Chapter 4

My laptop sat open, playing music, trying to drown out the distracting sounds of everyone moving through the house as I worked on an essay. A knock sounded on my door, and I turned down the music, telling the person to come in.

My younger sister, Nicole entered. Her light brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail and was wearing an old sweat suit that suspiciously looked like mine. I smiled at her, turning back to my work. The springs on my bed complained at a new weight.

"This looks so boring," she muttered. Glancing back, she was flipping through one of my textbooks. I snorted, scanning websites for information. The room was silent as Nicole looked through the textbook. She was only fifteen, but my father expected her to start looking into post secondary. What better way than checking out your older siblings' homework?

A voice rose from the main floor of the house, announcing a football game in the backyard was starting. As much as I wanted to play and kick everyone's asses, the planning for this essay needed to get done. I heard my name from the backyard. Standing up, I pushed open my window.

"You coming to play?" Luke Newton, the youngest male wolf in the Pack, yelled up to me. I rolled my eyes; I could hear him if he spoke in a normal volume. Habits though.

"I've got to work on an essay. Sorry," I told him. Luke began to boo me but didn't complain other than that.

"Robb looks like you're going to have to play for Ashlyn. I don't make the rules. Sorry."

I chuckled, hearing Robb sigh and as he came into view, he sent me a playful glare. I winked, shutting my window. I didn't know Robb was visiting again. Nicole took my spot at the window as I sat back down at my desk. Like our mother, Nicole was human. She'd often said she was glad she wasn't a werewolf because it "seemed like too much work". I knew there were moments where Nicole felt differently, like now, when she was left out of group activities. She wouldn't be able to play even if she wanted to. Not one of the people down there knew how to play at a human's pace. Nicole would have gotten seriously injured.

"Robb is actually really attractive," Nicole commented, giving me a side-eye. I snorted, dropping my pen on my desk. Nicole tried for an innocent look, but the glint of mischief in her eyes was obvious.

"Robb has been by the house twice and you've already set your sights on him?"

"You haven't?" Nicole asked back, sitting on my bed.

"Nic, he's eight years older than you. I don't think Dad would be cool, one of many reasons."

"He's only four years older than you though," Nicole pointed out, "you could date him, and I would be content though I'm sure James would lose his mind."

I stared at the laptop's screen, "what are you talking about?"

Nicole gave me a 'come on' look when I glanced at her, "are you serious? Ashlyn, James barely acknowledges Robb unless he needs to."

"If you haven't noticed, James isn't the most sociable person in the world. He doesn't talk to anyone new unless he needs to."

Nicole shook her head, "this is different. James looks like he could rip Robb's head off sometimes."

I rolled my eyes. My sister was gossiping.

"Ashlyn, James sees Robb as a threat. He's a new werewolf in town who could snatch attention away because he's a nice guy, friendly unlike James and the entire Pack has accepted him, including you," I only looked at Nicole because her voice had gone serious.

"You know for a human, you're overly observant," I told her.

"Well yeah, I have to keep up with you weirdos," She shot back, getting a laugh out of us both.

A knock came on my door. I turned my head and let out a scream of surprise.

My female best friend and one of the other few girls in the Pack leaned against the door frame with a satisfied smirk on her face. I leapt out of my chair and grabbed her into a hug. Laughing, we swayed back and forth from impact. Chrissy Richards lived in Alberta for the past few years, finding a job out there she said she couldn't turn down. I supported her but living two provinces away sucked.

"Are we gossiping about boys?" Chrissy asked, as we released each other, "I could hear you guys from downstairs. I'm surprised you aren't outside playing football."

I pointed at my laptop as if it were a poisoned creature, "I've got homework."

Chrissy plopped herself down in the old armchair I had in the corner of my room.

"Glad you're here because Ashlyn doesn't believe me James acts different around suitable boys that Ashlyn could date," Nicole said in a matter-of-fact voice. Chrissy chuckled at my sister's expression. She looked at me with a smirk.

"I hate to admit it, but Nicole is right. Ash, you just don't notice it because James has been in love with you since he hit puberty. He's always acted a certain way towards you, and you've always responded in kind. I'd know, I'm older and wiser."

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. Over the past few years, everyone teased James for being in love with me and I didn't want to believe it. Still didn't, even with my sister and best friend telling me straight to my face.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, "and you're twenty-five. You're only three years older than James. Also, you're not that wise."

Both Nicole's and Chrissy's faces showed they weren't convinced I didn't know what they were talking about, but a knock sounded, interrupting them. Tyler stood at the door and I raised my eyebrows in acknowledgement.

"I was thinking of heading over to the hospital. You two want to come?"

My heart clenched but nodded my head. Following Chrissy and Nicole downstairs, anxiety bubbled up in my stomach. Passing my father's office, he called our names.

"Where are you two going?"

Nicole's eyes flickered to me then back to our father, "to the hospital."

For a millisecond, I watched sadness crossed Charlie's face. My father nodded his head and turned his attention back to his work. He wasn't finding the screen's contents important now. He was just ending the conversation.

Sliding into Tyler's car, I sat in the front passenger's seat. Drew, having agreed to come along as well, began to let out a complaint until he saw my glare under my sunglasses. As we pulled out of the driveway, I dropped my head back against the chair. I knew the tightness in my gut wouldn't go away until we were back home.

In early July, my mother, Stella was driving home from work. Tyler and I were waiting on the front porch for her to get home. We'd planned on going out for dinner. My mother had felt she didn't see her oldest children enough.

Charlie appeared from inside a half hour after Stella was supposed to arrive home. He informed us that Stella was in a car accident. It was minor, and we were able to go pick her up. Tyler, having broken many bones as a child, wasn't a fan of hospitals. I went alone with my father. As we drove, Charlie explained that he hadn't gotten a lot of details about the accident.

We'd almost arrived in town when Charlie's phone began to ring. The hospital was calling to give us an update. My mother had begun to unexpectedly seize. With my father's reluctant consent, the doctors put her in a medically induced coma. I called my siblings, telling them to meet us at the hospital.

After announcing our names in the ER, a nurse escorted us to the ICU and meet Stella's doctor. He told us that he couldn't give us an explanation and likely there was trauma to her brain not identifiable earlier. My father was furious but kept his composure, pressing for more answers. I felt pity for the human doctor on the other end of his glare.

Charlie went into see Stella and I placed myself on a waiting room chair, curled up in a ball. I couldn't wrap my brain around the reality that my mother laid unconscious in a hospital bed. I sat in the chair for an endless amount of time. No one I knew had arrived yet.

An older nurse asked if I was alright, appearing out of thin air. I nodded my head, keeping my emotions in check. Without invitation, the nurse sat down beside me. When the nurse places her hand on my shoulder, I thought expected baseless words of encouragement. What came out instead, shocked me.

"Your mother's accident didn't cause the coma. It wasn't natural or unexplainable."

***

My siblings and I arrived at the nurse's station. Tyler began speaking with the nurses behind the desks. My big brother was the mouthpiece when these visits occurred. Though Tyler and my other siblings took their sunglasses off, I kept mine on. The glasses were a good way to keep my emotions hidden. I didn't do well in the hospital. My mother's accident made the building much scarier. Blocking out the conversation, I scanned all the people who passed us. I analyzed every face.

But just like every time I came into the hospital, the mystery nurse was no where to be found.

Politely, one nurse indicated towards Stella's room, as if we couldn't find it with our eyes closed. I froze at the open door for a second, taking a deep breath. I didn't visit often in the four months Stella was here. Maybe six? Nausea became my only emotion each time I saw her lying in the bed. Even a little guilty with no explanation as to why. Drew and Nicole sat in the two chairs permanently at the hospital bed's sides. Tyler stood behind Nicole, arms folded and a composed expression that proved he was our father's son. Tyler was here a few times a week, by himself or with Nicole and Dad. He often wandered the halls, trying to find evidence of the nurse I'd described to him.

Nicole was the only one in our family that didn't know what the nurse had told me. Charlie decided it would've been too much for her, with no proof that it was anything but a true accident. No magical mystery that seemed to be implied.

Rachel, the nurse assigned to my mother, came into the room. She was a shaman, happy to work with humans and their ailments. It was why Charlie requested her to work with my mother. No one was going to say no.

"Children, it's good to see you. It's been a good day for your mother. Her brain waves have shown strong active. She must be having a lovely dream," Rachel said as she checked all the tubes that ran from the machines.

I knew she was trying to be nice, but a rise of anger surged through me. I bit my tongue from shooting back. A good day would be if she were awake. I knew that would be pointless and upsetting to everyone. Drew looked up at me and the pity in his expression for my anger drew heat to my eyes.

Without a word, I swung the door to the hospital room open and walked out into the hallway. I let my feet decide where I was going. Standing at the front doors to the hospital, I stared out the windows. Across from the hospital was a high school football field and a baseball diamond, along with a park. It was morbid, really. Children having fun and families enjoying their free time just a hundred feet from death and struggling.

I held my phone to my ear, waiting.

"Hello?" James's voice huffed through the phone. He sounded out of breath. They must still be playing football at the house.

"It's me," my voice was unexpectedly thick with tears, "can you pick me up?"

"I'll be there soon," he said with no moment to think, before hanging up.

I could imagine James telling the Pack he needed to leave. Most of them groaning and the other half made kissy sounds. I chuckled, sliding my phone into my back pocket. Mindlessly, I looked around the park. The strangers looked carefree in this moment. A rock fell in my gut as my eyes snapped back to one face. It took me a minute to process the man's face but when I did, my jaw tightened. Taylor Malik, a Stray from British Columbia. He wasn't facing my direction, and I assumed he hadn't seen me yet. Knowing he wasn't supposed to be here, I had to stop him from leaving. Hopefully, someone would come looking for me soon.

I ran through the sliding doors and anxiously stood at the edge of the sidewalk, but the cars didn't give me a chance to dart across. I was able to watch Malik until a middle-aged woman talking on her cell phone shoved past me, sending me a dirty look as if it was my fault for the collision and a minivan drove by, both being a distraction. I made it across the street, knowing I'd lost him. Standing still, I scanned the park, searching for anything out of the ordinary. A man briskly walking away or a wolf appearing out of thin air. I even took my sunglasses off, looking around frantically. An undetectable panic rose in my chest. Beginning to walk further into the park, my name was called. I didn't have to turn around to know it was my twin brother.

"What's wrong?" Drew asked, reading the alert look on my face.

"I just saw Taylor Malik. I'm positive it was him," I looked at him and grabbed his elbow, dragging him back to the hospital. We earned a few middle fingers as I towed my brother across the road. The surprise of the situation had finally worn away. I yanked my phone from my pocket, maneuvering to the elevator.

"Hey Ash, where are you? Drew went looking for you."

"Tyler, listen to me. Don't leave mum's room. I saw Taylor Malik. I don't think he saw me, but it's not like he's here for a friendly visit."

I hung up, typing in my father's number. I tapped my foot impatiently, waiting for the elevator to open again. Drew stood beside me silently. His gaze heated up the side of my face, but I ignored him.

"Ashlyn?"

"I think I have an idea about the scent hanging around lately. Taylor Malik was just standing outside the hospital. I couldn't catch up to him. I've got a feeling it's not a coincidence. I think you should send someone out here."

"Someone'll be there soon," Charlie said after a pause. He hung up without another word.

Stepping out of the elevator, I slowed to a stop. Drew paused ahead of me, turning back with confusion written on his face.

"I'm going to stay out here and look around," I said, "James is coming to get me."

Drew's jaw shifted like he was going to say something but instead, he walked to our mother's room and shut the door closed behind me.

Twenty-five minutes passed as I roamed the hallways. Multiple members of hospital staff had seen me but no one said anything. I wondered if they recognized me as a patient's daughter or they were just too busy. My phone began ringing, and as I answered, I began back to the elevator.

"Hello?"

"Hey Ash, I'm a few minutes out. Meet met at emergency entrance," James' voice crackled through the speaker. Without thought, I began down the stairs, skipping the elevator. I sent Drew a short text telling him I was leaving and a suggestion not to leave Stella alone.

James's black muscle car sat idling at the curb. I knocked on the side window. As I got in, I glanced at my friend and from the sympathy on his face, I knew the stress on mine was obvious.

Shifting the car into gear, James looked out the front window as he began to ask how I was feeling. His words stopped in his throat; a choking sound came out instead. My gaze lifted to his face as I put on my seatbelt. James' skin had gone pale, his mouth hanging open. His eyes were unblinking as I wondered if he was going to be sick.

"What are yo-" my eyes followed his, and my own words died in my throat. On the sidewalk just ahead of us, looking almost the same as he did fifteen years ago was James's father, Daniel Blake. He smirked at us. It was unreadable, but made me feel nauseous, no matter. I glanced back at James, no idea how this was going to go. The only change to his express was that his mouth was shut, jaw locked. As I continued to flick my gaze between the two, I watched James' eyes get darker, more unreadable.

"Do you want to see what he wants?" I finally asked. My words seemed to break whatever trance of shock that James was in, and he shook his head.

"No," he murmured, and we drove past him without slowing down. Looking in the side mirror, I could see Daniel Blake had turned to watch us.