Chapter one

The rain showered heavily down my window, when my Dad's car parked in the driveway. It was quite the surprise actually. He usually returned six months after at the bare minimum. Cuddled up on the divan with my coffee and my favorite novel 'The Notebook ', I stretched my arms before getting the door for him. The doorbell rang and I ran down the stairs cause it seems the rain was pouring more heavily. I opened the door to find my dad and he brought one of his chicks along.

Great.

A she-wolf, except for some reason she was quite petite. An ordinary werewolf, unlike my father and I who were known as lycans, a superior breed of werewolves. Though we were the only ones of our kind around these parts. Hurriedly, they came in and shut the door. They took their wet coats, hanging them in the closet. I rolled my eyes at them as I leaned against the wall.

"Who is she?"The fake blonde asked as she peered suspiciously at me from underneath her fake lashes.

"His daughter."I answered, venom dripping from my voice.

"You couldn't even welcome me, sweetheart. Why are you making that face?" Dad asked, coming closer to me for a hug. I wondered why this man was so fucking dense. I blocked him off, preventing him from getting any closer."Don't you dare sweetheart me."I bit out, raising my gaze at him. " You left for three months just to return home with another bitch!" I wasn't much of a curser, but this man brought out the worst in me.

"How dare you?!"The woman screamed at me, her claws suddenly in my face."Tell your brat to show me some respect. Dave!!"

"Sophia, you are so grounded."Dad said holding his chic by the shoulders, appeasing her ego.I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms."Fuck it Dad, I'm already 18."I said, walking out on them.

"And you are still under my roof! Come back right now!!" Dad yelled as I jogged up the stairs.I ran back to my room as angry tears blurred my vision"I can't believe you have such a brat for a daughter!" Blondie kept yelling downstairs."Insolent!!"

I let out a shaky breath, almost choking on my sobs. I grabbed my headphones, banging my eardrums with an incredibly loud rock tune to block them out. My whole life was one big mess. It had been me and my Dad with his harem of hoes he brought home when he returned from the palace. It wasn't always like that though. My Nana was there for me until she passed away when I turned eight.

Dad was in some sort of cult or group known as the Crimson Talon. It was because of that I was pyrogenic (able to conjure up flames) and easily recover from any fatal injury than normal werewolves or even lycans.He had never been around because of his work at the palace. My life revolved around my school, my books or had to mingle with gossipy Packmates or kids around my age who were just fascinated by my flames. They probably thought I was the perfect, pretty, gifted taciturn due to the mirage I put up around me. I had finished high school and got admission into Arizona as my best friend and I had planned.

I picked up a book and read it till about 12:30 am. Everywhere was silent and I guessed they had all gone to sleep. I stifled a yawn and dropped the book on my bedside table, immediately shutting my eyes to sleep. Suddenly, the suppressed yelps of a woman perked at my sensitive ears. It softened into a moan and I could quickly decipher what the hell they were up to.

"The hell?" I cursed to myself. I placed my reading glasses on the table after dropping it out of shock. I placed my head on the door to confirm. The moans intensified, with the bitch saying gibberish in her heightened state of euphoria. Dad's moans echoed with hers.

Sadly, this wasn't the first time neither would it be the last. In retrospect, I was 10 when I stumbled on my father's sexual encounters in our home. Pure hatred and lividness burned within me for him and those bitches of his.

"Hey, would you guys keep it down in there?!"l yelled, climbing into my bed. After a few minutes, everywhere went dead silent. I plopped on the bed, dozing off after the storms of sobs which racked through my body.

_______________

My alarm clock rang, reverberating in my ears. I reached out, turning it off. After a series of stretches and yawns. I had my bath and threw on a baggy crocheted shirt with a pair of jean shorts. I placed my hair in a messy up-do bun and went down to the dining hall. Dad and Blondie were already having breakfast. There was no way I was having breakfast with them. That bitch was making my skin crawl all the way from the kitchen counter where I was making a turkey sandwich.

"Morning darling, come have breakfast with us." Dad asked with some sort of enthusiasm, sipping his orange juice. "Good morning, Father."I turned to the fridge to get some juice. "Don't push it." I added in a subtle tone.

Clio,on the other hand,was having some cruel, deplorable thoughts. Dad swallowed thickly, apparently trying to start up a conversation. "Sweetheart, you graduated from high school just last month. Have you considered any colleges yet? ln case not, I would like to recommend....." I cut him off."Dad, with all due respect, I would like it if you didn't talk about my life with your hoe around."

"Here she goes again!! What the fuck?!Dave!"She yelled looking at Dad for support.

"Stop cursing! Is this the manners you developed in my absence?" I chuckled with sarcasm. "Yeah in your 'absence' "I said, with air quotes."And quit playing the fatherly role, it really doesn't suit you."I retorted, leaving the kitchen and taking my turkey sandwich with me. On getting to my room, I stuffed my face quickly and grabbed my phone, dialling James immediately

"Hey what's up, Sophi? You haven't called since the weekend."

" Yeah been kind of busy. Dad's home."

"Another one of his chics?"

"Yeah. I don't know but this one really pisses me off!"I said over the phone, livid.

"Really? Is she sexy?" James asked, trying to tease me.

"James!"He laughed and hearing him laugh made me smile."I'm just kidding, there is no way she would even be sexy as you."

"Awwww, thanks James. Besides, her ass is in need of a proper surgeon."I spouted. His warm laughter boomed over the phone, making Clio hum in happiness.

"Anytime. Anyways, wanna come over? I'll take you to the movies and we'll have some popcorn."

"Yeah sure. I'll come over. I really need to get away from this madhouse." A poignant knock came through the door. "Hey James,I gotta go, someone's at my door."

"Alright.Can you do me a favour?"

"What?"

"Quit crying,it doesn't suit your pretty face."

"Sure. See you later."I said, turning my phone off. I felt a little better. I carried my lethargic body off the bed and opened my door to find Dad at the door.

"Sophi, can we talk?"Dad asked, wringing his fingers. I sighed. He wanted to apologize.

"What is it, Father?" I asked with sarcasm.

"Love, why do you do this to me? I know haven't been around much but why do you make it difficult for me to get close to you. You are the only one that I have have in this whole world."

I barked out a dry, sardonic laugh. "You sure as hell don't behave like it. You don't care about me, cause if you did, you will keep your hoes away from this house." Tears eventually found their ways down my cheeks and Dad became really sober. "I miss Nana, she made sure I never felt lonely." I turned away to lie on my bed. My grandmother was the closest thing I had to a mother in my entire life. Since she died, I never knew true parental happiness.

His face fell. Even he wasn't able to get over her death. Since she died, this house no longer felt like home. I laid on my bed, whimpering as he sat next to me, patting my hair.

"Love, what if we go somewhere new?"Dad suddenly piped up, breaking the silence.

That took me off guard."You really want to leave the pack?"

"I already talked to the Alpha over the phone last night. I've even booked the tickets for New York. I want us to fresh start away from suburbs. It will be good for you. Plus, I'll be able to spend my entire vacation with you there. It will be great. Then we can start discussing how you get acquainted your wolf."

My mind immediately flew to James. "No Dad, my whole life is here. And I'm going to Arizona with James. I got admission there. Why the sudden change?" I sat up in the bed, looking at him in shock.

Dad sighed "Love, I want us to move on. Your Nana's death is somewhat a painful memory which haunts me every time I come back. I see every memory of hers within every corner of this house. And I want to be a better father, away from the memories of this house. It pains me everyday, I wasn't able to protect your grandmother from that rogue."

It all came back in flashes. The stranger whom Nana helped, clawing at her chest, her frail, lithe body, collapsing lifelessly on the ground, the glass of milk she held in her final moments, shattering into pieces, her cobalt blue eyes turning lifeless, red crimson pooling at my feet as my 8 years old self only stared in shock.

He was right.

"Alright Dad, let's go."