Share

Chapter 4

Penulis: Alana Dyer
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-05-30 21:10:05

Chapter 4

“Brynlee, I am vacuum sealing all the bedding.” Miss Asteria calls out, her head popping in the door way. A look of shock fills her eye as she takes in my now empty room before it morphs to one of sympathy. She understands what I am going through as she is also leaving being her ancestral home.

“My bedding is on the bed. I wasn’t sure how to pack it.” My voice sounds emotionless and hollow and surprises even me. The calm that washed over me earlier seems to be working. I am holding myself together pushing all the pain and agony from being rejected and banish into a dam inside my mind. Time will tell when the dam will break and all the pain and hurt comes crashing down on me but for now I can manage each task one at a time.

“I can pack it up for you while you decide what to do with your parents’ room. I left it for you to pack up.” She pads into the room to where I stand, wrapping her arms around me and pulling my body in for a hug.

“Thank you.” I find myself wrapping my arms around Miss Asteria as I breath in the rose scent of the perfume she wears. The same perfume my mother wore. The same one I wore when Rune and I...I shake my head before my train of thoughts return to my now Ex-Mate. I can’t think about him. Thinking about him makes the dam I made in my mind crack and releases the pain. Forcing myself to focus, I feel the dam in my mind repair itself. I know if my mind wanders, the pain will take over. I can’t have that happen. Not until I am far away from this place.

“Don’t thank me. It’s what family does” She pulls back from the hug, looking me in my eyes as she gives me a soft smile.

“I promised your mother I would protect you and I intend to keep that promise. You are my niece – my God Daughter - no matter what Brynlee. I will always take your side because of this.” With a smile she pokes my nose with her index finger before moving towards my bed and scoops the pile of my bedding in her arms, telling me to leave the boxes where they are as Gale and their pups are on their way and will pack it up for me. She leaves me room, her footsteps sounding on the steps to where I assume she is vacuum packing away the bedding while I take one last look at my room before walking out and flicking off the light.

I feel a sense of sadness wash over me as I walk towards my parents room, the frames of pictures gone from the walls. It is a reminder that this is no longer my home and I have to stop and lean against the wall to stop the pain from breaking the dam in my mind.

‘Focus on the task at hand. Keep the pain at bay.’ I remind myself these two things, taking deep breaths to calm myself once more. Once I feel ready, I continue my path towards my parents room and push open the door. Flicking the lights on I take in the untouched room that has their lingering scent.

 The only thing missing is their bedding and I call out asking if Miss Asteria took it. She confirms she did and that she sealed them in their own bags for me. I sigh with relief, happy to know that I will have what remains of my parent’s scent while I deal with my new life as a rejected Rogue.

 I get to work with packing away my parent’s remaining things, their scent comforting me and helping to keep the dam I built in my mind contained. I remind myself they would want me to stay strong through all of this. To find a safe place where I can let the pain out and start the healing process. As the clock chimes six at night I finally finish packing and stand in a nearly empty room. I want to cry, to break down and scream at how unfair life is, but I stop myself.

“Remain strong until I am no longer on Pine Moon land.” I mutter to myself, wiping at the stray tears that have formed.

“Gale said we have room in our trailer for a bed for you. Do you want us to take yours apart?” Miss Asteria walks in as I finish taping the last box, startling me into dropping the tape gun. She apologizes and rushes to pick it up for me.

“No. I don’t want my bed. It is too small for me now.” I manage to mumble out as I take the tape gun back. She nods, looking around the now empty room until her eyes land on my parents bed. I haven’t laid on top of it since their death, too afraid to loose their scent for good, but I can understand what she is thinking.

“How about we bring theirs then. Add another piece of them to your new life.” She states, giving me a wink and a wide grin. I grin back, looking at the sturdy wooden frame that is older than I am. I like this idea and agree right away before we walk through the house one last time until we end up in the garage. My mother was a gardener and I note that her things – including her many seeds – were packed away. I know that wherever I end up, I will want to plant a garden with her seeds and thank Miss Asteria right away for packing the garage for me.

“I loaded her potted plants into the bed of your pick-up truck. I told Gale he has to dig up her lilac bush before we leave because I refuse to leave that beautiful bush for these Goddess forsaken wolves.” I laugh at Miss Asteria’s grumbling, doubling over as my laughter takes over. I have never seen Miss Asteria so ruffled before, but I have a feeling she is done with her younger brother’s bullshit. She stares at me for a moment, her eyes not hiding the fact she is wondering if I lost my mind and honestly, I think I have. The last twenty-four hours has taken its toll on me. Besides, laughing is better than crying at least.

“We will not let them have your parent’s hard work.” Gale’s voice sounds from the open garage doorway and brings me from my laughing fit. Two of his pups, Lunette and Gray, peak out from behind him and I smile, opening my arms for the pups to rush in and give me a hug.

“Daddy told us what happened. You deserve better.” Eight year old Lunette states. I smile, thanking her as the two pull away and Gray tells me he is excited for this new adventure. Chase stands beside his father, the fourteen year old staring at me before he nods a greeting.

“So are we all packed?” Gale asks, coming to hug his wife.

“We are. Brynlee and I did a final count of what we are taking so I will show you what to pack.” With Miss Asteria’s confirmation, the six of us get to work packing my things into the trailer that is hooked to my truck. Gale told me that while Miss Asteria took care of my wounds, he took care of hooking my dad’s trailer to my pickup truck and packed the Garage away with his wife in there first before they went to prepare their own home so that I could rest uninterrupted. Warmth spreads through my painfilled heart at how much this family cares for me and I can’t help but hug them in turn, happy to know I won’t be leaving alone.

It takes us another three hours to pack away my belongings, the last item being my mother’s wedding dress that I packed into the cabin of my truck. With time to spare, I think of my best friend and sworn brother Caspian.

Caspian and I grew up together with Rune. He will be next in line as Beta when I leave. Deciding I need to leave him an explanation, I write a letter for Caspian to find, knowing that my best friend will understand why I left when I did and telling him the house is his if he wants it, leaving the dead inside the letter. I know he is looking for his own place for himself and will appreciate this gesture. I also know he will take good care of my child hood home as he spent many nights here as a pup due to his situation with his own parents.

“We have three hours left before the deadline. Do you want to say goodbye to anyone?” Gale asks as I close the door to my childhood house.

“No. As far as I am concerned the pack turned their back on me. I left a letter for Caspian and told him I will contact him when I get a new phone number.” I answer, turning to look at Gale and his family. The pack turned their back on me when I became an Orphan last year. Only the fives wolves leaving with me and Caspian cared for me in my darkest hour. Even Rune was too busy with Tanya to check and see if I was okay. I remember asking him to just stay with me as I had been there for him when his mother passed away, but he made every excuse as to why he couldn’t. Now knowing he is betrothed to Tanya, his actions towards me since last year makes sense.

“Good. Lets go then.” Gale declares, everyone climbing into our respective vehicles. Lunette asks if she can ride with me and I instantly agree to it before her parents could say now.  I can use the company and distraction from everything that has happened and tell Gale and Miss Asteria this. After making sure Lunette is buckled in, I climb into the driver seat and turn on the pick up tuck – a 2018 Ford F150.

“Any music request?” I ask Lunette as I pull up my Spotify. She thinks for a moment before asking for pop music to sing to and I obliged. With music picked and both of us settled, I honk to Gale signalling we are ready. He honks back before his own truck begins to move, his trailer being pulled behind him. The drive through the pack is bitter sweet. With my house being placed near the back farthest away from the exit, I am forced to see the places I spent my days growing up.

Lunette is great at keeping me from breaking down and crying, the eight-year old babbling on about the new adventure, finding a new pack to live in and making new friends. She isn’t sad to be leaving, instead she seems excited at the prospect of starting at a new school and this makes me smile. After forty minutes of driving, we cross the pack line and officially become Rogues. I know one day we will find a pack to call home but for now we focus on surviving until that day comes.

Lanjutkan membaca buku ini secara gratis
Pindai kode untuk mengunduh Aplikasi

Bab terkait

  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 5

    Chapter 5“You did the right thing Son.” My father, Alpha Valor, claps me on the shoulder as I watch my Uncle Gale carry Brynlee – my Brynlee – away. My face burns from her claw marks, the pain reminding me that I hurt her all because I was forced to. Judging from how the blood continues to drip down my face, I know these marks will leave a scar. A scar that will match the pain in my heart forever.The pack begins to disperse now that the show is over, some whispering about how the pack will change when my Aunt and Uncle leave. Aunt Asteria was furious when she learned what we had just done to Brynlee before denouncing her role in the pack and breaking all ties with us. She told me I will regret loosing Brynlee and will realize that mindlessly listening to my father will lead me to a life of misery. I asked her if Brynlee had a Mate Beater’s mark like me, but she told me that Brynlee attacked me after I rejected her and there for will not bear the make before she left chasing after Un

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-05-30
  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 6

    Chapter 6Glaring at Rune’s retreating figure, I stand from the floor now that I can breathe again. To think he would find his mate in that slut Brynlee and left me at the party alone to spend the night in her arms. I was furious to learn that she spent the night in his bed, even more furious when I slammed the door open to see her wearing his clothes and covered in his scent. Rune is my play toy and no one can have him but me.“Tanya, why were you on the floor?” Valor walks into the pack house, his own mood soured from the trial outside. It seems getting rid of that slut caused problems with the pack. Many of the pathetic Omegas and lesser Warriors already voiced their opinion on the matter, stating they would rather have Brynlee as their Luna over me. I have a plan to deal with these wolves later as long as Valor keeps Rune in check.“Your son thought to teach me a lesson of respect.” I growl out in frustration, allowing the man before me to see the bruises left on my neck. Valor st

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-05-30
  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 7

    Chapter 7Slinking towards the motel, I shake my fur out as the light misting of rain makes me wet. I am happy that Miss Asteria and Gale chose a motel so close to a forest so that we can stretch our wolf form as it gave me a chance to run free and hunt down a rabbit that I happily gnawed on while mulling over my thoughts. It’s been seven days since we left Pine Moon. Three days that I haven’t been able to shift till this morning. Keeping the dam of pain and emotions at bay in my mind has gotten easier the further we are from Pine Moon and I find myself enjoying the long drives from motel to motel.Shifting to my human form, I find my clothes in the hollow tree I left them in and change, rushing to our room on the first floor and entering it just in time to see Gale and Miss Asteria getting ready to leave.“Did you have a good run?” Gale asks, giving me a hug.“I did. It was needed.” I admit with a small smile.“Well, you have rabbit blood in your hair. I am guessing you went on a qui

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-05-30
  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 8.1

    Chapter 8.1Glaring at the computer screen in front of me, I read the report sent by the Private Investigator I hired to find Brynlee. Its been a week since she was expelled from Pine Moon and I have slowly come to realize how much I regret what I did. I should have never slapped her, never rejected Brynlee – my Goddess given Mate.The last seven days have been hell for me. Tanya has ramped up her abuse on the Omegas, ordering them around like slaves to prepare for our wedding day in a few months time. Every day, I get reports of her attacking she-wolves that mention my Brynlee and how she would have made a better Luna. It has caused me to placate my pack mates and put Tanya in her place. But when ever I do that, my father indulges Tanya stating that those she-wolves shouldn’t have mentioned Brynlee in Tanya’s presence.It has become a nightmare for me. Always having to perform my duties as heir to reassure pack mates that I am handling Tanya, to dealing with my father yelling at me f

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-05-30
  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 8.2

    Chapter 8.2Walking through the woods on the outskirts of the pack, I curse myself for being so dumb at loosing track of time and running late. Today Brynlee turned eighteen and as the future Alpha I need to be at her party to congratulate her. To welcome her as a functioning member of the pack. She will begin her Beta training under Jett and will become my Beta when I take over the pack.[Where are you?] Wincing at the sound of my father yelling through the mind link, I roll my eyes and pick up my pace. He seems angrier than usual and me being late does not seem to help.[On my way. I lost track of time in the wood.] I reply back with honesty, deciding to shift into wolf form so that I can move faster. My clothes tear as I shift mid step, my paws hitting the hard forest floor as I take off. The party starts in ten minutes, I need to be there in five to make it in time to change into new clothes and still be on time for the party.[Hurry the fuck up, Rune. Your Aunt will nag me to dea

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-05-30
  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 8.3

    Chapter 8.3The door to my office slams open and Caspian storms in, plunking himself into the chair in front of my desk and pulling me away from my thoughts of Brynlee and that day a week ago. I was shocked that he was here, figuring we would only talk if it were about his Beta training.“I thought we weren’t on speaking terms?” I ask as I watch my friend runs a hand through his hair. I can feel the anger and hurt radiating off of him and I have a feeling what might have happened to make him choose to come to my office.“We aren’t. But this is the only place my parents won’t bother me.” He answers back, pulling out his phone. I say nothing, knowing the situation Caspian is in with his parents and how they are trying to force him into claiming some random she-wolf as a Mate instead of allowing him to search for her himself. Its an argument that I have witnessed myself many times since he turned eighteen. At one point Caspian had confided in me that he hoped Brynlee would be his Mate to

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-05-30
  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 9

    Chapter 9Parking my truck beside Gale’s, Lunette and I climb out of the vehicle just as the others were exiting Gale’s. Its been three days since I contacted Caspian. Three days filled with my best friend constantly checking up on me and sending me many memes he finds on the internet that leaves me laughing for a good moment.Between rest stops, I would have Lunette sit in her dad’s truck while I had some alone time talking to Caspian. Other times she would be in the back seat of my truck chatting with the both of us, the eight year old happy to be included. She even told Caspian that she is taking me from him as her new big sister, which caused us to laugh and Caspian stating he will be her new big brother. The look of disgust Lunette had when he said this had me laughing so hard I had to pull over, especially because the eight year old replied savagely that she doesn’t need or want another older brother considering she has two already.Unfortunately for me, it was during one of our

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-05-30
  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 10

    Chapter 10Watching Tanya flitter about the functions room chattering with our guests, I sigh and slam back the whisky I was sipping on. Ten days has passed since Brynlee left. Ten days of yelling at Tanya every time she snapped at a pack member for doing their job. At one point I thought she was flirting with a Warrior that was just getting off of patrol, but my father talked some sense into me. Or so he thinks.What he doesn’t know is since that day, I have been keeping tabs on Tanya, recording her every move and even snuck a few hidden cameras into her room. I have yet to collect any evidence against her as I have been busy cleaning up her mess and a surprise visit from Onix Moon’s future Alpha, Viren Bestial, two days ago left me unable to see just what Tanya has been up to.“Your future Luna seems like the social butterfly type.” Viren comments as he comes to stand beside me.“She is, unfortunately for me.” I grumble out, not caring about portraying the love sick fool I have had

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-05-30

Bab terbaru

  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 133

    Rushing towards the boardroom while frantically clipping my hair into a bun, I dodge an Omega with their arms full of clean linen. A week has passed since Shadow Rose came to train with Crescent Phoenix and in that week Quincy has caused a fight and now lay in the infirmary after his punishment, being chained with silver cuffs for three days while staying in the dungeons. Ashton hasn’t left Devlyn’s side as the latter has yet to wake from a coma, and Quest has told Asteria that he and Ashton have talked to me and wish to leave the Pack when Rune and I take over Crescent Phoenix. Add on Rune finding out he can see visions of the future and that this power might be inherited by our pups in the future and I have no idea how I am still standing after the week I have had.Not only that, but today I had a weekly checkup with Jasmin to see how my pregnancy is progressing which made me late to our war strategy meeting now that the two Packs are slowly working as a team. After our foraging ses

  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 132

    Standing on Quincy’s front porch, I hesitate before knocking on the door. Caspian had told me before leaving the truck that Jett is staying here with his niece for now as Milan is shaken up by her Mate’s actions from today. I can’t blame him for wanting to be there for Milan, the only family he has left. I would be furious in Jett’s shoes and I would have marched down to where Quincy is being kept and throttled some sense into him by now whether Aunt Asteria liked it or not.The door opens and Jett appears looking weary and pissed. His mouth opens – most likely to yell at whoever is at the door – only for his angry appearance to morph into surprise.“Rune. Caspian.” He calls out with a sigh, looking at each of us in turn.“What brings you two here?”“I came to see how Milan is doing. Rune came to talk to you.” Caspian answers with a small smile. Jett hesitates, his eyes glazing over and we wait for a few minutes to pass figuring her was linking his niece to see if she wanted any visit

  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 131

    Helping Brynlee pack the mesh bags into a wagon Greg – one of our Omegas – brought to help us bring our foraged plants to the Pack House, I smile as I hear many of the Crescent Phoenix wolves chatter with the Shadow Rose wolves. It sounds like everyone had fun learning about foraging today, some even became excited when they found a poisonous plant that we could use in the upcoming battle. Caspian was the one to pick these plants with careful and precise movements since Brynlee was pregnant and unable to touch them while Brynlee explained the use of this poison as it has a similar characteristic to wolfsbane, The only difference is that this poison, a plant with red veins and black-tipped leaves called wolfsblood, will cause the person’s blood to curdle in their system in high enough doses leaving the victim to die a quick and painful death.“Ready to head home?” Brynlee asks as I place the last bag into the wagon.“Actually, I was going to find Jett and talk to him about this mornin

  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 130

    Standing in front of the tree line with Warriors and Hunters from Crescent Phoenix mingling with Tristan’s men, I watch as the tense atmosphere from this morning that Quincy caused slowly disappears. Training had been canceled so that Asteria could deal with Quincy and rip him a new one and Quest was still with Ashton, keeping an eye on our friend and unable to help with training. He had linked me twenty minutes ago to inform me that Jasmine had broken the news to Ashton that Devlyn possibly might be in a coma but Ashton’s presence will help him come out of it faster as the Mate Bond will help heal Devlyn.I had given Quest permission to take three days off to help Ashton as well as have him report back to me if Ashton tries to leave Devlyn’s side to try and find Quincy to pay him back for what Quincy did to Devlyn. After Quest confirmed he would keep an eye on Ashton, I went out in search of Tristan to make good on my promise of teaching his wolves to forage in the forest as well as

  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 129

    Standing to my feet, the chair I sat on falling backward, I rush to the front door calling out to Rune but I am too late. He is already racing towards the Pack House while Caspian stands at the door. Anger radiates off my friend and for a moment I wonder what he said to cause Rune to rush off like that.“We need to get to the Pack House.” He states, turning to look in the direction Rune left.“Quincy beat Devlyn up pretty badly and Quest is keeping Ashton at bay. He wants to destroy Quincy for harming his Mate.” Caspian explains. I nod, grabbing my truck keys from the hook and rushing to my truck. I forgo the seat belt and drive off as soon as Caspian climbs into the vehicle before he can even close the door.The tires kick up gravel from my driveway in their wake while Caspian holds on for dear life, his eyes wide as I drive through the forest faster than usually allowed. Rune has shifted into his wolf form by now, his body just ahead of the truck as I catch up.Deciding to have Casp

  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 128

    Moving around the kitchen, a smile on my face, I watch the bedroom door to see when Brynlee will wake. Last night had been a blast seeing Tristan and Michael again but I had been worried when Brynlee had gone off with Ashton and Quest alone. I waited patiently beside my god-brother while counting down the minutes until Brynlee would return to my side.When she did come back out, she had a worried air about her but brushed it off when I asked. Of course, Quest stood beside her, his eyes scanning the crowd like a watchdog. I knew these two bonded as friends and felt happy to know he was keeping my Mate safe when I was not around, but the way he refused to budge and talk with other wolves worried me even more.“Rune, is that pancakes I smell?” Brynlee calls out as she exits the bedroom rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. She looks so tired yet adorable and I can’t help but move to her side and pull my Mate in for a hug.“Yes. I just finished making apple cinnamon pancakes.” I an

  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 127

    The door to my bedroom is slammed shut and a small snarl escapes my lips. I know it is a warning by the Warrior who led me here after leaving Valor’s office but I can’t help but think that I am nothing more than a prisoner as I know said Warrior is standing outside, guarding my door so that I don’t leave without my Mate knowing. Everyone knows that Valor is not taking any chances when it comes to the unborn pup inside me. I know that he plans to get me pregnant as soon as I can after giving birth to this pup and the thought revolts me but not as much as the plan he has to keep me on my back in bed pleasuring him to his heart’s content instead of allowing me to perform the duties of a Luna.I regret mating that misogynistic prick. Regret making a pass at him after turning nineteen in hopes of gaining some form of power inside this Goddess forsaken Pack. I knew back then Rune didn’t want me. Didn’t want to marry me. He is right that everything that has happened is my fault.I got my mot

  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 126

    Watching the messages fly in as I converse with the other Alphas around me, I grin and lean back in my chair. Devlyn may have been a cowardly traitor for leaving as soon as he completed the blood pacts but his information has come in handy at least.I had worried about my sister coming back to claim Pine Moon as her Pack when she left. Worried about the truth behind mine and Clairice’s mating coming to light when Jett abandoned Pine Moon the moment that bastard Rune did. Now, I no longer care as the threat they pose will soon be gone within seven weeks. Add on that the doctor confirmed last night that Tanya is indeed having a boy has made the relief I feel immeasurable. My bloodline is secured, and my descendants will continue to rule over Pine Moon for years to come.As soon as Tanya has this pup I will make sure to put another one in her womb. She will only know the bedroom and the birthing room. She will raise our pups while I take care of the Pack during the day and she will satis

  • The Howling Heart's Forgiveness   Chapter 125

    Watching Rune chat happily with Tristan and Gale while Delilah reclines by the bonfire with Asteria, Odette, and Avery, I take a deep breath and sip on the apple juice in my hands. It is the calm before the storm that war brings. A peace that I wish would last and could bring my pup into.Dinner had been a fun fan fair, the Omegas that volunteered to be on duty were quick to keep the buffet filled while Crescent Phoenix wolves came and went to mingle with the Shadow Rose wolves. I spent that time getting to know Avery and Delilah, finding myself laughing so hard that I couldn’t even drink my apple juice without nearly spitting it onto the table. It was during this laughing fit that Avery introduced me to her Mate, Jamal, a Beta wolf who was kicked from his Pack in Jamaica for not wanting to give up his right as Beta to his pack for his Alpha’s brother-in-law.He thought that coming to Canada would bring better luck for him as his cousin Delilah was here. He thought coming to see his c

Jelajahi dan baca novel bagus secara gratis
Akses gratis ke berbagai novel bagus di aplikasi GoodNovel. Unduh buku yang kamu suka dan baca di mana saja & kapan saja.
Baca buku gratis di Aplikasi
Pindai kode untuk membaca di Aplikasi
DMCA.com Protection Status