Chapter 32: Come Back.

HELENA. The rest of the day went by in a blur. I took a cab home, still dazed. ‘Helena Lawson, charged with embezzlement'. I shuddered. That's not happening. I didn't embezzle anything. I trudged through the front door, tired and exhausted. I just wanted to collapse on my soft, soft bed and forget about the entire day. Instead, I was met with three pairs of eyes. Luna, Veronica and Aaron, all gathered in the living room watching a horror movie. Their eyes flicker across my form, Vee immediately sensing the uneasiness in my steps. 'Hey girl, how was your day? You like you've been inside a wringer." She said, wheeling herself closer. I glanced at the TV to see what they were watching. ‘Talk To Me', the info panel showed. Hm, nice film. I exhaled, plopping onto the couch. 'It's been a really long day Vee. Plus some crazy nonsense happened." 'What crazy nonsense?" Aaron appeared behind me, with a glass of water in one hand, and a bowl of fruits in the other. My eyes softened. His voice was smooth as silk, but held that deep firmness that made me weak in the knees everytime. He narrowed his eyes at me, and sniffed. 'Your cortisol is over the charts. You need to rest." How did he… Right, of course. I took the cup of water, finishing the cup in one swig. 'My manager ‘indirectly' accused me of stealing money. I have to prove my innocence." I said finally, munching on the fruits in the bowl. Damn this was what I needed. I heard a low snarl, and Vee said, 'That son of a….. Why are men so annoying?" She added emphasis to the last part, glaring only ever slightly at Aaron. He didn't take notice though, his gaze was too busy scanning my face. And body. Luna remained pensive on the couch, her blue eyes darkening all the way. She shut her eyes, and said, 'Julia." 'Huh?" I turned to her. 'What do you mean?" 'Julia set you up." 'But you don't know who Julia is." 'Maybe, but you're innocent. I can feed off that energy and find the real culprit. It's magic Helena, don't bother." She said, getting up. 'Why don't you rest up. Tomorrow, we will figure out how to deal with her." 'Show off. Impressive though." Aaron muttered from behind me. Luna cast him a brief glance, and flicked a piece of her nail. It buried itself into his lower arm. He winced, pulling it out and tossing it into the trash. I should have known. What the hell did I do to that woman? Vee looked at me, in a ‘you better tell me who she is' kinda look. I smirked, taking off my coat and heading to my room. She followed. 'Who's Julia?" She said the moment I shut the door. 'My manager's assistant. She's a pain in the ass." I took off my shirt, turning on the hot water in the shower. 'No kidding. But what does she want with you?" She wheeled to the dresser, looking at her face. 'She accused me of seducing him." I loosened my hair, and took off the rest of my clothes, slipping into my towel. I was long past the initial anxiety and anger I felt at her, and my blood boiled with bone chilling revenge. I'll show her. I'll show her crazed madness. Veronica gasped, then laughed loudly. 'She's obviously jealous she can't get him under her hook like you can. Come on, get showered. I have the perfect plan." She smirked. Oh how I loved scheming Veronica. Dinner that night was smooth, and I couldn't have been happier to have these three souls in my house. My heart was uneasy still, like there was something waiting at the end of the tunnel. No matter how hard I tried to escape, it would always be there, waiting. AARON. I received a message from the elders last night. The green orb glowed brightly in the living room, and I was worried Helena or Veronica would wake up just by the energy it emitted. Luna, however, got up immediately the orb materialized. I could see the face of Elder Zephyr, the highest ranked elder in Lunaville. His face was filled with desperation, and anger. 'Aaron Blackwood. You have tested the patience of the elders for too long. Return to Lunaville and take on your responsibility immediately, and or expect the wrath of the elders. You are not to refuse to rebel, as we are well aware of your location. Including the humans you reside with. You have two weeks." And the orb vanished. Fresh anger built up in my veins, and I had to run outside and unleash it on a tree. 'You gotta calm down." Luna's voice sounded behind me. I growled, facing her. 'Calm down? They're trying to make me take a position I don't want!! I should have a choice!" Frustration set in, and I let my werewolf form loose. There was no point denying what I was. 'That's the thing about being a werewolf. We don't have choices. We're conditioned by the very fiber of our existence, so we have to live with it." She said, resting a hand on my shoulder. I shook it off. 'It's wrong. So fucking wrong. I could take on that position, and lead the entire pack I to oblivion. How about that? Then we'd all die from ‘conditioning.' Argh." This was tedious. Luna stood up, and walked to another tree. She switched forms, and leapt up onto one of the branches. What was she doing? She howled loudly, and I stared at her. 'Are you trying to call someone?" Another werewolf? 'No, just listen." She howled again, a little timed. Then again. And again. The rhythm reminded me of something my mother used to do when I was little. I always loved howling with her. She wasn't a werewolf, but her impressions were on point. Speaking of mom, I hadn't seen her in years… 'What do you think you're doing?" I said slowly. She looked down at me, eyes wide and bright. She growled, and got down from the branch. 'I was only trying to help you see. You can't tell me you don't like ‘anything' about being a werewolf. As long as you do, you'll have these responsibilities." She stretched out, laying on the grass. Her blue eyes shone brightly, as she gazed into the sky. The moon was almost full tonight, and it was beautiful. 'No. I'm not doing it." 'Aaron, your father was Theodore's best friend. I couldn't bear him an heir before he died, so your father had to take over as the alpha. You think he wanted to? Your father was criticized greatly for marrying a human to begin with. But he took on all those responsibilities because he wanted the best. He had no other choice, yes, but he had to look at the bright side. You're next in line, and you should walk in his steps. He won't be an alpha forever." She stood up, and walked back to the house, her tail wagging. Why did I always see reason with her? I groaned in frustration. This was something I had always avoided. Luna was right, but I still needed to be sure there was no other way before I concluded. They even knew Helena. This was bad, really bad. I thought the barrier I placed around the house would be enough, but they're elders. I'm not surprised. Either way, I wasn't gonna let them harm her. I followed her into the house, catching her before she stepped into the room. 'Isn't there a way I can also send them a message?" 'Aaron…" 'Please, come on." She knew how to, maybe she would help me. I could try and reason with them. I just needed more time here. I was comfortable. She sighed. 'Wait here." She walked into her room. I glanced in the direction of Helena's room, her steady breathing sounding very close to my ears. I wish I could just hug her again. Luna opened her door seconds later, carrying a few items. A bottle obviously, a piece of white paper, and a mirror. She walked outside, and I followed. She chose a spot fairly far from the farmhouse, and sat down, arranging the materials in front of her. She opened the bottle, a purple must forming at the top. She glided her hands above the opening, and the mist spread. A liquid flowed out, and she controlled it with her fingers. I watched in awe as the air rippled with her movements. She muttered some indecipherable words. I could feel the magic pulsing from her, and it sent chills down my spine. This woman was incredible. 'Astra, lux, et spiritus…Ignis eximius." She muttered. A soft glow spread out from her fingers, collecting into a small pulsing orb. The air around us vibrated with energy. 'Wow. This is amazing, Luna." I said, not able to take my eyes off the pulsing cage of energy in front of me. She smiled slowly, her eyes still bright with magic. 'Thanks. Now, what did you want to say to them?"