Gone with the Wind

Sofia could not believe what her parents were trying to tell her.

"You were their top pick and months ago we turned them down, but when they heard of our current financial struggles, they offered to take care of us." , her father finished wearily while looking staring at his daughter was now frozen.

"We would never even consider it because we've always respected your wishes, but the only other option right now is living in our car... I'm so sorry Sofia", her interjected as tears started to spill from her eyes.

Sofia finally reacted as her heart broke at her mother's words. Her mom has already lost enough and she could not bare the thought of her living in their small car.

Without a second thought Sofia hugged her mom saying, "I'll do it mom, you don't have to cry anymore... when do I have to go?".

Her, mom looked up at her shaking and whispered, "I'm so sorry we already set it up before even asking you. A drivers coming in 15 minutes".

She let go of her mom taken aback. Her whole life was just flipped upside down in a matter of minutes.

"Okay...", she said slowly getting up from where she sat on the bed.

She slowly zipped up her suitcase and started to put together her things. Her parents stared at her in shock as she got her things together. Sofia did not feel mentally prepared for anything that was happening, but she knew she had to do what she always did - give up her own wants so that her family could be okay. This showed how much Sofia was willing to do for the ones she loved. Although she was basically forced into this situation, she would always go to the ends of the earth if it meant lessening the suffering of her loved ones.

A knock from their front door could be heard and all three of them looked to each other.

"They must be early", the mother said solemnly.

Sofia immediately embraced her mom in a hug.

"Get in here dad", she said pulling him in.

"I'll be okay, you guys just keep in contact with me every day and let me know YOU'RE good. And I WILL keep seeing you".

"Oh my brave little girl!", her mom said, starting to sob again.

"Mom, you know me I can fend for myself, I'll be fine!", she responded, despite being terrified.

"You know she's right, our girl can make it through anything", her dad saying with tears in his own eyes. It was the first time she'd seen him start to cry since her brother's passing.

"I love you guys more than anything", she said to her parents giving them one last squeeze.

Finally, her family went and answered the door to a chauffeur. Her family and her said a few more goodbyes and then the man in the suit led her to the back seat of the car, after putting her bags in the trunk. She watched her parents stand in the door way as she left down the street until they disappeared from her view.

'What even is my life?' she thought as she sunk in her seat and fought the urge to cry.

The ride ended up being longer than she expected and eventually she fell asleep. Her mind was begging her to just let itself shut off, so surprisingly she fell into a deep sleep despite her stress.

She awoke feeling extremely groggy and disoriented, temporarily forgetting the previous events that got her to where she was now

"Well hello there sleeping beauty, I was wondering if I was going to have to throw you over my shoulder already to get you to your room", a mans voice came from next to her in the most silky, deep voice she had ever heard.

Her head instantly shot to the left to see god like creature had opened her door and was smiling mischievously down at her. Embarrassed at the most likely unflattering angle, she sat up quickly and fixed her sleep hair. Little did she know the man standing before her was so mesmerized by the peaceful looking young woman who's hair was falling all over as she let out slow gentle breaths. He had never seen something so sweet and delicate looking. He stared at her for a few moments not wanting to wake her.

He knew he couldn't mess up. His father's last dying wish was for him to regain his title as alpha and be a leader for his pack. If he needed to get married to a random girl he didn't even remember from the pack, he would do it, but there was no need to make this probably perfectly nice girl see his dark side. No, he would make this situation the best he could and who knows what else could happen. He certainly found her easy on the eyes.

"Umm", she finally started to say in a quiet voice, "hi."

He couldn't help but smile wider at her cute barely audible 'just woke up' voice.

She cleared her throat and quickly stretched out her hand speaking louder now, "My name is Sophia."

"I know", he replied looking amused.

"Oh", is all she said back, wondering if he was gonna move so she could get out.

She awkwardly scooted to the other side and opened that door to get out instead. Walking around the car she asked the chauffeur if he could open the trunk so she could get her luggage.

"Oh that won't be necessary, miss. We have people to bring them up for you", the chauffeur said in response.

"Oh, wow thank you so much! Let me give you a tip", Sofia said quickly reaching into her purse trying to find the small amount of money she had hidden for instances like this. She handed him a few bills and the chauffeur let her know that was necessary, but thanked her when she insisted.

Angelo bit his lip at her not understanding that they pay all of their workers a handsome amount and that her money wasn't needed. However he could already tell she got embarrassed easily and honestly thought it was adorable how she was just trying to be kind. He didn't know many people who hadn't had this life style kill any genuine kindness they had in them.

"Come on doll, let's show you around", he nodded and she scrunched her nose at the pet name, before gasping as she looked at the house in front of her.

It was basically an entire garden in front of what seemed even bigger than a mansion, not that she would even know what a mansion looked like. There as a beautiful pond that reminded her of Monet's famous water lily paintings and near almost ever push were statues that she assumed were replicas of famous ones from Italy.

Angelo watched as she stood frozen in place, mouth open as she looked all around. "You like?" he said, interrupting her from her thoughts.

"I have no words", she said honestly and he smiled lifting an arm, gesturing for her to follow him.

As they entered through the large entry way her steps instantly slowed. He allowed her to walk ahead and feed her curiosity.

"How", was all she said rhetorically after moving in a circle.

She finally turned towards him and nodded at the large stair case saying, "it reminds me of the one from Gone with the Wind", laughing shyly.

"You like that movie?", he asked intrigued. It wasn't an all time favorite film of his or anything, but before his father passed he watched had many old movie marathons with him while he was on bed rest. Most people he knew weren't as close to their parents as he was, nor could sit through those types of films so he was surprised by the reference.

"It's my mother's favorite. She raised me on those types of movies", she answered with a slight smile.

"Ah", he responded, "well I guess that would make me Rhett Butler."

He jokingly put his head high in the air changing his voice in attempt to give his impression of the character, "you should be kissed often and by someone who knows how"

She knew he was just quoting the famous line from the movie, but never the less she blushed profusely. She giggled nervously looking around to change the subject. Angelo shook his head, tempted to see just how flustered he could get her, but decided to let it slide.

While glancing around, Sofia noticed a familiar painting at the top of the stair case. She gasped saying a little too loudly, "Is that a copy of a Renoir?!"

"Good eye! But it is actually an original", he said proudly.

Her eyes went big and she started to stumble over words asking if she could go up and get a closer look.

He cut off her rambling, "Well you are going to live here now. Be my guest, doll".

She quickly started taking on the stairs. Halfway up, however in her rush she slipped on a step and slid back down a few steps from her fall. Angelo's wolf side instantly started to show as with a low rumbling in his chest he within seconds was at her side. He started grabbing her towards his chest as if he's getting ready to pick her up.

"Hey, get off me!", she barked not use to the contact.

"I'm so sorry I would never touch you without your permission, you just scared me", he quickly responded.

She right away felt guilty."No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped".

"You were in quite a rush there weren't you", he breathed out a laugh, that made Sofia think how cute he looked when his eyes squinted like that.

She laughed back putting her head down and shaking her head. "Yeah, my bad. I just really like French paintings", she said sheepishly.

"I have more I can show you", he said his eyebrows going up and his voice going higher than his normal deep octave.

"Oh my God I would love that."

They sat on the stairs for a moment smiling, before she cleared her throat and started to get up. She walked slower this time up the stairs and stopped in front of the Pierre-Auguste Renoir painting. Why he put it up so high she had no idea. She got on her tip toes and squinted, trying to get a better look.

"I can give you a boost, little one", he said coming up from behind her.

"I'm not that little, you just have this too high for anyone to appreciate it in all it's glory! And no thank you."

He tried to hide his laugh at her criticism.

"Well okay then, missy. Shall I show you our room".

She felt a pit in her stomach at his words.

"Our room?", she said without thinking to filter herself.

"Oh you'll have your own room or as many rooms as you want, but eventually you should probably sleep with your future husband don't you think? You can have some time to think about it, but I definitely expect you to when you're my wife."

Sofia was starting to realize how much she hadn't digested any of this. She doesn't even hug boys and never even thought she have to worry with sleeping next to one. She didn't even want to think about if he meant the other type of sleeping too because it would cause too much anxiety.