Chapter Five - Goodbye

I severed through the wind like a quick blade slicing through its opponent. All I could think about was how I reacted towards Ashling. Her facial expression emitted dejection. She felt betrayed, and I didn't blame her.

I ran into the cottage and called out her name, "Ashling!" Her fragrance alluded into her room. I knocked on the door but there was silence. I turned the knob and it was locked. I calmed my temper and whispered my forgiving tone, "Ashling. Please."

"Go away, Ephraim."

"Can we talk please?"

"There's nothing to say."

I didn't want the night to end like this. Exasperated, I took in one deep breath to alleviate my frustration against myself. But I noticed a hint of a different scent. Another vampire.

I bolted the door open with my shoulder. There he stood. Always my rival it seemed.

Ashling was thrown off guard by my entrance.

"Ephraim! What is wrong with you?"

"It's not me. What the hell is he doing here? I should rip his pretty little head off."

"I told him to come here."

I paused. Why would she invite him? Into her bedroom? Was she really thinking to sleep with him? Somehow my stomach radiated heat and pain of disgust.

"You can't do this." I was demanding her. I knew I had no right, but I wanted her to know.

"Excuse me?" Her eyebrows furrowed in complete anger with me. "Who the hell do you think you are to tell me what to do with my life?"

"You know you don't want to, Ashling?"

"Why the hell not!"

Luca's eyes were pierced at my body. He was ready to attack me, but that didn't intimidate me.

"Because I know you want me."

With one swift move, my arms clutched her body whole. My lips swept over hers. They were cold at first, but my heat balanced the kiss and it felt perfect. There was an unexplainable feeling that radiated from our kiss. She responded back which made me grasp her closer to my body. The taste of her lips was exquisite.

However, our kiss was cut short as I was thrown against the wall. Luca's arms pinned under my chin. I was choking and tried to pull his arm off me, but I didn't have the strength. His face came close and literally crushed up against my face.

"I. Could. Kill. You. Right. Now." His words were clear and he was rightfully agitated.

"Luca! Stop!"

Her strength surpassed his and she threw him across the room. She looked at me to make sure I was okay, then she watched Luca bring himself up to stand.

"I need you both to leave." She sounded exhausted and confused.

"The hell I'm leaving. This is my house." I wasn't going anywhere. Especially with this vampire still roaming around.

She gave me a wide eye look, "No, Ephraim. I don't want to see you either. Go home, please."

Her admission stabbed me directly in the heart. Did she not feel the passion that I felt when we kissed?

"Then I'm not leaving 'til this cold one leaves."

Luca let out a sharp smile. "You really think it's going to happen between you and her. You're going to age and die, and I'll be right here for her always when your body rots down under."

Luca walked up to Ashling and grabbed her hand. He lifted it up and brought it to his lips and gently kissed her hand, "Sei la mia anima gemella. Ti voglio, Ashling."

I didn't know what words he just spoke to her, but she closed her eyes because she couldn't face him. Soon he left the room and it was just her and me.

My calm voice tried to break the awkward silence, "Ashling. I'm sorry for tonight. I was wrong to think you were going to hurt Michael. I don't think I can ever forgive myself."

"You're forgiven. Now leave." Her words felt forced and disappointed in me. I had a hard time walking out of the room.

"I don't want to walk out on you."

Her eyes directed at mine. "You're not. Please leave. I don't want you here in this room or this house."

I shook my head no, but she was adamant. I wasn't ready to leave yet, not until she heard me out.

"Did you not feel anything when we kissed? I don't know about you, but there is something between us and I can't let it go."

"Yes, I felt it. It doesn't mean anything, and besides, Luca is right. We're too different."

Somehow I was enraptured that she felt it too, but her insinuation that we were different? I was denying that notion.

"Ashling, I could care less how different we are. What I feel for you, it would be tragic if I denied my feelings."

"Ephraim, please. It's been an exhausting day, and I do need to be alone. I can't be falling for you. Your people will never accept me. That was validated tonight. Luca was right, don't you get it?"

She was stubborn. Why was she fighting her feelings?

"Who cares what others think! What do you want?"

She paused and gave me a cold look. "I want you to leave now."

I stormed out of there and got on my bike and sped like I never had before. She was being overly dramatic. If she wanted to be away from me then fine. I was never going to return to that cottage again.

I slept like a baby on the sofa. Sara had taken over my room since I left for college, so I didn't mind crashing in the living room. I could hear some dishes clattering in the kitchen. I knew it's purpose was to wake me up. My mom was deliberate about it.

I removed my arms away from my eyes. She was in the kitchen and had already made breakfast. There wasn't an overcast today and the light shined through the windows. Every once in a while, as the light hit my mom's skin, it illuminated the room. She was beautiful and graceful.

"You look beautiful, Mom."

She stopped in her tracks and glanced at me. Her half smile warmed my heart.

"You're in a good mood today."

"Not really. I just finally slept through the night." I was trying to forget all memories of Ashling, plus, I hadn't slept since I've been with her. The cheap sofa bed was actually comforting last night.

I inhaled my breakfast and decided to head out to see Michael.

"Mom, I'm heading out to see Michael."

She stopped eating and placed her hand on my arm, "You should. Your dad is there now. Please don't start your day off arguing with your dad."

Why would I be arguing with my dad? "Yeah, I won't."

I parked my bike outside of Seth and Bena's tiny home. There were several other cars here. Shit. They must be calling a meeting after last night's episode. How was I going to explain to my dad about Ashling? It wasn't her fault. If anything, she saved Michael's life.

The back door was unlocked and all the commotion became silent as I walked in. The only noise I heard was Michael yelping a few times. I thought he was okay? Maybe he didn't completely heal?

I saw the back of Sam and he was sitting next to Michael as Michael laid down on the sofa.

"Ouch. Shit. That hurt this time."

I looked at Michael's leg and you could still see the scars from the bite, but it looked as if it healed perfectly. There was only a small indentation into his skin that was barely noticeable. So why was he crying in pain?

The closer I got, then the realization hit me as I saw Sam dipping an ink needle into the tiny black jar. He then took the needle towards Michael and pressed into his right shoulder.

The Quileute's tattoo of the wolf.

Shit.

Michael phased into a wolf? When?

Michael saw me and laughed, "Ephraim! Can you believe this shit?"

"Watch your mouth, boy." Sam gripped his arm tight which made Michael yelp out again.

"Is this what I think it is?" I looked around the room and the entire wolf pack was in here.

My dad walked over to me, "It happened last night. Where were you?"

"Ugh. I was at Grams and Gramps cottage."

He knew I was hiding something, but I didn't want that to be an open discussion at the moment. He kept on with his words, "Things are changing, Ephraim. Michael phasing means there's an immanent threat of vampires. It won't be long until each one of you starts phasing. And your future will then be inevitable."

I knew exactly where he was going with this. He was expecting and hoping my phase would come. Back to this same shitty imprint theory. No wonder my mom warned me to not lose it with my dad.

Michael was soon going to be forced with an unbreakable bond that he had no control over. I was feeling sorry for him already.

I walked out of the house and my dad followed me.

"Son, there's no denying your fate. I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you when it will happen but it's not up to me to decide."

I turned around to face him. "Why didn't you just leave me alone in Seattle? Life was simpler back then."

I was right. Now the whole wolf thing was creeping its way into my life, Ashling was being complicated and my best friend was going to be controlled by his fate.

"That life in the city, it's not yours. This reservation is your home. You'll take on my role one day, and it's something you're going to have to accept."

"I don't want it, Dad! Ever since I stepped foot back into the reservations, it's been nothing but crazy. I want a normal life. A human life! Let me live my way and I'm sorry, Dad, but I'm going to die one day. You and Mom are just going to have to accept it. I'm more human than anything else. I'm not meant to be supernatural like the rest of you."

"That's not true, Ephraim. You still have your gift. You just lost it along the way. It'll come back and once it does, you'll phase into a wolf and you'll realize your destiny as a Quileute."

"Will you and mom please quit talking about destiny? I just want to live one day at a time. One! Is that so hard to let me do?"

My dad came closer to me and I knew he felt sorry for me. He hated that he had to force this life upon me.

"Fine. If that's what you want, then we'll let you live your life the way you want. There will be no more talk about this. But, the moment you realize your fate, please come home."

I couldn't believe it. My dad became soft, and he was giving me that freedom away from the reservation. I decided I needed to leave. With everything happening, I couldn't face it anymore. Michael. My fate. Ashling.

Ashling. The thought of leaving her ached my core. I had to shake this feeling off. I barely even knew her. Leaving now would be best so I wouldn't get in too deep with her.

I decided I'd go say goodbye to her first.

Thank you for reading! Please leave a comment! That would mean the world to me! Much love!

-kl