Chapter 5

She began shouting, her voice piercing through the air like a siren in the dead of night. I felt my heart race, a sense of panic washing over me. I couldn't bear the thought of alarming any of the neighbors with our heated argument, so I allowed her to push me out of the house. The door slammed shut behind me, echoing with finality. I found myself sitting on the front steps, feeling the weight of despair settle upon my shoulders.

As I sat there in the chilling silence, my mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions. The heaviness in my chest seemed unbearable, like a boulder threatening to crush my spirit. I glanced down at my bag, grateful that I hadn't taken it off in the midst of our turmoil. My wallet was still in its rightful place, providing me with a glimmer of hope.

The decision was made. I needed to get away, if only for a little while. I rose from the steps, my legs trembling beneath me. The path ahead seemed uncertain, but I knew I had to take it. I headed towards the town diner, hoping that a change of scenery and some nourishment would bring solace to my troubled mind.

Each step felt heavier than the last as if I was dragging my weary soul through an abyss of darkness. Tears streamed down my face, mingling with the anguish that consumed me. What if this was the moment? The moment her memory finally slipped away, leaving only an empty shell behind? The thought tore at my heartstrings, threatening to shatter my fragile resolve.

The walk to the diner seemed endless, as if time itself had slowed down to mock my pain. The bustling streets around me seemed oblivious to my turmoil, their vibrant colors and cheerful faces a stark contrast to the desolation in my heart. My tears continued to flow unabated, a torrent of sorrow that matched the storm raging within me.

Arriving at the diner, I pushed open the door, the chime tinkling in the air like a melancholic melody. The scent of coffee and freshly cooked food enveloped me, momentarily distracting me from my worries. I found a seat at a corner booth, seeking solace in the anonymity of the crowded establishment.

As I sat there, waiting for my order to arrive, my mind couldn't help but wander back to her. What if she never remembered? What if I became a stranger, a mere shadow of a person she once loved? The thought was like a knife to my heart, twisting and turning with each beat. I couldn't bear the thought of losing her, of losing the connection we had fought so hard to build.

But as I sat in that diner, engulfed in a sea of strangers, I realized that love was not defined by memories. It was a force that transcended time and circumstance. And no matter what happened, I vowed to hold onto that love, to fight for it with every fiber of my being.

After spending what felt like an eternity at the greasy diner, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of unease as I made my way back. The darkness of the night seemed to amplify my growing anxiety, and every step I took felt heavier than before. And then, I saw it. The same haunting black car that had caught my eye earlier in the day. It was just sitting there, lurking in the shadows like a predator patiently waiting for its prey. A shiver ran down my spine as I realized it was going slower than the other cars on the road. It was almost as if it was deliberately trying to keep pace with me. Panic started to rise within me. Was this car following me? Had I stumbled into something I shouldn't have? My heart raced as I tried to make sense of it all, but there was no time for rational thinking. Instinct took over, and I knew I had to get out of there. I quickened my pace, my footsteps echoing in the empty streets. Soon, jogging turned into a desperate sprint, fueled by fear and a primal need for safety.

Fear consumed me as I glanced over my shoulder – the car was still there, trailing behind me like a predator stalking its prey. The world around me seemed to blur as panic took hold. Thoughts raced through my mind, each one more terrifying than the last. Who were they? What did they want from me? The questions echoed in my head, but there were no answers to be found.

Determined not to be a victim, I made a split-second decision. I broke into a run, my heart pounding in my chest like a drumbeat of impending doom. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to escape, to find safety before it was too late. My legs burned with exertion, but I pushed myself harder, driven by an instinctual need for self-preservation.

As I reached the sanctuary of my grandmother's house, relief washed over me like a cool breeze on a scorching summer day. The familiar facade offered solace, a temporary respite from the chaos that had unfolded outside. I stepped inside, my breath ragged and my mind racing. I prayed to the Goddess, begging for her intervention, hoping that my grandmother would remember me and that she would offer me the comfort and reassurance I so desperately sought.

My grandmother was not in the living room, so I am only assuming that she is already in bed. I am not going to bother her tonight. Tomorrow morning I will start over with Gram. Maybe after a good night's sleep, her memory will return. At least I pray to the Moon Goddess that it will.

Today had been a whirlwind of strange encounters and inexplicable events. My head spun with confusion as I tried to make sense of it all. I craved the familiarity of my bed, the softness of the sheets, and the sanctuary of solitude. It was there that I could process everything that had transpired, where I could unravel the tangled threads of this bewildering day.

But as I lay in bed, my mind still restless, I couldn't shake the feeling that something much larger was at play. The black car, the mysterious followers – they were just puzzle pieces in a much grander scheme. There was a web of secrets waiting to be unraveled, a truth lurking in the shadows. And as exhaustion claimed me and sleep finally found me, I knew that tomorrow would bring new challenges, new revelations, and a journey into the unknown. I couldn't rest and realized that rest wouldn't track down me this evening. I'm gazing toward the dim roof trusting that I can rest somehow and awaken from this bad dream. Via is the only person I can talk to right now.

"Via what am I going to do? This is not how this was supposed to go. We were supposed to be happy and now she doesn't even know me."

"Sierra, I realize this is difficult. However, this is something that comes with getting older. I'm heartbroken that you need to go through this at the present time. You can't do anything else, though. Changing something like this is impossible. Her brain is deteriorating day by day."

"What do you suggest I should do then? How can I make any of this any easier?”

"Honey, there is no way to simplify anything here. This happens some of the time with advanced age. Furthermore, you need to simply comprehend that she has carried on with an extremely lengthy and blissful existence with you. Before you, she stayed away from everyone else. Yet, you provided her motivation."

"What if I get up and she still doesn't know who I am?"

"We can't do anything but take Gram to the doctor. The specialist will be able to tell how seriously it has spread. What's more, they additionally could possibly give her something that could dial the advancement back"

"Are you kidding me Via? Did you forget that we are werewolves? How can I take her to a human doctor?"

"Right... Well the only other thing that you can do, and I know you are not going to like this one, is go and talk to your mate. Tell him what is going on."

"What's the point of doing that? I don't want him to know who I am. Once he finds out he will want me to be his Luna and a member of his pack. And that is the very opposite of what I want to be doing.”

"Well, Sierra you really need to comprehend that that will be our best bet for Gram to be seen. If you are unwilling to do that, you might want to look for a bias pack that is willing to lend you their pack doctor for a while so that you can examine her. And honestly I don't even know whether that would even be conceivable."