Chapter 12: Fight for Freedom
Amelie
Now it was a waiting game. I could see the sun had come up, and I knew he would be coming soon to check on me. I analyze the room, trying to decide what the best angle to ambush him would be. I decided it would be best to move the dresser next to the doorway and stand on top. I swing my "sleeve Maces," yep, I figured out a weapon name, down using gravity to give me more force. I push the dresser over and wait. I had never felt bloodlust before and wondered if this was what it felt like. I was not even nervous or scared. I was ragging with hate. I wanted to see him bleed!
I hear footsteps. I can tell they are lighter than Tate's. It's Karen. The monster creator herself. She is entirely complacent in this whole thing. Even without my wolf's strength, I can take this old bitch out. I push my back up against the wall, still standing on the dresser. Karen opens the door and looks around
Chapter 13: Recovery Amelie Everything hurts. I think there might be one spot on my pinky toe that doesn't hurt. I cannot even open my eyes. My eyelids hurt. How do eyelids hurt? What is that smell? It's an overwhelming smell of disinfectant. "Inari, are you there? Did we die? I feel like death." I tried to give her a reassuring chuckle, but I was a little serious. "No, we didn't die. Almost!" Her voice is soft and soothing. "I think you should open your eyes; everyone is waiting." Inari nudges me ever so gently. I groan, "but my eyelids hurt." Inari chuckles. Hearing her laugh even just a little feels fantastic. It lets me know we are going to be OK. I try to open my eyes they flutter. I am hit with white blinding light. I quickly close my eyes and groan again. "Nope, too bright," I tell Inari. "Your eyes will adjust. You need to try again." I just want to keep my eyes closed and go back
Chapter 14: A New Start at Home Amelie "I do have one more question. Why did Alpha Mason kick me out of the Pack and take my shop?" To be honest, I think that almost hurt worse than the fight. I worked so hard on making my business successful. "It wasn't something he wanted to do, but politicly he had to. Once he realized what was going on, he knew that it could cause his whole Pack to be destroyed. He is the Alpha and makes the decisions for his Pack, but as in all packs, the elders hold power too. Karen was part of the elder council. I'm sure she kept this from you." As dad spoke, so many things came rushing into my head. She was worse than Tate in my eyes now. "OK, that explains a few things, but I'm still confused." I need him to explain it adequately. I felt like Karen and her son committed a crime. It shouldn't matter if she were a council member or not. Dad
Chapter 15: The Investigation Gideon “Yes, Alpha John, I understand. I will also reach out to Alpha Mason and get any other details on the two fugitives. I am sure they couldn’t have gotten far, considering the state they were both in. We are launching an investigation right away.” I am trying to sound calm because I am actually in a rage. “Alpha Gideon, remember to contact Alpha Logan and me with any and all updates. She’s our daughter, and let this cannot happen again.” I can hear Logan in the background grunting in anger. I know if he knew where Tate was, he would already be dead. I take a deep breath, “You both be the first to know. I promise you that. Alpha John, if I might ask, how is Amelie doing?” I ask, trying not to sound too familiar. “Hope just informed me that she has finally woken up after being unconscious for the last three days. But, unfortunately, she lost a lot of blood
Chapter 16: Daddy’s Girls Gideon “Alpha, how is Miss Amelie doing?” I can tell he is watching for my reaction. I clam my rage that has been boiling since I got off the phone earlier. “She is recovering with her family at the Ashwood Pack. She has just woken up, and Alpha John will call me with new details once he’s done talking to her. Any other questions?” I raise my eyebrow. He smirks and chuckles slightly. “None at all, Alpha. Give us the details later than.” With that, he closes the door behind him. I release my breath I did not even know I was holding and plop back down in my chair. I needed to calm down. I needed to clear my head if I was going to track down this poor excuse for a man before I could figure out my next step Ulv chimes in, “you need to call Alpha Mason. We need to get photos and personal items from the two Rouges for tracking. I don’t know why
Chapter 17: Father-Daughter Sit Down Amelie "BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP" "I get it. I'm getting up," I hit the snooze button again. Nine minutes later, "BEEP, BEEP, BEEP" screaming at me again than a knock on the door. "Am, breakfast will be ready soon. I want to see you before we leave." Hope knows I am not a morning person, and I need to be coaxed. I flop over on my back, kick off my blanket, "I'll be right down. Leave me some coffee, or someone might die." I hear a laugh, "No worries, we already know." I hear Hope's footsteps heading down the hall. I pull myself out of bed and into the bathroom. Time to get the day started. I turn on the shower and undress. I catch a glimpse of my mate mark in the mirror. Looking at myself naked makes me cringe because that damn mark is staring back at me. It has been about a month since "The Fight," as it's
Chapter 18: Mark Education Amelie I get up to my room and sit on the bed. I just stare at the box for a while. I work up the nerve to open it. I find the key attached to the ribbon bookmarker connected to the book's spine. I turn the key and open the box. There it is, the tools of the horrible ritual I would have to perform. There is a small wooden bowl; It's already stained red for years of countless others who felt the same as me. This was the only way out. There are two small daggers. One is steel, and the other is silver. "We need to see what the book says." Inari does not even want to look at the knife. I am curious about this book my father gave to me. It's old with a leather cover and binding. I open the front cover and see the title page; it's handwritten, The complete research on Marks by Raphael Bois de Frene year 1795. "That name sounds familiar like I should know it." I stared at the
Chapter 19: The Last Run Amelie The day has finally arrived—my own personal doomsday. Today I will go into the mountains at night and complete the ritual. I feel like I just want to run away but, there is nowhere to run to. Tate's Mate Mark is on me; I cannot run out of my skin. "We are going to be OK. We will get through this. I'll still be here." Inari is acting brave, but I can feel she is just as scared as I am. I was sealing my wolf spirit. She was a part of me attached to my soul. She did not deserve this. "Hey, how about we spend the afternoon shifted and in the woods? Dad's guards will have to deal." I can feel Inari perk up a bit. This would be the last time she gets to run free. "That would be nice, thanks." Her voice was so soft I could barely hear her. I mind link dad, "It's our last chance to shift. So, your guards will have to keep up." "I understand, kiddo;
Chapter 20: The After Amelie After I finish getting dressed, I slowly clean up the cave floor. I had knocked over the bowl of blood when I passed out along with a candle. I blow out all the candles except one. I put the bowl and daggers back in the box. I'll clean them when I get home. I leave the candles. I'll have to come back for them later. The wax is still hot. I put everything back in my bag and stagger to get out of the cave. Right as I am getting to the cave entries, I see the two guards. I must have taken too long. "I'm here. I'm fine." I trip and fall to my knees. One of the guards picks me up, puts my arm around his neck, and helps me walk. "You know I hate to admit this, but it might be easier to carry me. I'm quite a bit shorter than you, and I don't think you want to walk back crouched like that." I give him my best smile, but I know it's filled with pain. "M