by Lola Gabriel
They were brutal and straight-up terrifying. Definitely not a pack to mess around with.
Although Liya didn't agree with the way the pack was run, she had very little say, as she was not born into the pack. When she met Hunter, he introduced her to the Delta and the Epsilons. Because she was his partner, or mate—even though they never actually imprinted—she was now a member by default. She never felt like a member, though, feeling more like an outsider during their entire relationship. Everything was on a need-to-know basis when it came to Hunter and the things he did for the pack. Liya was well aware that Hunter had so much blood on his hands that not even the ocean would be able to wash it off, and she wondered why she had become involved with him in the first place.
Still, having the tattoo was as beneficial as it was an inconvenience.
Liya started the car and drove off, not seeing the police cruiser anywhere.
After stopping at a hotel in North Dakota, and a few more stops along the way, Liya realized that she needed to figure out where she and Illa were headed. She was starting to get tired again, and Illa had begun to niggle in her car seat.
In the distance, she could make out the lights of a town, and as she drove closer, she noticed the sign on the side of the road just before entering the town.
“Bigfork, Montana,” she said quietly and glanced in the rearview mirror at Illa, who was on the verge of having a meltdown in her seat. “How does that sound?”
Illa looked back at her with pleading eyes filled with tears and a pout on her lips.
“Okay, Bigfork it is, then,” Liya said, feeling rather relieved that they were stopping for the night, hopefully for a while. She was tired and craved a hot bath and a comfortable bed.
She parked in front of a cozy motel and booked her and Illa a room for the night. She lugged their suitcases into their room then sunk wearily onto the bed to catch her breath for a moment. After they had a bath, Illa clambered around the room exploring her new surroundings, while Liya sat on the bed paging through the newspaper in search of a more permanent residence. Bigfork was as good a place as any, and best of all, it was not under the control of the Crescents.
Liya glanced over at Illa, who had toppled over the dustbin and now wore it as a hat, and chuckled. All Liya wanted was for Illa to grow up never knowing the fear and the pain that had become her way of life these last four years. She wanted her daughter to have a better future, even if that meant not knowing her father, but maybe it was better this way. No one needed an abusive person in their life, especially not at such a young age.
After Illa fell asleep on the bed, Liya continued to look through the newspaper before turning in for the night. She hadn’t realized how exhausted she was until she rested her head on the pillow, falling asleep almost immediately.
When Liya opened her eyes the next morning, she was surprised to feel incredibly well rested, despite the ordeal that she had been through. She sat up in bed and stretched her arms above her head.
Liya glanced over at Illa, who lay smiling at the ceiling.
“Good morning, baby girl,” Liya said with a smile. “How did you sleep? Was it fun?”
Illa giggled and chortled which made Liya smile even more. She rubbed her daughter’s belly, and her tattoo caught her eye again, making her remember the expression on the police officer’s face when he saw it and realized she was a Crescent. Was he a wolf as well, or had he encountered more than his fair share of Crescent members? This made Liya wonder whether she had made the right choice to drive in this direction. Were there many other Crescents in the area?
Then again, the police officer had an accent and probably only recently moved away from a Crescent-infested city or town. Besides, Minnesota was a long way from Montana.
Liya quickly got dressed and then changed Illa’s diaper and clothes as well. They headed out to a nearby diner for breakfast, and then into town to buy herself a new phone. She and Illa went into the local real estate office and she spoke with Linda, a young agent.
To Liya’s amazement, Linda showed her a lovely house close to Flathead Lake, surrounded by trees. Linda assured her that it was a safe area and the unit was even fully furnished. Liya loved it, especially the small porch that had an amazing view of the forested area behind the house, and as an added bonus, it was available immediately.
Because Liya and Illa had only their two suitcases, it didn't take long for them to move out of the motel and into the new place. Liya even opened a bank account into which she transferred all of her money, and she even took the money from the account she shared with Hunter. She was pretty sure that Hunter would explode if he found that out, but she didn't care. No one was going to touch her in Bigfork.
She would make sure of that.
As she and Illa sat on the wooden bench on their new porch, watching the sunset, Liya finally felt at peace. She knew that it was because of Illa, because Illa was born with the ability to bring calm to any given situation—when she was awake. It didn't really matter whether it was self-procured or through her beautiful daughter, all she knew was that they were safe.
Even if it was for only a short while.
2
Bigfork, Montana
The fire came closer and Wren’s chest tightened as the smell of burning flesh filled his nostrils. He heard his brothers shouting in the distance, but he couldn't see anything. The smoke was too thick and dense. A ringing sounded in his ears and his eyes burned from the heat. The feeling of helplessness filled him to the core, and as the searing heat cornered him, the flames licking at his feet, his body jolted upright. Panting in the darkness, the images in his head dissipated with the realization that it had been yet another dream.
When will this nightmare end? he wondered to himself as he tried to calm his beating heart. His entire body was covered in perspiration and it didn't surprise him. Today would have been his mother’s birthday, although he had lost count as to how old she would have been. Of the five Wylde brothers, Wren was the one who was closest to their mother, Skye Wylde. Wren was born earlier than he was supposed to be, hence his mother was a little more protective of him. He was relentlessly teased as a child, and even as a teenager, for being a ‘Momma’s boy’,
Even after their home was burnt down in Minnesota nearly sixty-seven years ago, Wren still had nightmares of that night. Of course, his nightmares were nothing close to what he had actually experienced, but he did have a tendency to exaggerate a little, being a Momma’s boy and all—according to his oldest brother, Cole.
Even though Wren would give anything to find or see his four brothers again, he knew that too much time had passed and that his brothers would be nothing like how he remembered them. Wren didn't regret leaving, although he wished he had someone who was as close to him as a brother, but would never openly admit it to anyone. Luckily, he didn't have the opportunity to open up to anyone.
Being the Alpha of the Montana pack came with many pros, and not having to open up to people was one of them. Sure, it wasn't healthy to bottle up feelings, allowing them to fester, but losing his parents in a house fire, injuring his shoulder and losing his brothers because they didn't have the balls nor the tenacity to agree on anything in one night, weren’t healthy either.
Wren sure as hell didn't dwell on the past and what could have been, but he also didn't feel sorry for himself so that others would notice. He was the Alpha, and he wasn't allowed to get emotional over anything. In fact, he had closed himself off to emotion so well, that he could banish a pack member without batting an eyelid. He didn't have the patience or the energy to deal with disloyalty and mutiny—he had endured an abundance of that in his lifetime.
His brothers, especially Cole, often accused him of having ‘middle child syndrome’, which he probably had, but he didn't want to hear about it, especially not from Cole.
Cole was an asshole, plain and simple. Everyone knew it, even Cole. He thought that he alone should be the Alpha of his father’s pack in Minnesota, not even giving
the other four brothers a chance to state their case. Their father, Luther Wylde, was a strict man who followed the rules his entire life, and this infuriated the other younger brothers. Wren remembered the nights when Scout would run off into the mountains out of frustration, and would only return a few days later. Skye and Wren’s older brother, Kodiak, had been the peacekeepers of the family, having the necessary emotional abilities. However, Scout’s defiance and Cole’s arrogance were not curable. To be honest, Wren wasn't sure if it was arrogance or sheer stupidity.
Wren climbed out of bed and shuffled through the house. The sun hadn't risen yet, and there was no way that Wren would be able to fall asleep again. The nightmare had felt so real this time around and he shivered as he thought about it. There was an eerie feel inside his home, yet there was no one there.
Wren’s sense of smell was extraordinarily strong, and he could even smell if it was going to rain, in another state, in a week’s time. He recognized the scent of every single member of his pack and immediately knew when there was a newcomer in town, whether it was temporary or permanent.
It was never permanent.
People didn't willingly move to Bigfork.
Sure, the scenery was beautiful, and the people were friendly most of the time, but after the flood of 1943, people avoided living in Bigfork. They would pass through, enjoy the scenery, and be on their merry way. Wintertime and the rainy season, which felt as if it was all the time, saw the least amount of visitors, which was fine by Wren. He hated newcomers, because they were nothing but trouble.
Wren opened the two large doors that led to the back porch and stepped onto the paving. Flathead Lake was sprawled out in front of him, its smooth surface appearing mirror-like, reflecting the moon and the stars clearly. To Wren it reminded him of the marsh behind their family home in Minnesota, and he often wondered when whoever burnt down that house would be coming for him.
It had occurred to him many times that his brothers may possibly be dead already, but it didn't matter. He couldn't look for them. He had enough on his plate as it was.
A sudden breeze picked up, and Wren caught a strange scent. He scowled as he shook his head in disapproval.
“Stupid humans,” he muttered, but as he was about to walk back into the house, he froze.
That’s not human, he thought to himself.
It was a wolf.
There was a new wolf in town.
Sutton, Wren’s Beta, glanced at him as they walked along the main road a few hours later. Sutton was the closest thing to a friend that Wren had, but that was where it ended. Wren knew that it was incredibly difficult for Sutton, or anyone, to get to know him well enough to know what he was thinking. Not even a mindreader could figure out what Wren was thinking—he was pretty skilled at closing himself off completely. He was a closed book and intended on keeping it that way. Sutton didn't even attempt to break through those impenetrable walls he had built, as it was only a waste of energy to try to get through them. Sutton had tried once too many times and it left him exhausted and even more frustrated than before.
Obviously, Wren had his reasons for being this way, and thankfully Sutton accepted that, because everyone had their own shit they had to deal with.
“What’s going on, Wren?” Sutton asked and regarded him with dark eyes. “We’ve been walking along the main road for almost an hour now. What are we looking for?”
“I told you. There’s a newcomer in town, and I want to know who it is,” Wren muttered, digging his hands into the front pockets of his brown leather jacket.
“So, what are you going to do when you find him?” Sutton asked.
“It all depends on why he’s here, and...” Wren stopped suddenly and glanced through the window of the grocery store.
“Wren, are you okay?”
Wren nodded. “I’m fine. You should go take care of your patrols.”
“I thought we were doing just that,” Sutton answered.
Wren looked at him with a blank expression. Sutton had been a member of Wren’s pack for a long time, so he should know that Wren always patrolled by himself. Wren gave new meaning to the term ‘lone wolf’ and everyone knew that about him. Even though he was often on his own, he was definitely not weak or vulnerable. In fact, Wren was at his strongest and most powerful when he was alone. He’d draw out his energy and power from nature, and even though he wasn't the tallest or brawniest Alpha in the country, he was strong and a force to be reckoned with. Some would say that he might appear a little heartless and cruel, but this was brought on by the cruelty he had endured.
“Fine, I’ll just be on my way, then,” Sutton said as he stepped away from Wren, but Wren was a little too preoccupied to answer him. The scent of the new wolf in town became stronger as Wren stepped closer to the shop window. Glancing through the glass he scanned the patrons inside, and a strange feeling rose up inside him. He wasn't sure what it was, but it soon vanished when he saw the owner of the store walk his way. The owner opened the door and glared at him with a furrowed brow.
“Can I help you with something?”
Wren cleared his throat and looked at the owner. “No, I just thought I saw someone I used to know a long time ago.”
The owner, of course, wasn't a wolf, and Wren had no desire to make small talk with him, so he stepped off the sidewalk and proceeded back to his car, which was parked about five blocks away. Wren hadn’t realized that he and Sutton had walked as far as they did, but it didn't really matter.
Wren reached his car and climbed inside. His red BMW roared to life and he pulled away abruptly. His father would definitely not approve of this car at all, since it stood out like a sore thumb. Wren was done with being inconspicuous and trying to remain undetected. Luckily, the townspeople of Bigfork were as discreet as they were backstabbing. Or maybe they were just too oblivious for their own good.
Wren secretly despised the humans. Not only because of their fragile nature and their inability to keep things to themselves, but also their smell.
There was something about a human that simply repulsed him. He recalled a few instances involving humans when he was young, and they still lived on their land in Minnesota. They especially stank in the summertime, which puzzled a young Wren, as they didn't have any fur, or maybe that was the reason. No fur to mask the odor. Because of his strong sense of smell, the ghastly aroma of sweaty humans swimming in the lakes or pools, or wherever they were swimming, repulsed Wren to the point where he had to lock himself in the basement while his brothers enjoyed the days of summer.
Of course, Wren didn't mind, as his mother would sit with him in the basement so that he wouldn't be alone. They talked about everything imaginable, and Wren considered himself the luckiest kid in the world to have a mother like the one he had.
And then she was gone, taken from him before he could even tell her that he loved her one last time, or hug her, or feel her fingers raking through his hair when he was upset. He hoped that she knew how much she meant to him, but he would never know for sure.
He heard a sudden crash and his car suddenly jolted forward. “What the...” he muttered and glanced in his rearview mirror.
A light blue car had driven right into his rear bumper, and his jaw clenched in anger. He yanked his door open and climbed out of the car, ready to give whoever was behind the wheel a big piece of his mind. He was sure that he hadn’t been too distracted on the road, or preoccupied with the memories of his mother, or the smell of the mysterious newcomer, so it must have been the other driver’s fault. He marched to the other car just as a young woman with long blonde hair climbed out of the driver’s seat.
“You just drove right into my car! Can’t you watch the road?” he exclaimed angrily.
“I’m so sorry,” she stuttered, and she glanced at him, her eyes red and filled with tears.
Wren stopped in his tracks and stood frozen on the spot. The tears in her eyes weren't solely due to the fact that she had just caused a huge amount of damage to Wren’
s rear bumper. Something was wrong, and Wren could feel it. He didn't have the emotional connection to others the way his mother and Kodiak had, but he could definitely sense that something was wrong.
The young woman, who was now sobbing almost uncontrollably, stood before him. “I am so sorry,” she repeated between heaving sobs.
“Are you okay?” he asked as he walked closer to her. He felt bad for her, and he didn't understand why.
“No, I am not okay. I—I just ran into your car,” she stammered and looked down at the ground. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s just a bumper,” he answered calmly, which surprised him.
Under normal circumstances, he’d be livid, but there was something about this young woman who made the entire world slow down. The ringing in his ears was gone, and his mind felt completely clear.
She looked at him, her pale blue eyes brightening slightly as she gazed into his eyes. Her words, as well as her tears, stopped for a moment as they stared at one another.
Then, the moment was gone, and as she turned away slightly, he was left still wanting more. She was the wolf, the newcomer in town.
She was the wolf.
Wren held his hand out to her and said in a deep voice, “I’m Wren Wylde.”
“Liya Channing,” she said and shook his hand with reluctance before turning to gaze back at her car.
It was only then when he noticed the baby in the back seat, nonchalantly drinking from a bottle, completely unfazed about the drama that unfolded outside of the car.
“She’s beautiful,” Wren said without thinking.
“Thank you,” she responded with a slight smile and glanced back at the little girl. “Her name is Illa.”