C7. A Friend’s Confession

Continuing Jossie's POV:

     Nathalie's home was in a nearby appartment complex. She lived on the third floor. Across the hall was a woman named Cheryl who was an elder. And, to my understanding had a parrot that squeaked when she opened the door. Her neighbor watched her daughter for her. Malaya looked exactly like Nathalie. Almost like a clone. "Come on mini me," Nathalie would greet her daughter with open arms. Malaya was 'turning four'. Something Nathalie explained to me on the way. She'd pick her up and carry her to her appartment with her sitting on her shoulders. "This is my new friend Bea. Will you say hi to Bea?" Nathalie would ask her.

     "Hi! My names Malaya." Malaya would tell me in excitment before patting her mother on the head. "Mommy guess what Cherrie told me?"

     "What's that?" Nathalie would ask as she'd bring us into their appartment.

     "She's going to take me to your work tomorrow for a surprise visit. Ops... I forgot we're not supposed to tell you." Malaya giggled out in excitment.

     "Well it's a good thing you told me. Now I can give you extra hugs and kisses when you come," Nathalie would tell her daughter.

     The appartment lead us into an open floor concept. The livingroom and kitchen were only seperated via an island counter. There were gold leaf printed chairs at the island counter. The kitchen was white cabinet and counter top based. With stainless steel appliances. There was a blue couch in the livingroom along with yellow arm chairs sitting across from it. There was an oval shaped glass coffee table between the sitting area. There was a fake fireplace with a TV just above it and on both sides built in bookcases. It was filled with photos of Nathalie's family. As well as a photo of Nathalie holding Malaya as a baby and a guy taking the selfie of them. I wondered then if it was Nathalie's husband. He was a soft faced male. With blue eyes... They looked young in their photo. He was a natrual blonde. I still don't know what happened to him if it is him. Will Nathalie open up to me about it? There was one more thing I noticed on the bookcase which was, Tolentino.

     Nathalie sat Malaya down when they reached the island countertop. She placed her right in one of the chairs. "Mommy is going to make us something to eat. Do you want to show Bea your costumes?" Nathalie asked Malaya. Which only made the little girl giggle and jump out of the chair.

     "BE RIGHT BACK!" Malaya was loud as she stormed off down the connecting hallway.

     "She's so sweet," I complimented quickly as I sat down in Malaya's place. Nathalie walked around the counter top and sat her designer bag down on the counter before washing her hands.

     "She sure is," Nathalie told me. "I'm a lucky mother to have her." I think she's lucky to have such a good mother. Nathalie is nothing like what I thought a mother was. I didn't know a relationship with my own mother... So... to know one this sweet?

     Nathalie pulled out a wok from her cubbords. It didn't take me long to figure out what she was making. She got ingridents together to make chicken and fried rice. I didn't expect it at first. She seemed trained in a kitchen. Something I noticed today while working with her. She always had something to say to her staff that worked in the back of the restaurant.

     Malaya came running out suddenly in an ELSA costume. She even had on a blonde wig as she twirled around in it. I clapped as I played along with her. "Wow, that's so pretty!" I slowly found myself giggling as Malaya danced around her mother suddenly.

     "Mommy! Look!" Malaya would shout and clap her hands together. Nathalie would giggle as she stayed focused on the food. Her eyes would sway off to give her daughter what she wanted for a few seconds.

     "Wow, you're such a cutie," Nathalie would tell her. "Show us some more dance moves. But, not in the kitchen. Remember that I'm cooking." The reminder was enough to send Malaya dancing into the livingroom.

     "Nevermind!" Malaya would shout as she stopped dancing and ran back down the hall. "I FORGOT SOMETHING!" I giggled as I watched her disappear into a room. I looked at Nathalie. I leaned over the counter as I watched her cook.

     "Nathalie..." I had so much to ask her. Like... was she just human? What happened to her husband? Or even why she thought so poorly about Casimir. I had a lot on my mind when it came to deciding on what to ask first. Was it even my business? "You know that guy you ran off that was messing with me? Yesterday?" I knew she'd remember. "What's his problem?"

     Nathalie tensed up a bit. She looked at me suddenly. A pissed expression grew on her face. "Why do you ask?" She suddenly snapped out of her aggression as she looked curious more then anything.

     "You just seemed not to like him."

     "He was harassing you."

     "So... you didn't know him?"

     If she doesn't know him then I shouldn't have anything to worry about. I should be able to trust him, right?

     "Not personally. I just think he's not someone you should associate with. Like I said yesterday... I don't want to see you get hurt, Jossie." Wow! She's so sweet! How could I tell her that I've made plans tomorrow night with Casimir? She WILL freak out! We didn't speak again until she was done cooking and served three bowles. She called Malaya into the kitchen and gave her one bowl. I got the second and she kept the third. She even fixed us something to drink. Nathalie seemed very motherly to me by the end of it. She didn't sit down until we had everything we need.

     After we were done eatting, Malaya went back to her room. She looked like she was on a mission. I helped clean up as I felt a little guilty for being over. When we finished we went over to the couch and sat down together.

     "Jossie, why are you staying at the motel?" She'd finally brave it up to ask. S-should I tell her the truth? How much can I tell her? No... I'll tell her some of it.

     "My mom basically kicked me out." Yeah... more like tried to kill me! I'm accused of murder, I'm wanted for a crime, and I lied to you about my age... Yeah, that will be easy to say to anyone. If I go back to this werewolf pack that I was raised up in- they'll chop my head off! Oh and by the way I'm a decended from a Cromwell bloodline. You better run or I'll kill you next. Did I mention I killed my father?

     "Why? Did you do anything?"

     "No! I really didn't do anything. But, I was accused of doing something...." I trailed off and tried to push back tears coming to the surface. It's just so hard... to speak... "And, my mother isn't someone that'll listen before acting." I bit my bottom lip nervously. I don't want to tell her everything. "I really am innocent though. I don't want to go back... even if I had proof I didn't do it. I have nothing really to go back to. I'm a real outcast of my family." Of my pack.

     "How bad is it? The thing you were accused of doing?" I can't tell her. I can't tell her everyone in my pack thinks I killed my father.

     "I can't tell you."

     "That bad?" She whispered. She stared me down for a few minutes before exhaling a sigh. "Jossie, do you know I'm a werewolf?" Her question rung in my ears. I've been wondering that all day! I sat up to be more straight as I blushed.

     "No."

     If she's a werewolf then how come she doesn't know Casimir? Who is Casimir then?

     "I thought you would have guessed by now."

     "I thought... there might have been a small possibility."

     "I belong to pack Deepfur." Deepfur? What a funny and familiar name. "It's the Lycan King's pack." I felt my heart race as she told me. I didn't know much about pack territories. But, if I'm in his territory then I'm pretty sure I'm in trouble. "Deepfur is a large pack. You can get away with being here for awhile. As long as you stay out of the woods. You can keep hiding out here. I won't say anything to the pack. But, if you keep hanging around that rogue I don't think you'll get away with being here for much longer. You're a werewolf, aren't you?"

     "Dorment," I mumbled. That rogue? Does she mean Casimir?

     "The full moon is tomorrow night. You smell like a wolf. If I were you, I would think about a safe place for your shift. Because, I suspect it'll be this full moon. Pack Deepfur always runs on the full moon. It's tradition. Especially the Lycan King. I would make sure your wolf doesn't make it to the woods."

     "Do you mean Casimir is a rogue?" I asked to be sure. There was a rogue there before I left home. It attacked Uncle Matthew... Was it Casimir? Did he follow me here? There's no way its the same rogue. But, in the slightest chance... it was him... what do I do?

     "You can't tell?" Her eyes widened in slight shock.

     "I'm new at this," I tried to explain. "If you're right... it WILL be my first shift on the full moon. I don't know what to do, Nathalie." I want to ask her for help. Can I even ask this much of her? Ask Nathalie for help? Can I burden her this much more? What if she gets caught employing me? Her Alpha will be so angry. I can't ask her for help. I don't want to get her in trouble for helping a rogue. That's what I am... a rogue. And, what about Clio, Linus, and Marlowe? What if they're werewolves? What if they know I'm a rogue and go and tell their alpha who is the lycan king?

     "I'm not sure how to help you with this myself," she admitted. "Give me some time to figure out where we can put you up at for the full moon."

    "You can't help me," I rushed out.

     "You have to let me. I'm already in this too deep. You're now my friend, Jossie. I always help my friends." She took my hand and gave it a squeeze. "I just hope you can trust me. You need to tell me what happened between you and your family. That way I'm not completely in the dark. It'll be better for me to know, Jossie." I gave her hand a squeeze back.

      "I'm scared to tell you," I mumbled.

      "You said you're innocent. What do you have to be scared about?"

      "You won't believe me... like the rest of them didn't."

      "Jossie, I'm not the same as them. You can tell me and I will stay open minded."

      "Really?"

      "I will believe anything you say you did. I don't think you could do anything bad."

     "It all started..." I trailed off. My hands trembled as I wasn't sure about telling her... But, she was convincing. I wanted to put faith into her. I want to trust her. She's a good person. She's a good mother. She sounds like a good friend. "A couple of days ago. My life was ruined when I found my father's body in the kitchen. He had been murdered. I'm not sure by who..." It's suspicious there was a rogue in the pack's territory... "But, my mother found me and-" She pulled me into a sudden hug as I felt ready to burst into tears. She rocked me in her arms suddenly. Her fingers running through my hair seemed to soothe me.

     "They had the nerve to accuse you of that?" She growled out in anger. "You were his daughter! And, you're such a sweet girl. Jossie this is criminal. You need to take an audience with Alpha Camren. He can help you. HE would help you. He's a kind king." I whined softly. I didn't think I could face him. Not with the bounty my pack probably set on my head.

     "What if he doesn't?" I asked quickly.

     "No offense Jossie," she said and started to giggle. "But, I don't even think you would squash a fly... much less hurt your father." Her hands started to rub my back then. "I think you're a kind person. Someone would have to be blind to suspect you of doing such a thing. They were probably just blind with rage, Jossie." She doesn't know I'm a Cromwell. My name alone would speak enough truth. "You need an audience with Alpha Camren. You can ask for sanctuary here and become apart of his pack."

     "I don't know if I can get permission from him..." I trailed off. "I'm an alpha's daughter." First born to be exact.

     "You're kidding," she whispered in disbelief. "But, you're so fragile," she giggled out. I giggled softly as I realized she was kind of right... I am fragile. I'm barely a werewolf. "Your father must have really loved you. You seem so sheltered, Jossie. You haven't even turned into a wolf just yet. I wonder what he thought when every moon passed and you stayed as you were."

    "He must've been ashamed of me," I mumbled.

     "No," she told me quickly. She hugged me close and I rested my head on her shoulder. It felt good to be comforted. "Jossie I want you to just cry... cry over everything you lost. Cry yourself to sleep if you must. Because I'm going to make sure you never have to cry again after today." Oh, Nathalie... why are you so good to me? I don't deserve this. I felt so selfish as I let it go and started to cry.

Nathalie's POV:

     Now that the lies between us were spoken... I felt closer to Jossie. I let her cry herself to sleep and when I was sure she was unconscious I took her to my bedroom. Jossie came from pack Rabidcrest. She didn't have to tell me. I knew. Pack Rabidcrest is the only pack whose Alpha has daughters. I heard a rumor that one of their daughters was kept as a shut in because she wasn't a werewolf. It was a weakness. Now that Jossie confirmed who she was to me... I wanted to protect her. She didn't know anything about a wolf's life. She was forced into the life of becoming a rogue.

     Now... she'll be turning on the full moon. I want to be there for her.

     I will not force her to meet Alpha Camren. She can stay in the territory and live a quiet life for as long as she wants. But, if she's really wanted in her pack... its going to be a big problem for us later. I need to convince her to go see him. In the meantime... where am I going to put her up for tomorrow night? It'll have to be someone away from the woods... with a soundproof wall barrier.

     I can't ignore the fact someone killed her father. And, that someone might want to kill her as well. Could that rogue be a suspect? I need to tell Alpha Camren there is a rogue. Maybe he can hunt down and get rid of my main problem right now. The sooner I get rid of that rogue the sooner I can figure out what next to do with Jossie. She might be in trouble. That rogue might have intentions to kill her. I can't ignore this now.

     Jossie is my friend. I will always protect her.

     I went back to the kitchen and took out my phone from the purse. I pulled up the phone number I was given to get in touch with the pack's beta. If I tell the beta about the rogue in my area... I will have to make Jossie take a few days off from work. That is to just make sure the situation gets handled. But, as long as she's safe at the end of the day.... I don't care if I make her loose out on money. It's also a big deal dragging the pack's attention to my diner... but I want to get rid of that pest. Hopefully on the full moon they will search the area and capture that brute. It'll save us the trouble later.

'This is Nathalie Tolentino. I have a report of a rogue sighting. The rogue is a male. He's been harassing my restaurant guests. He's about 187 cm tall. Green eyes. Brown hair. He looks to be in his late teens. I haven't seen his wolf form. Contact me for more information.'