Share

Off To A New Life

Aria

"No worries Mom, I packed everything. You will not hear me saying I left behind anything. I am ready to waltz into our new home and new life."

It surprises me to hear how calm my voice sounds. Just as well, because I hear my dear Henna, giggling as she walks down the stairs. I am just glad that her mind is at ease. It hurts me to see her worry over me. She is my angel in the form of a human.

Had it not been for her, I might have never lived to this age. She may be right about her theory of fate bringing us together, after all. Putting my thoughts aside, I hastily pack up everything and take a minute to double-check.

Something made me look under the bed and I am glad I did. There is a box with my old toys and Hope, my brown teddy bear, is on top. When I pick it up, I notice a chain dangling on its fluffy neck. It has a locket and I just know that it is the same one that Henna told me about.

I open the locket and three young but cheerful faces stare at me. The little girl in the center is flanked by two boys. One seemingly older and one younger. They are holding a placard written: 'Our sister, Aria'.

That strange emotion comes again and I feel my throat constrict. Quickly, I close the locket and push down every emotional turbulence building up within me. This is neither the time nor the place for a breakdown. I am off to a new place and a new life.

Until I get my vengeance, there is no room for an emotional breakdown in my life. All I will allow myself henceforth is to strive to be better every day. I pull my bags out of my room and shut the door behind me.

With the closing of this door, I vow to shut off all emotions that ever swirled in my heart, behind it. All the tears I ever shed and all the nightmares that ever haunted me, I am leaving them behind this door.

Where I am going, there is no room for breakdowns or nightmares. I am entering my new life with a new determination. That is to be strong enough to be able to protect Henna and me. The nightmares, if they come, they will find me ready and not whimpering whilst cowering in some dark corner!

Descending the stairs, I feel a renewed zeal for living. I feel as if I am heading to a place where victory is ascertained. Something inside me urges me forward. I have this weird anticipation that even I, cannot fathom.

It feels as if I know for sure that something good awaits me. Like a distant calling from someone eagerly awaiting my arrival. I cannot explain it because even I am failing to understand it at this point.

As I reach the door, a wave of nostalgia hits me. I just want to dash forward. I feel as if we are already so late. There is an urgency that even I cannot comprehend.

After loading my bags into the trunk, I jump into the passenger seat and strap on my seatbelt. I am surprised to see that I still have my teddy bear with me. Henna looks at me and smiles.

"Ready?"

"More than I have ever been."

"I have not seen you hold your teddy for years, now. I see you found the locket as well."

"Yes. I picked these two from a box under my bed. And I had some kind of flashback when I held the teddy. I think I named him Hope. So I felt like I should keep him close. I recalled something from my past just by seeing Hope. Maybe he is my hope to regain all lost or forgotten memories."

Henna smiles and unbuckles her seatbelt, then leans towards me for a brief but warm hug. As always, there is a stray tear on her cheek. I wipe it off and smile at her.

"Now listen up my dear mother, whom the fates gave me. These tears should stop flowing. We are off to a new life and I found Hope. Is this not enough reason for a celebration? All these tears and sad memories, let us leave them behind. We should aim to create newer and more positive memories."

"Aww, my little girl has grown up. I love this positive vibe you have. If I did not know any better, I would say you seem impatient to leave already. As if you are anticipating meeting a long-lost loved one."

I scoff and wave my hand. Henna starts the car and the engine roars to life. I steal sideways glances at her whilst she concentrates on the road. She has no idea how close to the truth she is. Indeed I have this desire to go to a place I have never been to. Where I am certain I will know no one at all. But I still feel this sudden urge to go there as soon as possible.

We are done with all the necessary procedures and are now sitting on the plane awaiting take-off. This weird anticipation is causing me a headache. It is as if there is some sort of frequency but broken.

It feels as if I am having a mental phone call but the person on the other side is muffled. I do not even understand what is going on. To not let Henna worry, I put on my earphones and close my eyes.

Luckily, Henna seems to be exhausted and she falls asleep soon after taking off. I release a breath I have no idea I was holding. I make myself comfortable because this is going to be a long flight. Hours of doing nothing but sitting.

Sleeping is certainly not one of my priorities right now. Apart from dreading the monstrosity that haunts my dreams, I need to figure out this weird anticipation for something I do not know.

That, coupled with the fact that I feel as if something is trying to break free from the confines of my head.

I am afraid that it may be a crucial memory that I have not yet regained. Fear is what is keeping me awake and afraid. If it is a part of my memory, then I feel that it is even uglier than all I remember. For it to remain locked up in the back of my head, when all other memories were recovered, it should be of utmost importance.

Maybe that is why it is trying to break free and causing me a headache. Maybe it has something to do with where we are going. Music normally soothes my nervousness, but today it is doing nothing of that sought. I close my eyes and do something that I have not done in a while. I count imaginary sheep to induce sleep. Like magic, it works.

"Aria sweetheart, wake up. We have touched down now. Wake up, baby."

"Come on Henna, I am not calling your bluff. How can we land in a few minutes? I only dozed for a few minutes and now you are saying we have arrived? How? Magic?"

Henna giggles and I am too drowsy to entertain her. I fall right back to sleep and I swear I hear a gruff voice saying to me;

"Welcome home sweetheart."

I spring up, only to be restricted by the seatbelt. All traces of sleep are gone and I search around but see no one who can match that voice. The trouble is, I am not scared at all, even though the voice is gruff, it has this calming effect on me. If anything, it causes a build-up in my weird anticipation.

"Come on Aria. Everyone has disembarked already. Let's go dear. Did you.. have a nightmare? You are quite frantic since you woke up. I am sorry, baby girl, I just hope that everything gets better here."

I just nod and flash her a weak smile. My mind is preoccupied with a lot of scenarios. Could it be that someone from my past is also here? Pfft, that is not possible. Besides, I am not a superstitious person. There is no point in brooding over something that does not make sense.

I am only nervous because we have just had a major shift in our lives. Who would not be uneasy after moving thousands of miles away from everything you ever knew? Of course, anxiety is a given in this kind of situation.

"Henna, if we have truly arrived, then I guess this is truly a new dawn for this chapter of my life. I slept for seven hours straight without any disturbance. No hurtful snippets of my past, nor bloody monsters trying to maul and behead me. I had the longest and most peaceful sleep in a long time."

"You said it when we were still in the driveway back home. We ought to have hope for our new life. You said it yourself, dear, and words have power. Now let us go before whoever is going to pick us up gives up and leaves."

The moment I step on the ground, I feel a sense of belonging. As if this is where I should always be. I brush it off and follow Henna. We see a good-looking middle-aged man holding a card with Henna's name and we go to him.

As we draw near, I cannot help but appreciate his looks. However, his odd dress sense has me giggling. Henna snaps towards me, eyes bulging in sheer disbelief. Even I am surprised. It has been a while since I have been this carefree. Then as soon as our handsome escort with colorful clothes opens his mouth, I almost drop my handbag from laughter.

"Cracking cavities! Why was I not told that I would be picking up two stunningly beautiful ladies? I would have been more presentable. Pardon my ranting ladies, I am Sid Hawthorne. Welcome to the land of unending opportunities and possibilities."

"Thank you, Sid, I am Henna and this is my daughter, Aria."

I zone out for the rest of their exchange as I take in the scenery. The air here feels fresh and I just know that I am going to love it here. I feel that the eccentric Sid and I might just get along just fine.

The drive from the airport is quite long. About forty-five minutes later, we reach our supposed home. My jaw touches the ground. I do not know where to start. From landscape design to architectural prowess. The house is screaming wealth and class.

As Sid opens the door for us, we both gasp in awe. It is nothing as I have seen before. Sid explains to Henna but I dash up the stairs to the bedrooms. Spacious and exquisitely furnished. I jump on the bed and the comfort lures me all in. I do not know much, but I know that this new start is the beginning of freedom for me. This place is what I want to call home.

.............................…......................

Meanwhile In The Luminous Pack

Manny POV

"Hey Manny, cut the crap and tell me what it is that has been bothering you? Your restlessness is affecting me as well. It must be something big if I can feel it through our bond, even when I am this far away from you. Quickly, tell me now before I lose my patience. Do you want me to have a premature baby?"

I move the phone from my ear before her screaming ruptures my eardrum. Damn, this twin bond. There is no personal space at all. Luckily, we do not feel each other's every emotion. We only feel it, if it's major emotional turmoil. Usually, negative emotions affect us both.

Of course, we can tell when the other is happy as well. But anxiety, depression, anger, and fear, are among the top. These we share without any restrictions. And now that my sister is pregnant, her senses are even much more heightened.

She picks even the most subtle change of mood from me over our twin bond. Even if I do not want to tell her, I have no way out. I sigh heavily before putting the phone back on my ear.

"Manny Reynolds! Out with it before you cause me a miscarriage with your anxiety!"

"I do not even know what to say, Mia. I feel this weird anticipation since two weeks ago. It feels as if something big is going to happen. Like the same feeling, we had at that time, during the war. Only this time, I do not have that feeling of dread. It is only the anticipation and loads of nervousness. Goddess, even my wolf is quite antsy as well, but he does not know what it is too."

"Why don't you go visit the Queen? Take your mind off things and go see Curador. That little boy will keep you so busy that even you will not have time to think. Please go to the palace tomorrow because I certainly do not want a miscarriage, induced by your restlessness. Go visit Summer. It will be a good distraction."

"Thanks, sister. That is a very good idea. How is Danny? It has been a while. Tell him to call as well."

"I will tell him but you ought to call me as soon as you reach the palace. I miss my nephew. I need to talk to him. Bye, brother. Stop worrying too much."

I bid her farewell before shoving the phone into my pocket. I head to my dad's office to see him. I need to ask his permission to go on a break of sorts. Unlike most dads, he is still the alpha as I cannot take over before finding my mate.

I have searched high and low for my mate but no luck. I have concluded that either my mate died or she is still very young. I have gone far and wide and attended every ball but no such luck. I have even gone as far as the human realm but still, no sign of my mate anywhere.

So, my father can not relinquish power to me, as a mateless alpha is a threat to the well-being of his pack. My father and mother are still the leaders. It is just formality to notify alpha Luke Reynolds, my father, of my intention to visit the Royal Pack.

He knows that since Curador was born, almost six years ago, Mia and I have had an unnatural bond with him. It is like a sense of duty. A deeply rooted desire to protect him. Therefore, now and again, we always have to visit him.

Unfortunately, I have had to stick around to learn the ways of our fathers. As future Alpha, it is mandatory. Before I even knock, my father has already sensed me.

"Come in, Manny. No need to stand by the door reeking of such suffocating anxiety."

As always, he does not mince his words one bit. I open the door and enter. He raises his face and scrutinizes me before motioning for me to sit. I exhale loudly and then slump down on the couch.

"What is wrong, son? Is it your mate? For Goddess' sake boy, maybe this unnerving anxiety of yours is what's chasing her away. Relax and allow the fates to guide you. Everything will eventually fall into place."

Does age trigger this non-stop rambling? Here I am, by my own accord, but he goes on and on as if he summoned for me. He does not even notice that I have not said a word since I came here. I zone him out and start making a list of presents I will purchase for my nephew.

"Manny? Talk to me, son. What is bothering you?"

Now he cares to hear my side of the story? I almost burst out laughing but I covered it with a cough.

"Nothing, Dad. Just the fact that I am old but still have not found my mate. Also, for the past two weeks, I have been having a weird feeling like something huge is about to happen. I cannot figure it out, even Matt feels the same and is equally as confused about it. So, Mia suggested that I go to the Royal Pack and see Summer and Curador. It will help me clear my head."

That is how to talk to my father. If I dawdle, I may never get to finish my story. So it is easier to just say it all at once. Even if he goes into his lecture mode, I would have said my part.

Comments (1)
goodnovel comment avatar
Zena Whichard
Maybe Aria is his mate? She felt something pulling her. Manny is anxious. Maybe?
VIEW ALL COMMENTS

Related chapters

Latest chapter

DMCA.com Protection Status