Chapter 2

**WARNING: CONTAINS ACTS OF DOMESTIC AND PHYSICAL ABUSE**

Driving Elios to school consisted of Saige constantly flipping through different genres of music while having the aux and singing to the top of her lungs beside me in the passenger seat. I looked in my rear view mirror to see Elijah staring lovingly at my sister as always and Elios has his headphones over his ears as he drew in his sketchbook. The joys of being a child make me envious of my younger brother.

"Ooooh Kaia! This used to be our song! Throwback!" my sister yelled and Barbie Girl by Aqua blasted through the speakers and Saige shook the car with her dancing. I laughed along with my sister and found myself singing along with her; quietly though and kept my focus on the road.

Soon after the song ended, we found ourselves in the carpool line for Elios's school. We waited in line patiently to drop him off at the designated area. I heard Elios quickly take off his headphones and stretched up to look over the dashboard. "Drop me off right here!" he said quickly, cramming all of his stuff into his backpack.

"Sorry buddy, we need to wait until we reach the front" I told him, growing restless myself with the wait.

"Kaia, you're the Luna. I doubt anyone will care. Please" Elios begged, looking above the dashboard again.

"Little man, 1. There are many different species that come here. Not just wolves. I'm not picking a fight with anyone on my birthday. 2. What are you looking at?" I asked him, searching the crowd of kids. Is someone waiting to bully him and he's trying to avoid them?

"Oh it's not something sister. It's a someone. A girl to be exact" Saige teased as she pinpointed exactly who Elios was looking at.

"Saige!" Elios whined and blushed a bright red from being found out. Saige pointed the girl out to me; she has her blonde curls pulled into two big buns on her head and wore an olive green dress and black converse. The trademark that made her stand out from the group of girls she was talking to was the glitter in her hair and her bright emerald eyes.

"Damn Elios! She's so cute. What's her name? What pack is she from?" Saige asked excitedly that our brother has gained an interest in something other than drawing.

"Her name is Astrid. She's a fairy. She's in my class" he grunted as he pulled the hood of his hoodie over her head to cover his face.

"Why are you so embarrassed?" I laughed, moving the car slowly in line.

"Yea buddy. We always told you we would never judge you about anything. That includes your crushes. We don't care that she's a fairy. Hell maybe the Moon Goddess will mate you with her" Saige chimed in.

"Yea Saige maybe I'll be the one in a million wolf who is lucky enough to be mated to a fucking fairy" he replied. I slammed on the brakes rapidly, flinging everyone forward in their seatbelts. "Elios! Language!" I yelled back at him.

He grunted and leaned back into the seat with his arms crossed. "Look, we're not trying to rile you up. We just want to encourage you and remind you that it's okay to like girls outside your species and to have some faith in our Goddess" Saige said in a soft tone and sweet smile.

We finally reached the front and I unlocked the doors for Elios to exist. He huffed and grabbed his backpack and jumped out, slamming the car door in the process. "Goodbye have a great day. We love you" I said in the air and watched Elios as he stormed inside his school, past the cute girl who opened her mouth to greet him but held back after she was practically ignored by our brother.

We all sighed in the car and I started our way towards our father's cottage. "We can't tell dad about Astrid" I ordered Saige and Elijah as I turned onto the road again.

"Why?" Elijah asked curiously.

"Our father is old fashioned and never really adapted to the change of all of us creatures mingling with each other. He'll only hurt Elios next time he sees him if he were to find out" I explained.

"But it's just a harmless crush" Elijah said in defense.

"Yes my love we know but daddy says that anyone who isn't of Lycan descent is an abomination. Trust us, our dad would NOT take this news well" Saige backed me up. Elijah sighed and stared out the window.

The rest of the 30 minute drive went by fairly quickly as we all sang along to every song that Saige would play until we reached the path that would lead us to my dad's cottage. He decided shortly after passing the Alpha title to me, to move all the way out here. Technically, this is no man's land and no one can bother him up here. If anyone wanted to speak to him, they had to come here. He only comes to the pack house for holidays or special events. But for our birthdays, we must come to see him in the morning.

Driving up the long, pebbled path up to the cottage my nerves started to act up by tightening the pit of my stomach. I tried convincing Saige to not mention to dad that I refuse to go out but all attempts failed. She's as stubborn as our father and her Beta title doesn't help the situation. She only tried to calm me by saying she would bring it up as nicely as possible.

I took a deep breath and saw my dad walk through the door, ready to greet us. He wore his denim jacket over a plain navy blue t-shirt, black, straight styled jeans and black hiking boots. His salt and pepper hair still perfectly cut low along with his beard. I parked the car and we all jumped out. Saige being the first to run up to our father. "Daddy!" she exclaimed and ran into his arms. He chuckled and hugged her tightly; he kissed her cheek and allowed her to step away so he can greet the rest of us. Elijah was closest so my dad pulled him in for a man hug. Soon as I approached the group, my father beamed a smile my way. "Happy birthday my little Kiki" he greeted me, using my old nickname that my mom would call me.

I hugged him, "Thanks dad" I told him and we followed him inside. "Where's my little prince?" he asked as we made ourselves comfortable on the big couch. "He's at school daddy" Saige answered, rolling her eyes at our father's memory.

"Right. Right. Education is important. Clearly more important than seeing his old man" he said in a sarky tone.

"Dad you used to always tell us that school comes first. Don't cop an attitude now about it" I told him, defending my brother.

"Kaia, you might be the Luna but remember who you are speaking to" he sent me my one and final warning to watch my tone. I bowed my head in apology. He walked over to a nearby coat closet and pulled out a black velvet rectangular box with a white bow on it.

"Dad, you really shouldn't have" I told him sweetly, pushing my hair behind my ears.

"Daddy when did you have time to go to the store?" Saige asked in surprise.

"This gift cannot be found at stores" he gloated and handed me the box. I took it in and slowly opened it; I let out a loud gasp and felt a tug at my heart at the sight in front of me. "Your mother wanted me to give this to you whenever I please. She knew it was your favorite piece of jewelry of hers and she couldn't think of anyone else wearing it. Sorry Saige" he looked towards my sister at the end who smiled in understanding.

"What is it Kaia?" she asked. I sniffled back my tears and pulled the gold necklace from the box. The familiar gold chain felt so foreign in my hand versus it being around her neck. I brought my other hand up to caress the citrine teardrop gem in my fingers. Simple but elegant just like her.

"Wow. Mom's necklace" Saige said in awe as I passed it to her to examine, her brown eyes watering at the sight of it. She took a shaky breath before unclasping it. I turned my back to her and moved my hair out of her way. I felt the coldness of the gold fall onto my chest as my sister clipped it around my neck. I brought my hand up to feel the gem again and I quickly used my other hand to wipe the tear I let escape.

"I always told your mother you two were twins. You resemble her so much" my father said, staring at me with a look of nostalgic clear in his facial features. Saige ran up to my father and buried her silent cries into his chest. He rubbed her head gently but his gaze never left me.

"Speaking of mother, can we go see her now?" I chimed, fidgeting in my seat. The awkwardness within me was stirring restlessly as everyone's attention was turned to me. My father nodded and led the way towards the back door of the cottage. We followed close behind him. We walked down a stone path off the back porch and down the hill. About 30 feet down from the small home, we reached my mother's grave.

The bundles of gardenias that my father planted were in bloom around her tombstone. A blanket was already laid in front of it for us kneel on. My father sat next to her tombstone on the grass and left the blanket for us all to take place on. I sat more up front whereas, Saige and Elijah sat behind me.

"Hi mom" Saige and I said in unison before the comfortable silence fell. My father leaned his head against her tombstone to look up at the clouds. "Hello my darling Bella. It's our eldest child's birthday today. She's 25 now and she is looking more like you as the days fly by. Even more so now that I gave her your gift" he started to say aloud with a small smile on his face.

A slight breeze cooled us, fallen leaves and loose flower petals danced around us. To some people, it may be seen as nature but we always took it as her saying hello back to us. "Our little prince is at school unfortunately but he is growing fabulously" he added.

"Elios has great artistic talent as well mom. He made me a beautiful birthday card and his sketches are so advanced for a boy his age. They're-"

"My son should be spending his free time learning to be the future Alpha not how to draw" my dad interrupted my boasting. I opened my mouth to combat but held myself back because if I did say anything, it wouldn't be respectful.

"But daddy, Elios is only 11 and if Kaia doesn't have a child to succeed her Elios is technically third in line to be Alpha between us" Saige retorted with a nervous laugh. Our dad turned his head to look at her with his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean third?" he asked.

Saige shared his confused look and looked between me and her mate before responding, "Well I'm the Beta. Naturally I succeed Kaia if she ever were to fall and if she had no children. After me would be Elios" she explained, puzzled by our dad's question. After her explanation, our dad fell in a fit laughter. He laughed so ferociously that he ended up falling in fetal position in the grass.

I stared at him, hiding the annoyance that I felt however both Saige's and Elijah's eyes dilated in rage and their faces and ears held a tint of red in them. "Dad, what is so funny? Saige is right. In fact, she started taking some lessons last month" I spoke over his laughing form.

Our dad started to sit himself up as his laughs died down, he wiped the tears off his face and looked at Saige. "That won't be necessary. Saige darling you can stop taking those lessons but I admire your imagination" he told her with an amused smile.

"Imagination? Not necessary? Daddy, what are you saying? Please be frank with me" Saige pleaded, holding back her anger.

"Oh yes I forgot that you tend to comprehend things slower than your siblings. What I'm saying is, you're never to go be Luna. I actually had it written in my will. Only Kaia's future children, Elios, his children and even possibly yours if you were able to conceive any but never you" he chuckled, leaning back against my mother's tombstone.

Leave it to my father to be the only person alive able to insult your entire existence with a mere few sentences. I quickly reached out and grabbed a hold of my sister's wrist. She shook with anger in my grip and her eyes have turned completely black.

"You don't think I have what it takes daddy?" she asked, her jaw clenched.

"Sweetheart, I never think. I KNOW you don't have what it takes. You're too soft, too immature, and not there intellectually wise like your sister to be Luna. Elios surpasses you in that as well. You play around too often, you act like you never left high school and you have pulled more pranks than anyone I have ever known and don't get me started on how your disobedience not only put your sister in danger but has stolen your fertility. If only you were more like you sister. I would actua-"

"My name is Saige Elizabeth Woods. I'm your second daughter and Beta to the Silver Moon Pack" she said. My dad went silent and listened. "I'm not Kaia's shadow and I'm more than what you think of me as. All my life, I was the least favorite lady in your life. Now with mom gone and leaving behind Elios I still find myself in last place for your love and admiration and I'm tired of it. I'm fucking tired of it. I'm 12 years older than Elios and you even pushed me into his shadow AND I'M FUCKING DONE NOT BEING LOOKED AT AS I SHOULD BE. I MAY NOT BE YOUR GOLDEN CHILD BUT YOU CAN AT LEAST TREAT ME AS IF I'M SILVER AND NOT DIRT" she ended her sentence in a series of flustered screaming. Her canines have emerged and her claws dug into the palms of her hands making blood flow onto the blanket.

"You better watch your tone young lady. This is actually why you were never considered. You can't even control your temper. Now your sister-"

"My sister refuses to leave the house because she doesn't want to find her mate! Do you hear me?! I found my mate and accepted him. She is refusing to abide to the Moon Goddess and unite with her mate and bring an heir because she would rather be alone. But because she's your favorite, you don't ca-"

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN SHE REFUSES TO FIND HER MATE?!" our father barked, his own eyes turning dark as coal as he pounced before us. "I'm sorry" my sister mind linked me; her eyes went back to their normal color and her claws and canines retracted back. Realization dawned on her and I soon felt the color fade from my face.

"KAIA!" My dad spat in my face, eyes blazing rage but my Alpha title allowed me stand my ground in front of him. "Saige is right dad. Ever since you left, I don't leave the pack house unless I dearly need to. She invited me out tonight for my birthday and I also refused. I'm not interested in finding my mate" I explained to him.

I felt the slap to my face before I saw it coming. My dad's calloused hand struck my face with so much force that I ended up being thrown into the cement tombstone. The bottom right corner of it broke off and I soon felt the warm trickle of blood from the wound on the side of my skull. My vision blurred and I avoided getting up for a few seconds to avoid blacking out. This is what I was hoping to avoid. I gasped loudly as I felt myself being lifted in the air by my throat. My dad held me up high, glaring daggers into me. "Daddy pl-" Elijah stepped in and covered Saige's mouth with his hand and held her back by her shoulders with his other arm. He knows that if she tried to stop him, she would be next and Elijah wouldn't be able to control himself.

I felt my dad tighten his grip around my throat, "Do you think you're above the Moon Goddess daughter? You're too prestige and overly worthy to accept your fate as a werewolf?" he growled menacingly. I struggled for air and flailed around frantically to be released. "Kaia Rose Woods. I need you to realize something: we are not meant to be alone forever. That's why the Moon Goddess blessed us each with a mate. Our only job is to search for them. You may be Luna but you are no Queen nor are you above the Moon Goddess and the sooner you understand that the less chances you'll find yourself in this position" he continued, squeezing me tighter until I can feel my face change color. Black fireworks began to burst in my vision; I struggled to bring my hand up to slap his arm. I tried opening my mouth to speak but not even a cry could be heard.

"Aldric please. You're going to kill her" Elijah spoke with the calmest tone of voice even though his light green eyes glared daggers at my daddy dearest.

The hand that I struggled to bring up flew back at my sides and my limbs went numb with the lack of oxygen. "Dad. Please" I begged through the mind link. He growled and tightened his grip once more. Elijah muffled my sister's sobs while he himself tried to compose himself. "Aldric!" Elijah screamed but my dad ignored him.

Then, almost as if it were commanded to appear, a white bellbird swooped down and sat on my mom's broken tombstone and blurted out the loudest call its lungs could create. The sound of it rang through everyone's ears like chalk being scratched on a blackboard. It broke my dad's focus and he finally released me but my fall was anything but gentle. I struggled to receive air as it was also knocked out of me from the high fall. Elijah and Saige ran to my side immediately; Elijah tore a portion of his shirt off to press against my head wound and Saige sobbed into my chest muttering a thousand sorrys. I could only rub her back in response to let her know it's okay since my lungs have yet to be filled at their max capacity. My vision came back to normal and if looks could kill, I would've been struck dead by my dad as his glare stayed on me.

"From this day forward, find excuses to go into town and find your mate. You can't avoid the inevitable Kaia and when you find him, bring him here so I can meet him and welcome him and you better start on making me a grandpa quickly after you find him since your sister can't and Elios is far too young. You're not going to be young forever. Have fun tonight girls" he said aggressively before stomping off towards his house.

I bite my lip to avoid crying out from the pain and tightly closed my eyes in frustration. As evil as this thought is, I don't regret thinking why couldn't it been him instead of mom? I sighed deeply and looked over Saige's shoulder to look at the tombstone again. The bird had vanished by this point and I stared at the broken corner. I need to order a new one again. I'm sorry mom.

"Come on. We need to get to the pack doctor quickly. Looks like you're going to need stitches" Elijah commented as he gently pulled Saige away, her mascara streaked down her cheeks. He pulled me close and lifted me off the ground bridal style. Saige hopped up to her feet and together we walked to the car. So much for not picking a fight on my birthday.