Chapter 30
1517words
"So tell me, how did you two meet?" Lily asked when it was time for dessert,
I looked at William and William looked at me and we both laughed,
"what? What's so funny?"
"how we met. William really needed to use the toilet and-"
"Ember, please," William said, sounding mortified, and I laughed really hard,
"I'll tell you some other time."
" Will really did have the most sensitive stomach back in the days, but at least one good thing had come from it. At least, it brought you two together," she said happily and went back to her food.
It was a harmless comment, but I couldn't help but feel there was more to it. I tried not to push it, because I wasn’t sure I was ready for where that discussion would take all of us, to be honest .
"Ember, William said something about you being married previously?" I didn’t immediately respond. Not because I was uncomfortable, I wasn’t. I had just been taken aback by the question
"uhh," I began, unsure of what to say. I had a lot of anger toward Paris, but I wasn't big on badmouthing him. This was one of the reasons why I didn't always bring up my divorce. But Lily was William's sister and I could at least give her an honest enough reply,
"Yeah, I was. I am still married actually, but William's promised to help me get a divorce." I said happily.
"That's good for you. William is good at what he does." Lily said,
"I only recently just found out." I said and got up," I'd like to go to the bathroom…"
"Oh, the second door after the entrance. You remember the way, or do you need me to direct you?" William asked and I shook my head,
"I've got it."
I took the extra time in the bathroom to splash water on my face. I was having a good time visiting and all, but it turns out I needed a moment. Perhaps it was the mention of Paris, but I needed a moment.
But I couldn't help but wonder if this was the way Paris's name would always evoke these kinds of tumultuous emotions in me.
I sighed and put on a bright smile, unwilling to be the reason the mood around the table got spoiled, and then took myself back, but had to stop when I heard Paris's name yet again,
"You say his name was Paris?" Lily asked in a quiet voice,
"Yeah, that's the douchebag's name."
"But, if he was such a terrible fellow, why did she end up with him?"
"she loved him, and I suppose in his weird way, he loved her. But when I think about it now, I think of all the ways he was wrong for her. "
"but she stayed," Lily said quietly,
"she loved him." William said again, a bit more firmly, "Love makes us stay even when everything in us tells us to live. I blame him to the moon and back for having the love of such a wonderful woman and not being able to cherish her."
"He was a fool," Lily said, and she sounded pissed,
"he still is, if you ask me. And I'll make sure he regrets it."
"For someone who's been through all that she's been through, she seems to be keeping together."
"She's strong. Possibly one of the strongest people I've ever met, to be honest."
The conversation lulled after that and I took a deep breath before I walked back to the table,
"You were gone for a while," William said when I sat down,
"got lost," I said and smiled,
"Sorry about that."
"no, no. It's nothing serious. The bathroom's nice."
"I'm glad you think so. Lily is bent on using lavender-colored everything as much as she can in this house.
"hmm. I noticed."
I decided it was best to act like I hadn't heard them. In any case, I didn't think they wanted me to.
"You should come back soon," Lily said later when I was leaving,
"I'll take you up on this invite," I said,
"Please do."
"Alright Lily, let her be on her way."
"I'm coming. I'm coming." Lily said as we kept walking ahead of him
"You know, if you ever decide that you want to open your heart to love, I must tell you that you and William look good together," Lily said, and I turned to her with a smile.
It turns out I wasn't too off when I suspected her earlier about how William and I met.
"I'm glad you think that, and I'll give it much thought from now on." now that she put it in my head, I thought.
"Good, so which means a dinner date is definitely in order. It'll be good for you, good for him too."
"Okay, okay. Give me back my friend." William said from behind, and took my hand in his,
"she's all yours after this." Lily hugged me and let go,
"dinner. Soon. Don't bail."
"I won't I said, " and she waved me off,
"dinner, soon. Don't bail." I repeated to William, and he smiled,
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Ashley?"
"yeah?" she sounded as though she was just waking up, and I felt sorry for having to wake her up, but it had to be done. This was something I couldn't discuss with Axel or my father,
"I need your help."
She was at my house in an hour, and for someone who likes to take her time to get ready, that said a whole lot,
"What is all this about?" she said yawning,
"I can't shift freely anymore." she paused mid-yawn looked at me with wide eyes and shook her head,
"that's not possible."
"But it is. I tried last night. I was overwhelmed and wanted to go on a run in my wolf form. But I simply couldn't."
"I've heard tales of people having a hard time changing back to their human form, but never of this."
"So what? I'm abnormal."
"no. There's a problem, but we'll find a solution. Did you change on the last full moon?"
"I did."
"then you're still a werewolf. We'll figure it out. Trust me."
Nine hours, and seven books later, we still hadn't figured it out and I was mildly frustrated. I had never encountered this problem before, but then again, in the last five years, I hadn't given much thought to honoring my wolf form.
Was this the reason why? Was I being punished for forgetting who I was?
"you should rest. I've kept you long enough. Stay here, you can leave in the morning." Ashley looked out the window and nodded,
"It's late anyway."
While she made herself at home, I made a call to William. Aside from Ashley, he was the only other person I trusted with such a thing.
"Aside from the full moon, when was the last time you shifted? Or better still, when was the last time you shifted at will?"
Too long, I thought. It had been far too long.
"ember, you there?" he asked when I didn't reply,
"It's been a while."
"That might be the reason. Your wolf side is not as dominant as it should be. I'll be at your place in a few minutes. I know a guy that might be able to help."
He did get here in a few minutes, and thirty minutes later was before a native.
He took one look at me, and shook his head, "why did you let go?" he asked and I thought I knew what he was asking. He wanted to know why I had pushed myself and all that I was to the side,
"I didn't want anything else." For the longest time, I only wanted Paris.
"very well," he said and opened a chest. In it were various kinds of beautiful stones, but he brought out only one. A pearly white one, and handed it to me,
"This is a moon rock. It will help you change at will until your wolf is strong enough to do without. Keep it close and safe." I closed my hand around it and felt a surge of power course through me.
"Thank you," I said reverently.
"And thank you," I said to William when we were outside,
"It's okay."
"This is the second time you're saving me," I said, taking his hand, "don't play it down."
"I'm not playing it down. I'm just glad I can help when you need me."
His words stayed with me while he took me home, and I decided it wasn't just enough to thank him or have a trio date with Lily. I wanted something that showed just how grateful I really was and considered inviting him to a dinner date. Something between the two of us.
Perhaps that was a bit reaching and could be taken a different way. But then again, it was simply a dinner date to say thank you. What could possibly be wrong with that?
