Chapter 3: Memories - Part Two

*Sienna*

I shake my head and focus on my day ahead; I need to get him out of my mind. After a shower, I go to the school where I had been teaching for two years now and am welcomed by my students. Today is my birthday and I smile, as they made an extra effort to come earlier and prepare everything for me; a cake, a big sign, and many balloons.

“Happy birthday to you…! Happy birthday to you…! Happy birthday Miss Franklin…! Happy birthday to you…!” They sing in perfect synch and I walk to them as they hold the cake with a candle. I blow it out and they all cheer.

Our real class is suspended today for my birthday; I know that I will have to do extra work to finish their program, but it is nice to have some fun with my students.

After the wonderful morning, I go to the teacher’s break room to grab a cup of coffee and some of my colleagues wave to say hi and congratulate me. It has been a nice day and I am just planning to go back home and relax soon. Maybe today I can pick up some fast food and enjoy it at home.

As I walk out of the break room, I see two suited men talking to Elizabeth, the coordinator. She looks at me nervously, then tries to look away. I find this odd, but I am hesitant to go help her or hide.

“Hey Sie, what are your plans for the night?” Diane, another of my colleagues, asks me as she catches me.

This is the perfect opportunity. “I think Elizabeth was looking for you Di,” I tell her, a bit concerned.

She perks a brow but then looks towards her and walks quickly to meet her. The purpose of my lie was to get those men away from her, and I succeed as I see them walk away and out of the building.

Elizabeth whispers some words to Diane and they both try to walk calmly to me. Something is happening, and my heart is pounding fast. Elizabeth looks worried. “Sienna, those two guys were asking questions about you… they were very strange!”

I blink in surprise. “About me? What questions? Are they officers?” I ask.

She seems a bit confused and puts a hand on her forehead. “I think so, I am not sure…”

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Diane asks.

“I think they showed me badges, I believe they did, I don't know why this is blurry in my head,” Elizabeth adds.

My heart is now racing even faster; those are werewolf mind control tricks. I remember them well. I just don’t know why they were using them on poor Elizabeth, or why they are searching for me.

“Are you in trouble Sie?” Diane says as they both look at me.

“I am not, I promise you,” I assure them both as I try to convince myself of the same.

The last time I saw officers from the werewolf committee, they were not dressed like that. But years have passed and I haven’t been near them since they took my father for investigation as a suspect in the murder of the great Lancaster Alpha.

But that world is hidden from everyone else here, and no one knows about my past and my ties to them because the werewolves have not opened themselves to the world; they remain folklore myths.

“Just be careful please, let us know if you need us to walk with you to your home,” Diane adds and I smile at them both.

“I promise you I have nothing to worry about, I did nothing. If they are looking for me, it might be to ask questions about someone else… In fact, it worries me, maybe something happened to one of my students,” I say with genuine concern.

“I didn’t think of that, you are right. I hope it all goes well and is nothing serious. Let me know if I can help with anything ok?” Elizabeth adds and I nod.

They finally leave me alone, and after a couple of seconds, I start to walk to the doors myself. Slowly, I feel my heart racing faster and faster. I reach the entrance, and I look outside carefully; waves of students all around, several at the end of the stairs. They are watching something unusual; there are three limousines, one in front of the other, parked not far from the gates.

I feel like I will have heart failure as I move down each of the steps, the cars start to move, and head in my direction.

When I reach the final step, the first car passes. But the second one stops, and one of those mysterious men walks out of the front and heads to me. “Sienna Franklin?”

I nod, a bit hesitant but sure enough that I was safe from being kidnapped in front of so many people. He turns around, with a clear intention to walk back to the car when the back door opens and my heart drops to the floor.

My eyes water and my sight begins to blur, but my heart knows it is not an illusion. The last time I saw him was over a decade ago, but he looks almost the same; a bit taller, more muscles, and sad eyes. My Ro.

He looks around us at the curious eyes, then walks to me, stopping only a few inches away. He gives me a smile and I smile back. His hand lifts and with a thumb, he rubs my tears away.

“You haven’t changed a thing, cutie…” Then he opens his arms and waits.

I take a step forward and bury my face in his chest; his arms wrap around me, holding me tight. How I missed this; his smell, his voice, his warmth. How could so much time pass, and yet I feel like it was only yesterday that he held me like this.

I feel him kiss the top of my head and, seconds later, I move away. There are many questions in my head, but only one thing comes out of my mouth. “What are you doing here?”

He smiles. “It is your birthday, isn’t it?”

I blush and nod, then I see another suited man walk to us. Ro tilts his head towards him; I remember the mind communication between their kind, and I understand a message is being delivered. He nods and looks back at me. “Let me treat you to lunch,” He offers kindly.

It beats my takeaway lunch and dinner idea for sure, but what makes me accept is really the fact it is him asking me. I nod and he extends his hand, waiting for mine. I feel like I will be drilled with questions by many tomorrow, but I don’t care. I lay my hand in his and shiver slightly. He pulls it gently and leads me inside the car, where together we are taken away.