[Rosco’s POV]I stand outside watching as my father helps my mother to a car that is waiting for them. When they reach it, my mother looks back at me and gives a wave.“I’ll have Devin come here sometime within the next few days.”Devin. He could only be the uncle my mother was speaking of. I couldn’t help but be slightly hesitant about having a complete stranger come to my pack, but if he was family, then he had to be alright, right?Growing up, I was so busy training to become alpha that I never truly got to know my mother’s side of the family well. Of course, she came from a different pack as the daughter of an alpha. However, her and my father’s marriage was a business transaction. As such, my mother didn’t have much contact with her family after that.Suddenly feeling sorry for the woman staring back at me, I force a smile and simply nod.“I’ll be waiting for him.”I could only hope that he didn’t hate me or cause trouble since I was the son of his enemy.“It’ll be alright.” Dena
[Elise’s POV]I watch as Marty snuggles Denali against him. As he does so, I can see the jealousy raging in Rosco’s eyes, but the big lug doesn’t say a word. I guess he was capable of being rational when it came to being a leader.“Come find us when you finish.” Marty says now, beginning to move. “You know where we will be.”Nodding, Rosco keeps his gaze on Marty as he heads through the crowd, which is parting like the red sea.“Good choice.” I giggle when I pass Rosco.“Are you mocking me?” He growls, turning back to his angry self.“Nope.” I sigh, clapping his shoulder. “See ya later, brother-in-law.”Lifting a hand, I give a wave before I begin to skip off in the direction that Marty headed in with my sister.When I arrive at the infirmary, I find them together as Olga fusses.“Look what you did, sis.” I say, drawing her gaze toward me. “You got the old lady angry.”“Old lady?” Olga growls, shooting me a glare. “You better watch your words, kid.”“If I’m a kid, you’re an old lady.”
[Elise’s POV]I stare down into Serenity’s face as she greedily sucks the bottle that I offer her while wishing that I could be so easily appeased. If only I were still a child who was oblivious to the viciousness and darkness of the world. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to live day to fucking day with all this pent-up rage and sorrow.“She sure was hungry, wasn’t she?” Marty murmurs, kneeling down in front of me and poking at Serenity’s cheek. “Keep that up, and you’re gonna get chubby.”“Let her be chubby.” I sigh, leaning back into the soft cushion of the seat I sit in. “She’s nothing more than a child. If she wants to be fat, let her be fat. If she wants to be afraid, let her be afraid. Soon enough, she is going to grow into an adult and begin to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders like the rest of us.”Sure, I was being pessimistic, but after seeing that photo of my mother smiling so fucking happily with Denali, I couldn’t help it. All these damned questions just kept haun
[Elise’s POV]I keep my gaze fixed on Marty as he stares at me. It’s clear from his expression that he is being serious with his words, but how could we possibly be the same? I was a criminal with a lot of bad deeds under my belt that most likely guaranteed that there was no place for me when I died other than hell. And he was someone that Rosco trusted unconditionally, which meant that he couldn’t be all that bad.“Wanna know how Rosco and I met?” Marty asks as if he were reading my thoughts. “It is a pretty amusing story.”“Amusing.” I repeat, raising a brow. “Are you telling me that your first meeting with the big lug was one that could befit a comedy?”“Something like that.” He chuckles. “Maybe at the time it wasn’t too funny, but now I can look back and laugh at it since it was my biggest mistake to date.”His biggest mistake. What in the world was that even supposed to mean?“Before I met Rosco, I was a bounty hunter.” Marty explains, passing the alcohol to me. “I killed for the
[Elise’s POV]Phantoms swirl around, their eyes glowing red. Their clawed fingers reach out and attempt to grab me while their words echo in the air.“Freak.”“Monster.”“Demon.”“Bad Omen.”They echo again and again, tearing at my heart and causing pain to shoot through me.These were the words I was used to, and these were the phantoms that kept me company. They taunted me, tearing me down bit by bit as I tried so hard to build myself back up. Of course, that was only wishful thinking.“How dare you gallivant around pretending to be normal?”The voice pierces through the others as my hair is grabbed and I’m pulled forward toward a much too familiar scene, one that almost turns me feral as I try desperately to flee before I reach. However, just like every other time this familiar dream has come, I'm unable to do anything. All I can do is let myself be dragged back to that shed and wait while the scent of gasoline fills my nose and makes my eyes sting.When it becomes too much, the sm
[William’s POV]I’m moving before I even know what I’m doing, and when I move Marty’s hand off of Elise’s shoulder, I realize much too late that I’ve made a huge mistake. Eyes widening, I release the hand that I’m holding and shake off any lingering emotions I may be feeling.“Aw,” Marty pouts, reaching out and grabbing my hand again. “You don’t want to hold my hand?”Opening my mouth, I prepare to argue, but stop as he gives a pointed look over my shoulder, and I don’t need to turn to know that Rosco is watching me. I could only imagine the look on his face as he understood what has gotten into me.“Should I maybe leave the two of you alone?” Elise asks, looking at our joined hands. “It looks like you are having a moment.”“Don’t be too upset, beautiful.” Marty chuckles. “I know that you were becoming interested in me, but it seems that William isn’t willing to share me.”Shit. These two were making the butt of a huge joke, but at least with this, the tension that could have formed b
[Rosco’s POV]‘Have you gone mad?’Fabian’s question sends a wave of annoyance through me as I continue to watch William while he eyes Elise, who is completely oblivious or just doesn’t care.‘Maybe.’ I grumble.‘You’re softening around the edges.’ He chuckles, angering me even more.‘If you’re just going to nag me, you can fuck off.’Instead of responding, Fabian lets out a laugh before I feel his presence disappear, so that I’m in my head alone again.Sighing, I let my gaze travel across the warriors who are still doing their stretches, and when I feel they’re more than ready to begin their training, I draw in a breath.“Fall in line!” I command.Growing quiet, I wait once again as everyone does as instructed, falling into an at-ease position. Once no one is left moving, I begin to pace.“As all of you are aware,” I begin, deciding to address the reason for this sudden training. “Our lands have been attacked by a skilled enemy. A few of our ranks have already lost their lives defend
[Rosco’s POV]I don’t speak as I examine the man in front of me, finding more and more family traits. So this was the uncle who was a skilled tracker. I had to admit, he moved fast since it didn’t take long for him to get here at all.“Are you just going to sit there and stare?” Jose asks now. “Or are you going to show your poor uncle around?”“Alpha, should we believe him?” Riley asks as I open my mouth to give the command. “What if he is with the enemy and…”“No,” I say, raising a hand to call them off. “There’s no mistaking the family resemblance.”“We do make some lookers, don’t we?” Jose chuckles, revealing that he is a cocky bastard too. “It’s the reason that our people are sought after so strongly. Why the hell else would your father insist on marrying that sister of mine?”Tensing, I try to ignore what he is hinting at.”Mind your words.” I warn him, turning and motioning for him to follow. “Whether it was her looks, powers, or even her skills, my mother suits my father well.”