Chapter 52: Our Hosts

Lucinda

I opened my eyes slowly.

I frowned at the huge ass bedroom with white walls and golden fixings.

I sat up in the ginormous springy bed. The place was huge. I frowned again.

Beside me, Lexi slept soundly, her hair sprawled around her head. Her lips were slightly parted.

And my head ached. And I hadn't showered in ages.

Lexi stirred. "Mmmmhh," she groaned. "Girl you reek."

"Where are we?" I asked, marvelling at the room.

Stretching, she mumbled, "Dunno, somewhere in Italy... I think."

"Italy?!" I screamed. "Like seriously?!" I hopped off the bed and wandered around.

"Nah, it was actually Sicily or something," she muttered, flipping onto her stomach and burying her face in the pillow. "Better get some water on that skin babe."

I rolled my eyes. "And since when do you call me babe?" I snorted.

"Ugh! It's just some expression I picked up from the really cool girl who brought us here." She sat up with a pout. "Now you've woken me up."

"Good, you should work on getting us something to eat," I called from the bathroom.

The bathroom was as elegant and complex as the one I had first used back at the pack house. I swiftly brushed away the memories of the last time I was there.

I was here now. With Lexi. I just had to trust her.

After all, she had proved to be more of a friend than I would ever deserve.

I took a long, relaxing shower.

By the time I got out, Lexi had set up a delicious dinner on a small side table.

I grinned, tugging down the terrycloth robe.

We sat down and ate.

Being wolves, the food disappeared fast.

"Okay Cin," said Lexi seriously in a low voice, "you gotta get a few things straight. We're not at the pack house. We're not among other werewolves. You cannot give away our secret."

I nodded gravely. "Okay. I promise."

"You promise you'll try," she clarified in her stern mentor voice. "You never know when you'll slip up. Now give me your hand. I'll show you how to do the amnesia spell. It works on humans, at least."

***

To say I was nervous would be the understatement of the century.

Lexi absolutely refused to tell me why we were here and who was housing us. She said I had to meet them, not be told about them.

So now I was choosing what to wear when I went to meet our hosts. Someone had filled the closet with all types of clothes and shoes, so we were not short on choices.

Lexi lay on the bed in a simple purple dress and her hair in a ponytail.

I was rather jealous of that ponytail.

Eventually, I settled on a nice floral jumpsuit and a hairband for my painfully short red hair.

A butler led us through the spotless, gleaming hallways.

We stopped at a desk behind which sat a young lady. She smiled politely and led us further to another door.

She opened the door for us with a small incline of her head.

I felt my nerves disappear. My back straitened and my chin rose, my footsteps firmer and showing purpose.

I strutted into that office.

A man sat behind the desk facing us. His styled hair was jet, reminding me of a certain wolf. His face was chiseled and cold, not a facial hair in sight. His eyes were dark and cold and deadly. A nasty white scar cut across his temple dangerously close to the vein. One hand lay on the table, littered over with tiny scars. A tattoo of a thorny rose was visible there too. My eyes rose back to his collar, where black tattoo ink on his neck peeked out. Dressed impeccably in a black dress shirt (which made no secret of the size of his build), he was the perfect picture of a handsome, rich, and deadly man.

My eyes drifted to the lady who stood beside him.

The elegant heels caught my attention first. They led up to a knee-length simple orange dress that showed her body nicely. A diamond neckpiece was arranged at her throat to match the ones dangling from her ears. Her wavy, red-brown hair was all pulled to one side. Full red lips and honey brown eyes smiled nervously at me.

My mouth fell open.

This was the woman in my dreams. This was Blaire.

This woman was my mother.

I blinked in shock, just staring.

She was even more beautiful than she was in my dreams. Her eyes had a light in them that had not been present in the dreams. But they were still as sweet and confident as they were then.

They filled with tears as I watched.

"Naomi..." she spoke. The voice was identical. And the name was correct.

"Mother?" I whispered, my own waterworks beginning.

I couldn't believe it. This was my mother. I had finally met her. Was this even real? I turned to Lexi, who just gave me a happy, encouraging smile.

I turned back too stunned to do anything.

"It's been eighteen years now," said my newfound mother. "You've grown so well, my dear."

Where were you? Veli whispered.

"Where were you?" I conveyed her question, understanding that it was indeed what I wanted to know myself. "Eighteen years... is a long time."

She blinked, sadness evident in her eyes. "Yes it is," she agreed with a sniffle. "I'm sorry. I searched for you everywhere, wondering if you were still alive. But you were lost in the foster system, I had no more leads on you. I searched for years— I only stopped and gave up when..." The tears choked her up and she looked up, shaking her head as if trying to shake away a memory. "It's a very long, very sad story. One that even I don't want to remember. I'm deeply sorry you had to grow up without me. As you said, eighteen years is a long time."

I shook my head. It was alright for me; I could forgive her for that. Hell, I had expected that my father had killed her— just her being alive was enough of a gift to make up for all the eighteen years.

"My father?" I questioned, barely glancing Mr. Intimidating who still sat, cold and unfeeling in a room full of crying women.

"He's dead," she answered plainly. "Also a very long story."

She didn't sound sorry to say that. Neither was I sorry to hear it.

I just gave in and ran to her. I didn't miss the tiny shift in the eyes of Mr. Intimidating.

Her embrace warmed me to my toes and back. If this was what a mother's touch felt like, it was no wonder it was so prized by most rational people.

It was warm— and tender— and loving. It was the kind of hug that told me that she loved me dearly and would let nothing bad happen to me if she could help it. It was comfort.

I laughed and sobbed all at once.

Did I mention how relieving it was to just cry sometimes? All the pent up frustrations just being let out. It was liberating— though it did leave a headache most if the time.

We parted after a few minutes, and she looked me over with what looked like pride.

It felt nice to see that look of approval on my mother's face.

"So where have you been, my dear?" she asked mildly.

"I was in an orphanage most of my life," I explained. "I only got out about half a year ago, and now I live in the... with my friend Lexi," I said, glancing at Mr. Intimidating (who was human, by the way).

"You grew up in an orphanage?" she repeated, shocked. Then she shook her head. "We'll talk later," she muttered. "How did you find me?"

I frowned. "I didn't find you. I mean, I thought you're the one who found me and took me away from the States."

"Well yes, but I wouldn't have known where you were if your friend hadn't called."

I turned to Lexi. She smiled softly.

"You did this?"

She nodded.

"Holy shit Lexi!"

I jumped on her and hugged her tightly; so tightly she had to gasp for air and pry me off.

"Don't over thank me, I only called her. I'm not the one who did most of the research."

My throat tightened up again. Of course. It was Tyler.

"Hey, don't think too much about that, okay? Calm down and get to know your mom. I brought you here to have some free time to have fun and rest a bit, not to worry."

I heard her voice over the mind-link.

Turning back again to stare at my mother, I saw her straighten her posture.

"This," she introduced, laying an elegant hand on the dangerous-looking man's shoulder, "is my husband, Antonio D'Luca. He's... your stepfather."

He stood up with his deadly-looking grace and held his hand out for me to shake. He had a firm grasp, though I couldn't help noticing how his eyes shot to the door and softened when I heard someone come in.

The newcomer's scent struck me. It was oddly familiar; like I had crossed paths with it before.

"Milan," said my newfound mom very nervously. I didn't turn to look at the newcomer. "You're just in time. I would like for you to meet... your big sister. She's my daughter from another marriage."

I gave Mum a shocked look.

Oh. I never guessed I wouldn't be an only child, though that was fine. I suppose I would rather like being an older sister.

The person behind me cleared her throat softly.

"Um, hello," she spoke.

I had definitely heard that voice before.

I turned.

And was met with a face I would remember anywhere.

Her eyes lit up like honey colored fireworks.

"Lucinda?!" We both spoke at the same time. She came up to me and placed her arms around me gently. "I don't believe it. You fulfilled your promise! How did you find me?" Winking, she added, "Lucinda's just my alias, by the way. Milan's my real name."

"You and I are sisters?" I exclaimed happily.

"Hold on, you two know each other?" asked Antonio.

"Oh, yes. Remember that time when I was kidnapped in the States?"

Antonio's brow rose as he looked at me. "Oh. So this was the girl who saved your life." My sister nodded in reply. A new look came over him as he nodded at me in what I took to be thanks.

"You saved her life?!" exclaimed our Mum.

"Well she saved mine too," I butted in.

"I did?"

"Of course. If you hadn't woken me up with those brutal slaps and some very colorful language, I would have fainted as soon as we fell out that window," I reminded her.

"Oh yes, I remember now," she mused. "Though if you didn't have that gun the guard would have dispatched us to heaven."

"But you fired it. Which reminds me, how did you learn to fire a gun?"

"Never mind," Mum interrupted. "All's well that ends well. Both of you, thank you for saving each other that time. I'm glad to know that my daughters looked out for each other even before they knew they were related. Milan, why don't you show her your brother?"

"Oh yes. Let's go. Oh, hello Lexi," she said to her.

Grinning, Lexi said, "You saved my life too, when the jet lag nearly killed me. Thanks for showing me that room before things got even worse."

"Jet lag is the worst," Milan chuckled, leading us both out if her father's office.

*Picture is of Milan*