Chapter 3
1250 Words
Ellie’s POV:
A deep voice tears me out of my daze.
“This is not the way I trained you… this is not the son I raised…”
“Isn’t it, though?”
I look up, meeting orange eyes that used to be familiar. Hell, did I ever really know them? My wrists are still bound, though now I’m shackled to the wall instead of dangling from the ceiling. The cold cement at my back is almost a relief against the fresh wounds.
“You raised me not to be weak, not even through torture. Do you think this is bad? Have you forgotten what you put me through, Father?”
I scoff out a laugh, bitter and raw.
“I taught you not to betray family! This pack is your family! By blood! You will defend it as the rightful Alpha!”
His voice ricochets off the walls, rattling my skull. Pain lances through my head, but I’m too furious to care.
“Family? You want to call yourself that? I didn’t even know we belonged to a pack!” My breathing turns ragged. “You’re not family. Not anymore.”
The metal door screeches open, and another man steps inside. I recognize him from past visits—only this time, there’s no whip in his hand.
“I gave you your chance, Leon. Now we’re doing it my way.”
“Please—” My father leans in, whispering something to him. But the man doesn’t even flinch.
He stalks closer until I can see just how much he resembles Leon. Same burning orange eyes.
“Do you recognize me, cousin?”
Cousin? Aside from the eerie resemblance, I don’t know him at all.
“I didn’t want it to come down to this…” He paces before me, eyes flat and cold. “But the Blue Blood pack is… old school. You don’t get a say in being Alpha.”
“I’m not what you need. I was never fit for this pack.”
Oh, but you are. Not by choice—by default.”
“Look—”
“Enough.”
He crouches, getting in my face, daring me to submit.
“Easy way or hard way?”
Silence stretches. I won’t bow.
“Do your worst.”
And I mean it. I’ll never lead this pack. Never belong to it.
His hand swings. Something metal cracks against my face, slicing my cheek open. Warm blood drips, but the cruelty in his eyes says torture isn’t his game. He has something far worse in mind.
I let the red comfort me. I’m alone here—but somehow, it feels like someone’s with me.
☾☾☾
I jolt awake, gasping. My hand flies to my cheek where the metal struck me—where it couldn’t have, because it was just a dream.
Except… my fingers come away wet.
“What the f**k…”
I scramble to the vanity and flip on the light. There, right where it happened in my dream, is a fresh gash.
An hour later, I’m curled up on the window seat in the main room, staring out at the river, trying to make sense of everything. I need to see Nema. Maybe she can help me figure out these dreams—or whatever they are.
“Happy birthday!”
I turn to see Iris skipping over, purple dress swishing, hiding something behind her back. Mason trails after her, collapsing onto the couch with a laugh.
“That’s right,” I whisper. How could I forget? Today is my eighteenth birthday. The biggest day for any werewolf—your scent unmasks for your mate to find you.
But not for me. Just another reminder I’m not like them.
I sigh, hugging my knees.
“Mace, honey? Can you give us a moment?”
“Why?” Mason looks at Iris with wide, sad eyes—like she’s asking him to chop off a limb.
“Girl talk.”
“Oh.” He stands, kisses Iris, ruffles my hair, and trudges off.
I keep my eyes on the river until Iris sits beside me.
“What’s going on, El? It’s your birthday. You’re supposed to be happy.”
“Don’t you feel sad at all that he’s gone? James’s father is gone. Luke is gone—and no one even cares!”
Regret punches me the second it spills out. It isn’t fair to put that on her.
“Iris, I’m sorry. I just—”
“No.” She cuts me off gently. “Ellie, it’s fine.”
Silence drapes over us as we stare out the window.
“That’s not true, you know…” Iris finally says. “I miss him. Maybe not everyone does, but I do. James does.” She smiles softly, and jealousy tugs at me. “He was my best friend once. I just think… the best thing for everyone right now is closure.”
I nod, swallowing the ache.
“Were you in love with him?” I ask, studying her perfect face. Of course Luke loved her. Mason too.
She smiles, brushing my hair off my forehead.
“Are you?”
“What?” I sit up straight, heart lurching. “I didn’t even know him that well.”
“You didn’t have to, to feel something. He was a good man. We never gave him a chance.”
She’s right. From the second Luke showed up, we let his past condemn him. Even when he tried over and over to prove otherwise.
“Enough of this, huh?” Iris wipes a tear I hadn’t felt slip down. “It’s your birthday. I have something for you.”
She hands me the tan box. I carefully untie the red ribbon—saving it for later—and lift the lid.
Inside is a deep red off-the-shoulder gown with a slit up the side. I stand to hold it against me. It’s gorgeous, daring.
“Iris… you didn’t have to…”
“I know. I wanted to. "We’re sisters now.” She grins, admiring it on me. “Cole helped pick it out.”
Of course he did. That slit is all Cole.
I laugh. “Thank you. I love it.”
“Good, because you’re wearing it tonight.”
“Tonight?” My stomach drops. “Iris, I don’t do parties.”
“Yeah, Mason told me. But it’s not for you. The hospital’s having its annual ball. Come on, Ellie—it’ll be fun.”
“People… crowds… ugh.”
“I’d feel so much better with you there. I don’t really like parties either.”
I groan. “Wow, Mason was right. You’re lethal with those puppy dog eyes. Fine, but only for a little.”
“Yay!” Iris grabs my hands, bouncing.
“Stop jumping with my pup in there!” Mason yells from his office.
Iris and I roll our eyes.
Then she grabs my wrist, frowning.
“Ellie… what happened here?”
I glance down. Red burn marks circle my wrists like I’d been tied.
“I… I don’t know.” I rub the tender skin. “Will you excuse me?”
I scoop up the box and hurry upstairs before she can press it. Maybe one of my books has something—anything—about these dreams.
“Ellie! You’re still coming tonight, right?”
“Yes, I promise!”
After I figure out what the hell is happening to me.
- Writer
