Chapter 9: Chapter 9

My father holds his arms wide like he might give me a hug.

I freeze.

I’m standing in the middle of the kitchen and I’m not sure what to do.

He takes my hands and squeezes them. He smiles.

Something in my chest begins to knit back together. This is all I ever wanted.

Family. Home. Acceptance.

To be a part of this pack.

“Grace will do her part,” my dad says.

Wait. What?

“I know you are sorry for the damage you caused to us.”

“Damage to you? Dad I was falsely imprisoned for THREE YEARS. I’ve lost my wolf! What damage have you had?” I pull my hands away from his and cross my arms. “You all abandoned me when I was at my lowest. Why should I help you now? Maybe you should help yourselves.”

My father’s eyes widen—then he strikes my face. Hard.

The blow knocks me to the ground.

“Get up!” he roars.

The full force of his Alpha powers is behind it, and my half-sister and mother jump at the tone.

I am motionless.

“You cast me out, dad. That won’t work now.”

He drags me up by my hair and then shoves me away from him. I get my hands up in time to avoid slamming into the stove.

“You drove a car into someone else, Grace! You killed an Alpha’s daughter! Be glad the Council let you live! Our entire family was shamed because of you. You don't have a future anymore. Do you want to ruin your sister's future as well?"

His eyes are full of disgust for me.

And it’s that look that hurts me more than any physical blow.

“The one thing you did right was dating Sean Stevens and then you destroyed it all. We had so much respect from other Alphas and our pack prospered from that connection…”

I nod numbly. It is true.

Dating Sean had opened many doors. And when that door slammed closed, by father was Grace embarrassed by it. He was a proud Alpha, a man used to being respected and held in a high regard.

Despite that he was poor and a selfish leader.

My relationship with Sean had afforded my dad the chance to claim a higher social ranking. When I fell… he did too.

And my father resents me for it.

My face throbs. I’ll likely bear a bruise. My heart hurts. But I don’t let my feelings show.

"I originally came home to say a prayer for my mother—that was why you invited me back home, wasn’t it? to pay my respects—But now it seems you had a different agenda altogether. I won't step foot in this house ever again."

I don’t wait for them to reply.

I walk out of the house.

There are several other houses nearby and I see curtains shuffle and movements as what’s left of this pack gets their last look at me—the disgraced rogue convict with no wolf.

To hell with them. All of them.

I’m better off alone.

When I get home to my apartment, I’m numb.

That’s a blessing, I suppose. Because that whole scene with my dad and half-sister, my stepmother…

even after all these years, their treatment of me still cuts me to the bone.

The apartment is dark when I unlock the door. There is no sound or movement from inside.

I sigh.

It’s foolish, I know. I shouldn’t expect some stranger to stick around—and how pathetic am I for hoping so?

I step inside the house and flip on the light.

I can see the whole space and even into the bathroom, confirming what I already suspected…Jay is gone. My heart feels empty. Which is silly, I know. The man was a stranger.

It’s okay. You’re okay.

Tomorrow is a new day.

More than anything I just want to shift and curl up on the bed. To let my wolf comfort me and to sleep.

But even though I call to Ava, hoping against all odds, that she can somehow come back to me, I don’t feel my wolf at all.

Just as I’m about to close the door, a figure slowly walks over. I’m stunned.

Jay.

He’s still wearing those worn-out clothes of his from yesterday and he holds a bag in his hand. His longish hair almost covers the entire upper part of his face, making it difficult to see him clearly at a glance, but I know that under that mussed hair is a face that is unforgettable.

I smile.

If not for the clothes, I would’ve thought him an actor like my “sister” might work with on one of the TV series. He’s that powerfully handsome.

Such a man... was he really a homeless person?

And if he is… why? Drugs, mental illness, violent tendencies? Wolves can fall victim to such things, same as regular people. There are a number of causes that could set someone on the streets, and most of them carry elements of instability. Taking him in like this is an impulsive decision, a dangerous one, but... I can’t seem to help myself.

Perhaps humans are tribal animals after all. We need company too.

"I'm back." His voice is low and indifferent, but to me, it’s the sweetest sound.

My throat suddenly feels tight. "I... I thought you were gone."

"I just went out to buy something.” He holds a bag out to me.

I take it and he comes inside.

I set the bag on the counter.

"We'll eat together, but before that, I... want to light a candle for my Grandpa and mother. Today is the anniversary of his passing...as well as my mother's.”

Fate’s cruel. My beloved grandpa and mother died only a few days apart.

Jay’s dark eyes follow my movements as I take the prayer candle from my bag that I bought on the way home.

I light it and place it on the countertop next to the two old photos.

One shows my mom. I look like her.

The other is of my grandfather when he was about sixty years old. His eyes are crinkled up in a smile that looks kind.

"Grandpa, I've started a new life now. And it is a good one. I have a job that pays well enough for me to feed myself. You can rest in peace, and in the future, I will only live a better and better life…"

“Is that so?”