CHAPTER 5
Raven was giddy with excitement as she heard the sound of the wolves howling in the backyard. She knew that she was meant to be asleep, just like her mother had told her, but she couldn't help it. She had to see.
It was her pack’s annual solstice of the moon, and it always filled her with excitement when she saw the folders jumping around with excitement. She moved over to her window as she looked outside, and she noticed the large bonfire that they had built outside of the woods.
The people were dancing beautifully, and they all seemed to be entranced in their own little worlds. The sight brought a bright smile to her features, and she felt her heart warm up at the sight of it.
She wanted to join them; she had wanted to do so every year, but her parents never allowed her to do so before, as they always seemed to have one excuse or another for why she couldn't.
It annoyed her to think about it, as she was eight years old now, and according to her calculations, she was practically an adult. She knew how overprotective her parents were of her, and she simply wished that they would pack up and give her some space once in a while.
She had never understood why they had always insisted on keeping a metaphorical leash around her before, but now she understood. Her parents had never thought that they would have children. They had waited 20 long years and had no luck, and they had praised the moon goddess for multiple nights. On one occasion, her mamma, who happened to be the luna of their small pack that was nestled in what appeared to be the middle of nowhere, had a vision with the moon goddess that she would be blessed with a bouncing baby girl, and within the next few months, Raven was born.
At least that's the story that her mother and father had told her. She wasn't entirely sure how true the story was, but she believed it nonetheless, and it brought a smile to her face as well as hope to know that she was a blessing from the gods.
She was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard the sound of her door wiggling. She widened her eyes in horror as she rushed to move away from the window seal. She panicked as she looked around horribly and made her way to her bed. Just as she was settled in, she heard the sound of her door being pulled open. She tried to even out her breathing, as she knew that she could never truly fool her mother. She always seemed to know when she was faking.
She felt movement around her room before the bed dipped beside her. "I know that you are awake, darling." Came out of her mother's mouth. She blushed as she sat up slowly and looked towards her mother with a cheeky grin spread over her features.
Her mother didn't buy it, as she stared at her in return with a raised eyebrow. "Someone is supposed to be asleep. Why are you awake," she asked her, and she only shrugged her shoulders at her in response. The truth was that she wasn't entirely sure.
"I just wanted to see them put the fire together. "I wanted to see if the beast would come this time." She spoke to her with a grin. She watched as her mother slipped her shoulders as she let out a sigh from her lips.
"You know that your monster friend isn't real, right? The only monster sound here is "Maybe you're sad." Her mother said, and she let out a sly gasp as her mother chuckled lightly.
"But he is real. I saw him that one time, and he was really big and really scared. She said this as she gasped loudly. Her mother only shook her head at her ridiculousness, but luckily she didn't make any attempt to correct her.
"Well, you can help protect yourself from the big monster from here in your room, okay". She said to her sternly, as Raven bit her lip. She didn't want to agree with her, but she knew all too well how true her mother was, and it was not as though she would take no for an answer.
"Okay mana. You can go." She said to her as she felt slightly upset. "Hey, don't worry. Maybe next year we will put together a smaller one for the kids, and then you can have all the fun you want with all of your friends." She said to her in a suggestive tone.
She watched them as Raven swiveled around to face her, her eyes lit up, and she gave her a bright smile. "Are you serious? Okay, yes." She said as she leaned over and placed a firm kiss on her mother's cheek.
"Thank you, mummy, and have a good night." She said to her in a mutter as she slipped under the covers. Her mother chuckled as she leaned down and kissed her over the covers.
"I love you, baby." She said and she didn't bother to say it back because she knew that they said it every night. She was aware that when the morning came, her mum would still be there, and she would be able to say the words to her.
She listened to her mother as she made her way out of the door, and her footsteps echoed across the floor. She listened intently to her movements as she waited for them to pass, and she felt a sense of relief come over her when they seemed to disappear.
The moment that she knew that her mother was gone from her vicinity, she sprang up from her end as she felt giddy with excitement and she found herself unable to stay calm any longer. She raced towards the window as she returned to her old spot in hopes of her being alone to catch a glimpse of what was going on again.
She could see the pack danding and furrowed her brows when she saw some children there as well. She didn't understand how they were allowed to be there and why they weren't. She wanted to clarify as she watched her parents make their way to the center.
The pack cheered them on, and they seemed to be giving a speech. And then, once it was over, she watched as her dad leaned in and kissed her mum before placing a hand on her stomach. She widened her eyes at the sight, and she couldn't help but wonder if it was what she thought.
She watched as the pack cheered loudly, and she pulled away. She couldn't tell exactly how to feel, but she couldn't help but feel upset at the fact that they hadn't told her. It felt as though her heart was breaking, and yet again, it served to remind her that maybe they didn't really want her there.
She crawled back into bed as she realized what was going on, and it was as though she had been slapped across the face. Her lip wobbled as she said.
"I hate you. I wish you were gone."