Chapter 29

'I hope you guys settle the issue. I thought he was a man you were interested in." Diane explained. I was shocked at that thought. Why would anyone think I was interested in Mascot or think we were dating in any way? 'I mean he was the one interested in you though, you just had this mutual interest for him." I was dumbfounded and Diane knew it. 'He was simply over you." 'He is my friend's boyfriend so it would never work for us both." 'Maybe he is your mate?" Diane suggested. 'Is it even possible that my mate is in a relationship with someone close to me?" I questioned thinking deeply to myself. 'I actually think I met my mate." I said aloud to Diane but she didn't say a word. She only nodded and smiled. 'Anything can happen." I wanted to talk to her about my pains and problems but I didn't know if I could trust her. I stared intently at the old woman. Was she going to turn out like Mascot who I had trusted? She turned to me smiling. 'You can trust me." She stood up to go give the healing ointment to one of the elders who was injured. My father's clan was the only one that could make the healing ointment. When I was little, people came from far and wide to get healed by the ointment. It was discovered by my father through the moon goddess. Since my father died very early, no one found out about the healing ointment except a few people who refused to say a word about it. That was the healing ointment I made at Stormclaw that I learnt when I was little. 'You can hear me?." I was amazed. 'Can't you?" She asked. I stared at her in utter confusion which caused her to laugh. 'You have the power too. Everyone in Shadowcrest does." She explained while still doing her work. The elder was in pain and couldn't say a word. 'Wow. A lot of things I don't know." 'Why don't you come live here, you'll learn a lot?" She asked me. 'I really want to but I can't, currently. I have plans that I have to hold on to." 'Are you running away from something or someone?" She asked. 'No, I'm not. Why do you ask?" 'You don't want to share? I understand." She was calm as we discussed. I loved how free spirited and loving she was. It got me more intrigued. I believe she could keep my secrets, afterall she had stayed all these years protecting my father's legacy and still keeping the community strong. 'I trust you." I said as if to convince myself. 'I trust you. Since my father died, I haven't trusted anyone. Imagine me living in the same roof with the man who killed my father, I just couldn't bring myself to trust anyone." 'I understand you. You don't have to explain." Diane was understanding in ways that marveled me. 'Just take your time." 'Alright." I responded. I haven't felt peace like how I felt today. It felt like I was among my family members. I couldn't be disturbed even one bit about anything. I spoke to Chad and discovered how excited he was to be here. 'This is the best place for me." He ran to me, excitedly. He was dressed properly unlike the last l had seen him when he was half naked. 'Do you like it here?" 'Yes, I do." I could see that he was really grateful to me. His eyes sparkled as he spoke. I was indeed content seeing his reaction. 'Thank you, Naomi." I spent the rest of the day at the Chambers with Diane and little Chad. I was finally reconciled with my true family. I went home very early in the morning so I wouldn't be caught by anyone when I arrived at Shadowclan. 'You're finally back." I hear someone scoff behind me. It was Mascot, he was waiting patiently for me at the boundary that led into the Clan. 'What are you doing here?" I asked. 'I asked you not.." I was about to speak when I noticed that people were with him. Did Mascot, out of anger, call bandits to attack me? I wondered if it wasn't bandits or even kidnappers. They were the people of Stormclaw and they were all dressed in white, including the Alpha. 'My Lord." I bowed in respect. 'Is there a problem?" I scratched my hair in confusion. 'Naomi, we are truly disappointed in you." He responded. 'How could you betray our clan?" The Alpha kept asking while staring at him. 'What do you mean my Lord?" I asked. I had so much respect for him after all, he accepted me even when people didn't. Their faces were filled with disappointment and I wanted so much to apologize to them but I still didn't know what I did. I could also see a familiar face in the crowd, it was Laura. 'Laura." I called out to her but she didn't even look at me. 'I can't believe you'll do this." She answered. 'What happened? Someone talk to me, please." I pleaded, especially to the Alpha. He trusted me so much so I couldn't betray him. 'You were going to give out our clan to another clan? Mascot here tells us that you always sneaked out because you were a spy and you didn't want us to find out. You are giving out information about us to another clan so they could attack us." I was totally shattered when I heard this. 'Is it also true that you have been making advances at Mascot but he kept avoiding you?" Laura asked from where she was standing. My legs were literally shaking and didn't have any strength to carry my body. I glanced at Mascot and I saw that this was all on his plans, since I didn't give him a chance, he was going to make my life miserable. We all stood there, at the boundary and they all had the look of judgment on their faces. No one was going to believe me when I said that Nascot was lying against me. He was a full born and bred member of the Stormclaw while I was just a stranger they were accommodating. Then I glanced at Laura, my heart broke when I saw tears flow down her cheek. How could I explain that it was a conspiracy on the part of Mascot. Who would believe me? Why would they believe me? I was so exhausted that I wanted to burst out crying. The moon goddess finally gave me a home but still I had an enemy on my neck.