Alpha Hyman

Chapter 8: Reminiscence

As the nights passed by, my dreams about Doreen became more often. In addition, I feel like someone has been watching me all this time. Ruby and Felix have been having sleepovers with the other kids and me. I am happy that they are handling the changes well. I haven't seen Bernard in a while, though.

I walked down to the hospital wing. My bruises would be healed in the next couple of days, according to the doctors. Nonetheless, I always feel weak. I reached the hospital wing and quickly laid myself on a bed. My head is spinning.

"Darlene, what's wrong?" Sandy asked upon entering. She came over with some bandages and disinfectant.

"I'm just a little tired," I replied, and she cleaned my wounds.

"Darlene, Bernard told us that you have been having dreams about my daughter," Gavin appeared and asked.

"Yeah. I'm sorry, I didn't want to upset you…" I looked away in embarrassment.

"It's alright, dear," Sandy said, and I felt her run a hand through my hair like a mother.

I felt bad because I am not their child. So, I squirmed to make her stop.

"I've been thinking about leaving once I am fully healed," I declared, looking away.

I think leaving would be the best for every in this pack. The Alpha wouldn't be so upset anymore. In addition, Sandy, Carter, and Bernard wouldn't have a hard time. It would make their lives easier if I left.

"Darlene, I know that you think that leaving will make people feel better, but I think that it will make people more upset. Everyone will have a hard time adjusting and think that Doreen is leaving them again," Sandy says.

I didn’t answer and just closed my eyes. I didn’t want to hear them anymore.

In a few minutes, I dwelled to sleep again. I have no idea why I keep feeling the fleeting urge to doze off every now and then, but more than ever, I enjoyed the dreams that had been haunting me. Little by little, these dreams showed me something. It’s as if… I am plagued with importance, and I ought to listen to these stories.

In the middle of my slumber, I felt like floating around. Then, something daunting interrupted me.

"Doreen, you are here for a reason," I hear Beta Bennett's voice. Hold, on! I feel like I have dreamt about this before. Then, as the scene played out, I realized that this was the continuation of the dream I had days before.

"I promise that you’ll get back to them. We have to go somewhere first…"

Pieces of the fragments made my shoulders shudder, and I followed the stars of my dream.

Doreen slowly reached out and went away with Beta Bennett. I followed and saw that they were in the pack house. We walk to the foyer and a woman stands there. She has a purple silk cloak on that drags behind her and a large hood framing her face. She was beautiful.

"Bennett, is this the child?" the woman asked. Walking over to them, she looks at Doreen and the girl hides behind Beta Bennett's leg.

"Yes, it is. Ophelia, are you sure you can do this?" he asks.

"I can. I am the leader of the memory clan. I cannot believe you just asked me that," Ophelia says. Memory clan? What is that? Beta Bennett nods his head and pulls Doreen in front of him.

"She won't hurt you. I promise," he whispers in the girl’s ear.

Ophelia kneels in front of Doreen, her cloak flowing around her. She removes the hood. Her hair is as black as night and as straight as pins.

"Hello, my name is Ophelia. I promise that I will not hurt you. I am going to make you feel happier. You won't feel anymore sadness for the most part," she says.

"How?" Doreen whispers, looking at Ophelia with her puppy-like eyes.

"With magic," Ophelia says, a smile on her face. The smile is genuine, and I can't believe what I am seeing. What are they going to do to her?

"Really?" Doreen says. Her eyes are excited. Well, that isn't a surprise. What three-year-old can resist magic?

"Mm-hm," Ophelia hums and raises her hand. "Sleep," she snaps her fingers, and Doreen collapses into her arms.

"What did you do?" Beta Bennett asks, panicky.

"I put her to sleep, you do not have to worry. She will wake up a couple of hours after I am finished. This process would be too much for her to handle if she was awake," she whispers and lays Doreen down on the window seat. Her hands hovered over her head, and her hands began to glow.

Then, it hit me…

They are erasing Doreen's memories.

Heaving loudly, I woke up from my slumber, sweat nestling on my forehead. I looked around and realized that I was inside the empty cell room. With that, I sighed a sigh of relief, yet the worry I had grown for the late Doreen made my heart crumble.

“Darlene, you’re awake!” I heard a small voice that made me jolt. I thought the little Doreen in my dreams came to life to tell me that, but it was just Ruby.

“Y—Yeah…”

“That’s great! Come on, let’s go outside and help us play hide and seek!” Ruby said and dragged me out of the room without letting me turn her down. I found myself chuckling in defeat. Well, it’s not like I have anything else to do, either. Besides, maybe playing with these kids will help my mind take off of certain things.

In the middle of playing with the kids, I felt like someone was watching me again. I heaved a sigh of dissonance and decided to take a breather on one of the benches. Massaging my thighs, I slowly felt that my joints and wounds are aching again. This has been happening a lot too, so I decided to go to the hospital wing with the help of the kids.