Scarlett could barely fall asleep after last night and meeting her mate.
That excitement bled well into the morning, so that, even though her father woke her up early for training and breakfast was nothing more than a bowl of cornflakes, Scarlett was practically perky. Something her father noticed.
He gave her a very suspicious look but didn’t really question her until they were sparring after going through all the drills.
Before she knew what was happening, he took her legs out from under her with a sweeping kick and laid her flat out on her back.
“Alright. You never would’ve fallen for that normally. What’s got you so distracted, Scar?”
“Nothing, I’ve just…been thinking a lot since last night.”
Scarlett knew she should probably tell her parents she found her mate. But she was afraid… that they would say it was safer if she stayed away from him.
She decided to change the subject. “You have an early patrol today, right? Can I come?”
A wince, a drawn-out sigh, and her father seeming to age a decade in a moment.
“You know why you can’t. Scar, we’ve had this conversation dozens of times already.”
“I’m ready, though! I’ve practically been training all my life!” she protested.
“You might be ready for the world—but the world isn’t ready for you.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Scarlett huffed, getting back on her feet and brushing the dirt off of her pants. “The world could use some shaking up right now, right?”
She was ready, she’d been ready for years!
Her father had this look in his eyes she couldn’t quite read.
“Maybe…maybe when you’re older.”
And it was the same d*mn response every time.
“I don’t even know why I bother asking.” She muttered bitterly. “It’s not like you allow me to join you or the others on patrols. Are you going to let me be an Omega warrior like you, or are you just humoring me since I’m, you know, not allowed to even shift in front of others?”
A good warrior had to be able to fight in both forms. Scarlett could—she’d been training since she was a child.
And yet, even after reaching adulthood, she was still here instead of out there because it wasn’t “safe.” All because she was a stupid red wolf instead of some normal color like gray or brown or… black.
She hoped her mate wouldn’t think the same way as her parents. Scarlett didn’t think she could stand him seeing her as something to be hidden away and protected, too.
“You can…see us off.”
It was a very weak attempt to placate her, but Scarlett knew it wore her father down to hear all the other Omega soldiers agree with her, that she should patrol.
Maybe today would be the day he cracked, she thought. But she knew it wouldn’t. She was sick of this argument before it even began.
“Alright, let’s go, before I make you late. Are the Blood Borne rogues still around?” Scarlett asked, keeping pace with her father as they made their way back towards the town.
Living in a cottage meant they could train in the backyard without anyone sneaking up on them or seeing her shift, but it also meant a ten-minute walk to see anyone else.
“Those pests left a few days ago—they made sure to keep their distance, with the Ball going on. No, we have other things to worry about.”
Scarlett didn’t need him to elaborate on that. She knew exactly who he was talking about.
It was as they were about to emerge from the treeline that they heard a commotion in town. Loud, and nothing friendly.
It was just a day after the Moon Goddess Masquerade Ball, what could possibly be going on?
They hurried towards the sound, which was coming from a row of houses on the outskirts of town, bordering the woods. There they stopped, hidden by the already gathered crowd, but they still had a view to what was going on.
Soldiers with the royal arms emblazoned on their backs were dragging a man out of his home.
This was an unusual sight; normally kept to the town square or closer towards the gates. The outskirts were often too ‘dirty’ for their tastes. They didn’t even help defend the borders like they were supposed to do! Her father and a lot of other shifters had to patrol to keep everyone safe.
The only reason they could be here in the outskirts was for one thing and one thing only—money.
The neighbors were holding back a woman as she sobbed, her child in her arms as her husband was thrown before the head soldier.
Scarlett bit back a snarl. They couldn’t even have a full day of peace before the kingdom had to go and ruin it.
It wasn’t too long ago that the town had been happy and lively and now there was nothing but fear and despair.
A hand gripped onto her shoulder, and she glanced at her father, who silently shook his head.
She bit her lip, practically trembling with rage. But it wasn’t as if she could jump in and save the day. She’d just get herself killed or make things worse.
All she could do was stand back and watch, no matter how much it hurt.
“Late on your taxes, multiple missed payments. Tsk, tsk. That alone is worth a month in the mines.”
“Wait—please, wait! I’ll have your money by tomorrow! My trade shipments will return along with the profit, and I can pay them all off—double if I must!” begged the man. “I can still—!”
One of the soldiers shifted down and snarled, snapping at the man and silencing him.
“Make that another two months for resisting arrest,” scowled the man, gesturing for him to be dragged off. The woman’s sobs got louder as her husband was taken away.
“Wait—please! My mate just had our baby! I’ll pay, I’ll pay!”
“Pay for it in the mines.”
As quick as the soldiers had come, they vanished, having destroyed yet another life.
As soon as they were gone everyone was quick to help the sobbing woman. One of the neighbors led her into their home so she could rest, while a few others went into the poor couple’s house to clean the mess and shattered glass that the soldiers left behind.
Scarlett’s father quietly said they should stay and help, too. Scarlett sighed, knowing this meant he would have to switch to a later shift and wouldn’t be home for dinner.
Everyone was talking about it as they worked, and Scarlett couldn’t block out their whispers.
“Can you believe those arrogant men? They didn’t even give Ron a chance to pay.”
“I thought traders were supposed to have some leeway with their tax payments?”
“You think the king’s men care? They’re always looking for an excuse to torment the people. Bunch of b*st*rds.”
“And the mines, too. The poor guy. I hope he holds up okay, but that place is hell on earth.”
He had a family, a baby, and yet they still—
“Scarlett.”
Her father caught her attention as she emptied a dustpan full of glass into one of the trash bins. Windows, vases, and even plates had been shattered while the rug would have to be thrown out completely—who knew what had glass stuck in it.
“I need to go. Ethan switched shifts with me, so I’ll be home late tonight, make sure to tell your mother.”
“I will. She’s probably gonna want to take some food over here—Goddess knows, Diana’s not gonna be in any shape to cook,” murmured Scarlett
She wished she could do more than just pick up the pieces after the fact.
Her father reached out squeezed her shoulder gently before letting go. It was a reminder that he was there for her—and a reminder for her not to do anything about this.
“Go straight back to the house. The last thing we need is anyone else getting targeted.”
Scarlett nodded solemnly and headed back.
Her mother was rightfully distressed about what had happened to the young couple, and they set to work on making a casserole for Diana.
Despite the solemn atmosphere, there were certain things Scarlett couldn’t push out of her mind.
“Hey, mom, after I dop off the casserole, is it alright if I visit Velma?”
Scarlett kept her tone as casual as she could.
Her parents had always been protective of her, but they felt guilty about it too. Not letting her go out to festivals, to celebrations, even holding her back from taking up a job as a soldier to help patrol the borders.
The festival was over now though, and Velma was a sensible person who also knew she was a red wolf. Her mother would be hard pressed to say no, especially after last night.
“…I want you back before midnight, and if anything happens, you had better call before then, understand?”
“I promise I will,” Scarlett swore before heading out.
Diana was thankful for all of the help, but her eyes lost their shine, and the baby hadn’t stopped crying all day.
It made Scarlett’s heart ache and it would’ve been nice to go to Velma’s to rant. But she had a completely different location in mind.
She had a mate to meet up with.