The Lost Queens Revenge

Chapter 2

"Momma Beth! Momma Beth!" I screamed out into the night. The pounding of feet on the floorboards sat my hair on edge. I knew it had to be the cruel men who had decimated my pack coming back to finish me off. I shifted into my wolf, shredding the long shirt Sadie had given me to sleep in. I scrambled off the bed and army-crawled my way under it. I lay there silently, hoping and praying that whoever it was wouldn’t notice that I was there. But my hopes were shattered when the light flickered on, illuminating the room in it’s harsh glow. I stilled, not even chancing to take a breath.

"River? River, are you under that bed?" I heard the old woman's familiar voice say. I released the breath I had been holding and slinked my body out from under the bed.

"Oh, Wolfy girl..." she said gently as she shook her head. I shifted back into my human form and grabbed another t-shirt from the dresser. I had been here three months and the nightmares never stopped coming. In fact, they had only managed to get worse. I climbed back into the bed and Momma Beth climbed in next to me, wrapping her warm arms around me while tears crepted out of my eyes.

"Was it the bad man again?" She asked me quietly.

"Yes, ma'am." I sniffled.

"Wolfy girl... who's scarier than the bad man?" She asked, looking down at me with her soft, coffee-brown eyes.

"You are, Momma Beth." I said quietly as I gave her a weak smile.

"That's right. And would Momma Beth ever let anything happen to her Wolfie girl?" The old woman questioned.

"No ma'am." I said as the pace of my racing heart began to slow.

"That's right. Now, go to sleep... and dream sweet." She ran her dark finger down my nose and I smiled softly. She started to get up, but I clung to her.

"Please don't leave just yet Momma Beth." I pleaded.

"How abouts I sing you a little song and then I'll go? Hmm?" I nodded, laying my head on her chest. I could hear the gentle beat of her heart, and it soothed my anxiety as her angelically melodious voice flowed through the room as she sang ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ by Sam Cooke. As Momma Beth continued to sing, I felt my eyes grow heavy. I reached my hand up to cup her face and I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

"Wolfie girl! Get up! You gotta get ready for school!" I opened my eyes and glanced at the clock on my nightstand. 7:00am. Momma Beth had insisted that since I was staying at her house I would have to attend school. I had no identification documents to speak of so Momma Beth had whipped up a spell to fool the school system. I was now her great-granddaughter from a tryst Sadie had, had with a man in Tennessee. The story itself was hilarious. Especially considering I was as pale as alabaster stone. While the two older women had warm chocolate-brown skin.

“You’re albino.” Momma Beth had insisted, adding to the humor of the situation. It was fine with me. I had always wanted to be normal anyway, and in a human town that was now possible. Everyone here knew Momma Beth so they didn't question her for a second.

I crawled out of bed and threw on some jeans and a loose-fitting pale pink t-shirt. I went into the bathroom and brush my teeth and combed my hair. I glanced in the mirror. My face had filled in a lot in the last few months since coming here and my once muddied blonde hair was now platinum once again. I smiled at my reflection before turning out the light, grabbing my bag, and heading downstairs.

"Wolfie girl, flip that bacon for me." Momma Beth said before disappearing down the hall. She reappeared with her checkbook.

"Here's money for the lunch for the month. Sit down and I'll braid up your hair." I smiled lovingly at Momma Beth and sat down just as Sadie waltzed into the kitchen wearing a black power suit and a red blouse. "Granny, did you give River lunch money?" Sadie smiled down at me before kissing my forehead.

"Yes, now don't kiss on the child. You'll get that lipstick on her. Sadie, take that bacon off the stove and make a plate. Now, look at you Wolfie girl! Pretty as a picture!" Momma Beth smiled down at me.

"Thank you, Momma Beth." I hugged the old woman before sitting down and eating the breakfast she had so lovingly prepared for me.

"Granny, you gotta stop calling her Wolfie... it’s insulting." Sadie scolded at her grandmother.

"I don't mind Momma, really." Sadie looked down at me fondly before grabbing her purse.

"Alright... well it's going to be a late one tonight. Mr. Thompson is coming in and he's bringing his son. They want to go over the numbers before the end of the year. You know, I think that boy is getting to be almost eighteen now. He might be taking over the business soon." Sadie said as she grabbed a biscuit and raced out the door.

"Eighteen is a little young to be taking over a lumber yard." Momma Beth said under her breath. I shrugged as I stood, gathering my books and bag to head out the door.

“Eighteen is legally an adult, Momma Beth.” I said.

"Wolfie girl?" Momma Beth said stopping me me. I turned around.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"What you want for your birthday?" She raises an eyebrow at me. Excitement bloomed in my chest. I hadn’t received a birthday present in two years. I scrunched my face up in thought before my heart landed on the perfect gift.

"Can we get a puppy, Momma Beth? I always wanted one." I asked hopefully. The old woman frowned.

"What you want a puppy for?" She asked, a confused look plastered on her face.

"To play with... so I’ll have a friend." I say shyly. Momma Beth’s eyes softened as she looked at me thoughtfully.

"We'll see." She said. I turned to walk out the door when I caught her mumbling under her breath.

"We already got a damn puppy." My heart sank a little at her comment, but I just kissed her cheek and left the house to go to school.

I enjoyed learning. So, unlike most children, I liked school. The only thing I didn’t like were the other children that occupied the halls. The wolf children bullied me because I was a rogue. The human children bullied me because the wolves did. I did my best to fly under the radar, but it was futile. They always sought me out. Especially McKenna. She was your classic mean girl, who everyone wanted to be because her father was Kevin Black. The Alpha of the Night Howlers Pack. He was notorious for being unforgiving and brutal. His daughter wasn’t much different. She was just as cruel and cold as her father, and possibly worse.

I skated my way into the lunchroom, attempting to be inconspicuous. I grabbed my tray of food and sat down on the far side of the lunchroom, away from everyone else. To my misfortune, my attempts at going unnoticed were in vain. From out of nowhere, someone grabbed my hair and slammed my face into my tray of food before sending the tray skidding to the floor.

“Rogues eat their food on the floor like the mangy mutts they are!” McKenna spat. The coppery tang of blood met my lips as blood trickled from my nose.

I didn’t say anything as I knelt down and began to clean up the contents of my tray from the floor. The lack of reaction seemed to anger McKenna more. Before I knew what was happening, McKenna drew her foot back and kicked me hard in the stomach. The breath ripped from my lungs and I lay crumpled on the floor gasping for air as the surrounding children laughed hysterically. McKenna smirked down at me in satisfaction before she placed her foot on my face.

“Lick my shoe, dog!” She ordered as she pressed her foot roughly into my mouth. Silent tears poured from my eyes as humiliation consumed me. Happy birthday, River.

“Let her up, McKenna.” A quiet voice said.

“Or what, Camille?” McKenna said snidely.

“Or I will make you.” the voice said. McKenna barked out a laugh, but within seconds her foot was off of my face and a loud crash echoed around the room.

“I’m telling my daddy what you did, Camille!” McKenna screamed shrilly. The dark-haired girl rolled her eyes.

“Go ahead, McKenna. I really don’t care.” Camille said lazily as she knelt down and offered me her hand. McKenna stomped her foot in frustration before spinning on her heels and striding out of the cafeteria.

“Are you okay, River?” Camille asked me gently.

“Yes. Thank you for helping me.” I said quietly.

“McKenna is just a spoiled little brat. Don’t let her bully you.” Camille said.

“That’s easier said than done.” I said with a nervous laugh. Camille didn’t say anything. She just nodded knowingly and walked away, leaving me to clean up the mess on the floor.

The rest of the day went by without serious incidents. Mostly it consisted of the other students pushing me into walls with their shoulders or tripping me. The end of the day couldn’t come soon enough, and when the final bell rang, I made a b-line for the door. As I stepped into the bright sunshine, I heard my name being called. When I turned to see who it was, I crashed into a rock hard surface and tumbled backwards onto the rough pavement with an audible ‘oof’.

“What the actual f**k?” a deep male voice said. I looked up to find a ruggedly handsome young man who could have made a football player look small. The man looked down at me with his vivid green eyes in disgust as his nostrils flared. A menacing growl rumbled in his chest.

“Rogue…” he hissed. Fear consumed me as I scooted away from the terrifying beast who was looking at me as if he had just stepped in dog s**t.

“River! Are you okay?” Sadie’s worried voice said as she pushed her way past the large wolf, causing him to growl once again. Sadie didn’t seem to hear it as she crouched down to examine the scrapes on my palms and my black, swollen eye.

“Oh my God, River! What on earth happened to you?” she demanded. I began to stutter nervously as my eyes bounced between the large intimidating wolf and Sadie. Another, much louder, growl burst from the man’s lips as he looked down his nose at Sadie and I. This time, Sadie seemed to hear the warning sound. Because this time, her back stiffened as her eyes began to glow slightly. She stood to her feet and slowly turned around with a look of pure fury.

“Young man, I don’t know who you think you’re dealing with, but I suggest you go on your way.” Sadie’s voice held a note of warning as she stared up at the big bad wolf.

“Who are you to command me, Witch?” the man said angrily.

“I am Sadie Bennett, Caleb Black. Like I said, I suggest you go on your way.” Her voice was like steel as her eyes flickered. Caleb’s eyes shone brightly with fear for just a brief moment before resuming their previous entitlement once again. Most wouldn’t have noticed it, but I wasn’t most people. I knew that look. I had worn it more often than not. McKenna chose that time to walk up to the three of us. She sniffed once before looking at me and barking out a laugh.

“This is priceless! You hang out with filthy witches?” the young girl laughed loudly. The sound drew the attention of the people around us, who were desperate to find a new source of their entertainment.

“Get in the car, McKenna.” Caleb said in a quiet voice. McKenna’s attention flicked to Caleb.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do, Caleb. You aren’t alpha yet.” She spat. Caleb’s attention broke from Sadie to shoot a death glare at McKenna.

“Get in the damn car, McKenna Lee! Now!” he snapped. McKenna huffed in annoyance as she walked around Caleb and opened the car door. She stopped for a second to look at me, a maniacal grin filling her face.

“Can’t wait to see you tomorrow, Roach. I have so many new games for us to play.” She said as she stared down at me with glee. My stomach sank as I shifted my eyes to ground.

“You better watch yourself, Witch. I’d sure hate for something bad to happen to you.” Caleb said as he turned to walk away. Sadie didn’t say a word, she just continued to stare daggers at the man and what I can only assume was his sister. When their car was finally out of sight, Sadie quickly turned around and pulled me up off the ground.

“Oh Wolfie girl. Come on.” She said as she led me to her car. I climbed into the back seat and stared vacantly out the window.

“You can’t let them kids treat you like that, Wolfie girl.” Sadie said gently. I didn’t say anything. I just stared out the window, wondering if things would ever get better. Sadie didn’t say anything else as we drove down an old dirt road on the outskirts of town.

“Where we goin’, Momma?” I asked as I looked at Sadie in the rearview mirror. A mischievous grin broke out on her face.

“You’ll see Wolfie girl.” She said in an ominous way. Fear lanced through me at her words. Was she talking me to the edge of town to throw me out, deciding I was too much trouble? Was she handing me over to the wolves to do as they wanted with me. A million thoughts whirled around in my mind as I began to squirm a little in my seat.

In no time at all, we were pulling into an old farmhouse with a large chain-link fence lining the back. The sound of barking and growling dogs filtered through the air, causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand on end. A haggard-looking old man, leaning heavily on a cane, limped out of the house.

“Come on, Wolfie girl.” Sadie said happily without sparing me a glance. If she had, she would have seen the tears threatening to pour from my eyes.

“Little Sadie Bennett! Now, what’s a girl like you doin’ in a place like this?” the old man said with a warm smile, showing off his missing front teeth.

“Carl! Ain’t you a sight for sore eyes. Granny called you earlier, didn’t she?” the mention of Momma Beth had the man’s smile growing wider.

“Sure did! Said you’d be comin’ by with your daughter.” The man said, giving me a gentle smile. I returned it with a timid one of my own.

“Well, where are they? I gotta get back to Granny before she burns the house down.” Sadie said happily as she looked over at me with an excited smile.

“They’re in the garage. Come on in and I’ll show you.” He said as Sadie clasped my hand and pulled me along beside her as we followed Carl around his house to a beat-up old garage. I looked through the fence to see a pack of pit bulls whining at me, while their butts seemed to shake to an inaudible music.

“Ope, hold on a minute. PETUNIA! Come here girl.” Carl called out. A few moments later, a blue nosed pit bull came loping out of the garage followed by a litter of exuberant gray puppies. My heart skyrocketed as my feet moved on their own towards the group of them.

“Now wait a minute, young lady. Petunia can get… pretty… protective.” Carl said slowly as I crouched down on my knees and began to pet the happy momma dog. She lapped at my face with gusto as I giggled.

“Well I’ll be. Petunia usually don’t like nobody.” Carl said with a chuckle.

“Well, go on, Wolfie girl, pick one out.” Sadie said excitedly. I looked at her dumbfounded as Petunia bulldozed me over so she could sit in my lap, allowing for the onslaught of puppy love to ensue.

“Really? I get to have one?” I said quietly. Sadie nodded enthusiastically, and I jumped up quickly to wrap my arms tightly around her waist. She laughed heartily and placed a kiss on the top of my head.

“Happy birthday, River.”