31
I clambered out of bed at the sound of someone knocking on my door. I sighed and rubbed my eyes and opened the door to find little Nancy.
She stared up at me with her big eyes and I didn't like the accusatory gleam in her glossy irises. Her blond curly hair was in a mess.
"Please kid, I'm not in the mood for anymore sh-stuff right now. If you're mad at me do it another time." I said my own voice sounding scratchy and foreign to me... damn crying.
Nancy huffed and sighed, "I'm mad at you, but I'm here because I had a bad dream." She clarified and I looked down at her.
"Err okay." I said still not knowing why she was here.
"I wanted to sleep with Amelia, but she's not here so... can I sleep in here?" She said softly and I let out a sigh. I rubbed my hand down my face and stepped back.
"Sure, sure. Do whatever." I growled and went back to bed.
After a few moments she hopped in beside me and landed on my stomach.
"Oomf. Nancy watch it." I growled and she huffed.
She made herself comfortable with Amelia's pillow and I frowned softly... I wanted that pillow. As I watched she made a face and flipped the pillow over.
"You got tears and what I'm hoping was just spit on the pillow. Yeah, I know you've been crying." Nancy said softly and I blinked slowly.
"She'll come back." The little girl said in a certain voice and I turned away from her as my throat tightened.
"My mama and papa used to fight too, but never like y'all. They'd always yell some and then they were back together laughing about something." Nancy said quietly and I gulped.
"Do you miss her?" I heard her say softly and I scoffed.
"What do you think?" I growled bitterly.
"I think you're missing the point." Nancy said and I frowned. I turned back over and propped myself up with my arm looking at the little girl.
"What point?" I asked.
She opened her mouth to say something, but stopped and her eyes widened as someone knocked on the door.
"Hide me." She hissed and climbed over me to hide behind my back. What the hell?
"What?" I said.
"Shhh!" She said and I frowned.
Another knock sounded and I sighed.
"Come in." I said and after a moment the door opened and Ryan stepped in.
"Nancy. I know you're in here." He said his voice sounding a bit angry and I felt Nancy tense against me, she remained quiet.
He began to walk into the room and I could smell the fear coming off of the young girl as she hid behind me. She obviously for some reason didn't want my beta near her.
I growled in abrupt protectiveness and sat up a bit more. Ryan slowed to a stop and shot me a glare.
"She's asleep Ryan." I lied and the beta scowled.
"She is not. C'mon Princess I just wanna talk. Please don't be mad at me." Ryan said and Nancy peeked out from behind me.
"I don't want to talk to you." Nancy growled and I raised my eyebrows wondering what was going on.
"But--" Ryan began.
"No! Make him leave Alpha please." Nancy said and buried her face against my back.
I looked at my beta.
"You heard her." I said. He frowned.
"Leave Ryan." I ordered and he growled softly. He took a step closer his eyes burning with his wolf's.
"Nancy--" he started.
"Leave! Now!" I snarled and he flinched then growled before whirling around and slinking out of the room.
As soon as the door shut Nancy sighed and I watched as she got back into her place beside me.
"What was that about?" I asked and she gave a soft sigh.
"Ryan's my mate... but he said he doesn't want me because I'm too young." She whispered and my eyebrows shot up.
What in the hell? Why didn't he tell me? Is this why he's been acting so weird?
"Oh..." I managed to say and she whimpered softly. I frowned in pity at her sad eyes and I tapped her chin.
"Hey, don't cry. I don't need you in here crying." I said and she smiled bitterly.
"Yeah, you've already been crying enough. We don't need another crybaby." She said and my mouth fell open.
"I'm not a crybaby. What the he-ck." I said and she frowned.
"You curse a lot." She observed and I shrugged.
"I haven't really said anything." I defended myself and she raised an eyebrow.
"Only because you catch yourself." She retorted and I sighed and scrubbed a hand down my face.
"I'm not going to argue with a child." I said and went to lay back down.
"Takes one to know one." She said and I gave her a long look.
"Do you want me to kick you out of here?" I asked and her eyes widened as she shook her head dramatically.
"Then hush and go to sleep." I said and she nodded and laid down. I scoffed and settled into bed.
"Goodnight Alpha Kaden." Nancy sighed after a while.
"Night Nancy." I said and glanced to find her snuggled up in the covers.
I smiled softly and ignored the pain in my chest and Knight's mournful whines.
"You will either kill yourself or you will die..." the witch's words echoed in my head.
I'm going to kill us Kaden... Knight's growl resonated through my mind.
No. Shut up. I'm trying to sleep. I told myself.
With a groan I pulled my pillow over my head and fell into a restless sleep. A sleep filled with torture and Amelia.
Too bad it was only one AM.
