- The Attack

Remington

Surprising Rochelle and making sure the entire world knows my intentions towards her were my only thoughts. The closing of a door had me turn and there was my Rochelle, her natural beauty stole my breath away and my mind went blank. The scene that unfolded next as Monica launched herself at me and I helplessly watched Rochelle walking away had me livid.

My jaw clenched as Monica peeled herself off me and grabbed the flowers, sniffing them. “There beautiful, Remington, thank you.”

I tried to move away from her, but she hooked her arm around mine, “walk me to my next class,” she leaned into my ear, “I’m still a bit shaken from last night,” she whispered.

My eyes locked with Linda’s, and she snorted turning her nose in the air and spun on her heels, walking in the same direction that Rochelle had gone. I spoke through gritted teeth, “fine.”

Monica’s eyes twinkled up at me, “you’ll give me a ride home to won’t you,” she whispered, “I don’t want to walk through the forest alone,” she pouted.

My brows furrowed, “sure.”

She sniffed the flowers, “Thanks, you’re my sweetheart,” and walked into her last class.

I leaned against the wall pulling out my phone and sent a text to Jake, “find Rochelle, make sure she’s coming to my party.” I walked off to my next class.

Sitting in history, staring out the window into the forest my mind wanders to last night. I know she’s angry and only the goddess knows how long she waited for me at that dock. My plans to meet her had gone horribly wrong. As I walked through the forest last night I heard a female scream. I couldn’t ignore it, so I dropped the flowers and invitation and ran towards the destressed female. I had no idea it would take me 3 hours to calm Monica down. How she ended up in such a precarious position was beyond me, but here she was with torn clothing, screaming that she had been attacked by two males. I couldn’t leave her, she was crying, trembling with fear as I held her in my arms to soothe her before having to carry her home.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I looked at Jakes response, “Roe is upset and not coming to your party.” My wolf, Xander, pushed forward, a growl tore from my throat as I stood quickly, the chair flew behind me crashing into the wall and I stormed out of the classroom.

Entering the packhouse with only one intention, I needed this to stop, yes, I heard the rumors, but I didn’t think Rochelle would take them seriously, my mistake. My mother’s voice called out, “you’re home early, did something happen at school?”

I stopped my steps and closed my eyes, trying to reign in my wolfs fury, my hands were flexing at my side, as my mother approached. Her hand gently patted my upper arm, “Remington, son, what’s got you so upset, tell me.”

My eyes snapped open to see my mother’s eyes full of concern. My lips formed a tight line, “I’m fine, just need to speak with dad.”

Her eyes twinkled just at his name and there it was, her love for him, shining like the brightest star in the heavens, “of course.” She hooked her arm with mine, “come, I’d love to see him too.”

“Has it been an hour already,” I chuckled. Watching my parents all my life as they swoon over one another has shown me what having your fated mate is like.

She knocked on the door and he called out immediately, “Enter, my love.”

We entered his office, my father, Alpha Maxwell, smiles as his gaze falls upon her, “My Luna,” he pushes himself out of his seat to greet her with a kiss on the forehead. He turns to me, “son?”

My mother turns to leave, “he’s upset and needs to speak with his father, not the Alpha,” she winks and closes the door with a soft click.

He motions me to the seat across from his as he sits back down behind his desk, “what’s wrong?”

My hand runs down my face, “females.”

His boisterous laughter fills the office, “sorry, but you’ve just gotten your wolf, and you have female problems already, really?”

Holding up my hand, “Monica, she’s out of control, dad.”

He nods, “Monica is a pretty girl, smart, charming and of Beta blood, she is worthy of you son, so what seems to be the issue.”

“She’s not my mate, dad and that is the only one I want, not Monica, so can you talk to Beta Kirt, tell him to reign in his daughter and for her to leave me alone.”

He shook his head, “sure, but what if she is or you never find your fated mate, what if Monica is the only suitable choice, then you’ve removed it from the table.”

“Yes, I want her removed from the table, trust me I know what I’m doing,” I nodded at him as I stood heading over to the pile of documents that he leaves for me.

An hour later he stood with urgency, “rogue attack at the east border, we need to get there.”

We ran out of the packhouse shifting as we leapt from the stairs and headed into the forest. My heart was thundering in my chest as Xander snarled, “yes, release for that twit girl that dared to throw herself at us.” I would have chuckled at his description of Monica, but my focus was on the rogues.

As we approached the scene Xander dug into the earth with his paws launching us forward, jaws open and striking one of the rogues in the hind quarter, pulling him off one of our own warriors. Xander’s head snapped to the side flinging the wolf off, but I wasn’t expecting who it was under him. My heart clenched in my chest as I stared at the gapping wound in the man’s throat. Xander spun and pounced on the rogue, tearing him apart, limb by limb. Xander attacked the next rogue, gutting it with his front paws as it leapt in the air. The wolf landed with a hard thud to the ground and Xander ripped him to shreds. My wolf was in a frenzy as he spun looking for his next kill, and I knew why, the warrior was dead, and we knew Rochelle had felt it.

My father’s voice entered my head, “that’s enough, son there gone.”

Xander snarled as he walked over to the dead warrior, sitting on his haunches he howled in pain. My father knelt at the warrior’s side, his head down and his hand on his chest, “you served us well, John, may the goddess receive you and hold you close to her”

- Hollow Heart

Rochelle

A sadistic laugh left my throat as I wiped furiously at my wet cheeks, “how stupid am I anyway.” I threw my backpack on my bed as tears continued to fall, looking at my spread with the lilies printed on it. “I should burn you,” glaring at the now offensive flower pattern.

I focused on the pictures that covered my dressers mirror, I pulled them off one by one. Each one, he smiled posing with me, my heart broke for each cherished moment of my life that he had been in, “LIES,” I screamed to the empty room. My tiny trash bin filled with captured memories that left a hole in my heart of where they once lived, “stupid, stupid girl, why did you think for one minute he cared or ever would.” I gazed at my reflection, my eyes and heart full of anguish as my soul was ripped out of me. My thoughts filled with all the years of my own foolishness, my naivety, my belief in love. This is the end, I need to walk away and never look back.

My phone rang, I grabbed it, “Linda,” my voice cracked.

“Come open the front door,” she whispered.

I opened the door. Linda’s arms wrapped around me, “no, don’t cry, he’s not worth your tears, not anymore.”

I pushed her off me, “you’re right.” I slammed the door, “it’s too obvious but why throw his relationship with Monica in my face.” I shook my head, anger finally taking over, “didn’t I deserve an explanation, at least tell me his intentions.” I huffed, “it’s fine, I don’t really care anymore, it’s just a stupid crush and once I’m…”

The sound of the attack alarm went off and my heart stopped beating for a second. We secured all the windows and locked ourselves in the bathroom. We both sat inside the tub holding each other, neither of us have our wolves, so we need to hide till this is all over. I heard the front door slam shut and my mother’s voice called out as the knob on the bathroom door jiggled. I jumped out and opened it for her to enter, she hugged me to her, “it’s fine, our warrior’s will protect us,” her hand smoothed my hair down.

Linda’s voice was shaky as she spoke on her phone, “Mom, I’m safe, I’m at Rochelle’s house…”

Hot searing pain radiated in my heart, as my mother’s anguished scream echoed off the walls of the small space, both of us fell to our knees, clutching our chests. Linda’s arms wrap around me from behind, her head falling on top of mine, her voice was soft and sincere, “I’m so sorry.”

My arms reached around my mom’s waist, my head in her chest as I sobbed, “daddy’s really gone.” My mother’s body went stiff as she pushed me off her, stood and walked out of the bathroom. I scurried off the floor to follow her as she headed towards the front door, sobbing, “Mom, where are you going, stop.” My hand grabbed her wrist, “you can’t go out there, the rogues.”

She spun as tears fell from her eyes, “you don’t understand, maybe I can, I can…” I flung myself at her, wrapping my arms around her frame, clinging to her so she wouldn’t walk out the door.

“I can’t lose you too, Mom, not to these rogues, I won’t allow it, no, daddy, he wouldn’t want it.” Linda moved to her side and we both guided her to the sofa in the living room, as we sat next to her.

The room was silent, but the pressure of what had happened was suffocating. I don’t know when Linda had left, but soon she set cups of hot tea in front of both of us, “here you go, my mom’s on her way,” she spoke softly.

Curled up in my dad’s chair, I watched as Luna Avery and Mama Jenny, Linda’s mom, sat on both sides of my mother, talking softly and giving their condolences. I sniffed his chair, and memories ran through my mind, how he’d pick me up as a small pup and throw me in the air, just to hear me giggle. All the time he helped me train though I was so small and uncoordinated, he never complained and always encouraged me that I could do whatever I put my mind to.

I stood to go to my room but a knock at the door had me turn. I pulled it open, and Remington stood there holding a single lily. My eyes narrowed at the flower and then up to his face, “what do you want,” I said more calmly than I wanted to.

His frame blocked the doorway as he extending the flower to me, “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

I took a step back, my voice harsh, “why care all of a sudden.”

He took another step closer, “don’t act like that, Roe, we’ve been friends forever, of course I care, I’ll always care.”

My heart fluttered and I shut it down as Monica’s voice came from behind him, “Roach, I’m sorry your father died.”

My lips parted in shock, pure fury ignited, “get out, don’t ever come back here.” I grabbed the flower and threw it at his face, “take her with you and leave.” I spun and ran down the hallway, slamming my door as hard as I could. I threw myself on my bed as my heart shattered for the millionth time today, the loss of my father, the man that always protected all of us was gone and nothing in this world could ever change that.

Standing at the pyre as Alpha Maxwell spoke of my father’s bravery, his achievement of being the top warrior, a devoted mate and father had me numb. Squeezing Mom’s hand as we stood watching my father’s final farewell. My heart hollow with his absence, a void no one could ever fill. Linda stood on the other side of me and her words caught me off guard, “don’t even think about speaking, I’ll kill you the second I get my wolf,” she sneered in a whisper.

My head turned towards her and Monica stood there with a smug smirk on her face, “I just wanted to make sure Roach was okay, you know I’ll be Luna one day, I need the practice.” Remington appeared to her side, taking her by the elbow, “Monica, come with me, now.”

She fluttered her lashes at him, “of course, Rem,” she looked at me with a smug smirk as she turned flipping her golden blonde hair over her shoulder, “I’m hungry, maybe barbeque would be nice tonight,” she giggled as he led her away.

- Acceptance

Rochelle

Remington never glanced at me, didn’t say a word, my eyes didn’t leave his back as he guided Monica through the crowd. A pain that I can only be described as a knife piercing my heart had me closing my eyes shut, not to allow it to affect me but to harden my heart towards the blatantness of their disrespect. Walking back to our home, both Mom and I stayed quiet, there was nothing left to say about the loss, about the emptiness we both felt as we entered our home. She had lost her mate; the love of her life and I lost the only man that would truly love me unconditionally.

The following days were empty, both of us trying to get through each one, as people went about their lives normally, because the loss of John Jasper didn’t affect them as it did us. Mom cried every day, no less than she did the day before. Neither of us ate, we barely slept, she stayed in her bedroom, and I curled in his chair.

The following Monday, my mother’s bedroom door creaked opened, and she stepped out, “you need to go to school, get your finals done and it’s time to stop grieving your father.” She held my hands, “your dad loved you and he wouldn’t want you to stop living because he was protecting us, so you need to go on and live your life.”

She was right and I knew that, yet it didn’t make it any easier. I grabbed my phone and turned it on, ignoring the missed calls and messages and sent a text to Linda, “see you at school.”

I pulled my hair into a messy bun, washed my face and got dressed in torn jeans and one of my dad’s button-up shirts. I had one final today and then I could leave. I walked inside the school, ignoring everyone’s stares and whispers as I opened my locker Linda’s voice came from my side, “hey, I missed you.”

I slowly nodded, “yea, I missed you too.” I pulled out my hoodie, stuffing it inside my backpack, “I’ll see you after the final,” I shut my locker and headed for class.

She threw her arm over my shoulder, “I want to walk you,” she leaned her head touching mine, “I’m your BFF, we can talk after class.”

I went to reply when I heard Monica squeaky voice, “wait till you see the dress I’ll be wearing at his party,” she giggled, “we’ll match like a mated couple.” Linda’s arm tightened around my shoulders, “don’t pay her any attention, she does this just to get to you.”

I stared out the classroom window thinking how much my life had changed in one day, how devasting it could be. I’ll make sure my dad is proud of me, I’ll become the fiercest warrior. I’m his little girl; his little warrior and nothing will stand in my way.

The sound of the bell had my head turn only to find Remington standing in front of my desk, “hey, how you been?”

My jaw clenched as I stared at him, my eyes focused on something pink on his collar, “fine,” I gritted out.

His eyes softened as he exhaled and slid into the seat in front of me, “Roe, we need to talk.”

My eyes stared at the pink stain on his collar, then looked him in the eye, “okay, you can talk to me at your party.” I snapped my fingers, “oh, that’s right I won’t be there since I wasn’t invited, now turn around and leave me alone.”

The teacher spoke, “all eyes up front,” his jaw set tightly, and he turned from me as she explained about the exam. He slipped a piece of paper onto my desk as he passed the test to me. I eyed the note as I took the test paper from his hand. I finished the test and opened the note, he was asking to meet me at the dock, he must be fucking joking. I snorted, “NO,” as I passed his desk, slinging my backpack over my shoulder and walked to the front, handing in my test before walking out of the classroom.

As I got to the packhouse front door I knocked and one of the houseworkers opened it, “please, come in,” she spoke politely.

“I need to see Alpha Maxwell,” my voice full of confidence. The houseworker smiled, “of course, he’s in his office.”

“Thank you,” I headed down the hallway towards his office, his door opened as I approached, his words carried down the hallway.

“Remington spoke to me last week about Monica and it slipped my mind, but you understand how these young people are, if you’d talk to her, make her understand how he feels, I’d appreciate it and so would he.”

Beta Kirt nodded, “right away Alpha, I’ll do my best to make sure she understands his intentions,” he smiled as he turned towards me, only for his face to go stoic. “Rochelle,” the Beta stepped up to me, “how are you sweetheart?”

How am I? shattered, broken beyond repair I thought, but I wouldn’t say that “I’m fine Beta Kirt, thank you for asking, I need to see Alpha Maxwell,” my eyes pleading as I looked from him to the Alpha.

Alpha Maxwell extended his hand towards his office, “of course, Rochelle, please come in.” Entering his office, taking it all in, his huge mahogany desk, the sitting area and the floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the pristine garden. I sat in the leather chair and straightened my back, as his door shut and he sat behind his desk. “What can I do for you,” he asked with his hands clasped in front of him.

My voice was steady a contradiction of my inner turmoil, “My father had asked if I could go to warrior training and I believe it was all set up for me to leave next week, but I was wondering if I could leave at the end of this one.”

He sat back in his seat, “you’re sure about this, the first two weeks of training is probationary, it’s quite brutal you know,” he sighed. His eyes bore into me and an expression I didn’t understand flashed in them, “this week? but aren’t you going to attend the graduation party, it’s this Saturday, it’s not just for Remington, it’s for all of you,” he gave me a slight smile.

My emotions stormed within me; do I tell him I wasn’t invited? That his son has decided that I’m not worthy of attending, that I’m nothing in his eyes. “I’d rather get my life on track, it’s what my father would want me to do.”

Something border lining compassion crossed his face, “I see, this is about your father, you’re leaving beforehand,” he sighed, “if this is really what you want, then the convoy leaves Friday at noon to the compound, will all your tests be completed?”

A wave of relief flowed through me as I nodded, “yes, I’ll be done on Thursday.”