Golden Rule

Chapter 17

Chapter 17 – Miriam

I was sitting under the sun. I was lying down and could hear water. I couldn’t open my eyes. They still felt so heavy, and my body was still tired. My mind void of any thoughts. If I made a movement to get up, pain shot through my entire being down to what felt like my soul.

My soul. I don’t know how much time had passed or where I was. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt my wolf. I kept still, letting my body rest and recuperate. All I could see was the red of my eyelids from the sun hitting them. I tried to fight off the memory of being on the side of the road, dying, feeling the sun on my face. I had to be strong, I need answers so I must put the nightmarish memories on the back burner for now.

Suddenly my senses went crazy. But I still couldn’t feel my wolf. I couldn’t move or open my eyes. I didn’t know what was happening and as much as I tried, my body would just not respond to me. My body felt drawn toward something. I felt too scared to move, why couldn’t I just open my eyes?!

But then it was gone. The redness from the bright sun was gone and so was its warmth. I realized I was still in the small, hospital-like bed and still had the cast around my torso to protect my ribs. I felt so uncomfortable. The pain seemed to be worse. And I felt itchy from everywhere I had gauze on my skin. I felt myself try and stir but that same pain from my dream ran through me like a lightning bolt.

“Take it easy Miriam. Take your time waking and try not to move so much.” I heard a woman’s voice. It was from one of the women from last night. The ones that saved me. I tried to relax and slowly began to open my eyes, blinking the sleepiness and tiredness away. My stomach was in knots, I was so hungry but at the same time felt sick to my stomach. I felt so weak. I wondered when my wolf would be back, it would devastate me if I had really lost her forever. I know she stayed as long as she could to help me. I hope and pray that didn’t cause her to be lost forever. I also didn’t know how long she could be away from me without serious consequences.

I heard the beeping from the machine begin to quicken which made me panic even more.

“Miriam, please try to calm yourself. Whatever you are feeling, we will do everything we can to help you.” Said a different woman’s voice. They sounded so nice and sweet, so worried about me. And I believed them. I believe Fernanda, the ‘princess,’ too. I couldn’t explain it. There was something about her.

They had saved my life and they were hiding me from whom ever it was that tried to kill me. They didn’t trust anyone in this pack either, and I wanted to know why. Fernanda believed we had been attacked by the same person. But I couldn’t imagine who would want to kill me and why. I was no one and she was called princess. Her aura screamed power and authority. More so than any alpha I had ever met.

I began taking slow breaths, I couldn’t inhale too deep without pain, so I did what I could to calm myself down. Telling myself that I was safe with these women. I was finally able to open my eyes. Violet, the witch was looking down at me with a small smile. “My sister went for Fernanda, they will be here soon. Its only 6:30 in the morning. I’ll go get more broth when they get here if that’s what you want. But if you want something more, I don’t know if your stomach would be able to handle it.”

Suddenly, Fernanda walked into the room with Violet’s sister and Frida the vampire. What a sight they all were. So beautiful and strong. I thought I was strong, until I wasn’t. I was almost killed and my family would have buried me if it wasn’t for these women. I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. And before I knew it, I was sobbing. Fernanda walked up to me with a worried look.

“Where are you feeling pain? Describe it to me.”

“I need to speak to my family. What day is it? How long have I been here?” I said sobbing through pain.

“It’s Tuesday morning. You’ll be angry but, we have been answering texts from your family. We didn’t want them to worry. But your mother and sister are getting suspicious and really want to talk to you now. I’m so sorry Miriam.” Said Fernanda.

“I just need to call them and put them at ease. That’s what matters now.” I respond trying to control my emotions.

“Miriam, there is so much going on and we don’t know all the dangers. Do you want to tell them what happened so they can come for you? We could also take you back if that’s what you want.” Says Frida. I don’t know what to respond and look to Fernanda. For some reason, I want to know if she has anything to say. I want to know more about her plans and what she thinks about all of this. She looks at me and it seems she knows what I’m thinking. We all wait for her to say something.

“I cannot guarantee your safety, actually, I can’t guarantee any of our safeties.” She says looking around, she turns back to look at me.

“But I can try to get you answers as to why you were attacked. Violet can keep the charm on the house. It will hide you and everything in it. It’s as if it’s still abandoned. Rachel says no one is allowed on the property anyway.” Says Fernanda. “I’m sorry I used your identity without your permission. At the time, it seemed like our only option. It seems I was able to get away with it, so far. I had dinner with one of the alpha brothers and the beta and his mate. Some council members were there. I’ve had some interaction with Alpha Brandon and I found out Father Fred is my uncle. All this and they still don’t know my identity, except my uncle. I can keep trying to get information and keep you safe here while you recover. If at any time you want to leave to report back to your pack about the attack, you are free to do so.”

She looks at me waiting with anticipation for my answer. She wants to do this and so do I. It might be foolish not seek out my own pack for help after what happened to me. But I don’t want to get my pack involved, I don’t want a war without knowing more. I know how my brothers would react and I know Luna Sheila would ask Alpha Ricky to join my family in war. I can’t do that to them without knowing who is behind my attack. I don’t even know if it was Golden Cross pack or not. It happened outside their territory not inside of it. And those damn guards weren’t guards at all. I knew that right away and so did my wolf. I should have turned around when my wolf let me know something was wrong. I look at Fernanda.

“We can continue with your plan. I can’t go back to my family like this. I need answers to the questions I know they’ll ask.” She lets out a breath and looks relived. The other women just nod and look away. I think they don’t want to risk my safety. But they know now, I want and I need answers. We then hear noise outside the house. I look around and notice the room is spacious and full of medical equipment. All sorts of medical tools and dressings are spread neatly over a long table against a wall. They were prepared. I automatically know the witch sisters did all this.

“Its me! Its Fred! Frida, stand down!” we hear a male voice from the outside. I look over at Frida and she is in a fighting stance, ready to attack. And she looks fierce! And the man knew she was ready to attack. I assume this must be the Father Fred Fernanda said she found out was her uncle.

Rachel leaves, I assume to fetch the priest while Violet walks out behind her. Fernanda hands me my phone.

“I want to apologize again for answering your texts-“

“Its ok, at least my family has some peace of mind.” I say to her with a weak smile. She returns the smile and looks at me like she is studying me.

“You need food, but I don’t know what your stomach can handle still. We’ve lowered the morphine so you’ll feel more discomfort and pain but you’ll be able to stomach food.” She says. Rachel walks in with the priest and he smirks at Frida then proceeds to look around the room. His face falls with a glint of disappointment in his eyes. Then turns his attention to me.

“How are you this morning child?” he asks me.

“I still feel pain throughout my body but its bearable. I feel weak, I need to call my family.” I feel like I’m starting to ramble at a somewhat simple question, so I stop myself so I don’t get emotional. I look at Father Fred and see him studying me just as Fernanda was. And I can tell they are related. They have the same mannerisms when speaking to people and they make you feel like they can study your soul as well. I feel I can trust them, I only wish my wolf was here to help guide me. But even without her, I feel strongly about these two people.

“So you’re going home?”

“No sir, I want to stay and recover here and I want more information to give my family and my pack.” I say being shy. He lets out a deep sigh and purses his lips and looks at Fernanda.

“You convinced her to stay and continue with the plan then?” He asks her sternly.

“She didn’t, I’m worried about how my family will react and I need to know more. I don’t want them to start a war with Golden Cross.” I tell him with tears stinging my eyes. He looks at me again, stays quiet and begins to nod his head.

“Very well, you have a valid point. And I wouldn’t blame your family for wanting to get back at your attackers. Seeing you now, I know they really put you through it and I want to find who did this to you as well.” He says to me.

“One of the men, the one who injected me with the wolfsbane said the alpha ordered it because I would be in his way. Something like that, I don’t really remember anymore.”

“I highly doubt that it was one of the alpha twins from Golden Cross. They are good boys, a bit headstrong and annoying but they are good men. They-“ he says when Fernanda cuts him off.

“I’ve been gong back and forth with that and I think we cannot rule them out. Especially the other one I haven’t met. He hasn’t shown his face, he might be hiding something.” She says crossing her arms.

“Nathan has been through some tough times, he would never do something so barbaric towards a woman.” Says the priest with conviction in his voice.

“You don’t really know that father, we never really know a person.” Fernanda shoots back and I feel a wave of discomfort, something like nausea and passing out. “Miriam?” I hear Fernanda beside me and then I hear Violet say “I brought her broth, she needs to eat something and we should discuss these things when she’s better.”

“I apologize Miriam, we should let you rest so you can get better. We will get you more information so you can report back to your family and pack.” Father Fred says to me.

I can only give him a short nod. Violet comes up to me with a bowl of something I assume is a soup. It’s whitish and looks thick. “I made a loaded potato soup that’s not loaded. It’s supposed to have bacon and more cheese and other toppings in it but we need to be cautious with your belly. You’ve received a lot of pain medicine.” She continues and I notice Father Fred looking at her adoringly. It makes me wonder and I keep my gaze on him when a few seconds later he notices my stare and looks away. He walks out behind the others.

Violet begins to feed me the soup I’m not so sure about. It looks congealed and I can’t really see any potatoes in it. But when she has it up to my nose and I smell it, it smells heavenly. I eat the first spoonful and I immediately love it and want more. Its warm and comforting.

“Thank you Ms. Violet, I’ve never had this before. Its very good.”

“It’s my pleasure Miriam and please just call me Violet.” She says smiling at me.

While I finish my cup of soup, the others can be heard elsewhere in this ‘house’.

“Violet, where exactly are we?”

“We’re in Fernanda’s childhood home. The Tenok family residence. Their hacienda.”

“The Tenok’s?!”