The days soon settled into a reliable pattern, and as Christmas came on, I was reasonably confident things would be a lot better than they had been in previous years. I didn't want to think about the last two Christmases - which had been unbelievably lonely affairs - so I cast them from my mind, and focused instead on what I hoped would be the first of many happier Christmases to come.
Christmas Day dawned cold, but bright, and GiGi and I got up early to exchange presents and greetings. I'd decided to get her a set of new teatowels, partly because I wanted to thank her for being so kind to me, but also because the set she currently had was desperately in need of a refresh. "You're a scamp," she chided affectionately. "But thank you."
"Hey, it's what I do," I said, grinning.
GiGi chuckled. "Well, I suppose my present pales in comparison," she teased, before handing me an envelope. I opened it, frowning, before my eyes widened in shock. "What on earth...?"
Inside the envelope was a letter, containing five vouchers for driving lessons, and I stared at them in wonder. "Thank you," I said, my eyes filling rapidly with tears. I brushed them away so I could give GiGi a hug, feeling even better than I had when I'd first moved in.
GiGi smiled as we parted. "I figured you could use some wheels," she said. "Can't have you spending all your wages on tram fares, you know."
I had to laugh at that. Tram fares were actually surprisingly affordable, but it would be nice to have a car so I could get out and do some exploration of this part of the UK. I had no intentions on returning to Bath, of course, but that didn't mean I couldn't at least pass through, just to prove to my former pack I'd come a long way in the world.
But I checked myself. I wasn't really a spiteful person, and truth be told, taking that sort of revenge felt petty. So I shelved the idea, resolving instead just to stay the hell away from Bath altogether. I didn't fancy running into my former pack in any case, and I didn't want to give Ben any chance to get his slimy hands on me again, now that I knew his unsavoury plans for me. I just hoped Mum was safe, but I knew she'd be in good hands.
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No first car is ever glamourous, but the Volkswagen Beetle GiGi got me to celebrate the successful aquisition of my license was probably the most amazing car I had ever seen. And it was all mine to use as I wished. That made all the difference to me. No one could take it away from me, or vandalise it, and that was probably the best feeling, to know I had something that was mine, and mine alone.
It even came with a roofrack, which presented an option if I ever wanted to travel further. I didn't have too many plans for leaving Fleetwood just yet; I'd gained more hours at the firm, with a promise to start proper training to begin learning the business itself. I didn't mind being a receptionist, of course, but my employer had told me at the end of the year that I was more than that. I was definitely pleased she was trusting me with so much, and I couldn't wait to get started.
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Another Christmas came and went, and when the firm opened at the start of January, I was now working in the office proper, with two new receptionists taking my spot. Business was booming, and I'd never been happier. In fact, I felt the happiest I'd ever been since coming to Fleetwood almost two years ago, and as my twentieth birthday approached, I was confident things were finally on the up.
Until they weren't.
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The day before my birthday, GiGi gave me some bad news. Sarah, who'd been in jail now for almost two years, had finally faced court for her actions. Somehow, against all logic and reasoning, she'd been acquitted, and I was furious. "How could she?" I snapped, horrified. Suddenly, I felt as if all the happiness I'd gained in the last two years was about to be ripped away from me, and I grimaced as I ran my right foot over my prosthetic. I'd grown so used to it by now that it felt odd not to have it on, but the news of Sarah's acquittal had roused old fears, and I shivered.
GiGi put her hand on mine. "I'm sorry, child," she said. "I wish I could give you something better."
"She's going to come after me, isn't she?" I said, my heart pounding.
"I'm suspecting so," GiGi said grimly. "And she won't stop at your remaining foot this time, I'm sure. Child, I know you've been putting it off, but you need to swear to a pack, and soon."
I nodded. "But I don't want to leave," I said. I'd grown used to Fleetwood, and it honestly felt more like my home than Bath ever had.
GiGi squeezed my hand. "You won't have to," she promised. "I can arrange for you to meet someone who will allow you to swear to the Alpha by proxy. I'll also tell Perry to delay Sarah as much as he can."
"Will it work?" I asked.
"It will," GiGi promised. "I can assure you of that. In fact, I have an idea."
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GiGi's idea turned out to be a no contact order. I had no idea if it was going to work, but somehow, it did, and two weeks after my birthday, it was granted. Naturally, though, Sarah and Ben were less than pleased, and, remembering what GiGi had said about Ben's determination to get me back under his control, I knew he'd do all he could to try and have the order squashed.
But he failed; Uncle Perry had recommended I be seen by two independent specialists, both of whom deemed me to be in sound mind. Those reports, plus character testimonies from almost everyone I'd come to know in Fleetwood, were enough to defang Ben's attempts to try and have me taken back to Bath under duress. Of course, he and Sarah now knew I lived in Fleetwood, but with the no contact order solidly in place, neither of them could come after me for the next twelve months. Which gave GiGi more than enough time to put the rest of her plan into motion.
I still wasn't looking forward to the idea of swearing to another pack, but GiGi had assured me that I would have nothing to fear; the pack of whom she knew were a very fierce and loyal pack, and they protected their own with a devotion that couldn't be matched. It didn't matter if you were adopted into the pack; they looked after you like their own flesh and blood. I did admit to being skeptical - my former pack had promised me the world, and then let me down miserably, and I wasn't sure I was ready to believe another promise.
But if it would free me from Ben's clutches, then I was ready to take that chance.
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