#12 The Triplets of Emerald Forest

Harlow

“Godric, Gabriel, and Griffin Emerald please tell me that you did not do what your sister says you did.” Her voice was venomous as she glared at the brothers, her hands on her hips. Her eyes widened when she looked around Griffin and saw me, “Oh my God.”

“Mother….” Gabriel started but one look from this woman and he clamped his mouth shut.

This was their mother?

“Get out. All of you.” She ordered, stomping into the room.

“But….” Griffin started to argue,

“Out!” The woman shouted at him.

The three boys bowed their heads and sulked out of the room.

“Oh, my dear.” The woman sighed, her face softening as she looked at me.

It was obvious that she was their mother. Her facial features, expressions, and the color of her hair were the mirror image of the boys. I even recognized her eyes, they were the same blue as Nova’s. She plopped down next to me on the couch.

“I am so sorry about all of this. My name is Clementine, I’m the mother of those three idiots.” She said,

“Uhm, hi.” I mumbled.

“I know how confused you are, I was the same way when their father first brought me into this world.” Clementine smiled softly.

“I’m sorry, I still don’t understand what’s going on.”

For some reason, I felt much more comfortable and safe with this woman than anyone else that I’ve met here. I had no idea what it felt like to have a mother, but I’d imagine it felt something like this.

“What have they told you?” She asked.

“That they turn into dogs.” I stated bluntly and she started to laugh.

“Okay, yes, well, that’s true.” She nodded and the feeling of security I had a minute ago was now gone. She was a crazy person, too.

“Uh-huh.”

“I don’t, I’m human, like you are.” She was speaking so seriously but the words coming out of her mouth were utterly ridiculous.

“And they aren’t human?” I asked, playing along with her fantasy.

“They’re werewolves.” She said the word like she was telling me the weather.

My first instinct was to call this lady crazy and run for the hills. But, something inside me gave me pause. I thought about the strange dream I had with the angelic woman, Selene. She talked about another species and how the souls of those wolves were the same as the souls of the triplet brothers. That dream wasn’t real though, was it? It was just some kind of hallucination they brought on with the sedative. None of this could be real.

“I’m sorry I just don’t believe you.” I shook my head.

“Come here, dear.” She stood up and held out her hand for me.

Hesitantly, I accepted her hand and allowed her to pull me from the sofa. She led me across the living room area and towards the back wall where a large window was situated. She pushed against the glass and it opened outwards, letting a rush of cool spring air into the room. I looked down and saw that the three brothers were standing in the grass below us.

“Watch.” She said and I did as she instructed.

They stripped out of their shirts and I was afraid I was about ready to watch them get naked. Instead, they left their pants on and seemed to share a silent conversation amongst themselves. In unison, their eyes closed and then their bodies began to shake. They arched backwards and the sickening sound of bones breaking filled my ears. In a matter of seconds, the three brothers were gone and the three familiar wolves were in their place.

Well that just can’t be right.

I looked over at Clementine in shock and she was smiling smugly at me. She rubbed my back soothingly and nodded.

“They turn into wolves.” I said in a breathy voice.

“Werewolves.” She clarified.

I looked back out the window and blushed because I was now staring at three very naked men. Gorgeous naked men, I might add. Hey, I’m a prisoner, not blind...

Clementine groaned, slammed the window shut, and snapped the curtains closed.

“Those boys.” She huffed.

“Werewolves.” I mumbled to myself, wandering away from the window.

“I know it’s a lot to take in. It was for me as well.” Clementine said, watching me as I moved across the room.

“Everyone here does that?” I asked, my eyes wide.

“No, not everyone, but most of them, yes. Annie and Kori are humans, that’s why they’ve been staying close to you.” Clementine explained.

I felt fear grip my heart and I began to gasp for air. Clementine was at my side in a second, hugging me close to her chest and rubbing my back.

“It’s okay, dear, don’t panic. You’re safe here, no one will hurt you.” She whispered calmly into my ear.

“Everyone keeps saying that, but I don’t understand why I had to come here in the first place.” I heard my voice break as I tried to keep myself from crying.

“You’re very special to my sons and it’s very important to them that you’re safe. In a werewolf’s mind, they are the only ones who can keep you safe.” She said,

“I hate this.” I sobbed, collapsing down onto the couch.

“Shhh. It’ll get better soon, I promise. I don’t condone what my sons did, I think they acted selfishly and impulsively, so I’m going to try and make it better. I think we can come up with an arrangement that makes everyone happy and content.” She said optimistically, sitting down beside me again.

“What kind of arrangement?” I asked curiously. I would do anything to give myself an opportunity to escape again.

“How about I get the boys to tell you the entire truth that way you don’t feel so in the dark? In turn, you promise not to run away and to give them a chance to prove everything to you.” Clementine offered.

“I want to leave.” I demanded. Clementine looked sympathetic,

“I know and I don’t agree with keeping you prisoner up here. If you promise to give them a chance and not to leave the pack territory, I’m sure I can talk the boys into letting you leave the house and explore the grounds.” Clementine said,

“For how long?”

Clementine’s eyes pulled together like she hadn’t expected that question. That had me very concerned.

“I can’t just promise to stay here indefinitely without having any sort of choice in the matter. That’s still not freedom, that still makes me a prisoner.” I argued.

“You’re right,” Clementine nodded, “Let’s see, how about a month?” I felt my eyes widen,

“A month?” I squeaked, starting to panic.

“Okay, okay. A week, then.” Clementine amended her statement quickly, “Honestly, I doubt it’ll take that long anyway. If I know my boys, and I do, they’ll be able to win you over in no time at all.” She smiled.

I highly doubt that.

“Okay.” I agreed. It was a lie. I was only doing this so I could get some freedom to make my escape.

“But, you have to give it a real chance. You have to let your guard down and take a risk, otherwise, it’ll never work and you’ll miss out on a whole new, amazing world.” Clementine said, like she was reading my mind.

“I promise to give them a chance for a week if they stop treating me like a prisoner and tell me the entire truth.” I repeated our deal, “Oh, and no funny business.” I added and Clementine started laughing,

“Oh, on their lives, they will be perfect gentlemen.”

“You think they’ll agree to all of this?” I asked, feeling a little skeptical about it all.

“Please, I’m their mother.” Clementine scoffed, waving her hand dismissively.

“Does it really work that way?” I wondered, mostly to myself.

“Sure. Doesn’t your mother talk you into doing things you really didn’t want to?” Clementine’s laughter vanished when she noticed my face, “Oh, your parents must be worried about you! I can have the boys get you a phone so you can give them a call.”

“Don’t bother, there are no parents to worry about me.” I shrugged.

Clementine looked taken aback and a little horrified.

“My parents died when I was a teenager, it can be so hard to go on without them.” She frowned. To her credit, she seemed to be genuine in her sympathy.

“My parents could be dead, I don’t know. I never knew them.” I replied nonchalantly.

I never had any parents to miss so it really wasn’t that difficult for me to talk about. I felt unattached to the whole concept of family. Clementine seemed to be speechless.

“I’m so sorry, Harlow.” She sighed.

“It’s okay.” I shrugged again.

“Why don’t I go speak to my sons so we can get this deal going?” She smiled, trying to change the mood of the conversation.

“Sure.” I nodded, offering her a little smile.

“It looks like you haven’t eaten breakfast yet. You go ahead and eat, I’ll be back in a bit.” She said, motioning towards the bedroom.

I nodded and went back to my own personal jail cell. I was surprised when Clementine didn’t shut the door before she left but not at all surprised when my guard, Waylon I think his name was, came in after she was gone.

“You stabbed me.” I accused him as I began uncovering things from the breakfast cart.

“You ran away.” Waylon countered.

He shut the door to the living room but left the bedroom door open and leaned against the door jam.

“You kidnapped me.”

“No, I didn’t.” He clarified.

“You’re guilty by association.” I replied without looking at him.

Instead, I was eyeing the food with lustful desire. I started digging into the breakfast, not even bothering with a plate. Seriously, I had to meet this chief, she was amazing.

“Luna,” He said that weird name again and my head snapped in his direction.

“Why do you keep calling me that?” I asked with a pancake in one hand and a piece of bacon in the other.

“Oh, I’m sorry, it’s just your title.” He said,

“I don’t have a title, besides kidnappee maybe.”

“You’re the….guest of the Alphas which makes you the Luna.” Waylon said like that was supposed to make any sense. I just stared at him stupidly, “The triplets are the Alphas.”

“Like they’re the leaders?” I guessed that, as werewolves, their pack operated like dogs which meant that the Alpha was the head of the pack.

“Yes, and I’m the Gamma, the third in command.” Waylon nodded, seeming excited that I was catching on.

“Does Gamma mean guard of the prisoner?” I sassed.

“No, it means guard of the Luna, which you are.” He didn’t even bat an eye at my attitude.

“Am not.” I argued like a toddler. Waylon rolled his eyes and didn’t bother with a reply.