Chapter 3

• Full-Moon
• A knock came at the door. I barely left my room since Dad grounded me. I’d only seen him a handful of times since then. From what I overheard the borders weren’t stable and they were expecting an attack. I used to love stakeouts and a good ambush. I wouldn’t be doing any of that anymore.
• “Come in,” I said.
• Marcella strolled into my room. She grimaced for a second before turning her smile back on.
• “Darling Summer, I have good news.”
• “You do?”
• “Yes,” she grimaced again.
• I battled my giggle. The stench of damp wood was getting to her. I got used to it and the occasional rat visitors.
• “You don’t have to make dinner tonight!” She clapped her hands.
• “Are you going out?” I asked.
• “Yes… we are.”
• We? Marcella barely included me in family issues. I was her husband’s daughter but I was as good as the maid around here.
• “Where are we going?” I asked, slipping my legs off the queen-sized bed.
• Marcella walked around and stood under the window. “To the winter lodge twenty minutes out of town for the shift. The girls and I always have our shifts out there. It’s more tranquil than the wild out here.”
• “Oh, that sounds cool. When do we leave?”
• Marcella touched her chest tipped her head back and laughed. “Oh, honey. The girls and I leave before the sun sets. We would love to have you but of course, your condition is unfortunate.”
• I nodded. Of course, she just came down here to taunt me.
• “Well, you guys have fun. Is Dad going with you?”
• “Of course. We do it as a family.”
• Another reminder that I was an outsider.
• “All right, Marcella. Have a nice shift.”
• Marcella grimaced at the walls before smirking at me. “Maybe next time, right?”
• I bit my tongue and nodded. She cussed all the words in the dirty dictionary the second she was out of the basement. I contemplated calling my Mom but I wasn’t supposed to. This was my first shift since the incident. The hours went by and I listened as the house emptied.
• I went upstairs when the sun was completely gone. I longed for the moonlight on my skin and the cool night air zipping across my skin. I opened the back door and sat on the step gazing at the sky. I was dumb but what if it could happen?
• I closed the door. Most homes belonging to high-ranked members were connected to a forest. I reached deep within myself and called a familiar friend. Either I was clouded by hope or there was something there. I waded through the forest, getting as much of the moonlight as I could. I read moonlight had healing properties in the right atmosphere.
• Howls burst into the night one after the other. My heart ached and every ounce of hope I had died. I was being a fool. I didn’t turn though I kept walking. I would never get used to this life, of being human. The howls turned to barks and bodies beating against the ground.
• “That doesn’t sound good,” I whispered.
• A wolf fight played out mere minutes from me. I backed up. If I was found I was toast. The fight grew gruesome. A wolf howled with severe pain I thought he was dying then paws hit the ground. I turned and ran I wouldn’t outrun them so I had to be smart. I ran in circles, scattering my scent.
• I bolted into the house and slummed against the door. I let out a sharp breath.
• “You.”
• I snapped my head up. I swallowed.
• A naked man marched into the kitchen. Heat rushed to my face. The man draped in tattoos and bronze skin glared at me.
• “What are you doing here?” I squeaked.
• “I should be the one asking you that.” He closed the gap between us, and his body slammed against mine, pinning me against the door. His hand wrapped around my neck. I dug my nails into his flesh but he didn’t flinch.
• “You’re with Red Claw aren’t you?” He sneered and tightened his hold.
• “Screw…you,” I breathed.
• “Ezra,” Dad barked.
• “What?”
• “Put her down. She’s my daughter.”
• His hold loosened and I dropped to the floor. I held my neck and glared at him.
• “You have an eighteen-year-old daughter?” Alpha Ezra asked.
• Dad shrugged, “Twenty but yes.”
• Blood pooled out of Dad’s shoulder and dripped on the floor.
• “Dad, you’re hurt.” I rushed to him.
• He waved me away. “I’m fine. Go to your room.”
• “Your wounds are deep, let me help.”
• He held a first aid kit in his hands.
• He growled and stomped to the dining room.
• “Were you attacked?” I turned to Ezra.
• He chuckled, “I still don’t trust you. How long have you been in my pack?”
• “Summer!” Dad bellowed.
• Great, now Ezra knew my name. I hurried to the dining room. He thrust the aid box at my chest.
• “Keep your mouth shut,” he hissed.
• “What?”
• “Let me do the talking,” he ordered.
• “Yes, Sir.”
• Ezra marched into the room wearing black pants now but his tanned and sculptured abs were on full display. He had to have close to a decade over me.
• “Make it quick Summer,” Dad ordered.
• I poured the antiseptic on the cotton and without warning brushed it over the wound. He growled, his wolf nature coming through.
• “Why didn’t you tell me about her?” Ezra asked.
• I kept my gaze on the open flesh.
• “She hasn’t been here long. I had more important things to worry about,” Dad grumbled.
• “You know everyone who passes through my pack has to come through me. As your daughter, she has to swear loyalty to me too.”
• Dad chewed on his bottom lip and turned away. “Even if she’s not staying?”
• My heart slammed forward. He was sending me away?
• “Doesn’t matter. I’m expecting her tomorrow at the pack house. Got it?”
• Dad growled, “Yes Alpha.”
• “Good. I’ve got things to check out.”
• We remained in silence until Alpha Ezra walked out. Dad burst out of the chair and cursed.
• “What was I supposed to do? I didn’t know you too would be here?” I asked.
• “No, where are Marcella and the girls?”
• “Gone. I wasn’t invited.”
• “Fuck Summer. You should have gone with them. Do you know what it means to swear loyalty to a new Alpha?”
• “I say a few words, it stings a little and it’s over? I won’t have to hide anymore either.”
• He ran a hand down his face. I’m guessing that wasn’t correct.
• “You’re not a rogue Summer, you’re a fugitive and when Ezra finds out he’s obligated to hand you over. You know the penalty sweetheart.”
• “It wasn’t even my fault.”
• “You better hope you’re not caught tomorrow.”
• “How?”
• “You’ll get the mark of a fugitive.”
• Dad marched up the stairs. What happened months ago wasn’t my fault but I still had a target on my head. Ezra was already suspicious of me and a fugitive mark would send me straight to hell.