The Three Who Chose Me
Chapter 22: Rough Butterfly Breeding Knight

Chapter 22: Rough Butterfly Breeding Knight

Josie

We crept out through the back fortress of the pack house, making sure we kept to the shadows to avoid being spotted.

Marcy led the way to an old house in the borders of the pack, surrounded by weeds and littered messily.

My nose shot into the air, scrunching in disgust as I glanced around.

I couldn’t believe my parents were living in such a place, dilapidated and so...not like them.

"Josie, wait out here," Marcy said, turning to me. "I’ll be right back."

"W-what?" A bolt of panic shot through my spine, swaying me forward. "Marcy..."

I glanced around the stark, empty, cluttered space, littered with fallen logs of woods and debris, realizing for the first time, the mistake I’d made coming here. Without informing my mates. Any of them.

A creepy chill scattered across my skin, fear bristling from the pit of my stomach.

A deep curiosity and subtle concern pushed my feet forward, closer to the dilapidated building.

The dark, musty house smelled putrid, smoke and something... dank.

I caught my father in the corner, slumped against a low-rung chair and rocking his legs back and forth.

He looked so angry, staring into space.

I dragged my eyes away from his face, and across the room, scanning for signs of my mother.

But she was nowhere to be seen. I stepped further in—crept, actually.

But he saw me anyway, the veins in his neck bulging thicker as his eyes widened.

His gaze was filled with so much spite and hatred, like everything happening to us, to mom, was my fault.

Well, it’s always been that way, so I wasn’t fazed.

"What do you think you’re doing here?" he thundered, glaring at me.

I swallowed a lump, summoning a teeny weeny bit of courage. "I’m here to see mom," I replied, sliding a warm tongue over my dry lips. "I heard about the uh..suicide attempt."

He barked out a dry, mocking laughter, rising to his feet with slow, menacing movements.

I swallowed hard, taking fearful, tentative steps back as he started towards me. "Josie.." he slurred, his gaze dark, "you amuse me sometimes, you know."

My chest clustering tight with dread, I turned on my heels and tried to flee, but he quickly grabbed my hair and yanked me backwards.

I yelped, pain shooting through my veins and burning my vision.

Wrapping my long hair around his hands, he pulled me close, slamming me against his large, bulky frame.

I tried to fight him off. Flailing arms and kicking legs.

But it was in vain.

He hardly bulged.

"Dad!" I yelled, the tears slipping down my eyes now. "Let me go, please!"

"Shut up!" He barked. "What made you think you could set foot in our territory, huh? After all you did? After making our family lose its rank? Making us lose face in front of the whole fucking pack? A slutty whore like you! Choosing the Alphas over your family!"

"Dad, please!" I choked on a sob, still fighting against him. "Please, let me go! I only came here to see mom. Wasn’t asking for no trouble.."

He crashed his palm against my cheek, numbing that part for a good moment.

My jaw felt like it’s been dislocated from position, aching pain shooting through my face.

"Now tell me why you’d be out here, all alone, huh? Knowing very well you’d be killed the moment we set eyes on you.."

He snickered, his eyes coals of hatred. "Or have your so-called mates abandoned you also?" He shook his head, clicking his tongue. "You’re not wanted anywhere, are you?"

I was speechless, my scalp burning as tears streamed down my cheeks.

"You’ve made a mistake coming here, Josie, darling," he snarled. "We’ll hold you hostage, so your fucking mates can go crazy searching for you. That’s if they even notice you’re missing."

"Why do you keep doing this to me?!" I yelled, frustration and pain mixing in my veins. "What have I done, huh? I was on my own, chilling in non-existent bliss, and you and mom decided to ruin me by bringing me into this world. Only to hate the air I breathe!"

"Speak one more word, Josie," he growled in my ears, "and I’d cut that tongue of yours."

I swallowed hard, a chill climbing up my spine as I noticed a third presence there with us inside the house.

Who was that?

Mom? Marcy—

The thought snapped to a halt as my father, who was saying something I’d completely zoned out of, was suddenly snatched away from me, and flung to the wall.

He crashed in with a loud thud, bones snapping.

He groaned, his face contorting in pain as he struggled to rise to his feet.

Horror crippling me, I slowly lifted my gaze, already sensing who it was.

Thorne stood there, an ugly scowl marring his handsome face as he towered over my father.

How was he...here?

"How dare you put your filthy hands on her?" He ground out in a low, gruff, spite-filled voice, his chest heavily up and down in controlled, tight rage.

"I can discipline my daughter how I see fit!" My father fired back, although his pupils dilated with fear.

"Your daughter? No! She’s my mate!" Growling deep in his throat, Thorne half-leapt to where he lay crumpled up, slamming his jaw and chest with rage.

My father yelled in pain as Thorne’s fist connected with his right eye, the blow sending him flying into the wall.

And that yell was what snapped me to reality.

Thorne, no! Please stop!"

I tried to stop him, but he firmly kept me away with one arm, nudging me to the side.

Horrified, I watched as my father slid down the wall like a bag of potatoes, an instant red patch speeding across his eye.

Thorne was relentless. He stormed over and slammed his foot into his face, sending him back into the same wall and following him down with a streak of punches.

My father lay there, limp, weak and bloodied. And Thorne stopped only when he stopped moving, completely still.

Finally, he turned to me. And looking me in the eyes for the first time since he arrived, he grabbed me by the arm and stormed out of the house.

Something dark and fierce burned in his green eyes. Something that stomped hard onthe words in my throat.

"T-Thorne," I choked out, stumbling after him, "what are you doing?"

He ignored me, pulling me roughly across the streets, in the direction of the packhouse.

People on the streets peeked out of their shops, their whispers stumbling behind me and getting under my skin.

"Thorne!" I cried. But he paid me no attention.

Until we arrived at the packhouse.

Up in my room.

He kicked the door open and dragged me inside, flinging me to the bed.

I watched as he shut the door behind, his jaw set in a grim line. Then he turned to me again.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Josie? What were you thinking, going there?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Listen, Marcy suggested we go over to the house to—"

"Fuck that, Josie!" he yelled, causing me to jump in fear. "Why would you listen to dumb Marcy, huh?!"

I jumped again, tears rushing to my eyes.

Why did he keep yelling?

"I just wanted to see my mom, okay?" I whispered in a weak voice, staring at my feet. "I heard she tried to commit suicide, so I wanted to go over and see how why she’d do such a thing."

An ugly scoff tore out of his lips, to my surprise.

"If she’d really died, why would you give a fucking care in the world?"

I snapped my head up, completely stunned as I met his gaze. "W-what?"

He cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair. "Fucking pathetic." "Listen," he continued in a clear voice, "I hate kicking people down when they’re already low, honestly. But I gotta say, you disappointed me real bad by going over there."

Something flashed in his eyes, dark and fleeting.

"They could have killed you, Josie."

"Well it’s my fault I cared enough to risk my life, is it?" I exploded, throwing my hands in the air. "When did caring become such a stupid thing to do? A taboo? Fucking dangerous?!"

Something shifted in his hard demeanor, and suddenly, fluid nanoseconds later, he was crouched in front of me—on his fucking knees—taking my hands in his.

"Listen, Josie," he said, his voice softer, the roughness vanished into thin air, "those idiots don’t deserve you," he spat, his tone laced with venom. "I understand they’re your parents, and I understand you’re the kind of child with a filial heart. But those assholes don’t give two fucks about you. So it’s best you consider them dead. You don’t owe them shit."

He lifted his hand, slowly dragging his thumb across my bottom lip. "You need to focus on your new reality," he murmured, his green gaze burning into my lips, "because my brothers and I did not strip your parents of their titles for nothing."

A shudder passed through my body, my face melting hotter under his gaze.

He stopped moving his thumb, and it caused an ache deep in my stomach. And between my legs.

"I’m trying here, Josie," he added, his gaze darkening. "Help me to protect you."

Something moved in my chest. Quick and light. Butterflies fluttered low in my stomach, his words resonating in my head.

I squeezed my fingers together, my breath short and raspy. "How do I do that, Thorne?" I whispered, sweeping my gaze across his face, "when you’re so rigid?"