CHAPTER TWO

I walk toward the center of the village where my mother lives.

It is loud and bustling.

My mother's house is small and slightly removed from the others.

It has a small vegetable patch and a wooden fence that surrounds it.

I am feeling a little nervous.

But Dean is right.

I have to do this.

I knock on the door.

She opens it.

"Marla!" she says. "What a nice surprise!"

She gestures for me to come in.

"Hi, Mom," I tell her. "I was wondering if I could have a word with you."

"Of course, sweetie," she says.

She smiles and lets me inside.

My mother wants me to marry Dean.

She believes we are the perfect coupling.

Before my father died, he was besotted with my mother.

Theirs was an arranged coupling, just like everyone in the pack.

They grew to love one another, fiercely.

It was beautiful to see growing up.

Mother things I will grow to love Dean.

But I know I will not.

We reach the sitting room.

I lower myself to the couch.

Mom sits beside me.

"Is something wrong?" she asks.

I play with a strand of my hair.

"No," I say. "I just wanted to talk to you."

"What about?"

"About Dean."

"What about him?" she asks.

"Do you like him?" I ask.

She smiles. "He's a wonderful man."

"But what do you think of him?" I continue. "Do you think he is good enough for me?"

She smiles. "Of course he's good enough.

He's kind and considerate, and he will make you an excellent husband."

I sigh. This is going to be even harder than I thought.

"Why do you ask?" she says.

I play with my hair again.

She places her hand over mine.

"Marla, what's going on?"

I look up at her.

"I don't want to marry Dean."

She raises an eyebrow. "What?"

"I don't love him," I tell her.

"Love will come with time."

"I don't think so," I say. "I don't think love can be forced."

She looks at me like I'm being silly.

"Of course it can," she says. "Look at your father and me."

"That's different," I tell her.

"No. It wasn't. I didn't think I would love him. But he became my soulmate."

"I don't want to get married," I say again.

"Marla, stop talking nonsense."

"No," I say. "I mean it."

"You know the rules for our kind. We have to marry and have children."

"That doesn't mean I have to get married to Dean."

"Marla," she says. "There is a feud between our pack and the pack in the next village."

"I know."

"It's getting worse. And soon, it will be a full-on battle."

"I know, Mom."

"We need more men in our pack. And Dean is a strong man. The perfect man. The best man for you."

This is getting frustrating.

"But he's not." I say.

"Marla, you're being ridiculous," she says. "You like Dean. I can tell you do. You can't tell me you don't."

"He's my friend."

"Which is perfect. A friend now. A lover later."

"I don't think so."

"It doesn't matter what you think," she says. "You're my daughter. And I know what's best for you. You will marry Dean."

"I don't want to," I say.

"I want you to be happy. And I know Dean will make you happy."

"I can find happiness with someone else."

"Who? Dean is the best beta in the pack!"

"I will look outside the pack."

She rolls her eyes at my comments.

"Marla, you know you can't."

"Why not?"

"Because it goes against the rules of our kind."

"I don't care," I say.

"Marla, that is enough!" she shouts.

I have never heard my mother shout before.

I reach my boiling point.

"I'm in love with someone else!" I cry.

My mother falls silent.

She stares at me like she doesn't know me.

Her eyes are wide.

"Marla, you're lying," she says.

"I'm in love with a wolf from the next village," I continue. "I'm planning on leaving Dean and starting a new life with him."

I can see the hurt in my mother's eyes.

"I can't believe this," she says.

"I'm sorry," I say.

She shakes her head. "What have I done wrong?"

I reach out and take her hand.

"It's not you," I tell her. "It's me. I know I'm being selfish. But I can't help it. I have to be with him."

She pulls her hand from mine.

She stands and paces away from the couch.

"You are not doing this," she tells me.

"What?" I ask.

"You are not running away from Dean. From the pack. From me."

I shake my head. "But Mom."

"No," she says. "You will not do this."

"But Mom."

"I won't hear another word of this," she tells me. "I forbid you to leave our pack."

"You can't forbid me," I say.

"I just did," she tells me. "You are not to see that wolf ever again. You are not to speak to him. You will marry Dean. And you will have children."

"But–"

"No, Marla," she says firmly. "I will not hear another word. And if you leave, I will find you. And I will punish you."

I stare at her.

I have never heard such stern words come from my mother's mouth.

It almost like I do not know her anymore.

"You would punish me?" I ask.

She nods, sternly.

"I thought you wanted me to be happy."

"I do. I want you to be happily married to Dean."

There is no getting through to her.

I stand and walk to the door.

"I'm going," I say. "With or without your blessing."

She walks over to me and grabs my arm.

Her eyes are wide.

"Don't you dare walk out that door," she says.

"Let go of me."

"No," she says.

I close my eyes.

I am not going to cry.

I will not cry in front of my mother.

I will not.

I take a deep breath.

"Marla," she says. "You have to marry Dean."

"I don't have to do anything, Mom," I say.

I yank my arm out of her grasp.

And then I leave.