VALERIE~~
I had been sleeping for an eternity. Or so it seemed.My consciousness was stuck somewhere between light and darkness. I was floating around in a deep, dark abyss, punctuated only by unrecognizable sounds and flashes of light.Voices swam in and out of my consciousness, and within those voices, I recognized the voice who had chased the rogue wolves away from me.My dreams were every bit as riotous as the life I'd left behind. In them I saw Adam in every stage of his life since I'd known him, and the dreams always ended with him sneering and rejecting me.I knew, even then, that the only way I could escape from those painful dreams was to wake up, but waking up was more difficult than I'd thought.Then something sparked in my head, kick-starting my consciousness, and I woke up with a gasp.Tears stabbed at my eyes the moment I opened it, and a sob escaped my lips. The trauma and pain from the past hours— or days, or weeks, I couldn't even tell— poured over me in one overwhelming torrent, and soon I was openly weeping.My hands reached out to grasp something solid, get some bearing of my surroundings, and warm hands reached out for mine and held on."It's alright, you're safe now." A voice murmured. The voice was oddly familiar, and my mind flashed back to the dingy alleyway, the broken glass shard, the baseballs.The rogue wolf I'd killed."I killed someone..." I whimpered, and the warm hands pulled me into an even warmer embrace."They were going to kill you first." He murmured."You were very brave, Valerie."Wait.How did he know my name?I leaned away from the embrace, even though my trauma-stricken body was screaming in objection, and I looked into the eyes of my savior.It was a striking, interesting shade of chocolate, somewhere between a deep ochre and light brown. The sun seemed to catch his irises at an angle I could not explain. The irises were ringed with black, speckles of gold caught within them.My eyes traveled up the man's face and took in his deep brown hair that had been swept back, and the friendly expression on his face.He was a very cheerful-looking man, a stark contrast to Adam. Where Adam was all blacks and dark shadows, this man was all soft brown and friendly sable. It felt relieving staring at him, as though I was stepping into a gently-flowing river and it was washing away all my pain and fears. He chuckled as I scrutinized him."You're looking at me as though you're expecting something worse.""I'm definitely not." I whispered. "How long was I out?" I croaked, rubbing my head as a splitting headache attacked it."About four weeks. That baseball bat really did knock you out. In fact, the doctor was certain you were slipping into a coma."Four weeks?!My eyes widened in realization. "The rogue wolves...the...glass shard—" I stuttered, trying to make sense of it all, but he shushed me."There's no need to worry about that now," he said, then gently pushed me downward."You need to take a rest while I fetch the doctor."I resisted him, instead letting my eyes roam around, taking in every inch of my surroundings. I'd been kept in a bleak-looking room, its walls painted a depressing white, and strapped to a bed, which was starting to feel uncomfortably warm. An IV had been strapped to my left hand, infusing water into my body."Am I in a human hospital?" I croaked."Yes. You're in Seattle now, as far away from that small town as we can be." The man before me answered. Then he smiled again. "Pardon me. My name is Kenneth."I ignored the hand he stretched towards me and instead swung my feet down from the bed. Seattle was too far away for me, too bleak and unpredictable. What would I do in this thriving metropolis? Where would I start from?"I'm getting out of here," I mumbled, slipping my feet into the hospital-issued slippers by the bed. The man lunged forward and grabbed my arm before I could make any further move. "You won't want to do that.""And why is that?" I snapped. "You saved me from those rogue wolves and I thank you for that, but I think I'll find my own way now.""You were speaking a lot in your sleep," the man said suddenly, raising his voice. He came closer to me, his impressive brown eyes boring into mine. "I heard and learned a lot from your mumblings."I eyed him warily. "What are you talking about?""Who's Adam?" He asked instead, deflecting my question. "Is he the father of your child?" I frowned, extremely overwhelmed and gripping my head as the headache threatened to overcome me. "Wh...what are you talking about?"The air was fraught with tension as we stared at each other. My heart was hammering against my chest, my mouth tasting like ash. "I'm talking about the life that's growing inside of you." He said in a quiet voice."You're pregnant, Valerie."Pregnant? Who? I asked as confusion and realization hit me at once.I had a one night with Adam but that doesn't mean I'm pregnant now, does it? "I'm not pregnant...no, I can't be" I said gently as the back of my eyes burned with tears."It is confirmed, Valerie. You're four weeks pregnant" Kenneth muttered. I shook my head as I walked out to nowhere in particular.My head was spinning, I couldn't think straight."No it's not possible, I.. I can't be pregnant" I cried as my pushed myself out of the room.The strange looking guy was behind me, I could hear his footsteps as I struggled to snap out of this freaking nightmare.I tripped on my gown and lost my balance but he was quick to stop me from falling hard to the ground."You're not strong enough for this, Valerie. You just need to accept it and we can overcome this together" he said gently and I gave in to the tears that had been threatening to fall.I never imagined becoming a single mother, not in my nineteen years of living had I imagined being a single mother after getting rejected by the guy I had loved all my life...Valerie's POVI couldn't stop my tears from flowing down my face as realization dawned on me without sparing a little of my long time believe. My whole body trembled with fear as my hands found their way to my tummy, clutching it tight and protectively.I had no idea what to do next. I was helpless and restless and..."Kenneth, I can't be pregnant, I mean, I'm all alone, the person responsible for this clearly rejected me and banished me. I don't know what to do in this strange world. I, I" I stammered as more tears escaped my eyes. "It's okay, Valerie, you'll injure yourself" Kenneth tried holding me but I eluded his grasp."It's not okay! Nothing's okay here. I have no idea how to navigate my way in this human world. It's my first time here, Mr. Kenneth" I found myself yelling in despair as I cried even harder.All my joints were aching, my head was splitting with unbearable headache but I'd rather just pass out and wake up from this terrible nightmare.I needed someone to wake me
EIGHT YEARS LATER~~Valerie's POVHappy birthday to you,Happy birthday to you,Happy birthday to you, sweeties!Happy birthday to you!!!!"Hurray, my cutie pies are seven today" I said in excitement, taking turns to hug Jaden and Jordan as a cute smile formed on their faces making them look irresistible.Tears welled up in my eyes as I recalled eight years ago when I had clearly denied the fact that I was pregnant. Back then I never knew I could pull it off but I did, thanks to Kenneth by our side."Kenneth planted a little kiss on my lips before scooping up Jaden in his arms. Jordan pouted as he clung jealously to my legs."Should I do the honor of lifting you up, Mr. Jordan?" I teased and he stretched out his arm, nodding quickly with a smile.Seven years ago, the scan said I'll be giving birth to a boy and a girl but it seems fate had something else in store for me. It turned out to be two beautiful boys and as they grew I couldn't fail to notice the strange similarities between t
*Valerie *My whole brain was in turmoil, I couldn't think straight as I feared that something out of ordinary might have happened to Lily and my sons.I hope not! I really hope not.I dialed Lily's number still and this time I could hear her breathless voice on the line. "What's happening, Lily?" I asked with fear-clouded mind and she struggled to catch her voice for a second or two , making me lose anything they called patience."What the hell is going on!" I yelled as my tears threatened to fall. Nothing must happen to my sons and their nanny.Nothing at all!"The man... the mansion was raided by some unknown people" she managed to say and my heart raced hard against my ribcage, sending tremors and waves of fear down my bloodstream."And?" I asked as calmly as I could but all I could hear was an inaudible stammer."Then what the hell happened to you? Where are my sons?" I yelled again but I couldn't hear a single more sound."Jaden, Jordan... Lily, please be okay" I muttered despe
*Valerie *"This isn't a mark from any weapon, Kenneth" I said, taking a closer look at the marks on her wounded arms and neck."Yeah, it isn't. It's probably from the instigation of a person's nails or worse... claws" he replied with hesitation and my eyes widened.Kenneth touched the injured part of her neck and it stopped bleeding immediately. He couldn't heal her completely, probably because he wasn't a healing breed of the werewolves. He only shared a bit of his energy with her.She opened her eyes slowly with fear evident in her eyes."You'll be okay, Lily" I encouraged, holding tightly to her hands."What happened?" Kenneth inquired without much patience."Jaden and Jordan told me they craved for noodles and I came in here to make it for them as they kept checking out their gifts but all of a sudden some unarmed men barged into the kitchen... one with Jaden's limp body and another with Jordan."I was scared and I immediately tried to dial your number but the phone flew out of
*Valerie *"Did you get them?" I inquired, immediately facing Kenneth as he walked into the hallway where I had been parading."No Valerie. They were stronger than I thought and when I tried attacking, they threatened with the boy's lives" he explained and I turned away immediately."God.. this is absurd, totally unthinkable. Who would want to do this to me?" I cried and I felt Kenneth's arm around me.He pulled me out of the hallway, picking up my phone with his free hand as he guided me to the van. He made me sit at the front seat and he clasped the seat belt around me before hopping into the driver's seat."All would be fine, Valerie" he whispered, glancing towards me every now and then. This isn't about being fine. My sons life are in danger and I'm here being soothed that everything would turn out well. "I really hope so, too" I clasped my two hands tightly, gazing out of the window as I started recalling how I had lived my life.. and if I mistakenly made an enemy that'll event
Next Morning~~ Kenneth's Mansion me*Valerie *It was 6am and I was almost done packing my things. The time change here is different from the Pack's, so it would be better to leave very early to meet up before night falls at Moon Stone Pack."Mommy!" I heard suddenly and I look back quickly to see Jaden's beautiful morning face and Jordan's smile right behind him.I made to touch them, hoping they are really here and everything that happened was a mere nightmare but I was wrong. Their lingering images vanished almost immediately.I dabbed at my tears, turning back to continue packing my bags.I was done in ten minutes and I walked downstairs, waiting for Kenneth to come downstairs but then I heard some sounds in the kitchen.I went there in a hurry, only to see Kenneth fixing something for breakfast. You can't face your enemies without strength" he said, smiling as I gaped at him.He has always made sure I didn't skip any meals. What more could I ask for in a man? He has it all! A sho
*Adam *When George had informed me about a couple who had an appointment with me, I couldn't help but cross check the list of my schedule but I didn't find a single list of a couple.I found it weird and I wondered if they're just one of the many crazy people who come here to cause a commotion."Don't they look... crazy?" I found myself asking but he shook his head."They looked perfectly elegant and sophisticated" George had explained and Analisse scoffed."I suddenly want to see who an be more elegant and sophisticated than I am" Analisse muttered as she put down the nail polish remover which was in her hands before standing to check out herself in the mirror."I need to wrap this up first, Analisse" I said and a pout formed her lips.You can go down now, George. I'll be down in a jiffy" I murmured and he bowed slightly before heading out quickly. After clicking the enter button on the system, I saved my projects and that was it."Shall we? Analisse mumbled, her hands entwining mi
*Adam*We finally arrived at my office after what seemed like hours of walking with my gaze only fixed at Valerie. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her the whole time, even though it isn’t right and I still couldn’t ignore the feeling of guilt that settled in my guts with the way I treated her during the last days we were together eight years ago.But then, I had no choice. I didn’t mean to be so heartless towards her and I was too heartbroken when she had refused to stayed back in the pack house under the guise of being my mistress. That particular day was a day that haunted me ever since then and even till date. If only she knew how much I wanted to protect her. If only I wasn’t left with difficult choices. If only I wasn’t a coward! Then maybe we could still be friends…or even lovers.“That’s impossible now” a voice reminded and I agreed wryly as my gaze settled on the couple’s entwined hands. They seemed really close and it makes my blood boil but what choice do I have? I’m not even i