Other side of beauty (book 2 of the Beasties)

Snow!

2 days later

I woke suddenly to such a strong sent of frost that my lungs felt frozen. My airway feels blocked with ice causing me to choke. Even so, these symptoms of my newly enhanced senses couldn't quell my excitement for the first snowfall of the year! I haven't played in the snow for the last two winters, I think bitterly. I force the negativity away and ungracefully fall out of bed, trying to loosen my snare trap of a blanket, I race to the closet putting on as many warm clothes as possible, since I don't have a winter jacket, then barrel down the stairs.

"Lordy child! You walk down those steps like an elephant in belay slippers." Trudy exasperates, trying to hide her smile. A huge thick carheart Jacket is dropped on top of me. "I was figuring you would want to enjoy the snow, so I grabbed one of Liam's old coats." She states. I grin at her like a child on Christmas, which reminds me that it's coming up soon. A small pang enters my heart, but I bat it away before it could ruin my day, then rush out the door so Trudy wouldn't have time to order me to eat breakfast first.

There are hundreds of children with the same idea, running around the yard like wild animals. Actually some are in their wolf forms. My grin brightens because in a minute, I'm going to become a party animal too.

One of the children notices me and heads for a straight b-line towards me, plowing me over into the 2 feet of snow that had accumulated over night. Have to love the Midwest.

Ok this means war! I get up from under the giggling 8 yr old boy with auburn hair and freckles, then pick him up. I walk close to a pile of shoveled snow, flopping him right on top. He sinks passed his head. The only sign of him is his laughter from inside the hole. He pops out like a whack-a-mole to throw a snow ball at my chest. The entire 3 acres of back yard turns into an all out civil war of snowballs.

I'm having so much fun that I didn't notice some body had come up beside me until the whole yard went still and silent. My gaze turns to where everyone else is staring. I was pleasantly surprised to find Liam is standing there with a face full of snow. The offending little girl who had accidentally hit him with her slush ball begins to quake in fear. I burst into laughter as Liam remains silent. I take the snowball in my hand, lift Liam's sweater collar out of my way and shove it down his shirt. My sides are bursting as he dances around trying to get the snow out.

"Don't be such a Debby Downer. You're scaring the kids." I say between chuckles. Once his salsa moves stop, he pins me with a glare. All of the children become afraid of what he'll do to me. Out of nowhere I feel icey, wet, slushy snow run down my face. Wiping it off, I see a proud smirk on Liam's lips, then pandemonium broke out.

My heart skittered as I saw a side of Liam I had only seen once, when we were painting the blue house, but this was different. This was his inner light shinning through. For a moment he looked as if he were a thirteen year old boy having the best day of his life with friends. My grinch heart grew a little more while he pelted snowballs at the children mercilessly. Their eyes alight with excitement since they have never seen this side of Liam. I want to bring out his inner child as much as possible for the rest of my life.

Suddenly I found myself sprawled on the snow with Liam on top of me. He leaned in and gave the quickest, sweetest peek on my lips. Laughing I pushed him over till we tumbled three times than huffed to a stop. Laying flat on my back, I made a snow angel. Liam stood up and grabbed my hands so I wouldn't ruin it. Leaning into each other we admire my work.

"You're an angel" Liam whispered in my ear. I rolled my eyes as I shivered from the cold. My hair was sopping wet and my jeans no longer protected against the chill of the wind. "Let's go inside to warm up and let these little hooligans continue to tear up the rest of the yard." I giggled from his comment, feeling almost normal for the first time in a long time. Maybe there's hope for me yet.

Emma's Pov

I'm locked in that cold room again. The one in the tower of that terrible man. He's not as bad as daddy, but I bet he could be. I'm thankful that Alpha Liam still has daddy locked up. Alpha Liam won't ever know this, but he's my hero forever for doing that ( refers to the chapter shin-dig in the previous book).

I look at the winter wonderland outside my window, wishing I was down there, playing with all the other children. Why do I have to have these dumb visions. I'm never allowed to go out and play ever since Alpha Canis learned I had them. I shudder at the memory.

I was in the kitchen of the blue house, cowering in a corner as Alpha Canis raged against a member of the pack. Something about letting people get away. He was screaming at members to pack his bags for him so he could go on a long trip. Suddenly I get that wierd feeling, the one where I feel frozen before the world disappears and a new one takes it's place. I'm in my own, personal 3D movie that has several endings involving everyone I know, even those that I don't. In the center is Skyler. the pretty lady I met at the welcoming cookout. The endings all start with her.

There was only one ending I liked. The rest were too sad or too scary for me to watch. The one I liked had Alpha Liam next to her. She had a huge tummy and everyone was happy.

I felt the earth shake, the visions disappearing like the writing off of an etch-a-sketch and a queasiness is left. Alpha Canis's mean face replacing the pictures. His fingers dug into my shoulders. I shift under his awful stare, noticing my shoes are all wet. I must of dropped my glass of water during my trans.

"What is wrong with you?" He hisses. I shrink back. He shakes me hard twice. "Answer me! Are you communicating with Gimbous moon?!!!" He bellows. I feel a warm, wetness trickle down my legs. Tears of terror and embarrassment choke out of my spasming throat.

"She has visions Alpha." Uncle Harlow states. His face always reminds me of a statue. I shiver from his cold Ora, but feel better with his presence. He may not be very friendly, but he's never hurt me, so I don't mind him.

Alpha Canis is really quiet, which scares me more than his yelling. It means he's thinking of something really bad. "Pack her things as well. She'll be coming with us." Alpha commanded. Uncle Harlow bowed and did just that. "You will be my lucky charm little one." Alpha Canis laughs, squeezing my arm. Tears run down my face. I don't want to leave. I like alpha Liam's home. I keep my mouth shut. Daddy's instructions Pop into my head 'keep your yap shut, keep your thoughts to yourself and keep our little secrets or I'll give you a teaching that you'll never forget.' I do just that because alpha Canis's Ora is just like daddy's.

My mind wanders to Luna Skyler, suddenly the scene before me disappears and I'm in a flurry of snowballs. Laughter is everywhere. There is an angel on the ground next to a man and I feel a warm, fuzziness. I smile knowing that Luna Skyler is happy with Alpha Liam right now. I wish they were my Alpha and Luna. They don't seem like they would harm me in any way or make me do things.

A sharp pang enters my heart. They will never be nice to me again. They will hate me because I'm helping that terrible man and Alpha Canis. They want Luna Skyler. I try to give them as little information as possible from my visions, but they are smart men. They make me tell them everything at any cost.

Tears start to run down my cheeks as I look at my left arm. Five Tiny, misshapen wolves are scarred into my skin. The terrible man did it with his ring, heating it up and burning me with it, when I wouldn't talk about my last vision I had in front of him. I tried so hard to protect Alpha Liam and Luna Skyler, but I was too weak.

My little fist punches on top of the desk besides me. I laugh bitterly as I notice all that was left behind was shiny wood. See! Weak, I pout miserably. Now Alpha Canis knows the perfect time and opportunity to kidnap Luna Skyler. I hope he never gets her. I hope my vision was wrong.