Everly

The adrenaline coursing through me from standing up to my father is short-lived as we drive out of my father's pack territory, Valen following close behind me. Just before we jump on the

main road, he flashes his lights and his voice flits briefly through my head.

'Pull over,' he growls. He's angry.

I quickly pull over to the shoulder of the road and away from other traffic. Ava glances at me. “Wait here,” I sigh, climbing out of the car at the same time Valen does. I ready myself for his

anger as he stalks toward me. Just as I'm about to defend my actions, he grabs my face and kisses me, pushing me against my car.

“Don't ever do that again,” he mumbles against my lips. His fingers tangle in my hair as his tongue invades my mouth, kissing me angrily before he slows with a groan. My face heats, knowing my sister is in the car while he devours my lips.

“Valen!” I squeak against his lips, pushing on his chest. He growls, still trying to maul my lips, while I look around, embarrassed at his public display. With another growl, he grabs my hand and places it in the center of his chest. His heart is racing beneath my hand, thumping so hard I worry he may have a heart attack.

“You just scared the living daylights out of me. Give me a minute,” he growls, pressing his face into my neck and inhaling deeply. As if desperate for reassurance, Valen pushes even closer, his entire body flush against me, and I sigh, running my fingers through his thick hair. This man seems almost on the verge of having a nervous breakdown, and he’s supposed to be the blood Alpha?

“Don't ever make me do that again. Do you have any idea how hard it was to walk away and leave you there?” Valen says, his voice pleading.

“I didn't mean to scare you; I’m fine. Everything is fine,” I assure him. He sighs, nodding his head before cupping my face in his hands as he steps back.

“You challenged your father!” he says, and I’m not quite sure if he wants to kill me or laugh. I can’t help the stupid smirk that splits my face at his words, though. He clicks his tongue and shakes his head.

“You better win because if he hurts you, I will kill your father, and you can't blame me for it,” he tells me.

“No one is killing anyone,” I tell him, and he presses his lips in a line. I know Valen’s angry about learning my father knew all along about Valarian being his, but what's done is done. We can't go back and change it, so there’s no point in dwelling on it.

In the car, my phone rings loudly and Ava sticks her head out the passenger window.

“What about your sister?” Valen murmurs. “I don't trust her to stay with us. I know she’s your sister but…”

“I didn't ask, and I wasn't going to. She can stay at the hotel,” I tell him. He nods, looking over my shoulder, and so do I. Ava waves my phone to me.

“Hospital! About some girl named Emily.”

My eyes widen, and Valen lets me go. Racing over to take the phone from her, my hand shakes as I hold the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“Luna Everly?” says a deep baritone voice on the other end of the line. “Yes, you're speaking with her,” I reply.

“I am one of the doctors taking care of Emily. I was wondering if you are available to come to the hospital? You are her only listed contact, and we have no one listed as her family.”

“Yes, correct. She has a son, but we still haven't located him, and her only other relative, her mother, died a few years ago,” I say.

“I see. Is it possible for you to come to the hospital?” the doctor asks again. “Yes, I was heading over anyway. Is everything okay?”

“I'm afraid not, Luna, but it is best explained when you get here,” he tells me. My heart sinks.

Valen grips my shoulder, and I nod.

“I'll be there soon,” I tell the doctor before hanging up.

“Emily?” Valen asks, and I nod, dialing Zoe and Macey before merging their calls into a conference call. They both answer at the same time.

“What's up?” Macey asks. “It's Emily.”

“On my way,” Macey says, hanging up.

“I’ll get Marcus to take Casey,” Zoe says before hanging up as well. I swallow the lump forming in my throat and look at Valen.

“I need to go. Can you take Ava back to the hotel for me?” “Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, Zoe and Macey will meet there, but can you pick up Valarian?” I say, shaking my head. “Of course.” Valen looks over my shoulder. “Ava!”

She sticks her head out the window and looks at him.

“You're coming with me,” he tells her, and she looks at me. I nod and she climbs out of the car. As I turn back to Valen, he kisses the side of my mouth. “Call me if you need me to come over,” he says, and I nod, unable to form words right now. Swallowing down my worry, I suck in a deep breath before turning back to my car and climbing in.

I don't even remember the drive to the hospital. I’m on autopilot, praying for some miracle that she’ll be alright as worry eats at me, yet the doctor wouldn't have called if she was. No news is good news. News always means something to worry about. As I pull up at the pack hospital, I see Macey rushing toward the front door, and I call out to her. She stops and turns, concern etched into her face, her eyes blurring with tears.

Zoe pulls into the parking lot, zooming past us and into a vacant parking spot. She jumps out, still in her pajamas, slams the door, and runs over to us, looking somewhat pained. She looks like crap— but still, she came.

“Emily?” she asks, hitting her key fob and locking her car.

“I just got here,” I tell her, and she nods before we all walk toward the front doors. Once inside, we hurry to the elevator and hit the button for the correct floor.

“You sort out the council stuff?” Zoe asks, straightening her pajamas like it will somehow make her look more presentable. Macey pulls a hair tie off her wrist and pulls Zoe's hair into a bun on her head.

“Yep, I challenged my father for my title,” I tell them as the door opens to our level.

“You what?” Macey asks, yet I don’t really hear her—my eyes are on the room I know is Emily's.

Doctors seem to be rushing in and out everywhere. We pick up our pace and walk into the room.

The doctors look like they’ve just been getting ready to take her bed somewhere. The doctor notices me and walks over, his notepad in hand, and tucks his pen behind his ear.

“Luna, I'm Doctor Porter,” he says with a grim smile, offering me his hand before his eyes darted to Zoe and Macey. He offers his hand to each of them. “You are?”

“Family,” they both say simultaneously. The doctor's brows pinch, making a deep crease between his eyes, but he turns his attention back to me.

He sighs, pulling his glasses from his face and rubbing his eyes before looking over at Emily.

“As you know, Emily has been having trouble fighting off the infection, and we had to remove her leg.”

I nod, though I already knew that. I glance at Emily and swallow nervously, watching as nurses fuss over her, unplugging machines and looping up cords. Doc pulls the pen from behind his ear and passes the notepad to me. I glance at it, then look at him.

“We need to take Emily back in for surgery,” he says slowly, letting that sink in.

“But she will be alright?” Zoe says, and I look at her. Her lips quiver, and the doctor smiles sadly before turning back to me.

“There is a chance she won't survive the surgery; the infection has spread, and her other leg has turned gangrenous.” He points to the notepad in my hands. “This is a DNR. We need to know what your wishes are.”

“What's that?” Zoe asks.

“Do not resuscitate,” Macey tells her, and Zoe makes a strangled noise like a whimper. I glance down at the paperwork I’m holding.

“You want my permission to let her die?” I ask, shaking my head. “Luna, you need to think of the future.”

I shake my head. “I am. Emily has a son to live for. The answer is no. Do the surgery. She’ll pull through,” I tell him. He sighs and reluctantly nods his head, taking the clipboard back from me.

“Luna?”

“No, she’ll pull through.” I look over at Emily with tubes hanging out of her—she can live without legs. And she will pull through. I have to believe that. I have to hang onto that.

We’re ushered out into a waiting room while she’s prepped for surgery and taken away. For hours, we waited, desperate for any news about Emily.

All other issues suddenly seem small in comparison. It’s hard to believe that just a short time ago, I was fighting publicly with my father, challenging his title. Macey paces frantically, and I’m surprised she hasn't run tracks into the floor. Zoe stares off blankly, biting her fingernails—a terrible nervous habit she has—but I let it go. I just sit still, numb to everything going on around us. After what feels like eons, the doctor comes down the corridor, and we all jump to our feet. He holds out his hands, and we wait to hear what he has to say.

“She is stable. They are moving her to one of the wards soon, but the infection is moving rapidly throughout her body and putting pressure on her heart. We will be running more tests overnight, but she is a fighter,” Doctor Porter tells us, and I let out a breath of relief.

“Can we see her?” I ask, and he nods.

“Yes, just let them get her settled first. She is not responsive, as you know, and I don't see that changing anytime soon, but for now, she is stable. I will have a nurse come get you when you go in,” he tells us, and we all nod.

Macey grips both of us, tugging us to her. “Thank the Goddess,” she whispers, squeezing us tight.

Everly

We get to see Emily and sit with her for about an hour. Tubes are hanging out of her nose and mouth, her arms covered in even more. The room smells heavily of antiseptic, but I can still

smell the infection running through her veins, and the IV of antibiotics hooked up to her. Emily doesn’t deserve this; nobody does.

She looks so frail, her skin pale, and I find it hard not to break down. Emily was always so bubbly—a real chatterbox. Seeing her like this is heartbreaking. I pray she wakes up soon, pray she will pull through this. I would even drink her terrible coffee. Goddess, I wish I could be drinking that horrible coffee. I wouldn't even complain if it meant she’d come back to us.

Eventually, Zoe has to leave to help Marcus, and Macey wants to go home and check on Taylor. We aren't sure if she can hear us, but they both say goodbye to her anyway. Sitting next to Emily, I hold her hand, rubbing circles on the back of it.

“You hold on, Em. Benny needs you,” I tell her. Kissing her hand, I tuck her blankets around her and reluctantly leave as well. It’s dark as I climb into my car—it’s the middle of the night—and I listen to the radio as I head toward the old commune and to Emily's mobile home on my way to the hotel. I feel mentally and physically drained, and all I want to do is go home, see Valarian, and crawl into bed beside my mate.

The commune is all mud and puddles, the rough terrain a little slippery since the storm, yet I manage to navigate through to the back where Emily's trailer is and get out. Using the key Officer Derrick gave me not long after she went missing, I use it to unlock the flimsy door.

I step inside the tiny little place she shares with her son. Toys and stuffed bears rest on the bed they share, a small TV is perched in the corner, and the walls are littered with Ben's artwork. I see two jars of her special home-made coffee and chuckle.

I also see a blue duffle bag hanging on a hook on the wall and grab it. After going around the little home looking for clothes with her son's scent on them, I carefully bag them, making sure not to taint them with my scent; I hope it will give Emily comfort in her vulnerable state. I also tidy up a little and while doing so, I find a picture of her and Ben taped to her fridge, both smiling as they stand out in the front of the school.

He’s only nine years old, and is her entire life, her world; and she’s a good mom, quirky, but that's what everyone loves about her. No one loves her more than her son, though. Emily works her ass off, and her only dream is that her son will grow up and one day become part of a pack and have the opportunities the other pack kids have.

We all wish that our kids will be a part of something bigger than us; that they’ll achieve more than

us. It’s what most parents dream of for their kids; to give them more, watch them grow and succeed, knowing we got at least one thing right.

Grabbing the picture, I put it in the bag for her just as my phone starts ringing in my pocket.

Valen's name pops up on the screen.

“Where are you?” he says, his voice frantic.

“At Emily's place, grabbing a few things for her room. I'm hoping something with Ben's scent will help her hold on,” I tell him.

“Head home now! A forsaken got past the borders! The border patrol has been chasing it for an hour; it keeps going to the commune. Get out now, Everly!” he orders.

“What?” I shriek, looking nervously out the open door of the trailer.

“I’m sending men to your location. Get out now!” he says, and I hurry to grab the bag. Rushing out the door, I lock it before running to my car and tossing the bag onto the passenger seat before quickly starting my car.

“Marcus is on his way!” I hear Valen say as I put the car in reverse and look around into the darkness of the night. The tires spin, yet I’m not moving! The truck only groans as the engine revs, spraying mud everywhere and up the side of my truck. I try to drive forward, but it only makes the hole deeper. I’m stuck!

“Everly?”

“I'm stuck,” I tell Valen. My breathing becomes louder as panic sets in. “Hold on, I’m on my way,” Valen says.

“What about Valarian?” I ask, glancing at the phone on the passenger seat, though the sound is coming through the Bluetooth in the car. I don’t want my son anywhere near here if a forsaken is on the loose.

“Tatum will watch him till my father gets here,” Valen says before hanging up.

“Fuck!” I curse. Just my luck! What’s the saying? It happens in threes? Well, I hope this is the last of my bad luck today.

The commune is eerily still—my headlights light up the forest surrounding the commune. As I stare out the windshield, I crack my window just a little to hear howls and wolves in the forest. My heart races, waiting for Marcus or Valen to get here. I refuse to get out of the car; I’ve watched one too many horror movies and know that’s a bad idea.

‘You okay?’ Valen says through the mind-link. I can feel him getting closer, but he’s still a fair way out.

‘Yes, fine, just a little freaked out.’ This place is creepy and I don't know how Emily lives out here. Yet, she loves her little spot.

“I’ll be there soon, just keep talking to me,” Valen says.

I explain about Emily; not that he doesn't already know—he’d been calling me all night, checking in. But rambling is better than panicking. Suddenly, I see a wolf run out of the tree line, two border patrols chasing after it and my eyes widen as I see them tear into the creature. The wolf turns and beelines straight toward my car. Only, it diverts toward the trailer at the last second, clawing at the walls before snarls send it running again. It seems so small for a normal forsaken. It tries to run back toward the tree line to escape, terrified. I watch on in horror.

“Everly?” Valen says as I see the two border patrols tear into it. Its howls are horrifying to hear when it’s flung across the dirt and suddenly shifts—or tries to. My heart lurches in my chest as I see the figure getting to its feet. Semi-shifted, its body is still covered in fur and its limbs are deformed. He looks like most forsaken, only smaller, until he shifts. It takes me a moment to realize the forsaken

is a child. Then it looks at me and I instantly recognize that little face—it’s the only recognizable trait he has—and my heart nearly stops.

I don't even remember opening the car door as I see one of the patrols go to rip into him. His petrified eyes, so much like his mother's, widen as I run toward them.

“NO!” I scream. The sound that leaves me is more of a strangled wail as I scream out as one of them tackles him, tearing into his neck and shoulder. He jumps back, looking at me running toward them, waving my arms frantically.

“Please, Goddess, no!” I cry, skidding on the ground as I fall to my knees next to the body. The border patrol try to shove me back, but my claws slip from my fingertips, and slash at them, an angry growl escaping me before I grab him. Sobs wrack my entire body as I smooth back his hair, looking at what has become of him.

He’s deformed, and it shouldn't be possible. How is it possible? He’s just a boy? He has no wolf yet! One of the patrols shifts back and reaches for me.

“GET A FUCKING AMBULANCE NOW!!” I scream, clutching onto him and trying to protect him from the patrols.

“He’s a forsaken,” the guard says. I shake my head. The boy’s eyes flutter open, bloodshot and rabid, but I only hold him tighter as he thrashes, snarling and growling, trying to attack me. But I know this boy—this isn't him. Someone has done something horrific to him, but that isn't who he is. His wounds are horrific, and he eventually passes out in my arms. His slow heartbeat is the only indicator that he’s still alive.

“Call for help!” I wail as tears stream down my face. “Luna?” the young patrolman questions.

“He isn't forsaken! He’s a fucking child!” I scream, baring my canines at them as they slip from my gums.

I hear the mind-link open as the border patrol orders for an ambulance. “It's okay, it's okay, help is on the way,” I whisper to him.

“Luna,” the patrolman says, grabbing my arm, but I shake him off. “Don't touch me,” I snap.

“He’s dangerous,” he tries to reason, but I don’t care. I’ve known this boy since he was in diapers; I’ve watched him grow. I don’t care how dangerous he is, he’s family—part of my village.

“He is not dangerous. He was trying to come home, trying to come home to his mother,” I growl at them.

“Hang on, Ben, hang on for me,” I whisper, clutching him closer while my hand presses against his gaping wound, holding it shut, trying to stem the bleeding from his shoulder.

Hearing a car, I see headlights light up the clearing and see Valen jump out of his car frantically.

He races toward me. I hear sirens in the distance on their way here and relief washes over me. “Everly?” Valen screams at me fearfully; probably because I’m so close to the mutated wolf.

“It's Ben, it's Emily's son,” I choke out, turning my attention back to the boy in my arm—or half boy.

Valen grabs my arms trying to pull me away, but I shove him off.

“Nobody touches him,” I snarl at him. I will not allow them to kill him, I don't care how dangerous he is.

“Everly!” he snarls.

“Tell them to stand down,” I growl. Valen growls too, looking at them and nodding for them to back off.

One Week Later

Ben has been in the hospital since that night. The doctors have no idea how he was able to shift, but it’s becoming clearer that someone is experimenting on not only the forsaken, but

also those that were kidnapped from within the city.

This mystery facility that Emily spoke of has become the biggest target on the city’s radar. Everyone seems to understand the seriousness of getting to the bottom of it. Ben is not doing well, and every day I’ve been checking on him and waiting around until the hospital or Valen force me to go home. He’s alive, but still in a semi-deformed wolf state. Mostly, he’s been unresponsive, just like Emily, and none of the doctor's know how to help him or reverse what was done.

One thing was clear though, Ben had been made into a forsaken. He had turned savage. His little body is ravaged with infections, his heart enlarged, and the few times he’s woken, he’s tried to attack staff, which has now left him strapped to a bed like a mental patient with a muzzle. A once sweet boy has now been made into some science experiment, and it breaks my heart seeing him like this. The only comfort I have is that he shares a room with Emily.

Her state has not improved either, and the bizarre events are beginning to take a toll on everyone in the city. People are scared—and they should be. Only a monster could do this to a child. This only reignited my fire to ensure the rogues in the city are protected.

Hearing the door open, I look up to see Kalen step inside the room. He’s been a great help recently. Valen was busy with pack business, and I’ve been spending most of the time here or at my hotel, leaving Kalen to watch over Valarian. I never expected him to show up here.

Glancing at the time, I see it’s an hour before school pick up; I was about to head over to the school to pick up Valarian . I told Kalen I would today, knowing he needs a break, so I’m surprised when he steps into the hospital room.

Kalen glances down at Ben, brushing his hair from his face. Ben doesn't wake. The entire city has heard and were horrified, despite him being rogue, when they learned what had become of him. Luckily, everyone has found a way to have some heart, probably imagining their own child in the same situation.

“Fucking terrible,” Kalen says, smiling sadly.

“What are you doing here?” I ask him and Kalen holds a piece of paper out to me. I take it, noticing the city council emblem on it.

“I pulled a few strings and called in some favors; you get your day to be heard. Your petition will be heard,” Kalen says.

“Wait, how? I needed four signatures,” I say, confused.

Kalen smiles and I glance at the paperwork to see Kalen has signed as well as a man's name I don’t recognize. I look at him questioningly.

“I found a loophole. It said you need four Alpha signatures; nothing stating they can't be from previous Alphas,” Kalen says with a sly smile on his face. I glance down at the paperwork to see I have a date and time allotted to be heard by founding council members. One week to prepare. Tears burn my vision as I look back at him.

“Does Valen know?” I ask him and Kalen shakes his head. They are still barely talking unless it has something to do with Valaria—Valen is still upset with his father.

“Thank you,” I tell him, and Kalen nods before looking at Emily. “Any news on how they are doing?” he asks, but I shake my head.

“No. The doctor is due to do his rounds soon, but I need to pick up, Valarian.”

“I will wait until the doctor gets here,” Kalen tells me, taking a seat in one of the uncomfortable blue chairs.

“Are you sure? The doctor will call me,” I tell him.

“Positive. Besides, I have nothing better to do,” Kalen tells me. He looks lonely, and I can see this feud with Valen is really starting to take a toll on him. He used to be so involved in his son’s life, so it must be hard now that Valen is shutting him out.

I walk over to him, lean down, and give him a hug, pecking his cheek. However, I’m not expecting him to grab a hold of me. He hugs me tight, and it feels good to be hugged by a father figure. Despite Kalen’s wrong-doings, Valen doesn't realize how lucky he is to have a father so supportive of him.

“Make Valarie proud. I know you will. Give 'em hell,” Kalen whispers to me. With a nod and another peck on the cheek, I quickly leave, heading to the hotel to pick up Ava on the way to the school. I’ve hardly seen her, and she wants to talk to me about something so she’s coming over for dinner tonight. I told her I would pick her up when I did the school run.

My thoughts are plagued lately, and I have trouble keeping my head straight. Now, I have to worry about the upcoming council meeting too. But for the first time all week, I have some hope. Pulling up, I message Ava and wait in the parking lot, staring up at my hotel. I feel like I’ve neglected it lately. With so much going on, I hardly spend any time here, and when I have a chance, I’m just exhausted. Although I know Zoe and Macey have everything handled or will call if something goes wrong.

Ava takes a few minutes before she appears, coming out of the restaurant doors with her bag slung over her shoulder. She’s wearing one of our waitress uniforms. She had wanted to help, and when we were short of staff, she asked Macey if she could. She seems to like it and has been pitching in wherever she’s needed.

Opening the car door, she throws her bag over onto the back seat before climbing in and buckling

up.

“Any news?” she asks as I start the car and pull out, heading toward the school.

“No, still the same,” I tell her and she nods, chewing her nails. She looks nervous, and I glance at

her when she remains silent for a bit. “What is it?” I asked her.

“Mom called me; she said Kalen got your petition pushed through,” she says nervously, and I sigh. “Let me guess, she wants me to pull the petition. Not happening,” I tell her.

“She also asked that you rescind the challenge,” Ava tells me.

“Also not happening,” I tell her, and she nods, looking out the window. “Are you nervous?” she asks me, but I shake my head.

“Nope. After years of pent-up aggression, it will be good to beat something, or someone; though I

wish it wasn’t dad,” I chuckle, though that’s a lie. I didn’t want it to come to this, but I feel more than ready for it. Valen has been helping me train late at night when I’m up to it. Not that I’m really worried—I was taught by the best, and you don’t suddenly forget.

While I feel like I can handle myself, I am still a little nervous since my wolf isn’t nearly as big. I make a mental note to shift soon. Valen has been pestering me about it—he says I have to train in wolf form—yet I never have the time, and I can’t exactly shift at home. Training in our living room isn’t exactly a good idea in wolf form. That might scare Valarian. Hand to hand, I’ll be fine, yet in wolf form…

I’m not sure how I will fair, honestly.

But I know he’ll force me sooner or later. Probably sooner when he finds out I have the council meeting in a week, and two days after that is the next full moon and the challenge against my father. So much going on and so little time.

Pulling up in front of the school, I wait for the bell to ring, checking my emails while Ava stares off out the window. Glancing at her, I can tell she wants to say something, and her silence is starting to bother me.

“What is it? Spill. Has this got something to do with what you wanted to speak to me about?” I ask her.

“Kind of.” She doesn’t elaborate, and I put my phone down to give her my attention.

“Just say it. I won't get angry,” I tell her. I could never be angry with Ava, she’s my little sister, despite everything.

“Nothing. It’s just that being at the hotel and hearing the stories—what everyone puts up with, what you put up with… I should have come with you,” she says, wiping a stray tear. “I’m sorry, Everly, I should have done more.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Ava. You didn’t do this. I wouldn't have let you anyway; you were fifteen, what could you have done?” I ask her.

“Been there. I should have been there,” she chokes out. I shake my head.

“I’m glad you weren’t. And everything turned out alright. I’m alright, Valarian is alright, and you’re here now,” I tell her, and she nods.

“Mom tried, you know. Her and Dad fought constantly for weeks, but you know how Dad is.”

I sigh and nod. The bell rings in the distance and I turn my head to the school, looking for Valarian.

“She still could have called, it’s not like I was hiding,” I tell her.

“Dad forbade her to go anywhere without her guards or him. Same with me. Damn Nixon ruined everything,” Ava says, and my brows furrow.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“The debt. And I’m pretty sure that’s who Dad was planning for you to marry, though I didn’t know about that part until the other day, but it makes sense to me now.”

“What debt?” I ask, shocked. Ava shrugs.

“It’s why he wanted me to marry Valen. If I did, Dad would control half of Valen’s assets. Dad wanted Valen to enter into a treaty with our pack. Nixon has been threatening to go to war if Dad’s debt isn’t cleared soon, so Dad thought if he had Valen on his side, Nixon would back off.”

“How much does Dad owe?” I ask.

“I’m not sure, but they had some original deal, which I’m now assuming was you; it’s the only thing that makes sense.”

“Nixon has a son?” I ask her.

“Yes, he’s around Valen’s age. His name is Carter. Absolute asshole,” says Ava, rolling her eyes. “How come I’ve never heard of him before?”

“Nixon hasn’t handed the pack down yet. Dad tried to marry me off to him at first, but Carter and I don’t get along. The man is a pig.”

“So, Dad tried to get you to marry Valen?”

“Yes—told me he had to find the money to pay back the debt he owes Nixon.” “And if he can’t?”

“Nixon gets our pack lands. The pack is bankrupt, Everly. It runs off Nixon’s finances,” Ava explains. Which would explain why Dad backed Nixon over the petition.

Yet, what does Nixon get out of rogues remaining rogue?