Raven's Rose

vulnerable. I shook my head, trying to clear away the memories and took a more dramatic bite.

After she had stomped off and headed back to the facility, I had called Nana Butterfly and told her what had happened so she could have a towel ready for her. I probably shouldn’t have been so hard on the girl, but I had been so angry when I realized her hair color was just temporary. That whole time she had known that all she had to do was wash it out and wash it in. The thought infuriated me, knowing she was just trying to get under her father’s skin—and mine, first with the blue hair and then with the pink.

My thoughts began to drift, however, as I pictured what she must have looked like as a child, her curly, red locks long and flowing as she danced under the soft drift of the first snowfall of the season. Although in her mountainous Alaskan town of Balmy, population 4,600, she rarely saw anything but snow. I imagined her to be a very joyful child, with a big smile to add to the light dusting of freckles across her nose and the vibrant green eyes. I found myself wondering what might have happened to her to make her so angry. I suddenly jerked to my senses, throwing the remaining pizza crust across the room and hitting the trash can. “Who cares why she’s so angry!” I growled, slamming my fist into my chest. “I’m angry!” I stomped back into my bedroom and into the bathroom, thinking a cool shower might ease my tensions. I was totally wrong.

              When morning arrived, with my normal morning disposition, and my lack of sleep the night before, I was sure to be lovely company. I entered the dining hall, pushing around a few of the guys, and quickly recognized Nana Butterfly picking up two trays of food. Just the woman I wanted to speak to. She had on her normal wide-brimmed hat lined with a fresh wreath of flowers. Her orange sneakers were clean and bright, as usual, but her smile was brighter, as if she knew something I didn’t. Hmm.

Before I could ask, she spoke. “Well, don’t you look well rested this morning? The dark bags under your eyes are especially becoming. Must be the meanness trying to come out.” She used to say that to all of us kids when we were young and doing stupid things, or if we didn’t feel well. She was teasing of course, but it still bugged me.

“Well, in this particular case, the meanness has red curls and a tongue sharp enough to slice the hair off a grizzly.”

She smiled an all-knowing smile. “Oh yes. You must be referring to Hope.” She sighed as she handed both trays of food to me and turned to walk. I guess that meant for me to follow. “Yes, well, I listened to that girl cry herself to sleep last night. She was still in her room when I left out this morning. I thought I’d bring her some food to help lift her spirits. You can help me.”

“Nana, I don’t—”

She spun to face me, her eyes fixed and sharp. I actually backed up, my eyes going wide in alarm. “I didn’t ask you! That girl is a guest here! Now, I know she’s a pain for you, but you better ease up on her, or I’m gonna bend you over my knee and spank you, alpha or not! Got it?” Her eyes were blazing, which wasn’t unusual when she felt strong about something.

I lowered my head in reverence, “Yes ma’am.”

“Good. Now, follow me!”

* * *

Some minutes later, we strolled through the greenhouse and stopped at the door at the back of the room. Nana Butterfly knocked.

              “Yes?” a soft voice answered.

              “Hey, sugah. It’s Nana Butterfly. I brought you breakfast, May I come in?” Nana looked at me with a hopeful expression and winked.

              “Um, I guess so,” she answered.

              Nana pushed the door open and stepped inside, as did I. “What is he doing in here?” she squealed, pulling covers up to cover her barely-there P.J’s.

I quickly turned my head.

“Get out! Get out!” she yelled. Nana ushered me from the room, taking the trays from me and stepping back inside, slamming the door shut behind her with her foot.

              I stood there with a mixture of shock and irritation. This girl was a total nutcase! “You’re welcome!” I barked before disappearing in a blur of motion, causing the flowers and plants to blow around like a hurricane had hit, which it had. And its name was Hope Mason.

Chapter Six

Hope

Nana Butterfly turned to face me, her smile apologetic. “I’m sorry, sugah, but I needed him to help me carry the trays of food,” she said as she laid the trays on the end of my bed and took a seat beside me. “Are you hungry?”

              I eyed her skeptically, knowing she hadn’t just told me the entire truth. I sensed she was trying to help Wesley and I come to some kind of truce, but it wasn’t gonna happen. This guy had crossed the line, and he was gonna pay. I grinned at the thought.

              “Hmm, I’ll take that as a yes.”

              I straightened as she placed the tray of food on my lap. It looked really good, and I was starving. I grabbed the blueberry muffin first and shoved a huge bite in my mouth, chewing with enthusiasm. Nana studied me as I continued to chew bite after bite but said nothing until I had finished the entire plate. I sat back, sighing and rubbing my stomach in contentment.

              “Did you enjoy it, dear?”

              I smiled for the first time since arriving in this crazy place. “It was delicious.”

              “That’s great to hear. You know, Wesley isn’t all that bad. He’s just a little rough around the edges, but he’s got a good heart. Now, he doesn’t let many people see it, but I’ve seen it. As a matter of fact, I was there the day it broke.” She shook her head, sadly. “And he’s never been the same since.”

              I stirred in the bed, inching closer as my curiosity urged me. “What do you mean?”

              “It was a long time ago. Do you know the story, over ten years ago, about when vampires attacked the Westside Pack?”

              I nodded, remembering the stories my daddy shared with us about the amazing Levi and his pack. I had developed a crush on him after that. I secretly hoped I’d get a chance to meet him and maybe even marry him. I had heard that he was having trouble choosing a mate until the day he met Charity. The stories about her made me jealous, but soon after I began to like that crazy girl.

              “Well,” she continued, drawing my mind back to her words, “our pack joined them in the fight. We defeated the vampires that day, but sadly, Wesley’s father, along with the Westside Pack’s alpha, better known to you as Levi’s father, were both killed. Wesley had secretly snuck out to watch the battle and witnessed the brutal death of his father.”

              I gasped, putting my hand to my mouth. I had heard about the deaths of both of their fathers, but I didn’t know Wesley had witnessed it. “But you said you were witness to the moment his heart broke?” I questioned.

              “Yes, well, after that Levi and his pack became part of our pack, as you know. Wesley began clinging to his grandfather, my husband, Clark. This was something he needed to do, and I tried telling my husband this, but Clark felt a strong draw to the sweet spirited Levi. Clark took both boys under his wing, but it was clear to most, including Wesley, that he favored Levi. One day, Wesley had gotten an A on his class assignment and was eager to show his Papa Windsor. He burst into his office, determined to show off his work, but Papa Windsor was in the middle of showing Levi some fighting moves. Wesley tried several times to get his grandfather’s attention, but my Clark never acknowledged Wesley at all. Levi also noticed but felt helpless. I was in the office that day watering the few plants he had allowed to almost die and witnessed the entire thing. I saw the grief and pain in Wesley’s eyes that day as the moment sunk in and he knew he had lost his grandfather too. From that day to this, Wesley has been filled with many emotions, anger most of all. I tried to fill the void the best I could, but it wasn’t enough. My husband didn’t see what I saw. And after Wesley began acting out, it was natural