"Michelle, are you okay?"
Michelle quickly straightened up and wiped her face with the back of her hand before looking at Arya.
"Yeah. I'm fine," she replied, giving the biggest smile that she could muster. "I was just... tying my hair," she said, grabbing her hair, only to realize it was in a low bun.
"Hey, it is alright. Everything will be alright, I promise," Arya said, getting closer to Michelle.
"What did Rodriguez say when you told him about me staying here?" Michelle asked, trying to change the topic.
"He asked me why I was helping you... I told him that you did what you thought was right. You never intended to hurt Rodriguez or anyone else."
Michelle listened closely to Arya's beating heart. It remained steady. There was still something that bothered her, so she asked, "Didn't he say anything else... or ask anything else?"
Arya, understanding what this question really meant, answered, "No. He didn't ask about you, but he looked concerned, so I told him you had healed."
Michelle just looked away, not knowing what to say. Did Rodriguez really despise her that much to not ask about her at all?
"You know, maybe you should try talking to him," Arya suggested.
Michelle looked towards her with eyes full of hope and fear.
The air was filled with tension and uncertainty. Michelle craved her mates touch and bond, but she was afraid that he'll reject her and her love.
Passion burned inside her heart and soul, yet she was afraid of being crushed not only by the weight of her wrongdoing but by the guilt of betraying the one who saved her life.
"What's wrong?" Arya asked, concerned.
"I'm confused," Michelle said, looking away. "On one hand, I want to be with my mate... I crave his attention and love... I want him to hold me and mark me and make me his. Then there's the one who saved my life. He gave me a new life, and he has never asked anything in return, except for my help in getting you back." Michelle looked at Arya, eyes filled with water.
"I don't want him, Alfa, to feel like I betrayed him over a mate that he helped me find. And I don't want my mate to feel I'm choosing another male over him, because I love only my mate, and no one else. What should I do?"
Michelle's eyes were so full of hope that Arya's heart ached. Then it occurred to her that she does know that Alfa saved her, but she didn't know how.
"I need to ask you, how did Alfa save you," she asked.
Michelle took a deep breath and told her everything she remembered from that day. Arya sat by her side and listened patiently.
After the green-eyed girl finished her story, Arya stared at her for some time and asked, more to herself than Michelle, "How could an eight, or nine year old boy kill a full-grown male wolf?"
Michelle looked at her, processing the question. This had never occurred to her. As far as she knew, Alfa first transformed into his wolf form when he was twelve.
It took a lot of strength for an adult wolf to kill an adult rogue wolf, and yet a pup, with no experience in battles, was able to kill it? How?
Arya noticed the tension on Michelle's face as she understood the gravity of that question.
A rogue that Sebastián, her father couldn't defeat, was killed by an eight year old pup. That didn't make sense. At all!
"You know, there is a library on werewolf history buried deep in the forests of the ancient wolf hunting civilization, the Wolfhowl tribe. I don't know the actual way to that ruins, but it is said that the library contains every werewolf history, even the most modern ones hidden deep into her caves. Maybe we could one day travel there and look for the tribe and learn what actually happened to your pack," Arya suggested.
Michelle looked at her, waiting for the laugh. When none came, she asked, "Are you serious? You will help me look for my pack history?"
"I know how you feel. At one time, I was in your shoes... I was so desperate to find out about my father's pack history. I understand that you need closure like I once did."
"I'd love that. But first, I need to meet Alfa. I need to know the truth from him."
Arya nodded in understanding. "You're right. But what will you tell Rodriguez?"
"The truth. That I'm going to meet Alfa in his pack to demand answers and that I'll not return until I get one," Michelle replied confidently.
If what Arya said is true about how Alfa could defeat an adult wolf while being a pup himself, she needs to hear the truth from him.
Arya could comprehend what was going on within Michelle. Losing her parents in a 'rogue' attack and being told that Alfa had saved her life, and now the question rose about how a pup could fight that fully grown wolf, brings out many questions in itself.
How is it possible for an eight year old boy who hadn't even got his wolf yet, fight and kill a rogue? Alone?
Even if by some miracle he did, why doesn't his father brag about this?
If it's a lie, then why did he tell her this lie?
Is the brown eyed wolf really dead, or is there more to the story than what she was told?
"He won't allow you...."
"Arya, I have to do this. I won't take his permission. I'll tell him. There's a difference," Michelle said.
"Michelle," Arya said, holding her hand, "I just don't want you to get even more hurt than you actually are. I'm with you all the way, but if Rodriguez misunderstands you, he will push you even further away from himself," Arya continued.
"As a pup, I believed what they told me. As an adult, I have a right to question those beliefs, right?" Michelle said. "I love Rodriguez. The only barrier between us is Alfa and the fact that he saved my life. If that part of my life gets cleared up, I'll be able to move on. Either Rodriguez trusts me, or he abandons me. That will be his choice," Michelle said, fear evident in her voice.
"I'm with you, and if needed, I'll go with you. I'll also speak to Rodriguez if he -" "No, Arya. There are some battles that we have to fight alone, and this is my battle. I'll have to fight alone," Michelle said.
She didn't want to put Arya into any more trouble.
Arya nodded in understanding. She felt sympathy toward Michelle. First, she lost her parents. She grew up knowing that Alfa saved her, but now, that belief is under doubt. Her whole world stood on a single stem, and now, that stem was breaking.
"I'll go talk to Rodriguez," Michelle said, standing up.
"What? Like right now?" Arya asked, also getting on her feet.
"Right now!"