Chapter 3

The day is cloudy and gray, just like my mood. I’m shaking with fear. I know I have to get inside the pack house before Hunter comes to get me, but I’m dreading every slow step forward. This should be the happiest day of my life, but I just know something bad is going to happen.

I quickly sneak into the kitchen and begin cooking bacon in the hope of hiding anyone’s scent. I also cut up onions and green peppers for country potatoes. The fragrance of the food fills the room, and I relax just a touch as I cook up the eggs.

So far so good, I can’t smell a thing. I begin taking the food to the warming table and notice the gathered crowd. No one knows it’s my birthday. If they do, they don’t care. I swallow as I see Alpha Greg and Luna Ciara walk down the stairs. Hunter is just behind them, and his brown eyes have a little sparkle to them. He squints at me with a deep scowl. I know my place, and I drop my head. He hates it when I look him in the eyes.

I quickly rush back into the kitchen and lean against the door holding my chest. It’s a good thing he was so far away, or I would’ve been smacked.

“Where are the cinnamon rolls? I know I smell them,” Hunter asks as he gets to the front of the line. What the hell? I didn’t make cinnamon rolls. “Tramp! You better not be keeping food from us. Get out here now!” he yells at me through the door.

I know he can see my head through the round window, so I wipe my hands on my apron and step through the door with my head bowed in submission. His giant hand clamps around the back of my neck, and he pulls me toward him. His grip is tight and pain like electricity shoots through my body. “Where are the cinnamon rolls?”

I shake my head as little as possible with his hand still holding my scruff. “I didn’t make any, sir.”

Hunter growls, releasing his hold on my neck for a better grip on my hair. He slaps my face then brings me closer to him. “Don’t fucking lie to me, you little whore. You smell like cinnamon rolls.”

I hear a gasp from behind Hunter. I don’t dare look, but I know it came from Luna Ciara. Hunter grips my chin and forces my face up to look at his face. I raise my eyes, and my wolf goes crazy in my head. Mate!

No! No, please, Goddess, no! My lips quiver as realization dons Hunters face. He growls as he lifts me against the wall by the throat. My toes barely reach the ground. Tears leak down my cheeks. My hands automatically try to pry him off my neck with no success. Goddess, he’s going to kill me. “You fucking devious little bitch! I, Hunter Lawrence, reject you, daughter of a traitor, Gypsy Campbell.” Instant pain burns my heart. I can’t breathe, and the world is slipping form my view.

My body collapses to the floor, and I cough to catch my breath. A boot slams into my abdomen. I feel bones crack, and what little air I managed to get rushes back out. I see Hunter’s blurry feet walk out of the room. I’m barely able to inhale the smallest little gasps.

Alpha Greg’s voice booms over the crowd. “You, get this trash out of my dining room.”

Peter steps forward. His arms barely manage to scoop me up and carry me just into the kitchen. He lays me on the counter and goes for some ice. “It’s okay, Gyps. You need to calm down, so you can breathe.” Peter removes my apron and opens the snaps on my overalls. “I’m just checking the damage,” he reassures me as he lifts my shirt. His fingers are cold and shaky as he touches my ribs. I hiss at his touch. “It feels like two are broken.” I figured as much. Peter puts my clothes back together and places the ice to my ribs. His care is the only thing that’s calmed me enough for me to get small shallow breaths. “I’ll take care of your duties today. You just try to breathe.”

I give Peter a slight nod as I lay on the cold steel countertop. My body is in so much pain that my eyes begin to close.

My back is stiff, and my body is sore when I wake up in my shed. It’s still hard to breathe. The sky has opened up, and rain falls against the roof. I gingerly get to my feet. I open the door, and it’s almost pitch black. The best way to heal broken bones is to shift and let our bones get into the right position. I know because I’ve had many broken bones.

I step into the pouring rain and shift. The three-mile run is more like a clumsy jaunt and takes much longer. I dive straight into the water and let the cold soothe the sting. When my body shivers from the cold, I duck behind the waterfall and squeeze through the crack to the safety of my hideaway. I shake the water from my fur then shift into my pathetic human form.

Hunter. My heart and my wolf ache for their mate, but I’m so relieved that he released me from the bond. “I, Gypsy Campbell, accept your rejection, Hunter Lawrence.” The bond completely snaps, and the burn hits me all over again. I hold my chest and struggle to breathe. It feels like hours before the sting is replaced with contentment. Thank Goddess.

I find my spare clothes and cover my bruised body. I lean back against the wall, and the cool air from the crack caress my skin. At this point, what have I got to lose? I shimmy through the small opening and make it to the tunnel.

Being a wolf gives me an excellent sense of direction. My feet lead me further and further into the darkness. I continue to walk, rather slowly, for a good hour when the air begins to shift, and I know I’m reaching the opening of the tunnel. Another small crack leads to the opening of a cave. The rain has subsided, and I can hear crickets and cicadas in the distance.

I peek out of the cave before stepping out into the most beautiful forest I’ve ever seen. I inhale the sweet fresh air then wince from the pain of my broken ribs. I continue to look around at the charm of the peaceful, serene woods.

My ribs are protesting my every movement, so I find a group of rocks along a rivers edge to relax on. The boulders make a perfect throne as I look over my new kingdom. I laugh off the stupid thought. My dad said I was his princess. Look at me now, Dad. I’m sorry to let you down.