Chapter 1

Louis POV

"Mom, where are you? '' I searched the house for my mother. All I could hear were muffled screams. I knew it was my mother screaming and crying for help. As I walked downstairs, the screams became louder. I ran outside, only to witness my mother fighting for her life. Her wolf was injured so severely that she was forced to return to her human form. The rogues dragged my mother through the dirt, ripping off her arm; another grabbed her legs, slinging her into the car. She sat up against the car, blood coming from everywhere, when a rogue rammed into her body, biting into her neck and ripping out her throat. I was so scared that I stood there and watched my mother die.

My father, Grey, rushed outside to see my mother lying lifeless on the ground. A terrifying howl left out his mouth, and the look on his face was scary. Failure was not an option within our territory. Being so young, I didn't know what a rogue was, but I knew that killing my mother was not a good thing.

After that eventful day, our lives were never the same. That evening, we held a candlelight vigil to honor my mother. Alphas and Lunas from neighboring territories came to show their respect. They gave my family words of wisdom, strength, and courage.

Three days later, we buried my mother in her favorite meadow surrounded by butterfly weeds, orange tiger lilies, and black-eye Susan flowers. As we say our last goodbyes, I know I must cherish the memories we had together. Whether it's her silly jokes or warm hugs, these memories will last forever.

Once the omega finished covering her caskets, my sister and I sat there crying. I know my twin sister Liberty (Libby) needs me now, and I can not keep crying. I have to be strong for her. There was no telling what state my father was in when he left the funeral. I took Libby's hands in and led her out of the meadow. When we arrived home, our father was a drunken mess. I rushed her upstairs so that I could check on our father. When I walked to his side, he slapped me. I was standing there shocked. He had never laid a hand on my sister or me.

I asked him, "Why did you slap me like that?"

He responded, "You let those disgusting rogues kill your mother. It is all your fault your mother is gone." Tears rolled down his face like he believed I could stop three wolves from killing her.

"I'm only ten. What did you want me to do? They took her away from me, too. She was my world."

My father got so angry at my response that he slapped me again. I was so defenseless against him. I ran upstairs to my room and hid from him. I knew he was upset about losing my mother, but that didn't give him the right to hit me. It wasn't until Libby came in and saw all of my bruises that I stopped crying. I covered myself and told her everything would be alright. She hugged me and wiped my tears away.

After hugging my sister a little longer, I got out of bed and ran her a bubble bath. I knew I needed to be strong to take care of her and protect her from our father's abuse. I was determined not to let him hurt her as he had done to me.

Once we were nice and cleaned. I sat in my sister's room, reading her a bedtime story like my mother did every night to put her to sleep.

"Do you think mommy will visit our dreams? Do you think she is watching us from Heaven?" she asked.

"Yes, Mommy will visit us often. Mommy is now our guardian angel, and she will watch over us. Get some rest, Libby. It has been a stressful few days."

She snuggled underneath her blanket and went to sleep. I turned on her nightlight and left to get ready for bed. I lay in bed thinking about my mother until I finally fell asleep.

The following day, when I woke up, I saw my father still passed out from all the drinking. There were beer bottles all over the living room table and a bottle of Jack Daniels in his hand. By the time he woke up, Libby and I were outside playing. He came to the playground and hugged Libby. He went to say something to me, but I ignored him. He must have seen my bruises and looked surprised at how badly he beat me last night.

I will never look at him the same way. I had a feeling that this was just the beginning.