Amber’s story

*Amber*

 The park sits at the heart of the city, a lush green oasis bordered by towering trees that lead down to the harbor. On the opposite side, a few small shops stand, including a pub, a grocery store, and a clothing boutique. In the center of the park, an empty fountain casts a shadow over a worn skating ramp and a basketball court with tattered nets, remnants of happier games played under the sun.

 Today, the park is bustling with people. Many wear visible tattoos, intricate designs that signify their allegiance to one of the five packs. Children laugh and play on the basketball court, blissfully unaware of the adults standing nearby, armed and vigilant. A group of young men congregates on the skating ramp, their demeanor exuding a sense of entitlement that feels out of place in this gritty environment.

 “The spoiled princes of Catrista,” Kattie says, her voice laced with annoyance when I ask about them. “They come here, thinking they’re cool with their skateboards, acting like they own the place. But as soon as night falls or tensions rise, they scurry back to their fancy mansions, cozy beds, and meals prepared by others.”

 Kattie settles onto the grass, and I follow suit, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Lost in thought, she pulls a knife from her pocket and begins slicing patterns into the grass, the blade glimmering in the dappled sunlight.

 “Kattie? Who is she?” My voice barely rises above a whisper, but Kattie snaps her head up as if I’ve shouted. “Who was Amber?” It’s a guess, but it feels like the only explanation for the tension that lingers in the park.

 “The uncrowned queen of the underworld,” Kattie sighs, pain flickering in her eyes. “I’ve dreaded this day since you arrived, fearing I would have to tell you.”

 “You don’t have to talk about her if you don’t want to,” I say, my voice filled with regret.

 “You deserve to know,” she insists, her gaze fixed on the designs she has cut into the grass. “It’s not fair to hide it from you any longer. You need to understand one thing about her: she was confident, powerful, and she knew it. Nobody knew where she came from; she just appeared one day, demanding that one of the Alphas take her in. She ended up with Zombie as his first active female member ever. She was ice-cold and ruthless, placing herself above all others. She became a pawn in the deadly game between Adis and Zombie when she began a relationship with Zombie. After several attempts, Adis managed to capture her, holding her hostage.”

 Kattie takes a deep breath, steeling herself to continue. “I don’t know what happened between them. One day, she was our prisoner, and the next, she had moved in with Adis. They were hopelessly in love, but it only complicated the already fragile relationship between Adis and Zombie.”

 “So they fell in love with the same girl,” I say, surprised. It’s a tale as old as time, but the weight of the story feels heavier here.

 “Not just in love,” Kattie replies, her voice low and serious. “They truly loved her. And she loved them… both of them, a true mate bond. She maintained her ruthless life, but now she fought for our side. It was the first time she acted for someone else, and it cost her everything.” Kattie wipes her eyes, even though no tears fall.

 “I’m sorry to hear that,” I say, unsure of what else to offer.

 “You have no idea what this means for you.” Kattie’s expression turns grave. “Adis and Zombie stood across from each other, guns drawn, ready to kill. They fired at the same time. I don’t know why Amber intervened… who she meant to save… but she jumped between them, taking both bullets. She was dead before she even hit the ground.”

 “Why did Adis give me her name?” My voice trembles, barely above a whisper, afraid of breaking under the weight of the truth.

 “Because Adis is a very broken man,” Kattie replies sharply. “He tried to drown his pain in the drugs he’s supposed to be selling. They’ve twisted his mind, made him malignant. Her death shattered him even more.”

 “That doesn’t explain…” 

 “Because you look like her,” Kattie interrupts, closing her eyes as if to shield herself from the truth. “When I first saw you, I wondered for a moment if you were really her.”

 My hands grow clammy, and nausea twists in my stomach. As if it isn’t enough that Adis has given me her name, now I find I bear her resemblance as well.

 “Don’t blame yourself for being here,” Kattie says, taking my hand in hers. “Adis messed up when he gave you that name, and he knows it. But you belong here now. You are one of us.”

 “I’m just going to be a pawn in Adis and Zombie’s games… just like she was.” I feel lost, out of place, as if I can no longer inhabit the apartment that once felt like home. The thought of being near Adis is suffocating.

 “That’s not all you are,” Kattie insists, squeezing my hand gently and offering a reassuring smile. “You’ve chosen to be here, and we want you here. Yes, you look like her, and yes, you carry her name, but that’s just a bump in the road.”

 “A bump that makes it impossible for me to forge my own identity. Adis and everyone else will always compare me to her, see me as her,” I say, fighting back tears. The weight of his gaze, forever tainted with memories of Amber, feels like a noose around my neck.

 “I feared that too, but I don’t believe it anymore. When those of us who lived with her for more than a year can see you for who you are, then everyone else should be able to as well. You might look like her, but you are nothing like her.” Kattie’s smile softens, her conviction strengthening. “Don’t compare yourself to her. Be yourself.”

 Just then, Kattie jumps up, a knife poised in her hand, her other hand reaching for her gun. I have no doubt someone unwanted is coming.