Rising

~1~

"You are a revolting slut" James sneered as he threw me against a nearby wall. I cough, looking up at him through my red hair. He's the Alpha now, and even though I've done nothing wrong he is punishing me. I shakily stand up, looking directly into his eyes clenching my fists ready for his next attack. he beats me black and blue and degrades me, and that's if I do what he says. If I disobey it's a hundred time's worse...I think this is it, I won't survive this time...Unless.....Unless I run and never come back like I always talk about... I hope my sister and parents will be okay without me...

" you don't get to breathe the same air as the rest of us, You should be dead!" He taunted I Stood up straight and glared at him, he had his brother's eyes, I miss him...but right now is not the time to feel sorry for myself or for him... Feeling this burning exhaustion all over my body but I couldn't do anything to stop him, I was surrounded and I was at the edge of the outer woods near the river, and the falls. They dragged me out here to kill me, but I don't feel like dying so I ran. I jumped over rocks into the trees until I had reached the river's edge, the cold mist of the rushing water hitting my bare legs.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" James huffs at me. I take a few steps away from him as the others in wolf form step out of the tree line growling. "You're not getting away from me alive." He smiles at me menacingly. "there's nowhere for you to run Rosie." he takes another step towards me, "Just come back, I won't hurt you...everyone makes mistakes and I will forgive this if you come to me right now." he says tenderly with his hand out towards me, and for a split second, I believed him, he was acting like he used to. Then I remembered who was talking, "No, I will never go back!" I shout. Surprise ricochet over their faces. I glare at him, I try to step away but I realize I'm at the edge... of a rushing river...

He smirks, "get her!" and they all pounced at once.

So I jumped.

Water, ice-cold, dragging me under over and over again. Pushing me into rocks and ripping up my clothes and skin. I fight to get air, to swim, to even move, the water was making my limbs heavy and numb. Then I'm slammed into a large fallen tree, barely able to throw myself onto the top of it before darkness takes over my vision.......Whatever happens...I'm finally free.

I slowly opened my eyes but squinted because the light hurt my eyes, and my head, "ugh" is all that manages to come out of my mouth feeling exhausted and groggy. " rise and shine beautiful it's time to get up, and tell me who the hell you are and why you're on our packs land!?" Says a deep aggressive-sounding voice. My eye shot open and I sat straight up immediately regretting it as my head pounded like a heartbeat. I looked around in complete shock at where I was. I had no clue what was going on I went from being thrown around in numbing cold water to somebody's pleather couch, covered in a colorful quilt, in an office type of room. "I-I-I uh-umm ... I-I-I'm sorry " I trailed off not sure what was going on, the only thing on my mind was my headache...literally. His face softened slightly," hmmm.. are you lost, what's going on with you?" he asked a less aggressive this time. I was too freaked out to answer and I avoided eye contact with him I was shaking slightly from both anxiety and tiredness. He sighed "it's okay-I'm sorry, look I am just a little overprotective of my pack I didn't mean to scare you" he whispered gently bending to my eye level, moving a stray piece of hair looking into my eyes. " I-I-I was kicked out of, m-my pack... I-I hoped to find another p-p-pack." half stutter not completely sure telling him the truth would be a good idea so I told a half-truth. I hoped he believed me.

I looked at him questioningly, hoping he'll let me join the pack he stared at me for a second too long then straightened up suddenly making me jump slightly. Then he sat on the desk and said " you can join the pack on one condition, if you join the pack you will submit completely to the alpha and other high-ranking pack members," I nod my head slowly not sure how I felt about that. " OK it's settled then I will let the alpha know we have a new member and send someone up to get you, you'll have to rest before you start school and your ceremony will be after you meet the alpha." He says shuffling papers. "You're not the alpha?" I asked in a confused voice. And he shook his head "no I'm his beta, uh what's your name?" "Oh, I-its Rosemay," I said as respectfully as possible Scared of getting kicked out already especially After what had happened. I sat there and waited quietly. He kinda smiled when I said my name scribbling stuff on documents. "You can lay back down if you want to." he starts, "Oh, you gotta sign this first." he walks over with a stack of papers and a pen, sits next to me, and points at where I need to sign in a couple places. then he gives me some water and a Nyquil...and I fall asleep again, this time peacefully.