She held my hand all the way up to her house. That’s where I dropped her off. I couldn’t let her follow me any farther. My father’s rage was mine to endure, I couldn’t risk her well being and her position in the pack. The more we acted like she didn’t know, the better. I could at least keep my best friend safe. I could tell she didn’t agree with my logic, she didn’t have to say anything, I felt the way her eyes burned holes in my back. I didn’t dare look back. She could read me like a book, and she’d see how terrified I was.
I had been lucky up to this point, the pack was busy and not hanging around my house. As I approached the three story house, I could see my mother’s outline in the window, as usual she was in the kitchen, preparing me and my brother an after school snack most likely. Its what she did every day…such a normal activity. I hesitated at the door, my hand hovering over the door handle. What if I ran away? A self appointed exile? It would be less humiliating. Suddenly, that’s exactly what I wanted to do…why hadn’t I brought my bag downstairs, hidden it somewhere outside? Stupid, I had been so stupid. Would it be too hard now, to rush to my room, snatch my bag and rush down stairs again? My mother would scent me but only after I managed to get to my room. The food would overpower my scent for a little bit at least…yes, that was the best thing to do. Run away without the public humiliation.
Nodding to myself, my hand finally wrapped around the handle, but a growl behind me stopped me in my tracks.
“Cheyanne.” The voice rumbled behind me.
Every hair on my body stood at attention, fear gripping my heart. My father was directly behind me, easily close enough to scent me. It was likely he had followed my scent here, even.
“Father I-” I began, but his hand wrapped around the nape of my neck.
I froze, paralyzed by his grip. Was it funny to think this was probably only the fifth time he touched me in my life? Never with love, always with discipline. I had grown to fear my fathers touch, and him holding me like this caused me to start shaking. I had hesitated too long, I should have entered the house faster.
“You have a lot of explaining to do.” He'd growl. “Brycen, open the door.”
Great, my brother was here too. My mouth was dry, and my tongue darted over my lips. If I had my wolf, maybe I could have shifted and ran…could I even shift with a baby inside of me? Would it harm the development? I didn’t have a clue, no one had ever explained it to me, because I didn’t have any need to know. That was something you would learn later on, sure we had sex ed, but not for the shifting part. We didn’t learn anything about shifting until we got our wolves at eighteen.
I couldn’t even turn my head to watch my brother, but he came into view. He didn’t even look at me, didn’t even dare a glance. He opened the door, and we entered. I was practically dragged in. The luna was already standing by the office door, she must have been reading in the study. Mother seemed perplexed, her greeting smile dying on her face as she saw my father and I.
I was roughly tossed into the center of the room, and I looked at my mother, eyes full of uncertainty. Was this how she felt when she learned she was pregnant with me? No, she was already a rogue. She had nothing left to lose, only something to gain.
“Cheyanne..?” My mother’s voice was musical, even when she was hesitant and worried.
“Shut up, bitch. Speak, Cheyanne.” My father would snap at my mother, then focus back on me.
“I-” I’d start, words hard to find.
I had practiced what I’d say over and over on my way home, why was it suddenly so hard to remember the script I had planned?
“Why the fuck do you smell pregnant?” He’d growl, those eyes that I shared with him taking on a wolfish gleam.
I swallowed down my fear, feeling myself shrink down under that gaze.
“Honey…” The luna would start, taking a few steps towards my father and I.
“Don’t.” He’d growl, gaze sliding to his luna. “I took care of you, claimed you as mine and raised you as such, even with your ungratefulness. And *this* is how you repay me? By getting knocked up by some wolf?” He’d growl, taking a step towards me.
His skin rippled, fur moving underneath as it prepared to sprout through. While I found it mesmerizing normally, it made my anxiety spike. A wolf was a dangerous creature when angry.
“I didn’t mean-” I’d start, my voice sounding pathetically quiet.
“What? You didn’t mean *what*, Cheyanne? Didn’t mean to get knocked up? Didn’t mean to disrespect me?” He’d laugh. “I find that hard to believe. Every step of the way you have gone out of your way to show me disrespect. Who the fuck is the father.”
I could barely get a word out, and I saw my mother take a hesitant step towards me. I risked her own wellbeing now, without me she had no place in the pack. I needed her to stay out of this.
“I didn’t mean to get pregnant!” I’d say, voice taking on a desperate hint. “I didn’t mean for this to happen!”
“Stupid girl, what did you think would happen? Hm? That you’re somehow special? Exempt from the rules of nature?” He’d ask, almost sounding like he was taunting me.
I supposed I deserved it, what had I thought would happen? No protection during a fertility holiday, of course this was likely to happen. I was silent, my gaze falling to the floor. He was right, I was stupid to think I was exempt from the laws of nature.
“Now, I’ll ask you one more time. Who. Is. The. Father?” He pronounced each word, as if I was slow. “If you have any sense at all, we can hide this incident.”
I didn’t dare look up at him, for fear the answer would show in my eyes.
“Cheyanne.” He’d growl again, taking a menacing step towards me.
“I won’t tell you.” I’d say, refusing to meet his gaze.
I heard him kneel down, his rough, calloused hand grabbing my chin and forcing me to look at him. My gaze held defiance, I couldn’t tell him. It wasn’t even my reputation I cared about now, but if the Evermaw Alpha found out, I feared what would happen to his heir. We were stupid kids but I couldn’t go crawling to an alpha heir and ruin his entire life. My life was doomed from the start, I refused to allow my pup to grow up in the hell I did.
“Why. Not?” His grip tightened on my chin and I winced.
“Dad…” Brycen would speak, sounding uncertain.
He had seen me get in trouble and punished before, but not for something as major as this.
“Brycen, either stay silent or go to your room.” His voice wasn’t as much of a growl towards him, but it was still sharp.
Brycen didn’t move, but he went quiet.
“I’m not my mother.” I’d say, trying to muster my regular defiance.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mother shrink back a little. That had hurt her, and I hadn’t meant to do it, but it was true. I wasn’t her. I wouldn’t go begging for help. He let go of my chin, and I fell back.
“You want to be a smartass? Fine. Get out.” He’d spit, stepping to the side to make the way to the door open for me.
“My love…she’s only seventeen.” The luna would speak up, seeming worried.
“She’s old enough to make this choice, she’ll take the consequences.” He’d answer her.
“Can I take some things?” I’d ask, looking up at him.
“Out of *my* pack?” He’d ask.
He had already disowned me it seemed. I went to try and push for my things, but staring at his hateful gaze, I let the question die.
Slowly, I stood up, fighting the tears that brimmed in my eyes. I was tougher than this, he had raised me to be tough. Raising my head up high, I made a step towards the door. Brycen took off upstairs, and I assumed tears were starting to fall. He had looked up to me. Moons I was the worst sister, wasn't I? I hadn't given him the time of day, as if it was his fault my mother was nothing in the eyes of our father. It had never been his fault, but I had been so cold. So hateful.
The door was opened for me, and I walked out of the house without another glance towards my father or mother. What I came face to face towards was the entire pack. They had been summoned through the pack link. What I had almost hoped to be a quick and silent exile turned out to be anything but. He was making it indisputable. It was easy to pick out the flaming red hair of Lex, and as my gaze centered on her face, I saw the sunlight reflecting off of the tear stains. Her mother held her close to her side, rubbing her arm. They were like my second family, and I could see the tears falling down Lex's mother's face too.
My gait faultered, but a rough shove had me moving again. My father was right behind me. I hadn't even heard him follow. I heard the others though, the soft steps of my mother and the Luna. I could feel the uncertainty of the pack, how they feared their Alpha's anger but disagreed with this display before them. Our natural instinct was to protect our young, his aggression towards me made others want to step in. I heard the whisps of silent conversations going on around me, the link strong with the pack congregated.
“What's going on? Why were we called together?”
“What did the bastard do this time?”
“Is it really necessary to humiliate her? She's only a child.”
Those at the front caught my scent first, their reactions a mix of surprise, shock, and disapproval. Some started to look towards their sons, questions in their gaze. I could see a few of the boys shake their heads no.
“I know there are many questions.” My father would begin, standing on the little hill outside of the house. He looked down at the pack, but I felt his gaze slide to me. I lowered my head. “Most will not be answered. My insolent daughter here has committed the utmost disrespect to my name, and further sullies her own reputation with her stubborn pride.”
I had to bite back a retort that jumped to my mind. Old habits die hard it seemed, and this was no different.
“She's gotten herself pregnant, over Lupercalia if the timeline is correct. As you all know, I am a fair alpha. While she refuses to claim the father, if he steps up and claims her and this unborn pup, she will be permitted to stay and there will be no repercussions for either party. Otherwise, as ancient law decrees, she will be exiled from these lands.”
Silence fell over the gathered pack, no one made a move. I didn't blame anyone. Until we got our wolves, we didn't know who our mates were. Who would risk never getting their mate just to keep one lonesome wolf around? After a pause of a few minutes, hundreds of eyes on me, my father continued.
“As no one claims this she wolf and pup, as law decrees..”
I turned and looked at my father, those eyes locked on my back. I would face my exile, I wasn't a coward.
“I, Alpha Casimir of the Graycrest pack, exile Cheyanne Jacobs from the pack. From this moment forward, she is not welcomed on these lands. Patrols are to chase her out on sight, and if she dares to step foot or paw on these lands without explicit invitation, she will be subjected to the pack laws every rogue faces. Beta Jacks, take your finest warriors and escort her off of these lands.”
ns3.143.244.33da2
