"How could you do this to me, Victoria?" Lana asked the moment she answered her phone.
"I thought we were best friends, you know how much I miss you, and with all the things going on here in Zenith, I am losing my mind." She added.
"I know you hate me right now, Lana, and I am so sorry, something happened to our family," I said.
"Are you okay? What is going on, Victoria?" She asked, and I smiled as I realized even if she was upset with me, I could still feel the worries in her voice.
"I am fine; you don't need to worry about me; it is about my mom and dad, and I can't tell you about it over the phone," I said, and I let out a soft sigh.
"Honestly, even if I felt so hurt that you left without saying goodbye, I still feel glad your family fled because Zenith is no longer safe, Victoria.." She declared, and my forehead furrowed, and I could tell she wanted to tell me something.
"What you mean, Lan?" I asked, and I could feel the trembling of my voice, and I knew something was going on because of the way she trailed off.
"There had been so many incidents that wolves had attacked students in Zenith, like what happened to Tim. And students are disappearing every day without a trace while others are found dead with bite marks on their necks, while others looked terrible because it seemed like the beasts devoured their flesh." She responded.
"It is scary, and I had almost been captured, and I felt so grateful that Declan was still here in Zenith; he came and saved me." She added, and I smiled as I realized Declan was there protecting my best friend, and I could tell Oliver made sure Lana was safe because my boyfriend knew she was like a sister to me.
"I will thank Declan for saving you by the time I meet him again once we go back to Zenith," I answered.
"Please, tell me you are not coming home, Victoria, I miss you so much, but I beg you, don't come back here while things are like this. It would be best to stay where you are and your entire family. I hope Oliver is with you because after you were gone. He also disappeared." She stated.
"Yes, Oliver is with us, Lana, and we live at his house," I replied.
"Wow! I could tell your relationship with him is something so serious, Victoria." She said.
"Yes, Lana, and I could tell I can't live without him," I responded.
"Wow, I never thought I would hear something like this coming from you. Our beloved school queen is finally in love." She said, and I could feel that my best friend was grinning on the other line.
"Yes, I am so in love with him, Lana, and I am proud about it," I replied right away, and I heard my best friend chuckle, and I realized how much I miss her. And I know my parents didn't tell me what was going on in Zenith because they were afraid I would go home.
"I am so happy for you, Victoria." She replied, and I could feel the sadness in her voice, and I know Lana remembered Tim again, and how I wish there were a way to make her forget about Tim, but I know it would take time.
I said goodbye to my best friend, and I felt glad we were okay; I walked towards my parent's room with a heavy heart, but I didn't find them in their room, so I walked out and searched for them. I couldn't believe my mom and dad continued to lie to me,
"Dad, why didn't you tell me Zenith is under attack?" I asked my father right away when I found him and mom lying on the beach lounger on the seashore, and I could see the surprised look on his face as he got up and faced me.
"Victoria, my men, are there, and that is one of the reasons your mom and I weren't able to follow you here right away. We tried to help, but your safety weighed more than anything." My father responded as he looked at my face.
"Dad, I hope you will stop hiding important information from me. I didn't have time to watch the news, and I turned off my phone because I felt so devastated when I learned I am a werewolf, but right now, I realized there is more important than my resentments. People in Zenith are dying, and many went missing, and I think we should head back home and help them." I declared, and I could see the worries on my dad's face while my mom stood up and walked towards me.
"Victoria, you can't go back to Zenith." My mom softly said.
"And can you give me enough reason why I can't go back?" I asked, and my mom looked at my father, and now that I have learned werewolves can communicate through their heads, I could tell right away that my parents are communicating as of the moment.
"Your mom was right, my dear, and there are many reasons why I will not allow you to go back. First, it would be so dangerous, and second, those hybrids were looking after you; they wanted to have you." My dad answered on behalf of my mom, and the more I became more determined to go back home.
"Dad, I know you and mom wanted to keep me safe at all times, but we can't allow them to continue killing innocent lives. I can't live knowing I am safe, but there are people in Zenith who are missing while some are dying because of me. I can't afford to enjoy my life at the expense of others." I said as I looked at them with pleading in my eyes.
"You can't have a suicide mission, Victoria, and we can't afford to lose you, my dear." My dad responded, and I shook my head.
"Dad, Oliver would be there to protect me, and I wanted to help," I answered.
"Victoria, your intention is good, but you can't put your life in danger; you need to learn more." My mom said.
"If you were honest with me, I guess I have already mastered my power, mom. And now, it would be too late, and the enemies had come for me. How could you make me so blind about all of these, and you are telling me to hide?" I asked.
"How could you say my safety is your primary concern? Don't you feel guilty that humans got missing because of me? Is my life the only thing that matters? How about those innocent who got killed?" I added, and they both turned silent, and I could see the hurt on their faces, and before they could answer me, I excused myself and left them.
"I will go back to Zenith tomorrow, Oliver. I understand if you stay here, I know you know what is going on out there. And I am aware I am the only one who is blind again with all the turmoil on Zenith." I declared by the time I got inside his room, I could see his face pale, and my words shocked him.
"I am tired of being treated like shit, I have feelings, and I am now an adult. I have all the right to know what is going on, but my parents don't even care how I would feel if I find out what is going on to where I grew up." I added, and I could see the guilt on my boyfriend's face.
"Victoria," he said.
"What, Oliver? Don't tell me it would be for my safety because I am sick of it, and my own best friend is having a hard time. She almost has been captured for how many times, and I felt grateful for Declan, he stayed in Zenith, and he helped Lana." I stated.
"You know I love you, Oliver, and I wanted to stay here with you for the rest of my life, but I can't. We need to help them." I said, feeling so defeated, and he looked at my face and smiled at me, and then he closed the distance between us while he was nodding his head, gently cupped and lifted my chin so that I would be looking up at him.
"I just wanted to tell you that I am going with you. I can't allow you to leave me all alone here and don't worry, I will be with you always, but I hope I can introduce you to my pack members before we leave." He said, and my face lit up, and I felt so happy that he didn't try to stop me, and I felt his hands on my hips, and he pulled me closer to him.
"You know I will be lost without you, Victoria. How could you tell me in such a manner? Why do you think I will not go with you?" Oliver asked, and I couldn't stop feeling guilty that I didn't even ask him first if he would go with me.
"I know you left Gallant because of your quest of finding me. And your plan to make me your girlfriend. And thank you for telling me that part of the story because it makes me feel so proud." I responded.
"I know that your company needs you, Oliver, and I understand if you will not come with me," I answered, seeing the hurt on his face.
"Don't you get it until now, Victoria?" He asked, and I shook my head.
"We need to be together all the time, and I need you in my life, and I know I couldn't stay here without you.. I already told you, you are now my life, the center of my world." Oliver said before he captured my lips, and I felt like I was on cloud nine as I felt his sweet mouth brush mine, and we shared a long, searing kiss that made my toes curl, and my heart was dancing with happiness