Last Call For Mate

Elaine's heart pounded as she faced her father's menacing glare in the cramped kitchen. His barked insult sent her ducking out of the way just in time to avoid a flying glass. Trembling, she raised her hands to shield her face, bracing for the inevitable blow. The resounding smack against the wall sent shockwaves through her frail frame. He chuckled darkly, callous to the tears pooling in her emerald eyes. "There it is. Now I'm the villain, right? Forced to play nice with this pathetic pup just because she's shedding a few tears. Well, fine, let me be the villain. I wish your mama never had you. We've become the pack's laughingstock, all because of you! The Alpha's too scared we'll be treated unfairly, and your poor mama barely leaves the house anymore. All this, because of you." Elaine's breath hitched in her throat, a sharp pain radiating from her chest. Roderick drew back, preparing for another kick. "Stop! Leave her alone. Mom, can't you say something?" Gideon's voice trembled with desperation. Winifred met his gaze with a weary sigh. "He's not entirely wrong. Your sister's become our burden. We might have to start anew elsewhere. Your father's job is on the line, and nobody wants to be associated with us. The Alpha won't even let us run with them anymore. Ember's small, a damn runt, and she doesn't even have a wolf. I dread what that scrawny thing will look like. Probably sickly. Your father's losing respect at work, and I'm losing clients at the salon. I'm at a loss. If Ember would just apologize for the trouble she's brought upon us, things might calm down. So, Ember... apologize." Her words hung heavy in the air as she poured yet another glass of wine, her third that night. "And you, boy," she turned to Gideon, "don't think you can interfere when your sister's being punished. Know your place, pup." Gideon seethed, but he knew that any drastic action on his part would only worsen Ember's suffering. Already, a fresh bruise was forming on her right shoulder from their father's brutal kick. Yes, they were shifters, and yes, she would heal quickly, but that didn't make it right. Ember still hadn't found her wolf, and she wasn't strong enough to endure many more beatings. His parents sickened him—his father, the abuser, and their mother, the enabler. He couldn't really tell which was the real monster in this room. How could you stand by while your child was suffering? It didn't make any sense to him. He has never treated Ember like this, and he was pissed that they could not only do it, but suffer no consequences from it. "You two are a real piece of f*****g work, you know that?" He snapped and helped his sister up to her feet. "You're not so special yourself!" Winifred called after them. He opened the bedroom door for his sister as she flopped down onto her bed. He sighed and sat down next to her. "I don't understand what I did to make them hate me so much." Ember sobbed into her hands, and Gideon's heart broke watching her. He didn't know what he could do for her in that situation. What could he do? He sighed and pulled her in to his arms and tried to soothe her pain. "You'll be getting your wolf soon. You could leave if you wanted, maybe get into another pack where nobody knows your name. I even go with you. You re the other half of me. We have shared everything, even a birthday. Even if no one else understands you. I always will." She laughed and lightly punched his shoulder as she pulled back. "You're so stupid." She said with a laugh. He chuckled and messed up her auburn hair. "We'll figure it out. Tonight is our birthday we'll see if eighteen is your lucky number. We'l go out and see." Gideon said with a smile and left the room. Ember sat there for a few minutes with a blank look on her face as she tried to process everything that had happened that night. Ember stood up and walked to the mirror on her closet ..door and got a good look at herself. She was short, with shoulder length auburn hair. It was brown, with natural blonde lowlights. Her eyes were an earthy green. She was slender, with natural curves in the appropriate places. By human standards she would be above average, but compared to the tall, strong shifters that she grew up around.. She was weak, pathetic. She had skin, light and free of blemishes, and yet she was the weakest link of her pack. A pathetic, tiny runt. A weakling that brought shame to the Green pack. A plague upon everything they held sacred. She sighed, at least she had her brother on her side. It was the only thing that had helped her endure the treatment she received from her parents that were far too negligent and abusive than kind. Daughters were supposed to have close relationships with their mother, but the only relationship she had with her mother was one of resentment and distrust. It was close to midnight, her eighteenth birthday. She sighed, and went to her bathroom to hop into the shower. She got cleaned up, and changed into a pair of form fitting black eggings and a simple white tanktop. She laced up her black converse sneakers when Gideon knocked on the dook He let himself in and looked her over. "You-look a little hetter than earlier. You ready to sneak out and hit the woods?" Ember gave a nervous nod. If you really think I'll get my wolf tonight, ill be glad to go. Beats being here with them." "How far out are we going? We've been walking forever!" Elaine whined, as she tromped through the wooded area behind Gideon.