Raven's Rose

by Deanna Kinney

  My eyes widened and a laugh burst from my lips. “Um, what? I think that is the last thing I would call your tiny butt,” I said, twisting my head to take a look.

  She jerked back and used her hands to cover her rear, her anger boiling over. “You are an overgrown, pig-headed dolt!” She pointed her finger in my face. “Don’t even think about talking to me again!”

  I smiled. “Whatever you say, Trouble. Come along then.” I reached down for the now secure bag and made my way toward the exit. In that moment, something told me my life was about to take a serious detour—one that would kick me in the groin and make me wish I was born a girl. Unfortunately, Trouble was coming with me.

  Chapter Three

  Hope

  I hated him already—this guy called Wesley—my new alpha. How dare he criticize my romance novels—or my butt? However, as annoyed as I might have been, I couldn’t deny that he wasn’t all that bad to look at. He was very tall with a muscled physique, black, messy spiked hair, and an intimidating gaze. But this guy was a bigger jerk than even my dad was. His sharp tongue and arrogant swagger were proof of that.

  Sitting in the back seat of the tinted limo, staring defiantly at Wesley and the Asian guy named Li, I already wished I was back at home. I missed my friends, Cathy most of all. She had always been a good friend to me and such a great listener. My dad thought she was trouble. Little did he know that I was the bad influence on her, not the other way around. I smirked when I thought about it.

  “What’s so funny?” Wesley asked. “Did you just think of how much fun it’s gonna be when we wash that pink out of your hair?”

  My face straightened. “If you touch me you will die.” I snapped, my face burning with anger.

  He smirked, nodding. “A challenge. Nice.”

  “No, I mean it! You will not touch me or my hair! You got it!” I was fuming, while he was still smirking.

  “I’m going to enjoy teaching you some respect, little girl.”

  “I’m eighteen! And now I know why Charity chose Levi!” His face fell, and I knew I had victory. Though in the next second I wasn’t sure that was a good thing.

  He gritted his teeth and his face became red with restrained anger, his eyes shifting yellow. Li touched his alpha’s hand and whispered, “It’s okay, Wesley. Shake it off. Shake it off, dude.”

  I watched Wesley’s eyes slowly squeeze shut as if he was trying to gain control and made a mental note to be more careful when using the Charity card in the future.

  Thankfully, we didn’t speak the rest of the ride, and I was relieved when the ramp to the forest dropped down and we entered their parking garage.

  “Home, sweet home,” the Asian guy said as I was ushered from the car. Wesley began walking and we all followed as we made our way through the halls of the facility. This place wasn’t all that different from my home at the Mason House. The walls were made out of the same material and the layout seemed to be very similar, which brought me a strange peace.

  We continued to walk for what seemed like forever, taking turn after turn. I don’t think my home had this many turns. I focused, trying to memorize the way. We finally made one last turn and came to a door with a big fancy wreath on it with a sign that said ‘DO NOT ENTER’.

  Wesley ignored it and swung the door open widely. “Nana?” Wesley called.

  I could hear tenderness in his voice, which surprised me. Who was this Nana? Maybe it was his grandmother.

  We all took careful steps inside and entered what appeared to be a greenhouse, although I’d never seen one underground before. It was relatively small with some kind of special lighting. The plants and flowers that surrounded and cascaded around me were really beautiful, with vibrant and rich colors of green, yellow, orange, red, and purple. I was in awe, until Wesley turned to peer at me, and I quickly shifted my expression to indifference and narrowed my eyes at him.

  “Oh, there you are, sugah?” a sweet voice squealed in delight.

  I glanced over in time to see a strange woman coming from the back of the room with flowers draping in her gloved hands. She was an older woman, wearing a long plain dress with orange sneakers and a wide brim hat with a wreath of fresh flowers wrapped around it. Despite her odd, hippie style, her face was fresh and lovely, her eyes kind.

  She passed all the boys and stopped right in front of me. I shifted my feet, slightly nervous as she studied me from head to foot. I was suddenly annoyed. “See anything you like?” I knew the words were wrong the moment they left my mouth.

  She straightened and her soft eyes turned hard. “Now let’s get one thing straight right from the start. I’ll not tolerate any disrespect or backtalk. I didn’t allow if from any of my boys, and I won’t allow it from you. Are we clear?”

  My face flushed with embarrassment, and I found myself nodding in agreement.

  She smiled and her soft expression immediately returned. “Great, sugah. I think we’re gonna get along just fine. Now why don’t you follow me and I’ll take you to your room.”

  She continued to talk as she led the way through her lovely space. “This is my greenhouse which my sweet husband made for me years ago. He knew how much I truly missed the outdoors and how much I loved flowers. I spend most of my time in here. My name is Nana Butterfly, and you must be Hope.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m Hope Mason,” I said, nodding as I continued to stare in awe at all the pretty flowers as we made our way to the back and came to a door.

  “This will be your room for the time being. It’s small, I know, but since you’ll be working with me in my greenhouse, I thought it would be appropriate for you to stay close.”

  My mouth fell open. “I’m what?” I shouted. “No one mentioned that I’d be put to work here.” I spun and came face to face with Wesley. “And I don’t need a babysitter!”

  His eyes turned hard. “Well, it appears that you do. And my Nana has been gracious enough to take the job when no one else would. You should be grateful.”

  I clenched my hands to keep from punching him in the face. “Well, I’m not grateful—for any of you! I’m leaving!” I stomped passed him and the others, and hurried my way back the way I’d come and no one tried to stop me. I’m not sure how, but before long I found myself exiting the garage and entering the forest. It was raining, but I didn’t care. I hated this place, and more importantly, I hated its pack leader.

  Chapter Four

  Hope

  “Just where do you think you’re going?”

  I spun, and had I not known him for his smug voice, I might not have recognized him at all. Wesley’s dark hair was wet and hanging longer around his face, covering part of his left eye, and his shirt was drenched and clinging tightly to his muscled chest. I stuck out my chin defiantly. “I don’t have anything to say to you! I’m leaving this crazy place and going home!”

  “I don’t think so,” he laughed, grabbing my arm and spinning me to face him.

  “Let go of me, you bully!” I jerked away too hard, slipping in the mud and landing hard on my butt.

  Wesley began to laugh which only fueled my already hot temper. He reached out to help me up, but I slapped his hand away. “Get away from me!”

  He towered over me, droplets falling from his hair and running down his face. “It’s a good thing you have that voluptuous rumpus to break your fall, huh, Trouble?”

  “Shut up!” I yelled, getting to my feet only to slip again.

  He laughed louder but this time he took a hold of my arm firmly and lifted me to my feet. Suddenly, he stopped short, his eyes going wide.

  “What?” I asked in alarm, following his gaze to the top of my shirt. I gasped. There, dripping from my hair and covering my shirt, was pink hair dye. I glanced back to him and recognized the look in his eyes; an idea was forming. I backed away, raising both of my hands in defense. “No, no, no!” I yelled, but it was too late.

  In one swift move, he took me by the waist and slung me over his shoulder as he bolted through the fores
t in a full run. “You little witch! All this time you had in wash-in color just to irritate me! Well, we’re gonna take care of that right now!”

  “What are you gonna do?” I kicked and screamed, fighting with all my strength to break free, with no success. “Wesley, no! Let me go!”

  “With pleasure.” He stopped abruptly, and before I could collect my bearings, I was dropped, and submerged, into freezing cold water. I came up quickly, gasping for air. “What are you doing?” I screamed, glancing around and realizing that we were near the bank of a lake, and I was sitting, fully clothed and submerged to my waist.

  “I’m washing your hair for you,” he said, towering over me as he reached his hand to the floor, grabbing a handful of mud. He slapped it into my hair and began working it through my wet locks.

  “You are crazy! Let me go!” I screamed and fought, which only seemed to encourage him to continue. He massaged the thick mud into my hair and scalp as I slapped and fought until I was exhausted. He dunked my head then. I came up gasping. “You crazy son of—” He dunked me again, and again, until finally he jerked me to my feet and ushered me to the bank.

  I stood there in shock, staring at his smug face.

  “Wow, now it all makes since,” he said, taking a handful of my hair and studying the flaming red locks.

  I jerked to my senses, slapping his hand away and pushing passed him in a rush. “You are a crazy jerk! And you’ll be sorry for doing that to me! You just wait and see!”

  “You’re welcome!” he yelled as I ran all the way back to the facility—fighting tears the whole way.

  I sloshed through the greenhouse, not stopping as I passed Nana Butterfly.

  “Hmm, red hair. That explains things,” she said.

  I stopped and turned to face her, ready to tell her off, when she removed her big brimmed hat, revealing a head full of flaming red curly locks. My eyes went wide in total surprise.

  “It seems that we have something in common,” she said, her eyes gentle as she handed me the towel she had somehow managed to be holding. I took it and went straight into the small room, shut the door, plopped onto the bed, and cried myself to sleep.

  Chapter Five

  Wesley

  I tossed and turned, trying to get that stupid redhead out of my mind, but it was no use. I growled, getting up from my bed and heading into my kitchenette to get a snack. I opened the refrigerator and grabbed an old piece of pizza from the box. I took a frustrated bite and chewed aggressively, not even taking the time to enjoy the flavor. I reflected back to our little confrontation in the forest. I managed to laugh when I remembered her expression as she slipped and fell in the mud, her eyes going wide with surprise. She looked so cute somehow—so vulnerable. I shook my head, trying to clear away the memories and took a more dramatic bite.

  After she had stomped off and headed back to the facility, I had called Nana Butterfly and told her what had happened so she could have a towel ready for her. I probably shouldn’t have been so hard on the girl, but I had been so angry when I realized her hair color was just temporary. That whole time she had known that all she had to do was wash it out and wash it in. The thought infuriated me, knowing she was just trying to get under her father’s skin—and mine, first with the blue hair and then with the pink.

  My thoughts began to drift, however, as I pictured what she must have looked like as a child, her curly, red locks long and flowing as she danced under the soft drift of the first snowfall of the season. Although in her mountainous Alaskan town of Balmy, population 4,600, she rarely saw anything but snow. I imagined her to be a very joyful child, with a big smile to add to the light dusting of freckles across her nose and the vibrant green eyes. I found myself wondering what might have happened to her to make her so angry. I suddenly jerked to my senses, throwing the remaining pizza crust across the room and hitting the trash can. “Who cares why she’s so angry!” I growled, slamming my fist into my chest. “I’m angry!” I stomped back into my bedroom and into the bathroom, thinking a cool shower might ease my tensions. I was totally wrong.

  When morning arrived, with my normal morning disposition, and my lack of sleep the night before, I was sure to be lovely company. I entered the dining hall, pushing around a few of the guys, and quickly recognized Nana Butterfly picking up two trays of food. Just the woman I wanted to speak to. She had on her normal wide-brimmed hat lined with a fresh wreath of flowers. Her orange sneakers were clean and bright, as usual, but her smile was brighter, as if she knew something I didn’t. Hmm.

  Before I could ask, she spoke. “Well, don’t you look well rested this morning? The dark bags under your eyes are especially becoming. Must be the meanness trying to come out.” She used to say that to all of us kids when we were young and doing stupid things, or if we didn’t feel well. She was teasing of course, but it still bugged me.

  “Well, in this particular case, the meanness has red curls and a tongue sharp enough to slice the hair off a grizzly.”

  She smiled an all-knowing smile. “Oh yes. You must be referring to Hope.” She sighed as she handed both trays of food to me and turned to walk. I guess that meant for me to follow. “Yes, well, I listened to that girl cry herself to sleep last night. She was still in her room when I left out this morning. I thought I’d bring her some food to help lift her spirits. You can help me.”

  “Nana, I don’t—”

  She spun to face me, her eyes fixed and sharp. I actually backed up, my eyes going wide in alarm. “I didn’t ask you! That girl is a guest here! Now, I know she’s a pain for you, but you better ease up on her, or I’m gonna bend you over my knee and spank you, alpha or not! Got it?” Her eyes were blazing, which wasn’t unusual when she felt strong about something.

  I lowered my head in reverence, “Yes ma’am.”

  “Good. Now, follow me!”

  * * * * * *

  Some minutes later, we strolled through the greenhouse and stopped at the door at the back of the room. Nana Butterfly knocked.

  “Yes?” a soft voice answered.

  “Hey, sugah. It’s Nana Butterfly. I brought you breakfast, May I come in?” Nana looked at me with a hopeful expression and winked.

  “Um, I guess so,” she answered.

  Nana pushed the door open and stepped inside, as did I. “What is he doing in here?” she squealed, pulling covers up to cover her barely-there P.J’s.

  I quickly turned my head.

  “Get out! Get out!” she yelled. Nana ushered me from the room, taking the trays from me and stepping back inside, slamming the door shut behind her with her foot.

  I stood there with a mixture of shock and irritation. This girl was a total nutcase! “You’re welcome!” I barked before disappearing in a blur of motion, causing the flowers and plants to blow around like a hurricane had hit, which it had. And its name was Hope Mason.

  Chapter Six

  Hope

  Nana Butterfly turned to face me, her smile apologetic. “I’m sorry, sugah, but I needed him to help me carry the trays of food,” she said as she laid the trays on the end of my bed and took a seat beside me. “Are you hungry?”

  I eyed her skeptically, knowing she hadn’t just told me the entire truth. I sensed she was trying to help Wesley and I come to some kind of truce, but it wasn’t gonna happen. This guy had crossed the line, and he was gonna pay. I grinned at the thought.

  “Hmm, I’ll take that as a yes.”

  I straightened as she placed the tray of food on my lap. It looked really good, and I was starving. I grabbed the blueberry muffin first and shoved a huge bite in my mouth, chewing with enthusiasm. Nana studied me as I continued to chew bite after bite but said nothing until I had finished the entire plate. I sat back, sighing and rubbing my stomach in contentment.

  “Did you enjoy it, dear?”

  I smiled for the first time since arriving in this crazy place. “It was delicious.”

  “That’s great to hear. You know, Wesley isn’t all that bad. He’s just a littl
e rough around the edges, but he’s got a good heart. Now, he doesn’t let many people see it, but I’ve seen it. As a matter of fact, I was there the day it broke.” She shook her head, sadly. “And he’s never been the same since.”

  I stirred in the bed, inching closer as my curiosity urged me. “What do you mean?”

  “It was a long time ago. Do you know the story, over ten years ago, about when vampires attacked the Westside Pack?”

  I nodded, remembering the stories my daddy shared with us about the amazing Levi and his pack. I had developed a crush on him after that. I secretly hoped I’d get a chance to meet him and maybe even marry him. I had heard that he was having trouble choosing a mate until the day he met Charity. The stories about her made me jealous, but soon after I began to like that crazy girl.

  “Well,” she continued, drawing my mind back to her words, “our pack joined them in the fight. We defeated the vampires that day, but sadly, Wesley’s father, along with the Westside Pack’s alpha, better known to you as Levi’s father, were both killed. Wesley had secretly snuck out to watch the battle and witnessed the brutal death of his father.”

  I gasped, putting my hand to my mouth. I had heard about the deaths of both of their fathers, but I didn’t know Wesley had witnessed it. “But you said you were witness to the moment his heart broke?” I questioned.

  “Yes, well, after that Levi and his pack became part of our pack, as you know. Wesley began clinging to his grandfather, my husband, Clark. This was something he needed to do, and I tried telling my husband this, but Clark felt a strong draw to the sweet spirited Levi. Clark took both boys under his wing, but it was clear to most, including Wesley, that he favored Levi. One day, Wesley had gotten an A on his class assignment and was eager to show his Papa Windsor. He burst into his office, determined to show off his work, but Papa Windsor was in the middle of showing Levi some fighting moves. Wesley tried several times to get his grandfather’s attention, but my Clark never acknowledged Wesley at all. Levi also noticed but felt helpless. I was in the office that day watering the few plants he had allowed to almost die and witnessed the entire thing. I saw the grief and pain in Wesley’s eyes that day as the moment sunk in and he knew he had lost his grandfather too. From that day to this, Wesley has been filled with many emotions, anger most of all. I tried to fill the void the best I could, but it wasn’t enough. My husband didn’t see what I saw. And after Wesley began acting out, it was natural for my husband to grow closer to Levi and pull further away from Wesley.” She lowered her head, shaking it sadly. “He was never the same after that day.” Her eyes filled with tears. I gently laid my hand on top of hers. She glanced up at me and smiled, squeezing my hand in return.