Chapter 10

**LEON**

When I saw Lucien walking over to his house from a neighbor’s house, I realized it must be the reason he left so abruptly. Either way, I need to be there for my brother. He might have been a pain in the a.ss the last few years, but he’s my baby brother and he needs me.

“We need to talk.” I say as he catches sight of me and goes to open his door. 

“Yes we do.” I hear him say as he opens the door to his house. I raise my eyebrow at him.

When we walk inside I smell air fresheners, clorox and candles.

What the hell? This is not like my brother at all?

I plop down on the couch while he looks through his phone that I just handed back to him.

“Thank you for bringing this back to me. And I’m sorry about any damages I caused back in the hospital.” He finished. I can’t believe he’s apologizing and thanking me in the same sentence. My jaw is on the ground. 

When he turns his head to look at me and sees my shocked expression he starts laughing.

“Oh come on, it hasn’t been THAT long since I apologized.” It is a dead silence as we look over at each other. And at the same time we both burst into a fit of laughter. 

“So as much as I am enjoying your company brother, what did you want to talk about at this hour? I know you didn’t come all this way to return my phone. “ He sighed as he poured himself a glass of sweet tea and slid a glass to me. I picked it up, eyeing it, when two FULL glass bottles caught my eye. I look across the counter and there are two full liquor bottles with a picture of our mother right next to it. 

“I keep her next to them to remind me how I almost lost her. Any time I get a craving I look at that picture and I can’t bring myself to drink it. Sometimes when I go and grab food I order a drink and just stare at it. I can’t drink it but I won’t lie. I want to.. Beer helped me wean myself off to be honest. “  A stray tear leaves my eye. Leaving the pack really was the best thing for him. 

“You know, I thought you were just my dumb rebellious little brother with a chip on his shoulder. Always drinking and fighting. Always wanting to start sh.it with me. I never knew you were hurting. 

I never even knew you had a reason for hurting. I am sorry I overlooked all of that, Lucc. You didn’t deserve to be left alone to deal with all of that. I should have been a better big brother and bugged the fu.ck out of you until you told me what was wrong and for that I am sorry.” I sighed, dropping my head. I know I am wrong. I know when I have made a mistake and not being there for my baby brother and I’ll be man enough to admit it. 

“Leon. How I acted. What I was going through wasn’t your fault but I blamed you. None of it was your fault but it was easier to make you the bad guy. Carrie rejecting me because she wanted to be Luna, wasn’t your fault. But in my mind, you were the villain. And in all reality I never once tried to pursue her. Or fight for her. When she made her decision I let her go. I trained my whole life just as you did to be Alpha. Father told me that one day he would choose between the two of us. And that if I worked hard, I could be the next Alpha of our pack. I pushed myself, trained and overworked to learn everything about the pack. But you were still the chosen one. When you left the office the day you were given the news, he told me that I never would have been Alpha, that I trained my whole life to be your backup replacement in case something ever happened to you. 

His exact words were, “Why do you think I had two sons?”.. Even though you being born first wasn’t your fault, I put the blame on you. Not on who really should’ve been to blame..” He sighed and saw him wipe his tears. He’s never cried. He’s always held it together, and tried to put on a big front. 

“My drinking stemmed from a place of darkness because I hid all of those feelings and emotions. I was named second best by our father AND by MY mate. The two people who are supposed to love me unconditionally for my whole life both saw me as not as good as you. And that wasn’t your fault. But I let it get to me. And now, because of that I am in this small town where I have made a small but reputable name for myself. And it feels good.” He sighed as he dried his eyes and took his glass to his couch. A couch which is facing sliding glass doors overlooking the forest. 

“I’m still known as the Alpha’s trouble-making little brother and I am sure that it will take a long time for that name to lose its wind. But I have something more to live for now. Someone to look forward to… Maybe anyway.” He sighed and took a drink of his sweet tea. 

“Wow.. I really had no idea, Lucien. I am so sorry.” I choked as I plopped down on the couch next to him.

“Are you really happy I’m not in the pack anymore?” He asked, not even sparing me a glance. 

“Why would you think that?” I asked. I am shocked he would even think that. I mean I am happy this place is doing him some good that the pack couldn’t but I miss my little brother. 

“Well, Ezekial had told me that you were pretty happy I was here and that you were telling pack members that I was better off in this town than I was at home..” 

“It wasn’t because I didn’t want you home or that I was happy you were gone. I was just happy that you weren’t drinking while living in this town. You weren’t getting into trouble while being here. I am happy that you seem a bit more at peace. I always want you home, Lucc. But this is what is best for you right now.” He smiled. 

“Now, do you want to talk about the Carrie thing?” I asked hesitantly. 

“Honestly, no. After she rejected me, her business is no longer mine. It’s all up to you now big bro.” He said, chuckling while drinking his tea, still looking into the forest. 

“But there is something serious we need to talk about.” He said with a solemn face. 

“Oh man, don’t tell me you got someone pregnant too.” I said laughing. This doesn’t feel like a laughing time but I have only seen Lucc this serious one other time and then it wasn’t a good thing. 

“I wish, Leon. I really do but no. There may be a threat soon. It’ll be against someone I really care about and I need your word you will back me up when the time comes.” He said looking me directly in my eyes. 

“You have my word, Lucc. But what is this about?” I cleared my throat. Even though he is my little brother he can still be pretty scary. 

“Alpha Talon Rodriguez of The Black Night Pack. His Luna, who was supposedly locked away because of disease, is living in Pocatello. She escaped him. He beat her, Leon. He put his hands on her, and the only reason she found the courage and the strength to leave was because he had finally crossed the line and put his hands on her children.” He growled. And that is what I was worried about. The last time Lucien was truly serious was when a high school girlfriend was attacked after he left highschool. 

She was beaten up by her ex, ra.ped and left in a ditch. Her ex was a wolf from a neighboring pack. He was disgruntled about her being with Lucien. And when he found out about it, he challenged him. Not for her hand, not for a title. Just for blood and death. And he won. It was to the death, I watched as my 18 year old brother ripped the guy's head clear from his body. No one messed with him again. 

He helped the girl he was with get counseling but she was so scared after that he told her he would stay friends with her. He vowed to protect any woman or child that ever needed it. So he doesn’t take this situation lightly. And now, the Luna of an awful pack, is running from her abusive Alpha mate. My brother won’t back down, and he definitely won’t stand alone.

“Lucien, if he comes knocking trying to take her away. Or tries to start anything here. You have my full support for what is necessary. And if this ends in war, let’s wage war then.” I said, patting him on the shoulder.

There was silence around us. No movement, no talking. Just comfortable silence between the two of us. 

He pulls out his phone and smiles.

“So, that’s why you rushed out of the hospital then? Shifted into Ragnar and basically busted down the doors?” I started laughing. 

“She’s special Leon. She’s not my second chance mate, but I feel more for her than I ever did for Carrie.” He said with a smile. 

“Well, I only just met my mate and even though she is a few days out from her birthday, what I feel for her is IMMENSE! So I can’t even imagine you feeling ten times that for someone who isn’t your mate. But I hope things work out, Bub.. And I mean it, whatever you need, you got it.” I said truthfully. Even mentioning mates makes me think of Alora.

“Oh about your mate. Little firecracker, ain’t she!” He chuckled, walking into the kitchen to put his cup away.

“She punched me right in my sh.it.. Like seriously rocked my jaw. Since she is still underage, we are taking this week just to hangout and get to know each other. But she’s perfect Lucc. Completely perfect. I’m a fu.cking idiot, which you already knew. Hahaha.” We both laugh.

“It’s nice for us to talk like this. We should do it more often. More brotherly bonding time. Mom is going to wake up and be shocked that we are getting along.” He says through his laughter. 

“AAAGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!” Lucien screams from the kitchen knocking the picture of mom off the counter… 

“What’s wrong, Lucc?!!” I said running into the kitchen.. I see he is holding his head.

“It feels like someone is punching me in the forehead…!” He said growling…

Just then I not only felt his worry and panic and confusion, but I felt his anger..

He tries to move from his spot but every move of his muscle causes him to growl. He then shifts to Ragnar and out the sliding glass doors he goes, leaving a trail of shattered glass, some fur and small spots of blood in the wake. I ran out after him and saw him go to the same neighbor’s house he came from when I got here. 

Well this is probably not how he wanted this Monica to meet Ragnar but it’s too late now… 

**MONICA**

As soon as Lucien left, I locked the door and slid my back down it. I crumbled right there, completely. Warm, fresh tears streaming down my face.  I am kind of glad I didn’t have the courage to ask him to stay the night or he would have seen me breakdown like this. And Lucien, he is way too kind to be brought into this sh.it storm.. 

He found me, he really found me. I knew there would be a chance he would, but I was hoping I was wrong. 

I can’t go back to that place. I know Lucien said he would help me. But how can he? He doesn’t know the type of man Talon is.. He’s selfish and cruel and for whatever reason extremely powerful. He’s stronger than anyone I have ever met. He once punched me so hard I had to have my jaw wired shut. I called the cops on him one time, the cops showed up. Stared at the door, and turned around and left. They never even spoke a word to me. Why? Why did no one care about me or my children then? And why do the people in this town seem like they do?

I don’t think I can stay here. I know Lucc means well, but I have to protect my babies. The one and only time he ever put his hands on my children is where I drew the line and I won’t ever let them fall back into his hands again. Plus I like Nikki, Klaus, their children, and Lucien. I really like him Which is another reason why I can’t stay here and put these sweet people in danger. 

Tomorrow, after sundown, we will make another run for it. This time I’ll change our names, go into complete hiding in a forest if I have to… But that man will never lay a hand on a single strand of hair on me or my children again…

I have this uneasiness as I walk across this big house with boxes everywhere from the move. Lucky for me, I hadn’t really unpacked from moving into the apartment. I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up like someone is watching me.. 

“Lucien?” I called out, wondering if he came back to check on me again. It’s been a good thirty minutes since he left and it seems like something he would do. I quiver into myself a little bit. That's when I hear it..

“Oh no darling. I’m not your precious Lucien.” My blood runs completely cold.. Chills shivering down my spine.. My heart feels like it could stop at any second..

And all I can think of is 'Lucien. Lucien. Lucien. Lucien. Lucien…'

Luckily my kids are still in bed and they are none the wiser of who is here or what is to come for their mother. I would never want them to see that. Not ever again. So if this is how it really ends for me. At least they won’t see it.. I succeeded that much. 

“I told you, you’ll never be able to run from me, Monica.”

My body freezes. His hand grabs my elbow and everything just falls away.. I don’t cry, or scream. I can’t hear anything. My vision is blurring. My mouth is going completely dry and that’s when I feel it. A hand connecting to my jaw. “Spending time with another man..” He growls.

I’m knocked to the ground. Another fist lands on my nose. “Giving him the attention that belongs to me.” The rain of hits and kicks and stomps while I’m on the ground are rattling through my body. But I’ll be damned if I scream or let this fu.cker witness my pain. The blood may run, but my tears will not. No longer listening to the words that escape his mouth.

And all I can think of is Lucien. Hoping somehow, someway I will reach him.

‘Please get to my kids, Lucc.. Please take them far away from here. Protect them Lucc..’ Is all I can think of as I am pummeled. This is it. I always knew I would die at the hand of this monster that I thought held my heart. The man I thought I married out of love. But this isn’t love. This is control. I just never knew it would happen AFTER I found the courage and strength to leave.

One more stomp to my stomach makes warm blood trickle from my mouth and nose. But no cries. No tears. Just worry for my babies.. My sweet little innocent and amazing babies…

‘They are yours now, Lucien. Please take care of them. And tell them how much I love them. Don’t let him get to them…’