Chapter 6 LEAVING

Chapter 6

SERAFINA

I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. I was in a hospital room, surrounded by the beeping of machines and the sterile smell of antiseptic.

As I tried to sit up, a sharp pain shot through my body, forcing a wince out of my throat ,feeling the spasm in my chest,I fell back onto the bed, gasping for breath.

A drip was attached to my arm, the clear liquid slowly trickling into my vein.

A spasm hit me again, and I arched my back in pain. My body tensed, my muscles rigid.

Panic set in as I scanned the room; I was in the hospital, with little to no memory of how I got there.

I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me back onto the pillow.

Just as I was trying to gather my strength to try again, the door opened and a nurse walked into the room, a bright smile plastered on her face. " Good morning, ma'am. How are you feeling today?"

I tried to speak, but my voice was hoarse from disuse. I cleared my throat, trying again. " What happened? Who brought me here?"

The nurse's smile faltered for a moment before she replied, " I am sorry ma'am, but I don't know much about what happened to you. I do know that you were brought in last night by two men, one of them identified to be your husband when you had an attack."

Husband? It couldn't be Fenrir, right?

I nodded, feeling a sense of unease wash over me. I tried to remember, but everything was in blurs and it made me angry.

"Okay, so a quick test to be sure you are better. I would like to know your name, ma'am."

"Serafina," I replied almost immediately.

"That's great, ma'am; any job? Career-wise?" she asked further.

"I am a teacher," I replied.

"Amazing." She said,

The nurse bustled around the room, checking my vitals and adjusting the drip. "You're doing great, ma'am. Just get some rest, I will inform the doctor and he will see you shortly." The nurse made to leave but I stopped her.

"Wait, what about my husband?" I asked the world extremely foreign to my tongue.

"He will tag along with the doctor." I nodded.

I hoped he would get here soon; I had too many questions and too many fears. And I knew I wouldn't be able to relax until I got some answers.

As the nurse's footsteps faded away, I was left alone with my thoughts once again.

Soon, the door opened again, and the doctor, who I presumed to be in green shrubs, accompanied by two men, walked into the room, their presence commanding attention.

One of them was Fenrir, his piercing eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. The other man was a stranger, his features unfamiliar, but his warm smile put me at ease.

Fenrir's presence sparked a flood of memories, and I recalled the brutal attack, the humiliation, and the shame. I sighed, feeling the weight of it all bearing down on me, and dropped back onto the pillow, exhausted.

Fenrir sat beside me, his eyes never leaving mine, while his companion greeted me with a gentle " Hello." He waved.

"Hi," I replied

"I'm Fredrick, Fenrir's friend." He introduced.

"Serafina." I replied.

"Serafina." Fenrir's thoughts rushed straight into my mind. "Thank the Goddess she's doing fine. Or am I being too conclusive? Maybe I should ask. Are you okay?"

I glared at him but nodded, "How are you doing ma'am? You have had quite the recovery after your husband's intervention last night." The doctor said and Fenrir looked away, avoiding eye contact with me. What did he do?

Fenrir's thoughts flooded my mind once again, his psychic voice in sheer panic. "Oh Goddess, I hope she never finds out that I kissed her last night."

My eyes widened and so did his. " Kissed?" I gritted my teeth, and a sharp pain spreading through my head had me calming down.

"Alright Serafina, I will administer drugs that would hasten your healing process. If you require therapy, I will arrange that for you. For now, I will leave you all to reconnect."

"Thank you, doctor," Fredrick replied and escorted the doctor leaving me alone with Fenrir.

"I am sorry about the kiss, but that's not important; this pack is no longer safe for you, Serafina; you need to come with us."

I felt a surge of fear and uncertainty. Where could I go? No other pack would accept me; my mission to save the orphanage was a big failure. I couldn't just leave.

Fenrir sensed my hesitation. "You can't stay here, Serafina. Your life is more important than anything else. Who knows what will happen next."

I tried to protest, to tell him that I couldn't just give up, but my thoughts were jumbled and unclear,I just wanted to go home,to grandma Flora. Fenrir's words struck a chord deep within me, and I knew he was right.

He added "You'll come with me, Serafina. To my pack."

Why was he doing this? Why was he willing to risk everything for me?

Fenrir's expression was unreadable, but his eyes spoke volumes.

"What about the orphanage? I can't leave Grandma Flora and the children behind."

"I promise I will fix it; whatever mess seems to be happening, you can trust me on that."

I bit my lips wondering if all these would be worth it. "Fine, but before that, I need to see them," I said, my voice firm. "I need to tell her what's going on before we leave."

Fenrir nodded, his expression understanding. "Of course," he said. "As soon as you are fit to walk out of here."

THE NEXT DAY

I was discharged and we set off, driving through the winding roads to the orphanage. The familiar buildings came into view, and a wave of nostalgia washed over me.

As we pulled up to the entrance, I felt a sense of trepidation. What would Grandma Flora say? Would she be angry, or would she understand? What if she feels I am abandoning her? Cause I never will.

"She's so quiet, the Orphanage must mean a lot to her."

"It does," I replied Fenrir.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. We got out of the car, and I led the way in.

"Serafina!" The kids squealed upon my arrival. I crouched down, hugging each and every one of them.

"Hey, my loves."

They looked behind me, probably wondering who Fenrir and Fredrick were.

"My friends. You have nothing to worry about okay." I assured them.

"Fina, You missed your birthday party and got us worried.Grandma has been trying to reach you for days, but you never showed up. Are you okay? We were all scared." Daniel said and tears burned my eyes.

"I am so sorry. Please forgive me." I hugged them again,tighter than ever.

I released them and wiped my face" Where's Grandma?" I asked.

"In her office." I pecked their foreheads, whispering. "Thank you."

I strode towards the passage leading to her office, grateful Fenrir didn't follow me. The door was open, and I could see her sitting at her desk, her head bent over some papers. I knocked softly, and she looked up, a smile on her face.

"Serafina," she said, her voice warm. "My dear, where were you? I was so worried,what happened?"

I took another deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Grandma," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "I am sorry, for skipping my birthday,I got caught up in a horrible mess. I need to tell you something. Something important."

"I tried to take matters into my own hands, and it ended badly." I began.

"I found my mate and got rejected at the grand summit, a party Alpha Robert was throwing two days ago," I said, my voice shaking with emotion.

Grandma Flora's eyes widened in surprise, and she adjusted her glasses, peering at me intently. " You are the unlucky girl who everyone has been talking about? Serafina, oh my dear" she pulled me into a tight hug. "I am so sorry."

"I should be apologizing, Grandma; I ruined everything." I wailed.

"No, you did your best, Serafina; everything happens for a reason."

Grandma Flora's face fell, her eyes widening. " Oh, Serafina, what did they do to you?" she exclaimed, her voice full of compassion.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I continued my story. "I am sorry," I said, trying to hold back tears. "Alpha Robert has no idea about the mishap, It's all Luna Camila and Elder Lionel. I believe she's after me."

Grandma Flora's expression turned stern, "It is not safe for you Serafina. "

But then I dropped the bombshell. " "I am leaving; I was saved last night by two generous men. I am leaving with them. Staying here will only draw more attention to myself, to you, and the little kids at the orphanage."

Grandma Flora's face crumpled, and she started sobbing. I felt my tears fall as I hugged her tightly. " I wasn't expecting you to leave so soon," she said, her voice trembling. "But if it's for your betterment, then you have to go."

We held each other for a long moment, both of us crying. Finally, I pulled back, smiled weakly, and turned to leave. Grandma Flora's warm hug and blessing stayed with me as I walked away from the only home I had ever known.

As I stepped outside, I saw Fenrir and Fredrick waiting for me in one of the classrooms. Fenrir stood by the door, his eyes fixed on me, while Fredrick was inside, regaling the children with stories. The kids listened with wide eyes and bright smiles, their faces lighting up with wonder.

I stood behind Fenrir, watching my little ones with a mix of emotions. Their smiles always brought back memories, and I felt a pang of sadness at leaving them behind.

Fenrir psychically spoke without turning around, his voice low and gentle. " We can go when you're ready, Serafina."

I knew he was aware of my presence behind him, and he had deliberately waited for me to see the children before leaving. I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "We can go now."

I walked off, and Fenrir snapped his fingers, signaling Fredrick to follow. As Fredrick stood up, the children asked in unison, " Uncle, will you both come back?"

Fredrick smiled, his eyes twinkling. "We will," he promised, and the children nodded, seemingly satisfied.

With that, we left the orphanage behind, and the memories of the children's smiles and laughter etched in my mind. I knew I would carry them with me always, a reminder of the life I was leaving behind.

As we drove away from the orphanage, I gazed out the side mirror, watching the familiar building recede into the distance. But what caught my attention was the gathering of people outside - all the kids and Grandma Flora, standing together, looking...sad. I couldn't quite read Grandma Flora's expression, but the children's faces were etched with a mix of confusion and sorrow.

As the car continued to move further and further away, the group grew smaller and smaller, until they finally faded from view. I felt a pang in my heart, knowing I was leaving behind the only home I had ever known.

The drive seemed to stretch on forever, but eventually, Fredrick tapped me on the shoulder, breaking the silence. He pointed ahead, and I followed his gaze to the border of a new territory. A massive sign loomed before us, reading " Welcome to Wind Winder Pack " in bold letters.

As we drove away from the orphanage, I couldn't help but wonder if the Pack would readily accept a stranger like me. I turned to Fredrick, who was sitting next to me, and asked him if that was a possibility.

Fredrick just smiled and looked at Fenrir, who was driving, through the rearview mirror. He didn't say anything, which only added to my confusion and concern.

We drove under the pack's signpost, and I felt a chill run down my spine. Something didn't feel right. I looked out the window and saw a terrifying creature lunging at me. It had a canine face with a long tongue and a mouth that seemed to stretch on forever. Saliva was dripping from its contorted throat, and I could feel its hot breath on my skin.

I panicked and turned to the others, but they seemed completely calm and unaware of the horror I had just seen. Fenrir stopped the car and asked me psychically what was wrong. I tried to explain, but Fredrick just told me it was my imagination and that I would be fine.

I wasn't convinced. What I saw was real, and I knew it. But no one seemed to believe me. I slumped back in my seat, feeling scared and unsure of what to do. I was starting to regret my decision to come to the Wind Winder Pack.

As we continued driving, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. What was that creature? And why did no one else see it? I looked at Fenrir and Fredrick, but they seemed completely normal as if nothing had happened. I was starting to wonder if I was losing my mind.

Despite my fear, I tried to gather my courage and focus on the present moment. I was here now, and I needed to make the best of it. But I couldn't help but wonder what other dangers lay ahead.