His Little Scarlett

Making Mistakes

“You’re going to be a mum!” Isabel gasped, looking at all six pregnancy test sticks, the double lines mockingly clear.

“All six?!” Scarlett cried.

“Bet you hadn’t thought of that before–”

“Before what?” Their father asked, rolling his wheelchair into Scarlett’s bedroom. “There’s been a lot of screaming in here recently.”

“Hi Dad.” The three girls chorused.

Colonel David Sallow narrowed his eyes. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing, Dad. You scared us.” Ayla said, walking over to him and wheeling him back into the corridor, “Dinner’s on the table.”

“Are you sure you girls are–?” Ayla shut the door, interrupting him.

Scarlett groaned, falling back into her pillows and covering her face with more.

Her phone began to ring immediately.

It was Erik, the display name showed.

“Well speak of the devil.” Isabel said, taking the phone from the counter, “Took him long enough.”

“Scarlett’s Ill, Mr Alpha, If that means anything to you.” She started.

“Isabel-” Scarlett began. Her sister raised her index finger to her lips, shushing her.

The phone call ended after all of fifteen seconds.

“I’m glad he knows we’re not that eager to hear from him.” Ayla said, turning to Scarlett, “You know we’re not friends with that family.”

Scarlett hung her head.

“You guys could’ve just kissed.” Ayla continued. “You know that baby isn’t normal, right?”

Scarlett shut her eyes regretfully. “Yeah.”

“Meaning we can’t get rid of it.” Ayla finished.

“We have to tell Dad.” Isabel said.

“Do we really?” Scarlett moaned.

“Yes we do. He’s the one who knows all about this Lycan thing.” Ayla explained. “Plus he’s on to us.”

“Erik said he was going to ring you later.” Isabel said, handing her her phone. “I’m going to go help Dad in the dining room.”

“Thanks, Sissy.” Scarlett called after her.

“Well?” Ayla turned to her.

“What?”

“Don’t ‘what?’ me, Scarlett Sallow. How on Earth did you end up pregnant for a Lycan?” Ayla cried, glaring at her.

“I thought we’d be able to skip this part?” Scarlett replied, smiling sheepishly.

“I’m so upset with you. You know they don’t like us, you know we don’t like them. What on earth were you thinking? What happened?”

“I don’t know, Ayla. It all happened so fast even I am surprised.” Scarlett answered, “It was after the funeral.”

“I knew we shouldn’t have gone.” Ayla said.

“He’s not a terrible person.”

“Listen to yourself. You’re speaking like a child, Scarlett.” Ayla said, visibly cross, “We don’t come from the same worlds, do we? And even more sotheir family has expressly made it clear that they want nothing to do with regular human beings. Plus he’s the Alpha now, not even just a regular Lycan. So did you think this would turn out to be a Cinderella story? It’s real life, Scarlett. And in real life

nobody’s coming to save you. You should’ve figured that out before falling for whatever he said to get you in his bed.”

Scarlett closed her eyes, wincing from the truth in her sisters words. Erik hadn’t even as much as asked her to be his girlfriend. They’d just gotten carried away in the heat of the moment. And this was the result. Why this? Why now?

It was the week before Erik’s fathers funeral. A letter had come addressed to Colonel Sallow. It was a special invitation the the funeral.

“Now why would Sarah humor me like this?” David asked as his daughters circled him at the dining room, “From the Dowager Duchess.” He read mockingly, “I knew she’d never give up her title even in Raphael’s death. Nasty woman.”

“Why did she invite you?” Ayla asked, “I thought we didn’t speak to the Snowdons anymore since then.”

David pulled out another letter inside the invitation envelope. It looked significantly older, as if it was written months or even years before.

Dear David,

Even as I write this letter, I do not know if I have the courage to post it to you. I admit that I was a coward for leaving you in the face of attack, and I am a coward now for not reaching out to you since then. Numerous assassination attempts have been made on me since then, and I fear I may not have the knowledge to keep escaping. I know that Lord Max of Fernsby is behind these attempts even though he smiles the brightest and gives the most advice during meetings. The places he advises against are the places where I get attacked. I do not know how long I have left, but I hope we will be able to see each other one last time before it is up.

Your brother,

R.S.

The girls watched their father break down in tears, and he was barely able to considering the chest brace he was in. He looked like he was in so much pain.

It was then they knew they would be attending the funeral.

It was a world class event at the Snowdon Manor, all the Dukes and Barons and Lords and Ladies of importance in all the European countries were in attendance. Specific friends the Duke had made across all the countries he had travelled to attended as well, their black suits impeccably tailored and their fascinators simple and somber.

The Sallow girls walked closely together as Ayla pushed their fathers wheelchair into the main house. All their outfits matched with the Lycans and the nobles, you could barely tell them apart. All of Lord Snowdon’s human close friends had a brooch which they pinned on their lapels and ensured they sat together to get special treatment. This was how they found themselves seated next to Baron Aaron Wheeler.

“Colonel Sallow.” Wheeler greeted, his face lighting up as he tipped his hat.

He immediately pulled him into a hug, as best as he was able with his chest brace and in his wheelchair, apologizing profusely

“It’s alright, my friend.” Wheeler closed his eyes, hugging him back tenderly, “If Snowdon ever did this to me I’d never forgive the bastard either.” He laughed. They both did.

“Suicide?” Sallow asked, and he winced when Wheeler nodded. “How’s the young-in?”

“He’s been by his sister’s side since the day he died.” Wheeler said, nodding towards the Snowdon familywho sat in an enclosed, clear cubicle. They would sit there the entirety of the service which was about to begin. “Kid’s not taking this well at all, seeing ashe’s now the Alpha of the pack. That’s what Sarah wanted, so she would become the Dowager Duchess of Snowdon, and you know our Raph boy, he’d do anything for Sarah.

Are these your daughters?” He asked, turning towards them.

“Why yes,” Sallow replied, pointing to each one as he introduced them. “Ayla, Isabel, and my youngest, Scarlett.”

Scarlett’s eyes darted to Erik, who sat beside a preppy looking, blonde girl who was obviously his sister. She looked exactly like their mother, even though she couldn’t exactly tell what their mother looked like behind her heavy, dark sunglasses. He was older now, obviously, and even more handsome than she remembered. His hair, light brown, slightly tousled and spread perfectly across his face made him look like a man instead of the boyish thirteen year old she had seen on the day of the attack. His Jaw was set and his eyes were quiet. She noticed his eyes were very expressive instead of his face, but today they were calm–almost sad.

“Don’t drool too hard.” Isabel called out, snapping her into attention.

She caught herself and blushed madly, “I was just-”

Isabel raised a hand, shushing her.

The ceremony was tearful, yet brief, and soon the coffin was wheeled away to the final burial ground.

The guests dispersed into groups, saying hello to faces they hadn’t seen in years.

“I need to find the bathroom.” Scarlett said, disengaging from her sisters.

“Be careful.” Isabel warned.

She’d barely made it a few steps through the hallway when her eyes locked with Erik’s. He was coming from the opposite direction. Her mouth instantly went dry.

“Colonel Sallow’s daughter, eh?” He asked, stopping just in front of her, his baritone low and just right.

“Right.” She managed.

He took her outstretched arm and pecked it lightly in greeting. Scarlett could feel the blood drain from her hands.

“Missing someone?” He asked again.

“Actually, I’m headed toward the bathroom–if I had the slightest idea where that was.” She tittered.

“First door to your left.” He said, nodding towards the direction he’d come from.

“Thankyou.” She smiled as he began to walk past her. “Oh, and Lord Snowdon–”

He paused, tilting his head ever so slightly.

“I’m deeply sorry for your loss.”

He grunted, then continued walking.

Scarlett flushed, trudging ahead and trying to make sense of the directions she was given.

“I’m deeply sorry for your loss–Really?” She chided herself, finding the correct door and shutting it firmly behind her.