NOVPUB
Chapter 120: _ Homeless Bunch
Isleen
~~
We didn’t know what was next or what was coming next. None of us did. A wave of dizziness washed over me as I stood, my legs wobbly like a newborn fawn. Relief battled with a dull ache in my chest as I saw Liam barreling towards me.
His small arms wrapped around my waist in a fierce hug, his voice muffled against my stomach, shrieking, "Mommy!" The hug nearly knocked me off my feet. "Mommy’s okay! Mommy’s okay!"
Tears welled up in my eyes at the affection. I squeezed him back, burying my face in his soft hair. A choked sob escaped my lips as I released the terror that had gripped me throughout the battle into this embrace with my son.
"Yo! We’re all back in business now! Time to rock and roll!" Cullen’s booming voice cut through the emotional moment.
He clapped his hands together, a wide, toothy grin plastered across his face. I knew Cullen was always trying to find the best in every moment, but nah. Not this moment.
This was a sad and melancholic one for everyone and the pack at large.
Lupe groaned theatrically. "Rock and roll to where Cullen? Our houses are probably reduced to smoldering ash by now."
Her words were like a punch to my gut. I disentangled myself from Liam and slowly took in the scene around me. Houses were burnt. Some to the ground, some barely escaping destruction, and others, a little bit touched.
The acrid scent of smoke filled the air. No one would definitely forget the battle that had raged just hours ago in a long time in the pack.
Pack Soldiers with faces grim, moved amongst the wreckage, clearing debris and the bodies of fallen creatures that lay scattered like grotesque marionettes.
This was hellish to watch.
My stomach groaned at the thought of the house, my apartment, belongings, and properties, all burnt. Seeing how Liam and Cullen had run all the way into the battle from the safety of the house, I could already tell that the house had fallen.
Oh, God. Where to now?
It was as if Liam could read my mind. He spoke the words I couldn’t. "Our house, Mommy. It’s gone."
Tears welled up in my eyes. I knew it. The house was gone. Where and how was I supposed to start from now?
Was it selfish to mourn belongings when so many lives had been lost? But the memories that resided within those walls, the laughter, the dreams dreamt – they felt like a part of me. They were all now ripped away.
Cupping my face in my hands, I choked back a sob. "I don’t know," I whispered, lips trembling. "Is it okay to cry over things– when so many..."
Kylo placed a hand on my shoulder. "It’s okay, Isleen," he murmured soothingly. "You’re allowed to feel everything. Cry if you need to. Your emotions matter too."
I was?
I could cry?
Oh, I would cry. I needed to cry.
I leaned into him, burying my face in his broad chest, and let the tears flow freely. The world around me faded away, the sounds of the crickets chirping in the night were now replaced
by the choked sobs escaping my lips.
Lupe muttered beside us more to herself than anyone else. "Yeah, today definitely isn’t a good day."
No, it wasn’t. But I could imagine how bad it was for Lupe. She really had it rough today.
"Poor Lupe. She lost her mother, got arrested, and almost killed in the battle." Cullen grimaced, patting Lupe on the shoulder.
Now, if that wasn’t the most insensitive thing I’ve heard all day.
"Cullen!" I scolded him. 𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝒎
Cullen’s booming voice grated on my already frayed nerves. "Hey, come on now! I was just trying to lighten the mood a little! We’re all alive, that’s something to celebrate, right?"
well, he was right. We lost all, lost people and properties, but at least, we survived.
Kylo cut him off with a nod. "Enough, Cullen. Let’s leave jokes aside. We should probably head to the house and see what, if anything, we can salvage. Everything can’t be gone."
"Yeah, right," Cullen scoffed. "That house probably burned to the ground faster than a candle in a hurricane. How about we check Lupe’s place instead? I wouldn’t be surprised if that one’s toast too."
A wave of despair washed over me as I realized the truth of his words. No matter how strong I wanted to be, that shit stung still.
"We won’t know if we don’t check." Kylo said, ushering us all forward.
We all began the trek towards our homes. Liam clung tighter to my hand, his small steps struggling to keep pace with mine. Even he knew of our losses tonight. It was a huge one.
However, we weren’t the only ones walking on the streets. Fey, wolves, old, young, male, female, everyone was solemnly making their way to their homes or burnt properties.
Lupe walked beside me, more melancholy than any of us. "Do you think my house survived, Isleen?" she finally asked me.
I squeezed her hand in support as that was the only thing I could see to give her in this trying time. Even I had nothing to offer. Even I needed comfort. I needed Gamma...
No. What the hell was I thinking about right now?
."I honestly don’t know, Lupe. But let’s hope for the best."
"Yeah, because if it didn’t," she continued, her voice cracking now, "I have nowhere to go. My uncle lives in the pack with his family too, but I... I can’t stay with him. He creeps me out."
My mind drifted back to Drach, that bastard. I could imagine how safe he’d be being in the safety of the station while this happened.
He was probably bawling his eyes out about how we saved him by getting him arrested. Puffy!
"If your mate wasn’t such an ass," I began tentatively, "wouldn’t you have gone to stay with him? But no, guy’s a dick."
Lupe’s shoulders slumped, and I saw sadness clouding over her eyes. "That’s the thing, Isleen. Meeting him was probably the worst thing that ever happened to me."
Surprised, I stopped walking for a moment. Liam seemed confused by the sudden pause, and looked up at me with questioning eyes. I knelt down to his level, whispering reassurances and promises that we’d find a place to stay, a place that wouldn’t be on fire.
Once Liam was settled, I turned back to Lupe, my voice filled with concern. "What do you mean? Explain this whole weird situation with your mate."
I wanted to know. It was high time I knew.
