I

~Samiah~

The pounding on the door made me pop up out of a dead sleep. I looked around the room frantically, thinking that maybe I was imagining things. The pounding sounds again, and I know that it’s real. 

I scramble out of bed and hurry to the door. The cold air pushes through the worn-out threads of my old pajamas. I pull the door open and almost run into my mom as she hurries to get the door. 

I’m behind her when she pulls it open and is faced with two warriors. “Mariah Hicks and Samiah Hicks.” My mom nods at the warrior and reaches behind her to grab my hand. 

This has happened before, this very scene. We were at home, trying to have a meal and the door was pounded on. I was a few years younger then, and I was pretty happy with my life. Warriors were at the door, and they called Mom and me by name. That time, they were telling us that my father had died, and I will never forget how that news made my mom crumble. I tried to be strong for my mom during that, but I was dealing with my own heartache that I couldn’t completely put down. This time, tonight, I’m not sure what they want. 

“We’ve been sent here to collect you both.” Mom breaks out of the spell before I do. 

“Wh… what’s this about?” Her voice is small and emotional. I’m sure that she’s revisiting the last time we went through this, like I was. 

“You two are being arrested for theft and fraud.” My breath stops, and my heart skips a beat. This can’t be real, can it? This has to be a joke, right? Theft and fraud… me and my mom… there’s no way. 

Before I can say anything, hands reach in and grab my mom. Cuffs are put on her as soon as she’s pulled outside. I can’t even fight for her before the same is done to me. I’m pulled outside where it’s much cooler. My feet come into contact with the rough forest floor, twigs and rocks pressing into my feet. My hands are pulled in front of me, and cuffs are put on them. 

No more words are spoken as we are pulled away from our home with the door still wide open. There are more warriors watching us, along with the Beta couple: Beta Lee and Beta Kiara. I want to stop and ask them how we got here. I want them to explain to me how my mom and I could have gotten caught up in such a crazy situation, but I don’t. The look on Beta Lee’s face is enough to keep my mouth shut. I cast my eyes downward and let them lead me to wherever I’m going. 

There’s snickering around me as we are pulled through the pack to the cells. There are more people gathered around than I could imagine, but I guess I’m not surprised. This pack is pretty laid back, and people do what they are supposed to. To see people arrested is a new sight that has intrigued most. I can only hope they realize what a big mistake this is before things go too far. 

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I’ve never been down here before. In my seventeen years on this Earth, in this pack, I’ve never been down in the cells. I could have gone the rest of my life never coming down here, if I’m being honest. 

I’ve only known rogues to be guests of the cells. I’m sure that there were pack members who made their way here due to crime, but I’m sure it was before I was born or when I was a baby. I haven’t been to other packs, but I know we are pretty much happy here. Happy packs aren’t going to be overflowing with crime. 

The smell is the first thing that hits me: mold, blood, and death. I don’t even want to dissect why those scents are down here or figure out what else I’m missing. I was hoping that they would put me in the same cell as my mom, but that was a pipe dream. 

Rough hands take the cuffs off and toss me like I’m a sack of potatoes. I land hard on my shoulder and pain shoots all over my body. I grimace, swallowing the sob that’s crawling up my throat. I hope they handled my mom with more care, but I won’t hold my breath. I’m pretty sure that they were just as harsh as they were with me. 

The cell is dark and cold. There’s a bucket in the corner, and I assume that’s supposed to be used as a toilet. There’s a rusty sink on one wall with the water dripping from the tap. I have no shoes on, and I don’t even want to guess as to what’s on the ground. There’s an old cot opposite the sink with the thinnest blanket I’ve ever seen. 

I slowly twist my body, trying to be mindful of my hurt shoulder. I slowly rise to my feet, trying to keep my thoughts as quiet as possible. I sigh and sit on the cot, trying to keep the tears out of my eyes. I’m only 17 years old, an Omega in the Brutalmaw Pack. I’ve lived here all my life with my mom, Mariah Hicks. She was fated to my father, and they even got married, but he died when I was 14, and my mom hasn’t been the same. They say the death of a fated mate changes you dramatically, and I’ve seen it up close. 

I’m in my last year of school, and I’ve been apprenticing as a mechanic. I used to tinker on things with my dad. I’m not sure if he had wanted a son instead of a daughter; I just valued the time we spent together. Ross, the pack’s main mechanic, says that I’m a natural, and he teaches me a lot about the business. I consider myself lucky, and I’m excited to start working full-time once I graduate. Well, I was excited. Now, I have no idea what my life is going to look like. 

I lay on the cot, staring at the ceiling. I try to feel my mom, but come up empty. I knew I would because I don’t have my wolf yet. I guess I was hoping that it would work because we are mother and daughter and have leaned on each other for years now. Our bond is pretty strong. 

I went to bed tonight in a much happier mood, and now it seems as if my life is over. I’ve been branded a criminal, even though I haven’t committed a crime. I have no idea why this is happening, but I can only hope that the Moon Goddess fixes it.