Chapter 5

—Natalie—

For the past three years, there isn't a place in the world that I haven't been to. You see I was raised outside the pack by my mother, we lived in a village and we were rogues, but unlike the rogues that would usually pillage and kill, we helped people. My mother came from a great line of healers and we helped sick people everyday and she taught me everything that she knew, passing down years and years of wisdom.

After I got my degree I focused more on my mother's work and everything that she had taught me about traditional medicine and my practice grew and I did more research and I was able to save more people.

Everyone wanted to find out who I was but that wasn't possible because every time I went out for a case, I wore a different mask. You see that's the thing with humans and also the supernatural, we always want to know, we can't just accept a good thing like that.

I didn't do what I did for the money or the recognition, I just wanted to help people and I knew the moment I revealed my identity that would all change and I couldn't have that. I wanted a normal life for me and for my children.

But for the past year, the spark I felt doing what I loved to do best was gone. I was stuck treating greedy old men who just didn't want to die and finally I decided I was done. I had enough money to return to Delmore and that was the push I needed to leave and when I got here I was going to do what I intended to do with my gifts in the first place which was to heal people who couldn't afford to go to the hospital for help.

But so as to not draw any attention to myself, I accepted a job as the head coroner for the city, no one would ever suspect a coroner who deals with dead people to be the one healing the sick.

After we got to our house and I got the kids settled, my mind was still on the little girl at the airport but also on what Clayton said.

Did she actually look like me? The one thing I did notice were her eyes, they were blue just like mine, but blue eyes weren't that uncommon unlike emerald eyes so I couldn't count it as anything.

But Layla my wolf was curious about her and she did not want me to turn away.

But thinking about her made me think about my daughter, she would be around the same age as the little girl was. Everyday I prayed to the goddess to keep my children safe until I could get them back.

Now that I was back in Delmore I was going to start my search, it shouldn't be that hard, Yara isn't known to keep a low profile.

“Mummy, you have some new emails.” Xavier tells me, dragging me out of my thoughts.

“Xavier, what have I told you about going on mummy's computer.” I glare at him.

“I'm sorry mummy, I just wanted to see if Ian had sent any emails, he said he would.” He says and I immediately feel bad.

Ian was our neighbour back in Denver, he was this older gentleman, he helped me with the kids whenever I needed help and he didn't ask for anything in return. The kids loved him and that was the hardest part about leaving.

“I miss him too bubba, I'm sure he'll send the email soon and if he doesn't then we'll just call him alright.” I tell him and that brings a smile to my face.

“Whoa, mom, this man is offering you a hundred million dollars. It says that he's really sick and no one has been able to figure out what’s wrong with him. He is offering to pay you 100 million dollars to treat him.” Clayton says.

When exactly did he leave the sofa and get over here. “Clayton.” I scold him.

“Sorry mum.” He says but from the smirk on his face, I can tell that he isn't sorry at all. Clayton just can't stay away from any device.

I don't even bother to read the email, I just close my laptop and face my children.

“You're not going to take the job?” Xavier asks me.

“Yeah mummy, that's a lot of money.” Clayton adds.

“Now what do I always tell the both of you?” I ask them.

“Money isn't everything.” The both say at the same time.

“Exactly, now go wash up for dinner, we don't have any groceries yet so I'm going to order pizza.” I tell them and they hoot in excitement as they run up the stairs.

I order the pizza and then I open up my laptop, I close my email and click on the g****e search engine and then I type in Yara's name.

Her I*******m handle pops up and it's clear that she's been traveling a lot but there aren't any pictures of children and my heart is about to sink until I stumble upon a picture, it's of her hand and then there are two tiny hands in hers and she captioned it my heart and this was posted about four months ago.

This meant that they were alive, my children were alive and Yara kept them. But why?

*****

My phone starts ringing, dragging me out of my sleep and I wonder who exactly is calling me by this time, I look at the bedside clock and it's five in the morning.

I pick up the call. “Hello.”

“Natalie, this is Jim Reynolds, I'm sorry to bother you because I know you don't officially start work until next week but I need your help. My people just uncovered several plastic bags by the river bank and they were filled with body parts.” He tells me.

Jim Reynolds is the chief of police for Delmore, I haven't officially met him but we have talked on the phone before.

“Alright, I'll be right there, just send me the location.” I tell him and then I cut the call. I grab my kit, it has everything that I need inside and then I change my clothes. I go into the kids room and wake Clayton.

“Hey sweetheart, mummy has to leave for work, but I'll be back soon, you know the drill right?” I asked him.

“Yeah, don't leave the house, no playing with fire, use the microwave.” He sleepily tells me.

“That's my boy.” I kiss him on the head as he goes back to sleep and then I leave the house and get into my car, it's time to get to work.