Chapter 3 - Hollow Heart

Rochelle

A sadistic laugh left my throat as I wiped furiously at my wet cheeks, “how stupid am I anyway.”   I threw my backpack on my bed as tears continued to fall, looking at my spread with the lilies printed on it.  “I should burn you,” glaring at the now offensive flower pattern.

I focused on the pictures that covered my dressers mirror, I pulled them off one by one.  Each one, he smiled posing with me, my heart broke for each cherished moment of my life that he had been in, “LIES,” I screamed to the empty room.  My tiny trash bin filled with captured memories that left a hole in my heart of where they once lived, “stupid, stupid girl, why did you think for one minute he cared or ever would.”  I gazed at my reflection, my eyes and heart full of anguish as my soul was ripped out of me.  My thoughts filled with all the years of my own foolishness, my naivety, my belief in love.  This is the end, I need to walk away and never look back.  

My phone rang, I grabbed it, “Linda,” my voice cracked.

“Come open the front door,” she whispered.

I opened the door.  Linda’s arms wrapped around me, “no, don’t cry, he’s not worth your tears, not anymore.”

I pushed her off me, “you’re right.”  I slammed the door, “it’s too obvious but why throw his relationship with Monica in my face.”  I shook my head, anger finally taking over, “didn’t I deserve an explanation, at least tell me his intentions.”  I huffed, “it’s fine, I don’t really care anymore, it’s just a stupid crush and once I’m…”  

The sound of the attack alarm went off and my heart stopped beating for a second.  We secured all the windows and locked ourselves in the bathroom.  We both sat inside the tub holding each other, neither of us have our wolves, so we need to hide till this is all over.  I heard the front door slam shut and my mother’s voice called out as the knob on the bathroom door jiggled.  I jumped out and opened it for her to enter, she hugged me to her, “it’s fine, our warrior’s will protect us,” her hand smoothed my hair down. 

Linda’s voice was shaky as she spoke on her phone, “Mom, I’m safe, I’m at Rochelle’s house…”

Hot searing pain radiated in my heart, as my mother’s anguished scream echoed off the walls of the small space, both of us fell to our knees, clutching our chests.  Linda’s arms wrap around me from behind, her head falling on top of mine, her voice was soft and sincere, “I’m so sorry.”  

My arms reached around my mom’s waist, my head in her chest as I sobbed, “daddy’s really gone.”   My mother’s body went stiff as she pushed me off her, stood and walked out of the bathroom.  I scurried off the floor to follow her as she headed towards the front door, sobbing, “Mom, where are you going, stop.”  My hand grabbed her wrist, “you can’t go out there, the rogues.”

She spun as tears fell from her eyes, “you don’t understand, maybe I can, I can…”  I flung myself at her, wrapping my arms around her frame, clinging to her so she wouldn’t walk out the door. 

“I can’t lose you too, Mom, not to these rogues, I won’t allow it, no, daddy, he wouldn’t want it.”  Linda moved to her side and we both guided her to the sofa in the living room, as we sat next to her. 

The room was silent, but the pressure of what had happened was suffocating.  I don’t know when Linda had left, but soon she set cups of hot tea in front of both of us, “here you go, my mom’s on her way,” she spoke softly. 

Curled up in my dad’s chair, I watched as Luna Avery and Mama Jenny, Linda’s mom, sat on both sides of my mother, talking softly and giving their condolences.  I sniffed his chair, and memories ran through my mind, how he’d pick me up as a small pup and throw me in the air, just to hear me giggle.  All the time he helped me train though I was so small and uncoordinated, he never complained and always encouraged me that I could do whatever I put my mind to. 

I stood to go to my room but a knock at the door had me turn.  I pulled it open, and Remington stood there holding a single lily.  My eyes narrowed at the flower and then up to his face, “what do you want,” I said more calmly than I wanted to.

His frame blocked the doorway as he extending the flower to me, “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

I took a step back, my voice harsh, “why care all of a sudden.” 

He took another step closer, “don’t act like that, Roe, we’ve been friends forever, of course I care, I’ll always care.”

My heart fluttered and I shut it down as Monica’s voice came from behind him, “Roach, I’m sorry your father died.”

My lips parted in shock, pure fury ignited, “get out, don’t ever come back here.”  I grabbed the flower and threw it at his face, “take her with you and leave.”  I spun and ran down the hallway, slamming my door as hard as I could.  I threw myself on my bed as my heart shattered for the millionth time today, the loss of my father, the man that always protected all of us was gone and nothing in this world could ever change that.

Standing at the pyre as Alpha Maxwell spoke of my father’s bravery, his achievement of being the top warrior, a devoted mate and father had me numb.  Squeezing Mom’s hand as we stood watching my father’s final farewell.  My heart hollow with his absence, a void no one could ever fill.  Linda stood on the other side of me and her words caught me off guard, “don’t even think about speaking, I’ll kill you the second I get my wolf,” she sneered in a whisper.

My head turned towards her and Monica stood there with a smug smirk on her face, “I just wanted to make sure Roach was okay, you know I’ll be Luna one day, I need the practice.”  Remington appeared to her side, taking her by the elbow, “Monica, come with me, now.”

She fluttered her lashes at him, “of course, Rem,” she looked at me with a smug smirk as she turned flipping her golden blonde hair over her shoulder, “I’m hungry, maybe barbeque would be nice tonight,” she giggled as he led her away.