Alice and The Rogue Wolf

Chapter 2

Alice

I sat on the couch and waited while she escorted the doctor out. Whilst sitting there, I tried to see if I could recall anything, to no avail. Was there even a way to recover anything within the past few days?

Soon I heard the sound of the door opening and closing and stood up when my mum came into view.

“Mum?” I asked. I wasn't sure what I was asking of her, neither what I had expected her to say.

She gave me a smile which seemed more strained than others. I gasped at the slight differences in her features now, noticing the slight fine lines and wrinkles which I weren’t there. Or weren’t there before three years had passed.

“I’m sure this is jarring for you dear. You need to rest.” She said

Truthfully wasn’t prepared to go to sleep. The whole thing sent me reeling. But I could see in her eyes how she was practically begging me to give her some alone time and cope with things,

“Okay.”

I took a good look around my room, seeing it in a new light. The potted plants and chair I assumed to have been changed by my mother must have been changed by me, somewhere within the past three years.

Just the thought still sent me reeling, three years of my life, gone, just like that.

I felt my head hurt slightly from all the thinking I was doing.

Mum was right; some rest will do me good.

I fell on the sheets and looked up to the ceiling, looking at the stars and moons there-the only constant I seemed to have. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. Praying to the moon goddess that I will get my memories back. I did not realize when I fell into the feeling of darkness all warm and engulfing.

I woke up to see darkness. Groggily I stood up from the bed, rubbing my eyes to clear out the goo in them before looking at the window. The stars were shining brightly and the moon was all but nonexistent in the dark sky.

It was night already? Had I really slept for that long? I wondered.

It was still disconcerting to not feel the weight of my long hair on my back, I felt different but not a bad feeling. I reached out to tough the now short strands.

I left the room, walking to the living room to meet my mum. I stopped as I began to hear hushed voices speaking. I began to walk quietly to the entrance to see who was talking.

My mum was talking to someone in the kitchen. I could easily recognize my mom’s outfit. The other person I couldn’t see properly from the angle I was in. Stepping forward, I looked to see who he was.

Perhaps I want stealthy enough, as the moment I did so, both voices quieted and they turned to me. I was able to see him fully.

The person in question was a man. He had blonde hair and was wearing cream colored shirt and matching pants. It didn’t matter the changes I saw, I could recognize him.

“Jonathan?” I asked. He looked older now, his hair cut a bit shorter and his face more hardened, but it was him.

He gave me a warm smile which was reminiscent of many he had given me before.

“Hey Alice.” He said, his voice a warm timbre, it was slightly deeper than I could recognize, but comforting all the same.

He spread his arms and I went up to him and returned his embrace. He enveloped me in a hug and I felt grounded in the arms of somebody familiar in the new things I was facing.

“You look older.” I pointed out, staring at his grey eyes.

He gave a smile which I couldn’t help but return. A question popped up in my mind which I immediately asked.

“How’s dad?” Jonathan was the beta of the pack and the second in command to my father. Despite not seeing him I felt worried that he didn’t come home. Jonathan may know his whereabouts.

I saw his stiffened before he and my mother shared a look, the look gave me an uneasy feeling curling up in my gut.

“Your dad is fine. He’s out late working.” He said as he turned to me, smiling gently. He reached out and tucked my hair behind my ear, which felt so strange.

Somehow, I could still feel uneasy, whether at his answer or his actions, but I chalked that feeling up to my lethargy earlier. I nodded my head. “Okay.”

He had never been so busy to miss dinner with my mum and I. But then again, perhaps I could be wrong. Perhaps he was working late due to pack matters and I was over thinking.

“Have a seat.” He said, gently leading me to sit in one of the chairs.

I could not help but feel strange at his careful treatment of me, treating me like I was a fragile doll of sorts felt strange. I chalked it up that perhaps my mother had told him pouf my diagnosis.

“So, I guess you’ve heard the news already.” I said, giving a shrug and a chuckle.

“You can say that.” He said, looking at me carefully “are you okay?”

“As okay as one could be losing three years of their life.” I stated

“It may be hard for you, but its okay. Your family is here for you. I am here for you. And I will be with you every step of the way, don’t forget that.”

“Okay.” I drew out. I couldn’t help but feel like he was acting weird, so to speak. From the too long hug to the hair to the way he was speaking, every part of his behavior felt strangely close and intimate in a way that he never has been towards me.

This was further confirmed as he reached out to hold my hand “I’ll do my best to visit you from now on, and it seems like we’ll have to postpone the party. “

“What plans? I asked. Considering the date the doctor told me I did not recognise it as being any special birthday for anybody. It wasn’t near any festival date either so I was confused.

This made him give a look to her mother, to which she returned. I felt out of the loop in the silent conversation they seemed to have.

“You didn’t tell her?” he asked. This made me more curious about whatever they were withholding.

He broke off the gaze and gave a short laugh “of course, she’s lost three years of her life, how will she remember?”

“Remember what?” I was tired of being cast aside and kept out of the loop. I looked at my mother whose focus was on the ground and back to him in disbelief.

“Excuse me for a moment.” My mum said, turning away and heading into the kitchen, leaving Jonathan and I alone.

“Tell me.” I looked to Jonathan who looked hesitant t say anything. I knew that I wouldn’t get an answer until I pushed.

“Alice,” I turned to him as he gently put his hand atop mine, giving me a rueful smile. “The thing is…you and I are engaged.”

If the earlier news swept me off my feet, this hit me like a gust of wind, knocking me off balance. As I looked at him, I was sure that my mouth was gaping from surprise.

“Engaged?” I said slowly, still trying to process it.

He nodded “Ever since last year, we’ve been betrothed to each other. We were set to get married sooner this month. Our engagement party was supposed to be a week from now, but…”

I looked down to his hand covering mine, yet I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t feel that way for him. To me he was just a good friend. Ever since we grew up together, I had never held a spark for him. It felt strange to even be affectionate with him, as though she was with her brother. So hearing that they were apparently now engaged was disconcerting to say the least.

“I don’t-I can’t” I stuttered out. I was at a loss of words. My mind jumbled up very single word. I was so confused on what to do in the situation I was in, news after news had bombarded me and now I felt confused.

I was brought back to reality as I felt the weight and warmth of his hand leave mine. I looked at him and my heart fell at his sullen expression. It made me feel bad and want to say something. Before I could say anything however, he stopped me by raising his hand. “It's okay Alice. I’m sorry for pushing this on you after everything you’re trying to comprehend. I shouldn’t have even mentioned it in the first place.”

“No…it's okay.” I said, swallowing lightly. The shock of the discovery was hitting me.

“Is there anything else I should know?” I asked, looking at him expectantly. I needed to know all these new changes in my life and there was no better time than that moment.

He gave a small smile while shaking his head in negative “Nothing urgent. You just have to focus on your recovery for now. Like I said, all in good time?”

At his words I felt relief wash over me. He was probably right. I smiled, nodding at him “all in good time.”

This seemed to make the atmosphere more relaxed. My mother came back from the kitchen holding a bowl of food which she set right in front of me for me. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until the aroma of the food hit me and my stomach growled lightly in response. I gobbled up the food bit by bit whilst talking to Jonathan.

Soon after I was done eating, Jonathan took his leave, stating that he had pack matters to attend to. We bid him goodbye.

My mother came up to me “You should go to sleep; you must be tired from all the talking already.”

I wanted to complain that I woke up earlier, but true to my mother’s words, I felt drowsy and tired already. Perhaps the news from earlier had taken a larger toll on me than I thought.

Bidding my mother goodnight, I walked the steps with sleep in my eyes. I went into my room, not even bothering to switch the lights on before I lay on the bed. The moment I covered myself with the sheets, I fell into blissful slumber.

All I could feel was warmth at first. My eyes looked open drowsily to see a brown wolf drawing closer. Even with every step the wolf taking bringing him closer to me, all I could feel was warmth.

Then in a blur the wolf was replaced by a man. A man with hazel eyes and dark curly hair.

Who was he?

All my curiosity vanishes as he came closer all I could feel was fear, bone chilling fear which I couldn’t comprehend filled me. I felt every urge to run away as he came close. Panic filled me as no matter how much I tried I was frozen, unable to move.

An unknown voice began to reverberate in my mind, haunting and pleading, calling out my name

“Alice.”

“Alice!”

My eyes pop open and I sit up on my bed. I look around to see the dark outline of my room against the light of the dawn. My heartbeat pulses quickly for a reason I couldn’t understand.

After moments of breathing to calm down, I lay down on the bed again. My body and clothes, which were damp with sweat, begin to cool down as breeze passes through my window. I take a breath and look up at the ceiling; only one question lowed through my mind.

Who was that man?