EPILOGUE:
"Flowers, tons of them everywhere!" A very small girl was running through the field of flowers, lost in her on little world. She could hear the river from where she sat and cried. She absolutely loved this place. It was her place to go when the hitting and the shouting was too much for a 12 year old to comprehend. Alyssa's life wasn't a fairytale, it was a nightmare. Born to parents who hated her and did everything they could to make her life miserable. The only thing the girl had was this beautiful meadow full of brightly colored flowers. Her house wasn't that far from here so she tried to come everyday.
"Why is she crying? Every time she's here she cries." A male voice from the shadow asked.
He slowly inched closer to the small girl to get a better look at her. He was far enough away from her to not be seen but close enough to notice the whelps, bruises, and gashes on her arms and legs.
"What kind of monster would do that to a poor child, Roderick?" this time a female voice asked.
He hadn't noticed that Calla had walked up to where he was. He just shook his head at her not saying a word, but the anger was coming to the surface. He also couldn't believe someone would do that to a child, but he knew that there were people out there who were capable of things like that.
"Honey, look she's fallen asleep and she's shivering. The poor thing. I can't believe that no one is looking for her! Where are her parents?!" Calla said looking at her husband.
"Calla go home and grab some food for her and a blanket. I'll stay here and keep an eye on her." Roderick spoke softly to Calla, fearing the anger would show through.
Calla jumped up and shifted to her gorgeous chocolaty brown furred wolf. "Absolutely beautiful" Roderick thought to himself and then let his mind shift back to the girl. Five minutes passed when he heard the footsteps of his mate. She was carrying a picnic basket and two thick blankets. She patted her mates head when she walked by him and headed for the girl.
"Sweetie, sweetie, it's time to wake up" Calla shook the girl slightly to wake her up.
The small blonde popped her big beautiful blue eyes open and screamed "Please momma no more! Please STOP!" while tears streamed down her face.
Calla grabbed the small child in her arms and started rocking her side to side to calm her down. Soon the tears and the sobbing came to an end and Calla looked down at the girl. "what is your name? My name is Calla."
" A-Alyssa ma'am." She stuttered at the strange woman.
"Well Alyssa, it is very nice to meet you. Would you like something to eat?"
"Do you have enough for me? I'm quite hungry and thirsty too." Alyssa asked shyly.
"I have plenty my dear girl. Now, let's see. I have sandwiches, fried chicken, and tuna salad. Which would you like little one?" Calla said as she was pulling the items out of the basket.
"Umm... Can I have all of them?" Alyssa once again asked shyly.
"Well of course you can little one! Tell me when was the last time you had something to eat?"
"I don't remember." Alyssa hung her head low trying to cover the shame in her eyes while she devoured the spread of food in front of her.
Calla took her by the chin to look into her eyes. "Who is hurting you little one?"
"My parents. They've never liked me. I don't belong there. That's why I'm here."
"You're right. You don't belong there. Anyone who would hurt you like that should suffer! Now child I know you don't know me but you need to trust me. Do you trust me?" Calla looked at the big blue eyes with nothing but love.
"Yes ma'am, I do."
"Ok good. Now as soon as you're finished eating, I'm going to take you somewhere that will help you find a family that will love you the way you should be."
With that Alyssa at once felt relief. She had never met someone so kind than this woman sitting here with her. Alyssa now had hope.
CHP 1:
Six Years Later
