Last time on Blind Hope

"It's a long story, mate." Vivian sighed. "A very long story which I've promised not to tell anyone for my friend's safety and the safety of not one, but two packs." Blake raised an eyebrow. "But I will tell you on one condition. You don't try to handle things without my knowledge. If I tell you our story, then you are agreeing to also protect my friend, and that means not telling others." Blake thought about it, and cocked his head at Vivian.

"You're serious?" Vivian nodded. "Fine. I will agree to help protect your friend. What you say today will stay between us."

"Very well. It all started with two Alpha-in-trainings eighteen years ago - Alpha Victoria Harsh of the Heart Pack and Alpha Bruce Mann of the Kindred Pack."

Blake's eyebrows shot up. They were the first and second strongest packs outside of the Royal Pack. "Oh, this'll be good."

~~~~~~~~~~

Vivian told Blake about how the two Alphas met, how they had a child, how they agreed to keep and raise the child. She told him about how she and her parents became the child's guardians, how the child was Hope. She told him stories of their childhood days, and all the times she had saved Hope's life without Hope even being aware. She told of how Hope was literally the sweetest person to ever live. She told him of recent events, of injuries, of anguish, of betrayal.

Blake was seething.

"How could he do that to his own daughter?!" Vivian sighed sadly. "And you! You gave your life to her... why?" Vivian went to respond, but paused. She realized, she didn't know the answer.

"It's just... I mean, I trained to... we're friends... It's just..." Vivian turned her head to the side. "I'm not doing anything she wouldn't have done for me had our situation been swapped." Vivian settled with, though her mind still pondered the question.

Why did she put up with Hope? Why did she give her life, why did her parents give their lives to a baby?

"But your situation isn't swapped," Blake said, kneeling in front of her. "You gave yourself and life to Hope. Let me do that for you, my angel." Vivian bit her lip. Hope would always hold a special place in her heart, but having her own life for a change sounded nice.

No. This is what Victoria and Bruce thought. Hope was not a burden or something that could be set aside and left behind.

"I will not abandoned Hope. She isn't a burden, and I love taking care her." Vivian leaned forward and kissed Blake's forehead, loving the way he leaned into her touch, feeling the sparks, the bond. "But that doesn't mean you will play second fiddle, my mate." They stayed like that for some time, Blake at Vivian's feet.

A searing pain tore through Vivian's head, and she screamed, dropping to the ground. "Angel!" Blake caught her, and held her close while she convulsed in his arms.

"Mom! Dad!" She screamed, holding her head. "The bond! It's breaking!"

Hope jerked up from her bed, hearing and feeling Vivian's pain. The events that had happened earlier in the day was still foggy in her mind, but she knew she had to reach Vivian. She stumbled out of the bed and made her way in the direction she heard everyone leaving earlier. She ran straight into the door, and Red growled in annoyance.

Vivian. Find her.

I'm trying! Hope growled back, feeling along the door, finally grasping the handle. Vivian was still in pain. She made her way out into a hallway, and heard Vivian scream again. Hope started walking as quickly as she dared in the direction of the scream, but soon, one foot didn't have a landing. Hope fell down a flight of stairs, and whimpered in pain. She sniffed, but didn't smell anyone around her to help. She forced herself to stand back up, and went in the direction the screams had come from.

Sobs reached Hope's ears, and she quickly tumbled along, stubbing many of her toes in the process. The pack-house was very different from the one she had lived in with her mother. Hope ran into a door and quickly searched around for the handle. She found it, and burst into the room, hearing Vivian and Blake.

"Viv? What's wrong? What's happening?" Only sobs greeted her. Hope put her hands out and made her way towards the sound. Blake growled.

"Leave us be." He wrapped his arm around Vivian and pulled her close. Hope dropped to the ground and crawled until she felt Vivian's lap. "I said-" Blake began, but Hope curled into Vivian, completely ignoring him.

"I'm here, Vivian." Hope whispered, remembering what Vivian had said to her earlier. "I'm here." Vivian reached out, and stroked Hope's hair and a smiled reached her lips as tears continued to fall.

"You got me."

"I told you I'd win a game of hide-and-seek one day." Hope said gently, inhaling her scent. "What's wrong?" Blake dropped his nose into Vivian's neck, jealous of the sudden attention Hope was receiving.

Not second fiddle, huh?

Oh, shut up. His wolf Midnight growled. Obviously, the two share their own bond, stupid.

"Mom and Dad... they're dead." Vivian burst into sobs again and gripped Blake, relaxing into his arms. "I felt the bond break." Hope teared up, her hand flying to her mouth.

Her parents had killed Vivian's parents. Hope curled at Vivian's feet and didn't move. She didn't say anything, but that was enough for Vivian. She could feel and sense Hope's comforting presence.

Vivian eventually cried herself to sleep in Blake's arms. Like Hope, he had remained perfectly still, offering a comforting silence to his mate. He gently picked her up, forgetting Hope's presence. As soon as Hope felt Vivian leave, she jerked up.

"Quiet." Blake whispered. "I'm taking Vivian to bed. She's asleep. I'll send someone for you." Hope nodded, and waited on the office floor as she heard Blake's footsteps fade away. Several minutes passed and no one came. Hope sighed and stood up slowly. He must have forgotten in his attempts to care for Vivian. Hope found her way to the door, and closed it behind her as she left.

She sniffed the air and smelled a few people nearby. "Hello?" she called out. "Is someone there?"

"Oh, oi! You must be the blind girl!" Hope felt both of her arms being taken and quietly reached out to their auras.

Mischievous. Lustful.

"I'm Hope."

Nice to a meet you. Ima Carly and this is my brother Johnny." They led her up the stairs and back to her bedroom. "Well, this is you. I'll come back up to a, help you in the morning." Hope nodded, leery of the two but knowing Vivian couldn't, shouldn't, help her.

The closed the door behind them, and Hope found her way to the bed. She slipped under the covers and drifted off to sleep, mourning for the loss of the two people who had truly been her parents.

The next morning arrived, and Carly knocked on Hope's door before entering. "Higha, Hope! Listen, I'm going to get you ready for the day!" She giggled, and Hope hummed thoughtfully. She didn't trust the girl.

"Just lay some clothes out. I'll do the rest."

"Oh, silly. What can you do?" Carly dragged Hope to the shower and forced her inside. "We need to get you all prettied up."

"I don't want--" Carly ripped off Hope's clothes, and Hope whimpered. "Stop."

"Nope!" Carly turned on the water and freezing cold water hit Hope's back.

"Oh!" Hope gasped, and Carly giggled.

"Johnny would have liked that! I should call him in here!" That put Hope over the edge. Generally she tried to control her temper because when Red got angry, there was no stopping her. Her parent's pack might not have trained her, but every lesson Vivian learned, she taught to Hope.

And Vivian was the best of the best.

Carly's hand touched Hope's breast and began tracing down her stomach, lower and lower. Hope reached out, using all of her senses, and managed to land a solid punch on Carly's face. Carly yelped and tumbled backwards. Hope didn't give her a chance to recover before she leapt out of the freezing shower and straddled Carly.

"Don't ever try to touch me again!" She growled. Hope raised her hand and slapped it across Carly's face. "Do. You. Understand. Me."

"Ye-yes..." Hope stood, and Carly ran out of the room. Hope retreated back to the shower, and managed to turn the dial until warm water starting flowing.

"That's better."