Prologue
~Emily’s POV~
Sighing, I slipped into the hot spring. It felt wonderful to be able to relax. Between school, work, and helping the pack it seemed like I never had time to myself. Thankfully, it was my day off and I was able to sneak out to my favorite spot.
I had stumbled upon this spring years ago while playing hide and seek with my pack mates. I always lost because I’m not a normal wolf. I’m only part wolf. I didn’t have any wolfy abilities. I was just plain old, human, Emily. I didn’t mind though. My pack mates never made me feel like I wasn’t part of the pack. They always included me in everything pack related. From training to meetings.
This is why we were playing hide and seek, even though I was not able to run as fast as them. I had been trying to climb a tree to hide in the branches when I slipped and fell to the ground. I ended up rolling down the hill the tree was sitting upon and crashing through the bushes and brambles. When I came to a stop, I couldn’t see the tree or the hill anymore. I carefully got to my feet as I was cut up and bruised from all the rolling I did. When I looked around, I noticed the hot spring a few feet away from me. If I had kept rolling, I would have ended up right in it.
I decided to wait there for my friends to find me. I mean they were wolves. They could just sniff me out when they realized I wasn’t going to show up.
I sat there for hours with no one coming to get me. When I saw it was getting dark, I decided to climb out and find my way home. I wandered around for a long time after and it wasn’t until the woods were completely dark that I finally heard someone calling for me.
I remember yelling back and half the pack came out of the trees to get me. I felt loved when I noticed everyone was scared I had been taken, or hurt worse than the cuts and bruises I had received.
To them I’m special. I may be part wolf but without any of their abilities, I was vulnerable to just about everything. No one knew who my parents were. I was found by the Alpha in the middle of the woods during one of his runs. The only reason they knew I was part wolf was this strange birthmark on my left shoulder. It was a mark that says that I’m from an Alpha line. Although, no one knew why it was I was human if I was related to an Alpha. Matt, the Alpha who found me, sent out messages to other packs to see if he could find my parents. The only thing he found out was that an Alpha and his family were taken from their homes one night. This Alpha family belonged to a pack of white wolves. If I were related to them then that would make me a white wolf. The only thing is I won’t be able to turn into a wolf until I meet my mate. I hoped that meeting would be a long ways off. I mean I’m only eighteen. I don’t want to settle down just yet. I want to go to college and see something of the world. Maybe track down the pack my Alpha thinks I’m from. If I can find them then maybe I can find something out about my family.
According to the ancient texts, the only reason I didn’t have a wolf is that I have a twin who has all the Alpha abilities. If we had stayed together as a family then I would be my twins Beta. If I had found my mate before we were to take over then my mate would become Beta.
Seriously, how was that fair? As it is, I’m an orphan being taken care of by people who don’t know anything about me. My mate could possibly take my position as Beta, if I find my twin. And, I can’t even change into a wolf until I meet my mate!
Taking a deep breath, I tried to remind myself that I was here to relax. Letting my muscles un-tense one at a time, I sank deeper into the spring.
I was almost asleep when I heard the sound of a twig breaking. Trying not to look like I had heard this, I remained still. I listened for the sound to be repeated but I didn’t hear anything. If I had my wolf, I would be able to tell where the sound came from, how far away, and possibly, even if it was a deer or something else.
Leaning back against the spring wall I tried to let the unease I felt go.
A hand came out of nowhere and wrapped around my face. I was unable to see or breathe properly as I was dragged from the hot spring. I tried to struggle to get away from the person who was attacking me. If I had my wolf, I would have had a better chance of fighting off my attacker. With me being just a human, my strength against my assailant was futile at best. I clawed at the hand over my face to try to remove it. It was getting harder to breath and I was going to pass out if the hand wasn’t removed soon.
I felt a rumbling from the chest that I was slammed against. This person thought my struggles were funny. I was starting to panic when I felt warm breath against my ear.
“Keep struggling. I love it when you struggle. It turns me on.”
I froze. I didn’t know this person. With the strength they were holding me, he could have been a werewolf but he was definitely not from my pack. I felt tears run down my cheeks as I felt his other hand run down my body. I wanted to shrink away from his touch but then I would be pushing myself further into his body.
“I see you’re not going to cooperate. That’s ok. I’ve been watching you for a while now. You are such a sweet little thing. I’m going to have fun with you. But first…” He stopped talking as I felt his claws extend. I felt the nails on the hand holding my face pierce my skin. I tried to scream but his palm was muffling the sound.
Right now I was wishing I had told my friends where I was going to be. I wish I had my wolf so I could use the pack link to call for help. I wish I had my mate so that he could protect me. But my wishes were useless. I needed to try and figure a way out of this.
“Uh, uh, little one. Don’t think about trying to escape. I haven’t had my fun yet.” He let loose an evil chuckle that made my blood run cold.
I started to see spots in front of me. I was going to pass out any minute now.
“Don’t worry little one. I’ll take care of you once you’re out. Don’t want you to suffer too much now do we.”
With that, he put more pressure on my mouth. I was suffocating and this jackass was getting a sick thrill out of it. Before I lost consciousness, I felt one of his claws run across my eyes. I tried to cry out from the pain but it was useless. I fell into the black.
I felt sore. What had I been doing? Why did I hurt everywhere? I tried to open my eyes. That was when I started to scream. I couldn’t open my eyes!
I felt hands on my shoulders trying to push me back down. The events before this point came crashing back to me and I struggled harder to get out of this person’s hold. It took a while before I was able to make out that someone was trying to talk to me. When I calmed down enough I realized that it was my Alpha and adopted father, Matt. I relaxed even more at hearing his voice and just continued to sob.
Matt lifted me into his arms and just held me while I cried out my pain and fear.
“Shh, little one, I’m here now. No one is ever going to hurt you again.” I could hear the tears in his voice.
I’m guessing when I didn’t come home, they sent a search party out to find and bring me back. I could feel sheets and pillows beneath me. I know I was covered in a blanket, as I was warm. I became aware of others in the room. I didn’t know who they were so I stiffened against Matt.
Feeling this, Matt, told the others to leave the room so that we could be alone. I heard the distinct click of the door being closed and I relaxed against Matt’s chest again.
I felt him take a deep breath. I knew he was going to ask me what happened. I didn’t want to talk about it but I knew he needed to know. He needed to know that there was a rogue in his territory.
“What happened Emily?” I could tell he didn’t want to hear this as much as I didn’t want to talk about it, but it needed to be done. I was like a daughter to him and I could tell he was upset over this.
I took a shuddering breath and told him about how I was attacked. I told him about what the man said and what I remember him doing to me. When I was done, the room was silent. It was my turn to ask questions.
“Dad? Why can’t I see? We…were…were you able to find me before…” I couldn’t finish the question. I felt sore all over and I was afraid of his answer.
I felt him place a kiss a top my head and something wet fell onto my cheek. “No, sweetheart. We didn’t get there in time.” I started to cry again. I didn’t want to think about what that bastard did to me.
“Why can’t I see?” I asked again, trying to get my mind off what else that sick pervert did to me.
“He cut your eyes. The pack doctor says you won’t be able to see anymore.” I felt my breath clog in my throat. “I’m so sorry, little one. I wish I could have gotten to you sooner. I wish with everything I am that this had never happened to you.”
With that being said, he held me in his arms while we both cried silent tears. I’ll never be able to see again. As if being human wasn’t bad enough now I was a blind one as well. I would never get to see what my mate looked like or our children. Hell, for all I know my mate may reject me because I’m blind and no longer…Well, I won’t think about that. I’ll just cross that bridge when I get to it.
I just hope it is a long way off.
