Enigma novel Chapter 3

“What happened? Is everything alright?” Mom said in a panicked voice.

“It’s nothing mom.” I wiped my eyes. “I just remembered that… that day.”

I shook my head to clear the images that were swirling in front of my eyes.

“Did anything trigger it?” Dad asked in a stern voice but I can sense the undertone of worry in his voice.

I saw Zeno looking at me with a weird expression on his face from the crowd around us. Everyone was gathered around us. Shit! I didn’t want to go into full panic mode in front of them. They will bully me even more.

“No dad. It just happened out of nowhere.” I lied.

Getting Zeno into trouble won’t be a good idea now. It will create even more problems than I already have. He is their Alpha after all. They worship him like a god. I have been through this for so many years, one more won’t be that much of a problem.

“Okay. Are you feeling alright? Do you want to go home sweetie? We can go right away.” Mom said narrowing her eyes at me.

I don’t think she believed me. Ben and Ethan were looking at me with concern and so were Valentina and Beth. Elliott was standing beside them with Eros holding his hand. Those two always had a close bond from the beginning.

“Off course not mom. I am alright. I just freaked out a little. That’s all. You can continue the party. I will need a minute to collect myself.” I said with a straight face.

In reality, I want to go home and curl up in my bed. I am glad Eros didn’t have to go through what I had.

“Steven we are leaving.” Mom said with authority.

My head snapped towards her in surprise.

“Off course love.”

“Why? We can stay. I promise I am okay.” I tried to convince them.

“You think I will care more about a party when my daughter is not feeling well? Well you are wrong. Kids get in the cars. We are leaving.”

A pleasant warmth started to spread in my chest at her words. I know she is not my real mother but in all these years, she never let me feel that. I smiled at her gratefully. She is a really great woman. I don’t know what I would have done without her and dad.

“Mom how about I go visit uncle Ryder?” I suggested standing up on shaking legs. “You can still enjoy the party. I don’t want to kill the fun.”

“Are you out of your mind? We are not leaving you alone when you just had a panic attack.” Ben snapped.