3. Hope

I don’t want to be here. 

The snow is annoying, it’s too fucking cold and that bunker gives me the creeps. 

Most of the beige-clothed regulars freak me out too. They’re so fucking happy to be here. 

Mainly, I hate the fact every time I stand in this courtyard all I can see is the place my poor mother took her final breaths. 

My father, used to communicating in his own silent code, has lost the love of his life. He trusted this place would save her. 

Meaning I must now be the perfect daughter and care for him.

I do want to care for him. Just not in an underground bunker.

My mate has chosen six months of fresh air over being with me. No negotiations or discussion. Certainly not the fairytale I was hoping for. 

The full moon after my mother died, we found each other. It was stunning, even I have to admit that. The beam came down but I wasn’t even looking at it. I was skulking in a corner, fingers entwined with my father as silent tears slipped down his cheeks. 

My heart leapt, charged with adrenalin and then from across the courtyard I recognised the source. His gorgeous blonde hair, that deliciously scruffy beard of his. 

It's all in the eyes though. So warm and beautifully brown. Ryan stood tall in the beam, inhaling deeply as his ribs were repaired. He’d stared at me, complete shock on his face.

Pulling me to him with a yank, I melted at his filthy growl. "Mine, come here now little mate," and in that instant I succumbed to him. Everyone else knows me as loud, stubborn and argumentative. Ryan leaves me soft as butter. 

It was only after meeting my mate that my father started eating again. He laid a note on my pillow for when I woke explaining how my finding Ryan had made his heart beat again. My happiness is his happiness. 

I should be in a honeymoon-style bliss. But losing my mother has left part of me numb. Like I can’t give Ryan all of me. Not like a mate should.

I know his love for my mother was overwhelming. She accepted him exactly as he was. His silence, his nightmares, his stubbornness. He adored her spirit, crazy ideas and non stop chatter.

I don’t like to wonder if Ryan feels like that about me yet. Am I completely adorable to him? He loves my body, I know that much. He chases my grief to the furthest corners of my mind when he strips and devours my body, fucking me into the early hours til he is hoarse from roaring. 

When I think of Ryan, I think of hunger.

His insatiable desire to have my skin against his has carried me through this month. He wants everything. To possess me. The world and beyond. His plans are huge. 

I love listening to how once he comes into his money, the world can be ours to conquer.

"What's six months, Babe? It's just a hurdle. Then you're mine forever."

"Mmm," I replied unconvincingly into his chest, inhaling his zingy melon scent. Fresh and sweet. The perfect antidote to the miserable palette of white and grey surrounding us.

How can I possibly survive without him for six months underground, he’s my mate! 

"Come on Hopey, don't fall out with me, you’re the one choosing to stay," he murmured. I forced myself not to point out that I hate his pet name. Or that I couldn’t stop staring at Cal’s truck as it pulled in. I didn’t even see Ryan, I just realised after the swerve what had happened. 

Something drew me to him, aware that even before I recognised him as Cal, someone was staring at me enough to make goosebumps rise.

With those guilty thoughts in the back of my mind, I allow Ryan to push me a little further inside the stone tower. A quiet, curved staircase beckoned. His puffy black leather jacket and suave grin hide the blatant pain he's in. 

Cal tore him to pieces. The cut above his eyelid makes my heart wince. I don’t think Ryan landed a single blow in response.

Alpha-blooded dickhead thinking his fists solve everything. So strong, so tightly wound up, fire fizzing in those dark eyes of his, just like I remembered.

"Ryan, why were you even out there though?" I whispered as he nuzzled my neck. Fizzing electric from his hot breath and lips left my eyes squeezed shut. The mate bond is a powerful force. 

Even so, I felt his breath catch at my question. My wolf was saddened, warning me a lie was coming.

"Just checking my things before I head off. I've got to go. The Freeze is coming any day."

"Your vehicle isn't on that side of the fortress," wincing as his hand slaps the stone by the side of my head.

"Fucks sake Hope. You're my mate! I'm telling you the truth! What, you want to trust his version? I'm the one you listen to!"

His brown eyes flashed silver with pure annoyance. By removing his face from my neck, the cold air quickly killed the lingering warmth of his touch. 

"Don't be stupid. I just know him from years ago. I was just a kid when I knew his sister."

"He seems to think differently," Ryan growled, his hands landing on my hips, gripping me tighter than I liked. "He was watching you. Too closely. I want him gone."

Why the hell does that idea make my stomach curl? Cal watching me for a change? 

Years of unnoticed teenage mooning for my best friend's big brother and now he's staring at me?

"You. Are. My. Mate." gripping his collar tightly but it's too late. The moment is spoiled. Why did I have to challenge him?

The Ceremony had finally begun judging by the chanting prayers and rustle of bodies towards the courtyard. Ryan let out a groan, "I've really got to go." With a final deep, lingering kiss that left me dizzy he left me. 

"I love you, Hopey. You're my girl. Don't forget that. My girl!" before breaking out into a run, heading away from the courtyard to weave around the back, where his truck was actually parked.

He'd only been gone a few seconds when all hell broke loose. I was strolling to join Reu and Elvie by the stone railing overlooking the beam of light. It was a greyer shade than usual but I couldn't give a shit about these nutcases and the stunts they pull. 

It could be lime green and I wouldn't stand under it again. Not after my poor mother.

What did concern me was the fucking gunfire. Surrounded by screams, I dropped to the floor, glass shards raining down as darkness reclaimed the night. 

Shrill screams tore through the courtyard, Mireille I think but I was stuck hiding by a stone drain. I tried to stand up but stony dust landed in my eyes. Bullets hitting the wall above.

A few foolhardy men leapt over the railing, running towards the noise. My head sideways, everything happened in slow motion. The flashing brightness from the machine guns contrasted with the dark leather of the men defending The Light under the moonlight.

As quick as it happened, it was over. "We've got her! RETREAT!" bellowed an unfamiliar voice. More gunfire followed, ripping through the chorus of shouting, wailing, dying howls that filled the air

"Get them! Come on, where are you!" raged a familiar voice, perhaps Cal or Reu that was instantly quietened by another burst of gunfire.

Staggering, I dragged myself up on the railing and gasped. Blood and bodies everywhere. 

Shit what about Ryan? Without a second thought I squeezed through a gap in the railing and dropped down into the courtyard. With only the moonlight to guide me I met a sea of greying, dying faces. I couldn't catch any real trace of his sweet melon scent.

Out of the courtyard, the tracks of the trucks were already being whisked away by fresh falling snow. 

The air temperature had dropped severely, leaving me shivering and wishing for my mate. 

Then I tripped up. More accurately I kicked someone in the ribs and went down over their body.

"Fucking hell I'm already shot don't make it worse," a dark, rich voice groaned. A voice I immediately recognised.

Laid sideways across his torso like the clumsy oaf I am, I got a direct hit of his oaky, cinnamon scent. Wow. Goddess he smells as good as I remember. Bette even.

"Sorry, hang on," I muttered, my hands slipping on the ice, trying to avoid using his abs as a gripping point. 

"Watch out, there's a dead Rogue to your left," as my hand landed on a rapidly cooling stranger's thigh.

Panicking, I jumped, my elbow slamming into his damaged ribs making him hiss in pain. "If this is revenge for battering your boyfriend, you've hurt me more than he managed already," he growled, before quickly grabbing me by the waist. 

With zero effort he lifted me from him. Placing me by his side. I gasped, not because he hurt me, but because his hands went inside my coat, gripping my actual waist with two hands that felt like they were made of iron.  

Pushing waves of red hair from my face I huffed at him. "You're wounded? Where's Ryan?"

"Yes I am, and I don't give a shit where he is. I don't think anyone got out of here further than me though, try under the blankets, maybe he's hiding," before dropping his head back into the snow, wincing with every breath. 

"Don't think getting yourself shot is impressive-"

Before I could point out how pathetic it was to pretend he wasn't in agony, Elvie sprinted up to us. Her silver hair flew wildly, merging with the gathering snow storm. "Where is she? Where's Mireille! Oh Goddess no! No! Why would they take her, my baby!"

Without flinching Cal stood up. Like gunshot wounds were mere tickles. 

"Round up your fittest men and we'll chase them down," oozing authority and vengeance. His dark eyes glittered with anger, at odds with his gently curling ashy brown hair. 

"No! You don't get a say in how this goes," growled Reu, appearing from around the corner. He held a large envelope. "This was pinned to the pulpit with a dagger. Their demands."

***

We have Mireille. She will live in our bunker now. Meet 50 miles north noon tomorrow with all the supplies our fifteen men and women will need for the Freeze. Mireille will be fed, clothed and made comfortable LAST out of everyone. Think about this. Be generous, if you want her returned alive in spring.

***

Luna Elvie paled, if that's even possible with her ghostly complexion as a gaggle of her beige-clad followers surrounded us. I felt sick. Poor gentle Mireille stuck with a band of savage Rogues. What would become of her?

"Alpha what do we do?" cried the hollowed eyed Arlen, his forehead creased with wrinkles. "There's no sign of her anywhere!"

Reu studied the paper, his hand remained steady even if his jaw clenched so tight it could shatter diamonds. "We do as they say. That bunker has been empty fifty years, they'll have nothing usable. Starting from scratch."

Cal immediately piped up, stepping into the group of disciples. "We could follow them now! Stop them before they even get her back there! Get your weapons!"

Like a tiger the icy-eyed Reu stepped forward, their noses pressed together in fury. "You have no fucking idea what you're talking about. Go after her with what? They've shot our vehicles! We don't have firearms anymore! By the time we've repaired the trucks, snow will have covered the tracks. We need to work through the night now to get enough vehicles functioning to transport everything we need."

"But you don't have to do as they-"

"SHE IS MY DAUGHTER!" Reu roared, not that Cal backed down an inch, merely narrowed his eyes. "Now get fixing trucks or fuck off back to the beach."

Cal's eyes glimmered with rage. Without thinking I put my hand on his arm and squeezed. He can't boil over now. Not when Reu is ready to maim someone. "I'll take you to the medic. You can join the queue."

Cal scoffed, "What fucking queue? There was only me and Reu out there. The rest of you shit yourselves and hid."

Then he shrugged off my arm and stalked away back into the dimly lit courtyard, where over a dozen dead pilgrims lay. 

The Light has failed in so many ways tonight. But right now only Mireille matters.

As Reu and the others planned I stared at the bloodied patch where I tripped over Cal. He ran all that way into gunfire to try and stop those Rogues tonight. For a pack he has no bond or loyalty to.

I can't deny it; he's seriously brave. It's just a shame he's a stubborn, alpha-brained loudmouth with it.