CHAPTER 1 Rescued?
~Sophia~
I watch people move around with a sense of peace. I always love watching humans go about their days. I try to imagine what their lives are like and what their biggest worries might be. Clearly, I'm not human. I've… we've been living among them for a while now, but we have no illusions about who we are.
My mom, Laura and I are werewolves from the Riverfall Pack. Mom didn't want to deal with pack life again, so we settled in this human town. I haven't been back since we left. I'm not even sure if I'd be welcomed back after everything.
Flashback
"OK, Jessica! I'll see you later." I watch her body get smaller before turning and entering my home. The moment I stepped through the door, I could feel the tension. I turn to the left and notice suitcases, one of which was mine.
I take a few steps forward and am looking for someone to explain. Usually, the place is busy with Omegas everywhere doing their daily duties. Right now, there's no one bringing a chill to the room. "Mom? Dad?" There's no response, and I don't know why. It feels like something's wrong, but I don't know what.
I continue through the house, looking for anyone to explain. I move upstairs, taking my time on each step. I reach the top floor and can immediately hear two voices. I close my eyes and concentrate. I know those voices. I open my eyes and run down the hall. Dad has a home office, and that's where the voices are coming from.
I reach the door and don't hesitate to push it open. I wish I had taken a minute before entering the room. It's the one thing my father always told me to do, yet I didn't listen today. "When will she be gone, baby?" That voice, it isn't my mom's voice.
"Soon, my love. As soon as Soph gets home, they will go. We've already ended the marriage and rejected each other. I'm all yours." I step back in shock, right into a table. The vase sitting on the table is knocked to the ground. The crash brings eyes on me, causing even more anxiety to roll off me.
This can't be real; it has to be a joke. Who is this woman? Where is my mom? "Soph?"
"Sophia, love?" I look between my father and mom, who's now standing in the doorway. Her eyes are red, and her face is puffy. I know she's been crying, though she tries to hide it. My father reaches for me, and I take a step forward. I stop short as soon as I see the woman in his arms sneer at me. I turn and run to my mother, allowing her to wrap her arms around me. "You couldn't wait until we left, Richard?"
"Watch how you speak to my mate. You have your child, so leave." Father pulls her in closer, shushing her and rubbing her back.
"It's okay, Soph. Go with your mother and I will see you soon." He directs his gaze to my mom. "If you two need anything, let me know. I… I did-"
"Save it, Richard! I don't want anything from you, ever. Let's go, Sophia, love." Mom turns us around, and we walk out of the door.
End of Flashback
I haven't set foot in that home or on those lands since. Dad has visited me here and there but never visits with Mom. She refuses to even speak his name. When watching the humans, I often wonder if they've been through the same things. I wonder if they've ever been crushed like I have.
A knock on the door breaks me out of my thoughts. A man in a suit walks into the room. "Ms.Sophia?" I nod, wondering what this is about. "Can I have a moment of your time?" I nod and stand to my feet. I walk toward him after placing a kiss on Mom's forehead.
We walk outside of the room, and I watch him close the door behind him. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but your mother is going to be released." I suck in a breath, trying to ignore the pain in my chest.
"But, you can't do that. My mom is sick and she needs the treatment. I… I know that I need to pay, but there has to be something that can be done." He sighs and shakes his head.
"We already gave you a grace period, yet you still haven't paid. There is no more time. In two day, we will be releasing you mom without treatment." He places a hand on my shoulder. "I'm really sorry." I watch him walk away with my heart in my throat. What am I going to do?
The treatment for my mom is a long process, and it's expensive. I've been trying to work to get the money, but I haven't even made a dent. I thought I had time; we thought we had time. Her illness took a turn for the worse, which is how she ended up in the hospital. Now that she's here, her treatment is imperative.
I begin to pace the hallway back and forth, trying to come up with a solution. There has to be a way to keep her in the hospital and pay for her treatment. I don't have enough money, but there has to be a way to get what I need.
As I continue to pace, the air gets thick around me. I'm having trouble taking a deep breath, and it feels like the walls are closing in around me. I'm trying not to panic, but this is a life and death situation. There's nowhere else for this treatment. I checked.
I look up and find myself in the lobby. I don't even remember coming out this way. I slump into a seat and lean forward with my head in my hands. This is too much, too much to deal with alone. I sit up and lean back in my seat, looking at the blue tiles on the ceiling.
Suddenly, an idea came to me: a way to get what I need for Mom. I pull out my phone and scroll through my contacts. The name is highlighted on my screen, and my finger hovers over it. I close my eyes and hit the button, slowly putting the phone to my ear. "Hello, Soph?"
"Hey, Dad. Can we talk?"