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.

way in the woods as she saw Amara gliding effortlessly through the dense forest like she knew every branch and stone that were there. For all she knew

in front of her and her siblings. But she knew there was something

had been there since as long as she could remember and when she moved in with Amara after Elena died giving birth to Eros, her little brother, the connection got

the day her mother died. She was seven and her 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

heard when she entered her house but 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

ran towards her father and latched onto him. Alexander had wrapped his arms around his trembling daughter and both of their bodies shook with sobs at the loss

after five days for Elena but the most

his family. Arabella had lost her mother and father in mere span of a week. She was so lost in the misery that she failed that year and had to repeat it.

in search for Alexander when he didn’t return for a few months but they couldn’t take Arabella and

describe how grateful she was to them. Her brother Eros didn’t even know about not being their child till date. They raised Eros

so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn’t realize that Amara had

“Sorry mom.”

Amara

in a clearing. It had a small cabin to the side.

here to meet someone important.” Amara explained looking at Arabella’s

Amara

years old and now it’s

Arabella nodded reluctantly.

in the

the massive transparent golden wolf walk out of the woods behind

Aria. My older

stared at the beautiful wolf standing

you telling me that this is Uncle

snorted making Amara glare at him. She

Can I hug you uncle Ry?” 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 a huge golden fur

neck. Before Amara could weave her fingers through the new arrival’s fur, a

of my sister.”

at the unfolding scene.

frustration at the antics of her brother and Xander cowered

kids present here.”

get away from you.”

off

from above her, sulking

You weren’t exaggerating when you said Uncle

her but she just looked at him amused.

my nephew and Ryder’s

nodded, beaming at Xander who was

Xander still didn’t look happy. “Sweetie don’t