2 - Never Make Plans

~Hannah’s Point of View~

~The Next Evening~

“Why did you push it up, what’s in it for you? You always said it would be when I turned 18 or if my wolf came,” I whisper, glaring at my father as the dressmaker pulls at my gown.

He waves me off, apparently I’m not even worth an explanation. I don’t need one, I already know the answer. 

Money. He was promised money. It’s literally the only language my drunk and gambling addicted father understands.

“What does it matter? Today, next year, whatever. He won’t wait much longer and I don’t want to either. If you had your damn wolf you could fully mate and we wouldn’t have to have a stupid wedding as a promise. They’ll only fulfill half the bargain until you’re properly mate,” he snarls, as he takes a flask out of his pocket. The stench of cheap whiskey on his breath makes my stomach lurch.

I seethe when he turns his back to me, my blood boiling as my brain immediately flashes ten different ways I could kill him in this moment. But I know even if I end him right now, Harrison still won’t leave without me. His parents and other family arrived a couple of hours ago with this gown in tow, it’s a done deal. There are two dozen guests waiting for the show. Marriage doesn’t mean much to a shifter, but the symbolism of it, the promise of me matters. Hence the audience.

“All set, best of luck,” the seamstress says, nodding without even looking at me. 

She’s gone too quickly and when my father turns back to me, his face is serious. His collared shirt is open with a couple of buttons undone and the tattoo that haunts me is on full display: The weak die, the strong survive.

I’ve always used that as my own mantra, because I wanted to believe it and still do. But for the last decade or so my father has only survived from the sweat and blood I’ve given. From the risks I’ve taken.

“You’ll do what’s expected of you Hannah. I didn’t raise you to be a quitter, to go back on an agreement,” my father says, rubbing his beard. 

My nostrils flare and I pinch my eyes shut. It sure as hell isn’t MY agreement.

“What … did you get,” I say, slowly. I want him to have to say it.

“Half a million, the promise for the boys to enter their warrior training program when they come of age. Oh and … getting rid of you,” he says, with a smirk I’d love nothing more than to slap off his face. Yeah I’d love nothing more than to get rid of you too!

My brothers and I have discussed leaving him more times than I could count. A female without a wolf herself and two small pups. We’d probably be sold into servitude within weeks on our own. For all the things I hate about the male I call my father, he does protect us. Not from himself though.

I bite my tongue to keep from saying anything. If I piss him off, he’ll take it out on the boys. I won’t have that.

A female I’ve never seen before pops into the cabin and announces that it’s time. My dad practically flies out, and seconds later my brothers file in. 

My heart swoons when I see them cleaned up and in nice clothes. They’ve even had haircuts. They’re so handsome it hurts because I know they’ll be little heartbreakers when they start actually paying attention to girls.

They each hug one of my arms and then as if orchestrated, they both look up at me with teary eyes. I can tell they’re trying to hide their emotions but it never works with me. They can be themselves, be vulnerable only to me.

“Go ahead and go, we’ll come find you in a few weeks,” Oliver says, in a whisper. I immediately fall to my knees, not caring if I mess up the gown. They both kneel too.

I reach for both of their faces and hold their cheeks in my palms as I’ve done a thousand times. I dart my eyes between them, never wanting to forget their chubby cheeks, their adorable green eyes. I’ve never seen much of myself in their faces except for hope, for always questioning. 

When a stray tear falls down my face, Oscar quickly wipes it with his finger. I let out a hard breath, trying to even decide on what to say.

“Father will be on the move. He won’t make it easy and I don’t know what’s waiting for me. I don’t know if Harrison will take you both in or not. The last thing I want to say is that you may have to tough it out with him for a while, but you just might. It’s far too dangerous for you two to be alone,” I caution.

They more than know how to survive in the wild, how to make shelter and find food. But damn it, I don’t want that life for them. Sleeping with one eye open is no way to live. Males also tend to get their wolves in their early teens, I can’t bear the thought of them going through that alone.

Oliver opens his mouth to protest but his clone elbows him. 

“You can’t keep us from coming after you. Just don’t worry about it. Make Harrison happy and he’ll be more agreeable,” Oliver says, making me press my lips into a hard line.

He’s the blunt one that always says exactly what he’s thinking, even if I’m not going to like it. And I certainly don’t like him telling me what to do with my body. “Make him happy,” from a ten year old. He’s heard my father say it. I don’t want him thinking about me whoring myself to a male in exchange for anything.

“Are you coming or what,” my father’s voice booms, from just outside the tent.

“I’m sorry, I’m so damn sorry,” I whisper, as my lip trembles. They both shake their heads before burrowing themselves under my arms but I’m a failure. I’ve failed them.

“Nothing can keep us apart for good. Nothing. We’ll find you, at least you’ll be in one place that’ll make it easy,” Oscar says.

Even with the hundreds of places we’ve temporarily called home, they still don’t think the world is all that big. Well, it is and Harrison lives in another time zone. My stomach cramps at the thought of how far away I’ll actually be.

“Don’t make me come in there,” my father says, his voice even louder.

I push to my feet and ruffle their shaggy brown curls I’m so envious of, especially when my hair is straight as could be.

The next few minutes are a blur as my father takes my arm in his, someone hands me a bouquet of flowers and music plays. The twins trot out ahead of us with their sharp dress shirts and shiny shoes. Their outfits probably cost more than all three of our wardrobes combined. I immediately wonder if I’d be able to sell this dress, if the pearls are real. I could make a getaway fund.

“Hannah,” I hear, making me snap my head up. 

I’m not sure how it happened, but suddenly Harrison is holding my hands and we’re standing in front of his father and another male I don’t know.

“Yup,” I say, realizing they’re waiting on me to speak. What did I miss?

A few guests snicker, but Oliver’s laugh is what I really hear. Goddess I love it. It’s so pure, and it's home. They are my home, they’re my whole heart.

“Do you pledge yourself today to be Harrison’s chosen mate and life partner once your wolf joins you under the moon of our Goddess,” his father asks.

My eyes move to Harrison’s face. He’s got a smug, cocky grin that I hate, but his eyes are different. He’s looking at me in awe, he’s clearly happy. His thumbs run over the back of my hands. 

Why can’t I want this? It would just be so easy to be his, to let him spoil me. My brain flashes a visual of him on top of me, skin to skin and I feel absolutely sick.

When his head jerks to the side suddenly, my whole body turns toward what he’s looking at. Smoke billows from the forest a quarter mile away, past the clearing. I instantly turn to scowl at my brothers. They both shake their heads, saying it wasn’t them. 

Harrison drops my hands, as the guests all jump to their feet. 

“It’s an attack from Nightwind,” someone yells. 

My mind goes into overdrive as I spin and grab my brothers by their shirt sleeves. They don’t have to ask, they know. As nomadic rogues, we’re trained to be ready for anything. For our fortunes to change in the blink of an eye because oftentimes, they do. Our feet move on instinct and we don’t look back. 

We run past the tent where I’d gotten ready as the scene around us turns into full blown chaos. I catch it out of the corner of my eye. Everyone who can shift is doing it, and I have no clue where Harrison is or my father. 

The boys scoop up my bags that were packed for me to leave and I kick off my ridiculous heels. 

“Let’s hit it,” Oscar shouts, tossing my heavy bag on his back like it weighs nothing. Since I never want to worry where my next meal is coming from and even though I knew Harrison would care for me, I packed food. 

If you’re not prepared, the enemy will be … just another of my father’s pearls of wisdom.

We barely get into the woods before I hear the heavy sounds of a wolf following us. The boys hear it too and we all run with all we’ve got. 

“Whatever happens, keep going! Just go,” I shout, knowing they won’t listen. They won’t leave me. 

It’s funny that barely an hour ago I believed that only my father could shelter them, keep them safe. Fuck that. We’ll live in the woods, live on the land. We can do this and stay together. I’ll fight for our freedom until my last breath!

However, after a minute the snarl of a pissed off wolf is hot on my heels and the ground is still soggy from last night’s rain. I’m slowing them down. 

“Go! Don’t look back, I’ll find you,” I shout, and much to my shock only Oscar turns slightly but he doesn’t stop. I’ll be damned, they actually listened for once.

My lungs burn but I exhale and slow my stride slightly, I know the enemy is too close. I don’t even have a second to think of anything else, my entire body is propelled forward by a sharp force at my back. 

I cry out in pain and when my shoulder and then head thud into the ground with a crack. My entire body seizes like I’ve never felt. I manage to cover my face instinctively, not having any idea who this wolf is or what he wants. Someone said the word “Nightwind” but that doesn’t mean anything to me. Yes they’re a big pack with a reputation but I pay little attention to gossip. Most packs hate rogues anyhow.

“Who the hell are you,” I hear, making me look up. 

A very naked male looms over me and the sounds of another wolf pounding the ground flitters into my ears. 

“Why were you marrying Harrison? Who are you,” he shouts, squatting down and getting in my face. 

When he grabs my hair and pulls, I rear my hand back and jab my thumb into his eye. It catches him completely off guard and he stumbles onto his butt. 

I roll myself and try to get up, but my shoulder feels dislocated and every movement causes sharp pains. My eyes can’t focus and I blink rapidly with an intense throbbing in my head.

“You rogue bitch,” I hear, just as a hand wraps around my ankle. 

I kick at him, just as another wolf seemingly leaps through the air and lands on him. It’s not Harrison and it’s not my father so I have no clue if my savior is friendly or not. The wolf is gray with some white steaks, I’ve never seen one like it. But then again maybe I’m hallucinating, that seems likely as I can’t focus.

When the hand falls away, I try once more to stand. It’s a struggle but I get to my feet, disoriented and dizzy. I turn sharply and take two steps before my head hits an immovable object and something sharp scrapes against my face. 

“What…” I mumble, and attempt to raise my hand to my cut, instantly feeling my eyes get heavy. The pain is so sharp I can’t even lift my fingers. I feel my legs give out, but an arm wraps around me just as everything goes black.