I wanted last night to happen and end unaffected by our sad reality.
After jogging for ten minutes to put some distance between the motel and me, I took my phone out to call my dad.
“Hey, baby girl!” Dad answered cheerfully, and I chuckled.
“You sound chipper,” I laughed. “How are things at the pack?”
“Great,” he answered while a car drove by me. “We’re packing to leave.”
I stopped walking. “What?”
“Colin sent word we’ll be moving back to Wolfcreek, so everyone’s packing to leave. You did it, baby.”
I bit down on my lip, unsure of what dad was talking about. “Dad, Colin and Kaleem haven’t met as yet. Kaleem hasn’t confirmed anything.”
Dad fell silent, and I held my head while looking back where the motel was. What the hell was Colin doing?
“Dad?” I called when a few minutes had passed without him responding. “You there?”
“I’m here,” he replied, the cheerfulness in his voice gone. “Colin’s being overly confident then.”
“As always,” I grumbled. “But he told me as much when I saw him. I-I don’t feel good about this, Dad. I knew he was using me as bait to get on Kaleem’s good side, but—I don’t feel good about this.”
“I know,” he replied. “I’d figured as much as well. Are you okay?”
I knew what he was asking. He wanted to know if I was okay after seeing Kaleem, and considering what happened last night, I wasn’t entirely sure if I was. Last night was meant to be a final farewell, but perhaps I should have listened to those random thoughts.
I wasn’t going to say what happened was a mistake, but I might have just dug my grave even deeper.
My entire being wanted to return to the motel and climb back into bed with Kaleem. I was foolish to think sleeping with him would end our feud, but instead, it’s started something new, a craving for him.
I didn’t answer Dad while standing on the sidewalk with my bag dangling from my hand.
“I’m glad you’re excited, Dad. The pack deserves to return home, but I think this won’t be as easy as I imagine,” I continued walking, however, this time slowly. “I told Kaleem the truth about everything.”
“What did he say?”
Another car drove by, and I waited until it passed before speaking. “He said he wouldn’t have rejected me for being Colin’s niece and that you and I would have been welcomed by his pack. And before you say anything, I know. I told him you wouldn’t have left the Bluemoon Pack even with an opportunity to do so.”
I took a deep breath and held the clean morning air in my lungs for a few minutes.