Chapter 4 - Summers

“He's not going to make it, right?” Reid said the instant we walked out of his dad's room. I looked up at his sad face, and the urge to ruthlessly tell him that his dad wasn't going to make it came over me, but I pushed it down. Maybe I can go on with it in a nicer way.

“I saw the way you looked at him…there's no hope,” he said and let out a sad laugh. I was quiet.

“The medicine I gave him can only make sure he doesn't go through much pain and sustain his life for a little more time, but it can't do more than that,” I said, and I was surprised when I actually reached out and patted his shoulder. He seemed equally surprised as he looked down at me. I realized at that instant that he really was tall, as I always found myself looking up anytime I had to look at his face.

I didn't know how long I stood there, my hands on his shoulder as I kept staring at his eyes. There was something about them that felt... If I stared at it for way too long, I was going to disappear in their swirling depths. I knew his dad was going to start seeing changes in less than two hours. All of a sudden, I couldn't stand it. I kept getting lost in his stupidly handsome face instead of doing what I was here to do.

I reluctantly tore my eyes away from him. I had to leave now before I started stirring even the tiniest bit of suspicion. It would look too suspicious if I waited for his dad to start seeing improvements, and seeing how desperate Reid is, he was definitely going to beg me to stay and take care of his dad. I was definitely going to accept, but accepting easily would be way too suspicious. I turned away from him and pushed the door open to pack my medicine. Reid followed me and paused when he saw his dad fast asleep, looking peaceful for probably the first time in a really long time.

I zipped up my bag and stood up.

“I have to leave now… I really appreciate the help and hospitality you showed me these past few days, but I have to leave…”

“No, I mean I haven't gotten the chance to thank you for what you did to my dad.” Reid looked alarmed.

“I haven't exactly done anything compared to what you did to me. I can't thank you enough, but I really do have to leave. My uncle, whom I was looking for, is actually dead. I wanna pay my last respects to him… “ I was surprised at how easily the lie flowed from my mouth.

Reid looked like he wanted to protest, but it would be selfish of him to keep me from going to see my supposed late uncle.

“Sure… permit me to see you off…”

“No, I'm fine. I would find my way myself.” I didn't want him to say anything else as I immediately walked out. He followed me closely, muttering about how he was going to call the beta to drop me off outside the pack's perimeter in case of any more rogues lurking around the pack. I agreed to it.

Everything happened swiftly. I thanked the beta who dropped me off and watched him turn back. I stood by the road for a few minutes, staring back at the road that wound back to the pack I hated with everything in me. Fishing out my phone, I finally sent a text to Axel to tell him about my progress so far. The sky looked grey, as if rain was going to fall any moment from now. Instead of going to the house Axel had rented for me, I hailed another cab.

I wanted to visit my parents' grave. The sky darkened the moment I arrived at the cemetery, and I got out of the cab. I cursed silently within myself when I remembered I was busy being too sentimental to actually bring some flowers along with me. Clutching my bag even tighter, I walked towards the three graves with the stone head.

Axel said he couldn't get my brother's remains, that he had to bury one of his favorite toys right in between my parents. I went on my knees and just stared at their graves.

I didn't know what I wanted to say. I wasn't even sure I could manage out a few words. If I tried to talk, I was more likely to break down in tears, and the last thing I wanna do is to cry and show weakness. I've been weak all my life, and it'll be absurd to show my parents that I'm still yet to change. The atmosphere changed, and rain began falling, but I just stayed there, letting the rain beat me. Hopefully, that way it might try to wash away the sadness that still lingered.

But it didn't. I could feel the anger, the fury, and the regret that had been residing in me for years.

If only I hadn't run away from home, I could have at least died along with them… or maybe if I wasn't so weak as to find myself in that fire accident, then maybe my mom would be healthy enough to actually cure Reid's father instead of refusing to treat him, which led to their untimely death.

“I'm sorry I had to be your daughter. Maybe things would have been different if I weren't,” I managed out before I stood up and walked back the way I came, the rain still falling heavily. Perhaps it was falling instead of my tears.

*****

I barely placed the plate of pasta on the table when I heard a knock.

Was that Axel?

Taking a forkful of pasta, I walked towards the door as I heard another knock.

“I'm coming…” I called out. I pushed the door open and paused mid-chewing when I saw who was standing there.