I took a deep breath before pressing the call button on my screen. I had made sure that my number was private before doing anything else. The phone rang three times before someone answered.
"Hello? Who's this?" The familiar voice asked, making my stomach twist.
"Hey, Gumdrop." I whispered, but I knew that she heard me.
"Cupcake?! Is that really you?" Cyn asked frantically. It sounded like she was seconds away from crying.
"Yeah, it's me." I said shakily.
"I'm going to kill you! How dare you leave without telling anyone? We were so worried about you. And then you send me some charm bracelet, which is beautiful by the way, like I'm just going to forgive your ass." She cried into the phone and I chuckled. I was kind of expecting this.
"I'm sorry, Gumdrop. I just needed to get away." I sighed. "How is everything there?" Cyn paused before she answered. That can't be good.
"Well, your mom knows everything..."
"She was bound to find out soon, I guess. How'd she take it?" I replied after a short pause. Cyn sighed.
"She disowned Terrance and left the pack. The Alpha also found out and refused to give Matthew and Terrance their titles. Pack members who didn't know about your abuse also left the pack. But my favorite part has to be the fact that Terrance's mate rejected him."
My heart broke at the news. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. Maybe I should've stayed and everything could've gone back to normal.
"How are they? Terrance and Matthew I mean."
"I haven't seen them since Terrance's mate rejected him. Can you believe his mate is a guy? Your ex-pack members look like shit because Alpha Matthew has them going through serious punishments for hurting you. So I'm guessing Matthew and Terrance look ten times worse because they were the ringleaders and they both lost their mates."
I whined at the fact that my mate was hurting. I shouldn't even care, but I did. Even if he did reject me, he was still part of our whole. The thought made me sigh. Cyn and I discussed happier topics from there on. I told her about the new school and new pack. I didn't tell her where I was or about my second mate. I wasn't ready to tell anyone yet.
"Well, Gumdrop, I'm going to call Mommy now. I promise I'll call again tomorrow." I told her in what I hoped to be a cheerful tone. I didn't plan on texting her because then she'd know the area code and would figure out where I was.
"I'll hold you to that, Cupcake. I miss you." She replied sadly.
"I miss you too. But don't worry, we'll see each other soon." I lied smoothly.
Cyn gave a sound of agreement before we both said goodbye and hung up the phone. I took some time to coach myself on talking to Mommy. I didn't know why I was so nervous. I doubted that she'd think less of me for running away, but there was still a little bit of belief at the back of my mind. After coaching myself and telling myself that I was ready, I picked up the phone again and dialed the number I knew by heart.
"Hello?" A depressed voice answered after the fifth ring. I paused in replying. She sounded so broken, and it was all my fault.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Came my mother's voice again. I decided, then, to stop being a coward.
"H-hi Mommy." I stuttered into the phone. I heard my mother's breathing pause. It almost sounded like she wasn't breathing at all.
"C-cupcake? I-is that r-really you?" She whispered, almost disbelievingly.
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"Yeah, it's me, Mommy."
"Baby, where are you? Are you okay? Please tell me that you're safe. I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect you. If I was there for you, then you wouldn't have ran away. Are you coming home? Please come home. I miss you! We all miss you." My mother rambled while she cried. The waterworks came for me too. I didn't realize how much I missed everyone until just now. But I didn't want to go back. I loved it here. I actually felt like I belonged.
"Mommy, I'm fine. Yes, I am safe. No, I won't tell you where I am. And please, don't blame yourself. I would've kept it from you as long as I possibly could if I stayed. You don't have to worry much, anymore. I'm at a place where I feel free. Maybe one day I'll buy a ticket for you, Cyn, and everyone else so that you guys can visit."
Mommy sighed tiredly. "I understand, Cupcake. I won't pressure you into coming home. I just want to know that you're safe and treated well."
I smiled, although she couldn't see it. "You're the best Mommy in the whole world."
She laughed. "Yeah, yeah. I know. By the way, the necklace you sent was beautiful."
Our conversation went smoothly from there on. Mommy and I talked for, maybe, two hours. When I glanced at the clock, I noted that it was after eight at night here, so it was after eleven at Virginia. Mommy told me good-night after I promised her that we'd talk tomorrow. We hung up at the same time, which made me smile.
That went so much better than I expected. I thought as I settled into bed.
***
"It's like we don't even hang out anymore." Said Jeremy as we walked to our first period class. Michael drove me to school this morning, so I met Jeremy at the school's entrance.
I've been in Monterey for one month now, meaning I've met Michael two weeks ago. Things have been going well for us. He hasn't pushed me into anything that I didn't want, and already, I could feel myself falling for him.
"I'm sorry. It's just that I've been busy with Michael a lot lately. But I promise we can hang out today. I'm sure he won't mind if I miss one day." I responded as we took our seats in the middle of the class. He nodded his head in agreement but didn't reply.
Michael and I were going slow, like any normal couple. He took me out on dates and we enjoyed each other's company. He didn't mark me yet though. When I asked him why, he just said that he wanted both of his mates with him so that we could share the special moment. My heart broke because I wasn't sure if that was ever going to happen, but I kept that little piece of information from him for now and gave him a pleasant smile.
Ms. Laser walked into the classroom, thankfully, taking me away from my thoughts. I started working as soon as she gave out some worksheets.
Before I knew it, it was already the end of the day. I texted Michael to let him know that I was hanging out with Jeremy today and he gave me the okay.
Jeremy and I went to his place. His parents and sibling weren't home, so we decided to pig out and play x-box. Halfway through the game, Jeremy suddenly pressed pause. I turned to him and looked at him confusedly. I didn't get time to question him because seconds later, his lips were on mine.
I didn't mean to sound mean, but his lips felt so wrong. They weren't Michael's or even Matthew's, although I've never kissed him. I immediately pushed him off me and stood up.
"What the hell was that, Jeremy?" I asked, angrily. Michael was going to be so mad.
"I just had to, Toby. I needed to know if you had any feelings at all for me." He said.
