an hour behind and I pray that Uncle Luke is asleep or passed out drunk. I slowly open the front door, and cringe at every creaky noise. No lights are turned on; perhap

me by the hair and slams me onto the floor. He th

. I try to cover myself up with my arms to shield myself from the slaps to no avail. I howl in pain with every s

ells the story of the worst abuse I've ever endured. I hug my knees and cry for a while over the fight I had with Kai last night, and the beating I took when I came home. Uncle Luke will kill me if he finds out about what has been happening to Kai or about losing my job. I wash the

to be at work but I don't dare return there; not after what occurred the other evening. I consider going into town, forty-five minutes from home, to seek alternative employment. A block awa

smiles warmly in a way that surprises me. He sports an unusual-looking scar beside his ear; half an ear is m

guys tailed m

always notice you strolling down this street alone. I'm only concerned that someone

bothering me out here is this car wi

one, now, aren't y

rable week. I have to get into town, so I'd appreciate it if

your job working at the

now you wor

there when I am driv

off in the oppo

." He hands me h

ations CEO, with a contact numbe

a job, call

fine, I'm sure," I say

h you around, Aurora." He smiles at me an

him as he takes off. "Ho

lies before me; I don't want to pass it, but there is no other road to travel; the woods are t

and another walks in. I quicken my pace, knowing Kai might be with them. For a moment, I'm calm, and I'm thinking this is a nonev

repeats. I lower my head and just keep going. He grabs my wrist, and spa

t me go!

you left, and yesterday and today. We are going

about!" I say to him, try

der. I yell in pain from the injuries I sustained, so much

wrong?"

ouch me," I respond. Ka

me, please," he pleads. He noti

wing down my face. I have no idea wh

my tears from my face; I step back and take a

't mean to hurt

say, moving

diner and we can talk?" I n

en the door before one of Kai's guard

ctfully. Kai walks in

a year and now you're afr

see me like this," I say to h

kitchen," he suggests. I cross m

it." Kai is trying to hold Jasper back; he's obviously really angry and upset that I've been beaten ag

isper, up on the kitchen bench, and staring at the heap of pots and pans on the floor. Jasper stands

ars fill his eyes, he takes a step towards

o the freezer. The other men in the diner are

ease by glaring at them; th

oor of the diner, flipping the OPEN sign, and

dy to leave," he says to me. I nod and sit down at one of the booths with the booth seats. Kai

scuss your place of re

ng to discuss,

t you right now, another beating before your eighteenth

emand. All the men in the room are listeni

men speak to each other with knowing looks; unspoken words pass bet

arving. I eat slowly and delicately; pain in my jaw makes i

you know what to do on your birthday. Whatever I say to you, try to keep a clear head. It is a lot to take in

argue, I just sit here sip

a Luna who are the leaders of the pack. If you're not part of a pac

t part of a pack I

o anywhere: you have to be invited to join in another pack's ground, or else you would b

kill someone for pas

on't have a good excuse for coming into fo

ka

in your head. You'll also heal ridiculously fast and you'll be able to shift into your wolf for the very first time that eveni

he places his hand over m

f fairy tale to you, but Alpha Kai is not lying to you, and

r stand up. I glance around the diner once m

you. Either of

Jasper nods, and starts stripping. Angered that Jasper is taking

rocious. I'm recharged again with the strain between Kai and I, when he pulls my hands away from my face with his; forcing me to watc

g and go into shock at

oser to me. My further screa

lder, the salt, the pepper, the sugar, the ketchup, my empty mug, the spoon jar on the tabl

a shock to you, but you need to breathe. It

ll to the ground in the corner, and fold my

arge wolf moves back into the kitchen behind

death? Why?" I yell, placing my head on Kai's chest. He wraps his hard arms around me and holds me tight. I'm instantly r

n the day you saw the wolf. I'm sorry," he breath

to overcome the flashbacks from when my mum passed away. Jasper reappears in the dining room in his clothes, looking at me with a sad and heartbroken expression. I'm too scared to make eye contact with him or to even look at him; he keeps his distance. A whole hour passes, with the memory of my mother's death replaying over and over in my mind. Thing

in Kai

staring down into my

till tomorrow," he says softly. I nod and look at th

oor to exit, turning the handle clockwise and

the key?"

e, and you're definitely not goin

e! You must release me. He'll kill me if I don't get

m touch you again. Do you ge

ll me if I don't return home.

it's the last time he'll ev

to him? You can't, you

m now, you'll never ha

ved him. I'm the cause of her death. I don't want

n with his hand t

f what went on on that day, the

rmed. I do not wish to repea

you will tell m

urora is here. No, sorry, she won't be taking the call. And no, she won't be coming home," he bluntly informs. "Let me say that again, I don't think you heard the message quite clearly enough. Aurora is not coming back to your house ag

e knowing Jasper has simply

tood up to Uncle Luke for me; the f

with his shotgun to take her ho

one harm; just let me

ever stop. You'll get hurt again.

ern, Kai. I can look after myself,"

you're my mate!" He yells. We s

a mate is now, because there is clearly something more to it than t

u won't fre

mising you a

ead. You have enough to deal with as it is,

exhales. He leans back into the chair and looks into my eyes; his eyes contained a thousand unstated secrets. Maybe he doesn