Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Rosalie woke up to see the bed empty, she frowned as she sniffed the air. She became even more confused when she couldn't even smell Dimitri's scent at all. Worry started to bubble in her chest as she slowly got out of bed, her eyes scanning the room.

"Dimitri?" She called out.

"So, this spray does mask your scent apparently. Cool."

She shrieked and jumped, almost falling on her ass if it wasn't for the wall. She placed her hand over her heart and looked at a shocked yet amused Dimitri.

"Did I scare you?" He chuckled.

She scowled at him, "No, I was exercising."

He rolled his eyes before walking over to her and placing his hands on her hips. He tilted her chin up and looked at her, his eyes reflected nothing but love. She was confused until he leaned down and kissed her on the lips. She melted into the kiss quickly, her whole body relaxing as he pulled her close.

She suddenly pulled away with red cheeks, "Morning breath! I didn't brush my teeth!" She gasped before sprinting into the bathroom.

She could hear him laughing, she then heard him sit on the bed as she brushed her teeth. After she was done she walked back out to the bedroom and sat beside him.

"I was thinking you, me, and the girls could go on a picnic or something. What do you think?" He asked.

She smiled, "That sounds perfect."

Once they were both dressed they waited for Sage and Sara before walking out. Rosalie laughed as Sage and Sara tried racing each other, only for Dimitri to yell at them about the river. She sighed and looked at the river, marveling at its beauty.

She was curious as to where Dimitri was taking them, but she didn't ask any questions. Instead, she enjoyed nature and laughed at the twin's antics.

"Close your eyes. All three of you." Dimitri ordered.

Rosalie raised an eyebrow before closing her eyes and letting him lead her.

"Ow!" Sara groaned as she walked into a tree.

"Oops, sorry, forgot that tree was there." Dimitri laughed.

"No you didn't! That was on purpose!"

Dimitri continued to laugh as he pulled his daughter away from the tree. "Next time, don't steal my sunglasses and then return them...broken."

"That wasn't me!"

"Oh? So, they just walked by themselves?"

"Yes."

He rolled his eyes before stopping them, with a wide smile he let go and sighed.

"Open your eyes."

All three girls gasped as they opened their eyes to a beautiful meadow. Dimitri gently tugged on Rosalie's hand, snapping her out of her shocked state. Sage and Sara sprinted into the meadow, shrieking as if they were six again.

"We used to come here with my parents." Dimitri explained as they watched the girls. "They loved it. Christine never came, so, it was a peaceful getaway for us."

Rosalie frowned, "They didn't like hanging out with her?"

He sighed, a sad look crossed his features. "They never did because they barely knew her. They knew she was their mother, but she never acted like one. They had to refer to her as Luna and not mom or mother. When they were only a few months old she threw the responsibilities of both of us on me while she went out and partied. When I found out she was cheating on me I tried hiding it from them."

"What happened?"

"When they were five, she left. She rejected me, disowned them, lied to them about me hating them, then she finally left. The whole pack was affected by her abandonment, but Sara and Sage were affected more."

He took a shaky breath as his eyes sparkled with tears. "They were scared of me after I went back to my cruel ways. They never saw that side of me and I wish they hadn't. I just...I don't know. I gave control over to my wolf, the pain was getting worse and I was afraid of it."

She stopped walking and cupped his face, he looked at her as she stroked his cheek with her thumb.

"But they still loved you, they love you today too. Unlike their so called mother, you've been an amazing parent to them. They know why you did what you did, they know all about rejection now. They understand you were in pain, Sage actually asked me if we're going to get in a fight again. She was scared. She said you were really bad after I left, what did she mean by that?" She asked softly.

He sighed, "I lost it...I trashed multiple rooms, I drank until I passed out, and punched the wall multiple times. That's why my knuckles were bloody the night you walked in after you returned."

"I'm sorry." She whispered as she hugged him. "For leaving."

"No, I'm sorry for being an idiotic asshole. I deserved that." He murmured.

She sighed and looked up, "For now on we talk things out, deal?"

He smiled and kissed her on the lips, "Deal."

They both continued walking towards the middle of the meadow as the girls shifted and chased each other in wolf form.

"Good thing I brought extra clothes with me, I had a feeling they were going to shift." Dimitri chuckled.

Rosalie laughed, "Did you bring extra for us?"

He smirked before setting the basket down, "Guess we'll find out after lunch. Girls! Lunch!"

Rosalie rolled her eyes as she sat beside him. "Jerk."

"That would be me." He grinned.

After lunch the girls hid behind trees as they undressed before shifting. Dimitri and Rosalie shifted in the field, ripping their clothes apart in the process.

Rosalie let out a howl of joy as she played with her new family.

"Rosalie, wake up! Take Sage and Sara to the basement!"

She snapped her eyes open to see a frantic Dimitri, his eyes clouded over with rage. She quickly ran out of bed and grabbed the girls, not asking Dimitri any questions. Sage and Sara continued asking her questions, but she didn't answer.

They skidded to a halt when two rogues jumped through the window and blocked their exit. Rosalie didn't hesitate to run up and slit the one rogue's throat. She spun around to see Sage tackling the other rogue and breaking his neck. She quickly grabbed them again and ran into the basement.

As they ran down the stairs a sharp pain shot through her abdomen, causing her to almost stumble down the stairs. Sage and Sara caught her before she almost fell, a thin sheet of sweat coated her face.

"Rosalie, are you okay?" Sage asked, her eyes mirroring worry.

Rosalie swallowed and nodded before continuing. They sat down and listened to the cries of pain from outside. After thirty minutes Rosalie had enough and stood up.

"If a rogue comes down here you can protect yourselves?" She questioned.

Sage grinned as she looked towards a door, "Oh, yeah, we can."

Rosalie frowned and followed her gaze, "Why are you looking there?"

"That's the old torture room. We have a lot of silver weapons in there." She explained.

Rosalie nodded before running back up the stairs. She found one of the warriors and ordered him to stay with the girls. He quickly obeyed and ran into the basement, closing the door behind him.

She turned only for another sharp pain to go through her ribs. She gasped out in pain, but continued running outside. She stopped when she saw the training field full of fighting wolves. Her eyes scanned the field until she found Dimitri's wolf running through, slaughtering any rogue that got in his way.

A dark grey and white wolf suddenly jumped out at him and bit into his shoulder. Rosalie bit back a scream as a burning pain erupted in her shoulder. Once it was gone she frowned.

I'm feeling his pain. She thought before shifting and attacking a rogue.

She dodged, killed, and attacked multiple rogues. She continued fighting, refusing to back down to them. She spotted Dimitri fighting with another large wolf who has scars all over his body. She was about to run over to him when someone else attacked her.

She looked up to see the rogue leader grinning at her. His eyes held an evil glint, his smile was sadistic as he watched her.

"You're all mine, girl." He sneered before shifting and lunging at her.

She growled and dodged his attack, she spun around and grabbed him by the back leg. He whined as she swung him around and slammed him into a tree. Before he was able to get up she broke his neck.

Pathetic excuse for a leader. She thought bitterly.

She took a step forward when pain exploded in her chest and traveled through her body. She whined and fell to the ground, her vision blurred as she tried standing. A tan rogue started running towards her with blood thirsty eyes, but she couldn't do anything. She felt a numbness wash over before an even more intense pain sliced through her.

She watched as a black and white wolf attacked the rogue and killed it. When the wolf turned towards her she recognized the brown eyes of her brother. He ran up to her and licked the side of her face.

"Rose, you have to get up. Come on." He mind-linked her.

She slowly stood on shaking legs, she attempted to walk but fell over again.

"What is wrong with me?" She asked him.

He whined a little before looking around, he froze and his eyes widened. She sat up again and turned her head to see Dimitri's wolf on the ground. The large scarred wolf circled him, a dark look sparkled in his eyes.

"No...no no no no!" She chanted in her head.

She shook her head as she attempted to run over, only to collapse again. Tears rolled down her cheeks, wave after wave of pain crashed through her. His wolf was covered in blood and panting, she desperately tried mind-linking him but couldn't.

Her brother went to run over, but she stopped him. "I'm not losing you too." She growled.

He gave her a sad look before sitting down and whining. She closed her eyes and got on her feet again, she ignored the immense pain as she took a step forward. She took a deep breath and focused on her bond with Dimitri. She quickly blocked it and was relieved when the pain suddenly left her. She bared her teeth and sprinted forward, not giving the scarred wolf any chance to dodge her as she attacked him. She was quick with her attacks, ripping off flesh like it was nothing.

When she went in for the kill he suddenly barked and whined at her. She stopped and backed up, shock washed over her.

"Uncle Jace?" She whispered in her mind.

"Rose! Why are you attacking me! You should be attacking that monster!" Her uncle sneered. "He killed your parents, my sister and brother-in-law!"

She shook her head, "No! He's been protecting me from the man who killed them! I'm mated to him!"

At this her uncle froze and looked at her, her eyes held pain as she turned back towards Dimitri. She shifted back, ignoring the fact she was naked. She knelt beside him and laid his head in her lap. He opened his eyes and looked at her, pain was shining in them as he whined.

He tried getting up, but collapsed with a loud yelp. She hushed him and stroked his fur. She looked up when her uncle walked over, his eyes holding guilt.

"I-I didn't know...that man..." He trailed off.

She smiled softly, "That man was the one to kill my parents. Not Dimitri."

Her uncle whined a little and sat down, he then turned around and howled. All the rogues stopped fighting and looked at him, he then barked and motioned for them to leave. Almost immediately the rogues ran into the forest, the ones who couldn't were dead.

She ignored all that was happening and looked back at Dimitri as his eyes closed.