Alpha Atlas

Raelynn Tress has always been an outsider in her pack—gentle where others are fierce, thoughtful where others are impulsive. When she discovers her mate is none other than Atlas Andino, the arrogant future Alpha who's tormented her for years, her world shatters when he publicly rejects her for his long-term girlfriend. With her wolf spirit broken and her heart in pieces, Raelynn and her mother flee their home to seek refuge in her mother's original pack—the legendary Night Walker pack, renowned for producing the strongest warriors in the country. As Raelynn begins to rebuild her shattered confidence among strangers, dark secrets from the past and undiscovered enemies threaten to pull her back into the dangerous world she left behind. Can she forge a new identity as a Night Walker warrior, or will the ghost of Atlas Andino and the bonds she thought broken forever destroy her chance at a new life?

Alpha Atlas

Raelynn Tress has always been an outsider in her pack—gentle where others are fierce, thoughtful where others are impulsive. When she discovers her mate is none other than Atlas Andino, the arrogant future Alpha who's tormented her for years, her world shatters when he publicly rejects her for his long-term girlfriend. With her wolf spirit broken and her heart in pieces, Raelynn and her mother flee their home to seek refuge in her mother's original pack—the legendary Night Walker pack, renowned for producing the strongest warriors in the country. As Raelynn begins to rebuild her shattered confidence among strangers, dark secrets from the past and undiscovered enemies threaten to pull her back into the dangerous world she left behind. Can she forge a new identity as a Night Walker warrior, or will the ghost of Atlas Andino and the bonds she thought broken forever destroy her chance at a new life?

Chapter 1 Prologue

Mastering others is strength, Mastering yourself is true power. Lao Tzu             * I once thought strength was something you were born with. You were either born strong willed, or born weak minded. Just as you were either born good or evil. Black and white thinking kept my mind at ease, helped me to justify the things that happened in my life. I had never thought in grey, I loathed the color. Grey confuses and conflicts the mind. It never crossed my mind that strength is born in troubling times, when you have lost more than you've gained. I was once weak, swayed by the opinion's and comments of those my age. Words pierced my skin, insults ate away at my soul. I was an exposed nerve, navigating our complex world with a constant chip on my shoulder. My story begins in a small town, located in Eastern Texas. My life wasn't full of tragedy. Misery and trauma weren't the cause of my soft-hearted-ness. Life was fair to me, as it is to most people. The good meshed with the bad, creating a life that was pleasant and appealing to the eye. There was much I couldn't remember from my childhood, a head injury taking away some of my memory but things like that were often easy to let go. I had two caring parents, which was more than most people had. My Dad, with his smile that lit up a room and a laugh that sent others into hysterics. He was the joy of my childhood, brightening the dark spots that would form. My Mom, with her kind hearted nature was the backbone of our family. She would laugh through my Dad's antics, smiling with the joy her little family brought her. As it always does, tragedy struck. My Dad died when I was only eight years old, too young to have contained many memories of him. The one memory that stood out the most was the night we built a bonfire in the forest behind our house. A bear had wandered into the little clearing, frightening me as I clung to my Dad's sweatshirt. The bear stalked forward, unaware it's life was in danger. Fear sent me spiraling backwards, hitting my head against the earthen floor. Dad chased the bear away that night, fear did not follow him as it followed me. That was the night my memories became just out of reach, a harsh mist clouding many of them. While some memories remained clear, others were tainted by the same mist. Mom mourned, as widows often did. We held each other tightly, fearing one of us would be next to leave this world. Life without my Dad was a difficult adjustment. The stages of grief passed over me faster than they did my Mom, leaving me some-what frustrated with the world. How easily someone could be ripped from your life, someone whose place was impossible to fill. I spent an entire year searching for a way to fill the hole inside of me, searching for some way to dull the ache in my heart. It was the day after my ninth birthday that I found Micah. My Mom threw me a birthday party as she did every year, even though I insisted I didn't want one this year. My first birthday without Dad, it was a hollow birthday to say the least. Many of the invited children didn't show up, but that didn't surprise me. Friends were scarce during this point in my life. I didn't fit in with the other children, never quite knowing what to say or do around them. I had woken early the next day, venturing from the house on my own. Our backyard was huge, or perhaps that was just my childhood memory. An old swing set sat towards the edge of the woods, a place my Dad and I used to play. There were times as a child where I would become incredibly frustrated, unable to understand why some memories were just out of my reach. The day after my ninth birthday was one of those days. I wandered up to the play set, struggling to recall my Dad's face as he pushed me on the swing. Anger does things to the mind, removes fear when fear should be present. I wandered into the woods; determined to find our old bonfire site. I needed to see for myself, see the place I had lost so many precious memories. With child-like innocence and ignorance, I walked into the woods. The words of my parents swirled in my head, a clear warning not to venture by myself. I knew I was lost when the sound of running water filled my ears, it's fresh scent filling my nose. I approached the wide stream with its bubbling waters and overgrowth of shrubbery. Large rocks coated in shining green moss stood out against the clear blue waters. It was when I pulled my eyes from the moss coated rocks that I noticed a pair of golden eyes staring back at me. A boy, my age from the looks of it. His plump lips were parted in shock, a mop of bronze hair sitting on his head. I was too young to view boy's as anything other than friends, but Micah held a certain beauty that most adults struggled to attain. His skin was deeply tanned, yet looked smooth and soft. His golden eyes matched the hues in his hair, lit by the sunlight. 'Hello!' I called out, my hand raised in an attempt to wave at the boy. That was the first time I had met Micah, and I watched in a stunned silence as he fled from the stream. Our friendship had a slow start, but I continued meeting Micah at the stream for many years. I would often go on the weekends, spending the entire day with him. He was my first friend. Elusive yet charming and kind. The next weekend, I returned to the stream with it's bustling waters. The boy was already there, perched on a rock as he poked at the running water with a stick. When his eyes met mine for the second time, they held no shock. I watched silently as a lopsided smile formed on the boy's face, and he beckoned me closer. "I'm Micah." The boy smiled, handing me a stick of my own. "Raelynn." I grinned back, joy filling me at meeting my first friend. I watched Micah grow through out the years, still holding the beauty he had as a child. His features elongated, his tanned face aging into that of a man. His hair remained bronze, his eyes still gold but everything else had changed. His boyish figure turned slim, traces of muscle protruding from his skin. Micah would never speak of his family, of where he returned once his time at the stream was finished. We rarely spoke about our home lives. The time at the stream was a reprieve from our home life, a life filled with as much good as there was bad. I never minded knowing little about Micah, and he never pushed me for answers. We talked about hopes and dreams, lives beyond the ones we were forced to live. Life at home had become much more strenuous. Mom was still my rock, anchoring me to this life preventing me from floating away. Starting high school was a monumental point in my life, pushing me farther away from the kids my age. Fitting in had always been a struggle, making friends was nearing impossible. My second friend was a shy girl by the name Alyssa Porter. Short with chocolate colored hair and a healthy splattering of freckles on her face, Alyssa had approached me during lunch. I spent my time at home and school with Alyssa, my weekends with Micah always on my mind. One Friday afternoon, I ran home with tears streaming from my eyes. A group of kids at school had pinned me against the locker, ruining my white blouse with a bottle of fruit punch. I never made it inside my house, Micah and our stream at the front of my mind. Micah wasn't at the stream when I arrived, as I typically met him Saturday's. My tears dripped into the stream, mingling with the cool waters. A silent gasp left my lips as the face of a young girl peered at me from the water, a look of bewilderment on her face. Porcelain skin, white hair and crystal blue eyes peered back up at me. "Raelynn?" Micah's confused, yet calmly smooth voice called out. I turned my head to meet his golden eyes, and when I looked back the girl was gone. Micah's face contorted in confusion as I told him about the girl in the water. "You didn't see her?" I frowned, tilting my head at Micah as he crouched down to the water. "I did not." Micah shook his head, his fingertips grazing the water's surface. Micah turned and touched my damp shirt, toying with the red stain that had formed. "You are sticky." Micah pointed out, a smile toying at the edges of his lips. I let out a little chuckle when Micah dragged his finger over my sticky cheek, bringing it to his lips. "And you taste like fruit." Micah grinned, but it fell from his face as he noticed the tear tracks down my cheeks, "You have been crying.""Kids at school." I frowned, "They're not very nice to me.""They do not seem very intelligent either." Micah raised his bronze eyebrow at me, earning a quiet giggle. "They're not all bad." I smiled softly, "Some just ignore me, but others like to pick on me.""School does not sound very enjoyable." Micah frowned, as if he never heard of the concept. "You don't go to school?" I asked innocently, a stick in my hand as I poked at the water. Micah shifted, his face clear of emotion. "I do not.""Oh." I nodded, "Lucky, I wish I didn't have to go." We continued our meet ups until I turned sixteen years old; A monumental age where I came from. My meetings with Micah became scarce, the two of us becoming busy with our lives. Often, I would go to the stream in search of him. A frown would plague my face whenever he failed to show up. We grew distant, but Micah would always be my first friend.

Chapter 2 Chapter 1

There are four main species in the world, taught to us since we could walk. Humans - With their penchant for building and expanding. Raising buildings high into the sky, rushing around in their business suits with their smartphones glued to their ear. Vampires - Creatures who emerge during the night, humans their source of sustenance. Speed is on their side, allowing them to flit from place to place without being spotted. They live in the darkness and many can become one with it, cloaking themselves. Werewolves - Shape shifters by nature, with the spirit of a wolf living within them. They shift anywhere from ten years old and up. A mate is gifted to them, able to find them at sixteen or older. Speed and strength are on their side. Werewolves reside in a pack, a leader chosen among the masses. Fae - Elusive creatures, incapable of lying. Decades of being forced to tell the truth has made them gifted speakers, able to twist words easily. Not much is known about the Fae as they prefer to keep to themselves. Spotting a Fae is incredibly rare, talking to one is impossible.                * "I can't stand Atlas." I sighed, giving Alyssa a long look. Tomorrow was my sixteenth birthday, and my Mom was trying to keep me in high spirits. Sixteen years old marked the ability to find my mate, my other half. I had many expectations about how the day would go. After my Dad's death, I refused birthday parties. It felt wrong without my Dad there, celebrating another year of life while he was dead. Eventually, my Mom stopped asking. Birthday's became private events between her and I. She would buy me a small cake and a gift or two, setting them on the counter before she left for work as the Pack Doctor. It was hard to talk to my Mom about how I felt. Anytime my Dad was mentioned, her eyes would cloud with memories from the past. Her mind would leave the present, remembering a time where Dad had been alive. Her eyes would fill with tears, weighing on my heart. I couldn't force myself to bring her anymore pain. Living without a mate was a bleak life, whether you had children or not. She did what she needed to. She took care of me, supporting me my entire life but there was always a small part of her that wasn't there. I'd like to believe that small part of her died when Dad did, and is currently with him now. "He's just a bully." Alyssa frowned, pulling her chocolate hair up in a bun. "Are you doing anything special for tomorrow?" I was grateful Alyssa changed the subject, letting me mope in peace. Atlas and his friends specifically targeted me, knowing I would never fight back. They never once batted an eyelash at Alyssa, something I was jealous for. Regardless, I wouldn't want to trade places. It was better than letting them bully someone else. "Nah." I shrugged, "I'll find my mate eventually. I'm not big on birthday parties." Alyssa gave me a cheerful smile, "We could hang out tomorrow. Spend the day wandering around after school.""I'd like that." I smiled, even if my heart wasn't in it. Each year I had visited Micah on my birthday, and each year he never failed to show. Last year was the first time he was absent, another hole forming in my heart. Tomorrow was Friday, the weekend I should be spending with Micah at the front of my mind. I had never told anyone about Micah, we were both each other's secret. The school bus stopped at the corner, my house at the end of the cul-de-sac. Alyssa and I exited the bus, heading to where my modest home sat. We never lived a luxurious life, like some others in our pack, but that was never a problem to my Mom and I. We preferred things simple, finding happiness beyond material possessions. The two of us sat on my front porch, picking at the chipped blue paint. Three years back, my Mom asked what color we should repaint the porch in an attempt to cheer me up. I told her 'baby blue', thinking she would refuse. She came home that day with buckets of blue paint, a tired grin on her face. The paint was peeling now, chipped from the years. Atlas Andino's car sped around the block, squealing to a stop out front of his house. Atlas had been our neighbor since I was eleven. His family lived on the other side of town, moving here once their house had finished being built. Atlas's Dad was the Alpha of our pack, his wife the Luna. Both were fair to the rest of us, but were extremely strict. Our pack was the biggest in the country, the 'Full Moon Pack' our name. I had always hated the name of our pack, thinking it was too bland. Atlas Andino emerged from his car, his usual friends in tow. I knew them all by name, noting how their styles of bullying differed. Atlas Andino, with his pale blonde hair and startling grey eyes. Shaina Adam's with her espresso skin and gorgeous sneer. Michelle Cario, with her long legs and thick accent. Duke Kentworth, with his football jersey and messy black hair. Dean Marsh, with his curly chocolate hair and sly smile. The five of them made my high school experience hell, Atlas Andino being the worst. Michelle Cario was glued to Atlas's side the moment he stepped from the car. Michelle Cario had an alluring Spanish accent all of the guys were fond of. Her skin was a beautiful tan color, her hair long and curly. She had been dating Atlas since they started high school two years ago. Michelle enjoyed throwing things at me, Duke Kentworth enjoyed spilling liquids, and Shaina Adam's enjoyed name calling. Dean Marsh would often trip me in the halls, or knock my books from my hand at every chance he got. Atlas Andino simply looked down on me, and ignored the torment his friends put me through. A month into my Freshman year, I made the mistake of crying when Dean knocked my books from my hand and Shaina called me an 'antisocial freak'. My fate had been sealed once they saw the tears that fell from my eyes, the sniffle that left my lips. I had always been a pushover, unable to stand up for myself. It went against everything we were as werewolves. We were supposed to be confident, strong, and proud. I was none of those things, and I didn't know how to be. "Dean look," Shaina snorted, her eyes flickering in my direction. "The freak has a friend." Dean glanced my way and smirked, his finger tracing an invisible tear down his cheek. I averted my gaze from the five of them, turning to face Alyssa's annoyed stare. "Ignore them." She rolled her eyes, pulling out some sheets of homework. I tried to follow in her foot steps, pulling my books and sheets of paper from my bag. The handful of my homework was ripped from my grasp, a smirking Duke stood above me. "This important?" Duke smirked, his earth colored eyes staring down at me. "Yes." I managed to force the word from my lips as my throat constricted, "It's--my homework.""Homework?" Duke's smirk deepened. A ripping sound filled the air as he destroyed my work-sheets. Tears stung the back's of my eyelids as I heard his friends whoop in laughter. 'Don't let them see you cry.' My wolf, Lila, shook her head. I swallowed the lump in my throat and fixed my eyes on the coffee table. "Good luck doing homework, freak." Duke snickered, walking back to his friends. I couldn't help but steal a glance at Atlas, my throat aching at the indifferent look on his face. His arm was wrapped around Michelle, and the five of them went inside his house. Alyssa didn't say much about me getting bullied. She had once convinced me to stand up for myself, and that ended horrifically. She no longer made that suggestion. She's tried to stick up for me in the past, but it only pulls her into their bullying. I refused to let their attention shift over to Alyssa, no matter how much she insisted she could handle it. Alyssa and I finished our homework, heading inside to hang out until my Mom got home. She often worked long shifts as the Pack Doctor. There was always some teenage werewolves getting injured, coming back with scrapes and cuts. She loved her work, it was how she met my Dad. Going to work was an escape from dealing with my typical melancholy, but I also think it hurt her to be there. That building was where she met Dad, and I wondered if she could still see him walking down the halls. Mom arrived home after a few hours, a tired smile on her face as she peeked her head in my bedroom. Mom always did what she could to keep me in high spirits. She knew the bullying I'd endure at school, but there wasn't much she could do. She once spoke to Dean's parents, getting him grounded for a solid week. That only made the bullying worse, increasing the number of times I'd run home in tears. I was merely thankful she didn't talk to the Alpha and Luna, Atlas's parents. I couldn't stand the indifferent look on his face as his friends tormented me. The three of us ate dinner, something my Mom hastily put together in under an hour. Mom wasn't the best cook, that was usually Dad's job. I couldn't remember many of the meals I shared with him, but I remember he loved to experiment and cook new things. "Mr. Barnes was at the hospital today." Mom gave me an exasperated look and I chuckled wholeheartedly. Alyssa looked between the two of us in confusion. Mom had a disgusted look on her face, while mine was filled with humor. "Mr. Barnes is this old werewolf that has a crush on my Mom." I snickered as my Mom repressed a shudder. "Poor thing's mate passed away two years ago." Mom shook her head, her own pain clear in her eyes. "Ever since then he won't leave me alone.""Poor guys got it bad." Alyssa giggled at the two of us. Other than Micah, my Mom had become my bestfriend. I told her everything, and we became incredibly close over the years. She was always optimistic, while I remained my gloomy self. While I talked to her about everything, I couldn't bring myself to mention Dad. The pain that flashed in her eyes chilled me, halting me in my path. "Every other day he comes in with some mysterious pain or injury." Mom rolled her eyes. "Poor guys putting himself in danger trying to win your heart." I chuckled. "Fat chance." Mom shook her head, "He's sixteen years too late, and forty years too old." Mom always had a way to make me laugh after a bad day, bringing light to any dark situation. As I said before, my view of the world was very black and white. People were either good or evil, an event was either good or bad. I had never thought about the thousand hues of grey that stood out among the two colors. Grey simply wasn't a possibility. Grey meant someone was both good and evil, that an event could be both good and bad. It was the day of my sixteenth birthday when my view of the world changed.

Chapter 3 Chapter 2

I woke up that morning and got dressed as though it were any other day. Birthday's no longer felt exciting, but this one felt different. I felt excited for a chance. I knew I'd still spend the day bullied by Atlas and his friends but today was the day I was able to find my mate. It opened new doors for me in many ways. If I found my mate and he belonged to another pack, my Mom and I would move. I couldn't imagine my mate being from this town, as most of the people my age ignored me completely. I combed through my light brown hair, enjoying how much easier it was. A month ago I decided to chop my waist-length hair off, growing tired of how it constantly got in the way. My Mom was supportive and did the deed for me. My hair was no longer getting caught on everything, constantly slipping in my face. Once I was finished, I went downstairs. Mom had stopped trying to cook breakfast every morning. She had burnt so many pans of bacon I had lost count. Instead of cooking breakfast, she always leaves out some pop tarts and frozen waffles. Like all of my birthdays, there was a note and a small cake out on the counter. 'Happy birthday, Raelynn! I had to leave for work early, another problem with Mr. Barnes ugh. Try and have a good day at school--and I hope you find your mate!' I smiled at the note, wondering if she'd be having the bad day. Mr. Barnes was like a shark that smelled blood. He constantly pursued my Mom without fail. He wasn't a threat though, simply old and somewhat senile. He had long ago lost his strength and agility, even though he swore he was muscular in his youth. I grabbed a clean fork and ate a few bites of the small cake. I didn't bother cutting a piece, I wasn't really a fan of cake. The only reason I ate some every year was for my Mom, well that and she always ordered a chocolate cake. Chocolate was probably my favorite thing in the world. I ran out to the bus stop, wanting to dance with joy when I saw Atlas's car gone from his driveway. That gave me some free time at the bus stop. Just a moment to not be picked at or tormented. I slipped a tattered book from my bag, opening it randomly. I had picked up reading poetry a couple years ago. Dad had always read them to me before bed. This was a way I could be close to him. I even tried my hand at writing poetry a few months ago, realizing that was definitely not a talent of mine. The book was tattered and nearly falling apart at the seams, the paper cover worn with holes and dirt. This was the same book Dad had read to me before bed. It was old even then but I had kept it through the years, never once bringing myself to read from it. Lost and Found A sunken chest on the ocean ground to never be found was where he found me. There he stirred my every thought my every word so gently, so profoundly Now I am kept from my dreams I dreamt from once I slept so soundly -Lang Leav Dad always said poetry held many meanings, conveyed many emotions and faces. You could never read poetry at face value, you had to delve deeper. I struggled with delving deep, gaining hidden meanings. It was a reflection on how I viewed the world. You often didn't have to dive deep with people, their true self sat right on the surface. The only thing holding them back from revealing themselves, was a carefully placed mask. The same mask that would form on Atlas's face when he stood by idle as his friends tormented me. I rode the bus to school, my nose buried in my tattered book. I couldn't understand the hidden meanings of any of the poems, yet many of them resonated in my life. I met Alyssa at our lockers. She had spent an entire month figuring out who had the locker directly next to my own. She traded with some freshman kid and stayed by my side ever since. Alyssa was funny that way. She could be wild at times, but never pushed my boundaries. The first part of my day went on as normal. Only Alyssa told me Happy Birthday, not that I minded. I had gone to school with these kids for many years, and many of them had been invited to my childhood birthday parties. People moved on with their life, surely they didn't remember. Michelle tossed a wad of paper at the back of my head during first period, while Shaina and Dean called me some names. So far it was just a typical day, I didn't feel any sort of connection as I looked into my classmates eyes. Werewolves discovered their mate by looking into their eyes. It was then a mate bond would form between the two, tethering them. Mom had explained the process to me at one point in my life. I couldn't bring myself to ask her again, knowing the pain in her eyes would halt me. The bell for lunch rang and I stifled a sigh. I had more than half of my classes with Alyssa, but I had my lunch alone. More often than not, I would sit in the bathroom and eat. Our lunchroom was huge, but Atlas and his friends always seemed to sit much too closely to whatever table I chose. Sometimes other kids would try and join in on the bullying, hoping for a spot in Atlas's friend group. Atlas, Michelle, Shaina, Duke, and Dean had all been friends since they were children. For whatever reason they were practically inseparable. Atlas would be the Alpha in just a year's time, while Michelle took her place as Luna. Our school was broken up into two wings, each wing leading to the lunchroom through a separate door. I was on the left side of the building, while Atlas and his friends were on the right. I walked down the hall, brushing past students that lingered in groups. Our lunch period was abnormally long; 45 minutes to be exact. My heart jumped in my chest as Atlas, Michelle, and Dean came out of a classroom in the same hall as I. I knew their schedules by heart, avoiding them at all costs. Nearly a lifetime of torment did that to a person. I was constantly hyper-aware of where each of them were. I hadn't anticipated this--then again, there was a lot I hadn't anticipated. Michelle was the first to see me, nudging Dean with her elbow until he paid attention. Dean's lips turned up in his patented sly smile, his curly hair bouncing as he walked up to me. It was no use, but I turned on my heel and headed the way I had come. I could live without lunch for a day, but the last thing I needed was bullying on my own birthday. "It seems a Happy Birthday is in order." Dean's snarky laugh was much too close, just a foot or two behind me. My short legs did me no favors, my pace was much slower than his. A hand wrapped around the back of my shirt, spinning me around. Dean's eyes glinted maliciously, but was quickly diverted to the tattered book in my hands. "No, not this---" I shook my head, clutching the book to my chest as his fingers wrapped around it. I could practically hear the withered book groan, my heart along with it. Dean's sly smile was wider now, realizing he had just what he needed to get to me. I could feel the book slipping from my fingers, a strangled whimper leaving my lips. The book was torn from my hands, a quarter of the paper cover fluttering to the floor. "This book special or something?" Dean cackled, dangling it in front of me like bait. Tears stung my eyes, but they often did. Every emotion I had seemed to be wired to my tear ducts, making the waterworks form all too effortlessly. My head snapped over to Atlas, my eyes pleading. His steel grey and blue eyes were bright, reminding me of Mercury. I could've sworn time had stopped, that we had been looking at each other for years. I could see my eyes reflected in his own, his heartbeat quickening to match my pace. For the first time, I watched as emotions crossed his face. I had never seen him smile, never seen him laugh in my presence. He was always a silent bystander to my bullying. His eyes widened in surprise, giving me a better look at the colors swirling within them. I swore I could hear the mate-bond snap to life between us. The feeling hit like a freight train, rattling my bones and clicking my teeth. All at once I noticed things I had spent years trying to forget. His hair was soft and full, lighter than the color of wheat. His hair framed his strong face perfectly, highlighting his sharp jawline and high cheekbones. 'Mate.' My wolf's voice was filled with awe as she looked at Atlas for what felt like the first time. It was Atlas who tore his eyes away first--to look at his girlfriend, Michelle. It was then I realized the world isn't black and white; but cloaked in vast shades of grey. Michelle looked devastated, her own eyes filling with tears. Her lower lip quivered, her hands shook. I had nearly forgotten they had been dating for two years, he had been hers first. Jealousy burned in my veins, my wolf howling at the girl who had stolen my mate long ago. Michelle wasn't all around an evil person. Sure, she was a horrendous bully but she was also a girl in love. She saved the good in her for Atlas, maybe he returned the same. "Don't let him ruin my book." I whimpered, the deafening howls of my wolf ringing in my ears. "Please Atlas." I had never said his name before, never heard it fall from my lips. His name sounded right on my tongue, tasted sweet and lingering. It was clear he too felt the affects of the mate bond. Something flashed in his eyes, his face softening for just a moment. Before I could appreciate the sight, his hard mask had been put up. His eyes burned into me before flickering over to Dean. I had some hope, just a sliver of hope that Atlas would surprise me. That he would accept me as his mate, end the tormenting and spend the rest of his life protecting me. I was weaker back then, I believed I needed protecting. Everything I wanted was within grasp, and yet I received none of it. Atlas nodded once to Dean, who smirked cruelly in response. I turned my head, knowing the sight would only break my heart further. A tearing sound could be heard throughout the hallway, followed by the light thumps of my book as it hit the floor in pieces. I couldn't help but look down at the book, the book that I had carried around for years. It was torn into five pieces, random pages and bits of cover were scattered along the floor. Atlas had made his decision when he let Dean destroy my book, that much was clear. He had chosen her; his girlfriend of two years. Did that make him fully evil? Evil for choosing the girl he had loved for two years of his life? No, he wasn't evil. Cruel yes, but not evil. Mates were sacred, but rejections happened sometimes. "Take Michelle to the cafeteria, I'll be there shortly." Atlas nodded at Dean, and I wondered if his voice had always sounded that way. Silky yet rough, smooth yet raspy. I had heard his voice many times over the years, never once appreciating how it sounded. I turned my head away from Michelle, flinching at the sob that left her lips. I could feel her pain, mirrored a thousand times within me. Atlas Andino was my mate after all. 'She can heal from a simple heartbreak.' My wolf hissed in my mind, her fury rolling in waves. 'Rejection is more than that.' She was right after all, Atlas and I were two halves of a whole. We fit each other perfectly, we were made for each other. "I, Atlas Andino--" His full lips parted, his incredibly light eyes hard and distant. "reject you Raelynn Tress, as my mate and Luna."

Chapter 4 Chapter 3

If I was strong I would've stayed. I would've fought for my mate, used the mate bond to bring Atlas closer. I would have found some way to make him see that I was more important than a girlfriend, as selfish as it sounded. It took me some time to realize how selfish and deluded Atlas had been. He chose Michelle over his mate. His two year girlfriend over his other half. Michelle had a mate out there somewhere. Was she destined to break his heart as mine had been broken? My world had come crashing down with his words. A part of me buried so deep inside broke, spewing out into the world like an unleashed tidal wave. My wolf was howling in my head, making my ears ring mercilessly. I gathered the scraps of my ruined book, clutching them to my chest as I turned on my heel and ran. I didn't notice the other students lingering in the halls, the ones who had witnessed the entire ordeal. The human students would have no idea what happened, but the werewolves would. They looked at me with a mix of shock and pity. Their eyes burned in surprise, watching as the rejected she-wolf fled from the hall. I ran past my own locker, not once slowing down until the front doors of the school appeared. My lungs were burning, my legs shaking with the blow Atlas had dealt. No one stopped me as I barreled out the front door. Hell, I wasn't sure if anyone actually noticed. Being invisible had its perks, letting me leave the building without hassle. I stopped when I made it outside, wondering what I was truly going to do. The thought of returning to school and seeing Atlas twisted my heart in ways I had never experienced before. I had never come close to death in my life, but I imagined this was what dying felt like. Your entire future, your reason for being ripped away from you without a second glance. Everything spirals down at once, leaving you delirious and confused. I took just a second to decide where I was going. Left would take me home, right would take me to my Mom's job. Home was a farther run, while the Hospital was close by. My wolf took control, making me dart to the right and down the road. My wolf Lila, was much like me but with a healthy dose of suspicion. She tried to see the good in people, but was never surprised when they came up short. Lila kept me out of many bad situations, letting me know who my true friends were. She had always been fond of Micah and his honesty. She liked the fact that he didn't press about who we were or where we came from. He accepted our friendship without terms or hassle. I could feel Lila's pain mixing with my own, turning into one big festering knot. She gave me strength where I needed it, and I tried to do the same. I barreled through the side door to the Hospital, scanning a little plastic card to open the door. Mom had given me one months ago, insisting I come to her office if I needed anything. The Hospital was small, but it was only one of the three we had. Mom's Hospital was just closer to the Alpha and Luna's house, making it the most popular. I rushed down the hallway, inhaling the smell of cleaner and sterilization. I had always enjoyed the way a hospital smelled. Weird, I know. I liked the smell of cleaner and hand sanitizer. "Where's my Mom?" I whipped around the corner, coming to a skidding halt at one of the service desks. Shelly was one of my Mom's friends. Somewhat plump with curly blonde hair and a brilliant smile. Shelly helped bring Mom out of her stupor after Dad died, reminding her that life could still hold some joy. "In her office---" Shelly responded with a startled look on her face, "Darlin' are you alright?" I ran off before I could hear the end of her question, heading in the direction of Mom's office. When I barreled through the doorway, I noticed her immediately. She was clacking away at her computer, her reading glasses falling low on her face. I hadn't actually thought about what I'd do when I got here. For just a moment I contemplated turning around, running back the way I had come. I could just go home and sleep the day away, forgetting today for just a few moments. 'That's temporary.' Lila whimpered, 'We'd have to face him tomorrow.' 'I don't think I can do that.' My own voice was weak in my head tinged with grief. 'I can't either.' Lila's voice lowered to a hushed tone, 'We could leave, Raelynn. No one would miss us.' Lila was right. There was a way out, but I couldn't leave Mom behind. I knew she'd never let me leave on my own. Mom's head snapped up from the computer, her eyes widening as she took in my shaking form. "Raelynn, oh my Goddess. What happened to you?" She was out of her seat in an instant, her hands gripping my forearms as she looked into my frantic eyes. I hadn't realized I'd been crying until a sob left my lips, followed by a couple tears. "He rejected me, Mom." I choked, "I wasn't good enough." Her eyes widened even more if that was possible. Her hands were shaky as she wiped away my tears. That familiar flash of pain formed in her eyes, the one when she thought of Dad. "Who rejected you?" Mom's voice was hard, harder than I had ever heard it before. "I'll talk to their parents. They can't just reject their mate. Not when their mate's my daughter.""Atlas--" I flinched, it hurt to even speak his name. I tried to say his last name, my mouth hanging open but the word wouldn't come out. Mom's eyes fell when she registered who my mate was. There would be no talking to the Alpha and Luna. Their son was future Alpha, free to do as he pleased. "Did you accept the rejection, Raelynn?" Mom murmured, her eyes burning into my own. "No, I couldn't." Another sob wracked through me, the tears falling steadily. "I was too weak--I should have, but I couldn't!""Shh, it'll be okay." My Mom murmured, her thin arms wrapped around me. She smelled like the Hospital, clean and sterile. I could still smell a hint of her tea-tree body wash and some light perfume. The scent was calming, but did nothing for the pain inside my heart. The sound of my strangled sobs filled her small office, but she continued murmuring to me. Her arms never left my body, not when the sobs slowly ceased. I cried out everything I could, my eyes feeling like sandpaper. No matter how much I cried, the pain wouldn't go away. My soul felt fractured, incomplete without my mate. "I can't stay here." I shook my head, my voice cracking as another sob tried to take over. "I can't stay here and look at him everyday.""Honey--" My Mom pulled back to look at me, concern on her face. "He could change his mind. We can't just leave.""He won't." I shook my head, I was sure. "He picked her, Mom. He picked Michelle." I wasn't sure what hurt worse, being rejected by your mate or having him pick another girl over you. Both hurt horrendously. Mom was silent for a few moments, her light eyes reading my own face. Whether she liked it or not, I had made up my mind. I would never leave my Mom behind, but I couldn't stay here anymore. I'd leave her behind if it meant escaping the pain, escaping Atlas Andino. "Alright." Mom nodded, "Let me talk to the Alpha and Luna. I'm sure they'll give us permission to leave.""Don't tell them what happened." I shook my head, my voice sounding lifeless. "I won't." Mom frowned, stroking back a piece of hair that clung to my damp forehead. "Can you wait until my shifts over, or did you want to leave right now?""When does your shift end?" I sniffled, trying and failing to block the pain. "Two hours." Mom promised, "I'll go straight to the Alpha and Luna when I'm finished.""I can wait." I nodded, "It'll give me time to pack some things. I'll grab some stuff for you too.""Alright, sweetheart." Mom frowned, pulling me into a tight hug. I took deep breaths of her scent, but it didn't have the calming affect it usually had. Instead I thought about Atlas, and what he might smell like. "Everything will be alright, Raelynn." Mom soothed, but we both knew that wasn't true. "I'll--It'll be alright, I promise." She was trying to convince the two of us, trying to tell me I could live a happy life without my mate. Maybe someday the pain would fade, but I would never be whole again. I would live a half-life, always wondering what could have been.

Chapter 5 Chapter 4

Mom offered me a ride home, which I reluctantly said no to. My face was red and puffy, aching from how much I had cried in her office. I needed time to think. Being trapped in a car with my Mom would only bring on the tears, and I didn't want any more of those. My body groaned and ached with fatigue, but I trudged home anyway. It was a fifteen minute walk to my neighborhood, giving me too much time to think. The entire scene in the hallway replayed in my head a million times. I thought of every possible thing I could've said, everything I could've done differently. Y'know how something happens to you and after it's done you think of everything you could have said? That was what I was going through. I could've pleaded, I could've simply stepped into his arms and used the mate bond against him. I didn't though, I didn't because I was weak. This fact was beginning to dawn on me, how I lacked true strength. When I made it home, I ran inside and grabbed a notebook and a pen. As soon as I had entered the house, I was already leaving. I needed to see Micah one last time, just to say goodbye. I would miss Micah the most, miss the time we had spent together. Spending time with Micah was addicting. I could forget everything going on in my life with him. He had a carefree attitude that was addicting, one I had grown used to. I was disappointed when I came to the bank of the river. I wasn't sure why I had expected him to be there. It was one in the afternoon on a Friday. Micah wouldn't be here at this time. Our visits became less frequent, but I looked forward to them regardless. Instead of hanging around, I pulled out the notebook and pen. I figured if he wasn't here I'd leave him a note, letting him know I had left. The thought of Micah waiting around for me hurt, so I decided the truth was better than nothing. Micah I'm not sure if you'll ever see this but I really hope you do. I can't give you any excuses on why this happened, so I hope you'll understand. My Mom and I are leaving. We're moving somewhere else. I can't tell you why, but maybe someday I'll be able to. I just wanted to leave this so you know I'm safe. Thanks for being my first friend and giving me somewhere to forget my problems. Hopefully we'll meet again someday. Raelynn I sat the notebook on top of the flat rock Micah would always perch on. Hopefully the weather would be kind, and hopefully Micah would actually show up tomorrow. I walked back to the house, realizing I only had an hour left to pack. I only grabbed the essentials, stuffing some clothes in a suitcase for Mom and I. I tucked some pictures of Dad into a box and stuffed it in the suitcase as well. Everything else was replaceable. Once I was finished, I looked around the bedroom I had spent my entire life in. These four walls held me since I was a baby, keeping me safe at night. The chipped paint that had been replaced countless times held more memories than I could comprehend. I tried to think back to my childhood, wincing at the blank spots. The injury to my head had done it's damage, stealing away some of my coveted memories. I found myself sitting in the living room, my eyes scanning the pictures on the walls. This was how Mom found me when she came into the house an hour and a half later. Her ponytail was falling, some of the long hairs sticking up on her head. "Everything's set." Mom nodded, standing in the doorway with a strange look on her face. "I didn't tell them anything. They gave us the clear to leave.""Good." I nodded, looking as lost as Mom did. "Y'know--I never wanted to move here." Mom chuckled, "I hated this house, still do.""You didn't?" I found myself asking despite the pain in my chest, "I always thought you loved this place.""Oh no." Mom shook her head, "Dad loved this place. I couldn't bare to tell him I hated this damn house." This was the first time Mom willingly talked about Dad. The same pain flashed in her eyes, but this time she seemed more at ease with it. Maybe this was a new start for the both of us. "I think this will be good for us, Raelynn." Mom turned to me, a small glimmer of hope in her eyes. "I think we both need to leave our pasts behind.""I would like that." My voice was small, unsure. I knew no matter how hard I tried, I would think about Atlas Andino until the day I died. We left only twenty minutes later. Mom asked where I wanted to go, I told her I didn't care. The Alpha and Luna told us we could relocate to another pack, but could not live as rogues. I told Mom to pick whichever pack she wanted. The car ride was silent, but I battled my tears the entire time. My mind flickered from Atlas to my Mom. She had given everything up for me, while he couldn't even give me a chance. Mom had given me the world, but Atlas couldn't even open up his heart. She was leaving her home behind, while Atlas was leaving me behind. I continued fighting the tears until I fell asleep, my head resting against the cool glass of the car window. I awoke to the sound of a car door shutting. My eyes snapped open and darted around. We were in a hotel parking lot, the hotel's neon sign blinking rapidly. Sands hotel, it was called. One of those hotels where the doors were outside and each room had it's own balcony. "Where are we?" I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, pulling myself out of the car slowly. Mom was pulling our suitcases from the car, slamming the trunk shut with a thud. "I didn't mean to wake you." Mom smiled softly, "I drove a solid ten hours, but I need some sleep.""Don't worry about it." I nodded, "The car did no favors for my back." The more I thought about Atlas, the sharper the pain got. When I pushed him from my mind, the pain faded. It left me feeling numb and detached. Was this the choice I was left with? Be in constant pain or feel numb to the world? We clamored up the stairs and into our hotel room. There was nothing fancy about the room, but it had two beds and a working shower. I plopped down on one of the double beds and curled into a ball. Sleep was already beginning to take me. "Did you want a shower?" Mom's gentle touch was on my shoulder, and I grumbled in response. "No." I mumbled, "I'll shower in the morning." Mom was silent as she crept away, and I faded happily into sleep. We left the next morning. I showered and changed my clothes into something comfortable. She said we were going somewhere warm, knowing how much I hated the cold. The thought made me miss Texas. I would miss the lush forest with it's incredible wildlife and density. There was so much room to explore and run around. We spent all day driving, only stopping for food and the occasional bathroom break. The monotony was getting overwhelming, my thoughts constantly going back to Atlas. "Where are we going?" I frowned, glancing at my Mom's GPS before she turned it out of my view. "No peeking." She scolded with a stern face, but her lips broke out into a smile. "It's going to be a surprise." I wanted to tell her not to bother, that surprises didn't matter anymore. I couldn't say the words after seeing the excited look on her face. We stopped at another hotel that night, repeating the same process as yesterday. We had driven much longer today, and Mom had let it slip that we only had four hours left to go. I woke early that morning, ready to get the rest of the drive finished. I'd be the happiest girl in the world if I never had to go on a ten hour drive again in my life. I was tired of sitting in the car, watching the buildings pass as we zoomed down the highway. I'd assume we were somewhere in California, judging from the road signs. My favorite part of the entire drive was going through the desert. Everything was so big and open out there. It made you feel insignificant when placed against something so vast. I found the desert strangely beautiful, Lila disagreed with me. 'It's just a big bowl of sand and rock.' Lila shook her head, 'Nothing pretty about it. Wanna know what's pretty? Forest's are pretty.' I could tell we were nearing the end when Mom was practically jumping in her seat. Her eyes flickered excitedly to each building in town. The town was much bigger than our own, but the buildings also seemed older. "Were here." Mom breathed, the start of a grin on her face. I looked at her in confusion. Where was here? "This is where I grew up." Mom breathed, her eyes dancing with excitement as we pulled up to the red light. "Welcome to the Night Walker pack." The Night Walker pack was just another in a long list of packs through out the United States. The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't place my finger on where I had heard the name. "I told you about my old pack, remember?" Mom grinned. "You had to have been seven or eight.""I can't remember ever hearing you say those words." I chuckled humorlessly, rubbing my temple as a sharp pain zipped in my head. "Must've forgotten." Mom frowned, "The best warriors come from the Night Walker pack. They send the warriors all over to help packs and fight rogues." Mom sounded so excited, so wistful. "I was one of their warriors once." Mom nodded proudly, a grin on her face as my eyes widened in surprise. "You?" I was speechless, "A warrior?""I was." Mom grinned, "Not one of the best, but I was still a warrior. That's how I met your Dad." Mom's voice trailed off, her eyes glazing over. It only lasted a split second, much shorter than the times it happened in the past. "Sorry." Mom chuckled, her smile soft. "This place just has a lot of memories.""And you wanted to come back?" I grimaced. Why would she want to be bombarded with those memories? Having been rejected, I understand why she'd want to forget. "It wasn't all bad." Mom smiled softly, "I grew up here. My Mom and Dad lived right in the center of town. Dad owned a hardware shop just over there." Mom pointed at one of the buildings. It looked like it had been remodeled into something else. Grandma and Grandpa died when I was young. I couldn't remember much about them, but I had heard plenty of stories. Grandma and Grandpa were the best example of mates. Grandpa's family hated Grandma, but he never let that stop him. He took Grandma into his arms and promised her the world. His family disowned him, took away his inheritance but he didn't care. He stayed with Grandma through it all, and she with him. Their lives had ended peacefully, nearly at the same moment. That was the classic love story everyone wanted to hear. Guy meets girl, they fall in love, defy the odds, have a family, and die together peacefully. I wondered if they realized how unique that was. How many people truly get happy endings? My black and white vision was becoming melded, shades of grey forming in the cracks. Was an ending truly all happy? Or did the good mix with the bad and make it bittersweet? I wasn't sure I believed in happy ending's anymore.