Page 5

Scarlett

T he moment Uncle Nick reaches our house, Mama rushes over to me, both she and Dad are waiting in the front yard.

“Scarlett, are you hurt?” Dad asks as Mama pulls me into her arms the moment Uncle Nick places me down. The hug only agitates my extra sensitive skin, but I can hear her heart thumping extremely fast.

“I’m fine, I just want to go to my room. Can I get ice?” I whisper to her. Mama looks me over, panic filling her as she searches for any mark on me.

Grandma Amelia hurries out of the house. She looks worried and exhausted, as if she has aged ten years in the last half hour.

“Of course! Indigo, Jackson, get ice,” Mama orders as she and Grandma Amelia lead me inside.

“Scarlett, oh I wish I never left you,” Grandma whispers. There’s guilt in her eyes and I know she’s feeling responsible.

“You were doing what you could to help her. This is her pack, where she’s supposed to be safe,” Mama says caressing my hair softly. “And she’s ok, there isn’t a scratch on her.”

I look at Mama. My body feels numb. I can still feel the scorching pain inside of me and his lingering, disgusting touch. She still doesn’t realise…

But I have no energy to cry or explain anything, instead, I turn to Grandma Amelia.

“It isn’t your fault, it’s my luck, Grandma. It always is,” I mutter as I’m led upstairs to the bathroom I share with Elijah. Although I was here just this morning, it feels like so much time has passed.

Indigo looks up as she empties another packet of ice into the bath. Her eyes are glittering with unshed tears, her heart racing as she looks me over, similar to Mama. But unlike Mama, my bruise-free state doesn’t lighten the worry and fear in her eyes. It’s almost as if she can see into my soul.

“Can everyone just leave? I just want to be alone,” I say, not liking it.

“Nick will fill us in… I’ll leave,” Dad says, placing a hand on my head for a moment.

“Everyone,” I say quietly.

Grandma Amelia purses her lips. “You don’t mean that child, at least let me stay.”

“Or me. I promise, I’ll just get you more ice, whatever you want. I won’t annoy you,” Indigo offers quietly, her lip trembling slightly as she tries to keep herself together.

“No one needs to stay. I said leave, just bring me ice every hour. Please just listen,” I whisper. A weak whimper escapes me as another spasm shoots through me and I buckle, falling to my knees. Mama catches me, but I push her away.

“Ok, ok, let’s listen to her.” She’s about to touch my cheek, then decides against it. “It must hurt. I’m so sorry, my child.”

“I’ll be fine,” I groan, gripping onto the bathtub.

There is a knock on the bathroom door, and I turn to see Dad has returned. He’s visibly distraught as he watches me, concerned.

“Scarlett, I know this might not be what you need your old man to tell you, but what about the boy you love? I’m sure if you called him... he’d... you know…” Dad’s ears became red at his own words as Grandma Amelia frowns at him.

She at least knows that’s not a good idea.

“Nonsense!”

“She’s in pain. Do you think I would say it otherwise? I’d rather no boy was here!” Dad argues.

“What if that boy didn’t love her back? Would you want her to use her heat to seduce him? You really are stupid! How did you even become Alpha? Now get out!” she snaps, making Dad flinch. Grandma Amy really can be a ruthless woman. She looks at me, and I don’t even react, pain contorting my face, but even this torture can’t fill the void in my chest.

“Where’s Elijah?” Indigo asks suddenly, making my heart ache a little more. “He should have been there to protect her.”

“I do agree. But right now, he’s with the rest investigating this matter. But I think it’s best he is away from home, anyway. They aren’t real siblings. Her heat could… affect him,” Dad admits.

I almost smile ironically. So now we aren’t siblings? When it comes to the very laws of nature… I don’t care, not anymore. I am done.

“Biologically, that’s true,” Mama agrees. “I didn’t even think of that.”

“Can everyone just leave now?” I state, my voice sounding icy. Mama places a gentle kiss on my forehead before she stands up, trying her best not to break into tears. Even though it is hard for her, she is trying to remain strong.

“If you need anything, just shout. We will leave your bedroom door open.”

I don’t reply, wanting them gone so I don’t have to hold myself together anymore. I bite my lip hard as I fight against the pain. I just want this all to go away, for everyone to leave me alone. Forever.

Indigo

We make our way into the hallway, leaving her bedroom door open. I feel so upset seeing her like this. A hazy memory of long ago seems to come to me but I can’t quite grasp it, but seeing Scarlett in pain is triggering it.

“The mark is from an alpha… her heat is going to get worse,” Grandma Amelia warns us quietly.

“I hate him. I can’t believe he did that to his own daughter. Who could do that? Why is he still hurting my babies?!” Mama spits. Dad hugs her, stroking her hair. Grandma Amelia sighs.

“A monster, that’s who,” she says, leading the way downstairs. “I’ll put on some tea. I don’t think anyone’s sleeping tonight.”

I shuffle forward. I know it was our sperm donor who had marked her. I know he is a monster, he always has been.

But that niggling thought remains. Why do I feel Scarlett’s been through more than we think? I know she always protected me, but wasn’t there consequences for her? I’m sure there were even though she’d appear fine, but why can’t I remember it?

“Are you okay, Indy?” Dad asks with concern as he helps Mama to sit at the table.

“I don’t know… I feel like there’s something in my mind that I can’t quite remember… as if I’m missing a hole in the bigger picture,” I say, placing my head in my hands as I drop into a seat.

“Don’t push it Indy; it is probably some awful memories of your father. Don’t try to remember,” Mama says, caressing my dark hair. I frown, but does forgetting or trying to forget things make it alright? What if there’s something big we’re missing? We’re all silent as we sit there until Grandma Amelia comes over.

“What exactly happened, Jackson? Why is no one saying anything?” Grandma Amelia asks, placing a tray of hot tea on the table. Dad hesitates, looking at me.

“Indigo, will you leave? It’s not really-”

“I’m not a child, so please stop trying to treat me like one,” I whisper, wishing Elijah was here.

What exactly happened? Why isn’t he with Scarlett? Does he not care like he said he did? He better not have hurt her. I swear… “You know what, actually, I’m just going to go for a walk. Carry on.” My parents nod, not questioning me as I turn and leave the kitchen, placing my mug down on the side table in the hallway.

I have to find Elijah; he is the only one who can help Scarlett. I stand outside the door as Dad sighs. I’m about to walk away when I hear Dad speak.

“Hank sexually assaulted her.”

I freeze, as Mama gasps, and I hear something shatter.

“Goodness gracious, Jessica!” Grandma Amelia exclaims and I hear a chair scrape as someone stands up.

I stare ahead, those words ringing in my head.

Why?

Why!

“I’m not sure if it was the heat or if there’s more to it but-” Dad is cut off by Grandma Amelia.

“Regardless! It’s not an excuse! How dare he?! Have his head! He deserves to be given the strictest of punishments! Goddess! My poor child!”

I can hear Mama’s sobs, and I brush my fingers across my cheeks, staring down at the tears on my fingertips. If no one else could, then I should have protected her, just as she protected me when we were little. Why does she keep having to suffer? First, the monster marks her, then Hank.

“He has been punished; Scarlett killed him.”

“Good riddance! I hope she made it painful!” Grandma Amelia snarls.

“He… what did he do? She looks… empty. I saw myself in her today. Did he rape her?” Mama sobs.

“Only the medical examination on Hank or Scarlett, herself, can tell us. But Nick thinks she managed to stop him in time,” Dad says.

Mama begins crying uncontrollably and I can no longer hear what Grandma Amelia and Dad are saying.

I clench my jaw as I quietly step away from the kitchen door and head upstairs to check on Scarlett. I pause at the door to her bedroom, wondering if she’s ok.

“Scarlett? Are you ok, do you need anything?” I ask, trying to sound normal.

“No. I’m fine,” she replies after a moment.

“Ok…” I step away, wishing I could do more before I turn and head downstairs again. I need to find Elijah.

Elijah, where the fuck are you? You should have protected her!

I leave the house, shutting the door behind me, and I break into a run.

He’s the only one who can help Scarlett, and not just with her heat, with her pain. He has to! He promised he was serious about her! If Hank is dead, then why isn’t he here?

I need to find him. Now.