Strange Things

“You’d better come inside,” Red Beard said, moving aside to let us through and closed the door firmly behind us.

Inside, it was warm and cozy. Unexpectedly so. Colorful rugs covered the floor, matching the plump cushions on the wicker chairs and couches. It was so different from Frank’s ivory palace, which was cold and gleaming, all white and cream.  

I didn’t like the way the giant man glared daggers at Agnes. He didn’t invite us to sit. His expression was hard to read. I wondered if he was angry or upset or surprised, or maybe all of it. My mother had terrible taste in men - that we’ve established. But if this was one of her exes, we needed to have a serious talk.

“Joel…” Agnes began, but stopped short when Red Beard interrupted her.

“Whatever it is, Agnes, I don’t want to hear it.” His huge hands opened and closed at his sides; head lowered. He reminded me of a bear right before the attack. But the next thing he said, “You hurt me.” The accusation in his voice made me study him, noting how his brown eyes looked haunted. It took me by surprise.

“I know,” she whispered, looking down at the floorboards. Immediately, I remembered how Frank used to get just that reaction out of her. Cowed. Waiting for the blows.

“Eighteen years, Agnes. Eighteen fucking years wondering where the fuck you are!” His gravelly voice rose dangerously, and he stepped closer to her. He towered over her.

“I know. I’m sorry.” Her voice trembled slightly, and it pissed me off. Whatever she did, I don’t give a shit. No one talks to my mother in that tone.

“Hey!” I lifted a finger to warn him to back the fuck off.

 “Who is this?” He frowned at me like I was some irritating insect. Before Agnes could answer him, his brows lifted, and there was something in his face that looked an awful lot like recognition. “Is she mine?!”

Say what now? I almost burst out laughing because that was ridiculous! Turning to Agnes, her next words were a bucket of ice water that poured over me.

“Yes, Cassandra is your daughter.”

“No…” the words burst out of me. Oh my God! She lied. She lied to me all these years. In that instant, my entire existence, everything I thought I knew about my mother, came crashing down.

Red Beard was eerily silent. A single tear slid down Agnes’ cheek.

Then he said, “Tears. The woman’s favorite weapon,” he sneered. “It’s not working on me, Agnes.”

I plonked down on a couch and hugged the cushion to my chest, needing something to hold on to, keep me grounded. This was all too much. For eighteen years, I believed my father was dead.

Agnes took a step towards him, her hand reached out to him. “I had to bring her back, Joel. Please understand…”

He shook his head, warding her off. “We must go to the alpha. You can’t just waltz in here and expect everyone to accept you.”

The alpha? Was this some kind of cult? What the hell had Agness gotten us into now? Who were these people?

“Please Joel,” she kept on pleading. “It’s not for myself. Cassandra will have her first shift soon. She needs you, needs her pack.”

“Excuse me?” I piped up. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

As if they hadn’t heard me, they kept on arguing. “You should have thought about that when you left me, Agnes!” he yelled at her. “How could you do this to me? To her?” He tore at his unruly hair, mirroring the frustration I felt.

She reached out as if to touch him, thought better of it, and let her hand drop to her side. “I was scared!” she cried. “Don’t you get it?”

I jumped up from the couch. “Fuck this shit. I’m out!” heading for the front door. Enough. I needed to get the hell away from this.

“Cassie, wait!” Agnes tried to stop me, but I pushed her hands away.

“No, Mother. Whatever insanity is going on here, I want nothing to do with it.” I ripped open the door and…

“Oh, Jesus!” On the porch was a monstrous black wolf, red eyes glowing in the dark. I slammed the door shut and leaned my back against it, legs threatening to give in. My heart was about to explode in my chest. “There’s a wolf out there,” I whispered.

“That’s Alpha Connor.” Red Beard pulled me away from the door and opened it.

The scream torn from my throat shrilled through the house. Instead of a wolf, a man stepped into the light. Naked except for a colorful cloth wrapped around his waist.

“I’ve had girls screaming for me, but never like that,” he laughed, a deep, sexy timbre that tingled through my spine.

Did I really see a wolf outside or was it just my overstressed imagination? I am losing my fucking mind. First hearing voices and now seeing things. Take me to the nearest looney bin, people.

“Please, come in, Alpha,” Red Beard said. “These are my guests, Agnes and Cassandra Browne.”

Ohmigod! The man was beyond gorgeous. Imagine the guy from Vampire Diaries, the sexy, dark-haired one with his stunning blue eyes. Only this man was even hotter and more muscled. But not overly so. Lean and toned. I realized I was staring and snapped my jaw closed.

He stepped right up to me and took my hand. I almost melted into his touch.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Cassandra.” When I looked into his hypnotic blue eyes, nothing else existed. There was only him and me. “I’ve waited a long time for you,” he said, but his lips weren’t moving.

Wait! I heard his voice in my head? It snapped me right out of my lust-induced haze. I pulled my hand out of his grasp.

He turned to Red Beard, aka my father. “Sorry to barge into your home like this, Joel. I saw the car and was curious.”

“No need to apologize, Alpha. Please, have a seat.” Red Beard offered.

What the fuck? He saw the car and was curious? So he popped on over wearing nothing but… I swear I saw that cloth on the porch table. Could this day get any weirder?

“Thank you, Joel, but I can’t stay.” He smiled at Agnes. “Come over to the pack house tomorrow morning, Ms. Browne. We have a lot to discuss.” Although he smiled, it didn’t sound like a request or an invitation to tea and cake. I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach, and it wasn’t because of hunger.

Agnes turned a candy floss pink and nodded. “Of course, yes. Thank you. Alpha.” she dropped a curtsy like he was a royal. For goodness’ sake. Sure, he was hot, but really?

He turned those gorgeous eyes on me and smirked. “Until tomorrow, Cassandra.”

He was barely outside the door when I exploded. “What in the name of fuck is going on?”

“Cassandra!” Agnes reprimanded, but I was too upset to care.

“You guys had better explain to me. Am I going insane? There was a wolf out on the porch. Swear to God!” I ranted, pacing up and down the living room. “And what’s with this alpha bullshit? Be straight with me – is this some kind of cult? Have you brought me here to sell me to these people?”

“Is she always this dramatic?” Red Beard asked, his voice flat. He studied me like I had gone off the deep end. Maybe I did.

“Mostly. Although you can’t really blame her.” Agnes replied.