Chapter 1

*Swish* *Crack*

The sound of the slap rings in my ears. My face should feel like it's on fire, but I'm far too used to this kind of interaction.

"How dare you! You disgust me! Keep your eyes off my mate!" The she-wolf screams in my face.

She's accusing me of flirting with her mate. She doesn't give me the chance to explain that he's been flirting with me. It does bring me a tad bit of self-confidence though, knowing that I still look better than her, even in an old ratty t-shirt and faded pair of leggings. My name is Lizzie Laurent and tomorrow is my eighteenth birthday. I currently live in the Blood River Pack which is currently being led by its new Alpha. Alpha Justin Peters, who took over from his father as Alpha shortly after he turned eighteen himself a few months ago. I wish I could say he's as horrible as his father, but honestly, he's decent to those around him. However, he's a bloodhound to those he considers an enemy. Which I am to him.

Not everyone in the pack knows about the murder of my family and the part that Alpha Justin's parents played. I'm not sure Alpha Justin even knows. I do though. I was there. I was just eight years old when a number of wolves from this pack invaded our lands for power. Murdering everyone that got in their way. Which was everyone but myself. My mother had hidden me safely away, only to be found days later amongst the rubble and destruction of our pack house. They had, and still have, no idea that I'm the daughter of an Alpha.

At first, when they brought me to live with them, I thought it was out of guilt. I found out quickly though, that they hold no guilt. They turned me into the pack's own slave. For the last decade, I've been doing all the housework, cooking, and tending to the young for a Pack house that services over one hundred werewolves. For the last decade, I've been at the mercy of the very people that have caused me the most pain, grief, and suffering. They don't treat me like a regular person, I'm trash beneath their feet. I'm lower on the ranking scale than the Omegas. I don't even have a bed to sleep on because the small pantry behind the kitchen that I've been allowed as a room isn't large enough for one. I make do though with a few pillows and blankets I've stolen throughout the years. Every now and then a random Omega will take pity on me and give me something of theirs.

"Did you hear me you piece of crap! Get the hell away from my mate!" The she-wolf, whose name I have no clue, yells, and spits directly in my face. She raises her hand to slap me again. Only this time I catch her wrist hard.

"Do not touch me." My voice radiates venom. I'm not allowed to talk directly to or talk back to anyone, but I'm very much hoping to be sent to my room for the rest of the day.

"ELIZABETH!" I hear Alpha Justin's voice booming across the room. Nobody here calls me Lizzie.

I turn around and stare directly into his eyes. Nobody looks the Alpha in the eyes. Since I'm not formerly part of the pack, nobody in the pack house can actually force me to submit to them. He's not my Alpha, which means his Alpha powers have no effect on me. The result is that I end up getting beaten and starved. It's peculiar though, recently his eyes don't hold the same level of hatred as they normally do.

"Let go of Vanessa! Go to your room. No dinner!" He booms at me in his Alpha voice. Whispers erupt around me from those around me.

"She knows better."

"Why do they keep her?"

"Where did she come from again?"

"She probably doesn't even have a wolf."

I bite my tongue and walk away. I'd love to see the gossip queens learn to cook and clean. For now, though, I'm grateful to be done for the afternoon. The threats and punishments don't bother me anymore. They happen so frequently. I go to the closet of my room and curl up on the pile of old pillows. The smell of clean soap is still evident. I take care to make sure I wash and air out my pillows and blankets at least once a week in the dead of night when nobody will see. I stay curled up until my alarm goes off, signaling it's time for me to go make dinner for the pack. I bet you're wondering why I stay here. Why don't I just leave and take my chances as a rogue lone wolf? The answer is simple. I have a roof over my head. Somewhere dry to sleep that's not the forest. Food to eat, when I'm allowed. All circumstances that aren't promised when you live the rogue life.

I gather my hair up in a bun to keep it out of the way as I prepare dinner. Cooking for over a hundred werewolves is no easy task. It takes at least three hours to prepare all the food. Of course, it would be faster if I had help. Nobody else in the pack since I've been here took the time to learn to cook. I lose myself in my thoughts, comfortable in the familiar mundane task.

Thoughts of how I pray that the Moon Goddess will take pity on me tomorrow. The Mood Goddess is our heavenly mother. She creates each of our werewolf sides and matches them to us when we are born. The werewolf side lives with a person but in the background, until you turn eighteen. Every person meets their inner wolf for the first time on their eighteenth birthday.

It's also common that you can find your mate on the same day. This is because the mate bond is intricately tied to your werewolf side. Once your werewolf side becomes present, you can either sense your mate if they are nearby or even start looking for them. A mate is a supernatural term for a soul mate in our world. It's also, by the design of the Mood Goddess, that each of us has one. I pray that I find mine tomorrow on my birthday, somehow. That I get taken away from this hell to be loved and to know what love is once again. I make a silent vow to myself that even if I don't find my mate tomorrow, that I will run away and seek immunity at a nearby pack. Surely, there's an Alpha nearby that still has a soul. I vow to myself that I will be done with this place and all of those that have caused me so much pain, heartache, and anguish.

Once I finally finish preparing the plethora of oven-roasted chickens and large quantities of sides, I arrange everything just the way Alpha Justin likes it. With one last swipe of my cloth to polish a plate nearby, I ring the dinner bell. It only takes a few moments before there's a line out the door of an assortment of pack members. Even though they know me and I know them, we all have a mutual understanding that I don't exist. So, I fade away as much as possible into the pantry, hoping that the threat of no dinner has been forgotten. My luck must be in my favor tonight because Alpha Justin walks right by me and either doesn't see me, care enough to look, or just ignores me. Either way, that's my signal to stuff my face before anyone notices. I'm gulping down some mashed potatoes just as I hear my name being shouted from the dining room.

"ELIZABETH! COME HERE!" Alpha Justin shouts. I allow a small groan of annoyance as I chug some water to rinse my mouth out of any evidence. I swish and spit into the sink as I push my way through the swinging doors that separate the kitchen and dining room. I hurry over to where he is sitting.

"Can I get you something?" I almost grind my teeth with the words, but I restrain myself.

"Tomorrow is your birthday is it not?" He asks with a smirk.

"Yes," I hesitantly answer.

"If I remember correctly, it's your eighteenth birthday?" He smirks once more.

"That's correct," I really restrain myself from sounding sarcastic. He knows exactly what birthday it is. It's his job to know about any wolves in the pack that is about to come of age.

"Big day all around it seems." He states as he takes another bite and chews slowly and swallows as if savoring the moment. "We have a few other wolves coming of age as well, so naturally you will need to prepare a grand feast and coordinate with my Beta's wife for the party planning." He barely even glances my way as he relays this to me.

"You told me I could have my birthday to myself," I tell him, trying my best to hide my frustration and anger.

"Well, I've changed my mind now that we are not throwing a typical birthday bash." He huffs out.

"What does that mean?" The question leaves my tongue before I can stop it. I snap my mouth shut.

"We are hosting our allies for this since we have more of a potential of one of the Alphas finding their mate amongst our coming-of-age wolves. It's a perfect time to strengthen our relationships with other packs. You will need to send out the notification to everyone on this list." He shoves a list into my chest. I look at the list and see over a dozen packs are listed. I feel angry tears start to prick my eyes. I bite my tongue hard and make my way back through the swinging doors to the kitchen. It's only a matter of time before one of my stress-induced headaches starts to creep up, so I focus on my breathing until my heart rate levels out.

Once everyone finishes, it's common for them to leave their mess on the table for me to clean up. Not a single one of them has ever operated one of our many dishwashers, it's just as well since I don't want them breaking anything. I swiftly cleaned, polished, and put things back to right before going to my room. Only a few short hours later and the pack house settles in for the night. Televisions are turned off, footsteps stop, and the occasional snoring can be heard. When this Packhouse was built, the Alpha at the time decided not to spend the extra money to make the rooms soundproof. The Alphas that came after him haven't seen any reason to update it.

With my towel, a bar of soap, and change of clothes I softly tiptoe out of my tiny room and through the kitchen towards the backdoor. Thankfully, I learned a long time ago how to open and close it without making it creak. It was nearly midnight, and the night sky was picturesque. The breeze outside is just soft enough to lift the ends of my hair. The air still holds the scent of bond fires and sweat from the festivities that took place after dinner. I keep my eyes sharp as I beeline straight for the pond that's only a few hundred yards away. The trees surrounding it provide privacy. Something I wish I had more of.

I find my usual rock and set my clean clothes and towel on it before stripping down. The faded scars blend in with new scars that stand out like a red rose in a snow pile. My skin is so pale that during the winter, you can see the veins in my arms. Of course, the lack of sunlight that I'm allowed doesn't help. I slip into the water and the chilliness sends a shiver straight up my spine. Luckily my werewolf genes keep my body temperature warmer than normal, making it almost impossible to get sick from cold and icy temperatures.

The water engulfs me like a friendly hug as it eases the ache from my muscles. I look up and immediately appreciate the fact that I'm alone. A black to navy gradient was the backdrop for the full moon tonight. The night sky is so clear you can almost see every crater. The moon, emitting a glow of a yellowy white hue, looms large, with a surrounding ethereal glow. I drift my hands on the surface of the water as I expel all my negative energy from the day. The glow from the moon though only intensifies the scars that I can see on my arms.

I've contemplated ending my own life multiple times since I was brought here, but I could never go through with it. I could never give up and be remembered as a quitter. My parents raised me to be smarter and better than that. A stray tear escapes and I brush it aside almost aggressively. I dunk my head to wet my hair and start working the soap through it until it gets a good amount of soap bubbles through it. After a few rounds of scrubbing my hair feels cleaner and definitely smells better. I go through the same process with the rest of my body until I get all the dirt and grime off of me. With a flick of my wrist, I wrap my hair into a bun and reach for my towel to dry off. That's when I hear a soft voice in the back of my mind.

"Hey, Lizzie."

"Who might you be?" I ask with a smile on my face. I had already forgotten that tonight after midnight I would meet my wolf.

"My name is Shanna. It means wise protector. I originated in the older parts of Ireland."

"I love that name. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Shanna."

"Lizzie, I'm so incredibly sorry."

"For what?" I ask confusingly.

"For the pain and suffering, you have been subject to. I have been with you every step of the way. It has pained me beyond any measure that I have had no way of protecting, shielding, healing, or comforting until now."

"Those are the rules. None of it is your fault. You're here now." I explain in hopes of lifting Shanna's spirit.

"Lizzie, we have Alpha blood. You do remember that don't you?"

"Yes, and that will stay between us, for now," I inform her.

"Lizzie?"

"Yes?"

"I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere."

"You're my family now Shanna."

I sense her start to retreat to the back of my mind once more. I throw my clothes on and head back to the pack house with a small spring in my step.