The next day after my long run with Sasha I couldn't wait to get back to the pack house and start looking through the box again. I hadn't told anyone what I had read and found, I figure they already knew the history behind how werewolves were created. I read some more this morning before I had left and found out that werewolves can be created by using a bite. The bite has to come from the high council and their descendant; they are the only ones who can make a werewolf.
Jameson was a cruel man. He bonded with his pack and the other high councils but he wanted more power. He kept infecting people, turning them into werewolves so he can create his own army. His sons and daughter grew up too fast, not having a childhood. In his writing he talks about how he's teaching them, letting the power and strength to go to their heads. My great x 3 grandfather wasn't a very pleasant fellow. And I felt bad for his pack and his children to be under orders from him.
It still amazes me as I look at this book. How could my father forget something like this? I would have thought that he would have kept it locked up and safe. Surely he didn't want someone like me reading his, or our, family history. I still haven't gotten to the part where they were forced to be rogues like my mother had stated. But his life line is coming to an end so I'm guessing it has to be soon or this happened many years after his rule.
Combing my hair after the long hot shower I had I open the box up one more time and shift through it, More jewelry, a necklace that was just like the one Preston gave me only this stone was blood red and didn't look as beautiful as Preston's. Putting them aside I dig around some more and find another photo album but I didn't want to see my father right now. Putting that aside I look through it one more time.
Pulling something heavy out I uncover it only to find a metal case, locked. It was a pretty good size, a little bigger than the box Preston had got me that held my necklace. Pulling on and trying my hardest to open it, it was no use. Hopefully he left the key in the box. I found myself humming to myself as I grab the last thing out of the box; it was my mother's wedding picture.
My breath caught in my throat as I look at them. My mother's dress was beautiful; it hugged her chest and waist beautifully then flared out in the princess cut at the hips. She had a jeweled belt and I saw her wearing the blood red necklace, the Luna necklace. Her brown hair was pulled up into a bun and she wore a veil. She looked beautiful and happy. Light and love danced in her eyes as she looked up at Joey.
Joey was smiling down at something; following his hand that rested on a little shoulder I gasped it was my sister. My sister held a basket full of flowers, our brother so tiny sat on her little hips, and he was making a cute funny face as he stared up at our parents. Joey looked... tender as he stared at the little girl and boy. As if he was truly happy to have my mom as his wife and my siblings as his step children. I didn't understand. He looked so different in his suit and tie, his hair patted down and looking nice. This isn't the same man that called my mom a slut or was the bad boy. This man took on a role and responsibility to my siblings. Then I came into the picture and his picture perfect family crumbled away.
I put the picture down looking at it sadly. They looked so happy. I never say any of my parents wedding pictures; we didn't really have pictures hanging up around the house. And mom never volunteered to show us, she had packed them away.
That was the end of the box. I got three books full of photos and history, a ring, necklace, a metal box, wedding picture and my mom's letters. This held most of my answers but I can't help but feel like I'm missing something.
"Hey Dee, can I come in?" Scott asks stepping into the room.
I look up from the things and look at him. He seems so different these past few days. Happier. I instantly felt guilty since I haven't really hung out with him since Preston came into town. It's mostly been just Sasha and I.
"Why do you look so happy?" I ask wrapping my hands around my knees, hugging them to my body as he sits on the bed, careful of the things I pulled out.
He grins over at me. "I taught Robin the mate lesson." He says.
I blink at him in surprise. I didn't think that he would really do it; I thought he would have chickened out and made another person teach her about that. Again I felt guilty for not asking him how things are going with him.
"And what happened? How did she take it? Did you tell her-?" I went on to say but he interrupted me.
"Calm down." He says with a laugh and moves over so he's sitting next to me, his back leaning on the head board of the bed. "She was very interested in this subject, but a little embarrassed when I got to the claiming part and uh explaining how some wolves..." He trails off his cheeks heating up.
I laugh and mess up his hair at his embarrassment. "Ah, is Scottie blushing?" I tease making him huff.
"I didn't even realize what I was saying until I saw her blushing like crazy then I got all embarrassed. And I mean who wouldn't; you don't want to hear the sex talk from some guy. I knew I should have let Jamie teach this lesson to her but... it felt right since I'm her mate." He sighs once more. "But other than that it went really good."
"And...?" I trail off. "Did you tell her?"
He shakes his head. "No, I mean it would have been weird you know? With her being behind bars and for the first time ever learning that you have a soul mate out there. I didn't want to overwhelm her and I think that she's finally seeing me as a friend. It didn't feel right telling her like that, plus she's only fifteen and I'm eighteen..." He stops and I nod.
"I get it." I say.
"Do you think she will even want me? I mean the way she talked about love at the end of the lesson..." He trails off looking troubled.
"What is it? You're holding something back." I say.
"It's embarrassing." He mumbles. I huff and cross my arms, glaring at him and showing him that I'm not going to drop it like he wants me to. Finally seeing I wasn't going to give up I see his cheeks turn pink as he rushes out, "She said she wanted a mate who had saved himself for her."
My jaw drops at this as I stare at one of my best friends. "Wow. So she's like one of those girls who is really... pure." I mumble looking down at my hands. I always wanted to be that girl who waited for the love of her life, on my wedding night....
And Robin is one of those girls who wants to do it right. And I applaud her for that, I'm happy she's not one of those girls who are going to be loose.
"And I can't give her that. We all know I'm not innocent, I've had my fair share of human girls-"
I shake my head stopping him. "Scott, calm down." I say, "It's not a problem, I'm sure if you just explain-"
"But what if she-"
"No, no but's, I'm sure that it's going to be ok. And Robin seems like one of those girls who is going to think things through if you tell her something. Like you're her mate and you're not innocent. She's not going to go run off and make an irrational decision. I'm sure she'll see your side on this. You just have to talk about it. And you have plenty of time; there is no need to worry about this right now. Just focus on the present and now, not the future." I insist.
He thinks about it before nodding his head and smiling softly at me. "This is why I keep you around. If I went to one of the boys about this they would have called me a pansy and give me horrible advice."
I laugh and shake my head. "I'm glad that's why you keep me around." I roll my eyes making him chuckle.
"How are you? You look troubled; you have for the past few days." He says softly making me sigh.
"I'm fine-"
"Bulls_it." He says making me look at him in surprise. "I know when something is going on with you Dee; you can't hide anything from me."
I shrug and look down at the wedding picture again. Cradling it in my hands I hold it close to me, looking at it with envy.
"Look how happy they were," I say softly holding the picture out so we both can look at it. "Look at how happy he is, he's a totally different person than what I knew. I wish I knew this Joey rather than the monster Joey."
Scott is quiet for a moment and at first I don't think he's going to say something but then he does.
"I may have not known your father Dee, but I don't think he was ever happy."
I shake my head at his words. "I've read about him, seen pictures of him growing up, I know him." I look at him then. "My mother said that when they first met he called her slut because she was with another guy. It could have been he was jealous or he didn't want a human mate. But then when they met again after Brayden was born... he was a changed man. He welcomed them into his house, into his life. He didn't care that she had children with other men before him. He understood my mom's explanation." I look away.
"I just don't understand how his happiness can turn to such hate just because I was born. How he can be playful and love my siblings and mother to all of the sudden beat them just because of me. It's my fault their unhappy. It's my fault my father turned into a monster. It's my fault, all my fault." I whisper at the end.
"You can't think that way Dee." He says softly at me.
"But it's the truth. And I've been searching for the truth since I opened that box." I point to the things in front of me. "I've searched for a journal, letters, anything that he wrote to help explain why he hated me so much. Was it just because I was a half breed? Or something more? How can he love my siblings but hate me? I don't understand it." I sigh.
"Is that what you're looking for?" He says softly making me scrunch my eyebrows together and look at him with confused eyes. "A father's love?"
I bite my lip and shake my head. "Don't be ridiculous. I just want answers to why he turned the way he did. Why he blames me. I don't care if I have his love or not, I just want answers." I say defensively. I don't care that I didn't have his love. I don't care.
Scott backs down on this fight. "You're a great person Dee, one of the best. The only answer you need is that. Those who left your life only made it better for you."
I smile softly at his words, faking it. He'll see it one way and I'll see it another. And sadly his words aren't going to comfort me or make me change my mind.
"Thank you." I say getting up and off the bed, putting the picture down. "I'm going to do some studying." I lie grabbing the werewolf history off my shelf.
Scott hesitates, looking me in the eyes to see if I'm lying. I carefully keep a fake smile and fake happy attitude on for him as he debates in his head before he nods and gets off the bed.
"I'm sorry I haven't been spending time with you, it's nice to talk to you again like we used to." He says coming up to me, this time I don't have to fake a smile.
"I know, we've both been busy." I say pulling him into a hug. "Thanks Scottie, you're one of the best." I say.
"You too Dee, how about me, you and Sasha agree to make time for each other once a week. Our Friday night rituals haven't been going so well." He says making me feel a little guilty.
"I know, we after all this crazy rogue business is taken care of things will go back to the way they used to be." I hope.
He nods and gives me one last parting smile before leaving my room, closing the door behind him. Sighing I put the book back in its place, leaning against the wall lightly. I don't care if I never had Joey's love. I chant over in my head. I don't care.
But I knew deep down that I really did care. How can he not love me? His own flesh and blood?
.......................................................................................................................................................................................
The Moon Goddess doesn't visit me in my dreams anymore. She no longer councils me or lets me into the group council meetings. Paterson and the others have turned against me. I went to Kent only yesterday, seeking advice. My pack was growing in numbers, one of the largest armies any of us have raised. But the power stopped working; a new recruit of mine had died shortly after I had changed him.
I can't help but feel as if I angered the Moon Goddess. She was the one who told me to create more, she told all of us. So why did she deny the young man? I went to Kent seeking advice and he turned their backs on me. Shunning me from his homes, his pack members wouldn't even look at me.
All I could feel was betrayal and anger. How can he do that to me? He was the one that I trusted more than the others. And he abandoned me, acted as if I was the one who betrayed him. I will not stand for this much longer. Things have changed since my pack has become one of the strongest. They fear my power that the Moon Goddess has given me. When the meetings first happened she would visit me and whisper how strong I was and how I was the true alpha. If things continue this way I will have no choice but make the others submit. I will not stand for their behavior.
I shake my head at his thoughts. His entries have gotten shorter and shorter. All he wants was power, I can slowly see it consume him and I know something big was going to happen, and soon. With a sigh I put the book down stretching my arms over my head and cracking my back until I relax on the bed once more.
I don't know how many more pages I can read until I literally tear out my eyes. I was so tired of learning about his scheming ways and only the dark power he holds with in him. Learning about Preston's pack history was fun and interesting. It made me want to learn more, his family history was pure and good and so informative. With my father's it wasn't. It was too dark and menacing. He and his descendants were cruel people. People you didn't want to meet in a dark alley.
Sighing I put the book back onto the shelf and grab another book. Looking at the clock I groan when I see that it is midnight. Great, I have school tomorrow but I can't sleep. My body wanted to sink into the mattress and sleep but my mind wouldn't stop running. It didn't want to sleep until I found something, something to help me. My birthday was coming up in seven days.
Grabbing the photo album that I haven't looked through just yet I place it on the bed. Crawling into bed I open the front cover, holding my breath.
The front page just had a picture of Joey and my mom. They are posing together, his arms wrapped around her waist; they are both smiling into the camera. They looked so young, so happy. I bite my lip and study their faces. How is this possible?
Turning to the next page I see his handwriting scrawled at the bottom of the page. The date and who is in the picture. The picture is of three boys. My father, Max, and one of his other drinking buddies, Kevin. They stood next to each other, arms folded across their chests. Joey was in the middle, a hard look on his face, Max on his right and Kevin on his left. Johnson Pack. I read his hand writing.
My eyebrows scrunch together as I look at the picture. Max was a werewolf too? Page after page I flipped, each showing knew members of his pack. Showing them in wolf form, fighting each other, having meetings, or even barbecues. In some pictures my siblings were in them and so was my mom. Since when did he have a pack? He's rogue I thought?
Nearing the end of the book I stop on one page. Joey and his father. I read in my mother handwriting. The picture was of an older guy, who yes still looked like he was thirty. He was tall, broad shoulders, a full grown beard on his face. He didn't smile at the camera, and he had a cold look in his eyes. Just seeing it sent shivers down my spine. His hair was black as night, with a little grey on his side burns. He didn't look happy to be at the barbecue. My father stood next to him, his back stiff, his eyes glaring at his father, there was something else there... hate. Joey hated his father, and from the slight smirk on Joey's face I couldn't help but feel sick. In this picture it looked like Joey was planning something, something bad and it involved his father.
I shook my head, feeling my eyes turn heavy. So this is his pack, pack of rogues? Turning to the last page I feel my eyes wonder the page leisurely.
It was another picture of my father and Joey. Kevin nowhere to be seen. It was when Joey and my mom got married. Joey wore the same suit as his wedding picture, a smile on his face as he looked at the camera, standing next to Max. Max had a sly smirk on his face as he stared at the camera. I felt the hair at the nape of my neck stand up as I look closer at him. He looked just like I remembered him, a hard look in his eyes, every time I looked at his eyes I felt sick as a child. He knew everything, he saw everything. His hands dug into his pockets, as he stood casually next to my father.
Joey and his best man Maximus Manson. I read.
Manson? In all my years that I remember Max coming around I never knew of his last name. I heard my father use it once when I was hiding and he was screaming at Max. But at the time I thought there was another person in the house, but when they left and I looked out the window it was only Joey and Max, running off into the trees.
"Gosh Manson, do you have to screw everything up? I gave you one F_cking job, one and you screwed up because you were leering at Natalie-"
Manson? Where have I heard that name before? Digging deep I try to search my most recent memories, trying to find out where I heard that name. It was when the rogue business started... thinking back something clicks.
I gasp as my hands shake lightly. Gavin. I heard that name when Preston was questioning him, and Robin even told me... but it couldn't be the same guy right? I mean they never said his name was Max, just Manson and Manson was a popular name. It had to be someone else right? Right? My eyes widen as my brain jumps to all these different conclusions, all leading to bad things. Ripping the picture out of its holding place I grab the other picture book, going to the last page where I saw Joey in his wolf form I rip that picture out and without thinking I flip the covers off and I'm out of my room and running for the basement in a matter of seconds.
I don't stop to think that I'm only in my sweats and a tank. I don't stop to think about the curfew. I don't think of Preston, or Grant who is guarding the door, or anything. All I thought about was going down to the basement and getting answers from Gavin and Robin. Wishing and praying that I'm mistaken.
"Dee? You should be in bed- the curfew-" Grant said but I stopped him, breathing hard and trying to calm my beating heart.
"I need to talk to Gavin and Robin- it's an emergency." I huff out, my hand tightening on the pictures, crushing it slightly.
He hesitates for a moment, debating is he should or shouldn't let me through. "Let me ask Preston-"
"Let me in now." I demand my voice hard and unyielding. I see him shudder and try to stop the command from taking over his body but that's all I need. I slip past him and through the doors. Locking them behind me. Rushing to the cells I peek into Gavin's.
"Gavin, wake up. I need you to wake up." I said not so quietly.
I see him stir and mumble something under his breath before he drifts back to sleep. "Gavin!" I shout his name, my voice echoing in the cells.
At this he jumps up, his arms and legs flying all over the place as he yelps and falls off the bed. I winced, feeling sorry for a moment before I thrust my hand inside the bars and show him the pictures.
"Gavin this is the man? The man who recruited you?" I ask in a rush, my voice wobbling as I wait for his answer.
I see him blink a couple of times, trying to make sense of what's going on. He squints at me in surprise as he yawns and scratches the back of his head.
"Dee? What are you doing? It's past midnight-"
"Answer me; is this the man who recruited you? The beta to the alpha? Is this the alpha?" I plead my lips wobbling as I feel tears back up in my throat.
It takes a moment for him to focus on the pictures; he moves closer grabbing the pictures as he looks down at the one with Max first before going to the wolf. I watch him intently praying that I'm wrong. I see his eyes shift from confusion, to surprise to shock to finally anger. I knew then that I had my answer.
"No." I shake my head back and forth as he hands the pictures back to me. I snatch it from his grasp and look at it, feeling my eyes pool up in tears.
"Yes, that is Manson and that picture of the wolf is the Alpha, I don't know who the other guy is in that picture though." He says softly. "How did you get those pictures?"
I wipe the tears off my face as I move towards Robin's cell. She's already up and standing as close to the bars as she could, trying to see what was going on.
"Do you recognize these people? Is that Manson?" I ask thrusting the first picture in.
She studies the picture as I see horror and fear cross her eyes. She nods. "That's him." My heart feels heavy.
"And this?" I ask, my voice breaking off at the end.
She studies the wolf and nods again. "That's the alpha, I've only seen him a few times but I know those eyes anywhere." She says softly once more.
I feel my legs give out as I clutch the photos to my chest; I land on my knees hard as I stare at the ground.
"Dee? Are you alright? Gavin what's going on?" I hear Robin scream out but I don't focus on anything other than what I learned.
They recognized him. They recognized them. I feel sick to my stomach as I let the truth wash over me.
"A guy named Manson found me, told me to join his pack..."
"Manson seeked me out, said I smelt just like you..."
Manson was Max. Manson was the one who recruited rogues; Manson was the alpha's beta. Manson was the only one to see the alpha in his human form. But that's because they already knew each other. They were friends, drinking buddies; they attended each other's weddings, had barbecues and started a pack of rogues right in our back yard.
Why didn't I see it sooner? That time when they talked about sniffing me out from my hiding place? The 'boss' who had called for them. Always disappearing into the woods. Why hadn't I thought of all this? Why hadn't it clicked when I read my father's family history? My mom even said his family became rogues. Just because they became rogues didn't mean that they stopped fighting for power, to have a pack again.
I felt sick. I should have known. Even in the beginning Manson's name had felt familiar, when Robin spoke of his name I couldn't help but think I've heard it before. And that's because I had from my childhood. It makes sense now. My mother behavior, all those things she said about being able to feel my father near. Her wanting me to wear the earrings, the bruise... did she see him that night? Or did one of his goons find her and give her that black eye? She knew he was back. And from what I gathered from Jared, this alpha, Joey, wanted me to take over the council with him, work beside him. But why?
I felt it deep inside me; the history book was drawing to a close on my great x3 grandfather line. Taking a deep calming breath I slowly rise to my feet, a little wobbly but I still manage to get up. Robin stops calling out to me when she sees that I'm up. Calmly I fold the pictures up and push then into my bra, not much but I had a feeling Grant may have told Preston about my odd behavior. But I couldn't go to him with this just yet, I needed answers first.
"Go back to sleep, I'm sorry I woke you up." I say looking away.
I turn away and make my way back to the door that was strangely quiet. Was Grant still outside? I gulp and shake off these weird feelings. Stop thinking back to what I found out. I need more answers before I go to Preston.
"Are you alright Dee?" I hear Gavin ask quietly from off to the side. Looking at him I just blink.
"Just go back to bed ok?" I ask.
Without waiting for a reply I unlock the door and step out, Grant is still on the other side looking at me disapprovingly.
"Why did you go in there? When Preston-" He growls out.
"Why did you let me go?" I shot back at him. "You could have easily followed me into that room and remove me. So why didn't you?" I ask. "Why didn't you tell Preston what I did through the pack link?"
He hesitates for a moment before deflating and stopping his tough guy act. "The look on your face... I don't know. I just felt this power come off you like waves and when you demand to let you in...." He stops. "I blanked. I only ever felt that way when the high council comes or when Preston demands something. You are going to be mine and the packs future Luna. You are my alpha's mate. I couldn't disobey. I haven't even taken the Luna oath, but I felt at the moment that it didn't matter. I had to do what you say." He says still confused about it. "When I did go to tell Preston, it just... wouldn't let me. It's hard to explain."
I nod my head and rub my temples. "Look, I just..." I look away. "I think I might have found something with the rogue pack, but I need to look into something before I can go to Preston. I ask you, not demand or command or anything, but sincerely ask you not to tell Preston what happened tonight. I will tell him when I wrap my head around what I found ok? Please?" I plead with him.
He hesitates for a moment before he nods. "I trust you Dee, and know that you wouldn't hold anything back from Preston. And since I'm still confused on the matter I wouldn't even know what to tell Preston. I hope you find what you're looking for." He says softly.
I just nod and then make my leave, going back to my room and to the history book. Now is not the time to read it, now was the time to just find what I was looking for.
Flipping the book open I scan through the pages, page after page I scan until finally a heading catches my attention.
The Battle of the Lake. Kenneth Johnson, son of Jameson Johnson. My account on this bloody night.
The moon was full and at its highest peak when the battle had begun. I felt it within my bones now was the time to strike, when they were counseling with the Moon Goddess. Their attention would remain focused on her they wouldn't be able to defend themselves until it was too late. I know the Moon Goddess will understand once this is all over but my father was right, he had the full power.
All the packs were there, Fredrickson, Kent, Nicholas, Cormac, and Paterson all in a circle, the Moon Goddess and her six wolves in the middle. The witch that helped them before had long ago died; it has been almost a hundred years since we were created. In her place stood her grandchild. The members of the pack were also there, all in human form and bowing to the Moon Goddess.
They didn't suspect a thing as my father's pack had crept upon them, not one sound came from us. By the time he had launched the attack many had fallen dead before the circle was broken. Mayhem was spread throughout as screams filled the air from children and women. Men didn't hesitate in transforming. Only then did the rest of the high council fight.
I need to engage the others in a fight...
I scan the page once more not wanting to read about all the blood and gore that he took pleasure in. Finally coming to the part that explains what happened at the end I continue on.
... They had pinned my father down. As I engaged in a battle with one of the other pack member I watched with fear for my father. At first the other backed off, realizing that my father wanted to gain control of his pack, of his position. He had challenged Kent first and only him. Only they had tricked him, the Moon Goddess had tricked all of us. With a small nod from the Moon Goddess as soon as my father had ripped Kent's throat out they attacked, pinning him and forcing him to submit. Most of the others in the pack immediately did, others still fought hard until the flick of the wrist from the Moon Goddess they dropped dead.
'You have wronged me.' She whispered to in all of our minds, but it was directed to my father. 'You betrayed me and your brothers.'
It wasn't what I was expecting; her words weren't formed out of kindness and love as they once were. They were hard, and full of hatred.
'We knew what you were planning tonight, we have known for months. You forget that you are connected with me and I feel and see everything you do. Your brother Kent had gave his life just to help stop you. He has one of the largest packs so it was only known that you would try to destroy him. He sacrificed himself just so we can stop you.'
'You can't do this, I challenge them-.' My father snarled at her.
'I know you have poisoned the mind of your children, seeking power. You have destroyed your oath to me and for that you must die. I will not allow this to happen, I will not allow my children to become power hungry like you. You have not succeeded. You will die now. No mercy comes to those who break the wolf law.'
And with that a white wolf, as white and as beautiful the Moon Goddess sprang from within her, lips pulled back showing rows and rows of white sharp teeth. It only took a second, my father didn't have time to scream or beg. His throat was ripped out before any of us could blink.
A hush fell over the packs and the council men as the white wolf, cleaned from the blood went back into the Moon Goddess. When she and her wolf were reunited she finally spoke to us.
'Disrespect your oath to me and this is the punishment. I don't wish to end my children's life and I hope that I may never have to do this again. We will mourn Kent's life, for he sacrificed himself. He deserves an honorable funeral.'
Everyone was quiet, my eyes staying away from my father's unmoving body.
'Cameron Kent please steps forward.' She demands. A second of quietness before murmurs break out as a young boy, who was in his mother's arms steps forward. He was only thirteen, his birthday in a few days; he was six years younger than me.
He stood before the Moon Goddess, head bowed in respect. 'Don't cry my child; you will see your father again one day.' She says to him softly.
She rests her hand on his shoulder before addressing all the packs. 'Cameron Kent is Richard's only heir Alpha blood runs through him. He will take his father's spot as Alpha of his pack and appointed as one of my high Councils. From this day forward the first born of the high councils will be replace their father's positions when the time is right. They are your leaders and will be until the end of time.'
Gasps were to be heard around the crowed. 'Now, Kenneth Johnson step forward.'
I didn't want to, I didn't want to step forward and face all those people, people I helped kill and attacked. But I knew I had to, her words were a demand and if I disobeyed I would surely be killed. Changing from my wolf I stepped up to the Moon Goddess bowing my head like Cameron. But unlike Cameron she didn't comfort me, she stared coldly at me.
'From this day forward the Johnson family will be exiled. All those who had followed after their path will always be exiled. My link to you will be severed; you will be forced to roam the earth as rogues. Never settling, never able to communicate through your mind and never to return to me. This is your punishment. A punishment caused by the evil deed to your father. You will be cast out and shunned.' Her voice was hard and cold.
And like a pure silver blade I felt pain in my heart and in my mind. Those who had followed my father cried out in pain also. Then there was nothing. I felt nothing from my pack members and from the Moon Goddess. The other members who stayed with my father cried and pleaded with the Moon Goddess but she turned her back on us. The Kent's, Paterson's, Fredrickson's, Nicholas', Cormac's, all turned their backs on us. Shunned.
I went back home, my mother already knowing the news, my sister and her husband turned away from us, moving that night. Everyone left until it was only my wife and I. Even know, a year later we struggle in settling. My wife is pregnant with our first child and I barely have enough for bread. We have been thrown into living as our wolves for the winter; hunting and trying to feed my growing child. Why must we be punished for my father's plans? I had gone with his plans, believed in the things he was saying but did I deserve this? My wife? My unborn child?
Revenge was the first thing I wanted. But not anymore, not when I have a family to worry about and struggle to find food and live another day. I have accepted my status as a rogue and so has my wife. We must move on from this and hope my future descendants will make peace with the Moon Goddess once more.
I stop reading his section. I close my eyes and sigh, so that's how rogues were created in the beginning. If you disrespected the Moon Goddess you were either exiled or killed. Until now, centuries, decade's later rogues have come more and more, either by their parents being killed or like Robin and Gavin, not knowing what they were to begin with.
Flipping to the back I try to see if Joey had written anything. I didn't even notice the clock get later and later as time went on. Soon I found myself sleeping at the desk with the book still open to Joey's first page.
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I wake with a start. My head pounding against my scull. I groan as I rub my temples hard, my vision blurry. Blinking hard I look at the clock and see it's five thirty in the morning. Groaning once more I stretch my arms over my head, hearing my back crack. I bite my lip and release a deep breath. Rubbing my eyes I slowly get up, stretching my aching body as I do so.
I still couldn't believe what I found out last night. Biting my lip I knew there was only one person who I could talk to about Joey. And that was my mother. My crazy, alcoholic mother. Not wasting any time I pull on a shirt and put my shoes on. I don't even bother brushing my hair or teeth as I pack up the box and grab my backpack. I will just have to come back later for the rest of my things. Creeping out of my room I close the door softly and walk to the basement, box in hand.
I didn't have a car here and it was too early to call Sasha or Scott and by the looks of it everyone was still asleep and won't be getting up for another hour or so. I see Grant snoozing by the door and I bite my lip at this. When he sees me he jumps up.
"You don't have to be down here all night you know." I say walking up to him.
"It's my night-"
"You have been guarding this door since they got here. This job must suck. I mean they aren't getting out of those cells and even if you do that door are heavy and thick, it's not like they could get through that." I point out.
He shrugs and looks away. "So what are you doing down here with all that stuff?" He changes the subject.
I look down and sigh. "I was actually wondering if you could give me a lift home, but if you can't leave your post then I was wondering if I could borrow your car." I trail off suddenly nervous again.
I didn't really know Grant all that well other than our trip to Portland where he came in to save the day. We didn't really talk all that much, just an occasional hi when we would pass each other. He looks around and debates for a moment before sighing and nodding.
"Ok, this better be quick, we have thirty minutes before people wake up and if I'm not back in time I'll probably get in trouble." He says I nod.
"Let's go."
We get to his truck and then we are off, not really talking. He clears his throat after I tell him the directions.
"So did you find anything?" He asks nervously.
I sigh and rub my temple, the box in my lap weighting me down. "It's hard to explain really. I don't know if I can. I don't have all the answers yet." I mumble.
I see him nod and when we pull up to the house I'm relieved to see my mother's car still parked in the drive way. Brayden's truck was gone so he must be at Kelly's house.
"Thanks Grant." I say softly as I stare at the dark house, the only light on was my mother's bedroom.
"You're welcome. I hope you find what you're looking for." He says.
I get out and wave at him before grabbing the box, closing the door and walking towards my house. He stays outside until I close the front door. I take my shoes off and put my backpack on the floor. Grabbing my phone I text Preston.
Went home early, I have some stuff to do, don't know if I'll make it to school or not. -Dee
I was just about to walk to my mom's room when I looked up as she was leaning against the wall, dressed for the day. Her brown hair was pulled into a pony, her eyes tired and looking at the ground. She doesn't look like she slept at all this past week.
"Your back," She says softly.
I take a deep breath and release it. "Yeah, I am." I say back.
Things are quiet for a moment, neither of us saying anything. I hear her sigh and she finally looks up at me and gestures to the box.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" She asks softly.
I cock my head to the side and bite my lip thinking back to her note. How she told me it was ok to hate her. My talk with Scott and about how I want a father's love. The truth about who Manson and my father are. The truth about how we had become rogues. Everything finally catches up to me. It was all too much.
"Did you mean it?" I whisper, feeling tears start to form in my eyes.
She seems to understand exactly what I mean. Her letter. Everything she put in that letter. Her love for me, her forgiveness, everything.
"Yes. I meant every word in that letter." She says softly looking at me.
The box dropped from my hands as I let the tears finally free themselves. My vision got hazy because of the tears. I don't know which one of us took the first step but a second later I was in her arms crying my heart out. It was just too much.
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A\/N: So excited!!!!
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