Chapter 12
Chapter 12
“The first thing is to admit you’re not fine. That’s the first thing you need to do. Tell me, Rya, how are you?” She holds my eyes with hers, waiting. The storm is raging outside, shaking the earth with its violence. Trees‘ limbs bend back and forth, and hard rain beats against
the windows.
She’s right. If I really look at myself, she’s right. I just don’t know how to help myself anymore. I want to feel something other than this. I want to be able to just move on with my life…to be free of this suffocation, the constriction around my life that has been devouring me like a snake, slowly, little by little.
“I’m not fine.” That’s all I say, nothing more. I can’t say anything else. Getting up from her spot, she pulls me into a hug. Her cheek presses against mine. She holds me to her for just a minute as the brutal power of nature unleashes the Wild.
the
We stand together until fury of the storm subsides. It leaves faster than it came.
“Good, that’s all for today,” she whispers in my ear and pats me on my back. She releases me, stepping away. I don’t feel any different, but I know that this may be my beginning.
Looking over my charts for the day in my office, I see only two females will be here. Then–i will make my rounds to the two new mothers, just to make sure they really are doing well.
A tap
on the door reveals Dallas looking down at me. He stares at my eyes again before he catches himself, pulling his gaze away and looking at the picture I put on the wall of the first young one that I delivered in my pack. I feel proud of this fact. Soon, I hope to have my office lined with little newborn faces.
“How are you doing? I stopped by your place yesterday. I knocked, but I guess maybe–you were out for a run?” He doesn’t come completely into my office, just lingers outside the door with a soft expression on his face. Maybe he’s waiting for me to invite him in
“I’m sorry, I was home. I just didn’t want to talk to anyone. I’m really embarrassed at how I behaved. It was difficult for me. Thank you for stopping by. That was nice of you.” After getting home from the barbecue, locking the doors, making sure no lights were on, I just sat at the edge of the bed, balling the covers in my hands. Staring at the white wall, I cursed
22:21
The Alpha’s Greatest Mistake
Chapter 12
myself to the moon. If I was only better, if I was more. I wallowed in my own pity party. The knocking started all different types of knocking. I could smell my parents; I could smell. my sisters. I knew that the Alpha and Luna were at my door. Even Cora came. I just stayed in my room with the daylight fading from the sky, until nothing but darkness could be seen through my window.
I just sat there on edge, holding myself in place, not moving. If I were to move, I would break. Deeper into the night, a single knock on my door came. My body started to shake Awith who it was standing there, waiting for me to open the door. To invite him into my Rome. He stayed there, waiting. I sat on my bed, waiting for him to leave, and eventually he
did.
“It was very difficult for all the mated wolves to watch. You have nothing to be embarrassed about.” He’s trying to catch my eyes, but I refuse to look at him. “Rya, anytime you want to
talk-
“Thanks, Dallas, I appreciate that.”
“All right, if you need anything, you know where my office is.” Putting my head down, I pretend to look at a chart.
“Thanks.” He’s gone after my words come out of my mouth.
I just need some air. There’s something about a settled storm, just after the wind whips the loose leaves off the trees. The way the earth smells fresh, renewed. The the birds sing louder, and the sun seems brighter with its warm light.
grass looks greener,
A car pulling into the parking lot attracts my attention, black–tinted windows not allowing me to see who’s inside. The door opens, and the Luna steps out, along with her young juvenile daughter, who looks down at the ground, tight–lipped.
“Rya, I wanted to stop by and see you-”
“Luna Catherine.” I bow my head slightly to her. “I’m working. Now is not a good time.”
“You’re right, you are working, but I didn’t come for our talk. Kimberly has an appointment with you this morning.” She puts her hand on her daughter’s shoulder as Kimberly picks at the cuticle of her fingernail, looking down in shame.
Chapter 12
“Please, come in.” I hold the door open so they can step into the clinic.
Walking them toward my office, I gesture them inside. “Please, sit down.” I take a seat, opening her empty chart.
“So, Kimberly, how far along do you think you are?” She keeps her head down, not looking
- up.
Fm two months.” I don’t see any claim marks on her neck, nothing that says she has a mate beside a pup in her belly.
C(1)
