Escaping Wildfire

Gema

As directed, I met Alpha Marek in his office after breakfast. He had told me to meet him so that we could discuss my doing some work around the pack.

“Gema,” his voice sounded calm, kind even. It was alarming, and immediately put me on edge, not that I felt all that calm coming into this office to begin with.

“I’ve been doing some research on you.” He pointed at me while tossing a file onto his desk with my name on it. He must have brought over all of the Cobalt Falls member files. “You’re smart, graduated top of your class and have always been one of the top trainees in your age group.”

I nodded wordlessly, not sure where he was going with this.

“I want you and your little friends to start training. We train all Wildfire pack members, and now that you’re pack, you’ll need to join in. I also want you to head up our pup training."

Normally, I would have jumped at the chance to lead the pup training group, but here at Wildfire, all it made me feel was anxiety.

“You do the pup training, and I’ll start allowing you and your friends to roam freely around the packhouse. Do we have a deal?”

“Yes, Alpha.” I wanted the others to have more freedom here, even if we were still prisoners. The twins had been so happy just going swimming the other day, and I wanted to see them smile again, so I said yes.

While I had agreed to his terms for the others, I was terrified of being trained by Wildfire. They were ruthless fighters, and the boys were young enough that they might take the Wildfire mentality to heart. Knowing this possibility existed just made me want to escape more. I had to get us out…even if that meant I would have to kill Alpha Marek myself.

The rest of the week had gone by quickly. We started training two days ago, and so far, it has been going rather well. I was teaching the boys' class, so I worried less about them being indoctrinated by Wildfire as they were with me.

The stupid combo engagement/birthday party was tonight, and Alpha Marek had graciously invited everyone from the pack formally known as Cobalt Falls. Jade and the twins could not have been less excited, and Jasmine had taken to not even talking in the past week. I would say she was a mere shell of herself, but I don’t think she was even that, maybe just a shadow. The only thing that kept her going at this point was Jade and being there for her. I know she was worried about me as well, but I hadn’t even told her about my encounter with Beta Griffin as I knew it would make her anxiety worse.

Alpha Marek had made good on his word to move me into my new shared room, which was actually more like a small apartment with a separate sitting area, bathroom, and kitchenette. I don’t know why we’d need that, though, as I wasn’t even allowed to go food shopping.

Nora had offered to do not just mine, but Jasmine and Jade’s hair for the party, so we were all sitting in my new room waiting to get ready.

“Your dress is pretty.” Jade ran her hand across the glittery red fabric.

“It is, too bad Alpha Marek pretty much picked it for me.” Jade quickly moved her hand away from the dress as if she had been burned.

“Do you think we’ll ever get out of here?” She walked over to the bed and sat down. “I haven’t given up hope yet, and I’m sure the boys are doing everything possible to get to us.”

“But what if Alpha Marek attacks them too, and they all die, like Mom and Dad?” Her voice cracked and her eyes welled up with tears, but before I could comfort her, we heard Jasmine, who had been looking out the window, start gasping for air. She was bent over clutching at her chest. “Jasmine?” We rushed to her side, and Jade cupped Jasmine’s face. “Jas, it’s okay. I’m here, just focus on me.” She continued gasping, and tears fell from her eyes. “Jordan is safe at Harvest Moon. He’s safe, we’re safe…focus on my voice Jas.” Jasmine closed her eyes and her breathing finally steadied. She opened her eyes as her tears streamed down her face and nodded at Jade, reaching out to hug her. I stepped up behind the two sisters not wanting to interrupt but also worried for my friend.

“Here, let’s sit.” Jade walked them over to the couch. “Can you get her a glass of water, please?” Jade called out to me.

I served the water, and walked over to them, handing the glass to Jasmine. “How long has this been going on?”

Jasmine wiped at her cheeks but said nothing.

“The panic attacks started about two weeks ago, but the nightmares started the night we arrived,” Jade answered for Jasmine as Jasmine looked down at the floor.

“Do you also have them?” I asked Jade.

“Not the panic attacks but sometimes I have nightmares.”

I took a deep breath and sat beside Jasmine and hugged her. “We’ll get out of here, I promise you, I’ll get you out of here and back with Jordan.” My only plan was still only a half-brained idea, but I meant the promise I made to them. I was going to get them out no matter what it took.

We had Jasmine lay down for a nap in my bed and had Nora fix mine and Jade’s hair and makeup first. As usual, she made me look perfect. I put on my red dress and gold heels, to match the pack colors, of course.

I was their new princess and had to look the part, but I waited until the last minute to slip that awful ring onto my finger. I felt like I was betraying Noah by having that ring.

“Your clutch and your ring, Miss.” I took my clutch from Nora and stared at the ring box in her hand. Nora’s hand shook and her eyes glistened as if she was about to cry. She looked scared that I wouldn’t take the ring, so I hastily took the box from her and slipped the ring onto my left hand. A tear I hadn’t realized was there slipped onto my cheek. I quickly wiped it away before Jasmine and Jade saw, but not before Nora saw.

“Alpha is expecting you now.” He must have mind-linked Nora to bring us down to the party. She opened the door and ushered us out.

She looked quite beautiful today. All pack members were required to attend tonight, and she had curled her light brown hair and applied the most natural look to her face. She looked beautiful in her light yellow dress, but I could see that the dress looked a little worn in some places and the sleeves were not quite long enough for her arms like she had grown out of it. It must be her only dress, but that said a lot about her if she could make her worn dress look so beautiful.

The party was in full swing when we arrived, and the twins were the first to greet me. They were in brand-new matching suits but also wore matching scowls. “You were supposed to be at your party with Noah.”

“I was, but it’s not safe to say those things here.” They nodded in understanding and went off to get me and the girls punch.

“There’s my future daughter-in-law. You look beautiful.” Alpha Marek sidled up beside me as if we were the best of friends, but I knew he was just putting on a show for everyone. “I have another surprise for you.” He clapped his hands once and gestured towards a side door where my parents were standing. They wore a new suit and dress, but they looked pale and had lost a considerable amount of weight. At that moment, I didn’t care if this was another ploy of Alpha Marek’s, I ran to greet my parents, having missed them these last few weeks.

“Feliz Cumpleaños, mi Niña.” My mom patted my back as she hugged me and cried. “Look at you, so grown up and beautiful.”

Alpha Marek appeared behind us and gave us a crooked smile. “Let’s sit down for dinner now. Everyone better play nice, or there will be consequences.” He whispered that last part so only we could hear, but we did as he said and sat at a table for eight that included my family, the Alpha family, and Beta Griffin. Luna Clarissa was here as well, looking perfect in a tight bun, red lipstick, and a gold sheath dress. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she and Alpha Marek were happily mated.

Larkin came over to me and pulled out a chair for me to sit. The food was brought out, and we ate in uncomfortable silence. As we were finishing the meal, Alpha Marek made his way to the stage.

“Thank you everyone for being here.” How ironic, thanking people for being here when he forced them all to be here. “Let’s have a round of applause for my son, and his beautiful fiancee, Gema. Larkin, why don’t you bring her up so everyone can congratulate you two?” We walked up to the front, hand-in-hand, pretending to be the happy couple Alpha Marek wanted. As we neared the front, a large cake was brought out, and the crowd started to sing ‘Happy Birthday.’ I smiled, but I felt anything but happy. The cake was decorated with red ribbon, vanilla frosting, and gold polka dots.

My mother had spent weeks planning my party back home, a pink and red theme with a strawberry cake. I felt ridiculous wanting to cry over a cake. I’d never been high maintenance, crying over silly things, but today, I wanted to cry for the strawberry cake I wasn’t getting.

Larkin led me back to our table as the cake was passed out, and I stared at the offensive slice of cake placed in front of me.

The DJ started playing the dance music, and the crowd happily rushed out to the floor, but I hated everything about this party. In the past, Jasmine and I would have been the first out on the dance floor, but now Jasmine was fighting just to even sit in this room, and I was putting on a facade for the devil alpha.

“Mija.” My mom came and sat beside me. “The Alpha said we have to leave before midnight, but I hoped we could talk before then. There is so much I want to say that I won’t get the chance to say right now, but I wanted you to know that we love you and are so proud of you. I have faith that you will find a way out of this, and I hope you can someday forgive your father for what he did. He is not perfect, but he did this so that we wouldn’t have to suffer the loss of any more of our family.” She squeezed my hand, hoping I’d understand.

“I get that he had his reasons and good intentions, and I know Wildfire pack took your parents and brother, but I’m still hurting over this right now. He sold me out, and I don’t know how that will ever be okay.”

My mom nodded at me with tears in her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry, too, that we can’t be there to watch you shift, I bet your wolf will be the most beautiful.” She wiped her eyes and hugged me again.

A guard came over to my mother, indicating it was time to leave, and she squeezed me tighter before she let go and headed out with my father.

Happy Birthday to me.

“Are you excited to get your wolf tonight?” Rory nudged my shoulder and gave me a soft smile.

“Yes, I am actually excited.” That was the first honest thing I’d said all night. “I know your family won’t be able to make it to your shift, but would you mind if I stayed with you? I had to go through my first shift with just Larkin, so I can help you through it if you’d like?”

“That’s very nice of you to offer, I would actually like that.”

“Good, I’ve already cleared it with my father, and he said we can go to the outside training area and run there. I’m sorry, but he won’t allow us to run in the forest.”

“That’s fine. I didn’t expect I could do that anyway.”

“If you’re ready, we can head there now.”

I nodded and got up to follow Rory. I noticed her mother had left with Sheila around the same time my parents left, so Rory had sat alone for most of the dance. Larkin had disappeared after the cake-cutting, and the others had gone up to bed about an hour ago.

When we got to the field, I noticed a basket was set out in the middle over a picnic blanket. "It’s not much, but I got you a gift. I’m not allowed to leave the pack grounds, but I’m a decent baker, and I asked one of the twins if they knew your favorite flavor of cake.” She pulled out a container with three perfectly frosted strawberry cupcakes. “We can eat them now or after the run, but I’d suggest after as I’m always hungry after a run.” My eyes filled with tears at her kindness, I’d get my strawberry cake after all.

“After is fine.”

She nodded and showed me what else she had brought. “I brought extra clothes for after your shift, in case you didn’t want to wear your dress.” I nodded my thanks. Most people would have changed out of their party dress to not ruin it, but I wanted to keep it on and have my wolf completely tear through it. I couldn’t destroy the dress, but my wolf could.

“It’s midnight,” Rory said cheerfully as she looked at her watch. “Do you feel anything yet?”

I was about to shake my head, but I was gripped by a sharp pain in my stomach.

“Come here, it’s easier if you get on your hands and knees.” She guided me down, and I took off my shoes. My body started to itch, and it felt like an eternity before anything else happened.

I looked up and focused on the crescent moon. Noah was supposed to be here. We were supposed to find out if we were fated mates or not tonight. I wouldn’t get to have my first run with Cosmo and my family like I had always dreamed of doing. Moon Goddess was supposed to give me my happy ever after, instead, I got this.

Another pain shot through me as my bones started to crack and shift. I could feel that my shoulder had pulled into an odd position, and I started to feel my gums tingle.

“You’re doing great,” Rory cheered me on as she rubbed my back. “Just a little bit longer.”

I felt a few more bones crack, and I felt the fabric of my dress tear away. A soft breeze blew by, and the pain was gone as suddenly as it had arrived. I looked down at myself and saw fur-covered paws.

‘Finally, it’s good to be out.’

‘Hi! You’re my wolf!’ I cried out excitedly through the link.

‘Hello, Gema. My name is Amora.’

Amora, I loved her already.

‘I know you’ve had a hard few weeks, but I’m here now for you. We’ll get through this together.’ Her voice had a soothing quality that calmed my nerves.

A light tan wolf suddenly appeared before me, and I hadn’t realized Rory had gone off to shift until now. She gestured to the edge of the field and started to run. I had to work on keeping up with her, as I was still a bit clumsy in my new form, but I got the hang of it after circling the field a few times.

Rory slowed down and went behind a tree. When she came back, she had changed back into her human form and dress. She rummaged through her basket before pulling something out.

“I brought a mirror, I thought you might want to see yourself.” She flipped it around for me to see.

Amora was beautiful. She was a gray wolf, like both of my parents and brother, except she had white legs and a yellowish underbelly. She jumped and pranced around in excitement as I watched through the mirror.

I was happy, but I was also sad. I laid down and set my head on top of my crossed paws. The boys were supposed to be here for this...and my parents and all of my other pack mates.

Rory set aside the mirror sensing my sadness. “I’m sorry you’re sad,” She sat beside me and patted my back.

‘Rory has a good heart.’ Amora pointed out.

‘Yes, she does.’

‘She’s sad, too, though.’

‘Yes, she is.’

“We should eat now.” She reached into her basket once more and pulled out a shirt and leggings for me and pointed to the tree she used. “You can change over there.”

I shifted back, quickly changed, and headed back to Rory.

“Thank you, for being here, and helping me through this.”

“You’re welcome, I’m glad I could help." She passed me a cupcake, and we ate, then she walked me back to my room giving me the third cupcake for me to have later.