Chapter One

Noah smiled as he looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. It was a special day for the Bloodrose pack. Hunter Schmidt, Noah's childhood best friend was going to be introduced as the pack's new alpha. He was also going to be declaring Noah as his mate. Noah took a deep, shaky breath, and smoothed his hands over his shirt, giving himself one last look before heading to the ceremony grounds. 

Everyone gathered on the ceremonial grounds, with Noah in the front. A warm breeze lifted the bangs of Noah's short, black hair, then let them rest unevenly above his hazel eyes. The crowd became hushed as Hunter and his father approached the podium. Noah felt his cheeks heat up seeing how the sunlight hit Hunter's collar length, blonde hair just right, making it shimmer. Noah smiled at him, but that smile morphed into a frown when Hunter only spared him a disinterested glance. 

"Maybe he's just nervous," Noah thought. 

Noah shook his head to rid himself of the building worry and turned his attention back to the stage. When the words "Members of Bloodrose Pack meet Hunter Schmidt, your new alpha" boomed across the grounds, he joined the rest of the pack in excited applause. 

When the noise died down, Hunter stepped forward and said in a booming voice that could be heard all the way to the back of the crowd, "I have an announcement." Silence fell, and. Hunter's intense blue eyes locked to Noah's hazel gaze. Noah took a step forward but recoiled back into the crowd when an unfamiliar brunette woman climbed the stairs and stood alongside Hunter. "Pack members, meet Noreen Pena, my omega and mate," 

Noah felt like he'd been sucker punched. His stomach churned and it was all he could do to keep the bile from raising in his throat. Tears threatened to spill, and before Hunter could finish his announcement, Noah turned, pushed past the mob, and ran across the grounds and into the pack house. 

Noah locked his door behind him and threw himself onto the bed, his face buried in his pillow as a sob ripped from his throat. Anger, hurt, and betrayal rolled through him as he cried. Years ago, when Hunter presented as an alpha and Noah as an omega, they'd made a promise to stay together as mates.

"Why did he have to break his promise?" Noah's fist came down hard on the damp pillow as the tears continued to fall. He sobbed through the night until, exhausted and dehydrated, he fell into a fitful sleep.

Days passed, and Noah's chest tightened until he could barely breath every time he watched Hunter with his new omega. After a week, Noah couldn't take it any longer. He tried and failed to hold back the tears as he packed everything he owned into a black duffle bag, scrawled "Goodbye" on a scrap of paper that he taped to his nightstand, and left in the dead of night.

The next week, Noah's older brother, Jonathan, arrived from college hoping to say hi and see how everyone was doing. He saw his younger sibling was nowhere in sight.

"Welcome back," Hunter replied, smiling warmly as he approached him. "Thank you, and congratulations on becoming pack leader," Jonathan said. "Where's Noah?" he inquired.

"I don't know," Hunter said. The living room went silent until a door opened in the distance. Noreen came out wearing one of Hunter's t-shirts and gray sweatpants.

"Oh, hon, you promised to come back to our room," Noreen murmured poutily as she hugged him from behind.

"I'll be right there, sweetie," Hunter murmured, kissing her on the cheek.

Noreen smiled and went back to their bedroom. Jonathan let out a deep exhale after running his long fingers through his short black hair.

"Who is she?" Jonathan inquired in a disappointed tone.

"My mate and 'your' Luna," Hunter said. Jonathan furrowed his black, bushy eyebrow in irritation.

"Tell me you didn't do what I think you did," Jonathan said sternly.

"Do what?" Hunter inquired, giving Jonathan a perplexed expression. Jonathan clenched his fists in the pockets of his jeans and said, "Broke the promise you made to my brother," in an agitated tone.

"What promise?" Hunter inquired, pretending to be dumb.

"To stay by his side and tell the pack you two were mates," Jonathan said.

"I made no promise," Hunter claimed.

"Yes you did because Noah told me," Jonathan stated. "Now tell me, where is my brother," he demanded. Hunter stood and said nothing.

Jonathan glared at Hunter, turned on his heel, and quickly exited the living room. He couldn't stand looking at Hunter's face, so he went to Noah's bedroom. When he came, his jaw dropped with terror. The door was open, and the bedroom appeared to have been battered by a tornado. Noah and Hunter's broken picture frames covered the unmade bed. A folded piece of paper on the nightstand drew his attention. He opened it and saw "Goodbye" scribbled in sloppy handwriting. Jonathan entered the neighboring bathroom, which looked identical to the bedroom. The bathroom mirror was shattered, and fragments of glass scattered the tile floor. 

Noah was gone and it was because of a broken promise

Three years and a dozen aliases later, Coleman, or as he was now known, emerged from his bed and yawned. His muscles popped as he raised his long arms above his head. He had to work in two hours, so he went to the bathroom with a fresh change of clothes. He took a fast shower and changed into the clothing he chose. He stood in front of the bathroom mirror, pulling his long black hair back into a ponytail. He slipped two little pills under his tongue and drank some water before entering the kitchen. He put two slices of bread in the toaster and grabbed a red apple from the fridge, biting into it. 

Cole had arrived in Satbury, New Alaana two months ago, looking ragged and skinny. Except for Reed Mclaughlin, an art studio owner and alpha who felt sorry for Cole, everyone treated him like he had the plague. Cole didn't totally trust Reed at first, maybe because he is an alpha. However, he accepted Reed's offer to live in an apartment above his art studio. He was even grateful for the employment at the studio and the medical assistance provided to him. He was relieved that no queries regarding his true identity were posed. That is how he got to where he is today.

Cole discarded the apple core, finished the buttered bread, and went downstairs, closing the door behind him.

"Good morning," Reed remarked, welcoming Cole with a friendly smile.

"Good morning, Mr. McLaughlin," Cole said with a modest nod.

"You don't need to be so formal," the redhead said, chuckling. "Call me Reed," 

"That wouldn't be proper," Cole said. "You're my boss, and you're older than me," he voiced concern.

"Okay, just don't call me sir because it's old fashioned," he said. They both entered, and Cole began dusting and straightening the main hall. He paused long enough to take a little break and purchase a drink from the vending machine.

Cole rose up from a neighboring bench as Reed approached him. "I'm short a student for my art class," he explained. "Would you like to join it?" he said.

"I can partake in one of your famous classes?" Cole's hazel eyes widened with disbelief.

"Sure, if you want to," Reed said. Cole's hazel eyes glistened as he smiled and vigorously nodded. His pace quickened as he followed Reed to the art room.

"Do you want to try drawing or painting?" Reed inquired when they reached the spacious room. His glance shifted back and forth as he considered which to choose.

"I'd like to try both, but I think I'll try this first," he remarked, moving up to an easel.