A confession

SCOTT

Going to Oklahoma was my worst nightmare and I would never have wished for even in another life.

After being captured by a gang pack, I had to fight and wrestle with other wolves for my freedom.

The red flag gang pack's alpha had promised to let me go only if I won any of the wrestling while they bet on it. I took my chance and decided to wrestle. Not like I had any other choice anyways.

I finally got the chance to unleash the beast in me, the beast only Maggi knew how to tame.

With all optimism, I prepared for the impending bouts that loom.

My wolf had been very active and energetic, the thought of losing seemed very far from my fierce mind.

The time of the fights tumbled in, I thought of Maggi as I wrestled, and wished I had listened to her. The more I thought about her, the angrier I got at myself. I could feel my wolf charging, burning and my strength, rising.

The anger seemed to be working to my advantage. I felt nothing but anger. The angrier I got, the more the strength. I felt invincible!

"Charge on, yes! Charge"

My wolf fumed, and pounced on my opponent, leaving him with a with a long deep scar that almost tore his eye bag.

"yes! I won!" I exclaimed. Almost jumping out of my body. I cleaned my fore head and downed a bottle water.

"thank you, thank you" I said to the audience, happily of course, and beaming with smiles.

I then turned my back and headed towards the door. While I was almost at the door, I was crossed by the beta of the pack,

"it is my second fight, I have earned my freedom" I said angrily.

Then I heard a voice bark at me from the back

"hey stray wolf! One more fight okay with you?

You don't need to waste all that energy"

"Take him to his room!"

They took me by arm before I could even consent and dragged me to a haggard cubicle

They really call this a room?

It was a pocket-sized room a bit bigger than a rat hole with no bed or windows.

I sat down and thought about home.

Maggi was right, Oklahoma isn't a place to be. I hate to agree with her.

Is she still mad at me? I wondered.

I had told Maggi I'm going to Oklahoma to join a pack

will she feel less angry if I tell her the truth? If I tell her I came for her? Maggi has been going through a lot on her own.

She has locked herself in a dark room knowing the way out but refusing to take it. Seeing her drink herself to stupor and death every night aches my heart that I desperately wished she could let me in on her predicament.

Her therapist had once mentioned something like..."a journey to your past" something like "face your fear..."

I ran my fingers through my hair countless times hoping a clue to what the therapist meant could just pop into my head and explain everything wrong with Maggi.

"damn it, damn it, damn it!"

Even if she would let me help, I have to get out of here first.

This was what I was thinking till I felt into a reminiscence of it all

" If only I had not stopped the van that night, If I had not tried to save the dying girl"

"fucking damn it", I cussed.

I was driving on the lane beside the woods when I picked a scent and sound, the scent was sweet and alluring, like the fragrance from jasmine flower.

I did a U-turn, packed, locked my van and traced the scent into the woods

"Damn it! She's dying" I said while staring at the lifeless body on the cold floor.

My body acted faster than my brain I rushed forward carrying her through the wood, searching for a nearby shelter or hospital.

I noticed smoke from afar so I gently laid her on the floor and rushed to call for help. It was the red flag gang pack.

"enough Scott, think, think, think, think, you need get out of here", I muttered to myself

Finally! a thought popped up. A thought of escape.

Quickly, I made plans and worked it out.

As soon as I got outside, I started running through the woods. I saw an hospital. I had gotten to the entrance before I deciphered it may be part of them.

I took the other way and continued walking - half running, till I suddenly sighted my van. "oh gracious goddess, thank you!"

I hit the road with a speed of lightening, driving with consciousness all the way till I hit the high way.

"I should go see Maggi in castle rock"

On a second thought, "no I can't. She is likely to slip into coma if she sees me like this."

I took out my phone, gave her a call, and headed to Denver instead.

*Stephanie*

"Good day ma'am. I'm Steph the daughter of Olivia"

"oh, hum, sorry steph you can come in" she stuttered.

She took my bag and led me inside big living room. The interior was cool and moderate. I started a proper introduction of myself.

"I'm Skyler. I was sent by.....

"Derick" she cut in, completing the statement and forcing a smile.

It was obvious she wasn't expecting me, but if she wasn't, how did she know I was sent to her by Derick?

"I hope she doesn't reject me like others".

We both sat down facing each other, she looked like she was lost in transition, her face became pale and I could see trickles of sweat drop from her face. It began to get awkward as she stared at me, the atmosphere got a little tensed.

"say something steph", I thought within myself

My anxiety was about to set in, "I should not whoosh, not now Steph"

Derick had taught me to fold my left arm backward and take deep breath, or I take one pill every morning. Unfortunately, I didn't remember to take the pill. I took a deep breath and tried to break the silence, "Derick said you can help me find my father and that..."

before I completed the sentence, I noticed she had started crying silently. I stood up to sit besides her, wondering if I had said something wrong.

"Ma'am is everything alright, should I leave and come back later?"

it wasn't of much help as now, she started wailing profusely.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm deeply sorry Olivia."

It wasn't about me, it was about mum, my curiosity heightened.

What could have happened between her and mum. Why is she in so much pain?

"You knew my mum well? What happened to her?, why are you sorry?" asked eagerly. But she won't stop crying. I stood rapidly, out of frustration, but I felt a sharp pain in my ankle. I let out a mild cry and leaped. I must have hurt my ankle while I was trying to save that wolf. "Damn it" I saw her rush up on hearing me cry, "are you hurt? Are you okay?, I'm sorry" she held my hand across her shoulder, held my waist and led me to a room.

The room was large and well furnished, the bed was three time the bed I had in Oklahoma, the floor was tiled and the wall designed to taste, yes to my taste.

She let me down on the single chair in the room and dashed out.

she came back with a box in her hand, a bandage on the other hand. She gave me some pain relief pills, she went on her knees and brought out a tube like balm from the box,

"Steph, it's gonna be painful but I need you bear with it, it's only gonna last a short period of time."

She rubbed the balm on my already swollen ankle and tilted it sideways. I felt a sharp pain and let out a loud groan.

"take your time Steph we have several days to ourself to answer your questions"

why does every one says that.

"Errm, I don't mind few hour from now" I said. she paused a bit and responded, "my son should be here tomorrow morning, only then can we talk. By the way, you can call me Maggi" she said as she shut the door behind her.

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The next morning: CONFESSION O'CLOCK

Maggi had woken up early to prepare dinner, she has set the table for three, all I needed was to get into shower, prep myself and join her at the table.

On getting to the dinning, she has gone back to the kitchen to get us juice. I heard the doorbell rang and went straight to get it.

" good morning, you must be Maggi's son". I said raising my hand to him for a hand shake.

He raised his head and screamed on seeing me.

"why is everyone acting strange?" I marveled.

he took few steps backwards and spoke loudly that I felt my hear drum shook.

"You! What are you doing here, are you following me? Were you sent by them?"

He looked like he had seen a ghost.

How can an adult be so scared?

I let out a soft chuckle and He dashed in leaving my hand hanging in the hair.

What a rude jerk, what does he mean by all that?

"Come on Scott, come have a seat"

"mum where did you meet her and what is she doing here"

I heard them chat as I walked towards them.

We were done eating but Maggi ordered that we remain sitted.

She cleared her throat and turned to Scott. "ahem, Scott, there is something you need to know and so do you Stephanie, I promise to make it short". She said, and continued "your mother and I used to be very close friends back in Oklahoma, Olivia was very beautiful, she often times get the attention of the hot guys, Jake, Derick and several other men."

"Wait, you mean Derick liked my mum? I bet she didn't have eye for good men" I cut in, in-between.

"Olivia had eye for good men, cos she chose one of the best men in Oklahoma;Jake, Jake was..."

once again I cut her short, "please can we skip the Jake part?"

She gave me a stare and continued, "Everything was going on well, until the invasion." She continued.

"Invasion?" Scott and I chorused.

"Yes, Inavsion"

"The fox clan invaded our cities taking what they needed and destroying what they didn't need. Your mother and I were on our way to the hospital to see Jake when we found a stray fox pup in the woods. I had always wanted a pup, Olivia had you, though you were just a year old, I wanted one too. Olivia warned not to take her, but I did took her. I hid her in my room for long. Soon the news got out and the police came down to my home. That day, Olivia was with me. They searched the whole house and found her. She was so innocent, right there before my eyes, she was slaugthered cold-bloodedly. I shouldn't have taken her. If I had not, she might still be alive.

The guilt weighed me down and I slumped on the floor. Who owns this house? One of them shouted. Before I could say anything Olivia had taken the blame, she told quite a lot of lie to protect me. Before she was taken, she had begged for a chance to talk to me. Maggi, tell Jake about me, tell him to take care of our baby, Jake would get me out. I'd be fine she kept reassuring me."

Impatiently, I cut in, "Then what happened?" I screamed at Maggi.

"She was called a threat to the werewolf for real. She was called spy and was charged for treason, to die by hunger and never to receive help from anyone".

Maggi started crying, "Olivia died slowly..., she died every day... and I did nothing to help! Fear gripped me and I fled to Colorado living a low profile".

Unable to control my tears, I stood up and rushed to my room.

Before leaving I heard Scott utter some words - "Since it is confession o'clock will you tell me about my father too...", Says Scott.