3: RACHEL

I slipped out of my heels and quietly pushed the door open. The room was a little dark, but my were-vision assisted me with finding my way around the pink room. I stepped on something sharp. I swallowed my yelp and paused, waiting for the sting to subside. I peered down and removed the Lego piece and tossed it quietly in the play box.

I gently slid the curtains open, allowing the moonlight in. My breath hitched when my eyes landed on the tiny person sprawled on the bed. I swallowed hard and slowly sat on the edge of the mattress, making sure I didn't wake her. Her golden curls lay in bundles around her head like a crown and her cute button nose looked just like my mom's. That's why I named her Rachel in honour of my late mother. It was a good thing she looked like my side of the family because Alastor would have figured out she wasn't his a long time ago. I ran my fingers over her chubby cheeks, admiring how smooth and perfect her skin felt. Her button nose crinkled, then she rolled over and stuck her thumb in her mouth. She was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

My heart smiled. Her innocence showed on her sleeping face. She looked so serene. Her soft breathing made my world seem to stand still. My wolf and I knew we had to protect her. Her seventh birthday was a month away and her wolf's scent will be activated. And when it does Alastor would realize his scent was not in her blood. He would be pissed to find out she wasn't his pup, and I was afraid his temper would cause him to harm my daughter.

Rachel fluttered her little eyes open, and her big brown orbs shone brightly when she saw me. Eyes that were a dead giveaway that she belonged to Trenton instead. I knew Trenton sensed the connection with her, plus Rachel seemed to love her uncle Trent more than her papa Alastor. I think she was afraid of Alastor, to be honest.

“Mommy, you're here," she beamed, her sweet smile missing two front teeth.

“Yes, sweetheart. Now go back to sleep." I kissed her forehead and tucked her into bed.

“OK," she yawned while I stroked her face and waited until she fell asleep again.

The atmosphere got sour, so I turned my head to where the bitterness was coming from, only to see Alastor standing in the doorway. “Come to bed," he rumbled, then disappeared down the hallway. I made sure Rachel was OK before I left. Gently closing the door behind me. I made my way to Alastor's bedroom.

He was standing in the middle of the room in his naked glory, stroking his manhood and grinning wolfishly. “Take your clothes off!” He ordered, and I obliged. My entire being was braced for Alastor's torture. “You will get pregnant tonight. I need my fucking son!" He roared.

I stripped down to nothing. A second later I felt Alastor's cold hands on my shoulders pushing my belly to the wall where he took me standing up. It took him minutes to fill me with his seed.

***********

FOUR HOURS LATER

I lay awake, my body aching from Alastor's rough sex. After he feasted, he drank with his men, then when he was drunk enough, he went out to hunt, as he called it. But the truth was, they went out to torture and kill innocent people. I could smell the fresh kill on him. Usually, after his night of fun activities, he would come home and take me in ways I never knew a woman could be taken. He left no holes unexplored.

I watched the moon through the window while I waited for him to fall into a deep sleep. Selene's halo of alloy-silver shimmered down magnificently. Her beauty shone through the wide double windows, reminding me of her presence and that she was with me always. Sometimes I could have sworn the moon spoke to me. Like that night, she told me to go to the swamps and find her. I didn't know who this her was, but I knew I couldn't disobey the Moon Goddess.

I travelled for hours until I came upon a lonely cabin, nestled in the depths of the swamp. There I found a strange woman living alone. She called herself Winifred. She seemed innocent enough until my wolf-senses recognized her as a witch.

The intermittent snores of Alastor told me he was in dreamland. I peered at him. His angular jaws and bushy brows that made up his face were every girl's dream. He looked so peaceful as he smiled in his sleep, almost normal, but I knew he must have been dreaming of skinning someone alive while he burnt them with the end of a hot rod to be that happy. I gently manoeuvred my limbs, so I could slide my tiny frame from beneath his. He shifted, and I paused, holding my breath, hoping that he wouldn't wake up. I watched as his chest rise and fall, and I knew he was still lost in dreamland.

On my tiptoes, I got dressed then I left the bedroom as quietly as I could. It was the hours of dawn. The night was as quiet as a church mouse. Only the chirping crickets and the whistling wind could be heard. The warriors were asleep, and the guards were rotating the last change-over of guards for the night shift.

I slipped away into the woods and ran as fast as I could in human form. The wind whipped at my face as I stormed through the twilight forest. I pushed my body harder than I ever did in human form and I was surprised when I arrived at Winifred's cabin only three hours later.

I peeled over catching my breath. I prayed that things would go my way this time. It had been months since Winifred asked the Witch Elders for help regarding Safe Haven for me and my daughter. I only hoped she got word from them by now. I only had a month left before Rachel turned seven. If Winifred hadn't heard from the elders then I'd have to leave and find another place where I could keep my daughter safe.

In the meantime I really needed her to perform another one of her spells to ensure that I didn't get pregnant with Alastor's spawn. He would never let me leave if I bore him an heir.

I walked up the dusty steps and knocked on the door. Moon Goddess, please let Winifred be home, I whispered to myself.