Chapter 3
Astrid's POV
"Who are you?" Leon snapped. He glared at the man in the suit.
The man was taken aback by Leon's tone. I could see it in the hike of his brows but he didn't show it out. That was the only subtle November he made.
"Kaeleen of the Emerald Glade Pack," the man said, his smile still in place and his eyes still fixed on me.
His voice, a deep tenor washed over me. I had never thought I would react to a voice like this. Leon's voice is a bit lighter, not as deep as this man before me. And I had always thought Leon's voice was the best.
My heart skipped a beat. I didn't know why. It was just from looking into his eyes. Leon was right there, but Kaeleen's green eyes promised something. I wanted him to keep that promise. His scent filled the air around me, and I had to fight to stay still. The guards were holding me tight, so I couldn't move anyway.
Why was I reacting like this to a stranger? What was happening? What was wrong with me?
He started to speak, but Leon cut him off. "Get her out of here," he told the men holding me.
I tried to get away, but they held me firm. As soon as we were outside, they shoved me. I fell to the ground, but I stood up. I wanted to go back inside, but my wolf spoke up. Sheena, my wolf, was often the voice of reason for me.
'Why don't you wait?' she asked. 'You can talk to her alone.'
"But.." I tried to argue with her and she made a tsking sound.
'Do you really think she would listen to you? Or that anyone would listen to you? She claims not to know you, wait in private to speak with her.' she said to me.
"Okay," I said, feeling reprimanded.
Sheena was more of an adult than I was. Well, she was an adult but she was the opposite of me. Where I was impulsive, she wasn't. She had stopped me numerous times from making a fool of myself and if she was telling me to calm down right now, then there must be a reason. And thinking about it now, it would be better if I spoke with Clara alone. At least then I could understand what was going on.
Maybe she didn't want to speak with me or acknowledge me with everyone present, I wasn't sure. Fuck..I still couldn't believe Clara was here. She was alive. I didn't care that Leon said she was his Luna. What mattered was how Clara had survived. I was happy she was alive, but I had so many questions.
How did she survive? What had she been through? What happened? I felt joy, relief, excitement, and so much confusion.
I was excited because my other half was alive. She understood me better than anyone. Well on second thought, that was debatable seeing as I had Sheena now. But I didn't care. She had been my better half right from when we were young till I lost her at seven. I wanted to know everything about her. I wanted to know the woman Clara had become. Did my father find her after I left? But she died, right?
I shook my head. The best thing to do was talk to Clara. She said she didn't remember me, so I needed to know if she had amnesia. If she really didn't remember me, because I could never forget her.
Soon, I saw Clara walk out with Mary. The man in the suit was nowhere in sight which made me wonder if Leon had started the meeting. But I knew there were more people to arrive because this was an issue that concerned all the werewolf communities. Clara was surrounded by women. She looked like she was giving them orders. She was already acting like the Luna. Did that hurt me? Yes. I wouldn't lie, it did but I could deal with it and that wasn't my priority right now.
I waited until she was alone before I went to her.
"Oh!" she said, surprised. She put a hand to her chest. "You scared me."
I gave her a small smile but didn't say sorry. "I see they sent you out. Has the meeting started?" I asked.
Her eyes narrowed. "I don't see how that's any of your business," she said.
That's when I apologized. "I'm sorry. I just want to talk to you," I said.
"Well, what do you want?" She asked harshly.
"Do you really not remember me?" I asked, looking into her eyes.
I could always tell when Clara was lying. Her eyes would twitch a little. That's what I wanted to see now. Was she lying?
"The name is familiar, but I don't know you," she said.
Her eyes twitched. I frowned. She was lying. She remembered me. She knew who I was, but she was pretending not to. But why?
"Clara, you don't remember me? Your sister?" I asked again.
"No, I don't," she said, but I saw the twitch again.
"But you just said my name sounded familiar. How do you not remember me?" I asked her.
"You said your name when you first saw me." she retorted.
"Why are you lying to me?" I asked her.
My voice broke. I needed to know why she was lying. What was going on?
"Is something wrong? You know you can talk to me, right? I'll always listen..."
"Big words for someone who left me to die," she spat out, angry.
Her eyes widened as soon as she said it. I stared, shocked at how much her words hurt. I felt pain in my chest. It was hard to breathe. I rubbed my chest, trying to ease the pain.
She remembered. She blamed me.
"I need to go," she said, walking past me.
I tried to grab her, but a tattooed hand covered mine. Kaeleen's scent filled the air again.
"Let her go," he said. "She doesn't want to talk to you."