VERA

four

The next morning, Vera decided to go for a walk. Thankfully the cut on her face was healing rapidly, because the longer it was obvious, the more questions she would get about it that she had to avoid.

She didn't walk in any particular direction, but just roamed around, chewing nervously on the string of Carter's old hoodie.

She sighed deeply, mulling over the events of last night.

Her father was a monster. He was going to rip her away from her mother and leave her all alone. Who knows what he and the Luna would do to her mother once she was out of the way.

She walked almost aimlessly until she found herself outside of Carter's house. Or more like the little field outhouse her father had built for him when Carter had come looking for asylum in their pack.

She remembered vividly the day that Carter had trespassed on their territory. She was still a kid, and he was a pup himself, only a year older than her. He had been roaming around by himself for almost a year, on the run from the alpha of his old pack.

His mother had been killed when the alpha had found out that Carter wasn't his biological son, and Carter knew he was next if he didn't run away.

At the young age of eleven, Carter had been all over, or so he claimed. Vera's father was extremely cautious about trusting the child, but Vera and her siblings had grown comfortable with him.

The boy was extremely wise beyond his years after all that he had been put through at such a young age. After her father agreed to let him stay, she found herself going to visit his little house daily to hang out with him and to hear all of his stories.

Looking back, she might have been in love with him even then.

"Vera."

Vera looked around in confusion until she turned and saw Carter standing behind her with his arms crossed.

"Carter-"

"You aren't allowed to be here. Alpha's orders."

Vera looked into his eyes and frowned at the coldness in them. "I was just going for a walk, Carter."

"You know your father will actually kill me, right?"

Vera couldn't tell if he was over exaggerating or not. Yes, her father could be a murderous bastard, but she was highly doubtful of the notion that her father would kill someone he invested so much time and energy into. Carter was of value to him.

"I don't think he will. And anyways, I came to you, not the other way around."

Carter chuckled lightly and stepped closer to her, reaching up to touch the light scar still on her cheek.

Vera watched as the hand that rested at his side clenched into a fist and she reached out to grab his arm.

"Carter...it's okay."

"It isn't," he growled. "I wanted to kill him when I saw what he did to you. I should have."

Vera could tell he was dead serious, but she didn't like this side of him much. His eyes grew cold and his body more tense.

"Don't talk like that. He has a family. And he's still my father."

Carter yanked his arm away and growled. "Fuck that!" Vera flinched at his vulgar language and her eyes started to well up with tears. She had never seen him so livid and it was scaring her.

She stepped back while he ranted and tugged at his hair in frustration. "If I were just a little bit stronger-! I-If had the chance to kill him, I would! What kind of asshole beats the people they are supposed to protect?!"

"Carter-"

"No, Vera!" He swung his arms around, emphasizing his point. "You can't make excuses for him your entire life! A father is supposed to love! A father is supposed to protect! A father is supposed to care, Vera!"

Carter clenched his fists in rage and Vera was going to interject, but paused when she saw the tears running down his face.

His voice was strained and it sounded as if he were choking on sobs. "The man I called father tried to kill me, Vera. I can't just stand by and do nothing as he continues to get away with his abuse!

"Does he even know what love is, Vera? I know that the first time I've ever felt true love after being separated from my pack was when I met you. How can he be so cold? How dare he strike you like that and feel nothing. How can he send you away for lord-knows-what to happen to you?"

Vera looked down at his shaking hands in fear. "Please, you're scaring me..."

He let out a pained scream. "How can he take you away from me?!" Carter fell to his knees, his chest heaving heavily.

"If he won't love you, then why can't I?"

Vera stared at him with wide eyes for a few moments, her body shaking with sobs. She dropped down to her knees beside him and threw her arms around him, burying her face in his neck.

"Everytime I have something good, it gets ripped away from me." Carter leaned into her embrace and let his tears flow freely, grasping onto her for dear life. "I can't do it anymore. It hurts so much."

Vera didn't know what to say. Even if she did, she wouldn't. What could she say to him that would make the gravity of what he was going through less crushing? They were being torn away from each other and there was nothing that either of them could do about it.

"Beta." Vera's blood ran cold at the sound of her father's voice. She felt Carter tense in her hold, but then she felt him completely relax and nearly go limp, almost as if he had given up.

She looked up at the alpha standing over her and narrowed her eyes, clinging onto Carter even tighter.

Carter slowly got his bearings and stood up, helping Vera stand on his way up.

He stared at the ground in front of him for a minute, not saying anything.

Vera was on edge. She didn't know what her father would do anymore. She knew he was unpredictable before he struck her yesterday, but he had never laid a hand on her prior to that. He seemed to be full of surprises lately.

Not even bothering to wipe his tears, Carter snapped his head up to look at his alpha dead in the eyes.

"Alpha."

Vera saw her father slightly lose composure and waver at the boy's show of dominance before he pulled himself together.

"What did I tell you about hanging around my daughter?"

"Not to."

"Did I not give you orders to avoid her at all costs?"

Vera felt hot tears roll down her cheeks. She shouldn't have come here. Now they were both in trouble, and Carter even more so.

"You did, sir."

"As my beta, you should know better than to disregard an order. I'm sure you know the gravity of what you've done."

Carter nodded curtly, his jaw set in defiance and eyes still glistening with left over tears. "I do."

"You understand you're to be punished for insubordination."

"Yes."

Vera's eyes widened at that. "Father! Please don't. I came over here. Carter was just returning home."

The alpha cut his steely gaze over to his daughter. "You say this as if it changes the fact that he couldn't just go inside and shut the door, ignoring you all together."

"Like I said. It isn't his fault." Vera didn't want to snap at her father again, but it was so frustrating trying to reason with someone who acted as if they felt nothing.

"If you want to claim responsibility so badly, then you'll be punished as well." He grabbed her arm tightly and started pulling her along, gesturing towards Carter.

"Follow, beta."

"Yes, alpha."