Marissa was hiding. She was an adult, a warrior, and a doctor, but she was still avoiding the painful truth.
Mavis and Atta were leaving today, talking Regina Luce with them. Marissa was so happy for the pup; she would get love and all the attention she needs. But Marissa knew it wouldn't be coming from her, and she couldn't say goodbye.
How do you say goodbye to someone you love? It's not like Regina would visit, Montagna Sigcura is several hours away, and she would make a new family. Marissa would fall into the background, forgotten. That was a fact that she wasn't willing to accept.
A knock sounded at the door, and the doctor looked up with a smile.
"Ah, Mavis. I thought you would be packing. I know you guys are leaving soon." Shoot, her voice cracked.
Mavis smiled and walked into the office, pulling Marissa into a hug. Marissa melted, needed comfort.
"I don't know anything about you, but I know how much you care for Luce."
Mother's instincts, Mavis was good. Regina Luce would be in good hands, that was a comforting thought.
"I want to thank you, because of you and your assistant's work, I have a daughter to bring home." The woman pulled away, and Mavis smiled with tears in her eyes. "Throughout my marriage to Atta, I've lost three children. I finally have the chance to have a family, and I can't thank you enough."
Well, Marissa couldn't say anything now. Sure, she and Blake didn't have any kids, but that was because they couldn't get pregnant. Mavis, though, this woman had children and lost them somehow. You can't miss what you don't have.
"I'll watch over her, I promise. And I'll make sure she doesn't forget you or this pack. We will revisit Liam and most likely my parents, and when we do, Luce will see you again."
Mavis then walked away, leaving Marissa in tears.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
Teresa's voice was full of poison, enough to kill a wolf. Marissa turned, tears still falling, and smiled.
"How can I, Mavis and Atta are happy, and Regina Luce is safe."
****
The bags were packed, and everyone gathered in the entrance hall. This was goodbye.
"You come back and visit; you got that sister?" Uncle Liam spoke with a smile while both of his kids groaned.
Neither looked up from their phones as the boy spoke. "No one talks like that, dad."
"It makes you sound old." The girl finished.
"Zamir, Zikari, don't make fun of your dad." Sarah scolded her children, and Liam smiled at his Fated. "In his old age, he won't hear it anyway."
The group all laughed at Liam's shocked face while his family all shared a laugh. Her cousins sure were strange. They spoke weird, were focused on their phones all the time, and were much younger than Regina.
"Beta is right though, come back Regina, you will always be welcome." The Alpha returned to the subject at hand, and the Luna waved. She didn't talk much.
"Gamma Ally is sorry she isn't here; training is happening, and she is busy. Still, she and her Fated say goodbye."
Regina turned to Marissa when she spoke, and her chest was tight. Marissa's eyes were red, but she was still smiling.
Regina walked to the woman and hugged her before Marissa even finished her sentence. Everyone else continued talking, giving them some sort of privacy.
"Take care, Regina."
She didn't want to leave. Marissa was kind and loving, always ready to listen or talk about nothing. Who would she talk to now? There were things you just didn't tell the person in charge of your safety. Regina wouldn't know anyone at this new pack and didn't make friends well. She would end up alone.
"If you are ever this far south, come stop by. I am always open to listen or talk; I'll be waiting at your spot."
She was crying, so Regina hid her face in Marissa's chest. Why did this hurt so much?
"Come along, Luce, we have a long drive, and we need to get going."
Mavis's voice was soft, but Regina tightened her hold of Marissa. Why wasn't there a middle ground where everything would work out?
"Why?"
The two pulled apart to see a glaring Teresa.
"Why do you get to take her? Don't you see how much she doesn't want to leave us?"
Mavis let out a scoff and answered confidently. "I'm her wolf mother, and I'm taking her home. That was the plan."
"But why you? You aren't Regina's birth mother. She lived this whole time without you so she could stay here. Doesn't Marissa deserve that chance to raise a child? Why should that be taken away from her?"
Mavis turned to look and Marissa but didn't reach her eyes. Marissa focused on the girl in her arms.
"I, I didn't know."
"Of course, you didn't, you never even asked about her or her life. You just walked in and assumed you would get whatever you asked for. Regina could stay here, Marissa and Blake would raise her, she could play with her cousins, and she would be fine."
Volumes started to rise as Mavis and Teresa went back and forth. Unable to listen, Regina closed her eyes tightly and covered her ear with her hands.
She didn't want to leave. Teresa had some valid points, why didn't Mavis and Atta just move down here?
'But would you grow?'
That didn't matter; she would be happy. Nothing terrible would happen, and she would have a happy life.
'But you wouldn't grow at all, do you want to be a pup forever?'
'What do you mean I wouldn't grow, I've been eating.'
A light appeared in Regina's mind, and a gray wolf was lounging. Amber eyes were bright and intelligent.
'If you don't make hard decisions, you don't adapt. Life is hard, and you will end up losing some things. If you stay here, Mavis and Atta move, and your life is perfect. But you never meet other kids or strangers; you aren't forced to grow and change. You reach a standstill.'
'Would that really be so bad? Don't I deserve a break?'
'You do, but if you stop, who says you will move ever again. Life is a river that keeps flowing, don't get stuck behind a rock, and lose your future.'
The light went out, and Regina was alone in the darkness. Why would Speranza leave so soon? She still didn't have any answers!
****
Had to split this into two chapters, just scroll to the next page.
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