Wild at Heart

Six Years Ago…

I laid back in the weaved chair with my eyes closed, letting the sun warm my body. The slight breeze of cool air from the pool eased the burn the sun was doing to my skin, but what did I care? It felt so good to have peace and quiet away from everyone for once. My dad was locked up in the house; brooding from the latest fight he had with his “girlfriend”. I shouldn’t be so insolent towards the woman, but I couldn’t help myself. He met her at his bar a few months ago. She was the first woman he’s ever showed interest in since my mother’s sudden passing. She would be pretty if she didn’t cake so much make-up on her face to hide the aging process all the alcohol brought out in her. She liked to drink, but the catch was: she liked to drink when my father was pouring her free liquor. It was innocent at first, until it wasn’t. I caught them messing around in the house when I came home from school early unexpectantly. That image will forever be wedged in the back of my brain, only to pop up at the most inappropriate time. But when wouldn’t be an appropriate time to picture your father banging some bar whore on the couch you used to cuddle up to him on watching movies and eating homemade popcorn? Gross.

Last night, I went to the bar to take my father some food. Sometimes he would get so caught up in his business that he would forget that he was still living. It happened a lot after my mom died, but after a few years of coping he finally began to show some normalcy. That bitch, Cynthia, was a drunken mess as per usual. She was screaming obscenities at my father until he would pour her another glass. She would throw it down her throat deeper than a dick and start banging on the counter for more while other drunken men laughed at her theatrics. I rolled my eyes at her and helped myself behind the counter to greet my father.

“Hey!” Cynthia called to me. “Fill my glass, bitch.” I stared at her for a moment, wondering if there was anything between her ears besides empty rum and coke bottles banging around until her mouth opened and words spewed out. “Are you deaf, girl?” She slurred.

“Why don’t you go home and get yourself cleaned up, Cynthia?” I suggested. “You look like a mess right now.”

“How dare you!?” She stood up, sending the bar stool behind her crashing to the floor. Are we doing this right now? “Learn your place, bitch, and get me another drink.” I guess we’re doing this.

“Learn yours and go fetch a drink outside with the rest of the mutts.” Her jaw dropped and her hand swung out as she sloppily slapped me across the face. It barely stung from the lack of solid impact. Before I could think about my reaction, it was too late. My arm swung back as I formed a fist. I shifted my weight and connected my knuckles with her face, her cheek bone cracking with a sweet echo throughout the bar. Her body crashed to the floor and she laid there, cradling her face.

“Emma!” Shit. My dad grabbed my arm and pulled me into his office, shutting me in. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Me?” I questioned. “Did you not see what she just did?” I asked.

“She barely tapped you, Emma. You really hurt her!” I stared at my father in disbelief. I never thought he would take her side in such a situation. I guess I underestimated how much the loss and loneliness effected his mind.

“I’m sorry.” I choked out.

“Good.” He said with a stern nod. “You’re going to have to tell Cindy that.” I could have laughed in his face, but all I did was nod. He opened the door to the office and there she was, sitting on the ground with a waitress holding ice to her face. I walked right past her and towards the door. “Emma!” My father called out my nail in a warning tone. I turned around, flipped him my good finger as blood dripped from my knuckles, turned back, and walked out of the bar.

I don’t know what happened after I left, but I do know that I am the reason Little-Miss-Perfect-Cindy isn’t around today. So, that is why today I laid myself out by the sun and enjoyed the peace and quiet. But of course, that doesn’t last forever. I peaked my eye open behind my shades and tried to look inside the window. There was a large figure in the house with my father. I tilted my head to get a better look, but the man’s back was to me. I tried to breathe in a scent, but all I could smell was the chlorine from the pool and the daisies that lined the fence. I sat up as my father flinched at the man who pointed a finger in my dad’s face. It looked as though he was chastising him about something, but he wasn’t yelling. If he had been yelling, I would have at least been able to hear the conversation. I wouldn’t dare interrupt, not after last night.

Suddenly, the man turned and looked straight out the window and locked eyes with me. I was shocked to discover it was our new Alpha, Nick. What would the Alpha possibly be scolding my father for? He walked towards the door that led to the deck where I sat by the pool in nothing but a bikini and jean shorts that I didn’t even button or zip. It wasn’t like I was expecting company, I just wanted to relax in the sun. He slammed the door behind him, and I actually jumped. I stood up from my chair, but I didn’t move closer to him. He stood there, his eyes grazed across my body, but I could smell no lust from him. What was he doing?

“Can I help you?” I asked. I would be lying if I said he wasn’t intimidating. I could count on one hand the number of encounters we’ve had in my lifetime. I always thought he was avoiding me after saving my life in the fire that took my mother’s.

“No.” He stated simply before walking past me to the gate on the fence.

“Nick?” My voice stopped him in his tracks, but he didn’t turn to face me. “Is my father in some kind of trouble?” I asked. I watched his back straighten then relax as he took a deep breath.

“He should be.” Nick muttered. He finally turned to me, locking eyes once more. “I was paid a visit last night by a very distraught elder.” I held back an eye roll. The elders were nothing but trouble, even if they were there to keep our Alpha’s decisions fair. “Apparently, her daughter was in the hospital with multiple broken bones in her face.” Oh shit. “This elder is adamant that her daughter’s boyfriend knocked her out in his bar.”

“That’s not what—” Nick silenced me with his finger in my face.

“So, I went to the bar.” He took a step closer to me. “Your dad wasn’t there.” He took another step closer. “The staff had one hell of a story though.” He reached down and gently took my hand, lifting and turning it to show the yellowed bruises that my werewolf healing hadn’t quite rehabilitated yet. “I didn’t need the security footage to prove it, but I did enjoy watching it.” My heart was beating out of my chest and I knew he could hear it, yet I didn’t know how to slow it down. I swallowed hard and he dropped my hand.

“So, what are you going to do with me, Nick?” I finally asked. The corner of his lips pulled up in a small grin.

“I’m going to let you go with a warning, little wolf.” He finally responded. “Hit with the first two knuckles, not the ring finger and pinky. That’s how you break your hand.” He said with a nod to my bruised knuckles. He turned and walked out of my yard and all I could do was watch him walk away.

Present Day…

I sat in our bedroom with the TV on, trying to drown out the argument Nick was having behind the bedroom door. I didn’t know who he was talking to on the phone, but every time it rang, he answered more and more annoyed. He told me he would take care of it. He told me he would straighten it all out. I wanted to help, but I could tell he needed his alone time to figure it all out.

As the phone rang again, I turned the television off and slid off the bed. I needed to shower. I could still smell the faint scent of Stefan on my hand. The sole thought of it sent a shiver down my spine.

I stepped out from the hot water and wrapped a towel around my body, tucking the corner at my breast and letting the edges brush my upper thigh as I walked back into the bedroom. Nick was sitting in the bed, his fingers gliding over the screen of his phone a million miles per minute. He looked up at me and the anger in his eyes instantly softened.

“How are you feeling, little wolf?” He asked.

“Better.” I said with a nod.

“How’s the wolf hunt going?” I regretted the question as soon as it slipped from my lips.

“It’s changed directions, slightly.” He said as he turned back to his phone.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Stefan is gone.” He stated. “He escaped, but I want to know how he got into this pack in the first place.” He put his phone down and turned towards me. “Reginald is bringing Chase here for questioning.”

“When?” I asked.

“Now.” I nodded. I had more than a few questions I wanted to ask Chase myself.