Chapter 1 ~ Aunt Helena
Moving day! Alexis Morris is leaving Tifton to live with her Aunt Helena. Two weeks from her eighteenth birthday, and feeling the effects of being orphaned..she’s ready for a new adventure..anything to shake the gloom of the last two years.
Her mother fell ill two years ago..the healers could do nothing for her. A mysterious sickness that deprived her of her mind..she finally gave up her fight, three weeks ago. But for Alexis, her mother left her when she was diagnosed with her illness and could no longer remember her daughter.
Now, the insurance has been settled, the house sold..and graduation was over. There’s nothing tying Alexis to Tifton, anymore..and she’s moving on. She knows she has a father out there somewhere…but she just doesn’t care to find out who he is. He slept with her mother and was gone by morning…leaving her baking in her mom’s oven! And my mom would never tell me who he is…I simply do not care! No telling how many seeds he’s planted around the country!
She’s excited to be moving to Woodland Flats, North Dakota..Snow is going to be fun! She’s going to learn to ice skate..ski…and navigate the roads! Can’t be much different than driving on rain slick clay…right? Right???
Helena came to Georgia for her mom’s funeral and invited Alexis to live with her and hone her craft.. she asked her if she would take over the apothecary that Helena owns, in a few years. She has a life path…and she’s not going to be alone anymore!
There’s a place for Arielle to run…all Alexis has to do is be sworn in to the Sterling Moon Pack as a lone wolf. Having never been in a pack before, she isn’t willing to give up her lone wolf status, because she knows she has a problem with authority…being Alpha born, herself, it could cause an issue. And Helena told her the Alpha, Blake Sterling, is fine with Alexis living in town, as long as she doesn’t cause problems! See? Authority…equals arrogance in her experience. All good! She minds her own business and he minds his…no problem!
What Alexis doesn’t realize is Arielle is a rare wolf.. not just because she’s a hybrid.. But because she is a white wolf. There are fewer than 50 in the world and they’re said to be blessed wolves of the Moon Goddess…and always she-wolves. Some even believe white wolves are her daughters. Arielle is cocky…a bit of a smart ass, actually..but Alexis loves her dearly. She is her best friend and they are alike in many ways!
The trailer is loaded and hitched to her LandRover Defender 130. The one luxury Alexis allowed herself before investing the majority of the insurance money she received from losing her mom. She only packed her personal things. Her art supplies…her collection of classic 70s vinyl albums..some of her mother’s favorite items, and her clothes. A fresh start is just what she needs!
Standing in her bedroom for the last time…she spins in a circle..saying goodbye. She stops in front of the mirror, taking in her shoulder length plum colored hair and violet eyes…Arielle perks up Looking good, sassy pants! Are we ready to take Woodland Flats by storm? “We are! A new start! A new life!” We take no shit, this time! No mean girls and no assholes! “Deal! It’s time we take charge of us!”
Arriving three days later, she pulls into Helena’s driveway…the house is a two story Victorian style with a beautiful porch stretching the entire length of the front. Dormer windows showing from the attic..with two balconies overlooking the front yard from the second floor! It’s a beautiful light blue with white shutters to keep out the ferocious winter storms that Helena told us occur! Alexis is looking forward to experiencing her first one, but she’s relieved she has a few months before that happens!
Helena runs out to pull her into her arms, telling her “I am so happy you’re here! We get to spend every day together, instead of two weeks twice a year! Having you with me, is the best thing that I can imagine! Let’s get you moved in! So much to do!” Alexis replies “I am excited, too! Tomorrow is a busy day! I have to return the rental trailer, and then meet with Alpha Sterling…will you go with me? I admit to being a little nervous! Dealing with Alphas isn’t high on my ‘wanna do’ list” Helena laughs “Blake is a lovely young man…a little arrogant, but when you see him..you’ll understand why! He’s had a bit of a hard life, and tends to be closed off emotionally. Nothing you can’t handle though!” Lovely, Alexis thinks….gonna be fun dealing with that…but she doesn’t have to see him too often…just mandatory pack meetings and functions. Hopefully, no more than Alpha Brennan had her doing, in Georgia!
Everything unloaded, Helena says “Come…I have a surprise!” Following her upstairs to the attic, Helena opened a door, with a big smile on her face… “I had this done for you…I hope it’s suitable!” And Alexis stepped into a spacious room…with many windows facing the back gardens…and perfect lighting. Her aunt had created a wonderful art studio for her and it touched her heart! She walked to Helena and hugged her close, holding tightly. Her 5’ frame engulfed in her aunt’s arms..she whispered “It’s beautiful. I can’t thank you enough! It feels like home!” Helena holds her close to her…cushioning her head to her generous bosom and said “You’re mine! I would do anything to make you feel comfortable and happy!
Unpacking her bedroom was a whole other story. Helena ordered pizza…and opened a bottle of wine.. she put Steppenwolf on the record player and danced around the room, singing…badly..while Alexis put clothes away and stored the boxes of her mother’s things. It was fun, and they laughed and danced the night away.
The next morning, she was up, showered and dressed in a cute skater dress, braided hair…she slapped a little mascara, liner and lip gloss on.. grabbing white strappy sandals..raced downstairs to find Helena waiting. She smiled and told her they would grab breakfast at Debbie’s Diner, after they drop the trailer. Alexis grabs her hand and they’re off…
Walking into the diner, she notices Helena seems a little overly excited and the reason is explained when a handsome older gentleman steps up and takes her hand. Ahhh! Helena has a crush! Loving it! Turning to Alexis. Helena smiles “This is Max…he owns the diner and is a dear friend “ Alexis nods and laughs “Friend? Friends don’t make you all giddy and giggly, but let’s go with that..sure! Who’s Debbie?” Max laughs loud and heartily “I bought the diner five years ago..and just kept the name! It was an established diner and well known by the townspeople, so why rock the boat?” She nods and orders coffee…lots of it, and pancakes!
