Chapter 23: Zoey

Deke, Ash, and Jer gave such deep, angry growls that I shivered. I wouldn't want to be a member of the Dark Moon pack if they guys ever decided to visit. 

"I woke up in the forest tied to a fucking tree in the middle of winter. It took me hours to get free and when I did, I ran. I ran as far away from that pack as I could get. I decided it was better for me to go rogue than live one more minute with that pack. I took my chances on the road after I got all my joints back into place. I had learned how to pop things back into place by myself a long time before that.

I was able to flag down a kind truck driver. He saw the way I had been beaten and thought I was running from an abusive boyfriend. I didn't correct him since he was kind and he was determined to get me as far away as he could. We spent the next two days traveling and I heard stories about his wife and kids and grandkids. Funny stories about things he saw while on the road. He was the first person to ever cry for me, for the pain he had to cause me to help fix me. When we finally reached the town he was stopping at, he made me take some money from him before he dropped me at a local shelter. I spent a few nights there letting my wounds heal. And then I moved on. And on and on. I never stayed in one place for long. I wasn't sure if Dark Moon pack would come after me or not. With my luck, it would finally be the one time they cared where I went, because ya know, appearances and all. And I might talk about how they treat people there and tarnish their 'good' name.

I never made friends and was always suspicious of everyone, especially after a couple of guys pretended to want to help me but then tried to force me to give them blow jobs. I found odd jobs to keep myself fed and spent a lot of time in shelters. But then I would always move on. Until I found your town. Until I found Silver Falls. Something just… clicked. It felt like coming home, like somewhere I could finally be safe and stay. So, I used the money I'd saved up and got the apartment. Then I found the job with Emily. 

I'll always be grateful to her. Here I was with no real experience in catering but with a talent for cooking. I knew I didn't look much better than some of the homeless people you see but I was clean. She gave me the job without any references, and I made sure she never regretted it. We soon became friendly and then Sasha was hired, and she worked her way behind my walls and became my first ever real best friend. She accepted me and made me part of her family. She looks out for me and she became the sister I always wanted.

And through them… I found you. I always thought I was destined to be alone the rest of my life. I'd been given a mate and he rejected me. My life has been nothing but pain and torture. But you know what? I wouldn't trade a minute of it. I would suffer it all again as long as it still brought me to you. You three give me hope that one day I can be normal, be loved, and love in return. I thought that when I met you, you were going to kill me and make an example of me, and I was at peace with that. Now I'm coming to realize that you three will be the ones to bring me to life. I feel something… I'm just not sure what it is or how confident I am in that feeling."

I finished talking and was amazed at the sorrow that filled their eyes. 

"Oh Zoey. Oh, my beautiful, wonderful mate. You have suffered so much. I am so so sorry. I wish we'd found you sooner to protect you from all that. Nothing like that will ever happen to you again. We will protect you and love you as you should have been your whole life." 

Ash's voice was thick as he held me tight. I was smothered as each of them held me. I started to giggle. "Ok boys. The middle of this snuggle sandwich needs a whiskey refill again."

Jer laughed and reached for the bottle. "Here you go my love. I propose a toast. To letting the past stay in the past, to healing, and to a future of light and love."

"Oh Jer, that's beautiful!" I whispered, in awe of the love in his eyes. 

"Cheers!"

We all clinked our glasses together. 

"So, my beautiful Zoey…" Ash's face held a smirk. "What do you say we go do some shopping?"