AllFreeNovel
Share Us
At least it’s not the months that I lost after we were taken. My mother and the others lost those, too. I guess it’s a topic to be discussed another day.
God, I’m exhausted.
I sink deeper into the cozy couch, trying to soak in the joy and warmth radiating from my reunited family. It’s almost overwhelming after so much time spent alone and afraid. And still, a tiny part of me aches for Barrett’s solid presence, though I can’t fathom why. He’s a stranger, and these are my loved ones. I should be nothing but grateful.
“Hello, hello! We’re coming in, ready or not!” The peaceful moment is shattered by a raucous knock on the door. Before any of us can react, it swings open, and my twin cousins, Sierra and Savannah, come barreling through. Savannah is cradling two bundles in her arms – babies, I realize with a jolt.
“Oh my gosh, you’re really here!” Sierra cries out, her voice thick with emotion as she rushes over and sweeps me into a fierce embrace. Her arms wrap tightly around me, squeezing me hard enough to knock the breath from me. “We were so worried!”
The familiar scent of my cousin envelops me, unleashing a flood of cherished memories from our childhood. A profound relief warms me, knowing that a piece of my family has been restored after so much fear and uncertainty.
Sierra doesn’t get a chance to monopolize my time, though, because Savannah is elbowing her way into a spot beside me on the couch.
“Look, look!” She’s beaming from ear to ear as she holds out the swaddled infants. “Meet your nieces!”
I stare at the tiny faces peeking out from the blankets, their eyes blinking up at me with innocent wonder. A lump rises in my throat as I reach out to gently stroke one velvety cheek.
So much time has passed…so much time…
I swallow hard.
“They’re beautiful,” I murmur, my voice catching. Kneeling in front of me, Sierra lets out a watery laugh and pulls me close again.
“We’re just so happy you’re safe,” she whispers. “We won’t let anything like that ever happen again.”
I’m about to reply, but there’s another burst of voices. The apartment is suddenly a flurry of motion and noise as the rest of their siblings burst in – Rafe, Kira, Elara, and Torin. There are shrieks of delight and a tangle of arms as they swarm us, all talking over each other in their eagerness.
“Did you really escape from the bad wolves?”
“Were you scared?”
“I bet you kicked their butts!”
I can’t help but laugh at their enthusiasm, exchanging hugs and ruffling their hair affectionately. My aunt and uncle look on with shining eyes, exchanging tender looks with my mother. They’re clearly overjoyed to have us all together again. For a few blessed moments, the trauma of the last months fade away in the face of this unbridled happiness.
But then, it all comes crashing down.
I start to panic.
I stare at the flurry of gangly teenage arms and legs, the smiling faces surrounding me, the love and joy radiating from every corner of the room. It should be everything I’ve longed for these past months. The warmth and safety of family, the security of being enveloped by their affection after so much fear and uncertainty.
But instead of contentment, a sense of discomfort begins creeping up my spine.
Keep it together, dammit!
I try to keep smiling, not wanting anyone to think that I’m not happy to see them all, but the walls seem to be closing in around me. The air grows thick and stifling, each cheerful voice grating on my nerves. My heart hammers against my ribs as sweat beads on my brow.
What’s wrong with me? I should be happy…relieved…at peace…
Savannah is still chattering animatedly, but her words are muffled as if she’s speaking from the opposite end of a long tunnel. One of the babies lets out a sharp wail. Rafe is bouncing on the balls of his feet in front of me, eyes sparkling with excitement as he babbles a mile a minute. I can’t make out what he’s saying. Can’t focus on anything except the crushing sense of claustrophobia rapidly tightening its merciless grip.
I can’t breathe…need air…have to get out of here…
Stumbling to my feet, I push blindly past the startled faces.
“Cedara? Are you okay, baby?” It’s my mom, but I barely register their alarmed voices calling out to me. My only thought is escape as I lurch down the hallway, fumbling at the first door I come across. It opens with a creak of protest, and I stagger inside, slamming it shut behind me and twisting the lock with trembling hands.
Oh, God. Oh, God!
