Fated (Forever Book 2)

by Regan Ure

  I turned to face the front of the car and I felt Kyle’s eyes linger on me for a few more moments before he started the car up.

  The drive was quiet and I lost myself in my own thoughts. As hard as I’d tried to keep my secret, there was no way to hide it from Kyle. I felt nervous and fearful of it being used against me. When Kyle found out, he would tell the rest of them and there was no way to stop him.

  I let out a resigned sigh and saw Kyle give me a side-glance. I ignored him and kept my eyes on the scenery we passed as he drove us through Cade’s territory. It wouldn’t be long before we entered my territory. Rubbing my forehead, I could feel the start of headache from the stress and nerves I was feeling.

  Half an hour later Kyle pulled up to the massive property where my pack lived. I opened the window and looked into the video camera that was mounted on the gate. The outside of the property, with a tall wall, was cold and unwelcoming.

  The gates opened and Kyle drove slowly into the property. I could feel that Kyle was a little nervous about being without anyone from his pack in another pack’s territory.

  “No one will harm you,” I stated. He looked at me for a moment and gave me a brief nod.

  I wasn’t like my father. I didn’t want a war.

  My eyes drifted over familiar surroundings. It was different from Cade’s property where his pack lived. He had a massive house with a compound that looked like blocks of apartments at the bottom of his property where everyone lived. Here there was no big house on the property. It was just four rows of apartments that reached two levels. It was nothing fancy, just basic. Even inside the apartments there was very little furniture. Beside the rows of apartments was a single building that housed the cafeteria, gym and small medical center.

  Victor believed that members of the packs were just soldiers in his army. He’d owned them, like he’d owned me. It was hard to deal with the freedom we’d been handed with my father’s death. We’d lived under his iron fist for so long that it was going to take time to get used to the freedom I would ensure they would have.

  The other SUV pulled up beside ours and I looked to see Curtis get out the driver’s side as I exited the car. I smiled and bit my lip as he rushed to me and pulled me into a hug.

  “I was so worried about you,” he whispered as he held me. I hugged him back and avoided the curious eyes of Kyle while he watched our exchange.

  “I’m fine. They didn’t hurt me,” I assured him. He released me and scanned my features.

  We’d kept in minimal contact with the mind-link. He’d kept me updated of any news that I might have missed out on, and although I’d assured him multiple times that I was fine, he hadn’t believed me. He needed to see the proof that I was fine.

  He was older than me but those years did nothing to dampen our friendship. He was one of the few people who had seen how brutal Victor had been to me. Every pack member’s life had been hard under the cruel rule of my father, but mine had been worse.

  Curtis was a good guy but like every other pack member he’d been forced to do bad things. Things none of us were proud of. We’d both been forced to infiltrate Cade’s pack as humans to spy on them. Curtis and Kyle eyed each other for a moment. They didn’t like each other. It wasn’t unusual for werewolves from different packs to instantly dislike each other for no apparent reason.

  “Can you guys leave the whole male ego stare-down till later?” I asked them as I started to walk away from them.

  I had lots of things to do. Pack members began to file out of their rooms to look at me. They’d all heard that my father had been killed and that I had become their alpha. The life that they’d lived had hardened them but I could see the reserved relief in their eyes while I walked past them. They all knew my leadership was going to be very different from my father’s.

  “Wait up, Cinderella,” I heard Kyle say from behind me and I was tempted to turn around and tell him to get lost.

  I hated the nickname he’d given me. Cinderella was a girl in a fairy tale. I was a girl living real life that didn’t include a happy ending. It annoyed me how much that nickname made me want to pity myself. But there wasn’t room for any of that. I stopped and turned to face Kyle.

  “There is something I need to do alone,” I told him. I didn’t want him to know about my secret.

  “No can do,” he said with a shrug. “You know the rules. I have to oversee everything you do.”

  I glared at him, but he refused to back down.

  “You can glare at me all you like, it isn’t going to change anything,” he stated, seeming to be unfazed by anything I did or said.

  He was so annoying. I threw my hands up in defeat before I turned and walked away. He followed me.

  I walked to the edge of the property where there was a small building. The sight of the building caused a whirlwind of emotion inside of me. It was hard to keep it inside. Two guards stepped aside at the entrance when they saw me.

  The sound of footsteps behind me told me Kyle had followed me inside. Taking a breath, I tried to calm my nervously beating heart. I walked down to the end of the hallway, passing a total of ten doors on either side that were guarded by a few pack members. It was a place I knew well.

  At the last door I hesitated for a moment when the guard unlocked it.

  I could only imagine what Kyle was thinking but I brushed the thought from my mind. I held my breath as I stepped inside the dark room. A damp musky smell hit my nostrils. My eyes fixed on the single metal bed. An unmoving form lay on the bed that was covered in a tattered blanket. I swallowed my tears when I took another step forward. The form moved and turned to face me.

  “Baby girl,” croaked a weak voice.

  “Mommy,” I said as calmly as I could. My throat thickened while I took in her frail state. I didn’t think it possible to hate my father more than I did, but in that moment I did. I felt the telltale sting of tears but I bit down on my lip to keep from crying. If I got upset it would upset her and I didn’t want that. Slowly I walked over to the bed and bent down on one knee beside her.

  “We’re free,” I told her.

  She looked at me with big eyes and then her eyes moved past me to Kyle. Nervously she took in the alpha male standing behind me.

  “I don’t understand,” she said when her eyes flickered back to me. Her expression was anxious and fearful.

  “Victor is dead,” I told her softly. I brushed her dirty hair from her face. “We’re free.”

  I had to stop myself from crying when she remained confused at my news. I swallowed hard. Once, she had been strong and vibrant, but that had been many years ago. After years of abuse and beatings, this was all that was left of her.

  She was my secret. She was the reason I’d never left the pack and run for my own freedom. My love for her had been used to keep me under the brutal rule of Victor. He’d kept her a prisoner to ensure I would follow his every order without fail.

  “It’s okay,” I soothed when she started to become agitated. My arms hugged her cold body to mine as I soothed her with words.

  “Everything is going to be fine,” I murmured hoarsely to her.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Keri

  It was only once I'd moved my mom to the medical center under Curtis' watchful eye that I began to relax a little, although I knew it wouldn't be that easy. My mother had endured years of abuse and mistreatment. It was hard to keep my emotions in check while Curtis examined her. She looked so breakable. Her frame was thin and fragile from lack of proper meals. The scars on her thin arms and legs were permanent reminders of the physical abuse she'd endured from the monster that had been my father.

  I was on edge the entire time Curtis checked her over. Kyle had given me privacy to stay with my mom while she got examined. I'd been surprised that he'd allowed it. Curtis smiled down at my mom, who was a little frightened at the change of scenery. She'd spent so many years in her dark cell that the new environment, even though it was nicer, had her on a nervous edge.
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  "It's okay," I soothed as I reached for her hand and held it in mine. I had to swallow the emotion that wanted to bubble over out into the open.

  "The nurse is going to come in to check on you and I'm just going to step out to talk to Keri for a moment," Curtis told my mom gently. With wide eyes she gently nodded her head and turned to me.

  "I won't be long," I assured her before I gave her hand one last squeeze.

  The nurse entered and I followed Curtis out. I knew the news wasn't going to be good and I could feel a sense of dread growing in the pit of my stomach. I knew Curtis, and the way he was acting was a sign that it was going to be bad news. Trying to remain calm on the outside while my emotions swirled around inside of me wanting to break free was so difficult.

  Curtis turned to face me and I was aware that Kyle was leaning against the wall of the hallway, watching us from a couple of feet away. Curtis' eyes softened. It was a bad sign.

  "It's worse than I expected," he started and I felt like someone had physically punched me in the stomach.

  Worse than he expected was so much worse than I'd ever contemplated. He let out a sigh as he reached for my hand but I pulled away from him and took a step back.

  "Spit it out," I demanded fiercely. It didn't matter how he told me, it wouldn't make it any easier to deal with.

  "She isn't going to make it," he stated. The sentence echoed in my mind as I struggled to process what exactly it meant.

  "The malnutrition and abuse has taken its toll on her body and it's only a matter of time before her body starts to shut down," he further explained gently.

  I felt a presence behind me but I ignored it. All I could think about was my fragile mom, whom I'd tried my best to keep safe, was going to die.

  "How long?" I asked calmly. I had no idea how I'd managed to keep from falling apart.

  The only person who'd ever loved me was going to be taken from me and I would be alone.

  "A week…maybe two," he stated softly.

  A week or two wasn't long enough to say goodbye to my mom.

  "I'll make her as comfortable as possible," Curtis added.

  I gave him a brief nod as I took a deep breath. I felt a hand give my shoulder a gentle squeeze and I turned to see Kyle trying to console me. Shaking off his hand, I pushed away the pain inside of me. It took a few moments.

  Once I was in control, I walked back into my mom's room and plastered a smile on my face. I'd make sure she didn't have one more moment of worry or sorrow for the short time she had left. For the next few hours I ignored the responsibilities of being the new alpha of the pack. I gave a few orders while I stayed with my mom.

  The nurses had cleaned her up and Curtis had put her on a drip for calories and medication. I brushed her hair from her forehead as she slept peacefully. I wanted to stay with her and spend every moment she was still here with her but I had to take care of my pack. My pack was already in a weakened state from the attack on Cade's pack and the morale was low.

  I needed to get everything running smoothly, and fast. Other surrounding packs would try to take over my pack if I didn't get things back in order fast. There were a few things that I had to do. One would be to organize the burial of my father's body. If it were up to me, I'd burn his body and throw it out in the forest without a proper burial, but I had to follow protocol.

  Another task I had to complete was to choose a beta to be my second-in-charge. The existing beta, Richard, had to be replaced. He was an older werewolf like my father and had enjoyed following the orders of my cruel father. I couldn't have someone like that as my second-in-charge. I needed someone that had the same values as I did and someone I could trust.

  Richard wouldn't handle the demotion well and if I had to I would expel him from the pack. If he remained in the pack I'd always have to be looking over my shoulder to make sure he wasn’t pushing a knife into my back.

  Everyone gather outside the cafeteria, I instructed to every member of my pack through the mind-link.

  Kyle was still leaning against the wall, waiting for me, when I stepped into the hallway. I ignored him as I walked past him toward the exit. I hated that he'd witnessed Curtis telling me about my mom. I didn't want to appear weak in front of anyone, never mind the alpha of another pack.

  Silently he followed me from the medical center to the main building that housed the gym and cafeteria. The crowd was still growing as I stood facing the people that now depended on me for guidance. On the outside I looked confident like an alpha leader should, but inside I was a bundle of nerves. The fear of failure grew inside of me.

  What if I fail them? I shook myself mentally. I couldn't think like that. I had to be confident and I had to believe that I would be able to do the job.

  My father, as you all know, was killed. I've been given his body to bury, I communicated, beginning my speech through the mind-link. Tomorrow morning we will lay him to rest.

  A few pack members nodded their heads.

  I will be making some changes that will be for the benefit of the pack. Trust that I know what will be best for you. A few curious looks past my shoulder to Kyle reminded me that I had to explain to them who he was and why he was here. Attacking another pack without a reason was wrong. The other packs are unsure of whether we can be trusted. Their alphas came together and agreed that we will be watched until such time as they think we can be trusted.

  I saw a few fierce looks from the male werewolves but I ignored them. It was an ego thing and they'd need to get over it.

  Kyle is here to keep an eye on us. No one is to harm him, otherwise they will face serious repercussions. I didn't need to add that he was an alpha of another pack. The other werewolves would be able to sense it.

  The silence that followed, I took as acceptance. I dismissed them and turned to face Kyle. He hadn't been able to follow the speech because he wasn't a member of my pack.

  "No one will give you any trouble," I told him. He gave me a brief nod.

  I showed him to the empty room that was located beside mine. When I entered my room I closed the door and slid down. My emotions broke free and I sobbed as I dropped my head into my hands. I allowed myself one heart-wrenching cry before I stopped the free-flow of emotions through me. I stood up and wiped the tears from my face. It had been a long day but I still had things I needed to do. I just wanted a quick shower and then I was going to meet with Richard.

  As I walked into the small bathroom, I couldn't help but wonder how Richard was going to handle it. I still hadn't quite decided on who I was going to give the title of beta to. The first thing would be to talk to Richard and then after some sleep I would pick someone to replace him.

  I studied my reflection in front of the bathroom mirror. I looked better on the outside than I felt on the inside.

  I thought about my mom. The news about my mother had been crushing. I rubbed my forehead as I felt a slight headache begin to start as the stress of everything began to take its toll on me. It was hard to remember my mom had once been a beautiful and vibrant woman. Deep in my memory I had a couple of memories of when she'd still been happy. But as time had gone on, my father had sucked the life out of her.

  Victor's mate had died young and they'd never had any children. It was hard to comprehend that some poor girl had been destined to be his mate, his other half. It was cruel if you asked me.

  Somehow, and I honestly didn't know how, Victor and my mom had gotten together. Their union had been anything but love and respect. It had been more dominant and abusive. He was the type of person who just took what he liked when he liked, no matter what the cost. He screwed around with other females, so for all I knew I could have multiple siblings that I knew nothing about.

  Once I got older he'd started to use my mother to ensure my obedience. My mom would never leave because of me and I had stayed to ensure her safety. There had been no way out.

  Now he was dead and we were free. But it had come too late. The burden my mother had carried had been too much. Ther
e was no comprehending that she would soon be gone. I rubbed my hands over my face as I tried to keep myself together.

  Blake.

  Knowing what I knew now, I would still have done exactly the same as I had. There had been no choice.

  I had a quick shower and changed. While I'd been playing a role, I'd dressed outrageously, but my normal wardrobe was boring with a lot less color. I slipped into a pair of dark jeans and a gray shirt.

  I'd like to see you in the meeting room in five minutes, I instructed Richard through the mind-link.

  A few moments later he confirmed. Five minutes.

  Nervousness fluttered inside of me. This wasn't going to be easy but I needed to show him I wasn't scared of him. I was the alpha and I wasn’t weak. Richard was very much like my father. He believed that we were an army and that each one of us was a soldier to be used.

  The meeting room was located beside the cafeteria. It wasn't a large room but it was big enough to cater for about ten people. It was early evening so people were gathering inside the cafeteria. I nodded to a couple as I passed.

  It was in this same room my father had made plans to attack other packs. There was a small round table with a few chairs. The room was empty when I arrived and I stood waiting for a couple of minutes before Richard arrived.

  I felt a shiver of fear as his hard brown eyes found mine. He had the same cold, cruel look in his eyes, which reminded me of Victor. It was probably why they'd worked so well together. The lines in his face showed his age along with the gray lightening of his dark brown hair. I think it was one of the reasons he kept his hair short so it would be harder to see. His bulky frame could intimidate most but it was his cruelty that had created a respectful fear in the pack for him.

  He wasn’t your typical beta because he also had alpha blood, which meant he could also be as commanding and intimidating as one.

  "You wanted to see me?" he said as he sat down in one of the chairs.

  He wasn't being very respectful to me but I hadn't expected him to. When my father had been in charge, Richard had been able to do what he liked, but things were going to change. I remained standing so I felt like I was in control.