"Maya RUN!"
Maya screams and goes bolting off the way she came but Hunter follows her, stumbling on his feet but still going after my daughter. No. I'd rather be dead before I allow him to lay his hands on her. I scramble off the floor and run as fast as I can to intercept him. He's still drunk so his steps are slow but he's almost at the door to her room. I beat him to it and slam it shut. "Hunter, leave Maya out of this! She's never done anything to you, it's me you want to hurt." My husband grabs me by the neck before I can even realize it and hauls me up, choking me as he does so. "You'll get your turn, stupid cunt. You think I don't see the way you dote on her, your precious daughter, while I'm made a mockery of by everyone around me. I'll kill her today, and then fuck your brains out, maybe the death of one child will get your body to bring out another, and if you still refuse, I'll kill you too." Hunter throws me with the strength of an Alpha and I crash against the wall, my body screaming out in pain as something pops out of place. Horror blinds my vision as he opens the door to Maya's room and steps in and immediately, all I can hear is the sound of Maya screaming. "Mummy!" "Mummy help me!" "Mummy help me!" She screams again and this time she's crying heavily. I hear something crash and Hunter's grunt is mixed into the fray of all that sound. Maya screams again and as she screams, cold rage fills my bones. I pick myself up despite the pain in my ribs and I walk into the room. Hunter has our daughter by the hem of her dress and even though he's swaying on his feet I can tell he's going to do it. He's going to kill her. I grab the lamp on the drawer by the door and advance bravely. He catches my movement and his eyes narrow at me. Menacingly. "You wouldn't dare." I burst into a run and slam the lamp right down on his head. Hunter goes down cold and Maya runs to me, sobbing and hiding her face in the folds of my yellow dress. I'm heaving and looking at my husband on the floor but my daughter's sobbing is what catches my attention the most. I kneel to wrap her in my arms and let her cry into my hair. We need to get out of here. Looking at Hunter's form on the floor reminds me we don't have much time. He'll never allow us leave when he wakes up and he's only going to continue from where he stopped. I can't allow that to happen. "Mummy?" Maya sniffles and I turn to her, wiping her tears off her cheek and trying not to cry myself. "Yes, darling." "I'm scared." I nod at that and hug my daughter once more, she starts crying again and her tears hurt me more than any pain I've ever felt. She isn't meant to go through this. It isn't her fault she was born a girl. "I need you to be strong Maya, okay? We'll leave this place tonight and go somewhere else." She nods and sniffles again, wiping at her tears. "Okay." I get up the minute she says that and take my daughter out of the room. The key is still in my pocket and I lock the door when we go out. Breaking it down won't take him two minutes but it will give us some warning. There's a first aid box in the kitchen and I bring it down, taking care of a bruise Maya has on her leg and applying some lotion around her neck. Hunter wanted to strangle his daughter. It makes me work faster and soon I've tended to both of our injuries. It's well past eleven on the clock when we slip out of the house with nothing but the clothes on our backs and Maya is trembling as she holds my hand. I look down at her and smile. "We'll be okay, my love." She nods and I lead her to the back of the house. No one should be wandering around the pack by this time except for some of the warriors going on patrol. Their patrol routine is one I have observed and we pass the first batch of them easily enough. When we get to the next stop we pass by more carefully. Maya is as silent as I am and I can see the pack entrance. I can see our escape when a hand grabs me and pulls me into the woods around us. Panic flares and I want to shout but there's a hand over my mouth. "Shhhhhh, it's me, Aria." Aria lets go of me and when I turn she's standing there, her dark hair identical to her brother's, and the fact that she's Hunter's younger sister sends a chill down my spine. She directs a leveled stare at me. "What are you both doing outside by this time of the night?" A lie pops into my head and I make the mistake of blurting it out. "Maya couldn't sleep, so I'm taking her for a walk." My chest is tight with emotion and I watch as Aria Tyson cocks an unbelieving eyebrow up at me before her look softens. She moves closer and touches the new cut on my cheek. "He's hurt you again hasn't he?" Maya sobs lightly against my skirt and tears slide down my face. I sniffle and wipe them off. "It's nothing serious. It's the same way he's always been. We'll go back now." Aria grabs my arm and stops me, her eyes darting around. "The entrance is guarded by Hunter's head warrior. He's very watchful and he's much more on guard than the others." She drops something into my hand and I see it's a car key. "Take my car. The windows are tinted so they won't see you, but they won't stop you either. I'm famous for late-night outings." The sob that escapes my body is sudden and I hug her "Thank you, Aria. Thank you." She hugs me back and pulls away before kneeling to hug Maya. "Be a good girl, okay?" Maya nods and Aria stands up to look at me. "You should have run the minute he started hitting you, but there's no time like the present so go. The car is parked just behind that house you passed." I nod and carry Maya, taking off with her and being careful not to make any noise. We don't encounter any warriors on patrol as we go to the car, and by the time we're inside, I can see Maya yawning. I place her in the back and start the car, hoping in my heart that this isn't some cruel joke Aria Tyson is playing on me for the sake of her brother. My heart hammers in my chest as we get to the pack gates and as I drive the car past, I don't see anyone coming out to stop me. I keep a steady pace for a few more minutes until I turn a bend. The car jolts forward as I hit the accelerator and wind down the windows. The night air makes me laugh through my tears and the free roads make me cry even more. I look at the back seat to see my daughter sleeping and emotion swells in my heart. I should have done this a long time ago. But as I've heard there's no time like the present. And I can smell it now, the smell of freedom.We drive for three hours before any thoughts start running through my mind. The first one that hits me makes fear race through my heart. Where will we go? I can't take us to my parent's pack. Hunter's pack is really strong and it'll only be a matter of time before he comes for me. He'll charge me with attempted murder and take Maya away from me before he kills me. My parents won't be able to stop him, and Hunter's pack will stand behind him. So maybe I should take us elsewhere. I have a distant cousin who lives a few cities away. My atm and one of my credit cards are in my pocket, and luckily it's the one Hunter doesn't have access to. I've been saving some money for Maya's education in case Hunter decides not to sponsor her schooling anymore, I'll have to use some of it to get us far away from him. Tears prick the back of my eyes and I blink them back, keeping my eyes on the road and watching as the clouds roll by, thick and heavy in the night. I've been living in so much f
Roman's povA few hours earlier....."You're being silly Roman."My father paces behind his desk."Think of the pack, the wolves you have to protect. Are you going to leave them without an heir!""I'll do what I want Father."My anger gets the best of me and I squeeze the pen in my grip, keeping a hold on the frustration I'm feeling right now and reining my emotions in once more."I won't be forced to go on blind dates with someone I barely even know. I'll do what is best for me when I'm ready."My father is quiet and I know he's assessing me. We come from a long line of Alphas and even at sixty-two, I can still see evident traces of the man he once was. The man he forever is though the title he once held is now mine. He turns to look at me and I can see the stubbornness in his eyes."This can't go on for much longer, Roman. A pack needs a Luna as much as it needs an Alpha and there's nothing holding onto the past will do for you except cause you more pain. The blind dates are being
Scarlett's pov Why is he looking at me so much? I can barely pull my eyes away from his but if he had pulled his away from mine then we wouldn't be here, would we? What startles me the most about him is how huge he is. He's as large as Hunter, maybe even larger. I probably look like a younger sister next to him. "Who are you?" His voice sends a shiver down my spine and the pleasure that rocks through my brain is unexpected. I don't know what to say. "I... I... Actually..." "If I wanted you to stutter I wouldn't have asked a question at all. What the hell are you doing in my pack, Rogue?" The way his voice is dripping with disgust and hate snaps me out of my reverie. I take a step back before stealing a glance at everything around me and clearing my throat. "I am not a Rogue." "What are you then? I don't have too much patience and the little I have is already running out." Okay, who is this prick? Annoyance flares alive in my bones and I want to lash out at him. Ask him
"What is your name?" "Scarlett Johansen." "What pack are you coming from?" "The Greenwoods pack." The sound of his pen as he writes on the jotter in front of him, does nothing to quell my fear. "How old are you?" "Forty-two." At this, he raises an eyebrow. Like I haven't been lying to him all along and he's just noticed that I have. "Is there any reason why you're in my territory?" I avert my eyes from his and look around. There's something strange that happens whenever he looks at me. Something in my stomach becomes liquid and my mind can't stop bringing up disturbing images. It's shameful. If I blush, I'm going to slap myself right here and right now. "Well...... we were driving, and Maya said she was hungry so I drove to the diner to get her something to eat. I didn't know this land belonged to the Ironclaw pack." Alpha Roman chuckles and stands up so he can walk out from behind his table. "Now that you know it belongs to the Ironclaw pack, and you know I am the Alpha of
Roman's pov What am I doing? Scarlett's eyes are wide with fear and she's moving back, away from me. Fuck. ~I told you you'd hurt her~ I growl and push my wolf's voice out of my head. What the fucking hell am I doing? My word is a command that cuts through the air and stops her right in her tracks. I have to be more controlled than this. I need to get a hold of myself. But how can I when she's standing right in front of me? My second mate, totally oblivious to that fact because she didn't break the mate bond with her first mate. She’s running away from him and has somehow managed to get to me, and now she’s planning to run away from me too. How can I watch that happen? "Are.... you feeling okay, Alpha Roman?" Scarlett takes one step closer to me and I growl at her while stepping back to put some space between us. I'm acting like an irritable wolf who hasn't seen a female in years. When she says she wants to flee far enough that no wolf will ever get to her, I panic and re
This house is huge. That's the first thing I notice about it. Alpha Roman's beta takes us through wide hallways and past beautifully furnished rooms. The sunlight streaming in through the windows and the obvious wolf design incorporated into almost everything makes me feel a sense of awe. I pull Maya closer to me and I notice she's actually focused on something else, or rather someone else. The blond-haired man Roman says is his beta walks in front of us, but I notice the way he always turns back after a few minutes to shoot Maya a silly look. Sometimes he sticks his tongue out, other times he makes a silly face. Maya's look is neutral and I don't know if he's trying to make her laugh or loosen up a little. I'm pretty sure Maya's more on guard than I am, and that's scary. "Here are your living quarters, princess." I frown and open my mouth to correct him that my name is Scarlett, not beautiful or princess, but Maya beats me to it with a very uncharacteristic scoff. "My name's M
~You can come to me Scarlett, I won't hurt you.~The voice sounds so far but it feels so near.~You're my mate, Scarlett. I could never hurt my mate.~My eyes snap open and I notice it all at once.Maya's gone!I get up and a second later I'm bolting out of the door.I'll kill them!I'll kill every person that has laid a hand on my daughter!"Maya? Maya, where are you!"A lady comes out from one of the rooms in the large hallway and I rush to her, grabbing her by the shoulders."My daughter! They have my daughter! Where have they taken her?"Maya's scream is like an electric shock when it wafts into my ears and I jolt away from the bewildered lady. My ears follow the sound of Maya's screams and my legs spur me on faster than they have ever. I take the stairs four at a time, slipping more than once on the tiles but running like my life depends on it."No! Cockroaches are gross! Arghhh get them away from me!"I see Maya, in her nightshirt and pants, her hair loose and unruly but running
Roman's pov.My father is livid."What is the meaning of all this, Roman!"My eyes snap up to meet his and I can see the rage he's trying to control. I reply calmly."Of all what?"The rest of the council is behind him, and soon they all come into view. My father and his beta remain the tallest amongst them, and even though they're all aged now, the black ensembles and fitted suits give them looks of potent danger and power.I direct my gaze back to my father and I see the anger behind his glowing blue eyes."I heard you brought a Rogue into the pack, Roman. You're sheltering a rogue in our pack!"I lean back in my seat and place my clasped hands on the table."The issue of the female werewolf and pup now taking residence in the pack will be addressed accordingly, that isn't the only thing we have to cover today. And lest you forget, Mr. Kai, this is now my pack. I am the Alpha and I will handle the pack in whatever way I think is best."My father recoils into himself so fast that I w