2

He laid beside me, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me against his muscled chest. I ignored him, refused to even show any sign of me acknowledging him. He sighed and started to comb his fingers through my hair.

"I'm sorry." He whispered.

I didn't say anything, I couldn't. He can't just abuse me every day and then say sorry, it doesn't work that way.

"It wasn't me."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Wasn't you? I'm pretty sure it was."

"You don't understand." He sighed as he sat up.

I sat up as well, "Then explain."

"I can't. Not yet."

"I hate you." I spat.

He looked at me, his eyes were filled to the brim with hurt, but I didn't care.

Tears ran down my cheeks, "I hate you."

When I woke up I was met with a furious Alaricas, he immediately grabbed me by my hair and threw me against the wall. He pressed his body against mine and roughly kissed my

neck.

"Maybe I should try teaching you a different lesson." He breathed.

I woke up with a start, my heart was pounding and my hands were shaking. I looked around to see Kayla out cold against my brother who was also asleep. I looked ahead to see my mother reading a book and my father sleeping.

I swallowed, running my hand through my hair, I got up and went to the bathroom. I closed the door and puked in the toilet, hot tears pooled in my eyes and slid down my cheeks.

I haven't had a nightmare like this in a while, why do they have to show up now? I sighed and flushed the toilet, as I washed my hands I stared at my reflection.

Was I really as ugly as he said? I frowned, my brown hair looked sort of flat and my once bright blue eyes were a little dull now, but that's because of him. I glared at the large scar running from the corner of my eye to my lower jaw.

You survived. I thought to myself.

I shook my head, I shouldn't care anymore, I'll eventually find someone else. Scars can look somewhat attractive right? I mean, I find guys with a few scars, hot.

"Jo, you okay?"

I looked up as I exited the bathroom, my brother gave me a worried look. I forced a smile, but it did nothing to hide the fear on my face. Pretty sure it looked like I wincing.

"No." I whispered.

He sighed and pulled me into a hug, "We won't let him touch you." He murmured.

I sat down in my seat and rested my head in my hands, I closed my eyes, trying to get myself to relax.

"We're thirty minutes away." Kayla said, resting a hand on my shoulder.

I swallowed, "Okay."

Thirty minutes away from hell. Wow, never thought hell could be this close.

I sighed dramatically as I collapsed onto the bed, complaining about the bags ripping my arms off. Kayla jumped on me and cheered.

"We're now in Miami bitches!" She beamed.

I groaned and shoved her off, "Yes, but that doesn't mean jump on me."

"Well, I did anyway." She stated, folding her arms across her chest and sticking her tongue out.

I raised an eyebrow before shaking my head, "So, you and Gabriel aren't allowed to share a room?"

"No." She pouted. "Your father said he doesn't want to hear us going at it."

I burst out laughing, earning a scowl from her. "I'm sorry, but I agree with him."

"Oh, shush. When you meet some guy that you love, you two will be going at it like rabbits."

"Yeah, I won't find that guy in a thousand years."

"You never know."

I rolled my eyes, if I decide to be with someone they would have to be human or a werewolf who's mate is either on the other side of the world or permanently gone. I got stuck in a relationship with a guy who's mate decided she wanted him back. Apparently, he was only using me to make her jealous. Well, fuck them too.

I threw my hair into a messy bun as I unpacked, rambling about hating Alaricas the whole time. I honestly don't think I'll be able to handle seeing his face again, I'll either break down in tears or have a panic attack. Panic attack most likely.

"Hey, when is the meeting anyway?" Kayla asked.

I shrugged, "Sometime tomorrow morning. We have to be up by six."

"Ew."

"I know."

Once we were finished unpacking we decided to go out for dinner, I was starving. Gabriel joined us, but our parents wanted to go on a date without kids.

As we walked into the restaurant I immediately smiled, I sprinted up to him and hugged him.

"Hey Uncle Cain!" I beamed.

He chuckled and hugged me back, "Hey kid, how are you holding up?"

"I've been getting better." I replied. "He's not here, is he?"

"Actually, no. No one has seen him in three months, he just suddenly disappeared. His beta is in charge now, but he sent someone else here."

I frowned, "That's odd, Jefferson skipping an alpha meeting?"

"Well, betas usually don't come anyway."

"Well yeah, but he always went with Alaricas from what I've heard. The gamma stayed back and watched over the pack."

Cain shrugged, "Don't know, that pack is mysterious."

I grunted in reply before saying goodbye and running over to my brother and Kayla. I plopped down in a chair and picked up the menu.

Oh, steak!

"Wake up, bitch!"

I grunted as someone smacked me with a pillow, when they went to hit me again I grabbed it and smacked them.

"Ow! I don't hit you that hard!"

I sat up and scowled at Kayla, "It's a pillow. How the hell does it hurt?"

"Well, it does."

"A pillow hurts but when you got tackled by a two-hundred pound man of muscle the other day, it didn't hurt at all? I'm finding this hard to believe."

Kayla rolled her eyes, "Oh, get your lazy ass up. It's already five after six."

I groaned, last time I ever come to an alpha meeting, unless I can sleep in. I quickly showered and threw on my clothes.

I felt a little more relaxed knowing that Alaricas wasn't here today. It's weird that he just suddenly disappeared, maybe he's hiding in his packhouse. Being a coward.

Nope, still doesn't sound like him. The Alaricas I know was a cocky, annoying, dumbass that I wanted to kill. Disappearing magic tricks is not one of his qualities.

I followed my family out to the dining hall, the second the scent of bacon hit my nostril I was taking off.

I could hear my parents chuckling and saying something about my obsession with this delicious food. I filled a whole small plate with them before grabbing some pancakes.

After breakfast we sadly had to go to the meeting. I'm slightly curious as to what this one is about, usually, they're only held for important reasons.

If an alpha has a territory disagreement with another alpha then they handle that by themselves. But if it's a war between werewolves and vampires or something like that, we have to have all the alphas meet. A councilman from Europe will guide us and come up with the plan. Also, he's here to keep all of the alphas from killing each other.

I quickly took my seat beside Kayla and my mom, I scanned all of the alphas we waited. I furrowed my eyebrows when a man who looked similar to Alaricas, walked in. He held his head up high and strode in with pride, his presence demanded respect.

I tilted my head, studying him. His eyes were the same color as Alaricas', his hair was a tad bit lighter, and his features were a tiny bit different. I swallowed, I remember Alaricas mentioning a brother. This must be him then.

"Who's he?" Kayla asked, pointing towards the almost lookalike Alaricas.

I shrugged, "I think he's Alaricas' older brother."

We all turned our attention to the councilman as he silenced us all. Everyone immediately took their seats, anxious for this meeting to begin.

"As you all know, the skin-walkers are starting to rebel against werewolves. For years we've been leading them, but now they want to form their own packs and take our lands." He announced.

Growls echoed throughout the room, my own growl escaped my lips. No way in hell is anyone taking my family's land.

"The king has attempted to reason with them, that they can form their own packs on land that isn't touched, but they refused. They claim they're tired of us ruling over them. Luckily, we have the vampires on our side, considering they're threatening them too." He continued.

"So, what are we going to do?" An alpha asked.

The councilman sighed, "All alphas from around the world are to train their packs. Even the pups that are four and older. Whenever the skin-walkers attack we need to be prepared."

"Where and when?" Another questioned.

"We're trying to find that out, the king is currently working on it."

"Is King Demetrius going to lead us?" My father asked.

The councilman nodded, "Yes, he and Queen Rosalie are already creating war plans."

"My pack will not be joining."

We all turned our heads towards the guy from before. He ignored all the glares and insults he got as he continued staring at the councilman.

"And you are?" The councilman asked.

The man cleared his throat, "Alaricas' older brother."

"Ah, it has been a long time Eduardus."

"Seems so. I return from Canada to find out my brother found his mate, abused her, lost her, then abandoned his pack. Indeed, it has been a long time." He sighed.

The councilman seemed stunned, "Alaricas is gone?"

"I'm afraid so, it's odd for my brother to just walk out on his pack like this."

I frowned, Eduardus has a point, Alaricas would never abandon his pack. Even though he would abuse me constantly during the day, I've watched how he treated his pack. He cared for them, a lot.

I got up and stepped forward, "What do you mean he abandoned them? That's not like him."

His brother looked at me, "He left them, ma'am. He's nowhere in the house."

I noticed the sorrow in his voice as he spoke, I swallowed. "You're worried for him."

He nodded, "He's had one hell of a past and had many issues. Him being alone while emotionally unstable isn't the greatest mix."

I bit my lip, "He wouldn't do that though. No matter how upset he is, he loves his pack. Something had to happen to him."

"Yeah, his bitch of a mate rejected him. Didn't let him tell her why he did what he did." He spat.

I gulped, "Oh."

"Why are you so curious anyway? You live here, in America. Surely, you don't know him. And don't even think about claiming to be one of his sluts, he saved himself for his mate."

"Well, you see..." I laughed nervously.

"I'm his bitch of a mate."