"My brother's alive?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYtIEz6Me5
Her mother nodded.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg0N30DUhF
"That's impossible! Chad died fourteen years ago!
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyDQxjcRbI
Luna rolled her eyes. "No, that's just what your grandmother told you to spare you from the truth."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg7oBzDFuD
"What is the truth, then?" Rosalind couldn't keep the skepticism out of her voice. She wasn't going to get her hopes up. It's not like her mother would be nominated for The Most Trustworthy Person of the Year Award.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxNNdH7faE
Luna leaned back in her chair. "I couldn't control the little runt. He was completely reckless with his abilities. He would transform whenever he had the chance regardless of who was watching. He became far too much of a liability, so I sent him away."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxApiavsBC
"He couldn't control his werewolf abilities, so you sent him away?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8QAkr7DfN
She laughed. "No, actually he was quite good at controlling his transformations. What he lacked was restraint. Every time he'd get bullied on the schoolyard, he would show them his wild side. Let's just say I had to pay a lot of people to keep quiet. I got tired of covering up for him, so I sent him to go be someone else's problem."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwmq5cjP5a
"That's it? Did you even try to help him? Or did you get rid of him as soon he was an inconvenience to you?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCgu3wnut7
Luna frowned. "Now you're making me sound like the bad guy. I'm doing what's best for everyone."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobA4Mg4E5e
"Is it what's best for everyone, or is it what's best for yourself? You kept my brother from me for years!" She banged her fists on the desk. "Do you have any idea how hard it's been for me, having to live without him? You are the bad guy!"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIBDwCrhYJ
Rage flickered through her mother's eyes. "I've heard enough. Gregorio, escort her out of here." She glared at Rosalind. "I'm expecting you to get your temper in check before the council arrives."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUXTx1YszP
Gregorio dragged her out of the office and into the living room. The office door promptly shut behind them. Then he pointed to a room towards the end of the hall. "You can stay in that room over there, while you'll be staying with us. Chandler has offered to let you borrow his clothes until we can get you some of your own.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XNnyKpdQW
"Why would he do that?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD75DeWy6h
"Chandler's a good boy, but he doesn't always show it."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFox2pQKbdC
She waited for him to elaborate further, but he didn't, so she wandered into the room she'd be staying in. It was a small room with nothing but a bed and a vanity. The walls were painted a shade of pale green, which complimented the white bedspread with pink butterflies embroidered into it. The decor looked like it was intended for someone much younger than her. Overall it wasn't too shabby for a spooky underground cave. The only potential giveaway that they were underground was the complete lack of windows.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9OPlI8XYd
She shut the door behind her. She noticed the bow and arrows she had found in the Sightless Caverns leaned against the far side of the vanity. How did it get here? She scoured the room for a place to stash them. First, she dug through the vanity drawers. The bottom drawer contained blue jeans, sweatpants, hoodies, and a note that was scribbled in nearly illegible handwriting.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5Ab3uMUb9
These are my clothes, but you can borrow them, I guess. Just try not to spill on them or anything —Chandler
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPVq8GRDTi
Rosalind pulled out a pair of sweatpants to change into later, then she tossed the note in the tiny wastebasket in the corner of the room.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7gghnoHTO
Next, she searched the middle drawer, which was full of soaps and other toiletries.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfudjKVR1eO
The top drawer was full of hair accessories and expensive makeup pallets and another note this one was written with impeccable penmanship.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sdsGQuRVL
Dear Rosalind, I've provided you with everything you'll need to look presentable when the council arrives. There is a dress laid out on your bedspread and I expect you to wear it to the banquet Friday evening. I trust that you won't do anything to make me look bad in front of the council, Sincerely, Pack Mother Luna
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVwxzwcgJZ
She crumpled up the note and threw it in the wastebasket beside Chandler's note. Then flopped onto her bed. Living here was going to be a nightmare! She begrudgingly picked up the dress and admired it. It was made from soft red velvet with black lace trim, a black ribbon around the waist, and a V-neck that plunged much too low for her comfort. Gran would kill her if she caught her wearing like this, but it didn't seem like she was going to have much of a choice.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5d53Rwhgs
Gran was never going to forgive her for leaving again, but it was a small price to pay for Theo's life. She wondered what he was doing right now with his newfound freedom.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JN2EGj9gm
Gregorio knocked on the door. "Are you alright Miss Rosalind?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeSFb3ftci
"Yeah. I'll be out in a minute." She quickly changed into new clothes and hid the bow and arrows under the bed. She met Gregorio waited patiently outside her door. He fidgeted anxiously. "Miss Rosalind, there's something I need to tell you,
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i6zM6K6rp
"What is it?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkqaKcl2Tc
"I–" He paused and cleared his throat. "You're needed in the training room."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHGAvMXzEN
"Oh, okay."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFsdYEYpHm
He leaned up against one of the bookshelves and let out a sigh.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfL55QnawP
She glanced from him to the doors and then at him again. "Can you please show me where the training room is?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqN0HTK1DA
He nodded. "Of course, follow me."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcOb60UfWQ
Rosalind couldn't figure him out. Pack Father Gregorio didn't seem malicious, and the Huntsmen seemed to have a lot of respect for him. She couldn't shake the feeling he was keeping secrets.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNA1rns4uwl
He led her to a white door. Then the walls started glowing bright red.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDDJsinANC
"Not again, he cursed under his breath and brushed his fingers across the gun secured to his belt. "I am very sorry I couldn't spend more time with you, Miss Rosalind, but there's something I need to take care of."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAxONxgHGN
He apologizes a lot. Rosalind folded her arms. "It's fine, do whatever you need to do."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4DHPPHI9i
"Thank you for understanding." He lowered his head. "Chandler will teach you everything you need to know. If he gives you a hard time, tell him I'm counting on him." The walls opened up and Gregorio marched outside and the walls closed behind him.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy4YaW9Vqb
"Perfect." She scoffed. The last thing she wanted to do is train with Chandler of all people. She'd be happy if she never had to speak with him ever again. Her eyes darted around the room. She was completely alone. Maybe, she could escape somehow. She frantically felt the walls hoping that they'd open up, but they didn't budge. She accepted her defeat. It was being selfish by trying to leave before she could control her transformations. She could easily hurt someone or worse. She stood up and swallowed her pride. She could put up with Chandler if it meant she wouldn't hurt anyone.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MdYrlYqbw
She barged through the white door and into a large open room with light gray walls. punching bags hung from the ceiling, and blue gym mats covered the cement floors. The three boys were working out in separate corners of the room. She was definitely in the right place.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzmca2tkA6
She took a deep breath and marched over to the corner where Chandler was doing push-ups. "Hey!" She called out trying to get his attention over the sound of rock music blared through his earbuds. Eventually, she'd had enough of him ignoring her, so she yanked out his earbuds.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBpIpKT6T7
"What do you want?" He let out an aggravated sigh and stood up. His left cheek was bandaged where Luna had scratched him the day prior. "Listen, If you need something you can go ask Duke. Alright?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi4ALAYhUi
"Pack Father Gregorio said you'd teach me everything I need to know."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYpIzCVt08
Chandler kicked an empty water bottle against the wall. "We talked about this," he muttered to himself. "He said he wasn't going to make me do this."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlZcXz9RdZ
She rolled her eyes. "Sorry training me is such an inconvenience to you."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Bu4CBJ41q
He refused to make eye contact. "Whatever."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UceU0wm1Q
"The Pack Father said he was counting on you."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFlZXjeL7U
His eyes lit up for a brief moment. "For real?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcK6vDeawbz
She nodded.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMl84lisUZ
He rolled up his sleeves revealing muscular biceps. "Let's get started."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklfnhm6UVT
He guided her over to the area where the punching bags were hanging. "The first thing you'll need to learn is hand-to-hand combat because when a werewolf gets too close, sometimes your best weapons are your own fists." He loudly cracked his knuckles. "Why don't you show me what you're made of, rookie? Hit me with your best shot."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkRXraaKuZ
She was more than happy to meet his request. She tightened her fist, wound up, then rammed her knuckles into his jaw as hard as she could.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbF2LTNy1zl
"Son of a—" he cursed and held his jaw.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8EwZ5cCpF
"You told me to hit you with my best shot, she said, playing innocent.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO0120SSDK
"Ya, but it wasn't supposed to hurt," he whined.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡba0gRcrgJD
She chuckled. "Do you have any idea how much arm strength archery takes?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaDyWLehdl
"I've never thought about it."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIaMUVVwDs
She flexed her muscles. "Well, it takes a lot."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6LTked8Rx
Chandler raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you practice using those ginormous muscles on this punching bag?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3C8kxEa5C
She made a fist and hit the bag as hard as she could.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcnDDw3qJj
"Not bad, but you should make sure your thumb is on the outside of your fist, like this." He held up his own fist as an example. "If you don't you could break it." He made a cracking sound with his mouth.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1OqZf0ZgL
She punched the bag a third time, using Chandler's advice.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCP8khKIAC
"Great job, rookie. You'll be a pro in no time."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMyvfNniTi
She couldn't hide her satisfaction. It was nice to receive some praise. "So, when do I learn how to transform?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VFMq3Vvc3
He shrugged. "Transforming isn't really something I can teach, it's something that comes to you on your own."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3pYDE7wZZ
"Perfect." She muttered and ran her fingers through her hair.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsgzpspeKA
"I don't remember giving you permission to stop punching."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYchEsrM8IS
She resumed pummeling the bag. "Hey, Chandler do you know my brother, Chad Kenneally?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTRpZVJt4B
"Yeah, I know him. Well, At least I used to."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFGN5mxLBh
"What's he like?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTj7ez37oMp
He paused for a moment contemplating how to respond. "He was a shy kid, he always had a hard time fitting in with the rest of the pack. He was angry all the time. He hated everyone. He hated the Alphas for not accepting him. He hated Pack Brothers for being better Huntsmen than him. He hated his parents for having him. I think he hated himself the most."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsya60gFfGc
"Did he hate me?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnjyvCO6Kx
"No, not you."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdWNIDJXw7
"We're you two close?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7uZfc7gLL
"Sort of... but if we're being honest I couldn't stand the little runt."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GdtUDKuT3
"Why?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbX6RaZmGr
"Because he's weak and selfish and pushes everyone close to him away! For some stupid reason, The Pack Father never gave up on him!" He slammed his fist into the punching bag causing it to move several inches.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES3inx0NEg
The pair sat in silence for an uncomfortably long time. Rosalind never knew any of those things about her brother. He'd always been put on a pedestal like some kind of saint. It's easier to disregard someone's flaws when they're dead.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXX4pOebTZ
"He talked about you all the time."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIp3Iw0BgX
"Really?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVfvdOjto4
"Yeah." He handed her a water bottle. "Why don't we take a break."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wVJ8oBiEM
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqw29orUvs
...
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVONJBBBABL
Theo stood outside the Silver Huntsmen's den. He placed his hand on the paw print for the hundredth time hoping this time it would yield results but alas, it did not. "Come on, he muttered to himself. "Open up!" After they had escorted Theo out of the cave the previous day, he had been trifling with the locket. After several hours of prying, he managed to open it. Inside he found a picture of Rosalind and her brother. He was returning it because it was the right thing to do, not solely because he wanted to make sure she was okay.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDl41La6cR
The crisp autumn air left goosebumps on his flesh He rubbed his hands together in an attempt to warm them.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZROvSDykSe
He rested his hand on the paw print, to his surprise, it opened. He tried to go inside but Pack Father Gregorio blocked his path. "You're very brave for coming back here, cub."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8cSqzc1AI
"How'd you find out I was here?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahsSWaFgoI
"You set off the intruder alarm. You're not the first person to find the location of our den, you know."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFKI6eJ71i
"I need to speak with Rosalind."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPez4ZObS8
"I'm afraid I can't allow that."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPX8q2FEjfM
showed him the photograph."I need to give this back to her."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOF1XaeBS4p
His eyes widened as he examined the picture. I'll make sure she gets this back, he said as he stuffed it in his pocket. "You're free to go this time but if I ever catch you around here again there will be consequences." He turned around and began his descent into the den.
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQTtJNp2E5
"I think I'm falling for her!" Theo hadn't meant to say those words out loud, they sort of tumbled out. There was no taking them back now, he might as well roll with it. "I need to know that she's going to be okay. I'm not expecting you to understand, but please let me see her one last time then I promise I'll leave and never return."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMnRhv2MOc
Gregorio froze in his tracks. "I understand perfectly. You care for Rosalind deeply, but you only realized how much after you were separated. You feel the need to tell her everything you never had the chance to because you don't know if you'll have another opportunity."
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnxChw5cOQ
"Yes actually. How did you know all that?"
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyfvysA6ez
"Because I feel the same way you do. We've been separated for years, and she doesn't know it, but Rosalind is my daughter.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
