Her Faded Memories

Chapter Eight

Elodie

As we left the alpha’s office, Kai’s father approached him in a commanding manner.

“Please come upstairs in ten minutes; we need to discuss this situation.” With disgust, he pointed at me and then at Kai, scrunching his nose.

He angrily stormed off, and Kai’s release of my shoulder brought me instant relief. His repulsive touch made it impossible for me to relax. Despite my attempt to leave, Kai firmly grabbed my arm and pulled me into an embrace. Before speaking, he gently brushed his lips against my ear.

“Keep it up, and I might just give you a reward. I’ll make sure he’s not there to protect you this time.” After giving my ear a lick, he pushed me away and left without a second glance.

After closing my eyes, I mentally counted down from ten before unveiling my open eyes. I couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening! In order to keep my mother safe, I had no choice but to make a deal with the devil. Kai wanted to avoid punishment and used me as a scapegoat. The potential consequences were too frightening, so I couldn’t risk not going along with it. I had tried to call his bluff, and he called my bluff by telling me to tell the truth and see what happens. I considered my choices, but once we were inside, I had no choice but to deceive them. As Nicholas continued to defend me, I felt compelled to make him believe it, and then I witnessed the heartbreaking expression that fell on his face. I had no choice and he will never speak to me again.

I couldn’t move a muscle after Kai departed. Emerging from his father’s office, Nicholas directed an intense stare at me before walking away. The look of disappointment on his face said it all, and I’m sure of it he wouldn’t be speaking to me again. Running home, tears filled my eyes. I paused in the living room, observing my mother writing yet another letter she had no intention of sending. Stacks of letters filled her room, constantly making me question the purpose of writing and keeping them. I walked towards my room, leaving my mother to write, while I crawled under the covers and cried my heart out. My strength had reached its limit, and the past two days’ events had left me drained and exhausted. I wished for this nightmare to end and the pain to disappear. I skipped school that day and didn’t go until the following week. Although I knew trouble was coming with Luna, my worry had faded and I wished for my memories to fade along with it.

The next week, I returned to school and felt extremely anxious about it. After Thursday’s incident, I was unaware of the school gossip. I neglected my chores for five consecutive days, which resulted in our wages being reduced this week, but my mother simply smiled and reassured me that everything would be fine.

But would it?

Luna was clearly not happy about my absence, clear from the increasing bruises my mother came home with each day. I needed to pull myself together. Kai hasn’t been around my house since last week. Raven met me before school to ensure my safety and to keep Kai and Sierra away from me. But she also had her own questions she wanted to ask me before we got to school.

“Ellie, don’t worry. I shut down any rumours about you and Kai dating when I heard your name mentioned. Please tell me it’s not true?”

Raven sipped on her iced latte while intertwining her arm with mine. I wore a smile that concealed the truth, aware that I couldn’t confess.

I’ve been friends with Raven for over three years, but I couldn’t be honest with her because I had to prioritise protecting my mother. When I turned thirteen, she joined our group and seemed unfazed by the rumours of me being an outcast and lacking a wolf. That morning, she came up to me and introduced herself as my new best friend. I had no choice, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Raven was my lifeline; she was always there when I needed her the most, just like my mother was and that’s all I needed in my life. I looked at my best friend and smiled and nodded at her. I couldn’t use words, I would stumble over them and she would know straight away I was lying like Nicohlas did, but I think I convinced him in the end. She halted her steps, releasing my arm and fixing her gaze on me. I couldn’t bear her judgment, so I turned my gaze away from her, but she took me aback when she spoke.

“Ellie, that completely caught me off guard.” She laughed nervously.

I blinked in shock and could not form any words. Was I getting better at lying? She smiled at me and grabbed hold of my arm, leading us into school. Raven told me all the rumours that had been going around and I denied all of them except us dating. We stepped into the main corridor of the school and went directly to Raven’s locker. My mother couldn’t afford to get me a locker, so I shared Raven and popped any items I wouldn’t need for the day. Suddenly, two girls pushed me into the locker next to Raven’s and I turned around to see them walking off.

“Ugh, Sierra groupies.” Raven looked in distaste.

I rubbed my now sore cheek and nodded.

“Come on Raven, we don’t want to be late for class, you go on. I’ll be okay making my way there,” I whispered.

Raven gave me a concerned look and then nodded.

“Okay, I’ll see you at lunch Ellie.” She waved and skipped in the other direction.

I sighed and made my way to the first class of the day. I sat in my allocated seat and rummaged through my blazer to find my pen, but only to find a torn piece of paper.

Dumpling,

Meet me in the quad at lunch. We need to talk!

S

Clearly, it was from a pissed-off Sierra, great she was probably angry about last Friday. With all the rumours going around that we had s*x in the park and that we were now dating. So many other rumours had been circling and were all a load of lies. Sierra has a massive crush on Kai. She may believe these stupid rumours unless Kai has told her the truth.

Oh no, I think she may kill me for this.

I gathered my books and shoved my pen into my blazer straight after the lesson had wrapped up, eager to find out what Sierra wanted from me and I certainly knew it would not be a friendly chit-chat. When I walked out in the spring afternoon breeze, I searched the quad to find Sierra sitting on a secluded bench under a tree. I took a big breath and walked up to her and sat on the edge of the bench.

I looked down at the floor, not wanting to make eye contact with her.

What does she even want? I thought to myself.

Be careful, Nala warned.

She was right. I don’t know what her intentions are, and I can’t let my guard down. After what felt like an eternity, Sierra finally spoke.

“I can’t hold it in any longer. I’ve been thinking a lot this weekend.”

She sighed and looked at me.

“Seriously, Is Kai telling the truth?”

I looked at her, my eyes wide. Clearly, Kai had not told her the truth, making her believe all these lies.

Sierra continued, “How could Kai be into you, not me? That’s totally insane.” She scoffs.

My mouth dropped agape, and I was stunned into silence. Then it hit me, this was a cruel joke even for her and I became angry as she sat there looking at the ground.

“Even for you, Sierra, this is a new low for you. I’m sure Kai has told you the truth.” Sarcastically, I folded my arms and made a remark. I was in disbelief that they thought I would buy into this, considering everything they had subjected me to.

Sierra’s expression shifted from shock to a smirk as she looked at me.

“Psst, Elodie, guess what? I’ll make sure everyone thinks you two hooked up on Thursday!”

I was shaking with anger at this point. What was Kai doing? Sierra and Kai have always been thick as thieves and he is letting her think we are actually dating!

“Anyway, Kai wanted me to give this to you since he’s not here today.”

Getting to her feet, she tossed a necklace my way, and upon inspecting it, I discovered it to be a small crest. I took the small pendant and looked at it. A wolf howling at the moon. I smiled as I admired its beauty. But then, remembering it was from Kai and a frown filled my face. Once I looked back up, Sierra was gone.

This did not change the fact he was blackmailing me.

Throughout the rest of the day, my mind remained occupied. When the school day was over, I headed to Raven’s locker to grab my bag. I was so enthralled by the small pendant in my hand I hadn’t noticed that Raven was standing next to me unlocking her locker.

“Hey Ellie! Oh, what’s wrong?” her smile soon disappeared when she saw my face.

Raven’s piercing blue eyes showed concern. Her eyes followed mine as we both stood there looking at the pendant.

“What’s that?” she asked.

I sighed loudly. “Come on, we will walk and talk”, I said to her, grabbing my bag.

I filled Raven in on all the details of Sierra’s lunch break conversation. When Sierra spoke, her expression conveyed anger and distress. I couldn’t tell if she was joking or being serious. The encounter left me increasingly puzzled the more I reflected on it.

“It’s got to be a joke, right?” I asked Raven.

Raven’s focus was on the pendant as we made our way through the park. There was a moment when she appeared ready to speak to me, but then chose not to. Raven glanced over the river, biting her lip. Before revealing something she hadn’t mentioned earlier, she glanced back at me.

“While tidying up the beta’s room, I overheard Sierra crying and complaining about something being unfair. It was clear that she was on the phone and didn’t immediately realise I was there.” She said and then carried on. “Once she saw me, she left her floor completely. And guess what? One of Tobias’s friends, Kai, has something for you, not Sierra.

She shrugged, leaving me both surprised and confused.

“Why did you not say anything this morning?” I asked, a bit hurt she never told me.

With a worried expression, she turned her gaze back to me.

“Ellie, I’m concerned that they might be playing games with you. Given what occurred on Thursday, there is a brief moment where I don’t believe that you are seeing him.”

Annoyed, I gave her a disgruntled look. “So you don’t believe me?”

I admit I lied about the relationship, but she should trust her best friend. Raven’s actions could lead to things becoming a lot worse for my mother and me if she tells people it was all a lie and Nick finds out.

“I don’t think they would go that fair, Raven; the future alpha has already had words with Kai!” I pointed out.

Raven let out a sigh and handed me the pendant again.

“Ellie, you are my best friend. I’m just trying to watch out for you.” She calmly said while rubbing the top of my arm.

When her name was called, she smiled at me before turning around. She gave her friend Tobias a warm embrace before waving goodbye to me. I’ve always suspected that those two are dating, but she’s never been honest about it, and I hope she doesn’t start lying like I am.

“Elodie! My father insists you attend Alpha Nicholas’s birthday party on Saturday.” Kai’s voiced filled my body with dread.

“I don’t go to pack gatherings and you know that!”

“You do now, or shall I remind you of what could happen?”

I clenched my fist so tightly that it caused my skin to ache.

“Sure Ill be there.” I curtly said.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and placed a kiss on the top of my head.

“Good girl!”

As he walked away, my gaze remained fixed on the lake. I embraced myself as my eyes land on the blossom tree and recalling Nick’s permission to use this spot whenever I wanted. As I got closer, I noticed Nick sitting next to the tree, his face displaying a hint of sadness as he looked at the unopened letter. Right as I was about to leave, he began speaking without diverting his gaze from the letter.

“Can I help you Elodie?”

Do I tell him the truth?