Amelia ran out of the building. Just then, the clouds turned darker.
A storm was coming.
Amelia didn't seem to care about the weather. She kept running.
She felt guilty for not being picking up her grandmother earlier. She felt guilty for not quitting her job at the palace earlier.
The rain started dropping heavily.
She still kept running.
She wanted to go home.
She wanted to escape this guilt.
Before long, she was on her porch, Drenched and wet, with tears streaming down her face. She quickly opened her front door and slumped inside. She cried for what felt like eternity until.....
"Achoo" she sneezed.
She was cold. Her body couldn't take it anymore. She changed into something comfortable and clean. Then her tummy growled loudly.
How could she forget? She hadn't eaten since the previous night.
She quickly went to the kitchen to make something to eat.
She was silently thinking of what too cook when her eyes met something in the cupboard.
It was her grandma's special curry recipe. Her grandma had urged her to take the recipe when she started working in the palace.
Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She quickly wiped them off.
She had to be strong.
She decided to make the curry while following all the rules in the recipe.
The aroma of fragrant spices filled the air, a comforting counterpoint to the storm raging outside.
Amelia, her hands moving with practiced ease, chopping vegetables.
The rhythmic thunk of the knife against the cutting board offered a soothing counterpoint to the relentless storm. She was in her element, the familiar motions a calm in the midst of the chaos that had consumed her life.
For a moment, the past seemed like a distant dream. Her grandmother's voice, her laughter, were the only sounds she could hear in the kitchen as she stirred the curry, her mind filled with the comfort of memories— a world that was now shrouded in sadness.
As she lifted the steaming pot from the stove, she knew that she couldn't dwell on the past. The future was uncertain. The world was a dark and dangerous place— a place filled with uncertainty, a place that had thrown her into the center of a storm she never saw coming.
But she could feel the strength of her wolf, Layla, within her - a powerful force that gave her hope. Layla was a reminder that she was strong, that she had the power to heal.
Amelia took a deep breath. She could feel her grandmother's presence in the kitchen. She could almost hear her grandma's voice, offering words of wisdom and comfort.
-------------
Amelia spent the following days in a haze of numb acceptance. She cooked, she slept, the rhythms of daily life a comforting routine in a world that had grown stark and uncertain.
The storm had passed, leaving behind a damp, heavy chill that seemed to settle upon her soul. The world was a blur, the pain she felt a constant undercurrent in her being.
She tried to distract herself with new routines, her mind desperate for any semblance of normalcy, but no matter what she did, she couldn't escape the weight of what had happened.
Her grandmother, gone. Jason, her tormentor, her mate, a cruel reminder that she was powerless to stop what was destined.
She made a conscious decision to avoid anything that could trigger the pain - her room was now a place she only visited to sleep. She avoided looking at pictures of her grandmother. She stuffed any memories of her grandmother in the room that was meant for her grandmother to stay.
She had to find a way to live with the pain. She had to find her strength.
Each night was a battleground: a constant struggle against the terrible memories of Jason. His touch, his smell, his voice - it all came back to her in the darkness. She was trapped in a world of nightmares.
As the days passed by - a slow, relentless march toward the unknown - a tiny spark of hope began to emerge.
Then on that fateful day, while preparing the dish she has been eating for the past few days- her grandmother's curry, she received a small box on her front yard. There was a box outside. Inside, it was a letter
"Amelia, I'm so sorry about your grandmother. She will always be remembered. I know you don't want to see me now - I understand. I'll always be here for you if you need to talk. The forest is a powerful place. Let the strength of the Moon Goddess give you the power to heal, to find your way back to the light.
Daniel."
The words were filled with a genuine sorrow, a kindness that touched her heart. But it was the final line that changed everything. The words echoed within her - a gentle whisper of hope:
"Let the strength of the Moon Goddess give you the power to heal. Find your way back to the light."
Amelia closed her eyes - her heart filled with a tiny spark of hope. She had been focused on Jason, on the darkness, on the pain - that she had forgotten about the Moon Goddess.
She had to find her way back to the light.
She had to find her strength.
Her grandmother would want her to be strong— to find her way back to the light.
She needed to believe in the Moon Goddess.
She needed to believe in herself.
But how did Daniel know?
The thought struck Amelia like a bolt of lightning. How did he know about her grandmother's death? It hadn't even been up to two weeks yet, and news hadn't officially travelled beyond the old people's home.
She had been so consumed with her own grief, she hadn't even considered the implications of how he'd found out.
She felt a little bit of hope for the next few days.
Then she received a call. It was from an unknown number.
"This is Miss Logans, right?" A stern voice sounded from the other side.
"Yes..yes it's me" Amelia responded.
"This is from the old people's home where you grandmother had stayed before her death. I have come to inform you about your grandmother's burial. It's happening by 10am sharp tomorrow"The stern voice said.
Her heart shattered.
"O..ok I'll be there"she said, her voice breaking.
The caller quickly hung up.
Amelia's hands trembled as she dished up the last of the fragrant curry. The familiar smells of ginger, coconut, and mango brought a flicker of comfort, a reminder of ordinary life that was now so far removed. The storm outside had subsided, leaving behind a damp chill that mirrored her own internal state.
---------
She sat at the kitchen table, the steaming bowl of curry a solitary beacon of warmth as shadows encroached around her.
She had received a call earlier that afternoon, a confirmation of what she already knew: her grandmother's burial was scheduled for the following day.
The news had settled upon her with a leaden weight, a reminder of her vulnerability, her loneliness.
She heard a soft knock on her door. She went to open it.
It was Daniel. He looked concerned as he entered, his eyes revealing the depth of his empathy. He stepped towards her, his presence a comforting wave in the storm of her grief.
"Amelia," he said gently, his voice a soothing balm to her troubled soul. "I know this is a difficult time."
He sat down beside her, his warmth radiating towards her. He was a haven in the storm, a beacon of hope.
"I'm so sorry, Amelia. I didn't know what to say. But please… I'm here for you." He placed a hand gently upon hers, his touch a comforting warmth. "I want to be there for you. I want to support you."
His words, filled with compassion, touched her deeply. It felt like the world had stopped. It was just her and Daniel.
"I don't know," she said, her voice choked with emotion, "it feels like everything is falling apart."
He looked at her with a sorrow that mirrored her own. He gently pulled her into a hug.
She needed him now.
She needed to be held. She needed to feel safe.
His arms surrounded her, and she buried her face in his chest. She could feel the firm beat of his heart. It was a sound of life.
She buried her face in the warmth of his chest. The smell of him, fresh and woodsy, was a soothing presence in the midst of the chaos that was her life.
It was supposed to be her mate that will give her comfort and warmth. But that mate was A MAD PSYCHOPATH..
"Amelia, I love you," Daniel whispered. His voice was soft but certain. "I always have. I always will. And I know that you love me.. I don't care if Jason is your mate. I care about you"
Amelia pulled back slightly, her eyes filled with tears. It wasn't the time to speak her feelings.
She was still reeling from the pain of her grandmother's loss; she needed to focus on getting through this time.
"I… I don't want to talk about this right now. I need to be strong for my grandmother…" She choked back a sob. "I have to be strong,for her."
"She would want you to be strong," Daniel said softly.
"She's always been your strength, and she would want you to honor her."
"I'm going to miss her," Amelia whispered and she couldn't stop the tears from falling.
"I know," Daniel said gently. "We all will."
He stepped closer, his eyes intense. "Let me stay the night with you. I can sleep on the couch. We can go to your grandmother's burial together. Maybe we could visit her grave after..." He paused, his gaze fixed on hers. "I will always be here for you."
His eyes were filled with a gentle love.
It was a love that was a beacon in the darkness.
Amelia felt a sense of comfort and support welled up inside her. She couldn't ignore the pain she felt, but she knew that she wasn't alone.
She had Daniel. And she had Layla, her wolf, her strength.
Having Daniel around wasn't so bad. They talked, played games and watched movies. It felt like Amelia was alive again.
Amelia fell asleep while watching the last movie. Daniel carefully picked her up and placed her gently on the bed before proceeding to sleep on the couch.
The next day, Daniel made breakfast for her. She ate joyfully and they both freshened up and headed to the cemetery.
The cemetery was a place of sorrow, but it was also a place of unwelcome familiarity.
Amelia stood beneath the shadow of an ancient oak, the leaves a stark green against the gloomy sky.
The cool air seemed to bite at her skin, mirroring the chill that had taken root in her heart.
She felt the ground beneath her feet, a sense of grounding, a stark contrast to the world of shifting emotions that had consumed her the past few days.
She had no family, no cousins, no aunts and uncles to lean on now. It was just her. Her grandmother's spirit, - her only anchor— had been taken away.
She saw Alpha Zack at the front of the small gathering— Daniel beside him.
She saw the attendant - her eyes filled with sympathy. And there, standing at the back, was Jason.
The second her eyes locked on him, a tremor ran through her body, a familiar sense of panic. She could smell his wolf; a musky, primal force that made her want to hide.
Jason simply smirked at her, a thin, cruel grin that sent a chill down her spine.
The attendant stepped forward, her voice a gentle whisper.
"We're ready to begin," she said. "To say goodbye."
Amelia could hear her own heartbeat, a loud, frantic rhythm, a constant reminder of the terrible storm that had consumed her. The world around her seemed to blur.
Then, the coffin was carried out. The pale wood seemed to glow under the gloomy sky, a startling reminder of the finality of it all.
The moment she saw her grandmother's pale, motionless face, a wave of horror and despair washed through her.
It was a flashback to her own past, the night her parents had been taken. The same pale face, the same stillness— the cold shadow of death had claimed her.
She burst into a heartbreaking cry, her body convulsing with the force of her grief.
Daniel moved beside her, his arms embracing her, holding her tight. She could feel his strength through his touch - a comfort that he offered in the midst of her anguish.
Amelia's tears streamed down her face. They rolled down her cheeks, a constant reminder of how vulnerable she was - a young woman who had lost everything.
She could hear a low growl behind her. She didn't need to turn her head to know who it was— Jason's wolf, his hunger a sombre contrast to the sadness surrounding her.
She didn't flinch. She felt a sense of numbness, a surrender to the anguish that consumed her.
She could only focus on her grandmother - her grandmother's body being lowered into the ground—a cold, dark hole that was now her final resting place.
Amelia closed her eyes, her tears falling freely, her mind consumed by images of her grandmother, her laughter, and the unyielding love they shared.
Then, a new sensation swept through her, a burning rage that made her want to scream.
She needed to go to her.
She tried to pull away from Daniel, her heart filled with a desire to follow her grandmother - to join her in the ground, to escape this pain.
But Daniel was stronger. He held her tight, his arms a prison. She was trapped. He was holding her back. His love, a cruel reminder of her vulnerability.
She tried to struggle, but she couldn't.
The feeling of guilt was a sharp knife twisting in her stomach.
"I should be there. I'm supposed to be with her. It's not right for her to be alone." She kept chanting in her mind
Amelia leaned into Daniel, her tears raining down upon his chest. She could hear the sound of her grandmother's coffin being lowered - the slow, deliberate thudding - a chilling reminder that her grandmother was gone.
She had lost her only family.
She was alone.
Meanwhile....
A primal rage consumed Jason, his wolf roaring in his heart. He watched as Daniel held Amelia close, - his protective arms a thorn in his side. He had claimed her.
It seemed that every move he made to possess Amelia was thwarted by the man who dared to love her, who dared to stand between them.
Jason's jaw clenched tight, his eyes burning with jealousy. He hated Daniel.
The attendant leaned into the Alpha, her voice a whisper. "I'm so sorry, Alpha. But it seems that the attacks were orchestrated. It seems that some of the rogue wolves that we thought were gone are back. We have reports of other attacks on the pack. We need to prepare for war."
The Alpha nodded, his eyes cold and calculating. "We will." He glanced at Amelia - a storm of emotions within her - a young woman who was now weaving through the darkness of her life as she tried to deal with the terrible loss.
Amelia felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her as the burial ended. It was as if all of the emotions that had been pent up inside her had finally burst forth.
She felt a need to escape.
She felt a pressing need to be alone.
They drove back in silence. The drive was a blur. Amelia's mind was consumed with sadness, pain, despair, grief, fear, anger, even a spark of hope, all intertwined with a sense of helplessness.
She kept seeing her grandmother's pale face, the quiet stillness of it.
And as she saw Daniel beside her, driving so carefully with his gentle hands upon the steering wheel - a man who cared for her - it made her heart ache with a desire to escape the pain she felt.
"Amelia?" Daniel asked, his voice gentle. "Are you okay?"
Amelia looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. It was a look that he had seen before, a look that was familiar to his heart. She needed him.
"I need to go home." Her voice was a whisper, a plea that did not require much explanation to Daniel.
He nodded.
She knew that he had been waiting, waiting for her to say those words.
He'd stayed close to her all day, a beacon of support, and she knew he would remain by her side as she sought peace.
She needed to be alone in her home, in her space, amongst the memories of her grandmother.
Daniel quickly left after dropping her. He got a call from the Alpha.
Amelia walked into her kitchen -the familiar scent of her grandmother's curry still lingered in the air, a reminder of the love that had been lost.
She didn't know what to do. She didn't want to eat. She didn't want to cook.
She wanted to escape. She wanted to go back to the cemetery.