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The Golden Swallow coven was one of the most prestigious covens in the United Kingdom, and Father was very keen on arranging an alliance. Patience, who was his heir, preened and primped herself to make herself as beautiful as she could, and as I caught glimpses of her throughout the day, I had to admit, she could look gorgeous when she put her mind to it. I'd met Aaron, the heir to his mother's title, and I envied Patience, just a little. 93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzn5lClUK20
As per Father's edict, I wasn't allowed to attend, but in light of the grandeur of the gathering, he gave me and the servants the night off, a very rare favour indeed. Normally he'd set Patience to watching me, as he'd done over the last two weeks, but with my sister being presented that night, he told me he had no time to set a watch on me. He did warn me to watch my step, but considering he was going to be on the other side of the house supervising the gathering and making subtle overtures to the Golden Swallows, there was little he could really do, and Samba promised to keep a weather eye out, reassuring me she'd let me know in plenty of time if one of my siblings or cousins wandered over to the servants' side of the house.
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The pool on the servants' side wasn't as lavish as the main pool, but it was still large and deep enough for us to have fun, and with Samba on full alert, I could devote my energy to having a good time.
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Of course, there was plenty to do in and around the pool, and though at first I felt a little sad at being left out of the larger party going on in the main part of the house, I soon let the sadness go. I had friends here who cared for me almost as much as Aunt Prue and Charity did, and they knew what it was like to be on the outside of things. All of them had come from broken or abusive families, packs, covens and clans, and they all knew what it was like to be an outsider. Here, they could band together, and as I wandered around, taking in all the sights, I felt more at home here than I did with my family. In fact, I felt like the "servants" were more like a family than my own relatives, immediate and extended, and as the night wore on, I grew more and more comfortable. Not one of the servants judged me for who I was; instead, they accepted who I was. And it was the best feeling in the world.
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Around midnight, however, the party came to a close when Father entered the servants' area, and the good mood shut down immediately. I felt my heart sink to the soles of my feet as he approached, his face suggesting he was not happy I'd been having so much fun without his "supervision". "You will return to your room at once," he told me, his voice like ice. "I should never have let you come here in the first place."
Delia stepped up. "Sir, with all due respect..." she began, but Father raised a hand, cutting her off.
I sighed. "It's okay," I told her, giving her as reassuring a smile as I could manage.
Delia didn't look like she believed me, but she and the rest of the servants gave me hugs before I followed Father back into the house. The main party was still going on, but I obeyed Father's command and made my silent way upstairs. To my dismay, he followed me, and I felt my hackles rise as he stepped into the attic and shut the door. To my further horror, he undid his belt, and I backed away, eyes wide, but feeling the beginnings of a snarl start. I wasn't sure if it was Samba or me, but our feelings were as one, and I crouched, ready to shift. Father's eyesbrows lifted.
"I can remove your wolf," he reminded me. "I suggest you call her to heel before I get angry enough to do so."
'Like hell you will,' Samba growled, and in a flash I'd shifted. I immediately bared my fangs, and Father actually took a step back, eyes going wide. I could see the beginnings of a spell forming on his lips, but I took charge and leapt, pinning him to the floor, snarling as some of my pent-up anger finally came to the surface.
Father's face was now sheet-white, and I realised I had the upper paw. But even though I knew I could do some serious damage, I refused. He was an abusive arsehole, but he was still my father, and I stepped back, still snarling, letting him know that, while I was being merciful, it didn't mean I wouldn't tear his throat out at a moment's notice if he tried pushing me to this point again.
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He got the message, getting unsteadily to his feet and doing his belt back up. I remained shifted until long after he'd fled downstairs, and only then did I return to human form. By now, though, I knew he'd come down on me like a ton of bricks, and I didn't hesitate.
I began throwing what I could manage to gather together in the precious few minutes I had before he and Mother returned upstairs; Mother's parents had been werewolves, and though she herself had been born a witch, they'd taught her all the dirty tricks witches could use against werewolves. One such trick was only accomplished by two witches, and my parents were the most powerful in the coven. If they cornered me, not even a full shift into proper wolf mode would save me, and I knew my time was running out.
In short order, I had what I needed packed in a small suitcase, and I eased my way out into the hall. My parents were still downstairs, and I could hear their angry voices raised in fierce arguement. I bit my lip. My important documents were locked away, and I'd have no time to grab them.
'Invisibility,' Samba reminded me. 'Not even those two will be able to detect you.'
I almost had to laugh before engaging the cloaking unique to all werewolves. It wasn't true invisibility, but more of a bending of the eye. It was crude, and not entirely failsafe, but I'd mastered the art of stealth a long time ago, and in short order, I was downstairs. Samba helped me sniff out the key Mother kept hidden in her top drawer, and I soon had my documents in hand. I replaced the key, inched my way through the front hall and down the stairs, and only when I was a few blocks away did I release my cloaking.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBe0zjwtptk
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It was well after midnight, and the moon was full, giving me a boost of energy that helped keep Samba and I awake. I had just enough money to grab a late night bus, but before I did so, I had one very important stop to make.
Then I'd hit the road, and I wasn't planning on looking back.
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