#Chapter 4: Trouble Looms

Hannah's POV

The pain of his words hurt more than any punch or kick ever could. I doubled over in pain as the boy continued to pummel me.

As gasps and whispers sounded around me, I looked up through tear-filled eyes to see pack members watching from nearby. Molly glared at me with a knowing smirk on her face.

I looked to Sebastian for help, but he just stood there. I'd thought the discovery of his betrayal had been the worst part of my day, but this was above and beyond that pain. It felt as if a fire was blazing inside my stomach.

"Stop that!" It was Wendy's voice that finally startled Bash into backing off.

He stepped back and looked towards his grandmother who was quickly pushing her way through the small crowd that had now formed around us.

"Sebastian, why aren't you handling this?" She shot out at her son as she headed in between us..

"Bash, you can't do this to your mother. You must respect her and you must call her and only her 'Mom' from now on," Wendy instructed the boy with a stern and clear voice.

I remained bent over at the waist as if I'd been gut punched. I couldn't catch my breath.

"But...she's not my Mom!" Bash shouted at Wendy. "I hate her. I don't want to be here and I don't want to be the Alpha's son. I hate the rules. I hate these people. I hate it all. I just want to go home!"

More murmurs from the pack sounded around us.

These words were coming from such a small child, but they held such a big impact.

My heart and soul were truly broken now.  I didn't know if I could hold it together, but I had to try.

This wasn't just about my dwindling relationship with Bash. This wasn't just about my marriage falling apart. This was about my pack and family was everything in our world.

"Why didn't you talk to me? Tell me how you were feeling? That's what it means to be family, we are in this together," I tried to comfort him and reason with him. My voice was strained, but I poured my heart out.

"I don't want you! I only love my real mom," he was still shouting but his voice broke on the word mom and he reached for Molly's hand as he said it.

I knelt down on the soft earth. I had the certain inclination in that moment that I wished the earth would swallow me whole. I didn't know how much more I could take.

"Well, if that's how he feels. He's chosen his mother then," Sebastian finally spoke up and his words came out cold and brittle to my ears.

Would the betrayal never end?

Wendy cast a sharp glare at her son. She was not happy, but even though she was an elder it was frowned upon to disagree with the alpha publicly.

So, she knew she must choose her words carefully.

"Bash, sweetheart. Molly is not your mother and she will never be your mother. You just like her better because you forgot what happened between Hannah and you. You must be strong. You must train. You must start to get treatment to bring your memories back  Then you will know everything.."

I watched Bash closely as he seemed to consider Wendy's words.  

I was so grateful to have Wendy on my side. She was well loved and well respected.

Everyone had gone deadly silent around us.

Then, Molly began sobbing loudly and clinging to Bash. "Please, please let me stay. I'll do anything. We'll do anything. Bash, Baby. Your grandma just wants to kick me out...."

It was then that Bash surprised everyone...he pushed away from Molly and returned to me. He reached out and hugged me tightly around the neck. Then, leaned back and looked me straight in the eye and said, "If you let my...if you let Molly stay...I'll only call you Mommy."

I almost screamed out at the words. What I might have given everything to hear from him just earlier today now fell flat. It was like adding the final nail to my coffin. My heart nearly tore through my ribcage from the pain.

This child, this innocent lost child had learned the art of manipulation and there was only one person he could have learned that from.

Wendy spoke up again, now with anger. "I can't believe you've picked up Molly's manipulative tricks and are now using them against the very woman who brought you into this world. Let me tell you something — don't even think about it. Molly is leaving today, and that's final."

Something primal flashed in Bash's eyes. I had seen that look before and I knew what he was thinking. He was feeling trapped. Like any animal who didn't stand a chance-there was only one thing he could do.

"If my mom leaves then I'm leaving too!" His words reached my ears as I was already trying to get my feet under me to stand up, but I was too late.

Bash broke away and started running.

I chased after him and I could hear voices behind me. I couldn't tell what they were saying but the voices were heated. I could barely keep sight of Bash as his young wolf had all the energy in the world and he was driven by rage, fear, and denial.

Behind me, I heard Sebastian and Molly and Wendy and I didn't care. I just wanted to talk to Bash alone.

As we ran, I reached out for his scent but it had begun to grow fainter and fainter. I knew that this area of the woods was dangerous because rogues came around often. I also knew that there was a big drop off cliff coming in just a few yards.

My own fear ramped up to a boiling point as I envisioned my precious, confused son running over the edge and falling to his death.

"Bash! Wait!" I got the words out but was already feeling breathless. I briefly thought about shifting into my wolf form to better track him and to run faster, but I couldn't even waste a second to do that.

I pushed forward and through a dense patch of branches as they sliced my arms and tore at my shirt.

Where did he go?

Time was running out. The cliff was coming.

Then I shoved through a wall of thorns and froze.

Bash stood at the edge of the cliff.

Behind him, nothing but air and a hundred-foot drop.

In front of him, five rogue wolves surrounded him.

Fangs bared. Ears flat. Circling.