Sour Souls The Morningstar Series Book 6
Sour Souls Chapter 3

- Two Years Later -

"Emi...

Emi..."

A little voice called to me.

I groaned, and rolled over.

******************

"Emi.. time to get up! It's your birffday."

I popped one eye open to see Noah sitting on my bed. He smiled brightly at me, and I can't help myself when I returned it. I sat up in my bed to see Noah holding a small chocolate cupcake with a single candle in it.

I gasped. "Noah, is this for me?" I asked sounding extra shocked.

Noah nodded his little head.

"Granny make it for you. I give it to you dis mornin." He told me.

"Oh, is that so?" I asked.

Noah nodded, and I giggled.

"Well, thank you so much little brother. Did Granny give you one too?" I asked.

Noah gave me a sheepish look.

"You ate it already huh?" I asked with a giggle.

"It so good!" Noah said excitedly.

I chuckled at him. "Is your dad home?" I asked.

Noah looked away, and nodded his head.

I sighed. "He in his room?" I asked.

Noah nodded without meeting my eyes.

"Come on. We can share this before we get ready." I said.

Noah climbed off of my bed to let me get up. I snatched Noah up in my arms, and walked us to the kitchen table. I set Noah down in his booster seat. Then I grabbed a plate, and a knife. I cut the cupcake in two, and handed half to Noah. "I'm gonna go check on your dad okay?"

Noah nodded, not a care in the world now that he's having chocolate for breakfast.

I walked back to Dave's bedroom. I pressed my ear to the door, and can hear his loud snores. Those sound like drunk snores. He should be out for the whole morning.

Good.

I walked back to the table to sit down with my little brother. Noah babbled away to me while we ate the cupcake. I smiled as I half listened to him.

Noah is adorable. He looks like the perfect mix of his dad, and our mom. Noah has golden hair, it's curly though unlike both of his parents. I love it, but Noah insists on cutting it short all the time.

His eyes look exactly like Mom's. Bright electric blue. Noah even has Mom's nose, and her smile. Those are the only things we have in common.

These last two years have been hard. Dave wasn't kidding when he said that I would be taking care of Noah. The only time that Noah and I spend apart, is when I go to school.

I take Noah to the daycare that is held downstairs in the packhouse. Then I rush off to school. As soon as school is over, I rush back to pick Noah up. Every day is the same.

It was very hard at first. I had no idea how to take care of a baby. Noah would keep me up all night, and I would get in trouble for falling asleep in class the next day. It was a vicious cycle.

Eventually, things got better. I figured out a rhythm, and ever since Noah and I have been doing fine. All while Dave drinks his life away.

Now that Noah is getting older, doing homework is getting easier. I still want to be an ultrasound technician. So, doing well in school is a must.

I have a plan to get Noah, and I out of this pack though. One day, I will go to college. I will make it as an ultrasound tech. I will get a job, and make lots of money. And I will come back for my brother.

Noah is next in line to take over as Beta. This pack won't let him go easily. I'm confident that I can do it though. I have to. I can't let Noah stay here. Not with how his dad is.

The night that Dave told me my mother died, he locked me in Noah's room. Dave didn't even tell me how she died. It wasn't until I took Noah for his first check up a week later that I was finally told what happened.

Dr. Stevens was not only furious that no one had told me, but that I was the only bringing Noah. I had to carry Noah's little body all the way there as a scrawny ten year old. I didn't even know how to swaddle him correctly.

Unfortunately, this packs Alpha is just as bad as it's Beta. Alpha Fredrick ordered Dr. Stevens to give me advice on how to care for Noah, and not to interfere more than that. It's unfortunate that a pack member physically can't go against it's Alpha's command. After Dr. Stevens taught me how to properly swaddle, and properly change a diaper, he gave me some other advice, and then told me about my mother.

Apparently, Mom died during child birth. Dr. Stevens said that she had an anursym. Mom was able to birth Noah, hold him one time, and then she died. I was told that Dave was a complete wreck. Which I was also told, happens when one loses their mate. The last two years Dave has done nothing, but drink. I'm not sure what he does when he's gone all day. I guess Beta duties. But when he comes home, he drinks.

Dave has become even more bitter than before. He can barely stand to look his son in the face. Sometimes Dave yells about how Noah looks too much like Mom. Noah is terrified of him.

Dave's bitterness towards me grew as well. I'm pretty sure he just hates me now. Maybe it's more than hate though. That would explain the abuse.

Sometimes, Dave gets extra foul when he's drunk. He searches the floor for me, and when he replaces me... I'm lucky to walk away without any broken bones. Dave doesn't even let me go to Dr. Stevens. I just heal on my own.

I guess it's a good thing I have that super healing. Even without my wolf. Which apparently is unusal. It's another reason why I am not allowed to go to the doc.

"I done." Noah announced.

I looked down at my watch.

"Would you mind if I took a shower? You can sit on your tablet while I'm in there." I asked.

Noah nodded.

I cleaned up his hands, and face. Then we walked back to the bathroom. I snatched Noah's tablet on the way. Noah sat on the toliet, and turned the tablet on.

I stripped out of my pajama's, and inspected my body in the mirror. There are bruises covering my back from Dave throwing me into a wall the night before last. My ribs are bruised from when he kicked me. "Emi okay?" Noah asked.

I looked down at him, and smiled.

"Sure am kiddo."

Noah played on his tablet while I showered. He's so used to me being covered in bruises that it doesn't even phase him anymore. I'm afraid for Noah when he grows.

Will Dave start to hit his son next? Will he hurt Noah to this extent?

Dave only neglects Noah in an emoitonal way right now. He's never around, and when he is, he ignores the both of us. Still, Dave makes sure that Noah has toys, clothes, and anything else he needs.

All of the things I have, come from Talia, and Granny. Thankfully, Talia grows like a weed, and I'm still a scrawny thing. So, all her clothes that no longer fit her, come straight to me. Other than that, I have nothing.

If Dave catches me eating anything in his home, I get hit. If I shower without his okay, I get hit. If I so much as breathe wrong, I get hit.

Obviously, I manage to work my way around it. Dave gets so drunk that he passes out hard. I take advantage of those times, like now. Most of the time it works.

After my shower, Noah and I went to my room. I dressed in a pair of plain jeans, and a dark green sweater. I brushed my hair in front of my old dirty mirror, Then I pulled my already curling hair into a ponytail.

I look so much different than I did two years ago. My cheeks is sunken in a bit. I'm a bit taller now. My hair is even longer, and wilder than before. Everyone here hates it.

I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath.

Tugging on my jeans has my eyes opening to stare into bright blue ones.

"Emi, okay?" Noah asked.

I put on my best fake smile.

"I sure am buddy. How can I not be when I had such a good cupcake for breakfast?" I said.

I snatched Noah up, and tickled his belly. His squeals echoed in my room. I laughed as I carried Noah to his bedroom across the hall. I dressed him in a pair of little jeans, and a little white shirt with a shark on it. "Alright, what do we say to ourselves every morning?" I asked Noah after he was dressed.

"I am kind, I am worthy, I am strong." Noah recited.

"Good job." I said.

I have been making Noah recite this to himself since he was able to talk. Which hasn't been long, but I did it for him before then. I never want Noah to feel the way our mother made me feel. I want Noah to always know that he is worthy. I want him to be kind, and I know that he will grow to be strong.

Noah and I made our way down to the daycare. The lady that I usually pass Noah over to practically snatched him away from me. I smiled, and waved as Noah was dragged away from me.

They're always like this. No matter who it is. Noah is pracitcally royalty to the pack. The next Beta. And I am just his bastard sister.

To the other wolves here, I'm not even worthy to walk the same halls as Noah. Yet, here I am taking care of him like I'm his mother. I hear them whisper about me. About how I overstep, and how Beta Dave should just get rid of me now. How not even the Alpha would

care.

Honeslty, I'm not sure why Dave hasn't yet. I think that maybe he just likes having someone around to beat up. I'm just gald it's me, and not Noah. I'd stay, and get beat every single day, if it meant that Noah would be safe.

Everyone else I can ignore. I held my head high as I walked through the pack to school. Even when the other kids here teased me. I ignored them, and made my way to school.

"There's the birthday girl!" Talia shouted when she caught sight of me.

Puberty has been kind to Talia so far. She's starting to get curvier with her age. Her dark skin shines in the sun making her look like a Goddess. Especially with those light brown eyes. Gosh, my best friend is gorgeous. "Another year of a wasted pathetic life." A girl snickered from behind me.

Talia's face morphed into pure hatred.

"It's not like it's your birthday Heather." She said sweetly.

I snorted, and covered my mouth.

"It would do you good to shut your damn mouth Talia." Heather said.

Talia opened her mouth to say something else, but I grabbed her hand.

"It's not worth is Tal." I said.

Talia looked up to glare at Heather. Then she grabbed my hand, and pulled me into the school. It's a small building since there aren't a lot of us here. There's only 15 people in our grade alone.

"So, did you like your cupcake?" Talia asked me.

I nodded. "Yeah, tell Granny I said thank you." I said.

"Why don't you tell her yourself? Tonight? She wants to make you a birthday dinner. It was Noah's idea." Talia said.

I looked up at her scared.

"I.. I'm not sure-"

"Granny said the higher ups are having some kind of meeting tonight that the Beta has to attend. Just in case you were worried, or something." Talia said interrupting me.

Talia, and Granny know about the abuse. After what happened to Dr. Stevens when he tried to help me... Well, I flat out deny anything is going on to anyone who cares enough to ask. Dr. Stevens was beat so badly that he couldn't move for three days. I don't want that to happen to Granny or Talia.

So, I lie. No matter who asks. No matter what happens to me. I lie. It's better than when they try to help.

Still, Talia and Granny know. You'd have to be a total idiot to not see it. Dave doesn't care about leaving marks on me. He doesn't care who sees. Why would he when he has the Alpha to back him up?

Honestly, I'm not sure how this pack has survived this long. Are all packs this vicious? Are all wolves this cruel?

In school we learn about other types of supernaturals. Are they just as cruel as the ones here? Are there only a few good ones?

"Alright class, settle down." The teacher came in to start class.

I looked to Talia.

"We'll be over later."

****************

"Wow Granny, that was amazing." I said. "Thank you so much."

"Granny the best!" Noah boasted.

"My, my, I ain't never met a child who loves greens so much." Granny laughed at Noah.

I smiled at the two of them.

I'm happy that we came. Noah is so much more relaxed here, than he is at home. There we spend all of our time inside my room. Noah said to me once that he only feels safe inside of my room. It broke my heart.

If Mom were here, would things be different? Would she love Noah the way I though she had loved me when I was his age? Would she be able to keep Dave at ease? Would Noah have known nothing, but love? Tears stung my eyes.

This life is so fucked. I feel so bad for Noah. I wish that I were older. Then I could take Noah and leave. Part of me wonders if I should still try that. Maybe when I get my wolf I can do that. We could survive in the woods for a while. Although, we would become rouges. "Emi, okay?" Noah asked.

I shook my head, and plastered a smile on my face.

"Of course I am. I just had a piece of Granny's famous apple pie." I said.

"Yay! Granny pie!" Noah shouted.

I smiled at him.

A pounding at the door startled us all. Noah started to whimper. The pounding wouldn't stop.

Granny walked to the door to open it. Revealing a very angry Dave. Oh no.

"You." Dave seethed when his eyes connected with mine.

Dave pushed past Granny nearly knocking her over. He gripped my bicep, and lifted me to my feet. Dave tossed me onto the floor next to Noah's seat.

"Daddy no!" Noah whimpered.

Dave ignored him.

I got to my feet, and looked at Noah. He's crying now as he stares at his father. I grabbed Noah's little face, and smiled at him.

"It's okay Noah, I'm okay." I told him.

"Get my son, and get your ass home. I never f*****g told you that you could come here." Dave seethed.

"We invited her for a birthday dinner. Since you are a pathetic excuse for a father." Granny said.

Dave turned his rage onto her.

"That," he pointed at me, "is not my child." He declared.

Granny looks furious.

"It's alright Granny. Noah needs a bath before bed anyways." I said.

My eyes flickered to Talia. She looks just as angry as Granny. The fire in them is admirable. They are the only ones in this whole damn pack that stick up for the abuse I go through. "Thank you for the meal Granny." I said, and then looked at Noah.

"Thank you Granny." Noah blabbered.

"That women is not your grandmother." Dave seethed.

Dave followed behind Noah and I as we walked to the pack house. I held onto Noah the whole way. I know what's going to happen the moment we walk up the the seocnd floor.

I squeezed Noah tighter to me, and kissed his head.

When we entered in through the door to our apartment, Dave shoved me forward. He pushed me so hard I almost fell with Noah in my hands. Noah let out a gasp as he clutched onto me. "You stupid little bitch." Dave sneered.

"D-Dave w-w-wait." I said.

"You don't give the f*****g orders here." He said.

"J-just l-let me p-put Noah down." I said.

Dave looked at his son, then to me. His eyes are hard. Dave took his belt off of his jeans while holding my gaze.

I gulped.

"You have two minutes." He said dangerously.

I rushed to the back of our floor. I tucked Noah inside of my small closet. I gave him a blanket, and his teddy bear that was left in here. I kissed the top of his head.

"Recite what I told you okay? Cover your ears. Just keep saying the words. Say them with me. I am-"

"Emi... Daddy hurt you." Noah interrupted me.

I smiled at him. "Cover your ears." I moved his hands to his ears. "Recite. I am kind.."

"I am kind, I am worthy, I am strong." Noah said.

I nodded as encouragement.

Noah continued to recite the words. I closed the closet door, and walked back to where Dave was waiting. He's still in the same spot in the living room.

"You make me fucking sick." Dave seethed as he whipped his belt.

I felt the sting across my face, and fell to my knees.

Dave threw hit, after hit with his belt. After the fifth hit, I fell to ground in a heap. I'm curled up in a ball just waiting for it to be over.

"You're the reason I lost your mother! It's all your fault! Always been your fault! You shouldn't even exist!"

Dave screamed these words at me over and over, as he continued to hit me. I lost track of how many times I felt the sting of the belt. Eventually, it stopped.

The belt fell to the ground next to me. I can feel the blood soaking through my clothes as I lay here. At least he didn't use a real whip, though, I wish he wouldn't of used the metal part of the belt. "Take care of my son. I'm going out."

And with that, Dave left me on the floor, a bleeding mess.