So, there I was, barely awake, listening to those voices chatting away, sounding all worried about me.
"She's got marks on her face, look there's a handprint," said William Rivers.
"Dad who would abuse a pup?" asked Luca Rivers.
"I don't know, look at her arm, there's a dark bruise in the shape of fingers, see the nail marks, she's got another hand-shaped bruise on her other cheek," pointed out William Rivers.
"Why, Dad? She's just a pup, they must have thrown her into the river," said Luca Rivers.
"I'm afraid you're right, son, and she could have died, the river is swollen and dangerous, her legs...." William Rivers trailed off.
"So many bruises...." Luca Rivers also trailed off.
"All these cuts, she must have been tossed over and over, the poor child, how did she get out of the river?" William Rivers asked in wonder.
"Where did she come from, Dad?" Luca Rivers asked.
"There is a pack picnic today, remember? That's where we were heading. Looks like she had on her best dress, despite what it looks like now. She must have come from there," William Rivers had said.
"Dad....that's five miles upriver," pointed out Luca Rivers.
"I know, Goddess...she should have died, any other pup would have died, she's incredibly lucky to have survived," said William Rivers.
"She's got dark skin, and black hair, think maybe she belongs to the Winters or the Summers?" contemplated Luca Rivers. "They both have some people among them with tan skin...but most have brown, red, or blond hair," he added.
"There's also us, the Nightstalkers, and then the Blackthorns and the Shadowblades, we all have black hair and tan skin among our Clans as well, but I know she's not one of ours, and she doesn't smell like those Clans," said William Rivers.
"The Frosts and Northcliffs Families though are exclusively pale and blond for a few generations now, she can't be one of theirs," remarked Luca Rivers.
"That Clan has been purposely breeding dark coloring out, they only mate with others who have blond hair and blue-eyed features, son. Any family member born with tan skin or dark hair is made an outsider, or married off, still removing them from the Families. If their fated mate has dark coloring they reject them," said William Rivers.
"That's stupid, why do that?" asked Luca Rivers.
"I don't know, son, but that Clan's practice is why I have always been at odds with that Clan. I William Northcliff rejected my Goddess-given mate for that Ice Queen I married, because my fated was dark-skinned. That Ice Queen also rejected her fated, because he'd had dark hair," William Rivers said, then continued.
"The Heartsong Clan's ancestor was tan, with black hair and violet eyes. It's said that William and Elizabeth had a daughter who looked like the Heartsong's Ancestor, the First Alpha. Probably karma for rejecting their Goddess-given mates," said William Rivers, grumbling the last sentence.
"Do you think this girl is her, Dad?" asked Luca Rivers.
"The abuse this child has obviously suffered was not necessary. We will find out if this was her family's doing," said William Rivers. I was finally able to open my eyes and look at them. Luca Rivers gasped when he saw my eyes.
"Is your name Amber, little pup?" William Rivers asked. I had nodded my head yes, my throat hurting too much for me to speak.
"She has bruising on her neck too, Dad," said Luca Rivers. He had black hair and midnight blue eyes, with pale skin and broad shoulders. You could tell he was gonna be a giant of a werewolf when he grew up, just like William Rivers next to me. William Rivers looked kinda like him, but his eyes were green, and he had a streak of silver in his hair at his temple, making him look extra handsome.
"Do you know who I am, child?" asked William Rivers.
Oh boy, how could I not? I'd only seen him once, but man, I could feel his power and status. "Alpha," I croaked.
"Yep, that's right, kiddo. I'm Alpha, and this is my son Luca, we'll get you to the Pack House, treat you up, and then figure out what to do about your family," said William Rivers.
"Dad, are we seriously gonna let them take her back?" asked Luca Rivers.
"We don't have much choice, son. She belongs with her family, and I can't just yank her away," William Rivers explained. And then I passed out again while they kept on arguing.
But let's forget about all that for now. Sadly, that wasn't the only messed-up memory I had. There were many more scars in my soul, and I knew exactly who was banging on my bedroom door before I even heard her voice.
"Get up, you wretch!" she'd yell. Always yelling, that's my mom. Half the time, I think she forgot my name 'cause all she calls me is "you wretch." You'd think she'd use my name for a change, but hey, not holding my breath. I've known better for a while now.
Alright, time to get ready for school, and I gotta resist the urge to sing in the shower. Every time I do that, my family goes nuts. They say my voice sounds like a dying cat and makes their ears bleed. Just another thing they use to hurt me.
I've become less and less tolerant of the oppressive and abusive way they treat me. I've been struggling to hold back, to maintain the image of a submissive and obedient she-wolf. There are only two more weeks of school, and then freedom! That's what I gotta remind myself, along with my buddy Xena.
"Just two more weeks, Xena, and we'll be free," I say to her.
"What exams do we have today?" Xena asks.
"Today, my friend, we're gonna do some training exams, both human and wolf combat," I say, feeling her excitement and mine too. We love showing off our power!
"Are you gonna ask me to hold back?" Xena wonders, but I can feel her delight waning at the idea.
"Yeah, we'll have to. We're up against the elites, and it's all happening in front of the seniors," I explain.
"Well, that's a bummer. Takes the fun out of it," she whines, and I can totally see her invisible tail drooping.
I sigh, "Yeah, it does," feeling disappointed myself.
But then, a thought crosses my mind. No real reason to hold back, right? "You know what, Xena? Let's ditch the act. We're not going up against the Ice Princess, and this is our final exam. No need to hold back anymore," I decide, feeling Xena's excitement surge again.
She's probably wagging her invisible tail with glee and sticking out her tongue like she always does when she's happy. Makes me laugh, really.
So, I grab some cool new clothes, stuff I bought with the money I earned at the burger place. No more hiding for us, right X