CHAPTER 34 – LET ME ALONE

It was the early hours of the day and Wright and Maeve were inside of the gym exercising. Maeve was

doing some squats, push-ups, and crunches while Wright was on the indoor cycling exercise bike.

“She is not a werewolf” Maeve announced.

Wright has been trying to avoid this topic for a long time now, but it is obvious that he can’t run from it

anymore. For the past few days, he had been having doubt on whether Riona is a werewolf and would

shift on the night of the full moon. Even though he does not care about being a werewolf, he still felt

that it was only proper for his daughter to be like her kind and take her rightful place among her people.

“But we cannot be too sure, have you told her anything yet?” Wright asked.

“I was hoping for the right time to do that, but it is obvious that there would be no need to” Maeve

replied.

“And have you finally confirmed that she is not a werewolf?” Wright asked.

Deep within him, he was hoping that Maeve would reply in the negative and would assure him that it

was just a mere suspicion. He knew that it was not possible but all he could do was to hope.

“The signs, all of it, none is present. She has no wolf yet, if she does, it would have already been

communicated to her. Not as if I was waiting for that to happen first, but none of the other signs is

present. She does not heal fast when injured, she can’t mind link with anyone, she does not have the

wolf scent, she is human” Maeve said.

Even in all her disagreement with Riona, Maeve has been watchful towards Riona. She was hoping to

see any trait of being a werewolf so that she would coach her on all she needs to know about being a

werewolf. That is not an easy task, but Maeve had already assured herself that even if she failed in

every other aspect of her relationship with Riona, she was never going to fail in this.

Wright did not say anything. He only continued with his exercise but Maeve knew that he was deep in

thought and she tried to console him. “Come on Wright, don’t get yourself worried over this. You have

already given up your werewolf nature and moreover, Evolette is human and her daughter is free to

take her nature, it was a fifty-fifty chance”

“I know. I just wanted her to take what is rightfully hers, now I regret that my decision has caused her

not just her true self but also her inheritance. She has every right over Shadow Rank, and I had no right

to pick for her” he replied.

“But we can’t tell if she would want to be a werewolf. Knowing who she is, there is a greater percentage

she would not want to hear of that” Maeve said.

“Yes, we can’t. But that should have been her decision to make and not mine” Wright responded.

“You did what you believed was right. Please don’t be too hard on yourself, because you leaving the

pack did not in any way influence Rio’s nature” Maeve said.

“Maybe, maybe it was just right for me” Wright responded.

……………………………………………………………….

Riona and Wright are in the sitting room when Riley came to join them from upstairs. She was dressed

to go out and was looking really beautiful. She has makeup on with a red lipstick that really looks good

on her. Riona was engrossed in the book in front of her and so, did not take cognizance of Riley’s

appearance.

Wright looked up and saw Riley approaching. He saw how beautiful she was looking and he was

captivated by her appearance.

“God you look amazing, Riley,” Wright said.

“Thanks, dad” Riona replied and goes to seat next to him.

Wright felt that Riley was prepared to go out so he asked her “Are you having a date?”

Hearing how well Wright was praising Riley, Riona looks up at Riley, shakes her head, and goes back

to her book. She cannot deny the fact that Riley is a pretty girl, but she can bet anywhere and anytime

that Riley in no way compares to her as she believed she was more beautiful than Riley.

“Not really, dad, I am actually going out with Davina” Riley replied.

“Oh, that is cool. So what are you guys up to?” Wright inquired.

“A friend of Davina is throwing a party this evening and that is where we are going to” Riley replied.

“That is great,” Wright said.

“And for how long would the party last?” Wright asked.

“Dad, I should be back by nine” Riley responded.

“Please come back before then. And so when are you leaving?” Wright asked.

“Just about now. I am ready to go” Riley responded.

Riona’s response does not seem to align with Wright's because she was just seated comfortably and

made no effort to leave the house even though it was already getting late. So he asked her.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on your way already, it is getting late?” Wright asked.

“She is coming over here to pick me” Riley responded.

“Does she drive?” Wright was curious.

“Yes, dad. Her dad just got her a new car on her sixteenth birthday last month and that is what we

would be used to going for tonight’s party” Riley explained.

Riona who had not been interested in Riley and Wright’s discussion all along became interested at the

mention of Davina’s new car. She immediately closed the book in front of her and joined in the

discussion.

“Of course dad, I saw her car. She brings it along to school and it is so cool. Please daddy can I get

mine too on my sixteenth birthday next week?” Riona requested.

“No Rio you can’t” Wright responded.

Riona was disappointed with her dad’s response, but she decided to push her luck further hoping that

her dad would have a change of mind.

“But why is that so, dad?” Riona inquired.

“You cannot drive, so what do you intend to do with a car?” Wright asked.

“But I can learn when I have one” Riona persuaded.

“No Rio, I am not going to take such a risk. Maybe we should just wait until you are eighteen. That is if

you learn how to drive before then. If not, we would have to wait until you get your driving license”

Wright emphasized.

By this time, Maeve has already entered the sitting room and she was sitting listening to them.

“That is not fair dad, everyone already has one” Riona pleaded.

“And by everyone, did you also include Riley?” Wright asked.

“No dad” Riona replied.

“But you just said everyone,” Wright said. “And remember she has her driving license already” he

added.

”Okay. Can I at least get one for myself?” she inquired.

“This is not you, Rio. I already said you can’t have any so why are you insisting when you already know

that I am not going to budge?” he asked.

“Dad, maybe I should just give up,” Riona said and she resigned to fate.

Riley's phone begins to ring and she picks it.

“Hello Davina” Riley answered.

“Sure, I am ready” Riley replied to what Davina had said in the background.

Riley hung up and went to open the door and Davina entered.

“Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Wright” Davina greeted Wright and Maeve.

“Hello Davina” They both responded.

“Hey Rio” Davina said to Riona.

“Hi, Davina” Riona responded.

“Okay, we can leave now. Bye mum and dad, bye Rio” Riley said.

“Bye everyone,” Davina said.

“Bye” They all responded.

Riley and Davina left.

“And talking about your birthday party, Rio I have a perfect birthday party planned out for you” Maeve

announced.

“Hmn” Riona chuckled.

Wright got up from his seat and excused himself.

“I think I have to leave you girls now to continue with your girlie talk,” Wright said.

“Okay love” Maeve responded.

“Where are you going to dad?” Riona asked.

“Maybe I would just take an evening walk and stop over the mall to pick up some electronic appliances”

Wright replied.

“Would you be gone for long?” Riona asked. Têxt belongs to .

“I should. I intend to take my time” Wright answered.

“Okay,” Riona said.

“I would first go upstairs to change into some sneakers” Wright announced.

“That would better, dear,” Maeve said.

Wright walked out of the sitting room.

Maeve took Riona’s reaction as approval and so she went ahead to list out all she planned for the

occasion.

“I know you are going to like it. You see, I’ve got everything all planned out for a great sweet sixteen

celebration. From the invitation to the guests, the gifts, decoration, just name it”.

“I see” Riona responded sarcastically.

However, Maeve did not notice the sarcasm in Riona’s tone as she was just very excited to tell Riona

how well she is planning for her birthday celebration.

“And then, I plan on getting a live band for the occasion, and I want you to pick which country band you

prefer” Maeve continued.

Riona was already tired of Maeve’s long list. She wished she could just tell her to continue with her

unending list and plans without involving her. Thinking that Maeve could be doing this show-off for

Wright, Riona gets further irritated.

“I don’t think I know much about country music or country band or a live band or whatever you call it”

Riona replied.

Maeve was surprised by the fact that Riona knows nothing about all she had just mentioned and the

expression of shock was all over her face.

“Really honey? Then you’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Okay after your birthday, I will take you to all

of these nice country restaurants and country clubs to listen to nice live country beat” Maeve said.

“I know you will enjoy watching them play and listening to their song” Maeve added.

Riona shakes her head heaves. She wished Maeve would stop already so she can concentrate more

on her book.

Maeve interpreted Riona’s reaction to being as a result of not knowing all that she was talking about

and she felt bad to bore her.

“I am so sorry to bore you with this Rio, I never knew that you knew nothing about live bands and I

know that once you listen to them at your upcoming birthday celebration, you are going to love them,”

Maeve said.

Wright entered the sitting room and was set to leave. He had changed into a sneaker and also changed

his polo too.

“See you guys later,” Wright said and he goes to give Maeve a peck.

“Bye love,” Maeve said.

“Bye dad,” Riona said as Wright walks out of the house.

Left alone with Maeve, Riona continues with their discussion.

“I think I just want to concentrate more on this book that is in front of me. And talking about country

music, I am in high school and the only thing that I do in school is not just book book book” Riona

replied.

She looked at Maeve to be sure if she was getting her explanation, and when she was sure that she

was, she added.

“I live outside the book you know, please always remember that too”

Maeve realized that unconsciously, her words had gotten to Riona in the wrong way and she felt bad

that it happened that way.

“I am so sorry for that Rio, believe me, that is not what I meant. Of course, you live outside your books

and I am not in any way insinuating that you know nothing about the outside world. I only wanted to talk

about my plans” Maeve explained.

It hurt Maeve that anytime she tries to establish a relationship with Riona, she ends up making them

drift further apart. And right now, she is bent on giving Riona the best birthday party ever to make up for

whatever hurt she might have caused her.

Riona felt that if she continues to remain here with Maeve, she might end up being further annoyed by

the way she goes to the extreme to try to win her over. She felt Maeve should know that she was not a

commodity that could be bought over by anyone.

“I think I might need to go continue with this in my room,” Riona said.

She got up with her book, walks out of the room, and says to Maeve. “Excuse me”.