Golden Rule

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 – Miriam and Fernanda

              Miriam

              I felt myself trying to wake up. I couldn’t move my body, it felt so heavy. My eyes were just as bad. I heard whispers and concentrated on them.

              “You’re saying we literally steal this girl’s identity!”

              “What choice do we have? It’s not like we can ask her for permission, and we are running out of time.”

              “The council members are waiting for her as we speak. If we are going to do this, we need to do it now.” Then I hear my phone receive a message.

              “I believe it’s her mother.”

              “Go ahead and respond, message back that she arrived and is busy. We’re doing this.”

              “But…”

              “This is our only chance. The alpha that ordered her be killed could be the same one that had my family killed. I’m doing this and that’s final.”

              “I pray she understands when we tell her.”

              “Why wouldn’t she. She fought to stay alive long enough to let us know who did this to her. If we hadn’t gotten to her when we did, she would be dead right now.”

              “As you wish princess…”

              “Again, with the princess!”

              “Fernanda, I’ll unload my and Violet’s luggage then. Rachel will direct you to where you need to go. I assume you have a story as to why you are late?”

              “I’ll just say I got a flat tire or something.”

              “Very well, so you know her name is Miriam Levy from the Canon Mountain pack. She is here as the new Education Coordinator and is to stay for 2 years. She….” The voice trailed off and I assumed they left the room.

              I could feel someone still in the room with me moving things around. I could only assume these women saved me and were now usurping my identity to get into the Golden Cross pack. The younger sounding woman said the alpha had her family killed. I felt my body begin to shake from the anger going through me. How dare this so-called alpha destroy so many lives?! He wasn’t an alpha but a tyrant. I owed these women my life and if they needed my identity, it was the least I could do. I obviously couldn’t do much myself.

              But who was this Fernanda, one of the women called her princess? This was confusing and intriguing. And where were we? Were we still near The Golden Cross boarder? I just wanted to wake up so I could ask and know what was going on.

I began to move my eyes to try and get a feel of them. I had to least keep trying to get my body to respond. Then I heard something drop and I guess my body jerk because I felt a jolt of pain go all through my body. What sounded like a dry, heaving noise came from my throat.

“Oh my god, I am sorry if I scared you.” The woman that was talking grabbed my hand. “Squeeze my hand if you can hear me.” I tried to squeeze at her hand, but it felt like my hand only jerked.

“This is great! My name is Violet. My companions and I found you on the side of the road. We are going to do everything we possibly can to help you. Did your wolf leave because of the wolfsbane?” I squeezed her hand. “That makes sense, your wounds aren’t healing at all. But we will keep you as comfortable as we can. I am going to give you some pain medicine now so you can keep resting. Fernanda is a doctor, or a surgeon, for humans, and she expects you to be able to wake up tomorrow. Ok?” I squeezed her hand again.

She was right, as much as I wanted to ask all my questions, I felt so tired. And my body was fighting to sleep as all I could physically feel was pain. All I could do to help myself was to sleep. I felt my arm go cold and I assumed it was the medicine entering my system. The last thing I remember thinking was that these women had saved my life.

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Fernanda

“Fernanda, I have to ask you one last time. Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

“This is what we have to work with, what would you suggest we do?” I was getting annoyed with them asking me so many times the same questions. This was our only opening to get into the bowels of the Golden Cross pack. Working in the schools’ system would allow me to meet many important people. It was perfect. Other than the girl, whose name we now knew to be Miriam Levy, almost dying.

Rachel recognized her since her restaurant had been contracted to cook a welcome dinner. And then we found her phone in her pocket. Which seemed odd, but we were able to keep her family at bay for now. I was hoping she would wake tomorrow so she could talk to them, and we could explain to her what we were doing. Would she be upset that I had taken her place? Would she want to continue with our plans?

I was nervous. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had never worked in a teaching environment. I mean, I had been to school all my life up until a few weeks ago. But teaching was a whole different monster. But I had to do it. The dinner was to be at the Alphas’ residence, that was already getting my foot in the door and getting closer to him, or them. Violet, as always, did not say a word. She did not argue with me about this plan. She did give me an amulet to use if I found myself in trouble.

“These are hard to come by Fernanda. Only use it in a real emergency. Once you break it, it will immediately smoke, and it will transport you back here safely. It will only work for one person, whoever is wearing it. If the alpha sees that Miriam Levy is alive, there is no telling what he might retaliate with tonight. Please stay safe.”

Frida and Rachel (who looked like an older version of Violet) were not on board with the plan. But this was what I had decided we would do, and they didn’t have any other choice than to follow my lead.

Rachel was explaining the dynamic for tonight on our walk outside to the SUV. There was to be two members from the pack council and three from the school council. She was worried, as she was sure someone from the schools would recognize that I was not Miriam Levy. We did not know how active Miriam was on social media or if they had met her before. But I was willing to risk it. The Alpha brothers and their families were expected to be there as well. Rachel was sure they had never met Miriam before. She was confused and disturbed as to why and what alpha had wanted Miriam dead. According to her, the Alpha brothers were decent rulers, they were liked and respected by the pack. Involved in all matters of pack life and the human village.

But she was worried for my safety and if we would be able to maintain the farce.

“My advice is to answer their questions with short answers. Do not say too much about any one thing, least someone should notice you have no clue what Miriam Levy is about. I will be working in the kitchen, if anything happens, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe Fernanda. On my life.” She added.

Frida was done unloading by now and I wondered if there was any way I could change at least. After the long flight and the situation with Miriam, I felt dirty and sticky with sweat.

“You wish to change?” asked Rachel.

“Can you guys read minds?” I asked in return.

“No, but your body language says it all and it’s the most logical thing since you are covered in dust and your long trip.” Responded Rachel. I looked at her skeptical, she smiled at me for the first time. “Witches are logical beings believe it or not; we have an innate ability to assume correctly what others might be thinking. But we are not always right, of course.”

“Well, yes, I do want to change. I know I have no time for a shower...” I begin to say when I see Rachel take a small bottle of water from her bag. She lets a drop fall into her palm and fans it with her other hand while chanting something I cannot understand. She looks up at me and I feel a relaxing breeze firmly wash over me. Suddenly, I feel refreshed. My body and clothes are clean, and my hair is kept like I just got a blowout. I look at her awe.

“What do you guys use? Violet used water as well.” I say.

“No time to explain, my crew is waiting for me and you are expected to arrive any minute now. They will worry and we cannot risk them calling Miriam’s family or pack.” Responds Rachel as she backs away from the SUV. “See you there, and good luck ‘Miriam’” she says with a wink and disappeared into thin air.

“Is there anything else you need Fernanda?” Frida asks me while I’m still trying to wrap my mind around this being my life now.

“I guess just luck.” I shrug my shoulders.

“Do not worry about anything here, we will make sure the girl is taken care of. Good luck, may the goddess be with you.” She says to me. I nod my head at her and make my way to the driver’s seat.

“I guess we’ll be in touch.” I say to her as I close the driver’s door.

“Yes, your phone is secure, and the amulet will not allow anyone to listen to your private conversations.” She says to me.

With a last glance at her I begin to drive away. I was to circle around back the way we came into my family’s house and get back on the main road just outside the pack boarder. Rachel had left the path marked for me to follow, there was no way I would remember which path to take. Once I was close enough to main gate, the cloak spell would wear off the SUV. It seemed like a longer way back to the entrance we took off the road where we found Miriam. But I enjoyed the scenery of the territory along the way. After 45 minutes, it was already 6:30 in the evening and getting dark. The sunset looked gorgeous, bathing the small hills of the pack lands in a golden hue. How fitting I thought to myself.

I finally reached the main road and drove further until I saw a guard house with at least four wolves stationed there. I continued to drive up slowing my speed. I gripped the steering wheel and felt my nerves about to burst. These weren’t even the ones I had to really deceive, and I was already a mess.

I took deep breaths to control my heartrate. Then I reached them too soon for my liking.

“Good evening are you Miss Levy?” one of the guards came to my window and I didn’t even get a chance to roll it down when he was already asking. I only nodded my head at him. “I think they were about to send us to go look for you, we’ve been waiting all afternoon for your arrival.” He added.

I needed to make a mental note of everything so I could report it to everyone back at the house. Especially Miriam, it was in her interest to know all of this. They were going to look for her since she hadn’t arrived. Could just all be a ploy.

“My apologies.” I said to him.

“No need to apologize ma’am. If you follow George, he will lead you to the Alphas’ residence.” I looked ahead and noticed a fairly small but strong looking wolf waiting patiently. His tail was wagging behind him and his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth as he was panting hard. I thought he must be a very young pup.

I looked back at the guard at my window, “thank you” I said to him before going forward in the SUV. The young pup started at a light jog, and I followed as he picked up his pace. Within a minute he was full on Wolf running. It was truly amazing to see this young pup so excited to be in his wolf form. It made my wolf crazy in my head, wanting to be let out as well.

After about 15 minutes we reached what looked like a neighborhood with charming little houses. We kept going forward following a cobbled stone narrow road. We reached what looked like might be the downtown area of the village. It had several tall buildings and people were out and about enjoying the night air. Everyone seemed so relaxed and carefree. It seemed like such a quaint and gorgeous little town. The streetlights let off a soft glow giving the area a romantic feel. I couldn't look around too much as I was driving and didn't want to cause an accident. That was the last thing I needed right now. We kept going as George kept to the shadows of the trees lining sidewalk everyone was busy in what looked like a park in the middle of everything. We went through another neighborhood these houses were a bit bigger than the first set. We kept going up a hill on the same cobblestone road when a mansion like house appeared ahead.

It wasn’t as grand as my family's house, it almost reminded me of the historical houses in New Orleans. At that minute, my mind went to thoughts of Noah and the trip we made to New Orleans for a Mardi Gras celebration. Before I knew it tears were coming out of my eyes. No, I can't have this now, I need to get my emotions under control.

              We were circling around a large water fountain and driving up to the main entrance of the huge mansion. It was then that I noticed a large group of people waiting there at the steps of the entrance I felt myself breaking out into a cold sweat. Goddess please be with me.

The wolf pup ran up to one of the younger men standing there. The man bent down and patted his head and got down to his knee and ruffled up his neck. The pup seemed so content and happy, then ran off around to the back of the house. I drove up to the steps and stopped the SUV, I did an imaginary sign of the cross out of habit. I opened the door and slid out. ‘Here we go’ I said to my wolf. Will I be able to pull this off?