Chapter 1

Mora

The clock shows eleven-thirty when I wake up, not at all surprising since I usually can’t fall asleep until after three in the morning anymore. I used to be an early riser, someone that enjoyed the first break of sunlight crossing the horizon, but now, not even that makes me smile.

It’s been three and a half months since graduation and the attack that nearly took my life. I still can’t say for certain who was behind it as I didn’t see any faces, and Dad is pissed at the entire pack because no one will step forward and admit they were my attackers.

The only reason I’m still alive is because of Sammy and Ryan. They noticed I wasn’t in line as everyone started to file into their seats and came looking for me. I was completely unconscious when they found me, still tied up, the bag nearly suffocating me. When Sammy came carrying me out, it ruined the entire ceremony, and that’s made people mad at them, instead of being furious that someone here attacked me.

It’s made tensions amongst the pack intensify and more than ever, I want to leave. Except for now I can’t, because currently, I can barely dress myself or go to the bathroom alone.

The attack broke every single one of my ribs, tore my shoulder apart, and shattered my leg. It took everything the healers had to put me back together, since their methods are usually meant for shifters who have faster healing abilities. I’ll likely have a limp for life, a weak left arm, but at least they didn’t have to amputate my leg as they’d first feared.

I’m still recovering. My leg in the third cast, well, brace I suppose is more accurate now, but it’s not a giving one. It starts mid-thigh and goes all the way down to my ankle, making stairs nearly impossible to navigate. Not to mention walking simply hurts my still not healed ribs. The healers said they could take up to six months or more to fully heal and its hell.

Up until the last week or so, I was mostly bedridden. My family would get me up, gently as possible, and put me in a chair to try to avoid bed sores or would take me downstairs to be with them rather than all alone upstairs. It’s just not the same as being able to go do what you want, when you want to.

Not to mention the nightmares the attack has caused. They make it impossible to sleep during the night, even more afraid of the darkness, shadows, than the light. Even if that’s when the attack happened.

I guess that’s because I know during the day, someone is at home—I’m not alone. Whereas at night, while I might not be alone, it would take them longer to realize if something happened to me. If whoever did this returned during the darkness of night and tried to kill me again, they might succeed this time.

School is starting up again soon, which means my brothers won’t be home with me during the day, and it has me worried. As much as Mom loves me, she wouldn’t be able to protect me from an attack the way the boys can. It takes more to hurt her, she’s definitely stronger than I am, but since she’s only a mate, a human mate at that, she can’t take down a born shifter, not even one that’s only a quarter by blood. They simply have a different makeup than the rest of us.

As soon as I’m up and moving, at my door, Ryan’s there, carrying me down the steps so I don’t hurt myself worse by falling down them. The couch in the living room they’ve deemed my throne, piled with layers of cushions and pillows, blankets in case I get cold, with a little table pulled close for the huge cup of water they insist I drink three or four of every day.

Ryan settles me into it, making sure my injured leg is propped up still, so it doesn’t swell. Mom brings in a plate and my cup, settling them within reach and presses a kiss to the top of my head, making me smile despite the discomfort that continues to flow through my body.

It’s not her fault that I was hurt. It’s not Dad’s fault either. Or the boys’ fault for that matter.

The fault lies with the cowards that attacked me. Since no one’s stepped forward to claim responsibility, I can only guess that Dana was behind it. Something she cooked up to keep me from graduation, from getting any recognition.

It’d be like her to try it, and she would have had easy access to the school building being that she was also graduating. She’d have known where I was supposed to be in line to wait and convinced enough of the others to be late so there wouldn’t be any witnesses. I just don’t have the proof to accuse her of it, without worrying she’ll issue a challenge in return. It’s not like I could fight her and the only girls that would stand behind me wouldn’t be able to beat her. By pack rules, only another female can fight her, so I’m out of luck on that one.

The day fades into afternoon quickly as I snack on the food. My appetite is non-existent anymore. I spent a month on a liquid diet because my throat was so swollen that I couldn’t swallow anything thicker than a smoothie, so now, food doesn’t interest me, which just makes Mom worry more about me. I don’t like them worrying about me, but I also can’t seem to make myself care enough to just eat what they give me without complaint.

By late afternoon, my eyes are shut and I’m in a half-asleep mode. Something that’s normal as well when I never used to nap during the day. Usually, it’s when my brothers head out to do whatever they need or want to, while Mom cleans up around the house. I don’t normally wake until about five, but today, something pulls me out of it making my heart race wildly.

Strange sounds filter in through the windows, and I wrestle my way up to a sitting position, gasping in shock when I spot Mom outside, struggling to get loose from some man’s hold. He’s not someone I know. I’ve never seen him in my life and that worries me more as I call out to see if anyone else is home.

There’s no response and I hobble to the door, grabbing up Ryan’s metal bat. It’s dented in spots from as hard as he can hit the ball. They can’t use wooden bats because they simply shatter whenever they hit the ball, metal bats are the only thing that lets them play.

The man attacking Mom doesn’t even seem to notice me hobbling down the steps until I let out a shout, swinging the bat as hard as I can with my right arm, my left nothing more than stability to keep the thing up. It hits him in the head, and he drops his hold on Mom, but he doesn’t fall. Instead, his face snaps back my way, a snarl coming from his mouth and his eyes glow red, rooting me to my spot.

He lunges for me, and I try to swing the bat again, but this time, he catches it, and before I can drop it, he counters the swing, throwing me ten feet across the yard away from Mom. I land hard, jarring every broken bone in my body, my breathing thready as my ribs press against my lungs.

Mom screams when the man shifts into a wolf, coming straight for me. His teeth sink into my left leg, tearing the metal brace in two, before his teeth sink into my thigh. Everything goes white, screams echoing through the haze, and it’s not until soft hands are stroking my head that I realize they’re all mine.

“Shh, shh, I’ve got you, honey,” Mom says, cradling me against her body. Something tightens around my leg pulling another cry from my throat, my eyes falling towards the battered leg.

“Don’t look, Sis,” my thirteen-year-old little brother, Henry, warns, stopping me from seeing the new damage done.

“I know it hurts, honey, but we need to stop the bleeding until we can get you somewhere safe,” Mom adds, and I shake hearing the snaps and snarls from nearby.

My attention is drawn to my right, seeing Sammy, Ryan, and Denny—my fourteen-year-old brother all attacking the wolf that bit me. It lets out a pitiful howl before collapsing as Sammy flips it, letting Ryan get his teeth around its neck. The two of them are both nearly its size, but I know the man was far older than they are, he’s likely closer to Mom’s age than theirs. Those years gave the other shifter the time to build muscles the twins haven’t yet and I’m thankful they both showed up.

“Hurry, get her into the house,” Mom says, and Sammy’s the first one to shift, moving quickly to get to us, but before they can, three more wolves appear in the yard.

“Go, get her inside, we’ll hold them off,” Sammy states before they shift back to wolf form, keeping the newcomers away from us.

Henry’s already taller than I am, strong enough to support me, but it still hurts to move. Every step jostles my body, makes my head spin a bit more.

We’re almost to the steps when two more wolves appear blocking our path, while also cutting us off from my other brothers. This time though, they’re not unknown to me. No, these two wolves are the alpha’s jackass sons, but they’re definitely not looking like they’re here to help.

Tyler snaps at me and Mom moves a bit further forward, keeping her body between us. “Take one more step towards her and Bryant will tear you apart,” she warns him, but he keeps moving closer, Mark edging in to put more distance between us and my brothers.

Even more terror flows through me than before, making me shake as memories better left buried float to the surface. Reasons why I would never risk being in the packhouse flooding my mind.

Before that fear can fully overtake me, a huge wolf breaks into the space, knocking Tyler over into Mark. With one snarl he has the other three backing away, and when Mark tries to attack, Dad sends him flying through the space, slamming into a tree hard enough to break bones.

It has Tyler rushing him, only to find himself in a similar position. The two are shaking themselves off, the other three looking to be devising a plan of attack when six more wolves come into the yard. I don’t recognize any of them, and my brothers quickly move to surround us, protect us from the group.

Three of them attack at once, making me look away at the sound of snapping jaws, sharp barks, and painful cries. My breathing is even harder as I try to control my tears. Mom yells and Henry’s hold on me drops, before I’m face to face with Tyler’s snarling wolf.

Just as he’s about to snap his teeth into me, he’s rolling away as something huge makes the ground shake. With one bite, the giant beast snaps through Tyler’s neck, dropping him to the ground as he attempts to attack me again. The new wolf tosses Tyler’s body aside, knocking Mark down as it flies into him.

This new wolf takes a step towards me, it’s pupils so large, only a hint of shocking electric blue stood out to me. The rest was pure darkness, that blue icy and cold puling from it I feels, and it sends a new terror straight through me. I can’t break the hold it seems to have on me, despite it not being physical. No matter how desperately I want to look away, I’m more afraid to, worried that if I do, he’ll kill me.

A low growl emits from him increasing my terror, my breathing harder still as my body locks up entirely. Just as a sob is about to escape, something hits his side, making him falter, and I catch sight of Dad’s wolf, pushing him further away from me.

Mom and Sammy hurry to my side, lifting me up as Dad moves between us, letting out a furious growl of warning. Several of the others begin to move our way and I’m shocked when the huge wolf turns to face them, letting out a growl so ferocious, it makes them all cower.

Sammy picks me up, moving to the steps, and I can’t quite stop the cry that falls when the huge wolf turns on us, snapping and snarling. Sammy holds me closer, moving up onto the bottom step, and the wolf jumps towards us, only missing as Dad knocks into his side once more.

He turns on Dad, faster than I’ve ever seen a wolf move. Not even my dad can move that fast, and the blow sends him skittering across the lawn. He lunges for Dad and despite his strength, he doesn’t manage to get cleanly away in time. The wolf catches his back leg and throws him onto the ground hard. The beasts’ jaw opens, moving for Dad’s neck and I can’t hold back the cry, even as Sammy tries to turn my face away from the scene.

“Daddy!” My voice is high and broken, sobs overwhelming me, and I hold tight to Sammy’s shoulder, lowering my face to it, unable to bear watching him die, especially for me.

“Bryant!” Mom shouts, her tone scared but not devastated shocking me, but even more so is Sammy’s whispered voice next to my ear. “What the…”

My face turns back to the yard, finding Dad getting up, edging around the huge wolf that’s just staring, slightly snarling at our group now. Dad moves straight to Mom’s side, shifting before he gives her a hug, moving them further in front of me and Sammy.

It makes the giant wolf snarl more and I can’t help but shake in fear.

“Take her inside,” Dad says, pulling a deeper growl from the wolf. “You’re not hurting my daughter, not today, not ever.”

Another voice draws my attention off the huge wolf for a moment.

“Everyone, please take a step back. Cole means no harm to your daughter, I assure you. Please just step aside and you’ll see,” the man says, backing the others with him further away from the yard. Mark is growling furiously next to Tyler’s body, not listening to them, as he continues to snap and snarl at the huge wolf.

“He’s already killed your father and brother; you think he’s going to let you go?” Sammy questions, making me gasp softly as I glance towards Dad who gives me a little nod. The alpha’s dead, which means this giant beast can claim the entire pack as his. Mark wouldn’t fare any better than Tyler did in a fight. Actually, he’d come off the worse in it, dying for certain.

I can’t deny that would make me smile a bit. As callous as that might make me, it honestly wouldn’t bother me at all to see him die as easily as Tyler did. Not after what they’ve done to me. It’s been two years and the awfulness of it has barely faded. Has kept me away from the packhouse unless required to attend a meeting or event. Kept me next to one of my brothers or my parents anytime we’re there, not about to let it happen again.

Dad would have killed them himself if he knew what they did to me—or tried to at least. Thomas would have retaliated instantly and three against one…wouldn’t be a fair fight. Sammy and Ryan were too young to help although I know they would have tried, and I’d have lost all of them.

I turn my face further into Sammy’s shoulder, unable to look at Mark another moment. It draws two growls, one from Mark, the other from the huge wolf, and both are equally terrifying.

“Stay away from her,” Sammy warns, lifting me higher in his hold and the huge wolf snarls even louder.

“He won’t hurt her,” the other man states again but that sounds like absolute bullshit to me.

“Like the other piece of trash from your pack didn’t hurt her? Didn’t almost bite her leg off?” Sammy returns, pulling a deeper growl from the huge wolf. “You’re not getting anywhere near my sister. You’ll have to go through all of us first.”

“Sister?” the man says, as the wolf lets out a different growl, the tension in his back lessening before he turns to look at the other unknown wolves in the yard. “Who attacked her?”

“The dead one over there,” Ryan states, moving closer to us.

That pulls the wolf back our way, his eyes narrowing further, eclipsing any view of that vivid blue from sight. He takes another step our way and I pull back, leaning against Sammy more, wanting completely away from him.

Every time we move further away, towards the house, he growls more, making me shake with fear. Why can’t these wolves just leave me alone? The attack at graduation on top of everything that happened while growing up was bad enough, but today? Nothing makes sense.

“Cole, calm down,” the man says, but the wolf doesn’t begin to stop stalking our way. Sammy reaches out to open the door and the wolf lunges. My brother quickly drops us to the ground, so I don’t fall, shifting as he curls around me, Ryan right behind him. It’s their yelps of pain that pull my eyes open, finding the wolf standing over me, those dark eyes almost shut, teeth barred.

There’s no stopping it now and I just wait for it to snap those wickedly sharp teeth into my neck to end it finally. Even as I wait though, my arms come up to protect my head, curling up as much as my broken body will let me.

My leg is numb, but my middle isn’t, although I wish it were. The pain is worsening every minute, my pant leg coated with blood, and I know another bite will finish me. I’m losing too much already despite the tourniquet Henry tied around my leg. Every hobbled step and jerky movement’s caused it to loosen, allowing more blood to flow. Another bite and there won’t be any chance to stop it.

Something wet on my leg pulls my eyes open, and I sit back further from the huge wolf as its tongue bathes the bite. I’ve heard of wolves savoring in the blood of their victims, but this is too much. Way too much for me.

Sammy scrambles back to my side knocking the huge wolf down as both he and Ryan forge an attack from either side. He snarls as I gasp when Sammy lifts me, putting weight onto my injured leg, but it doesn’t hurt any longer. It’s not numb either. It feels…normal almost.

“What the hell?” Denny says before getting knocked down by the wolf as he tries to get back to my side.

“Sammy, let her go,” Dad states, shocking me more.

“Dad…” he starts to argue but Dad won’t let him.

“Just do it, Sammy. It’s an order.”

“I’m sorry,” Sammy whisper to me, terrifying me but even more so that Dad would give up that easily.

Sammy’s arms slip away from me, and I hold onto the doorway to keep myself upright, not trusting my hurt leg at all.

The wolf slides up to me, tall enough that its head is just above my neck. It sniffs at it, giving it a lick before he moves back to my injured leg. It gives it another lick before the hairy body disappears with popping and cracking, revealing a man even larger than Dad, larger than Alpha Thomas ever was.

He keeps getting larger as he stands, blocking out everyone except him from my view. The eyes that were so cold in wolf form now seem even colder. The same hint of icy blue encircling the dark pupils, and they stare into me just as hard.

“Mine,” he growls, his body caging me up against the door, his hands lifting to my face, and panic floods me as his lips came down towards mine.

“No…no,” I cry softly, pushing at his chest. The look that crossed his eyes sending me back two years to that night of terror. “No, not again…”