Across Enemy Lines

Chapter 1

“I was out hunting and I –,” I tried to explain but my father slammed his hand into the wall next to where he stood, effectively silencing anything that I was going to say. I’m surprised the wall did not crack under the force of his hand.

“You know the rules Nia. No one is to be outside past ten,” Dad said sternly. Jaxson tried to muffle his laughter but we both heard him. It earned him a good smack over the head from Dad. That caused my own smirk to form before disappearing when my dad turned back to me.

“I know but I’m fine. You trained me well,” I replied lowly, bowing my head as I couldn’t hold eye contact with my dad for long. He can be intimidating whether he was Alpha or not. I heard him sigh and come to stand right in front of me.

“That’s not the point. The hunters have been getting bolder these past few days. Every report from patrol has their scents moving closer to our borders. There is a reason for the curfew and you seem to be the only one breaking it.  It doesn’t matter if you are seventeen or not. I can’t have you out by yourself. I don’t want to lose you,” he said laying his hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him and all the anger had left his face. In its place was a solemn expression. I wrapped my arms around his waist, hugging myself to him as close as I could get. After a few seconds, he returned the hug.

“I’m sorry to have worried you,” I say softly.  He took me by the shoulders and pulled me away from him in order to be able to look my in the eyes once again.

“Try not to do it again kiddo,” he said, giving me a small smile before he turned to sit back in his recliner. With his dismissal, I made my way up the stairs and into my room.

Closing the door softly, I walked into my private bathroom grabbing a towel as I went. I started the shower, making the water as hot as it would go before stripping off my clothes and stepping in. The hot water sprayed down onto my body, relaxing the tension in my muscles a little. Not fully but enough to make it possible to sleep. The tension never leaves completely for any of my family.

The water had begun to run cold by the time I got out of the shower. I dried off then got dressed in my pajamas which consisted of short shorts and a tank top. Shifters run naturally hotter so the lack of coverage is common. Running a brush through my hair, I walked over to the sink. The mirror was fogged up with the steam from my shower. I rubbed my hand across the glass so I could see my reflection.

I looked like her. Everyone always said I was a spitting image of my mother. The same long, dark brown hair. Hazel eyes that gave away what I was feeling. It was all just like her. My dad used to tell me that she would joke that the only thing I got from him was stubbornness.  When I was younger, I always asked my dad about how they met. He said they would talk for hours on the phone when they first started dating. It wasn’t like innate or anything. Just like humans, we get to fall in love with who we choose. But he said it was as close to soul mates as you could get.