Courage Don't Leave Me

The Will To Live

Tonight he was livid. It will be the worst night I've ever had. My mom and some of her higher rank friends have been planning an escape from James for months. Word has it that he got wind of the plans and he's sworn that if we leave he won't hesitate to kill us. I stand my guard to protect my wolf inside howling in fear already. His face is on fire and spit flies everywhere when he yells at me. 

"YOU LITTLE BITCH! I know they're hiding around here somewhere!" 

"You can't have them James." I smirked at him as his face took on a look of confusion with all the alcohol affecting his brain he's slow to process, but once he realizes's what I've just said he punches me square in the jaw. My head whips back at such force that I lose my guard long enough for him to kick me in the leg and drop me to the floor. 

"Now now there my precious little Nevaeh. You wouldn't want to make me anymore angry now would you?" his twisted smile pushed me off the edge and I took the nearest vase close to me and threw it at his head where it shattered to a million pieces leaving a cracked skull where a huge chunk of glass was stuck. My wolf howled in triumph not knowing that we wouldn't get away that easily. 

"I am not your precious anything!" I snarled at him, "And don't you say my name ever again." 

He was quick to attack back. Repeatedly kicking me in the stomach. All his pain and suffering lashed out in each blow. The floor was covered in blood. My skin bruised black. He only stopped when we heard the crack of my ribcage. I swallowed back my pain and let my tears drown my sorrows.

"Look what you made me DO!!!!!!!!!! YOU SELFISH BRAT! This is all on you. I will find them." The malice and venom in his voice caused me to tremble in my spot. He found his way back to his bedroom to clean up and lay down. What I would give to throw him out like he did to me two years ago.

Wheezing and coughing the copper like substance from my lungs I found the will to live. I fought every instinct in my body to lay still to stand up and get mom and Zaiden out as fast as possible.

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It took everything in me to keep walking while my mom clung to my back and sobbed. We were going to alpha Richard's house were my best friend Daisy lives, to help us escape.

I've known Daisy since we were just pups. Running around with matching pigtails and dashing golden dresses. Back then Richard was just a beta. A second in command for my father. He took his place after death to keep the pack together. That was the only connection to a higher rank that we got to keep. Our friendship with the new alpha and his family.

After awhile I became attached to Richard and he to I. I was his second daughter. He treated me like a princess. Like I was his own. And I always saw him to be a big role in my life as well. He became my father figure.

My mother enjoyed the fact that I had someone else to look after me when the nights got bad and James came home swearing and swinging. I spent most of my nights curled up with Daisy as the monster abused my mother. I would go home in the wee mornings before he even cracked an eye to take care of her wounds.

I was so young then, but still so willing to protect the ones that I love. My mother would be furious when I walked through the door still in my baby blue nightie, but overtime became accustomed to the company as we both cleaned and bandaged her up. Sometimes they got really bad and she wouldn't let me help so I sat with her and played with her hair to keep her calm.

Eventually I stopped going over to the alphas house and decided to approach James on my own. I still remember that night like it was yesterday. Mom had been out with Zaiden at the pack hospital getting a check-up when he walked in. I was eating a sandwich. He came into the kitchen demanding my mother and brother be brought to him. His fists slammed on the island and shook the house. He picked up my plate and threw it against the wall shattering it to pieces.

The first swing didn't hurt much. Granted I was stunned into not moving which gave him time to swing again and again until I was screaming for help. Daisy was passing by that afternoon and came to my rescue soothing that beast with her kind words and sense of rationality. He had stopped but warned her to never intervene again.

Which I assure you she never did.

And so it went on that way every night for the past two years. That year I had just transformed for my first time. The constant danger in my life and bloodline of an alpha pushed me to start early at a rare age of fifteen. Initially a werewolf doesn't transform until their sixteenth birthday.

Every werewolf gets a stepping up ceremony or in a mortals case a sweet sixteen. All pack members would set up a celebration for all pups turning sixteen that year. Later after the "grown-up" ceremony the teens would go out to the lake for swimming and alcohol. To spend quality time together before we found our mates.

By the time we reached the first step the door swung open and I dashed into Richard's arms. Allowing him to comfort me and hold me through the pain. His wife, Isabelle, hurried my mother and brother inside. Daisy came running down the stairs to engulf me in her own comfort blanket.

"We can't waste anytime, Evelyn. Give Zaiden to Nevaeh and let's get them out of here." Richard's voice was calm and alerted at the same time. Putting a hand on my mother's back to be reassuring he took Zaiden and placed him in a carrier to fit a transformed werewolf.

My mind reeled in my head until I understood the reason for that statement.

"No. I will not leave this house without my mother. Not a chance. He'll kill you mom!" Sobbing she reached for my cheek and placed a kiss on my forehead.

"My darling Nevaeh. Sweet, sweet Nevaeh. I am no longer strong enough to make a journey that far. I have to stay here where Richard can keep me safe and so that I may be able to hold James back from pursuing you on your journey. Please, my Love, understand that I do this with a heavy heart, but to protect you all in all. Take your brother and go live a life worth fighting for. There's nothing more here for you. I wish I could give you the world, but I'm afraid that I can't. I wanted so much better for you and now that you're older you will promise me to give that life to your brother. Forget about this place. The pain and suffering. Your scars will heal overtime and you'll always have a piece of me in him." She smiled sadly and kissed Zaiden's tiny little fingers.

I was shocked and absolutely heartbroken. But as soon as the light streamed through the blinds, I had no choice but to promise and leave her.

"I promise you that no harm will ever come to Zaiden. And I will find a way to save you. I won't leave you here to die. You deserve more. So much more mom. I love you." I was whisked away as her last words struck my ears.

"I love you too."