and he shouldn't!
~Epilogue~ ~Three Years Later~ ~Scarlett’s Point of View~ I look down at the fur sprouted on my hand and gasp. I’d been feeling a weird tingle in my brain for the last two days, and I absolutely knew what that meant. But to see it finally happening, to have it be real… “Are you there,” I whisper, as I continue to stare at my skin. I’m suddenly hotter than I’ve ever felt, it’s truly unnatural. Literally all I want is to tear this dress off and shave my head if it’ll help cool me off. Since I’m alone in my room I decide I could care less, and I strip since I don’t want my dress to get shredded anyhow. Everyone is at a picnic down by the pond, and though I’m sure the twins are wondering where I went, but something told me it was best to be alone. The sun is setting, and too soon the full moon will be showing itself. This is absolutely the moment every girl dreams of, getting her best friend for life. *Hmm, what’s that smell,* I hear, making me gasp. I practically shoot off the bed
~Hannah’s Point of View~I sigh and turn over, too hot and irritated to sleep. Just to add to my foul mood, it’s literally the hottest night of the year. So that plus the news from my father a couple hours ago, finding sleep will be impossible. The brilliant full moon shines through my window, giving the faintest bit of light and the reminder that I’m still without my wolf. She should have come by now.When I hear someone moving in my room, I sit up and prepare to scold my little brothers for being out so late even though I’m certain it wasn’t their choice. They have slept with me their entire lives, but lately our father has been giving them “tasks” that sometimes extend way past bedtime. It pisses me off to no end, I want them to stay little boys much longer, but it's a losing battle. I open my mouth to scold them but it's not the hand of a ten year old boy that touches me. I freeze instantly, realizing the hand is far too large, coarse and heavy. “Sweet Hannah…” I hear, barely a
~Hannah’s Point of View~ ~The Next Evening~ “Why did you push it up, what’s in it for you? You always said it would be when I turned 18 or if my wolf came,” I whisper, glaring at my father as the dressmaker pulls at my gown. He waves me off, apparently I’m not even worth an explanation. I don’t need one, I already know the answer. Money. He was promised money. It’s literally the only language my drunk and gambling addicted father understands. “What does it matter? Today, next year, whatever. He won’t wait much longer and I don’t want to either. If you had your damn wolf you could fully mate and we wouldn’t have to have a stupid wedding as a promise. They’ll only fulfill half the bargain until you’re properly mate,” he snarls, as he takes a flask out of his pocket. The stench of cheap whiskey on his breath makes my stomach lurch. I seethe when he turns his back to me, my blood boiling as my brain immediately flashes ten different ways I could kill him in this moment. But I know
~Hannah’s Point of View~I rub the sleep from my eyes and try to sit up but my entire being aches, stings and absolutely protests. I reach to my forehead and feel the throbbing there. I go to move my other arm and realize it’s in a contraption, preventing me from moving it. There are bandages on my face and arms.Blinking fast several times, I take in a mostly plain room. Nothing on the walls, not much furniture other than my bed and a tray with a cup on my nightstand. Then a dresser on the far wall. I reach for the cup on instinct and greedily gulp down the cool water. I could literally be anywhere though I doubt I’m with my father. He wouldn’t have even bothered to try and fix me up.“Challenges force us to show what we’re made of.” My father’s voice is literally always in my mind, always pushing me. For better or for worse.I take a quick minute to try and remember what happened. When I close my eyes, all I see is my brothers running away. My eyes pop open and I gasp, my body jerk
~Rafe’s Point of View~ My wolf paces in my head, forcing me to stare at the beautiful female. No matter how much I’ve told him no for two days, he insists I stay close to her. Suddenly our girlfriend isn’t good enough, he can’t be bothered with her. We’ve been in love with Cassandra for years, and there’s no ignoring that. There’s no tossing it aside for some damn rogue. When she gets her wolf soon, we’ll mate and pop out pups. That’s always been the plan. But now there’s this… Bomb that’s gone off in my face. It’s a distraction I don’t need, but one I can’t just forget. The entire room smells like her: wildflowers. Fresh and clean like the breeze on a nice summer day. Like I stepped into a damn field of them and never want to find my way out. I first caught wind of her scent during the raid, and it clouded my head in a way I’d never felt. When I saw my Beta damn near ready to rip her throat out, I could have killed him. I nearly did. But we didn’t know why Harrison and his family
~Hannah’s Point of View~ “It’s fine, I’ve had worse,” I whisper, not sure if I’m humiliated or not. I don’t care what this Rafe person thinks of me. He thinks enough of himself clearly. Once I can get away and into the woods, I’ll be fine and never have to see him again. “From him,” he shouts, his fist pounding on the table. I wouldn’t say that I hate many things exactly, but I do hate pity. It’s probably a rogue thing but I never want anyone to think I’m not fully capable of taking care of myself. Though everything with my father is different. I’m vulnerable to him, I do care what he thinks. Even now, I hate that I do. Though nothing that happened was my fault I still feel the disappointment in him and it’s heavy on my heart. “What do you care? It’s your fault Harrison is dead,” I say, balling up and turning away. Tears stream down my face and I’m unable to stop them. The weak die, the strong survive. I know without a doubt as long as my father lives he’ll get out of here. He’s
~Rafe’s Point of View~ “What the fuck do you mean he’s gone,” my father shouts, practically rattling the dungeon walls. “I don’t know how it’s possible Alpha, I came in to give him breakfast and he was gone,” the keeper says, his voice quivering. He should be scared. He and his entire crew will be interrogated and tortured for this! I kick the shirt left on the ground, then scoop it up and begin to rip it to shreds. “Give this to all our best trackers at once! Find this bastard,” I shout, handing the cloth to the keeper. “Parker has just returned this morning, he’ll want to be in on the search,” Billy, the guard replies. I growl at the idea of my brother being the hero in this. But we need all paws pounding the dirt here and I’m not going out. I’ve just been gone for a week to do the raid. “I want some damn answers,” my father continues to roar. I rub my face and turn away since I’m too pissed off and need air. I head out of the dungeon and step outside where people are doing
~Hannah’s Point of View~ “Let’s hurry up and get dinner! The males here are all pigs and if you don’t get there early you’re stuck with whatever is left. The full moon is the only good time to eat, they’re all out hunting and eating on four legs, hoping to woo a female or some nonsense,” Scarlett giggles, pulling my hand. I groan at the thought of eating in a large mess hall in front of so many. When I visited Harrison’s pack years ago it was how they ate and I can’t imagine Nightwind is any different. I’ve been able to get away with eating supper in my room the last few nights. But I’m starting to heal and be more mobile so today Scarlett has been dragging me all over the place. My lungs have appreciated the fresh air though, I can’t deny that. She also dresses me up in ridiculous clothes that make me feel silly. It’s impossible to be in her bedroom and see all her nice things. Everything just screams money to me. Her jewelry, her clothes, her shoes. I’d be able to make so much fr