Stolen Soul

Chapter 12: Real Names

Lexi

Pushing myself up from the pillows, I make my way to the bathroom. After brushing my teeth and hair, and relieving myself, I see my reflection. I look like the same old me, light brown hair, hazel eyes, a few freckles dotting my button nose, full lips, decent curves, still fairly short at 5 foot 3, but I feel like a completely different person.

Since I do not have any of my clothes with me, I head out. Passing down the hall I run right into Alpha Landon, or I guess just dad. He catches me before I fall back, the man is built like a brick wall, he didn’t even budge when I ran into him.

“Hi Rose, your mom gave me some clothes.” I let out a groan at the name Rose on instinct, when he quickly corrects himself handing me the clothes. I thank him as I grab them heading back down the hall to the guest room.

My mom is built pretty similar to me, and these clothes like the pajamas carry her familiar smell. The bra is a little tight, and a cup size too small, but it will do. The jeans surprisingly fit very well, and the sweater hides the fact that my boobs look incredibly squished, and like they might fall out at any moment. It will do for now, I really hope that they at least let me get some of my clothes from my dorm room, or this is really going to start feeling more like a prison.

Leaving for the second time, I find my mom and dad patiently waiting for me on the sofa.

“Good morning, do the clothes fit okay?” Luna Amara asks.

“Yes Luna, they fit well enough.”

“Please, call me mom.”

I hesitate unsure if I should say okay, or okay mom, or just mom. I know in the heat of the moment yesterday I definitely called them mom and dad, at least I think I did, but now it feels like I am taking away that title from the people that raised me, but I was stolen from Luna Amara and Alpha Landon, it would be cruel not to call them mom and dad, so instead of saying anything I just stood silently, when Alpha Landon breaks the silence.

“Shall we head to breakfast? Now Rose, umm I mean Lexi, as an outsider people are going to stare and expect we provide an announcement as to who you are and why you are here. We would love to introduce you as our daughter, the pack will be thrilled. However if you are not comfortable with that, it might be best if we have your food brought back to you upstairs.”

I consider his request, its nice that they care how I feel. I really should try for them, and I do like them, at least I think I do. I feel safe around them, they haven’t done anything to hurt me, or make me feel uncomfortable besides that whole not letting me go back to college without guards thing. As they stare at me, I work up the courage to be introduced to a bunch of stranger as the long lost daughter of two strangers.

“Mom, Dad let’s go eat. People need to find out sooner than later, so let’s get this over with,” I say with more confidence than I actually feel. Inside I am panicked, but I am also really curious about a werewolf pack, and what it would have been like to grow up here, so might as well try to adapt sooner than later; besides I have always been a dive in head first type of girl.

As we walk into the cafeteria, the smell of pancakes, maple syrup, eggs, and bacon waft in and my stomach grumbles, loud enough that the room which was once erupted in a cacophony of sound, is now eerily silent. Everyone has stopped mid conversation, mid chew to divert their attention to us as we enter the room. I have never felt so uncomfortable or embarrassed in my life.

My dad clears his throat as he begins to address the room. “Hi everyone, I would like to introduce you all to our daughter, Rose, who prefers to be called by her adoptive name, Lexi. While I am sure many of you have questions, we would like to avoid those being directed to her daughter. My office will be open to anyone with questions or concerns this week. Please give Lexi a warm welcome, and continue to enjoy your breakfast.”

Instantly the room erupts into applause, and sincere congratulations are shouted to my parents, who are beaming with joy. My mom leans into me and whispers, “If at any point you become overwhelmed, wave me over and I will get you out of here.” I nod my head in confirmation, almost certain that I will need to take her up on that offer. When Matt, Same, and Luke come sauntering up to me.

“Hi Lexi, want to grab some breakfast and sit with us.” Matt asks.

A barely imperceptible blush hints at my checks, as my throat runs dry and I nod my head.

Suddenly Luke grabs me by the wrist, dragging me in the direction of the table, shouting to his brothers, “Just get everything, and lots of it I want to introduce her to Izzy. You’re going to love her,” he exclaims excitedly.

As we approach the table I see two beautiful girls sitting together chatting aimlessly until one sees me and Luke heading their way. Her eyes instantly focus on his hands wrapped around my wrist, when his grips loosens and drops immediately. Her gaze softens, and a smile forms on her full pouty lips. Her skin is like porcelain, creamy, and perfect. Her round face, and big blue eyes are framed by her perfectly curled raven black hair. She is gorgeous, she gets up to approach us, as she pushes out her hand. I taking it in my own she squeezes.

“Hi, I’m Isabella, but my friends call me Izzy.”

“Hi,I’m Rose, but my adoptive parents and friends call me Lexi,” I quip.

Luke lets out a nervous chuckle from behind me, while Izzy stares at me her mouth partly agape. “Guys, it was a joke, don’t take me so seriously,” I state with an air of nonchalance. You can almost feel the tension disappear, as Izzy and Luke both exhale.

“What’d I miss?” Matt states, as he juggles three plates full of food, turning to put them down at the table.

“Nothing.” Luke, Izzy and myself state in unison.

“Well mostly them just ignoring me,” states the girl Izzy was speaking with before. She is almost identical to Izzy, same raven black hair, bright blue eyes and porcelain skin. Her face is more heart shaped, and her lips are not quiet as full, but they look very similar.

“Oh, yeah… this is my little sister, Ana but everyone calls her Ana,” Izzy states with a straight face. Everyone bursts into laughter, but Matt, whose expression is somewhere between that’s not funny and what is wrong with these people.

Sam approaches all of us with a full glass of orange juice, and a plate piled high in pancakes and bacon, some how he is managing to snag bacon from the top of his plate while walking.

“Hungry much?” Luke chides, and just like that we are all roaring with laughter again.

That’s how the morning went, the siblings laughing at each other expenses, with me adding fuel to the fire. It was nice to have made such quick friends, and we were all so engaged no one came to ask me questions, even if I did catch them stare a few times.

As we were wrapping up laughing and eating my mom came over, and everyone feel completely silent, bowing their heads slight at her. It was subtle, but a clear sign of respect.

“Don’t mind me, Lexi I just wanted to let you know we have dropped off your lap top in your room upstairs.”

“Oh, umm thanks.” I state, as I watch her sort of fidget. The tension rises as we both clearly are not sure what this relationship should feel like, not wanting to prolong the awkwardness ness, especially in front of my new friends. I rise from my seat, and wave goodbye.

We silently walk to the stairs, when Luna Amara begins to speak, “It looks like you’ve made friends rather quickly.”

“Oh, yeah. They are really cool actually. I can’t remember the last time I laughed that much.”

“They are great kids.”

We continue to ascend the stairs, in a more comfortable silence. If I were with my adoptive mom she wouldn’t push me, it feels nice that Luna Amara is not trying to force me either. When we reach the fourth floor, she turns to me to let me know she has some Luna duties to attend to, and will see me later if I am around.

Honestly, I am a little stunned. With the way they were insisting I stay, and the hope that they had with finding their long lost daughter I expected to be smothered and controlled, but they have went about their day as if I have been here my entire life. In the pit of my stomach I feel the ball of guilt building with each step I take towards my new bedroom.

Laying at the foot of my bed is a laptop, a note with the WiFi password, and a few pairs of new clothes. The ball of guilt in my stomach twists, and I sigh in exasperation, they really are trying. If I accept them, am I not accepting my parents. I mean, my parents never had an issue with meeting my biological parents, at least not when I asked them about it. They said they had even contacted the adoption agency but with it being a closed adoption were unable to share any details about my biological parents. I am still so confused how the adoption agency ended up with me, but then again I had no idea that werewolves were real, or witches, or vampires.

Shit, that reminds me I need to write that damn paper still, its due tonight. Opening the lap top, again I am taunted by the blank screen in front of me, with a deep breath I close my eyes, and try to think about the last 24 hours. My entire life is upside down and now a supernatural prompt in which the protagonist faces an obstacle doesn’t seem so absurd.

My fingers type ferociously as I recount my experience.

I begin to proof my paper, and reading through it in my mind.

Looking up at the sky, as the moon reflects on the water, Alexandra feels the sudden sharp pain radiating from her spine. Confusion and fear take over as pain forces her to fall forward. The pain is so sharp, she can not catch her breath to scream, the only sound to be heard is the snapping of broken bones. As the reform her into a beast. Fur sprouts along her arms as her hands transform with razor sharp claws, the honest fall back into place, not of a human but a giant wolf. Her fur, is golden, and radiates in the light of the moon. However her mind, is not hers alone as the wolf has a name, Helena.

After reading that first paragraph back to myself, I feel self conscious about my name choices, feeling that I should change them. I mean, Alexandra is pretty close to Alexis, and I did tell everyone that my wolfs name is my mom’s name, so I could name them, Rose and Ela?

Really you are going to give the wolf in your story, the one about us, our real names?

Ela, geez I almost forgot you were there, you have been quiet all morning. I don’t see the issue with using our real names, it’s not like anyone in school will care. Besides why are you hiding your real name.

I will tell you when you find our mate. She states with an air of smugness.

Seriously, this mate thing again? Maybe when the semester is over, and he already found us, why can’t he just come here?

I am not sure, I would have expected him to follow. That is why we need to find him we need to know what is going on. Also your story doesn’t mention seeing him in the woods at all. It only takes about being adopted. Why is that such a big deal, being apart from one’s mate is much worse than being taken from your family.

Do you really believe that? I have never even met my mate, and what if he is an asshole. I didn’t even get the chance to grow up knowing what I am. The last 24 hours have been a major struggle for me to even come to terms with and you just care about a man?

An asshole? You think Xander and Hunter are assholes?

You know their name?

Of course I know their names.

How do you know our mates names?

You were smarter in our last life you know.

Last life?

Yes, we were reincarnated. It’s rare, takes the power of more than one God.

God?

Yes, as I said gods. Ela exaggerates the s, to highlight that it was more than one, while still providing me no details and more questions.

Which gods?

Find our mate.

You’re not going to tell me?

No. I won’t, until I can see Xander and Hunter again.

Can I leave the names as Rose and Ela?

Will you find our mates?

I can try.

Then fine. Still think a wolf would be more upset about their mate.

Well humans are going to read it so, I am not going to change it.

Will you tell me about our life before?

I already started to.

I am certain she feels the confusion I am feeling, but I feel her retreat back into the recesses of my mind before I can think to ask.