Chapter 13 Here to Stay
thirteen
Here to Stay
*GWENDOLYN*
“Idon’t know what else to tell you, Elsa,” the vet says, getting up again.
“But, Doc,” I mutter. “Aren’t they supposed to be wild animals?”
“Yes, but this here was domesticated, clearly. It has no fleas, no illnesses, no ticks. I don’t know if it’s been vaccinated, but I did just to be sure.” He strokes his chin. “It’s definitely not from a zoo either.”
“Can they be held as pets?” I ask.
“In some states, it’s allowed.”
I get down on my knees and reach out my hand towards the capybara. The funny little thing comes padding towards me immediately, and pushes its head against my palm.
“Fascinating,” the vet mutters. “It seems to fully trust you already.”
Silence descends around us while I keep looking at the capybara. I can’t deny that they are hilarious, cute animals. There is just something so lovable about them. I constantly want to smile when I look at it.
“And what now?” I finally ask.
“I will look for its owners,” the man promises. “As for now, it seems to have taken a liking to you. Would you mind keeping it?” he pauses. “For now, at least.”
I know me. If he won’t find its owners, it will not be just for now. I can already feel a bond forming with this capybara.
Sighing, I get up. “What do I need to know?”
“I will give you a list of food they eat – for now, stick to vegetables, especially lettuce and cabbage, and some fruits. I will put together all the information you need,” he promises. “I have your number. I will contact you later today.”
At least it doesn’t sound too complicated to keep it fed. “Do I need to entertain it in some way?”
“No, capybaras usually just like to sleep and eat,” he says. “And take a bath. They are also not aggressive in any way.”
He reaches out his hand to shake mine and smiles. “Until later, Elsa.”
“Thank you, Doc.”
I watch him leave before turning to my new pet. “You are not going to leave, are you?” I ask. “You came here to stay.”
The capybara squeaks before lying down, chattering with its teeth.
“Yeah, I will get you something to eat. Fruits and bananas, huh?” I take a generous amount of salad from the fridge and some bananas, and put it all in a bowl. The capybara instantly starts munching on it.
I keep watching it for a while before Tiger flutters towards me, demanding my attention. To be honest, this is not the worst way to spend my morning. The peace is only disrupted by the door opening and Faye bursting inside. “Good morning!” she squeals.
“Hello, Ann,” I pull her into my arms, but Faye’s attention is immediately elsewhere. Her mouth drops open, and she tosses her bag aside before going down on all fours and staring at the capybara.
“My,” Donna chuckles. She has entered the house right behind Faye, handing me a basket with freshly made cake and sandwiches. “You have a new guest, it seems.”
“I doubt he will stay a guest,” I say. “If my feeling serves me right, then he might stay indefinitely.”
“You just have a way with animals, don’t you?” Donna smiles. “Animals can always tell if someone is good or bad. You are a good person, Elsa… or whatever your true name is.”
My heartbeat picks up frantically.
“Don’t worry,” Donna mutters. “I don’t know your reasons for hiding who you are, and I don’t care. I will make sure to keep your secret. But are you safe?”
“Honestly, I don’t know,” I whisper. “It’s just a precaution.”
“Who do I need to watch out for?” she asks quietly.
“Men my age,” I say. “Especially when they look strong and like they don’t belong here.”
“Okay,” she nods. “Is it her father?”
That thought has honestly never struck me.
I was lying low in case the alpha did mind that I ran from his pack.
Not that anyone ever cared about me, but you never know what’s going on in their heads.
Maybe he is scared I am going to disgrace him, or maybe it’s about control.
Maddox made sure we could leave in secret.
It’s just a precaution, but it means there is a possibility of danger.
But Faye’s dad? Would he really care? After all, he sent Marina and her away, leaving Marina in this horrible state. If he wanted Faye, he would have certainly kept her.
“I see,” Donna says quietly before I can answer. “There is a story behind it all. I won’t pry. I will make sure that Ann is safe whenever she is with me.”
“Thank you, it means a lot to me. I doubt anything will happen, but…” My voice trails off.
“But your gut feeling keeps warning you?”
“Yes.”
I don’t even know why. I shouldn’t feel anxious, but I do.
It’s definitely time to contact Amelia again to see if she has any news for us. Once Faye and Marina are safe, I can consider myself and a potential future. As a shifter without a wolf, I could lead a human life. I could be part of them and become happy that way.
Faye is taking her afternoon nap, while I help an old lady down the road with her garden, and mow the lawn of an elderly man. Both of them always pay me for my services. It’s not as much as the club pays, but obviously, the work for them is much more pleasant and certainly safer.
Once back home, I immediately check on Faye, noticing she is still asleep, cuddling with her plushy, and then on Marina, who is still staring at the TV. Tiger and our nameless capybara are sleeping as well, with Tiger being nestled against the big rodent.
“You need a name, huh? Naming pets is not my strength.” I sigh, looking around. “Well, you came here yesterday. That was a Tuesday. So, Tuesday it is!”
Silly name, but whatever. It’s funny enough for my cute capybara.
No, not mine!
He isn’t mine!
Oh goddess, who am I kidding?
I step around the two pets carefully before grabbing a book and approaching Marina. I take her hand, gently rubbing it. Her stare is into nothingness as always. She is unresponsive, her face pale, her lips dry.
“Do you want me to read something for you?” I ask her.
No answer
“How about we continue this book?” It’s a collection of fairytales I began to read to her a couple of months ago, in the hope it might stir something in her. She had the book with her when she returned – maybe it was something she used to read to Faye.
It’s a cute and cozy story about a mermaid.
I assume this book was specifically written for smaller children – most of the more gruesome details of fairytales are missing.
Once I have wrapped up the story, I look up to check on Marina.
Again, there is no response, nothing that indicates she even heard me.
If only I had a wolf, I could maybe try to reach out to her. And even if nothing worked, I would have had someone to discuss all my issues with. But I am alone with myself and need to make decisions for two people who can’t make any for themselves.
As always, when the reality of this massive responsibility hits me, I feel my breath going shorter, a pressure on my chest that makes it difficult to breathe.
“I am going outside for a moment, Marina.”
I don’t even check if she reacted, well aware that she won’t, and rush outside, ripping the door open and taking in a deep breath.
The air outside is warm, but not humid, with the leaves rustling in the soft breeze.
It doesn’t calm me down immediately, but it helps me focus on something else, and eventually calm my breathing down.
The ringing of my phone pulls me out of my thoughts. Pulling it out of the pocket of my jeans, I notice it’s Amelia.
“Hello?”
“Hey, sweetheart,” she says. “How are you holding up?”
“Okay,” I admit.
“Are you still working? Seriously, I can send you some money.”
“I am working,” I admit. “I want to save as much as possible for the three of us. Especially Faye will need it.”
She sighs. “I get it, I just wish it wasn’t necessary.”
“I know, but still… it’s better than how it was before. I think Faye is feeling much happier since we left.”
“That’s good to hear, but it can only be a temporary solution,” she warns me. “She needs a pack. We’ll need to make sure she has a place to call home when she has to enter school.”
“Absolutely,” I agree.
“My mate has been talking to our alpha, and he has reached out to two of his friends in the States. You know, the offer still stands that you can come to us, but…”
“It would mean leaving the continent,” I conclude. “Which makes it more difficult for Marina and Faye.”
“If we don’t find any other solution, we can still come back to this one,” Amelia says. “For now, I will try to find a safe, good place here.”
“Amelia…” My voice trails off, and I am not sure how to continue.
“What’s wrong, dear?”
“I feel anxious,” I admit. “But not the normal kind of… Fuck, I don’t even know how to explain it. I…sometimes there is a shiver going down my spine.”
There’s silence for a moment. “Do you think someone is watching you?”
“I don’t know,” I confess.
“Be extra cautious, Gwen. I don’t like how that sounds. Actually,“ she pauses.
“Actually?”
“I’ve briefly talked to Maddox. We try to keep our contact as low as possible so his father won’t find out, but I managed to get him during a quiet moment yesterday.
It seems like there are weird movements happening in your old pack.
Apparently, your ex is restless. Maddox told me he is trying to keep the guy occupied.
All of that doesn’t need to mean anything, but… ”
There it is again: a shudder going down my spine.
“I need to be really cautious. Do you think I should move again?”
“Maybe not immediately. If someone keeps tabs on you, it’s probably good if you pretend everything is alright.
You are Elsa, a human woman. No one ever sees Marina anyway, and Faye is a little girl like any other little girl.
If you move now and run away in panic, I am afraid it might trigger someone. ”
“True.”
“That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan your exit.”
“I get it,” I mutter. “I don’t like it.”
“If this continues, I’ll want you to come to my pack, asap, and then we can try to find you a permanent place from here. It’s still not good to uproot Faye and Marina’s lives, but if you are in any danger…”
“Yeah, I agree.” I sigh. “I will think this through.”
“Right, no rash decisions. It might not be anything serious going on. You have been stressed for many years after all.”
“It’s exactly why I don’t quite trust my gut feeling,” I admit.
“Listen, Gwen, stay on alert, but don’t panic. I will think of something fast. I didn’t think it would be so pressing, but I am on it more than ever.”
“Thank you. You don’t even know me, yet you are so kind.”
“Maddox rarely reaches out to me,” she admits.
“It’s not like the both of us were ever really close, but unlike the rest of his rotten family, he has potential.
It’s the first time he asked me to help someone.
” She pauses. “You are a good person, Gwen. Not many would do what you are doing. The moment I heard your story, I knew I wanted to help.”
My talk with Amelia didn’t chase my worries away, rather the contrary, but it helps to know that she is pushing for us to find a pack.
When I turn to go back into the house, I halt in my step.
My eyes fall on a fluffy kitten. It’s orange colored and a bit chunky, but so adorable.
The moment it spots me, it comes walking towards me and jumps right into my arms.
What… first Tiger, then Tuesday, and now this cat?
“Where are you all coming from?”