Never Goodbye, A Werewolf Romance - (Book 1-The Mist Series)

~Chapter 9 - Balance and Focus~

~Louise~

The temperature dropped rapidly as Mum and I entered the main street of our small town, Mist. Mist was a pretty little country town, nestled somewhere between Our Lady of Souls High on the cusp of our borders and the fields to the north, where neighbouring packs like the Sunset Clan and Hillside Clan claimed land on the city’s outskirts, hidden like shining gems between human towns like Little Blackwood and Mount Woodside. None of us claimed the brilliant human city of Adelaide and its giant buildings and blinding light. Some wolfkind ventured there and lived away from their lives in a pack. St. Jane’s Hospital, the largest and only human-werewolf hospital around, was owned by Doctor Anderson. It was predominantly inside the city, which made the hospital a neutral ground for werewolves from any pack and the occasional human.

Finding the Mist turnoff from the freeway was difficult, which pleased the Elders. Whether it was a magic ward or luck, non-pack members rarely stumbled upon Mist without an invitation, and it was completely invisible to humans, as most pack territories were. Like most packs, the Alpha’s packhouse stood proudly in the heart of it all, grand and daunting, nothing shy of a mansion. Unknown to those who had never visited Mist, werewolves patrolled the borders, poised and ready to defend themselves if someone uninvited slipped through.

I had to wait at least an hour before Mum collected me from the park, and by that point, the pain had lifted. We spent the next hour talking in the warmth of her car while I cried onto her shoulder. Every emotion intensified after the confrontation with the jerk-in-training, flooding out in tears that I couldn’t explain to Mum. Even as we pulled up at our little white weatherboard house, my puffy eyes stung.

Mum’s watch chimed. She glanced at it and then back at me as I clambered out of the idling car. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I need to go…”

“I understand…” I sighed, closing the car door between us. In the distance, ominous clouds clustered, heralding a rich rainstorm that I could taste in the air.

I breathed in and felt the dampness cling to my lungs. My chest still ached from the confrontation with Joseph, but at least my stomach had settled. Each time I blinked, I saw his wolf-black eyes staring back at me and heard his tormenting words.

Mum wound the window down and called over to me, “I’m really sorry I have to leave, sweetheart.” She blew me a kiss. “One of the other secretaries caught the flu a few days ago, and I’m covering her shifts… The downfalls of working with humans. I’ll be home early tonight. There are pancakes waiting on the bench. Or there’s a casserole in the fridge. Make sure you eat something.”

“Thanks, Mum,” I waved at her as she backed out of the driveway.

Once she was gone, I slid my hands into my blazer pockets and strolled back inside and over to the kitchen bench. Mum wasn’t kidding. There were two plates stacked high with fluffy pancakes, and she had laid out all the usual toppings. My stomach churned at the sight, but I knew I needed something, as thanks to Joseph, I never finished my pretzel, and the taste of Jo’s ginger candies was still on my tongue.

After staring at it for Goddess knows how long, I took the closest plate and tossed it into the microwave. While it heated, I fiddled with the zip on my blazer, using the repetitive motion to drive the memories away. Once the pancakes were ready, I carried the plate to the oak kitchen table and slid into the first chair. The entire house was silent. Nothing had worked to help drive the thoughts of Joseph from my mind, his kiss still lingering on my lips, and now the silence was no help.

I cut into the corner of the enormous stack and held the fork to my mouth. The sweet scent of honey made my stomach heave. Gagging, I dropped the fork with a clank back onto the plate and shoved myself away from the table.

Why can’t I eat this?! I groaned inwardly as I turned away from the table.

I glanced around our cosy open kitchen, dining room and living room, my eyes travelling to the clock above the hallway entrance, which led to three bedrooms and a bathroom. Our house resembled a cottage more than a modern house. But it was comfortable.

The clock showed two-thirty in the afternoon; the afternoon pack training session would begin in an hour. Training kept my mind occupied. A busy mind was a happy mind—especially if it stayed away from thoughts of Joseph and the cancer.

Sighing, I clambered out of the seat and headed to my room at the end of the hallway. My mind had been made up. I’m going to train!

Once I had changed into grey sweatpants, a black shirt, and my favourite grass-stained sneakers, I hurried out of the house. I shut the door and spun around to see Raine and Jo standing at the end of the driveway.

I blinked at them in surprise. Had they predicted I would be here?

“Raine? Jo? What are you two doing here?” I asked, a wave of relief washing over me. Their presence was exactly what I needed after everything that had happened with Joseph.

“Louise!” Raine shouted as she ran towards me. She grabbed my arm and pulled me to face her. “You weren’t at school. We looked everywhere for you! We were worried! What happened? Are you hurt? Do you feel sick?”

“When we couldn’t find you, I thought someone had kidnapped you!” Jo added with her eyes bright.

“Kidnapped a werewolf?” I snorted a laugh. “That’s not something I have ever heard.”

“It’s possible, especially from a rival pack.” She shrugged a shoulder. “And you’re not in the best physical shape.” Her eyes landed on the scar, now visible from where Jewel had held me with her claws. “What happened?”

“That was Mum… I mean Jewel…” I said, rubbing at it. “She held me back when Joseph confronted me and, well, you know…”

They nodded, understanding the omega rule as good as everyone else. Obey the Alpha!

“So, why did you leave school?” Raine asked, wrapping an arm around me.

I hugged myself, fighting off the tears. “It was Joseph—he—we had another heated conversation at school. He’s… he’s a piece of work!” The words felt inadequate to describe the wave of humiliation that still crashed over me after his false confession… And this kiss.

“Are you serious?” Raine gulped, pulling me closer to her. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, not physically,” I assured her, though the thought of Joseph’s grip on my wrist sent a shiver down my spine. “Just… emotionally. A lot.”

Jo squeezed my arm. “Louise, what happened between you two?”

“You need to tell us everything,” Raine agreed. “But first…” she gestured before us. “Where are we going?”

“I’m going training…” I said, a spark of determination in my voice. “I have to blow off some steam.”

They both looked at me exasperated and shook their heads.

Jo frowned, her eyes darkening. “You sure that’s wise? You’re not exactly in training condition.”

I stepped out of my driveway and onto the road leading toward the packhouse. Jo and Raine remained beside me. “Wise or not, I need to do something, or I will go crazy.”

“We’re coming with you…” they echoed in unison.

“Fine with me,” I agreed, thankful for their company.

“And I brought ginger candy just in case…” Jo added, patting her blazer pockets.

“Thanks,” I chuckled softly, running my tongue along my teeth. “But I can still taste the last one.”

She winked at me. “They’re doing their job…”

We walked together towards the training grounds, the oppressive cloud cover mirroring the weight in my chest, but with Raine and Joanne by my side, it felt a little lighter.

“So, what happened with Joseph?” Raine asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

“Yes,” Jo exclaimed. “I want to know, too. What did he do?”

I ran my hands over my face and puffed out an exasperated breath. “Well, if you want to know, it happened during my early lunch break…”

By the time we reached the battlegrounds behind Gamma Archie’s cottage, Jo and Raine were reeling from everything I had told them about the confrontation with Joseph. Well, nearly everything but not the kiss—the mate’s admission—even I didn’t believe that was more than a taunt from Joseph.

“I think I need to get drinks,” Jo said, pointing at the Esky the warriors brought out for each training session. It was stored under a tree across the other side of the field. “I won’t be long…”

“I’ll stay with Louise,” Raine insisted, still shaking her head. She turned to me. “Did he really say that?”

“Yes.” I closed my eyes, sucked in a deep breath, and stretched my arms above me.

The warrior’s ragged breaths filled the air. Joseph’s face flashed behind my eyes, so I opened my eyes again. Why won’t he leave me alone?

Raine stood before me. “What a horrible thing to do!” She huffed, kicking her feet out from under her and dropping back onto the bench. “He insulted you in the worst way possible!” She rubbed her forehead. “And here I thought our future alpha would be kind, like his father. How wrong I was! I can’t believe he would do that…” she peered at me. “I don’t know what scent he’s talking about.”

“He’s no alpha of mine…” I huffed, rolling my shoulders until they clicked.

“Louise?” she asked, eying me closely.

We had been friends since we were little and knew when the other one was lying. This was going to be harder to hide than I had anticipated.

“Hmm?” I replied, twisting myself left and right, listening to the following clicks and pops. “What?”

“What else did he do?” She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her gaze at me. “Did he hurt you…?”

“He—” I started and then stopped and shut my mouth. I thought for a moment, chewing on my bottom lip. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her—or Jo about his admission… mate! He only used it to torment me. Hadn’t he? And then there was the kiss! No, it meant nothing! I shook the thought from my head. “No, he didn’t…”

Her eyes darkened. Either she could sense the lie or feel my apprehension. “What did he do to you, Louise?”

“Nothing…” I lied again as I pushed myself away from the bench. A slow, deep ache was forming across my abdomen. “I’m just sore… And as you mentioned earlier… My strength isn’t how it used to be.”

Raine ummed suspiciously. She crossed one leg over the other and leaned back in the seat. “I’m surprised your mum let you out to train after the big news you were given this morning.” She turned her head in my direction. “Have you even eaten today?”

“Does a quarter of a pretzel count? And Jo’s ginger candies?” I shrugged and laughed simultaneously. “And Mum doesn’t know I’m here.”

With a scowl, Raine shook her head. “Please tell me you’re joking! Is that all you’ve had?”

“It will be okay,” wincing, I grasped my waist, attempting to make the ache look like a stitch. “I’ll be fine…”

“You shouldn’t be overdoing it!” She argued, glancing up at me with the dark shadow of worry tainting her eyes. “You don’t want to end up in the hospital.”

“I won’t…” I stretched my left leg to the side and followed with my right. “But I can’t sit back and twiddle my fingers. You know me. I need to keep active… And light training should be fine…”

“Seriously, Louise,” she shook her head, and her eyes softened. “You should be resting…”

“I’m fine! Nothing hurts!” I lied, ignoring the spreading cramp. “I promise…”

“Don’t act tough with me,” Raine chastised. She stood, hooking her hand on her hip. “Look, you need to care for yourself. This is a big deal. When Jo returns with our drinks, she will back me up.” She lowered her head, and her shoulder sagged. “Besides, I want my best friend to be around until we’re old and grey.”

“Seriously, Raine, did you have to make me cry?” I sniffled, wiping a tear from my eye. “I’ve done enough of that today!”

She smiled softly. “I love you like a sister, Louise. Both Jo and I do. So, promise me—promise us you will look after yourself!”

“Fine… When I get home, I’ll eat some leftovers.”

She eyed me sideways. “And?”

“And…” I rolled my eyes. “Fine, I’ll take this session fifty per cent easier.” I hugged her. “I need to do a brief run and some focus and balance training, and I promise I’ll be done for the day.”

“At least sixty per cent easier… And eww…” Screwing up her nose, she pushed me back. “How are you already sweaty?”

“Talent, I guess,” I winked at her, then jogged onto the outside of the battlegrounds. I hoped she didn’t notice the pain in my eyes that was causing me to sweat.

Most of the delta warriors on the battlegrounds had recently come of age, with a couple of pro-warriors, omegas, and betas dotted amongst them. In each session, they advocated a fresh warrior to a well-versed warrior. Last month, I did a focused and balanced training round with warrior Omega Lilly Peters. It comprised—focus, balance, and concentration. It wasn’t highly physical, but with cramping on top, it turned into a workout. I was the smallest on the field today, but no one knew my condition or cared. For warriors, it was—fight, train, fight, eat, sleep, and repeat.

“Louise, it’s a relief to have you back,” Lilly Peters called, her voice cutting through the air. “We’ve missed seeing you around.”

“Glad to be back…” I called, waving to her. Her toned figure was clad in the usual black shorts and a sports shirt, a navy cap perched backwards over a long brown ponytail. It was rare I saw her in anything else.