“Where am I? What happened to me?” Our mother tried to sit up as her eyes fluttered open. She looked around the room, dazed and then the panic set in. “Why am I here? What is going on?” She started to pull at the tubes and wires off her while Cora called for the doctor. In a few moments, the pack doctor and a couple of nurses had calmed mother down with a sedative since she was freaking out and disturbing the other patients. “Your mother needs to rest now for a bit. Once she is awake, we will call for you.” The doctors said and I agreed. She would be a bit better once she had slept it off. Cora and I walked out of the pack hospital to get some fresh air and discuss what we would do next since Daniel was not coming back and if Uncle Ed head about this, he would demand I return. I could not leave my family here at Pembroke again. My mother was broken, and my sister would have nobody else since goddess knows where our father was. Not that I would want to see him.

“Isla, you cannot leave. Your mother has just passed away.” Alpha Miller came rushing into the room in a right state. My sister started to scream horrible ear piercingly. I felt numb. My mother was gone! That was all his fault. “Your father wants to speak to you. He wants to explain.” Alpha Miller tried to convince me, but no. No way. Why should I give that murderer the time of day after what he had just done? This was all his fault. If he had never done what he had done, then this would never have even happened. I did not want to see him. “No, Miller. I do not wish to see him. You know, as you’re not my alpha, you cannot force me to do anything he says.” I pointed out solemnly. Alpha Miller sighed and nodded. He knew that I was right in what I was saying. Cora was crying her heart out, and I went to hug her. She was still my sister, and I felt awful that our mother had died. But I could not stay here and be around him. I hated him. “Get me

Simon slammed on the brakes, forcing me forward and smacking my head into the back of the front passenger seat. “What the hell are you doing?” I yelled angrily as soon as I had managed to regain control of myself. Jennifer was sitting in the front with Simon. I noticed that she was gripping her seat and staring right ahead. Tears were falling down her cheeks, but she was silent. “Jennifer, is everything ok?” I gasped, reaching forward to check on her. Simon punched the steering wheel so hard and cursed loudly. Turning his attention to Jennifer and me, he growled. “Did you not see that fool pulling out in front of us? No indication. Nothing?” He spoke. I looked up, and that was when I saw a vast black Jeep with tinted windows in front of us, blocking the way. “Jennifer, do you know them?” I questioned, suddenly wondering if they were after her. When she did not respond, I shrugged at Simon and rubbed my forehead thoughtfully. Simon was furious and I frowned.

“Good to see you again, Isla. I see you have met King Lycan Max.” My uncle Ed gave me a nod and walked off in the opposite direction. I watched him go, feeling confused. Why did he seem so off? That was not like him at all. Max was still staring at me like he wanted to pounce and claim me. “I need to finish discussing some important things with your uncle. Would you accept my apologies and allow me to take you out to dinner?” He bowed down to me, took my hand and kissed it gently. Then looked up at me with a smile on his face. Goddess he was so handsome, and I could not even bring myself to say no to him. Why would I want to? How could anyone want to freely turn him down when he looked so good, so delicious and oh goddess I was going to lose my mind over this male. Cleo was so happy that we had been blessed with such a lovely looking second chance mate. He seemed so different compared to Miller. In so many ways. He was nothing like that shame faced loser.

Uncle Ed could not look at me, making me feel even worse than I already did. I knew that he was not telling me the whole truth. It was only when Max cleared his throat and spoke up that I glanced his way. “Isla, I think it would help if you both calmed down. I can understand your concerns, but rest assured that your family will come to no harm.” He promised, and I nodded, hugging my knees to my chest and wondering how it had come to this. I missed my life before returning to Pembroke, and now bad luck seemed to follow me everywhere. “They are not your family.” Uncle Ed turned to me and growled. I could see he was trying to control the anger inside of him. His body language gave that away, with his clenched fists, red face and raised voice. Max sent him a warning glare, but he continued to ignore that. I was confused. How could he say that they were not my family when they were? Maybe he just meant that after all the things that had happened,