Fated To The Lycan Brothers
Chapter 87

Suri Nightingale

Three days. It's been three days since I walked out of Thorne Academy and I haven't looked back since.

Okay... maybe I have. Countless times. And each time, it was me remembering the brothers and, of course, Keith, and the urge to come back became stronger. I have lost count of the many times I almost just bought a bus ticket back to Los Altos. Each time, the only thing that stopped me was remembering why I left in the first place.

They lied to me.

Or rather, they chose not to tell me. Atlas, Wes, and Dev, all acted like nothing had happened and chose to hide it from me, the truth of who- no, of what they really were. I don't know what it was, exactly, but I knew it was them.

The second I saw that video in class, for some reason, I felt that it was them. No matter how dark, blurry, or shaky that video was, the second the red eyes showed up on the video, my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach.

I couldn't handle it. I was completely troubled and bewildered by the discovery that at first, I had no idea what to do. I went back and forth between confronting them or just walking away, but in the end, I chose to leave because I didn't think I could face them. At least, not yet.

I needed time to think for myself. I needed to breathe. I needed to go home... to my mom.

So on that day, with nothing but my uniform and the money Keith had been giving to me the past months, I left.

"Hey, mom... It's me again..." I talked softly to the headstone where my mom's name was carved into.

Stella Nightingale. Beloved mother of Suri. She concealed her tears but shared her smiles. She gave so much and demanded so little.

I sat on the itchy grass, using nothing but a jacket underneath to sit on and talked to her for hours about anything I could think of, knowing full well it's not like I would ever hear again, but I found peace in knowing that she was out there somewhere listening to me. "I hope you're not sick of me yet. I've been coming here a lot, huh? I just... really miss you... and I... really really wish you could help me... that you could tell me what to do..." I whispered to her as I pursed my lips and tried hard not to let the tears come out. "Please-" I sniffled. "Come back," and then I couldn't hold it any longer and I began to cry again.

I hated this. I hated that I couldn't hug her or she couldn't hug me because I desperately needed someone, anyone to comfort me.

Then I remembered Keith and the boys and the hug we had back in the hotel and how warm and loved I felt. I had no idea they were hiding so much from me then.

And I guess what hurts the most is that they think that they had to do it in the first place. That they had to keep it from me. Granted, I did call them monsters that night, but I was freaking terrified. Those were beasts that came out of nowhere and they started ripping humans into pieces. What was I supposed to think?!

I mean... if they just... if they had explained it to me, sure I'd still be shocked as hell, but... but they were my boys, and I just hate to think that they had to keep it from me like that.

And it just hurts to think that this whole time when we were all together being intimate and whatnot, that they were lying to me, blatantly keeping a secret, when I thought that I was important to them.

Did they really think I would think any less of them? Did they think I'd never accept them?

It's crazy, but... I eventually will. I know I will, but... right now I don't know what to do. I want to go home, but I need to figure out first if I'm ready to face all of them again.

I miss them, of course, but I'm so lost that all I just really want is to lay down here and never have to leave. If there was a way to just hear my mom and hug her once, I would do it in a heartbeat.

I hadn't realized how tired I was until I did lie down, my head on my jacket, and my hand moving up and down my mom's stone, imagining that she was really there.

"I should go back... shouldn't I?" I whispered and after, there was a gust of wind that passed by.

I guess I knew my answer all along because deep down, home really is where Keith and the boys were.

I'm hurt that they left me out, but maybe I should hear them out as to why they did. And I may be scared about what the real truth is, but I love those three with my entire being, and I know that whatever happens, we will get through it together. Whether they are black beasts with red eyes or whatever.

"Thanks, mom..." I said with a faint smile and when another wind breeze passed, I couldn't help but feel like I was being lulled to sleep.

Before I realized it, my eyes began to close and I thought to myself, just a few minutes with my mom...

-

My phone buzzing like crazy was what woke me up suddenly. I know I had muted all of the boys' numbers so it couldn't be them.

When I got up and grabbed my phone, I was stupefied to see that it was almost midnight. Sh it. How long have I been asleep?!

I also realized it was Polly that was calling and I debated between answering or not, but figured since I was coming back home anyway, it's okay to talk to them.

"Hello?" I said after clearing my throat, but it was still feeling rather dry. I need water.

And for some reason, my head was getting dizzy. I think it was because I overslept. Man, it was a terrible idea to sleep here. My body also hurts and I assume it's because the ground was not really an ideal bed.

"Suriiii!" Polly's squealing was so loud I had to pull my phone away from my ear. "I've left you hundreds of messages, girl! Where are you?!"

"Uh..." I looked around the now dark cemetery and concluded that was not really the best place to tell her. "Just... out..."

"Out?! Oh my god, are you already partying for your birthday without us?!"

Wait, what? My birthday? It's not my-

I looked at the screen and saw the date. Oh, fu c k. It is. I was so occupied with everything I had completely forgotten!

"I'm not, I'm just... here." I replied as vaguely as possible.

"Where is here exactly, Suri? Because we're coming to get you. We're midair, but landing soon and we are celebrating as soon as we land! Location, please!" Polly demanded and I was so torn.

Shoot. I can't tell her where I really am. Think, Suri!

The closest city here is Ohio, and it's not really Paris, but it's better than bringing the girls to this shitty small town. I guess that'll do.

"Uh, Ohio! I'm- I'm in Ohio. There's a bar called The Big Bang, I can meet you there!"

"Ohio?!" I heard consecutive confused voices at the back, likely Elle and Ariana.

"What in the world are you doing there?" Polly asked and bewilderment was obvious in her voice.

"I'll tell you later. I'll see you guys there," I said as I got up and started fixing my things.

I need to get on the next bus before it's too late or it's too full.

"Alright, our pilot says we'll be there in an hour. Can you wait for us?"

"Got it! Sure! See you in an hour!" I said to them, rushing.

"Do not start the party without us, Suri Nightingale!" I heard Polly shout before I ended the call.

I don't know how I got myself into this mess, but I need to fix it. I'll hop on a bus, get to Ohio in less than an hour, do whatever party it was Polly keeps talking about, and go back to Los Altos. I guess it's perfect they'll be with me so I can get a ride home with them. Huh... that plan sounds alright.

I checked out of the motel I was staying at for the past few days, got the last ride for the night, and managed to take a little breather.

It was only when we had entered Ohio that I began to feel weird. Like, really weird.

I thought it was just a headache and some muscle pains from falling asleep earlier, but when I took some painkillers and it still didn't disappear, I had no idea what was really happening to me.

Something was wrong.

When the bus finally stopped, I grabbed my things and quickly ran out. I was aiming to go to the bathroom, but for some odd reason, my body had gone into autopilot and I found myself getting closer to some backwoods.

My body was burning. It feels like when you're getting a fever, but times ten, and oh god, I think I'm going to puke. I placed my hand against one of the thick trees and hurled it all over the ground.

I just puked everything I ate for the day, but my body still continued to feel like I was set on fire from the inside. Sweat began to drip from the top of my head to my face and I kept swiping it with my hands, but it wouldn't stop.

My stomach rumbled and it felt like my organs were reacting, too. I puked again, but because there was nothing else left inside of me, it was just bile coming out.

Fuck! This hurts!

Just when I thought I couldn't bear anymore pain, suddenly there was like this sensation that shot through my arm. It felt like it was being stabbed over and over again, right up to my fingers.

I looked down at my hand in absolute horror, my eyes widening in fear as the bones in my hand looked like it was changing under my skin. They were moving, shifting, and it was all so uncomfortable I couldn't help the scream that escaped me. My... my... hand... It's... it's changed... into... some sort... of a... hairy animal?!

The terrified shout that came out of me was part my voice and part something else.

"What the hell is happening to me?!"