Broken Wings

Content

*Lark POV*

It's about time I have found a purpose I'm happy with, and not just doing something to make my family happy. I love them, but my path is definitely not theirs, and I'm glad that they quit pressuring me to do things inside the packs.

When Cylas was alive, I didn't mind much, because they rarely asked me to do anything. Especially while Alette and Maddix were ruling. Let's just say that Alette and I didn't see eye to eye on much back then.

I had secrets, and wasn't sure at first if I would ever tell them. However, when I was about to start my current venture, I knew I was going to have to. I needed help with funding, and a simple, "so I can open a business" wouldn't suffice for this family. So, I covered my bases and took courses in business management and fashion design.

I have always loved making unique clothes, and my girls loved it when I made their clothes while they were growing up. Even today, Emerald and Diamond love it when I use them as my guinea pigs.

My shop, Song Bird, is a mix of quirky metaphysical things, like crystals, herbs, and tinctures, as well as other homemade self-care items. It also has a lot of designs from my collections, and our biggest seller is my handmade patchwork clothing items. So far, I have done bib overalls, wide-legged pants, and a floor-length house jacket.

I have thought long and hard about Grace and Olive's suggestion to expand. Song Bird is doing really well, so it is definitely a thought. However, I think if I do, I want to name them differently, but keep the same concept. Maybe even do slightly different layouts and merchandise ideas.

My nephew, Adam, has been a great help. His architectural skills are amazing. He had drawn a set of blueprints for my dream shop, and I think I would like to use them for the Amityville location. I think that he could come up with a great plan for a completely Victorian-inspired place.

I have dinner twice a week with my parents, and since Grace and Olive are here, I chose to join them for dinner at a Cajun place near my shop. I wanted to run our ideas over the expansion with my dads, because if they could direct us even remotely in the right direction, we were going to be better off.

Luckily for me, they loved the idea of opening in Amityville over Colorado. They said the aesthetic theme fit the location better.

"I think you girls might be on to something, but I am concerned about one thing. As much as I love you and Olive, Grace, I hope you keep in mind that this business is owned by Lark, and is her dream. She loves having you girls so interested, but you have to leave it as her thing," my grandpa Liam stated.

We all quickly agreed, and he apologized for being so blunt. I knew he was looking out for me, but if he had seen the contracts that Grace had drawn up, he would know that she also just had my best interest at heart.

"Dad, don't be such a worry wart. The girls and I have a solid contract, and the only thing they are even getting out of this whole ordeal is free custom designs and a small finders fee. That's it. They are also helping to help me figure out who will run which store. We still want to keep it a family thing, but instead of the royals or the alphas being in charge, I will be. It will still be my thing, my dream," I smiled.

Luckily, he relaxed a little more and gave more positive input to what we were doing. Especially after I explained that I wouldn't allow just anyone to help me with this.

I trusted Grace and Olive, and that was a big thing for me. After everything I had been through in my life, trust wasn't something I did easily. Up until now, other than my parents, the only people I had ever fully trusted were my twin, Phoenix, and my truest of loves, Cylas.

The day Cylas was killed, I felt as if everything inside me died with him. He was not only my fated mate, but I would have chosen him time and time again if fate wasn't involved.

Sure, we had our ups and downs, but with every down, there was still so much love and respect. He never made me feel abandoned or unloved like I had all my childhood.

When he died, I even prayed for the moon goddess to not send me a second chance mate. I didn't want to get attached to anyone, and then feel that heartache all over again if something happened. Then she sent me Artemis.

Artemis started off as something I didn't necessarily want, but thought, since the moon goddess sent him to me, who was I to deny her wishes? He seemed harmless enough, but he was an alcoholic, and I couldn't be with someone who put the drink before his family.

He had stopped drinking long enough for me to accept him, and try to make a go of things. It lasted all of 3 months. Even with the drinking, we were still doing alright, but on the night of our six-month anniversary, he came home from training sloppily drunk and on a rampage.

I hadn't allowed him to mark me, because it wasn't something I was ready for. However, that night, he tried to force himself and his mark on me as soon as he walked in the door.

My son, Zion, was there that night and when he heard the ruckus, he came running to my rescue. Artemis had me pinned to the floor of the living room with my clothes half ripped from my body. I tried to cover my body from my son, but when I did, Artemis punched me in the face.

Zion lunged at my attacker and pulled him off of me, but Artemis was much stronger than he was at the time. He beat my son so badly that he almost didn't make it. Thankfully, my daughter Cheyenne was also there and ran for help.

Roman and Marko arrived shortly after, and arrested Artemis. He is now serving time, and I fear the day he is released. It's still a ways away, but no matter how far away his release date is, it's still too soon.

That was the biggest reason that I came to Louisiana with my parents. I thought distance would help my anxiety, and it has a little bit. I don't fear him anymore, I fear the possibility that the goddess could send me another heartache.

I know I'm not ready for someone to walk into my life and expect a long-term thing. Not yet anyway. Hell, I may never be ready. So, to avoid it, I keep to myself. However, I think that my avoidance tactics may have backfired considering I work with the public every day.

A few months ago, a gorgeous man walked into my shop, and my heart started to race. I'll be honest, I was instantly terrified. He must have sensed it that day, and left. However, he came back a few days later, and I did my best to play it cool.

I found out his name is Cameron, and he is a vampire/wolf hybrid. He is originally from Biddeford, Maine, but stayed in Louisiana after he was turned. He allowed his family to believe he had died to save them heartache.

We talk regularly when he comes in to pick up his herbal teas, and last week he admitted that he feels a pull towards me. He even suggested the mate bond, and I couldn't bring myself to confess that I felt it too. I'm pretty sure the goddess has sent me another, but I'm still not sure what to feel about it.