10

~Lindsey~

I hear the front door open.

“Dad is that you?”

No response.

“Dad?” I call out again.

I slowly make my way around the wall that blocks the view from the kitchen to the front door. It’s wide open.

“Dad?!” I call again, panic beginning to enter my voice.

A hand covers my mouth while another wraps around my waist.

“Did you really think you could escape me?” a cruel, familiar voice whispers in my ear. “I’ve already taken care of your dad. Now you have no one. You belong to me.”

I struggle as much as possible to no avail. He’s strong, much stronger than me. I twist, turn, wiggle. I try to bite him, kick him, pinch him. Nothing works. I continue my struggle, only to hear a sinister chuckle escape his lips.

“Struggle all you want. You’re all mine Lindsey.”

“No! NO!!!” I yell, continuing to fight against him. I scream with all my might.

Suddenly I sit straight up, panting, looking into my father’s eyes.

“Lindsey? Oh thank the goddess you’re ok!” Dad crashes into a hug, squeezing me a little too tightly.

“He was here. He was here,” I repeat through tears streaming down my face. I feel my body rocking back and forth, like I have no control over it. I push away from the hug, holding myself and standing up, looking around for him.

“No one is here, Lin. It was just a nightmare.” Dad tries to reassure me.

I feel my body shaking, my mind still unsure what is reality. I try to ground myself, remind myself that Black Forest is strong. He surely can’t barge his way in and find me here. I pace a little, trying to work out some of the panic and anxiety that has me in a grip. I look into Dad’s eyes and see the same worry that I feel etched into my being. I walk over to him and basically fall into his arms, allowing him to hold me and carry my weight.

“Dad it felt so real. Why did it feel so real?” I ask through straggling tears.

“It’s ok. We’re ok. I promise nothing will happen. Not as long as I’m here.” He wraps his strong arms around me, and I immediately feel a little less tense. If only he knew the full story.

I told Hunter that Alpha Walt summoned me and told me he had found a mate for me. That he had a special gift that allowed him to see if two wolves were mated even before they both received their wolves. Only one had to be of age. He told me that he would collect me within the week so that I could be marked and start my life with my new mate. Said that my happily ever after was just beginning.

Hunter had told me his dad had suspicions about some of the young she wolves that “found their mates”, so he asked me to tell him if I ever got approached by the Alpha or one of his sons. Too many she wolves would leave right before their 18th birthday, right before they got their wolves. I should have known my uncle, my dad, and Hunter would get me out, especially after finding out that I, like many she wolves before me, did not truly find my mate.

The only difference? I wasn’t going to have to leave the pack. My mate was someone I knew. Quite well. But I didn’t tell Hunter. I didn’t tell my dad. I didn’t tell Alpha Walt that the wolf he claimed was my mate had threatened me for years, harassed me at the easiest convenience, sought me out constantly against my wishes. And on the rare chance that it’s true, that he’s my mate, I’ll reject him in a heartbeat. I’m never going back to that pack or what he put me through.

It made no difference now. We had brought the wrath of an alpha upon ourselves simply for denying his wishes. Alpha Walt is far from forgiving and rarely merciful if ever. If he finds us, we’re dead.