The scene at the playground in the park was very idyllic. It was the dream playground, crowded with children laughing and playing on the slides, swings, and jungle gyms. The grass was a vibrant green and the sun, was the brightest and warmest as the breeze brought life to all.

The two-year-old giggled uncontrollably as her mother tickled her fat belly.

“Who's the prettiest little girl in the world?” the mother cooed. “You are... yes you are.”

The child's father smiled over his wife and daughter. His little girl... the perfect little girl... after his mountain of riotous boys of course.

“Hey Dad, look!” his second son exclaimed, pointing to the jungle gym, “Raoul's getting faster!”

Both parents looked up at their oldest son, effortlessly and skillfully moving across the bars. His father smiled proudly.

“He's going to make one hell of a fine Alpha one day, Vala,” he said to his wife, “Just wait and see.”

Vala stood up with her daughter on her hip.

“I know” she smiled at her son, “He's a Barlowe.”

Her husband smiled. A loud cry erupted from the slides and Vala turned. Her husband knew the cause of the cry.

“Odin! Will you stop that?!” Vala scolded.

The young boy smirked at his mother and shoved the younger crying child down the slide.

“Gonzalo, we need to put that boy in a boarding school!” she huffed, taking a step toward their son.

“Val” he called out, stopping her, “Let him be.”

She frowned away from her son who had a pair of scissors in one hand and a long lock of hair in the other, and turned to her husband.

“Let him be? He just cut off that little girl's hair!”

“Alpha Gonzalo! Luna Vala!” the little girl's mother cried out in horror as she marched up to the culprit's parents. “Look what your son did to my daughter!”

“I understand your concern, Melba. But it's his birthday... just let him—”

“That's no excuse to encourage his bullying, Alpha Gonzalo” The mother frowned deeply, shoving her daughter in front of her, closer to the Alpha and Luna.

“She's right,” Vala added. “He has got to stop acting out. If he's ever going to prove himself, he needs to stop and do better.”

“Val...” Gonzalo sighed.

She shook her head and bounced their daughter on her hip.

“We have a beautiful little girl too, Gonzalo” Vala sighed desperately. “Do you really want her to be exposed to his kind of bad behavior? What if she picks it up huh? He's the brother closest to our daughter. He needs to get his acts together. If not for himself, for our little girl's sake.”

Odin watched his parents, toying with the girl's hair in his hands.

“What if your daughter was the one with her hair in between those blades, huh?” Vala asked. “What if some kid shoved her down the slide? Then what?”

“Then I would cut off their fingers and burn them alive” Odin let out.

“Oh good, there he goes again” Melba shook her head. “I refuse to let this act go unpunished!”

Gonzalo looked over his wife's head and signaled Odin over.

“Raoul, Percival, you too” he added to his other sons.

The boys gathered around.

“What punishment would you deem fit for his actions, Raoul?” his father asked.

The boy looked at his brother.

“Me?” he questioned. “I get to decide Odin's punishment?”

“Yes. You are going to be Alpha one day. And great leaders must make hard decisions and overcome trials... even if it involves their family.”

“I say he's flogged a hundred times” Melba suggested.

Odin scoffed.

“It's just hair,” he simply stated, shrugging, “It'll grow back.”

“Odin” his father scolded.

“What? Since I will never be Alpha or even second beta, I'm doing what I know how to do best. Live up to my name... the god of war and death” he smirked.

“He's not going to learn, Dad” Percival shook his head.

“Because he's stubborn and doesn't care about anyone's feelings!” Vara scolded.

“I beg to differ” Eamonn Barlowe's voice came from behind their backs.

“Father,” Gonzalo bowed.

He smiled at his son and daughter-in-law.

“Come here little one” he smiled and scooped his granddaughter into his arms.

Then he looked around.

“What do we have here?” he chuckled at the sight of the young girl missing a pigtail.

“Odin again” Vala stated.

“He cut off the girl's hair” Raoul added.

“So what is the punishment?” Eamonn asked.

“You can't punish someone who doesn't care about anything, grandpa” Percival chuckled.

Odin frowned at his older brothers.

“Oh, he doesn't?” Eamonn asked, looking at Odin. “You don't care about anything?”

The young boy's eyes momentarily flicked to his sister's chubby face.

“Not that I'm aware of, Bubba.”

Eamonn nodded.

“Well then we'll test the theory, won't we” he smiled and took the scissors away from Odin.

He handed them over to Melba's daughter.

“Una, was it?” he asked.

“Yes sir” she squeaked out.

“Here you go” he handed her the scissors.

Her hands trembled as she took them. Eamonn bounced his granddaughter on his hip for two seconds and handed her to Una.

“Cut her hair.”

Odin's eyes widened along with everyone else's.

“What are you doing?” Vala questioned.

“Testing the theory that my grandson doesn't care about anyone” he replied.

“Father...” Gonzalo spoke up.

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth... it's only fair, son” Eamonn said.

Melba smiled and nodded proudly.

“Now that's justice,” she said. “Go on now, Una dear.”

Una peeped at the girl in her arms and shook her head.

“I don't wanna...” she whispered.

“Oh go on child. There's nothing to be afraid of” Eamonn urged. “After all it's just hair. It'll grow back” he glanced at Odin.

Odin paled as Una nodded and lifted the scissors to his sister's head.

“Okay, okay!” he exclaimed, startling everyone as he dropped to his knees. “I'll apologize and accept any dammed punishment you people deem fit for my horrendous crime!”

Vala watched her son. He'd never exhibited any other emotions apart from anger and jealousy toward others. Never had he apologized for anything in his entire life either.

“Just...” Odin sighed, “... get that thing away from her. I'll do whatever you want, but Ulyana stays out of my mess.”

Eamonn smiled and nodded at his grandson.

“Very well then, Odin. Another punishment will be given to you.”

He nodded and lowered his head.

“Get up.”

Odin rose to his feet and hurriedly took his sister from Una.

“No one touches her” he warned in a tone that frightened even Gonzalo.

Ulyana cooed and Odin pushed her face into his neck, inhaling her baby scent.

“No one will touch you and walk away alive.”

✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽

✿ Ulyana's POV

I was back in the playground. Some girls were playing leapfrog and skip rope. Their songs weaved through the burbling laughter of the other kids. A woman walked her two-year-old by the hands. Her smile was beautiful.

Mom!

They moved up to a big man who was talking to three boys. The youngest of the boys spotted his woman and dashed away from his father, meeting his mother halfway to give her a quick hug before picking up his little sister and giving her the warmest and biggest hug. With all that excitement they hadn't noticed the threat looming very close by.

He was standing outside the playground, his fingers hooked in the chain-linked fence, as he watched them dott over the child.

The big man... my father, casually looked up and spotted the man behind the fence. He paled as his eyes widened. He mouthed something to his wife and she stopped smiling, making me feel cold.

The figure hopped over the fence, landing on a little boy's sandcastle. The child frowned and grabbed a handful of sand, throwing it at the figure whose lips quirked up into a deadly smirk.

The rest played out in slow motion in front of me. Mh father began to yell... no sound coming from his mouth. The figure threw his head back and laughed... soundless. One step, two steps, then he brought his fingers to his lips and let out a whistle. Wolves pounced into the playground and the figure picked up the little boy at his feet.

“Barlowe” I read his lips.

Then he tore off the child's head, indicating to the wolves to destroy everything and everyone in sight. My mother let out a soundless scream and out of nowhere, the sky exploded... all the children nearby igniting like match heads. My father's growl erupts as he barks at my mother to run to safety with my brothers and me.

But in the chaos, Odin and I are lost. I watch him hide with me. And even when the blast wave hit, he didn't let go, shielding me possessively with his body. I could hear my mother's screams merge with my father's howl as the shockwave ripped into my other brothers.

The figure, Kane, spotted Odin with me in his arms and smirked. My brother's burned with rage.

No!

“Odin don't!” I exclaimed, waving my arms and begging him to see me. “He'll kill you! Don't do it!”

But my screams were soundless. Before I could blink, Kane had shifted into his wolf form and was attacking.

No!

“No!” I barked and shot upright, gasping for air.

My heart was pounding and I was bathed in sweat. Thunder rolled across the sky and I screamed again.

“Odin!”

I was crying. My nose was running. Every muscle in me was trembling. A felt a cold hand close around my throat and I began to trash around, letting out muffled screams. There was a bang, then the flicking of the light switch, before my name was heard.

“Ulyana!”

The hand left my throat and I let out a wail.

“Hey, hey, it's okay. Stop.”

I couldn't identify the voice. I couldn't see the person's face. Why? My eyes were closed and I couldn't open them.

“Uls, breathe please.”

I couldn't.

“Chole!” the person barked.

I heard footsteps get close to me. My bed sank all around me. My back was being rubbed, my cheeks were being tapped gently, and someone was running their fingers through my hair which was soaked with sweat.

“Ulyana, open your eyes, angel.”

“I've never seen my friend like this before.”

“Do you know what's wrong with her?”

“Nightmares” the very voice that called out my name answered.

It sounded familiar.

Odin?

No, my brother was dead. Who was it then?

“She gets nightmares?”

“I didn't know.”

“We all thought it had stopped.”

“Mara... did she ever get like this when she was out in the human world?”

“Never. Not one bad dream.”

“Then why is it back now?”

I let out a whimper and the hands that had loosened around me tightened again.

“Hey it's okay, it's okay. You're okay.”

My body started to slowly go numb.

“Ulyana?!”

“Get her downstairs. Now!”

I immediately recognized that voice.

Bubba!

I felt weightless for a few minutes, but before my body could go into convulsions, I heard it... the soothing notes I hadn't heard in a long time. I exhaled deeply through my nostrils and leaned to my side, knowing he'd be there to let me rest against him.

He was always going to love me most in this world.

✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽

✿ Zoltan's POV

“I will bring you nothing but hell, Zoltan James MacQuoid... this I promise you!”

I groaned.

The rain pattered against the window and I tried hard to focus on it and not her words which for some reason had turned haunting.

She can't do anything.

I moved away from the window and sat in my chair. I grabbed a file from my desk and flipped through it. It got uncomfortable real fast and I got up and moved to the couch with one leg crossed over my other. I absentmindedly drummed my fingers on my knee as I tried hard to get some work down.

“I will bring you nothing but hell, Zoltan James MacQuoid... this I promise you!”

I shut the file in annoyance at tossed it aside. I got up and moved to the bar in the corner of my office. I poured myself a drink and brought the glass to my lips. Warren's scent filled my nose and I looked up.

“Hey, Zoltan” he greeted.

He looked like he'd gotten into another fight with Claire. His hair looked disheveled and his shirt had the top buttons opened. I poured another glass and picked it up. Moving towards my friend, I held it out to him but he shook his head at me.

“I'm okay, Zoltan. Thanks man”.

I set the glass aside and turned my attention back to my own drink.

“Why are you awake, Warren?” I asked.

“I should be asking you that Zoltan. You're the one getting married tomorrow.”

I pointed with my glass to the window just as thunder rolled through the night sky.

“Summer rains.”

He scoffed lightly and sighed, rubbing his eyes.

“I've been trying to solve the issues with the construction team for our Hawaii resort, Zoltan, but they aren't agreeing to anything. You need to speak to them... after the wedding.”

“Hm,” I hummed.

“And I'll be needing you to sign some paperwork.”

I nodded.

“I will,” I told him pouring myself another drink. “How's your love life going?”

He groaned and reached out for the drink I'd offered him. He tossed it back and reached for the bottle. I chuckled.

That bad huh?

“What about payroll, Warren?”

He shrugged.

“How am I supposed to know? It's not my job” he let me know. “Do you have anything stronger?” he asked, getting up.

I picked up the file I'd tossed aside earlier and flipped through it.

Of course, she didn't do it.

“God” I muttered.

“What?”

“I asked Geneva to review the payroll.”

“She's been busy with your fiancée. Give her a break.”

“Don't start,” I snapped, my whole body suddenly tensing.

“What? Why are you so upset at her all the time anyway? She's a nice person. Can't you see how your cousin likes her?”

“Don't associate with her, Warren. You're my beta... meaning you're on my team here.”

“Okay,” he states. “Just remember to speak to the construction workers after your honeymoon.”

I clenched my jaw.

“Warren” I growled.

“What? You are going to have to take her away for a week or so, you know that right? Tomorrow the marriage rituals will be performed for both of you and you know how it's done. One week to fully consummate your marriage and mark yourselves as each other's second-chance mates.”

I rolled my eyes. Unfortunately, that was how it was to go. I didn't want to think about it because nothing was going to happen.

“It's not too late to back out, man,” Warren said. “I mean look at me. The person I'm married to scares the life out of me.”

I chuckled.

“Maybe if you tried getting to know her...”

“Oh I know Claire plenty, Zoltan” he scoffed. “And I can assure you that it's never going to work out.”

I shook my head. His phone dinged and he pulled it out of his pocket and stared at the screen for a while, not saying anything.

“She wants you home?”

He looked up at me.

“Don't mock me, man.”

I gave him a pat on the shoulder and picked up the file and my keys.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“To find Geneva.”

“In the rain? At this hour?” he questioned. “Dude she's over at Ulyana's.”

“So I'll drive there Warren. I just need her to go over this before the wedding. Business remains business” I said and walked out.

Driving through the rain was impossible for me. But I had to get to my cousin. This late? Yes. It was important to me that she reviewed the payroll. And maybe a part of me wanted to run into Ulyana and confront her about her plans to bring me nothing but hell.

I pulled up in front of the house close to an hour later. I'd texted my cousin on my way and when I stepped out of the car, she was waiting for me in front of the Barlowe residence. She looked like she hadn't gotten any sleep either. And her hair was as disheveled as Warren's. I wasn't going to give her a lecture on ponytails.

“I need you to review this before the wedding” I stated, holding out the file to her.

She furrowed her brows slightly at me.

“It couldn't wait till Monday?” she asked.

“No. I need it done before tomorrow.”

Geneva crossed her arms at me.

“And since when did I become your assistant, Zoltan. What happened to Sybil?”

“Nothing. I just want you to do it.”

She exhaled.

“Just leave it with Mom. After the wedding... if I'm sober, I'll see to it that it is reviewed and have it back to you on Monday.”

“I said before tomorrow.”

“Sunday then.”

“Before tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow then” she countered.

“Before the wedding tomorrow, Geneva,” I said firmly.

She snatched it from me and rolled her eyes a little.

“Fine. Before the wedding tomorrow.”

I nodded.

“Good. Now what's with the attitude?”

She groaned a little, rubbing her temple.

“We ran into a bit of a... situation a few hours ago.”

“Mm,” I hummed. “Get some sleep then.”

She stopped rubbing her temple and frowned at me.

“That's all you're going to say?”

I shrugged.

“What else would you have me say?”

“You could try and ask what situation it is and offer to help if you can.”

I chuckled and put my hands in my pockets.

“If it was a situation that needed my attention, Geneva, you would have started with that. But since you didn't, it's not important.”

She scoffed nastily.

“You are unbelievable, Zoltan” She shook her head.

“Yeah, yeah. Just finish what I asked. Goodnight.”

“You're just gonna walk away, all nonchalant?!”

I paused in my turn and reversed back to face her.

Why was she so upset?

“God, Zoltan! How'd you even get Ulyana to agree to marry you?”

I looked around the house.

“Aren't there people asleep around here? Keep your voice down.”

“No, no one's asleep because everyone... apart from you is worried sick about Ulyana.”

I arched a brow.

Did she run away?

I scoffed to myself.

“Didn't think she had it in her” I muttered.

“To have a nightmare?” Geneva asked.

I blinked.

“What?”

“Ulyana... she had a nightmare.”

I chuckled.

“That's why you look like you could bite my head off?” I asked. “So she had a nightmare. She's not a child. She'll go back to sleep. Why are you stressing over this.”

She gave me a look and slowly shook her head.

“How can you even say that Zoltan? You're marrying her tomorrow.”

I sighed.

How exactly were her nightmares supposed to concern me? She wasn't the first to have nightmares and she was certainly not going to be the last to have them.

“Look Gen, I don't know why this should upset you. But I apologize if I said something you didn't like. I just think it's unnecessary to worry.”

She sighed and shook her head. I opened my mouth to say something else when piano notes reached my ears.

This late?

“Who's that?” I asked.

“Alpha Eamonn.”

I arched a brow.

He could play this well?

Then I chuckled.

Of course, he was my grandfather's friend.

“Huh. He's drowning his sorrows in music. That's... new.”

“If that's your way of saying he's really good... probably better than... you, then you're right. He is drowning his sorrows in music.”

Was she out to get me tonight?

“It was a joke, Gen.”

“Well you're not being very funny right now, Zoltan,” she said seriously.

I pumped my eyebrows.

“Okay,” I said. “Well... I'm gonna go before the rain picks up again.”

“So you're not going to ask about her?” she shot at me. “Seriously, Zoltan.”

I was starting to get pissed.

“Why? Because she had a silly nightmare?” I retorted.

“Silly nightmares don't throw you into mini comas and have your body turn cold and convulse like you're being possessed Zoltan.”

What?

I made sure not to let my frown deflate.

“Her grandfather has been in there for over two hours playing the same damn piano notes to calm her down and get her to finally be able to open her eyes. And she's not even going to remember this in the morning when she walks down that damn aisle to marry you” she jabbed at my chest. “So yes, Zoltan. I'm upset over a silly nightmare your fiancée had.”

At this point, I didn't care about my frown going away.

Turning cold? Convulsions? Staying up for over two hours playing the piano just to calm her down?

Was this what I was going to be burdened with?

I blinked.

“Geneva...”

“Don't bother, Zoltan” she stopped me. “Let's just skip this back twenty minutes ago, when you gave me orders and I complied. No questions asked.”

I made a face.

“Gen...”

“Hey no, stop. I'm tired okay? We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. I need to finish this and sleep. And you need to get back before the rain begins again” She sighed and rubbed her head. “Goodnight.”

I watched her turn away. I opened my mouth to scold her for walking out on me when she stopped and turned back to face me.

“And I really hope for all our sakes, that you're marrying this girl for all the right reasons, Alpha Zoltan. Goodnight” She bowed a little and disappeared through an archway.

I stood there, my ego deflated by my cousin... my favorite cousin. I flexed my jaw in annoyance and stepped out the front door. The musical notes from the piano reached my ears as I pulled my car door open. I paused for a second and battled with my curiosity. It won, and I found myself standing right by the window where Eamonn Barlowe was supposedly playing musical notes to calm his... possessed granddaughter?

I shook my head... a little guilty for my choice of description of the situation. I stepped in front of the window and my heart did a funny thing.

Leaning against the wall with her head resting on the old man's shoulder was the woman I was going to marry in a matter of hours. Her eyes were closed, her lashes parted into groups by her tears and her lips...? Her lips were blue... proving what Geneva said about her body growing cold.

Is this what she meant about bringing me nothing but hell?

I stumbled back, shaking my head.

“No way” I muttered and hurried to my car.

I took off at full speed and got back to my place in record time. I slammed the door shut and dived straight to the bar to pour myself a drink.

She's sick?!

“Dammit!” I cussed when I swallowed the alcohol.

A sick girl?!

I shook my head. I wasn't going to let her be some kind of liability to me. No way. I had too much on my plate to babysit her nightmares. Hadn't they heard of therapy?

I knocked back another glass of whiskey and slamming the glass loudly on the counter, I grabbed my keys again.

I'm ending this right now!

Thank you for reading!
Vote and comment if you enjoyed the chapter and recommend!
See ya.
~the_atticwriter