Roxanne you are a werewolf.
“I SAID… LET HER GO!” Roxanne repeated angrily.
With their faces so close to each other and their eyes barely an inch apart, they locked eyes. Asher, still holding onto Roxanne’s mother, Melissa with one hand and rubbing his cheek with the other was still recoiling from the shock he received from her. Roxanne, however, pulled him by his collar and drew him toward herself even more, as she demanded he let go of her mother.
This happened in front of everyone present, a girl like her clearly defying the Alpha and commanding him to do something… The Guardians and Female warriors knew what happened when someone did such a thing with Asher. They all held their breath and focused their stares at Roxanne, surprised by her conduct. As Asher stared deeply into her eyes, he could see it… The moist surface of her lens, clear like the blue sky as light radiated on it. He heaved a sigh as he let Melissa go, to the surprise of everyone.
“Urk… Urgh” Melissa let out, kneeling down as her body grew weak from Asher’s grip.
Roxanne immediately let go of Asher’s collar and rushed to her mother’s side in worry. Asher observed as she discarded him and went for the one she cared about, he felt a tinge of jealousy at the sight.
“This is why I wanted them gone…” He thought to himself.
“Why is she here in the first place?”
He looked at Dax and Rita with a narrow gaze, suspicious of their involvement with Roxanne. They should have stopped her from interfering, or tried to stall her for as long as they could. Instead, they allowed her to reach his location and interfere with his dealings.
“We’ll need to have a talk later” He said to them in a threatening tone.
This made Rita gulp nervously, and even the usually stoic Dax looked a bit shaken. Surprisingly Asher felt very little anger and animosity toward Roxanne, even though he had brutalised others for less. Had it been someone else who dared to attack him, he would have made short work of them before they would let out a sentence from their mouths. Yet, not only did he listen to her words and obey her, he also watched helplessly as she hugged her mother passionately, unable to do a thing.
“Roxanne” Her grandmother, Linda, called out for her.
She was still being pressured and surrounded by the Guardians and Female Warriors, but with merely a dirty look from Roxanne, they all stepped back, allowing her to be free. Linda rushed and also knelt with Roxanne and Melissa, hugging them and nearly crying with relief.
“I’m so glad you’re alright. It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have left you all there” Linda lamented.
“No, grandmom, it’s not your fault” Roxanne said to comfort Linda.
“You’re right dear, It’s mine… I’m so very sorry. I’m so…” Melissa cried as she hugged her daughter tightly, not wanting to let go.
“No mom… It’s none of our fault. It’s just due to the actions of someone who shouldn’t have done what they did!” Roxanne said, shooting Asher a dirty look.
Asher looked away from her, turning from her gaze, and walked away. He walked past Dax and Rita, his shoulders brushing past his Beta as he whispered to him.
“Deal with this”
With a howl of the wind, Asher vanished, disappearing without a trace, gone with the wind. Dad looked at the reunited family awkwardly, feeling a burden that Asher left such a tedious role to him. He sighed and stepped forward to address them. In the absence of the Alpha, he, the Beta had to take charge.
“I assume you must be Roxanne’s family. It is a pleasure to meet you. This is all nice and well, but the environment is not conducive for a proper greeting and welcome. Why don’t we settle down somewhere else?” Dax approached them with his usual stoic and calm demeanour.
Surprised by Dax’s non-aggressive approach, they looked surprised. Roxanne noticed that Asher had gone and looked relieved. She knew how powerful he was and the consequences for her action, but when she saw what he did to her mother, she was taken over by her impulse and moved on her own.
“Y-Yeah… You’re right!” Roxanne answered Dax.
Dax let out a slight smile, pleased by Roxanne’s cooperation and trust. He nodded to the rest of the pack who were still on standby and dismissed them. They immediately left, returning to their positions and homes.
“Come with me” He said gently.
Rita smiled as she ventured to help Melissa up from the snow while Roxanne supported Linda. Treating them with her usually warm smile, Rita followed them behind Dax.
“It’s a pleasure to meet members of Roxanne’s family. My name is Rita. I’m Roxanne’s….” She stopped halfway unsure of how to describe herself to Roxanne’s family.
“Friend. She’s my friend!” Roxanne smiled as she looked at Rita in a bright and appreciative manner.
Rita was happy to hear Roxanne say so that her smile brightened up even more as she giggled.
Linda and Melissa were surprised to see the reaction exhibited by both Rita and Dax. Considering their harsh treatment after infiltrating the pack and Asher’s exchange with them, they feared that they had entered an unforgiving and brutal place. But, with both Rita and Dax behaving so cordially with them, their initial disposition began to change.
After some minutes, they arrived at Rita and Dax’s home. They were welcomed warmly and offered seats. Throughout the entire welcome, Melissa and Linda looked around them in wonder, impressed by the ambiance of the place. This made Rita brighten up even more.
“She must really take pride in the state of her house” Roxanne smiled to herself.
After they all had their seats, Dax seating opposite them and Rita standing up beside him, they began their meeting.
“Once again I welcome you to our pack. My name is Dax, and I am the Beta of the Rockwood pack. Beside me is Rita, my mate and the Beta Female of our pack. I am sure you are already familiar with our Alpha, he had to excuse himself and left me to deal with your business.” Dad started calmly.
“Thank you… Dax. I am Linda and this is my daughter Melissa. You already know my granddaughter, Roxanne. As for our business here… I am certain you are already well aware.” Linda replied, treading carefully with her words.
Dax smiled as he shook his head.
“I understand the situation perfectly. You wish to retrieve your daughter, yes? But, I am sorry to disappoint you… I can’t allow that.”Dax replied.
Upon hearing this, Roxanne, who sat beside her parents, rose up with anger.
“What the hell are you talking about?! Even my family is here to take me and you still won’t let me go!” Roxanne bellowed.
Dax looked at her with his stoic expression, but from his eyes she could tell that he was dead serious. She pursed her lips and forced herself to keep quiet, returning to her seat.
She looked at her mother and grandmother, expecting them to protest or refuse, but they both kept quiet and remained in a state of deep thought and reasoning. Suddenly, it struck her… How did her parents manage to find her? They seemed too calm upon encountering such a settlement in the middle of the woods and they also easily flowed in a conversation with Dax… Almost as if they were…
“Roxanne has been chosen as the mate for our Alpha, Asher. I have no power to grant her release, only he can. Considering the circumstances, that is less than likely. Besides, you both must be aware of the implications that brings.” Dax said, narrowing his brows as he addressed them.
Roxanne watched the two older women and wanted for their answers. She began to grow suspicious of them, realising that they knew the meaning of what Dax was talking about.
“We understand… As his mate, she is meant to be bound to him. But, Roxanne doesn’t know anything yet. She is still only a child, she doesn’t know what is expected of her, or her heritage.” Linda said.
“Please understand…” Melissa added.
Dax sighed.
“I apologise if I may come off as presumptuous, but your daughter is hardly a child. Even in the short while she has spent here, it is clear that she was meant for this. You have sheltered her too long from the truth and have caused her ignorance about the things she ought to be aware of” Dax said.
Roxanne wasn’t sure where the conversation was leading to, but she had a pretty bad feeling. Heritage? What was expected of her? What were they talking about?
“I-I know… It is all my fault. I had hoped to set things right, but this had to happen… Roxanne is not yet ripe for ‘Bonding’… She is yet to ‘Awaken’.” Melissa revealed.
“I guessed as much. But that doesn’t matter. She may not look it, but my wife Rita is an excellent Instructor. She will be able to properly guide Roxanne. Our pack is very safe and secure, you can attest to that no doubt, and our Alpha is the most powerful in the Region. I can assure you of your daughter’s safety and wellbeing, if nothing else” Dax started.
“Alright! This is bullshit! What the hell are you people talking about! I’ve been sitting right here, and I’ve heard this nonsense long enough! Mom, Grandma, let’s get out of here!” Roxanne rose in anger.
Melissa and Linda did not share her energy as they merely looked at her with a sad smile.
“Mom… Grandma… What is going on here?” Roxanne asked.
“You should tell her now…” Rita said to Roxanne’s mom, who looked unsure of what to do.
Melissa looked at Linda, and she nodded as well. This made Melissa nod in agreement and stood up. She placed her hands on Roxanne’s shoulder and locked eyes with her. She took a deep breath and finally uttered the words she had kept bottled up since Roxanne was born… Words that were bound to shatter Roxanne’s world as she knew it.
“Roxanne… You are a werewolf…”