Life Without You

As the sun starts to set, it casts long, majestic shadows over the people gathered to eat in the bustling food district. Among the crowd a young mum picks her tired child up and cradles her lovingly in her arms, placing a tender kiss on the child’s forehead. Her nose momentarily twitches, as an unmistakable scent reaches it. She looks around for its source, her eyes finally focusing on the face from her past, one of her father’s more ruthless warriors. She pauses for a second, her mind racing before she fleas, weaving gracefully through the thickest part of the crowd in a futile attempt to stop him from following her. Her feet move quickly as the toddler squirms in her arms. How did he find her? It can’t be by chance that he is here, but she has been careful, he shouldn’t have been able to find her here. Once she is away from the main road, the people thin and she sprints as fast as she can. She shouldn’t go home, she shouldn’t risk leading them to where she lives, but she won’t be staying there again now that they have found her, and she can’t leave without him. She looks behind her for the warrior but she can’t make out his large form. Perhaps it worked. Despite the scent of her childhood pack still infiltrating her nostrils, perhaps she has actually lost her follower. A new smell hangs ominously in the air the closer she gets to her destination, causing bile to rise to the back of her throat. She knows what this likely means, but she doesn’t want to believe that it has actually happened. She almost drops the fussing child as she walks into the place that had been her home for only a matter of months. The sight that greets her is more fitting for a horror movie than her peaceful life in this beautiful part of the world. Every part of her screams out to leave, to take her child and get far away from this scene, but she can’t leave him, not whilst she can still hear his heart beating weakly and his pained gasps for breathe. “Good evening Cordelia.” The menacing voice that she hoped she would never hear again, sends a cold, foreboding, shiver through her body. “f**k you Ian.” She shouts, cradling her child’s head towards her chest, so that she can’t see the scene before her. To protect her child from witnessing her bloodied father and his blood-stained attacker. “You seem to have forgotten your manners.” Another voice adds, as a firm hand grabs the back of her head forcing it down in a slight bow. “I’ve forgotten nothing. He’s not my Beta anymore, and you are nothing to me.” She sneers anger fully replacing her shock. “No, you stink like the filthy, little rogue w***e that you are.” The other wolf spits out venomously, and the bloodied figure on the floor groans as if in protest. Despite his grave injuries he still wants to defend the woman that he loves with all his heart. The warrior releases her head and steps towards him, before delivering a fierce kick to his stomach. “Don’t hurt him.” She roars savagely, as desperate tears stream from her wild eyes. “Or else?” The warrior chuckles. “You’re not exactly in any position to be making demands.” “Wait outside.” Ian curtly orders the warrior, and he quickly bows before leaving his Beta alone with the Alpha’s wayward daughter. “I didn’t know about the child. I’m sorry, but I have my orders. I have to return you to your father.” “No, please. I can’t go back.” She begs frantically. “I have to bring you back.” The old Beta replies despondently. “Please. I will do anything.” “If I don’t bring you back, Mickey will be exiled. I’m sorry, but I can’t let my son be made a rogue, he wouldn’t survive. Your father made it very clear. A pup for a pup.” She wants to argue that her father would never do that to his best friends pup, but she knows she would be wrong. Her father is a merciless bastard and nothing is beyond his filthy, scheming grasp. “Ok just give me some time please.” Her decision has been made. She can’t outrun them anymore, and she cannot fight them and win. She has to return and face the consequences. It would be her death, and the death of the two people she loves the most in the world if she refuses. “Gabriel has sent his own dogs after you. You know what will happen to them.” He gestures with his head towards her child. “If they find you with them.” “I can’t leave her with him. He can’t look after her, not whilst he’s like that.” She tries to reason with him again. “I’m sorry, but you have to leave her now.” She has never known her father’s best friend to show any emotion before, but his weathered face is full of sorrow and remorse this evening. “I’m so sorry, my darling. I love you so much. Your father will give you a good life. You will always be in my thoughts, and I pray that the moon goddess watches over you for me.” She whispers as she walks into the child’s bedroom and places her inside her crib. With a final kiss on her forehead, she walks out of the room, then gives a similar farewell to the wonderful human that had rescued her from her abysmal life for a while.