Natasha POV.
It’s been almost a month since we buried Crystal and it has been hell ever since she died. It’s like we have opened a portal to the ghost world. Hearing strange noises and someone speaking, but then there was no one there. Like yesterday when we came back from the mall, I could have sworn I smelled her in the house. But when I went to my room it was a complete mess. All my things were thrown onto the floor. No one was in here because I keep our door locked and the key is always with me.
Lying in bed, I wish for just one good night’s sleep, even for just a few hours. As I look over at Roland’s sleeping form, he looks deep in a dream, creases between his brows and his mouth is set in a hard line. The next moment he jumped up screaming, “Stop.” He looked around frightened and then sighed when he saw me.
He sat back down on the bed and said, “ We need to do something about this because we cannot go without sleep and my father is starting to suspect something.”
“ What do you suppose we do?”
Before he could answer, we heard his father shout through the mind link so hard that we cringed at the sound.
We got up and got dressed and headed downstairs.
The first thing that caught my attention was Crystal’s bedroom door being open. And it has never been opened before. I grabbed Roland’s arm and pointed towards the door. He stiffened but kept walking, not looking at me.
Roland POV
If this is what hell feels like, then I don’t think I ever want to go there. None of us are sleeping or eating. We are barely in shape to train and I’ve given up on trying to keep my father off our backs. I just never thought he would find out so soon.
When I woke up this morning, I went over the dream, the same one I have been having ever since we closed the hole Crystal was thrown into. My wolf cut me off completely and I am basically a human now. When my father shouted over his mind mind I knew something was up, so down to his office we went.
I felt Natasha pulling on my arm and pointing at something ahead. When I looked up and saw the open door, my heart sank and fear crept in. That door has never been opened. To access the complete chapters for free, visit J o b n i b ,c o m . So why in the hell is crystal’s bedroom door now open? As I looked at the door my heart sank further, remembering what we had done. I know I hated her, but I never thought I would feel this empty with her being gone. I wish I could see her again ever for just one second.
As I walked past the door, my wolf stirred and I felt so happy because he was back.
Wait. What… he is back. *I smell our mate.* he said and started whimpering like a love-sick puppy. I abandoned Natasha in the hall and ran to my father’s office. The scent of lavender and rain covered my father’s office. I looked around to where the smell was coming from and my eyes landed on the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.
Crystal POV
It’s been almost a month since I’ve been home and I have no desire to go back after what has been done to me. But I have to go back and explain to Alpha Rodney why I haven’t been making him toasted cheese.
The one thing that Roland and them never knew was that I have a close relationship with Alpha Rodney and Luna May. My father was his first Beta and best friend. When my mother died, everyone blamed me, but they never did, because they knew me better than everyone and they knew that I loved my mother even if she wasn’t my biological mother. After my father died, Alpha Rodney and Luna May kind of took me in and treated me like their daughter. And for that I will always be grateful.
I’ve never even told them that Roland rejected me, not even about the torture I had to endure ever since my 16th birthday.
But I am not that scared little girl anymore and I won’t say anything to the Alpha about what they did. It is now their own ghosts they need to fight and their reaction will say a lot.
When I crawled out of that hole alone and scared and cold, I didn’t even know where I was. All I knew was I was not dead, and then my questions started.
I wandered the woods for a few days before a woman found me, clothed me, fed me and healed me. I shifted a few days later and everything changed for me. I know who I am now and where I have to go. She told me about this pack where I would be welcomed and needed in the future.
I made my way to Rodney’s office to go and speak to him. As I was walking I felt stares and a lot of them. I died and came back to life and then I shifted so I don’t look the same. Before I died, I had black hair and green eyes. I was confused as well until it was explained to me and now I don’t want to change.
I knocked on the door and I heard a strong voice saying “come in.”
I pushed open the door and stood there looking at Alpha Rodney with tears in my eyes.
He looked up at me and I saw his expression change from gentle to hard and then to shock. “Alpha Rodney, it’s really good to see you again. I missed you.” I said and walked around his desk to give him a hug and hug me. He did. I actually heard my back creak.
I let the tears flow freely because I am about to lie to the man that practically raised me from the age of sixteen.
Rodney POV
She has been gone a long time, almost a month now, and no one has seen her or heard from her. The last time I saw her I told her to get more sleep. I will never forget how she looked that morning, dark circles under her eyes, and eyes that looked like the eyes of a dead person.
“I just hope she is okay” May said, looking out the window.
May had been worried sick, because she had never done this before. We knew things weren’t easy after her parents died and we tried to make her feel at home and feel loved, but then one day something just changed and she has never been the same after that.
“I’m sure she is fine. She is stronger than she knows.”
I’ve had my hands full with Natasha, Roland, Tony and Danny. They look like walking dead, not sleeping, not eating, and now they can’t even train properly. I asked them what had gotten into them and they all said the same thing, “too much video games and popcorn.” I let it go at that and didn’t ask again.
I was sitting in my office when I received a mind link from my beta telling me that there was a girl on her way to see me. She didn’t give a name, just said she would like to speak to you. We gave her directions and she walked off. So I just sat there waiting for this girl. I heard the knock and said “come in”. At first I didn’t know who it was and then I smelled that faint scent of rain and sunshine. I knew that it was Crystal.
I saw her looking at me with tears as she made her way closer to me and then held her arms out for a hug.
I got up and hugged her for dear life. Rubbing her hair and whispering “where have you been C?”
She sniffed and let go of me. She wiped her eyes and just looked at me.
Then she cleared her throat and said “I had to leave. There was something I needed to do and I have to go back. So I came to say goodbye.”
I stared at her stunned and heart broken. She just got back and now she is leaving again. “ What do you mean? And how come you have changed so much?”
She smiled and said, “I’m going to help a pack be a pack. I know it doesn’t make sense but it will soon.” She was quiet and then she looked at me and said “I shifted, that is why I changed so much. And I also found out what I have to do and where I have to go.
Crystal POV.
I watched as Rodney’s expression changed from shocked to confused, and this was not going as I’d hoped.
“I just came back because where I’m going I need to sever all ties with my pack. I have to go rogue.”
I watched him take in a deep breath and then he shook his head.
“ So what are you going to do? You cannot leave your pack C. We are family and we will always be.” I heard the sadness in his voice so I had an opportunity to let this go smoothly. “I don’t have anything here anymore Rodney. All I have is sad memories and a broken soul. I don’t even have a mate. He took one look at me and decided he didn’t want me. So I want a fresh start and a chance to find happiness like you have with May. I want that.”
He looked at me and said, “ You found your mate and he didn’t want you? Who the hell is he? I have to give him a piece of my mind. So who is he?”
“it was Roland. We found out months ago after my 18th birthday, but like I said, I was rejected and now I have to accept it because he already has another mate and I don’t want him as my mate after what he has done.” I realized I have said too much when Rodney looked at me with questions swimming in his eyes. His eyes glazed over and I knew he was linking Roland.
Let the fun begin.
I waited with Rodney after he said Roland and Natasha were on their way. I took a deep breath and sat down.
When the door opened, Roland came in with a rush and looked around frantically. When his eyes landed on me they looked warm and soft and so full of love, but that will all change when he finds out who I am. Rodney looked at Roland and sighted and let his head fall.
Natasha’s eyes fell on me and she sneered and looked away.
*they don’t know who you are C* my wolf said.
*Roland thinks you are his second chance mate and Natasha just hates you for the way Roland is looking at you.*
I nodded my head and then, when I looked up, Roland was looking at me and said “mate”. That one small word caused the room to fall silent and Rodney to look at me sideways. Roland was making his way over to me when I jumped up and teleported myself behind Rodney.
Their eyes nearly popped out of their skulls and Roland just smiled.
“Well, I’m not even going to ask because I don’t want to know. But I will introduce you to them. Crystal, I’m sure you know Roland and Natasha.”
Rodney looked at me and smirked as he said that. But when he saw the change in Natasha and Roland’s faces, it caused red flags. They both went as white as sheets and they looked damn near passing out. I cleared my throat and said “I won’t be staying long, I just came to get my things and then leave.” I looked at Roland and said “I crystalia Stone except your rejection Alpha Roland Green.” I watched as he clutched his chest and fell to his knees as the pain spread through him from the break of a mate bond. I looked at Natasha and said “you really do look good together and, besides, who wants your kind of hell?” I said with a smile on my face and she knew exactly what I was talking about. I said goodbye and I left.
I went to pack my things and found Luna May standing in the hallway with tears in her eyes. I dropped my bags and gave her one last hug.
“I will come and visit, I promise, and when I’m settled in I will call you.”
She nodded her head and I walked off to find Rodney.
I said goodbye and thank you and then I left.
At the border, I severed my bond with the pack and heard a lot of sad howls. Everyone is feeling the pain of a pack bond breaking
I put my bag on my back and shifted into my wolf. Her name is Raven. She is a snow-white wolf with a black raven on her right shoulder. (that resembles freedom). We are the first white wolf in almost two thousand years. But my wolf is special. We have a fox as well. She and my wolf are one, but with a split personality. Raven’s one eye is blue-green and the other is purple. My fox side has nine lives, that is how I survived and my wolf has abilities like teleportation and speed as well as strength. And she is huge, almost 8ft tall standing.
* Okay, I know where we have to go and I will take us there. But we are running.*
“Okay Raven, just get us there in one piece please.”
*no problem. But I’m going to have to block you out though, because this is a wolf secret.*
“Really? I mean we already share one body, so why can’t you just tell me?”
*because it’s a wolf’s secret, and once you are there you will, anyway, learn the path because that will be our new home. Now trust me to get us there safe and enjoy the nap.*
We set off running tomorrow. This time we will be where we are meant to be.