Chapter Two : Reality Check
1193 Words
As Valka passed her parents' bedroom, she paused, pressing her ear against the door to listen.
"Marro, listen to me, she'll wolf up at the right time.
Don't you remember the story about my grandma? She wolfed up later in the year and still found her mate,"
Misty said, sitting on the couch as Marro turned, one leg in his pants.
“Later in the year, not like ours, which shows no improvement. Listen, Wolf Cage would be good for her, you know I won't lie to you.
It would toughen her up, and that'd help her wolf up quickly.
She can't keep being an embarrassment to us,"
He replied, buckling his pants and grabbing his shirt off the bed.
Suddenly, they heard footsteps outside, and Misty ran to the door, seeing Valka run down the stairs.
She turned, glaring at Marro,
“I really don't like this," Marro. I feel we're being unfair to her. Let's give her grace,"
She said, and he chuckled.
“Grace is for the weak. I will not raise a weak child. Come help me with my zip!"
He commanded, slipping his hands into his shirt and turning, waiting for her to help him zip up.
Valka ran out the door, unable to stop as tears streamed down her cheeks.
On her way, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and paused, taking it out.
She immediately smiled at the caller ID, slowly wiping her tears with a sniffle.
"Why did I know it was you?"
She asked, and then laughed.
He frowned,
“Where are you, my girl?"
He asked, and she sniffled,
“Our usual spot? But I'm running today, so..."
She said, and he grinned.
“I'll be there as fast as I can."
She instantly frowned when she heard an elderly voice,
“Is Zen here?"
She asked, and he chuckled.
“I'll explain when I get there. See you later,"
He said, and hung up the call as she continued running.
Reaching their usual spot, she paused, falling to the ground as she tried to catch her breath, and then in a second, broke down into tears.
“I can't go to the wolf cage, I really can't,"
She said aloud, but to her surprise, she heard a voice behind her and turned.
“In my opinion, the wolf cage is the worst place to be, so I understand you,"
He said, and she sniffled, quickly wiping her tears as she stared at him closely.
"You look familiar,"
She said, and he laughed.
“I doubt that; I'm not from here, so I don't think you know me,"
He replied, settling his cap on his head properly as he walked closer.
She pressed her lips with a gentle nod.
"Where are you from then?"
She inquired, and he smiled, but just as he was about to reply, they heard his watch beep, and he quickly tapped it quietly.
“I would have loved to keep chatting with you, but unfortunately, I have to keep running now.
I'll see you when I see you?"
He said, and she nodded, a confused look written all over her face as she stared at him and ran off.
“I swear he looked familiar.” She thought out loud.
A few minutes later, Hake walked over, and she got to her feet, burying herself in his embrace.
They sat down slowly on the hard ground, gazing up with her head resting on his shoulder.
“I love hiking, but not without you. How would I still get to do that now that you've mated?"
She asked, and Hake frowned, raising her head to stare at him.
“That wouldn't change, you hear me?"
He said, and she nodded, quickly wiping her tears.
“They're planning to send me to the wolf cage, Hake."
“You're lying!"
He exclaimed, but she grinned, her head tilting with her eyes drenched in tears.
"Seriously, would they consider risking your life because of this challenge?
Why? Wait, is it even fair?"
He asked, obviously angry, as she shrugged.
“Well, they're my only folks, so... I know Mom doesn't want to, but her obedience to Papa wouldn't allow her to take my side,"
She explained as Hake frowned, his arms around her shoulders, pulling her closer.
"How about you come live with me in the meantime? What do you think?"
Instantly she lifted her head, her eyes squinted.
“I can't. "Hake, you have a mate now, what would she think?"
“The elderly voice you heard wasn’t Zen, it was my mate.
Yhup, my mate is my mother's age, Valka. She'd be asleep most of the day,"
He retorted with a chuckle, as she frowned.
“Wait, you mated with an older pack? How?"
She asked, and he sighed, shrugging slowly.
“I guess we're soulmates. I don't know. It doesn't make sense, but..."
“I'm sorry, Hake,"
She said, kissing him on his cheek.
He immediately smiled, playfully tapping her on her lap.
“Don't worry about me. You have a lot on your plate now. What would you do now?"
He asked, and she grinned, their gazes meeting without a word.
She shrugged,
“If only I knew,"
She continued, leaning her head back on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around hers.
A moment later, a young lady walked up to the cliff. She was dressed in torn clothes, her hair in a messy bun, and was in tears.
It was obvious something tragic had driven her to that point.
Since it wasn’t very far from where they sat, Valka got up to her feet and slowly walked up to the lady.
“Please, don't do it. We can work through this together; I can help you,"
She said as Hake walked closer as well.
The lady turned, her face covered in colors as her makeup was ruined by tears.
“How would you help me change into my destined wolf and not pups over a four-year wait?
How would you help me find my mate now that I’m washed and probably written off?
How would you help me tell my parents I was just a child and needed their support instead of having them completely disown me?
Tell me how….
She cried, and Valka's face dropped, her heart drenched with heartbreak as that was her exact worry as well.
She instantly fell silent, sharing a look with Hake as he walked closer.
“Listen, I know someone with that exact worry, and yet I know she'd be fine.
So would you, so please, back up from the cliff.
Take my hand, and I'd pull you back,"
He said gently as the lady stared at Valka without a word.
Then she took a sharp look down before turning to her once again, their gazes meeting.
“Very soon you'll also be here. Make sure you correct my mistake!"
She exclaimed and immediately let herself go, falling over as Hake pulled Valka from the edge when she tried to grab the lady.
They fell to the ground as she shook, crying bitterly in Hake's arms.
- Writer
