Page 34 of Escaping Wildfire

I could tell she was ready to change the subject, so I went along with her. “Yes, we used to swim all the time back home.”

“At Cobalt Falls, right?

“Yes, we had a pool, but we always liked the waterfall best.”

“I’ve never seen a waterfall before, I imagine it’s beautiful.”

Maybe you can see it someday, I almost said, but then I remembered she was as much a prisoner here as I was.

“Maybe we can go swimming sometime?”

“Yes, we are allowed to on the weekends. I can ask Father if he would allow it.”

She talked so stiffly that I wondered if she had spent much time around people her age.

“You and the other pack members come and swim then?”

“I am allowed to come between 1 and 4 pm on Saturdays, and the other pack warriors can come any time after that.”

“Oh.” I was shocked out of asking anything else. It seemed this poor girl’s entire life had been dictated by her devil of a father.

She continued to lead me through the grounds pointing out what some of the larger buildings were and even showing me her father’s car collection. We ended up back near the pack house in a garden. “This is my favorite place. I planted most of the flowers myself. She led me through a row of bluebonnets and then to a section with hibiscus before we came to a white gazebo. A woman was sitting inside. Rory was busy fussing with one of the rose bushes, so I tapped her shoulder. “Who is she?”

Her face drained of color as she saw the woman. “Please excuse me for a minute.”

She quickly went over to the woman, and even though she told me to excuse her, I slowly followed behind her. She sat down on the bench beside the woman. “Mom, what are you doing out here? Does Father know you’re here?”

“Rory, have you come to have lunch with me? Oh, and you’ve brought a friend. What’s her name?”

The woman looked my way and smiled. She looked like an older version of Rory. Sadly, they both had the same forlorn look in their eyes. Even with her pale skin, dark circles, and baggy clothes, I could tell she was beautiful.

“Mom, this is Gema.”

“Gema, what a beautiful name. Would you two girls like to have lunch with me? Sheila just left to bring me a tray. I can ask her to bring extra. "

“Gema has to get back–"

“I’d love to–"

Rory and I spoke at the same time. Her mother looked between the two of us, and Rory looked like she was about to cry.

“We’re just on a tour, we can stay for lunch.” I nodded at Rory, and she smiled at her mother, seeming to agree to stay.

“Wonderful. I’ve never met one of Rory’s friends before. Come sit by me.” She stood up and slowly led me to a small table with four chairs. “I just love eating out here in the garden. Every time the breeze blows, I can smell the flowers.”

A woman with a tray came up to us. “Sheila, look who’s come to join us.” The woman smiled. “Miss Rory, how nice to see you. Luna Clarissa is having a very good day today, so Alpha let her eat out here.”

Sheila went back to get more food, and the four of us settled into lunch.

“Gema, are you originally from Wildfire?”

“No, she has only been here a few weeks,” Rory answered for me, and the two shared a look.

“Oh…I’m sorry. I came here from a different pack as well. My father was an Alpha, but Alpha Marek brought me here when he realized we were mated.” She stopped talking to take a bite, but I didn’t miss her meaning. Alpha Marek destroyed her pack and brought her here as a prisoner, even though they were mates.

“The flowers look beautiful, Rory, you’ve done good work this year.”

“Thanks, Mom. Father let me expand the garden this year, so I added the gardenias on the side.