The Mysteries That Follow You

Chapter 21

Alpha Tyrell gives Marie a second to relax. He mind-links his wife in the meantime to come to the orphanage as soon as she gets the chance. She doesn't respond but he knows she will be here. He takes a moment to look at Marie. It's amazing how he didn't recognize her immediately. She is a spitting image of her mother. Marie's face looks exactly like her mother's when she was her age. The memories keep the tears welling up in his eyes. When Marie looks less pale and isn't holding her head anymore he begins.

"First I want to say sorry to you Marie." You can see the guilt and sadness on his face. "Your mom and dad, Henry and Cora Hendricks were members of the Delta Blue pack. They were also my best friends for my whole life." Shock morphs Marie's face and she squints from a growing headache but she stays silent. "Your father was one of my best warriors and my trusted friend." Marie had little memories of her parents from before they died. Hearing this about them sparks something within her. Marie racks her mind to remember what a warrior is from her studies. "The day they were killed..." Alpha Tyrell's voice trailed off as he tried to stifle his tears. Such vulnerability coming from him is surprising. "You three were on your way to speak with an ally pack in Gravestown. There was suspicious activity going on at the time. Nothing dangerous that's why your parents brought you along this time." Pieces of memories began to come to Marie as well as the feeling of something oddly familiar. "We got the call from Alpha Theodore the day after you all were supposed to arrive. He told us there was a car accident and your parents didn't make it. I guess he didn't know you were coming so when only your parent's bodies were found they didn't realize you were with them and alive." Hearing the words car accident confused Marie. She felt a sharp pain spread across her head. "We were dealing with rogue attacks around the same time. When we got the news the grief and the chaos were too much and we didn't go check." Alpha Tyrell goes quiet and his head drops. He bangs his hand on the table in frustration. "I am sorry Marie. I failed you and your parents. I should have gone down and confirmed for myself. I should have had them moved and buried them here where they belonged." The guilt getting to him Alpha Tyrell openly cries.

Marie isn't handling this bombshell of news well. Since she first learned her parents died at five years old she was told it was just a fire. She didn't know anything about an accident. It feels like some memory is trying to surface but something is preventing it. She tries hard to hold on to the memory. It's like she is battling with herself and right when she feels close to unlocking it she slumps back into the chair. Her eyes roll to the back of her head and close, her body begins to shake. Mrs. Leane grabs Marie and lays her down on the floor on her side. Alpha Tyrell shoots out of the chair knocking it back and rushes over.

"Quick call Dr. Phram!" Alpha Tyrell yells and then mindlinks his wife. 'Where are you?' She quickly responds. 'I am five minutes away. What is going on?' All he says in reply is 'Hurry!'. Mrs. Leane is on the phone with the doctor explaining what happened.

"Tell him to meet us at the pack house and to make it fast. Ciara will be here shortly so we have to get her to the front." Mrs. Leane informs Dr. Phram and then opens the door for Alpha Tyrell. He picks up Marie and she is still seizing. They run to the entrance as his wife and the school van both pull up. Luna Ciara rushes out of her car and to her husband.

"What in the world is going on?" She instantly becomes concerned for and protective of the small girl in her husband's arms.

"I will explain on the way but we need to hurry." Alpha Tyrell opens the back seat door and Luna Ciara opens the other side and gets in. He places Marie on the seat her head in his wife's lap. Luna Ciara cradles Marie in her arms to support her on the ride. Alpha Tyrell hops in the driver's seat and rushes to the Pack Hospital.

"What's going on Mrs. Leane? Was that Marie?" Cleo shouts as she and the rest of the girls rush to where Mrs. Leane is standing as the car drives off.

"Yes, Cleo that was Marie." Mrs. Leane is in utter disbelief over what just transpired.

"I thought she was feeling better. Why was she unconscious?" Cassandra asks.

"I am not sure girls. She got some news and started seizing. They are taking her to the hospital now. I will let you know when I hear something." Mrs. Leane takes a look at the girls. Worry is written all over their face. Her facial expressions soften. "I am sure she will be fine girls, she is strong. Come on let's go inside." Mrs. Leane ushers the girls into the building. She checks over her shoulder and watches the car disappear.

~

Now in the Pack Hospital, Marie is in a hospital bed hooked up to wires. She had another seizure since the one at the orphanage. They don't know why she is still unconscious. She has a pained expression on her face. The doctor checked her and there was nothing physically wrong. They believe it is something psychological given the news she just received before passing out. Luna Ciara is sitting beside her bed holding her hand. She is sobbing having learned the news from her husband on the frantic drive to the pack. She never thought she would see little Marie again especially not looking so drastically different from the five-year-old girl she was the last time she saw her. They are waiting for the pack healer to arrive. They hope she can find out what is going on in Marie's head and also soothe her mind.

Kiana rushes into the hospital room, she is stunned to see her goddaughter lying there. Luna Ciara looks up at the intrusion and waves Kiana over. "Please do something." Kiana wasted no time walking over to Marie and sitting beside her hospital bed. Her husband stands behind her gripping her shoulder for support. Kiana grabs Marie's hand and holds it as she tries to take a look into her mind. She has to quickly find out what is causing this before she can heal her or else it won't work.

Kiana finds herself looking through the eyes of a five-year-old Marie. She is in the back seat of their family car playing with a doll. Her mother turns around to check on her smiling. Something smashes the back of the car and Henry grinds the car to a halt. He gets out to check the damage and to find out what happened. Cora also gets out of the car to check on Marie in the back seat. Before Cora reaches Marie, loud growls can be heard outside. Henry yells to Cora to grab Marie and run. Cora quickly opens the car door and removes Marie from the car seat. They are on a deserted highway with nothing but trees on both sides. They are being surrounded by wolves on all sides of them. Cora runs to the trees with Marie in her arms but doesn't get far before three wolves appear in the distance. She puts Marie in a bush and hides her from view.

Cora is backed out of the trees and towards the car by the three wolves. Her husband is busy fighting off three other wolves in his human form. They aren't giving him a chance to shift. They lay an onslaught of constant attacks. Henry is only able to defend himself. Cora also begins fighting the three wolves who backed her up from the forest. The two are holding their own even in their human forms. This isn't a fair fight though. When they manage to kill one wolf three more appear in its place. They are finally taken down and killed. Two wolves shift and stand over them examining their bodies. One of the shifted wolves calls over some more wolves. They also shift into their human forms, pick up the bodies, and place them into their car. They then light it on fire. The remaining wolves pick up the fallen ones and they leave the scene.

Kiana can't handle being in Marie's mind any longer. That scene is playing over and over in Marie's head. The turmoil in her mind is also putting pressure on Kiana's mind. The trauma from that memory is wreaking havoc on Marie's brain. If Kiana stays any longer she and Marie will both be shattered. Now that she knows the cause of the pain Kiana can get to healing Marie. She takes Marie's hand and begins whispering healing chants. Soon the pained look on Marie's face calms and she is now resting peacefully. When Kiana is done she looks up at her husband. His warm presence behind her kept her stable and grounded as she navigated Marie's mind. He smiles down at her and she releases a heavy sigh. Kiana moves her gaze down to Luna Ciara. "Please tell Alpha Tyrell to come here. He is going to want to know what I just saw."