To say things have been awkward with my dad are an understatement. Despite always having dreamed of having family, now that he's here I don't really know what to do. What do families do together? Go to the park? Have meals at the same table? I wouldn't know whatsoever.

My dad almost feels like... a stranger. It's sad to say, but as I watch him in the kitchen with Lucien attempting to help with the dishes because he's been staying there, I can't help but think that I don't know him.

"What's on your mind, shortcake?" Daemon kisses my head, arms wrapping tighter around me where I sit on his lap.

I shake my head. "Nothing. Just feel odd, is all,"

"And that's perfectly normal," he reassures me, kissing my cheek again. And then again and again. I giggle as he smothers me in affection.

"Goddess, are you incapable of keeping your hands off the sheep? He's not going anywhere," Tristan comes in the room from the backyard holding two finished glasses of lemonade and glaring disdainfully at my mate.

"Remind me why you had to 'help' your omega in the bathroom earlier? You two were in there awfully long while I was waiting to take a shit," Daemon shoots back smugly.

I can barely hold my laughter, slapping his chest lightly. "Daemy!" I scold him.

Tristan tsks, rolling his eyes and going off to put the glasses in the kitchen. I look outside to where Wren sits on the patio, giving him a smile with which he returns with a small wave. Lylah and Yvonne lay out on the grass side by side, wearing matching shades as they soak in the sun.

It's summer. It's so peaceful. Everything is perfect. Sure, my dad suddenly popped up out of the woods and changed my perception of everything I thought I knew about my childhood—but, other than that I'd say things are pretty good right now.

"Daemon.! Tristan.!" Lucien's voice booms from the kitchen, filled with alarm.

Immediately my mate tenses, quickly picking me up and gently setting me down on the couch before leaping to attention.

"What is it?" Tristan asks.

"I just got a call. It's the dark moon scouts. One of them is gone—and Theo is too. Their cells were empty when a guard checked this morning,"

"Who let this happen?" Daemon growls, fists clenching at his sides.

"Apparently Theo bribed someone on the night shift, saying that if he gave him the master key he'd make him his second in command when he became Pack Alpha again. Poor fool believed it, and was found this morning hiding in a closet with a broken nose. He confessed everything,"

Daemon is silent for a moment, before cursing under his breath. He runs his hands through his hair, looking extremely frustrated. What does this mean for the pack? For Daemon and I? What were Theo's intentions with escaping with the imprisoned scout. They must have gone back to Dark Moon... but why?

"We need to head down there. We don't know what this could lead to. If Theo's involved, a surprise attack is likely. And what's worse is he knows all the ins and outs of our pack. Dark Moon having that advantage on their side isn't good for us," Tristan states, and both Daemon and Lucien assent.

Fear curls in my belly, icy cold. I knew something would come along to ruin this perfect day.

"Is there any way I can help you all?" Leon, or, my dad asks timidly. I realize everyone has gathered in the kitchen by now, no more leisurely relaxation to be had in the face of this news.

Daemon surveys him for a moment, before nodding. "Come down with Tristan and my father. If you have any intel about Dark Moon to share with us, that would be helpful," then he turns to Lylah's mate. "Yvonne, can you look after our mates while we're gone? Just in case?"

The alpha crosses her surly muscled arms, "No problem," she says, much to Lylah's chagrin.

"Um, hello?" The redhead plants her hands on her hips. "Why do the 'mates' just have to hang back and let the big strong alphas do all the work? Is it because we're omegas?!"

"More like because you're not trained. And you're all extremely tiny," Tristan's lip curls over his teeth.

"Excuse me?!" She glares at him, stomping her foot. Yvonne pats her back in an effort to calm her down.

Tristan ignores her reaction, pulling Wren aside. The omega looks extremely distressed, face upset when the alpha attempts to speak to him.

While Lucien and my dad get ready to go, Daemon does the same with me, finding me in the hallway. "You're really going to go?" I ask him.

"I need to find out what they're planning. If we can interrogate the other scout or possibly nip their attack in the bud—well, I can keep you safe,"

"But what about your safety? What if you get hurt?" My lips tremble with the threat of tears and he pulls me close. "My little crybaby," he coos, caressing my cheek. "You worry too much,"

"I love you," I sniffle into his chest.

"I love you more than anything. Now, promise me you'll stay here with Yvonne where it's safe? It's dangerous for you or your friends to go out right now,"

I nod, knowing that he's just stating what's best. I don't like the idea of him leaving me to possibly have conflict with Dark Moon, but I know if I come with I'll only be a hindrance and a distraction to him.

"Thank you, my love. You know how important you are to me," he tilts my chin up and brings his lips to mine, kissing me softly but so deeply at the same time and I melt into it, throwing my arms around his neck.

"I will be back," he presses his forehead against mine when we separate and I pray to the Moon Goddess that his words are truth.

*

"I can't believe they locked us up with a babysitter!" Lylah pouts, crossing her arms indignantly as we sit on the floor of my old room.

"You mean, your mate?" I ask.

"Same thing, if she's practically treating us like pups!"

Wren has been quiet, repeatedly twirling a strand of his long hair in his fingers and anxiously glancing out the window. I can tell he doesn't like the fact that Tristan left.

"What if something happens to them?" He asks, chewing on his lip, worry in his eyes.

"Daemon said to stay here—" I start, but Lylah cuts me off.

"And you're just going to listen to him like the good little obedient boy you are, aren't you?"

Annoyance flares in me at her condescending tone. "Yes, I am. Because I trust him,"

Lylah rolls her eyes, about to make a come back when Wren suddenly stands up. "I'm going after them,"

"What?!" I exclaim.

"I can't just sit here and wait when my mate could be in danger. I have to be with him, at least," he pulls on his shoes, tying his hair up in a ponytail.

"But we don't know if our territory has been compromised!" My chest is filled with dread at the though of gentle Wren out there all alone, a perfect, vulnerable prey for a Dark Moon wolf.

"Then I'm going with you," Lylah declares, pulling on her jacket.

"You guys! You can't even leave without Yvonne—"

"She won't catch us," Lylah grins slyly, "Not if we go out from here," she pulls open the bedroom window.

Flashbacks of the midnight escapades of Daemon and I through that window flood through my mind all at once. And the fact that he's the only one I've ever known to be able to scale a two story house in seconds. "Don't be silly, you're going to hurt yourselves!" I plead.

"I'm sorry, Ash," Wren replies solemnly before suddenly shifting. His small black wolf bounds out the window, Lylah follow suit and her red one leaps out after him. I run to the sill, looking down to see them scrambling down the roof tiles. Their wolf forms give them an advantage, only struggling a bit over the edge before they find their way to the ground.

My limbs start to shake, apprehension and anxiety flooding through me. They could get hurt, something in my gut just tells me they could, that they will.

Without thinking anymore, I brace myself to shift, wincing as my bones crack and my clothes tear off. Once it's over, I grab one of Daemon's huge shirts in my jaw. Then I scramble past the window sill, skittering down the roof as my claws painfully catch on the tiles. Whining in pain, I get to the edge and leap down to the next one, going as fast as I can. I end up a heap in the bushes, moaning in pain as the sharp twigs irritate me through my fur. Moon goddess, I'm glad I'm alone because that was embarrassing.

Catching my breath for a second, I scoop up the shirt in my mouth from where it fell and sprint after the scent of my friends.

I'm exhausted almost immediately, each step agony and I regret not working out with Daemon more. My hikes have not cut it, endurance wise.

I decide to shift back into human form, quickly pulling on Daemons shirt that is more like a dress on me. Now that I don't have to traverse rooftops, I prefer to be in the form I'm most comfortable in.

I'm about to sprint past a row of houses when I hear a loud shriek of pain. Wren.

I bolt in the direction of it, coming across an alleyway. But when I witness what I find there, I stop dead in my tracks.

The world goes quiet. All I can hear is the loud thump of my heart as it palpitates frantically, my entire being in shock of the sight, the person, that stands before me.

The person that is the source of all my pain, suffering, and scars. The person I thought I would never have to see again. The person that Daemon swore to kill because of all that he did to me.

And that very person is here, now, in a place I thought I'd be safe from him, violently yanking one of my best friends by the hair. Wrens body is naked from having detransformed and his legs are bruised and bloody as my stepfather forcefully drags him across the cement.

"I smell that bitch on you! Where is he?! Where is Ash Willow?!"

Wren only cries, struggling to get away.

"Stop! Stop hurting him!" I scream, rushing forward blindly.

The action is effective, because he drops Wren like a piece of hot iron. His eyes gleam with madness and he's on me in an instant, snatching my arm in a crushing grip.

"There you are, you little runt. I've been looking everywhere for you," he snarls, pulling me close to his face, his putrid breath invading my senses. My eyes water, nausea and terror overcoming me in a painful wave. This can't be real. How can this be happening?

"Thought you could run from me? Stupid boy. Whoring yourself out to the enemy pack was the best you could do?!"

I tremble, my body feeling likes it's been paralyzed. I can't do this. I can't have him touching me. It makes my body feel like it'll implode from how horrible it feels. For a moment, I try to speak, but before I can choke out Daemons name he wraps a hand around my neck and presses harshly. My knees buckle, dizziness hitting my and my vision flickers out.

I can only hear Wren scream my name before I'm lost to the world.

*

I feel like I'm dead. Maybe I am, if my stepfathers found me. Maybe he's finally done it, buried me in the grave right next to my mothers.

But I become aware of the feeling of being jostled, a regular pattern of feet hitting the ground and I realized I'm slung over the alphas shoulder, the blood rushing to my head.

I choke out a strangled cry, immediately attempting to get out of his hold. I claw at his back, which earns me a hard smack on my behind. "Disobedient little boy!" He scolds harshly.

"L-let me go! Let me go!" I scream, panic overwhelming me. He can't do this! He can't take me away from the magic of my life now! Not to go back to that horrid place!

"Not a chance,"

"Please! Why are you doing this? Why are you taking me? I thought you wanted me gone from your life!"

"So you get to go off and do whatever you want?! No, Ash. You are property that I get to decide what happens to. That is how it has always been. How dare you disrespect me the way you have?!"

"You tried to kill me!" I sob, kicking my feet to no avail. I can't get away. Why do alphas have to be so strong?! It's not fair that I am forced to go along with their whims simply because I cannot fight back.

"Don't be dramatic. As an alpha, I can do whatever I want to a pathetic omega like you,"

Tears of frustration and dread pool in my eyes, blurring my vision. "I j-just don't understand why you can't let me be! I can be out of your hair, you'll never have to see me again. Please!"

He scoffs, as if what I'm suggesting is incredulous. "I deserve something for bothering to raise a useless runt like you. The least you can do is get me some coin once I sell you off. I had alphas lined up for you, Ash. But like the ungrateful child you are, you didn't appreciate how I kept your chastity safe because they were willing to pay a handsome price for your virginity, your first heat,"

I let my lip curl over my canines in anger. Him and his fucking perverts for friends. "Those things are gone now. I found my mate, and I gave everything to him! I'm spoiled now, worthless to you!"

He shakes his head, scorn overtaking his tone. "I knew the second you got away you'd let any passing dog have a go at you. Dirty boy," he snarls.

"You're the dirty one. You're disgusting!" I shout, banging on his back. I'm so scared. I'm so disoriented that all I can do is lash out blindly. I hate him. I hate him so much.

"Here's what's going to happen. You're going to shut that bratty mouth of yours unless you want me to sew it up. And then you're going wait patiently until I sell you off, because if you haven't forgotten, I OWN you! And you're not going to say a word about your precious mate and the things you did with him or I slit your throat. You should be grateful, really. Some fucker is finally going to give you a bit of worth when he knocks you up,"

I vomit. He shouts in disgust, throwing me to the ground. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" he lands a harsh kick to my stomach and I cry out, sobbing as I dig my hands in the dirt. He rips off his soiled shirt, throwing it to the ground.

"You nasty mutt. You really have lost all your obedience. Where is the sweet boy I raised?"

"He's dead!" I scream, scrambling up and attempting to run, but he lunges at me, pushing me to the ground. I don't have time to react before a blunt force hits the back of my head.

Daemon. Daemon.

This story is nearing to an end! But fear not, I have many other stories planned of the same nature. Thank you all so much for reading my book, I encourage you to go read the other book, "The Alpha's Addiction" which is on my profile! I'd love to read your comments and see how you like it ❤️