely die. So it's best if you leave me alone. I will handle him myself."

"B-but how?" I stuttered, eyes now wide with fear.

"You should not worry about me. You are still part of my pack; you are also my friend, which makes me care all the more. I don't want Gerald to ever catch you."

"You are still my Luna," I answered timidly. "It it my duty to protect you."

She smiled her kind smile— the one that had been my solace in all my days as her housemaid.

"How can you protect me?" She asked softly. "How can you protect me from my Alpha mate?"

It was not in a condescending tone. She sounded and looked tired and hopeless, like she was merely groping in the dark for anything that could help her.

"I am an alchemist," I told her. "I know a herb that covers scents even better than the chemicals. Your mate bond will still give him a rough idea of which direction you are relative to him, but we can throw him off long enough to get to an old place I remember. We can hide there until we figure out what to do."

Honey brown orbs studied me for a long moment. I waited, my eyes down.

"You are very brave," she whispered at last.

I smiled a little. "For an Omega," I continued.

"No. For a wolf. Any wolf."

*Present*

My mother ran away from my father because he mistreated her and tried to kill her child— me. What kind of shitty past was that?

I had just found out that he used to abuse her physically.

Recalling the first if all these dreams, I knew that my mother had eventually given me up to Cara for safekeeping. Then she had gone off to meet him.

Did she survive that encounter? Did my father kill his own mate?

The thought made me nauseous. I left the cupcake and made my way quickly to the bathrooms. After dry heaving for a few minutes, I wet my hair and took a deep breath.

"Calm down, calm down," I whispered to myself. On emerging, I couldn't find it in me to return to the party. Just the thought of all those voices around me made my lip curl in distaste.

No. I was leaving.

I exited the school through the nearest window.

And then I ran off into the woods. My surroundings blurred around me as I let the rushing air cool me down. A mile away, I scurried up a tree and sat on a branch.

It was quiet up here. There were only the wind and the birds and the sun. No food. No heat. No walls. Even the recollections of my dreams seemed faint.

Peace.

I remained in the tree. I must have been there for about an hour.

A twig snapped, and so did my eyes to the spot. There was a cute little girl in a pink top and leggings, her head craned up as she stared ahead me. I smiled at the adorable pigtails and followed her gaze.

A fairly large bird, the size of a hawk, sat perched on a small tree. Its plumage was a mesmerizing deep blue color accentuated with a few black feathers in its wings. It had a sharp, high crest and a pointed tail, and the eye I could see was pitch black. The late afternoon sun made it look truly majestic. Even I wanted to touch it.

I slipped to the ground as quietly as I could. I had to get a better look at that bird; maybe I could draw it sometime. Glancing over at the child, I decided we could check it out together.

So I let her see me and with elaborate sign language, ensured her that I was not dangerous and that I was also on a quest for the gorgeous bird.

She and I joined forces and sneaked closer and closer.

Lexi

She left the cafeteria in a hurry.

Cindy had been somewhat off today and I intended to find out why.

I tracked her to the bathrooms and rolled my eyes at my own stupidity.

Like, what else would she be doing?

The ladies' door swung open. She glanced down the hallway towards the party with an expression of heavy disgust.

Suddenly, in two leaps, she crossed to a window in the hallway. It didn't take her long to get it open and jump out.

I ran to the window and saw her racing across the school grounds towards the woods.

Damn that speed.

Where was she going in such a hurry? Why was she escaping from school so suddenly without informing anyone?

My fingers were already looking for Tyler's contact in my phone.

"Hey Lex."

"Tyler. Where are you?"

"On my way. What happened?"

I wanted to ask how he knew something was up, but I didn't bother. "Cindy just left the school at a tremendous speed without telling anyone. She's been very quiet all day and hasn't eaten either."

"Which direction did she take?"

"North from the school. I would have helped but she'd probably notice too quickly. Then if she's doing nothing bad she'll wonder why I'm following her, and so on."

"I've got it, don't worry. Keep your phone on you. If anything happens, I'll give you a call."

"Thanks."