44 - Almost 11

44 - Almost 11
~Hannah’s Point of View~

“Hannah? I was just coming to--”

My feet blow right past Scarlett, and I try to act as if I didn’t see her which is ridiculous since she’d been literally in my path.

I’m not sure how I know where the skank will be, but I just know she won’t lose the chance to see Rafe. The packhouse is in sight though I have to cross the main road to get there, and there’s an awful lot of activity. I can’t be bothered to wait for people to get the hell out of my way!

I feel my fingertips twitching, my throat is literally on fire with the craving. The thirst that I am still not at all used to. Would I actually bite and drink from Cassandra? I’m not sure if even that enemy is one I want mixing with me. I literally want nothing from her except for her new home to be at the bottom of a deep well.

It’s literally as if I have tunnel vision and when my nose thinks it recognizes her scent, it's like I can’t even control my movements. When I see Rafe near the road, talking to her … I see red. Any room for rational thoughts are instantly absolutely gone.

The next few seconds seem to move at lightning speed but it’s as if my mind slows it down so I can see all parts of it. Cassandra laughs at something MY mate says, then she touches his arm. He doesn’t push her away or remove her hand.

There are voices all around me but I can’t hear them over the blood pumping between my ears. Over the thumping of my heart about to burst right out of my chest.

I once rode in a fancy, newer car. It belonged a male I was trying to get close to, to steal from naturally. There were all kinds of sensors that told him if another car was too close. Right now, I feel like something is entirely too close to my side, and I’m not even looking there. There’s an urgency to it, and I have barely a second to react. I half spin when I’m nearly a foot from Rafe and I flex the palms of my hands down in a hard, firm motion.

BEEEEEP

The crunch of metal flutters in my ears, along with several screams. When I move my fingers, I find a hard surface below where there had just been only air. I blink rapidly several times and see my lycan hands, and the distorted vision that comes with my shift. I growl in frustration at too many different things.

Calm, calm Hannah. My brain relaxes with my mother’s touch on my shoulder, and then I’m being moved.

Hands are on me, too many hands. I lick my lips hoping to find some blood to calm me, but it's only my dry lips. Familiar fingers move over my cheeks and my body tells me that it's my mate. I blink fast trying to get through the distortion and when Rafe’s concerned face finally comes into focus, I barely spare him a glance.

I turn my head to see Frederick holding a male up by the throat who is gasping for air, next to a car that’s smoking from the hood.

“He tried to take out our next Alpha,” someone shouts.

“No, he tried to take out your future Luna,” my mother retorts. Everyone turns to stare at her.

“This was deliberate! He didn’t accelerate until he saw my Hannah! I demand the Alpha have his head,” my mom shouts, from just beside her brother.

My body heats at that, and I move to get away from Rafe’s hold but I see Pax already asking Frederick to let him go. My uncle is hesitant but lowers the male so his feet touch the earth. The very moment he’s on his own two feet, Pax punches him so hard his head jerks back.

“He’s a rogue we took in last year,” Rafe says, just behind me.

“Should be easy to break then,” Frederick says, calm as could be. I doubt the male broke a sweat, meanwhile I’m positively about to have a heat stroke.

I look down at my hands, which are now normal and then gape at the large intents I made on the hood.

I stopped a car with my bare hands. I literally stopped … a car. NOT normal.

“Are you alright Hannah,” Rafe asks, taking my arm.

“I stopped the car…” I mumble, still in shock. I have no idea how fast it was going but it was at least 30 mph or more. But … It's a car.

The Alpha and Luna storm out of the packhouse, but I can’t be bothered with them. My hands ball into fists as I suddenly recall my mission.

Cassandra is in a mass of spectators, mostly her friends. I ignore Rafe’s question and turn away, marching straight toward the enemy. When I get within reach, I run my hand through her hair, jerking her slightly. She squeals as I pull a few strands of hair out, and bring them carefully to my nose.

I don’t need the confirmation, not at all. But it’s just something I feel I need to do. Maybe it’s just to be arrogant, though I’m a damn lycan and after what I just did I hardly need to prove myself.

“What the hell are you doing,” Cassandra screeches, jumping back from me.

I put my hands on my hips and cock my eyebrow.

“I should ask you that. Do you have a habit of rolling around in my mate’s bed while he’s gone? Will I find the same in Rafe’s bed when I know it’s been replaced since he dumped you,” I question.

A massive hush falls over the crowd, and suddenly my mind tells me to go sniff Rafe’s bed before anyone can strip the sheets. I’m almost certain she’s been there too. Did she want both of them for herself? That’s HILARIOUS!

The sounds of knuckles cracking makes me turn slightly, and I see my brothers moving around like they’re gearing up for a fight. I blush a bit at that, though I’m sure they’d love a crack at her. I’d told them all about the little skank in the car on the ride here. I felt my family all needed to know in case she was a problem.

Well hello problem!

“What? Are you crazy? No, don’t even answer that. You’re a damn lunatic, and it’s obvious! You’re some kind of freak who belongs in the circus! You’re just a nothing dirty rogue,” she seethes, stepping back.

Two of her friends grab her in a comforting manner, though I’m not totally sure they get it. No, this wouldn’t be something she’d have bragged about.

“No she isn’t,” I hear, expecting it to be my mother coming to my defense. Or Rafe perhaps.

My jaw falls when the Luna appears before me, then actually gets in between Cassandra and I.

“Momma Patty? What--” the blonde bitch begins to mutter.

I can’t even properly mull over the fact that Cassandra still somehow thinks she’s getting into the family. That she’ll get Rafe back though my mark is clearly on him. My stench is all over him.

“She’s a lycan, and as best I can tell only one of three remaining in the world. I’ve been speaking with our sage on the matter. While yes, I’ll admit that Hannah was hardly my favorite person, and it pissed me off greatly that she was coming between my boys … what’s done is done. We are no one to question the will of the Goddess nor her guardians,” the Luna says, taking me by surprise.

I actually step back, half thinking she might cast a spell next or turn me into a toad at the very least. I know little about what a sage does but they’re some sort of witch.

She’s certainly not acting herself and I don’t know what to make of it.

“Search him,” I hear, and turn to see the Alpha staring down the male who tried to kill me. I watch as Pax and another pat him down and produce only a wallet. It happens so quickly, but Frederick snatches it, and sticks his nose in.

“There’s a scent there that isn’t his, but it’s … near…” my uncle says, his eyes darting around.

I fully turn now, watching the scene. Goddess … being a lycan is like Sherlock Holmes! It’s actually pretty handy.

“There! That male, his scent is on the money in this wallet,” Frederick bellows, as literally all heads swivel back to me.

No, to Cassandra.

No … to her father.

“Daddy,” Cassandra asks, like she’s totally innocent and has no clue what’s transpiring.

“Robert? What’s he talking about,” Alpha Reign snaps, moving through the sea of people now assembled.

I cross my arms and wish I had a nice tall glass of lemonade. I don’t know what I expected when I stormed up here but my, my, my.

“Yes Beta Robert, why would a rogue who just tried to kill me have money you touched in his wallet,” I question, as the male’s face turns many different shades.

I hear one of my brothers snicker, they have awful poker faces.

There’s some noise over by the driver and my uncle, and I quickly glance to see Pax has the trunk open.

“His things are all in the car. Was he seriously going to try and kill Hannah then flee,” Pax shouts, slamming the trunk and coming around the car.

“Explain yourself,” Alpha Reign fumes. I don’t miss that the first person that Robert looks at, is in fact his daughter.

“Daddy? What did you do,” she squeals, putting her innocent little hands up.

“And what did you do huh? Care to explain why your hair and scent are all over Parker’s cabin and even in his bed,” I snap, stomping my foot for good measure.

I quickly realize that my clothes have torn from a partial shift and my bra and shirt aren’t exactly functioning anymore. But it’ll all have to wait.

“What the hell? Cassandra? Why would you be in Parker’s cabin,” Rafe shouts, butting in front of his father to face the female. I nearly feel like stepping back and watching the shit show from the sidelines. But a good front row seat seems like just the ticket.

I tilt my head to the side and watch as Cassandra’s face literally goes through a hundred emotions. She’s still a pup, and if she had her wolf she’d have never gone into that cabin. The wolf would know better, remind her that anything she touches leaves a scent and much as she plays with her hair … well that’s bound to leave a trail too.

“Sounds like somebody’s never had a knuckle sandwich! Time to get knocked out,” Oliver says, pounding his fist into his hand. I quickly move and grab him, pulling his body into me.

“If you were willing to hire someone to kill my mate, what else have you done? Did you help Isaac escape,” Rafe questions, looking at the pair.

Literally everyone stares at the two, waiting for answers I’m not sure we’ll get. Their silence speaks volumes enough. Cassandra bursts into tears.

“You’re being scammed! It’s probably a spell or something! She’s a filthy rogue,” Robert shouts, as the Alpha shakes his head.

“Dungeon for them both until I can figure out what to do. No food, only minimal water,” Alpha Reign says, as several males step up and grab the prisoners. I can only grin, though if Nightwind is really to be my pack, and my mate is the Alpha… I’m quickly realizing that this is a win for nobody.

If they were rogues they’d be gutted and hanged from a tree to serve as a warning on what happens to traitors. But here? Your own Beta stabbing the Alpha’s family in the back?

“I’m not fucking around with this right now. We need to get Parker,” Rafe says, rubbing his face.

“I’ve ordered every available male we can spare. We don’t know that this isn’t some sneak attack. We send our best out to fight and leave our pack vulnerable that’s playing into their hands. Could be just what they want,” Luna Patricia says.

I snort without realizing it.

“You? You ORDERED huh? You did,” I ask, a bit too arrogantly.

“Parker is mated to you both, is he not,” the Luna questions.

“Hannah, I can’t be Alpha without Parker doing it too. If we share a mate, we share the title. Our pack fights for their Alpha’s safe return,” Rafe says, putting his hand on my shoulder.

“We fight for Alpha Parker,” Seth yells, and everyone follows suit.

“Alpha Parker! Alpha Parker,” they chant.

I’m pretty sure I’d heard someone say that at some point, but I guess I didn’t really register it. How did I go from literal rags, stealing to put food on the table to being Luna to one of the biggest packs in the country? I’m in over my head.

“Hey sis, nice hickeys,” I hear, and look to see Scarlett grinning at my marks.

I can only sigh, and pull her into me with my free hand.

“So… just putting this out there but we’re almost 11 and not even actually related to Hannah,” Oliver teases, as the pups in my arms smile at each other.

Goddess help me.