Lola’s pov,
When Lola arrived back at the house, she found Noah on the terrace in the back. He made a campfire and was busy putting marshmallows on a stick.
“What is this? Are we having people over?” Lola asked surprised.
Noah smiled shyly, “No I did this for you. Thought you might like it.”
Lola said nothing and Noah his smile faded, “You don’t like it, do you? I am sorry. I just realized that the only side of me that you have seen is the Alpha. I am much more than that so I wanted to show you I can be nice. I thought you would like something simple, but I guess I was wrong. I will try harder next time.”
Noah just kept rambling on, and Lola put her finger on his lips, “Sshhh, no I like it. I was just surprised that’s all. Is there also hot chocolate milk?”
Noah sighed relieved and hurried to his bag and took out a thermos bottle, “Of course! I was doubting between gluhwein and hot chocolate milk, but I think you had enough alcohol yesterday.”
Lola pushed him, “Ow shut it.”
She grabbed a stick with marshmallows and sat down at the fire. Noah sat down next to her and together they stared at the flames in silence. Lola watched the white marshmallows slowly turn to a golden brown. She took them out and started blowing on them to cool them off. Noah on the other hand immediately shoved all four marshmallows in his mouth. Lola gasped, “Noah?! Aren’t they burning hot?”
He answered with a full mouth, “Takes years of practice.”
Lola laughed when he swallowed and looked at her proudly. His whole cheek was still covered in marshmallow. She reached forward and cleaned his cheek with her thumb. He grabbed her hand firmly and held it against his cheek for a moment while he closed his eyes. He looked like a puppy that was dying to get some comfort. Lola let him be for a moment and when he opened his eyes, he looked at her warmly. For the first time, her heart skipped a beat making her stomach feel light.
She took back her hand and hesitantly asked, “Noah I don’t know anything about you really. Your childhood. Where the rest of your family is?”
Noah stared into the flames, “I don’t know what to tell you it is not a happy story. When I was born my family was already the leading pack. My grandfather was the one that led the Grey Oak pack to power and my father followed in his footsteps. Both were dominant and arrogant men, they only cared for power. My grandpa died at the age of 45 after a heart attack. When my dad took over, I became the heir because I was his only son. He had always been hard on me but from that moment it became much worse. He said I needed to be prepared for ruling and that I was still too soft at heart. He made me do awful things and beat me if I did or said anything he didn’t like. After a while, I got used to the pain so he started to punish my sister instead so he would still have control over me. My mother was soft at heart, and she always tried to protect us. She tried to run away with us a couple of times but never succeeded. In the end, she could not endure all the cruelty anymore, so she poisoned herself.”
Noah balled his fists and Lola could see it still made him feel all sorts of things to talk about his mother. Noah continued, “After she died the only thing, I cared about was protecting Laela. So, I did everything my father wanted and behaved like the monster he wanted me to be. I know you think we live in a cruel and unfair way now, but you should have seen how it was when my father was alive. You wouldn’t have lasted a day under his rule.”
“Your father also died?” Lola asked.
“Yes, also a heart attack when he was only 45 years old. I guess the constant hunger for power consumes a person which is why they both died that way.”
Lola tried to comfort him by putting her hand on his arm, “I am sorry that happened to you Noah. I did not mean to open up old wounds.”
Noah seemed to be lost in thoughts after his trip to memory lane. He just stood up and said, “I should better go to bed. Tomorrow will be a late night as well.”
“Why what is tomorrow night?” Lola asked.
Noah poured some water over the fire and said, “Tomorrow is a full moon. We always have a small party then.”
“Good night, Lola.”
Lola watched him walk away and thought about all the things he just told her. No wonder he turned out the way he did with such a childhood. She knew all about it, her childhood did not do her much good either. At least he realized that he was raised wrongly so that gave Lola hope that there was still a way to change things around here. But still, people always had a choice and she imagined one of the horrible things he meant was that he helped kill all the Fire Wolves. Was that something he could come back from? Was it something she could forgive?