“What did your mom do to you during your first transition?” he asked. He was sitting on the table beside her, resting his feet on the chair as he stared. “I know you don’t want to remember those kinds of memories, but I think it will do you good.”
She took another hesitant sip of her drink. “This is strange for me,” she said. “I’ve never had to be overly cautious before. I like it.”
He waited knowing it was taking her some time to compose herself.
“Dad was busy handling a pack dispute over some woman or something. I don’t know exactly what, but he wasn’t around. Mom made some excuse, and I was taken into the woods where our pack is close. All packs are near some areas that allow us to run freely.”
The newly opened connection between them allowed him to sense the pain within her, the emotional pain she kept locked up when it came to her parent. “What happened?”
“Before the transition happened she ordered everyone to stay clear of the woods because I was going to be there. We were alone, and she chained me to a tree using thick silver chains. The pain was unlike anything I can remember. There were times I thought she hated me, and in that moment, I knew she did. She despised me because I posed a threat to her. I don’t know how or even why I posed a threat, but she made sure I knew how much she hated me.” She pushed some hair that had fallen off her face.
Anger spread throughout him imagining a young, terrified girl as she was going through her first transition.
“She kept me there, watching as my bones broke. There was no help or comfort. She watched, taunting me and my wolf, breaking me down. I don’t know why she was so determined to make my wolf terrified of her.”
“Did your mother win her role within the pack, or was it natural?” he asked.
“She fought to be the strongest female, and she trains daily to make sure no one can defeat her.”
He rubbed his temples. “In rare cases a young wolf born to an alpha male and a strong female can inherit alpha traits that mean when she’s fully transitioned, her wolf will fight to take her place as head alpha female or could even be voted to take the place as alpha female. In some packs, the alpha pair doesn’t have to be mated.”
“You think my mom was scared of this and so she scared my wolf to submission?”
“You’re a natural submissive, but your wolf is strong. I’ve felt her even though she’s been squashed for some time. I think your mother was determined to break your spirit from the start. It would be humiliating for her if her daughter had a natural higher rank within the pack.” He wanted to hurt this woman, break her down and hurt her just like she’d hurt his woman.
“I wasn’t allowed food or water. She beat me with chains as I transitioned. Each time my wolf appeared she’d beat me. It was like a constant punishment. If I didn’t turn, she beat me, and once my wolf came out, she beat it. I didn’t know what to do.”
When he met this woman it was going to take all of his strength not to kill her.
“Around day four of the transition my father was getting nervous. I sensed him close, but I couldn’t beg him for help. I heard my mother consoling him, acting like the caring mother. When she came back, she knew it was over. I’d finally transitioned, and something snapped in my head. The chains she was using no longer hurt. She hit me, but it didn’t hurt.” Sweat dotted Dawn’s forehead, and he used a clean towel to wipe her brow.
“Nothing is going to hurt you here, baby. I’m here, and I’m never letting another person come near you.”
“I was scared of her, and I didn’t say anything. My dad asked about the turning, and I stayed quiet. My mother would find times when I let my guard down and she’d hurt me, or at least believe she hurt me.”
He tightened his hands into fists thinking of all the ways Dawn had been hurt.
“What was the worst?” he asked.
“Three years ago, I was making dinner for Dad, but he had to go out. She accused me of trying to take her spot, and she grabbed my arm. Before I could stop her, she forced my hand into the boiling water.” Dawn smiled even as her eyes filled with tears. “I sickened her. She expected me to scream. I knew something was wrong as I didn’t feel anything and yet my skin was growing tight. My mom backed off, and I withdrew my hand. It was red, scalded, but I was healing. I heal so quickly. I remember her asking me what the hell I was.” He took hold of her hand, offering her comfort when she didn’t need it. “I didn’t respond, but I asked her what else she wanted to do to me seeing as I no longer felt anything she did.”