ROSE“Maddie.” Is all Tyson says, but the angry way in which he says it, is all I need to know. Cain knows something. I walk over to Cain and stare him down.“Do you know where my daughter is?” I ask, narrowing my gaze at him.“He’s had her this whole time.” Tyson growls out behind me, and I do something I’ve never done in my life. I slap Cain. Hard. As hard as I can. I know it doesn’t hurt him, he is a werewolf after all, but his head snaps to the right anyway. He turns back and meets my eyes, regret and guilt shining out at me. Maybe it’s being around all these wolves all the time, but I let out a low growl, ready to attack him.“You SON OF A BITCH!!” I yell. But before I can launch myself at Cain, I feel Tyson’s large warm arms engulf me from behind and pull me into him, just as Melinda flies into the room and plants herself in front of Cain. I fight against Tyson’s hold trying to get to Cain. My anger swirling around me and I want his blood. “How DARE you come into our territory af
ROSE“What is it, love?” Tyson asks of me. Then he kisses my temple.“Cain is right. His pack is struggling. Badly. More than a long-standing, well-established pack should be. I see why he took the contract and saw it as a way out of the debt. Now that he doesn’t have that being held over him, he’s free to try and engage in treaties from other packs, not to mention, ask for significant help from the council. I’d say they are mere months away from imploding, through no fault of his. It seems he’s done everything he can to help and rebuild, but that’s hard when you don’t have the capital or backing to get it done. After reading all of that, I can’t hate him for what he’s done. I want to, but I can’t. He did what a good Alpha does, he sacrifices for the good of the pack.”Everyone just stares at me with these dumbfounded looks on their faces. But Melinda is smiling at me. I can see the hope in her eyes, and I don’t want to be the one who extinguishes that for her.“Rose, you’re serious? H
ROSEOnce we end the call with Sullivan, Tyson sends the video he sent of Maddie up onto the flat screen. We all watch as Maddie runs with warriors and stretches. Then she steps into the fighting ring with a girl that is many years older than her. My breath catches in my throat, scared at what is happening with my baby. I have watched the training and sparring here with River View warriors and these wolves are quite scary when they fight. None more so than Tyson and Zeus. Seeing Maddie step into a ring, even knowing neither of these girls have their wolves, I’m still terrified.We watch Maddie successfully dodge the tall teen she-wolf. As we continue to watch, I realize she is analyzing this girl. Looking for weaknesses. When Maddie makes her move, I am floored at how quickly she takes her down and with extreme ruthlessness. A warrior has to carry the teen off the field.Then the second girl enters the ring. I can tell she is fearful and hesitant about it. Maddie takes her down in two
ROSE POV “Mama, it’s really cold out today.” Maddie says with a puff of frost. “Yes, baby. It really is.” I reply back through my almost frozen lips. We are walking hand in hand down the snow lined city street from our one-bedroom SRO apartment toward Maddie’s school. It is below freezing outside, and the wind feels extra biting today. The trees that we pass are all frozen and bare. Their branches are filled with ice, making them sparkle in the morning sunlight. It is quite a beautiful sight. But all the newly fallen sleet and snow during the night has caused the sidewalks to become extremely treacherous, especially considering the tread on both of our shoes is practically non-existent. The snow is piled high from the snowplows clearing the streets, making it difficult to get around, but we are doing our best. Maddie is bundled into a coat that is a size too small for her and wearing my mismatched gloves, hat, and scarf. I’m bundled as be
ROSE Upon entering the large skyscraper that is owned by Evans Enterprises, the receptionist, Lori, looks up to give me her usual smile and a wave but does a double take at my new coat color. Her face crinkles into a weird frown. I just smile politely back as I head to the stairs to descend to the basement, where my workday starts. I remove my coat and extra shirt layers and hang them in my locker, but leave my gloves, scarf, and hat on. I’m still feeling cold and those are black, so they aren’t against dress code. I know I’ll warm up soon enough. I head into the mailroom where my mail cart is waiting. Rolando, my supervisor, works the early mornings to sort the mail into our carts, and they are always loaded and perfect upon arrival. Because so many things are sent electronically these days, there isn’t much need for mail clerks anymore, so there are only 2 of us for the entire skyscraper and only Rolando in the mailroom for sorting. The three of us, Me, Rolan
TYSON POV I look up from my cell phone as I step out of the elevator on to my floor of The Tower. From the corner of my eye, I see the back foot of someone stepping into the service elevator and disappearing from view. Probably the mail clerk going about their day. Excellent. That means the mail has been delivered to my desk already. I have time to review the finalized contracts for the smaller security company I am buying out. I’ve asked Rachel to arrive early for the last week so we can get this nailed down and over with. As I walk through the open concept office space to my doors, I stop in my tracks as I deeply inhale the scent I’ve come to love this last week during my early mornings, honeysuckle and roses. Zeus, my wolf, has been much more active and agitated this week than normal. When I get a whiff, he starts going crazy and running in my head. “Dude, what’s up with you lately?” I ask in annoyance. “That scent. It gets stronger a
ROSE I am beyond angry at what Rachel just did to me. Instead of heading to the CFO and COO offices on the other floors, I return to the basement to see Rolando to give him my official complaint for HR. As I exit the elevator, I can hear Rolando and Monica talking. As I get closer, I realize it is about me. Crap. “Rolando, I wasn’t trying to snoop. It was on the locker room floor. I picked it up just to see what it was. Honest. How will she afford this? Maddie needs the school, but Rose is killing herself already to pay the tuition. What do we do?” “You’ll do nothing,” I answer her question as I enter the room and take the tuition notice from her. Both sets of eyes snap over to me and widen in surprise at getting caught. “I’ll figure something out, I always do. It isn’t for you to worry about.” “But…” “No buts, Monica. I have someone helping me look into scholarships and other assistance. Everything will work itself out, you’
ROSE “Hi, welcome to Patty’s Diner. I’m Rose, and I’ll be your server today. Can I get you all something to drink?” I ask with a small smile as I look up at my table. “I don’t want a drink, but I’ll take your number, gorgeous.” A male voice on the right says with a snicker and his friends chuckle along with him. “Sorry, I don’t date customers. Drinks, gentlemen?” “Oh, I don’t want a date, just a quick fuck will suffice. Getting a break soon?” He replies lewdly at me, and I sigh in frustration. At least he didn’t say it loudly and catch Maddie’s attention. I don’t need her to overhear overt sexual comments directed at me. “Sir, I am going to have to ask you to leave if you keep saying things that are inappropriate.” I say as I look the customer in the eye. I know my face is set grimly and coldly. The guy who has propositioned me couldn’t be older than 18 with dirty blond hair and light brown eyes. He’s a big guy but with n