I slammed all of the money that I had hid from my brothers, counting every copper coin. A year, that's how long they'd be able to survive without me. A year is all I had to return home with even more money, then leave again to earn more.
My brothers knew what I had to do, and while it was an inconvenience to them, it was better than sharing me with Derek Hudson. Seeing the money on the table, they nodded as I took a few coins, stuffing them into my pockets. I grabbed all I could, blankets and more, stuffing them all into a huge hiking bag that I used in the spring. The two youngest started to tear up, but the older three remained strong.
As I got ready to leave, I smiled once more at them. Their faces made me want to cry, but the frost outside would make my eyes hurt even more that way. "See you all in less than a year."
And just like that, I left the village that I had spent my whole life in, finally escaping the invisible chains that bound me there. At last, I was free.
Exactly two days later, a mysterious cloaked outsider arrived at the foot of the village. The guards felt uneasy by the appearance of such a barbarian-looking man. "W-Who are you?" one of the guards asked, slowly pointing his spear towards the cloaked man. He suddenly looked up, his sharp teeth coming into full view as he spoke.
"Where is Rose?" The guards looked at each other, then back at the man. "S-She left two days ago. Apparently, she was caught sleeping with Derek Hudson and ran away." His eyes tensed, his fists clenching. "Who touched my mate?" he boomed, the guards all shivering in their toes.
Meanwhile, Derek was walking across the main area smugly. The guards immediately pointed towards Derek while the cloaked man ran past them all and grabbed Derek by the neck, picking him up.
"ARGH!" Derek cried out, trying to punch the man's muscular arm, but to no avail. "Did you touch my mate?" he asked again, his eyes burning red. Derek shivered, almost wetting himself. "W-Who are you? Mate? Hold on, are you Rebecca's husband?"
His hand clenched around his neck even tighter. He wheezed, gripping onto his arm for support. "Rose." the man declared, his eyes burning red. Derek's eyes immediately opened wide.
"R-Rose? I never touched her! I swear! It was something that I made up so that she'd be forced to marry me. I swear, I never- COUGH!" The man then dropped him to the floor while the whole village gathered around them both, whispering about his confession.
Then, his eyes opened wide. "I-I know you! It was you, in that cave, with her!" Hunt looked down at the pathetic excuse for a man, snarling. "Where is my mate?" Derek shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know but I'd give up on her, man. She's probably sleeping with another outsider just to get by out there."
His nose crinkled. "She's gone?" Immediately, he turned around to leave when he suddenly froze and turned his head. Five boys that smelled just like me had walked out of their house, looking right at him. He snarled before walking towards them.
Putting out his hand, all five boys flinched. But, when they opened their eyes, they saw a huge bag of money.
"A mate should provide for his mate's family." My eldest brother accepted the huge bag as Hunt then turned around, trying to trace my scent... and his offspring's.
Upon his departure, Aspen quickly opened the bag only to almost choke. Gold coins... it was filled to the brink with gold coins. They went to speak up, ask him why he was so desperate about finding their sister. However, he was long gone before they had even thought to ask him for a name. Just like a shadow once you step underneath light.