Enigma

Amara and Steven waited by the dining table with their children for their eldest daughter to descend the stairs so they can surprise her. Arabella was turning ten today. It was especially a special day for Amara as she was about to introduce Arabella to her extended family.

Arabella descended the stairs in almost a sprint and the chorus of happy birthday started immediately.

Little Elliot and Eros were clapping ferociously in excitement. Valentina and Elizabeth were trying to take a sneak at the cake in the midst of the distraction and the twins, Benjamin and Ethan were beaming and singing loudly to their sister who was turning red with embarrassment every passing second.

“Come on pumpkin. Blow the candles already.” Steven teased Arabella.

“Yeah Aria. I want to eat the cake.” Elizabeth exclaimed.

There was a little bit of drool visible on the side of her lips.

“Don’t drool on the cake Betty.” Ethan said with a look of disgust on his face.

“But I am hungry and I can have all the cake if I drool over it.”

“Betty it’s your sister’s birthday. Let her at least cut the cake before you try to inhale it whole.” Amara signed shaking her head.

She swatted Valentina’s hand as it reached the cake making the six year old pout.

Arabella shyly walked towards the head of the table and blew the candles. She cut the cake as the house rang with the birthday song again.

“Kids get your bags or you will be late for school.” Amara told her children once the celebration came to an end. “Steven please drop them off.”

Steven nodded and went to grab his keys.

“Why aren’t you dropping us off?” Benjamin asked confused.

“I will be spending my day with Aria today.”

Arabella looked at Amara confused and shocked.

“I want to stay too.” Elliot voiced and Eros nodded in agreement.

“Not today. We will go out some other day. Today is only for Aria.” Steven explained coming inside to collect the grumbling children.

Steven already knew where Amara was taking their eldest daughter and he knew she needed to go there with only Arabella. He quickly pushed the children out of the house and stowed them inside the car. He grinned at Amara in encouragement and drove off.

“What are we doing today mom?” Arabella’s soft voice snapped Amara out of her thoughts.

“We are going to a very special place. Wear something comfortable. We have a long walk to look forward to.” Amara told her a little nervous about the upcoming meeting.

Arabella nodded and made her way to her room. She quickly changed into a track pant and a loose t-shirt and skipped down the steps. Amara was already by the door waiting for Arabella to join her.

As soon as she came down, the mother daughter duo started their walk into the dense woods of Greycoast.

effortlessly through the dense forest like she knew every branch and stone that were there. For all she knew

at least in front of her and her siblings. But she knew

always found a weird connection with Amara. This connection was deeper than what she had shared with her biological mother, Elena. It had been there since as long as

first half’s exams were in a week. She was in the school when a woebegone Steven had picked her up from her school in the middle of the day and

the atmosphere was thick with melancholy. Her father, Alexander was sitting beside a pale female corpse, wailing pitifully. She saw her aunt Amara looking dazed at the dead female. Her aunt Natalie was trying to calm the child down but

onto him. Alexander had wrapped his

arranged a funeral after five days for Elena

span of a week. She was so lost in the misery that she failed that year and had to

had decided to go in search for Alexander when he didn’t return for a few months but they couldn’t take Arabella

child till date. They raised

didn’t realize that Amara had stopped walking and

“Sorry mom.”

Amara

in a clearing. It had a small cabin to the side. The sound of rushing water could be heard over the quietness

here to meet someone important.” Amara explained looking at Arabella’s confused expression. “Someone really important to me. To

at Amara with

when I was ten years old and now it’s time you meet them

Arabella nodded reluctantly.

Amara called in the mind

wolf walk out of the woods behind her mother but

Ryder, Aria. My

as she stared at the beautiful wolf standing

Uncle Ryder? As in

at him.

hug you uncle Ry?” Arabella asked shyly.

Arabella dashed towards him and flung her arms around his neck as much as her

groan of pain as she was landed on her ass by

tail ferociously and nuzzled into Amara’s neck. Before Amara could weave her fingers through the new arrival’s fur, a growl ripped through the silent

of my sister.”

in shock, looking at

of her brother and Xander cowered into her, trying to make himself

kids present here.” Amara

get away from you.”

do you mind getting off of

her, sulking in the

when you said Uncle Ryder

but she just looked at him

my nephew and

beaming at Xander who was still

“Sweetie don’t be sad. Your Papa is a minnie. I will spend an entire day with