Chapter Nine

Midnight, Alpha of the Blue Valley Pack, let out a low, deep growl of anger, he caught the scent again, and now he could smell a profound sadness and sense of loss,

'What the fuck was going on here?'

He thought, turning his head towards the scent and beginning to track it seriously, something had brought him to the Mountain Top Pack's land, and the more he caught this scent, the more he knew it had something to do with the draw he had felt.

Moving like a shadow, he mind-linked his Pack Members who were patrolling the area, keeping their senses alert for the Mountain Top Patrollers.

'I have to go deeper into their territory, stay alert. Let me know if you see or hear anything.'

He trotted toward the scent, keeping hidden, moving with the grace of the Apex predator he was. Small animals dashed from under his feet that he never even noticed; he was far too focused on the intoxicating scent.  When he reached the edge of the woods, he came across a small valley carpeted with wild flowers, and there was the reason he had been drawn to this place. His heart seemed to stop, and his body went rigid. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

I walked towards my mother's grave and knelt on the soft green grass not touched by the weeds and wildness growing everywhere else.

'Hi, Mama.'

I whispered, stroking the marble headstone, tracing the outline of the letters with tears in my eyes.

'I miss you so much.'

I cannot stop the tears trickling down my cheeks.

'I'm so sorry, Mama, but I think it is time for me to say goodbye to you.'

I bow my head in pain, brushing away my tears in frustration. I need to say what I have decided.

'I'm going to be eighteen in a few days, Mama.'

I give a soft chuckle and rest my forehead against the cool stone.

'I made it, Mama, despite everything that fucking Alpha and his Pack did to me, and it means I'll be leaving, so this is my last visit to you.'

I began to tug at the weeds at the edge of the plot absently as I gaze around what is left of the garden, which is virtually nothing, apart from the grave plot. The whole place is overgrown. I sighed heavily and turned back to the stone.

'I need to be free, Mama. I cannot stay with this Pack like you did. They hate me, and they are cruel to me. I think if I stay, they might even kill me.'

I bite my lip trying to stop further tears dripping down my cheeks, and then something makes me lift my head and sniff the air,

'What on earth was that?'

I thought letting the scent surround me, it was beautiful, sandalwood, rich damp earth, lemongrass and something else, something I could not put my finger on, but it excited me in a way nothing else had. I searched the woods, my heart pounding in my chest, and I did not know why. The skin prickled on the back of my neck, and I thought I felt someone watching me. My head snapped around, scanning the woods again. Nothing, I was being paranoid, of course, nobody is there, no one ever comes by the cottage apart from me, shaking my head,d I return to what I was doing, continuing to tug the weed.s

Kaiden shifted much to Midnight's anger, but he wanted to get closer to the stunningly beautiful female sitting in the field of wild flowers. She was such an ethereal vision that it took his breath away, and he did not want to frighten her with his wolf. One of his Pack members arrived with a set of clothes for him, but he sent him off again almost immediately. He wanted to do this alone.

I felt a shiver run down my spine, and I jumped up, looking around again, certain someone was watching me, but there was no one there, so I went back into the cottage to drink my water and eat my sandwich, feeling a deep sadness engulf me. I knew I would not be returning to the cottage in a few ddayss I would be turning eighteen, and I had to think of my future. Apart from anything else, I knew the little cottage would be completely returned to the woods within a few more months, so finishing the last bite of my sandwich, I looked around my childhood home for the last time.

'Goodbye, Mama.'

I whispered, swallowing the lump in my throat and hurrying out of the cottage, knowing I had to get back to the Pack Mansion before I would be late, I really did not want to be punished again today.  I walked slowly along the path back towards the Pack Mansion lost deep in my memories of that short happy time in my life. I paused to look back at the cottage for the very last time, tears filled my eyes as I saw the weeds had already settled back around the door and it was barely visible again. 

'I will always carry you in my heart, Mama and, one day, I hope I can make you proud of the woman I become.'

Taking a deep breath Iturned away fro the last time and straightened my shoulders.

'I could do this. I would do this. I would not let this Pack destyroy me. I was stronger than they knew and more importantly, I was a survivor.'

Kaiden tracked her as she walked slowly along the path, he could sense her mood changing the nearer she got to their Pack House. He had been here a couple of times attending the meetings of Alpha's that occurred on a regular basis, he had even hosted a couple himself. He had never seen this beautiful young woman before, so what was she to Alpha Reynolds? The Alpha had twin sons, Drake and          , he was sure he had never heard of a daughter though. She stopped at the crest of a small hill looking down at the Pack House and he knew without a shadow of a doubt, she did not want to go into that house.