Chapter 147: Reconnection with my Sister

AARON. The council meeting had ended, but I barely registered any of it. I was still trying to wrap my head around Frida. My sister. When I first saw her, I almost didn't believe it. But there she was, standing outside the council hall, all small and wide-eyed, looking up at me like I was someone important. I hadn't seen her since she was a baby, and now here she was, a kid….a kid who had apparently been waiting for me. 'You're really him?" Frida's voice was soft, her eyes squinting up at me in that way kids do when they're sizing someone up. I blinked, still trying to process it. 'I... yeah, I'm Aaron." My voice felt strange in my throat. She looked me up and down, arms crossed, her little face scrunched up in thought. 'You're taller than I thought." A small, confused laugh escaped me. 'What did you expect?" 'Dunno," she shrugged. 'Maybe you'd be shorter. Or maybe with a bigger beard. Uncle Harold said you'd look scruffier." I ran a hand over my face, feeling the light stubble there. "Scruffier, huh? I'll have to work on that." She giggled, her small teeth showing in a smile that was far too innocent for the chaos running through my head. 'Sister?" I said finally, kneeling down to her level. 'How… how is that possible? I haven't seen you since you were a baby." From what my hazy thoughts processed, she wasn't supposed to come back. She left Lunaville at the time for the school of the gifted, and there had been an accident there. I half expected that she was dead anyways. But here she was. She probably came back during the time I left. Sigh. She gave me a look like I should already know the answer. 'Because you left." Her words hit me harder than I expected. Simple. Direct. True. I had left, and now this little girl, my sister, was standing in front of me like a tiny reminder of everything I'd missed. 'I didn't know you were still here," I said softly, guilt gnawing at me. 'I never left," she said, her small voice sounding far too mature for a seven-year-old. 'I waited for you, Aaron. Just like you said you'd come back." Those words dug deep. I had said that, hadn't I? Told her I'd come back. But back then, she was just a baby—barely old enough to understand what leaving meant. And she was the one leaving, not me. Yet somehow, she remembered. 'I…" My voice cracked. 'I didn't forget you. I just—" 'I know." She cut me off, her little hand reaching up to grab mine. 'You're here now." And that was enough for her. Somehow, this little girl who barely knew me was more forgiving than I was of myself. As I walked back through the forest with Frida's small hand in mine, my thoughts churned with questions. I glanced down at her, watching her hop over rocks and hum to herself, so innocent, like she didn't even realize the chaos swirling inside my head. Why didn't they tell me? My parents hadn't mentioned a word about Frida. Not one letter, not one call. It didn't make sense. And now here she was, this bright, curious seven-year-old who clearly remembered me, who had waited for me. But I didn't even know she existed like this anymore. Why would they keep something so important from me? I thought back to all the times I'd talked to my parents, the brief conversations, even their silly threats. Not once did they mention her. What were they hiding? What were they trying to protect me from? Frida tugged at my hand, breaking my thoughts. 'Aaron, are you okay?" I forced a smile, though the weight of confusion still pressed on my chest. 'Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking." 'About what?" I glanced at her again, her bright eyes staring up at me with such innocence. How was it possible that I didn't even know my own sister? How could my parents keep her from me all these years? "Just some grown-up stuff," I muttered, trying to push the questions aside. But they lingered, gnawing at me with every step we took. We left the council hall together, Frida holding onto my hand as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I was still in a haze, trying to figure out how to be around her, but she seemed perfectly at ease, skipping a little as we walked. "So," she started, glancing up at me, "are you gonna be the Alpha again?" Her question caught me off guard, and I let out a breath, running a hand through my hair. "Not sure yet, Frida. It's complicated." She frowned. 'Why?" 'Because… well, being Alpha means a lot of responsibility," I said, trying to explain without making it too heavy. 'And I haven't been here for a long time." She looked up at me, tilting her head. 'You should do it. You'd be a cool Alpha." I smiled. 'Yeah? Think I'd be cool?" She nodded enthusiastically. 'You're tall. And you look like you could fight anyone." 'Well, that's one qualification down," I muttered, earning a giggle from her. As we walked, I was starting to feel like this wouldn't be so bad. Frida was easy to be around, and I could see why she had so much faith in me. But then I saw Quincy approaching us from the side of the path, a big grin plastered across his face. 'Well, well, well, look who it is," Quincy called out, his tone playful as usual. 'If it isn't the long-lost Aaron. And what's this? Got yourself a little shadow?" Frida stepped closer to me, peering up at Quincy with curiosity. 'Who's he?" 'Quincy," I said, shaking my head at him. 'He's trouble, that's who." Quincy let out a laugh, ruffling Frida's hair. 'Hey now, I'm the fun kind of trouble." Frida didn't seem convinced, narrowing her eyes at him before looking up at me. 'He doesn't look fun." I chuckled. 'Yeah, that's because he's not." Quincy held a hand over his chest, feigning hurt. 'You wound me, kid. I'm nothing but a good time." Frida looked him up and down, then shrugged. 'You're kind of weird." I snorted, covering my mouth to keep from laughing. 'She's not wrong, Quincy." Quincy's grin widened. 'I like her. She's got spunk." He glanced down at Frida, giving her a wink. 'You and I are gonna be good friends, kid." She wasn't so sure, but she gave him a small nod anyway, clinging a little tighter to my hand. We walked for a bit, catching up with Quincy and his usual antics. He talked about the pack, the latest drama, but all the while, my mind kept drifting back to Frida. I couldn't help but wonder what the last few years had been like for her. Growing up without me, without the brother who promised to come back. Most probably in a land she didn't know. And now, here I was, back in her life, trying to figure out how to make it up to her. By the time Quincy left us, we were near the Alpha House. Frida still had my hand in hers, like it was the most natural thing in the world. And while I was still wrapping my head around everything, having her there made things easier. But as soon as we stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. I felt it immediately—the tension in the air, thick and dangerous.